In Memoriam: Comic Artist and Editor Luis Bermejo Rojo

Luis Bermejo Rojo
Luis Bermejo Rojo. Image: Luis Bermejo Facebook Page

We’re sorry to report the passing of Spanish comic artist and editor Luis Bermejo Rojo (frequently credited as Luis Bermejo or, simply, Bermejo), best known in the US for his work on titles such as Creepy for Warren Publishing. His work for British comics included strips such as “Heros the Spartan” for Eagle (taking over from Frank Bellamy), and “The Missing Link”, which became “Johnny Future” for Fantastic in the 1960s – but who also drew for titles as diverse as Boys’ WorldGirl’s Crystal, Tina, Tarzan Weekly and the private eye stories “John Steel” for Thriller Picture Library.

He was also notable for his war stories for Fleetway’s Battle and War Picture Libraries, and strips such as “Phantom Force Five” for Buster.

Heros the Spartan by Luis Bermejo
“Heros the Spartan” by Luis Bermejo, for Eagle.
"Heros The Spartan" by Luis Bermejo  for Eagle (Episode 15) | Via Heritage Auctions
“Heros The Spartan” by Luis Bermejo for Eagle (Episode 15) | Via Heritage Auctions

His work has been published in Spain since he began his career in the 1940s. His Spanish credits include work for magazines such as Baladin, Cimoc, Comix Internacional, Hunter, 1984 and Zone 84.

He also illustrated a number of novels.

“Of all the illustrators whose work I knew as a kid, it was his that impressed me the most,” artist Ron Tiner commented in a tribute to Bermejo posted earlier today, “and bred in me the dream that all us narrative artists have, of creating visual stories that reach to the heart of things and touch that thread of humanity that runs through us all, and somehow make the world a better place.

Bermejo began drawing for British titles in the late 1950s, working initially on Girl’s Crystal and Tarzan Weekly, followed by titles such as Thriller Picture Library, War and Battle Picture Library. In 1962, he began drawing the war-themed comic strip “Mann of Battle” for Eagle, and drew “Heros the Spartan” for the title in 1963.

Art form the Picture Library story "Chain Reaction" by Luis Bermejo
Art form the Picture Library story “Chain Reaction” by Luis Bermejo
By the early 1960s, Luis Bermejo had become one of the very best artists working in the UK - and comics archivist David Roach cites this as one of his best, and least known strips- from Titbits No. 3985, published in 1962. "He drew a lot of war strips so was a master of World War Two hardware and his use of tones here is gorgeous," David notes
By the early 1960s, Luis Bermejo had become one of the very best artists working in the UK – and comics archivist David Roach cites this as one of his best, and least known strips- from Titbits No. 3985, published in 1962. “He drew a lot of war strips so was a master of World War Two hardware and his use of tones here is gorgeous,” David notes

While working for Bardon Art from Valencia alongside José Ortiz, Miguel Quesada, and Emilio Frego in the 1960s, along with book illustration work and strips for titles such as Tell Me Why, Once Upon a Time, Look and Learn and Tiny Tots, he also drew “Johnny Future”, written by the Steve Moore, a strip owned by Time UK Bear Alley Books had planned to re-publish back in 2009, a project that sadly did not progress, for reasons beyond publisher Steve Holland’s control.

“His work could turn the most banal of story lines into an absolute visual treat,” says Ron Tiner. “His masterful grasp of narrative composition, his delicate ink line and consummate skill in the use of deep shadow endowed his story sequences with a bewitching, moonlit quality unmatched by any other artist-storyteller I ever saw.

“We’ve all got to die. I know. But the departure of someone who has been at the root of your ambition to someday create something of true and lasting value reminds you of what a great debt we owe to the quiet genius of artists like him.”

"Johnny Future" - a story from Odhams Fantastic comic, scripted by Alf Wallace with art by Luis Bermejo
Johnny Future” – a story from Odhams Fantastic comic, scripted by Alf Wallace with art by Luis Bermejo
Artwork for a title page of "Johnny Future" for Fantastic, owned by US comics editor Scott Dunbier
Artwork for a title page of “Johnny Future” for Fantastic, owned by US comics editor Scott Dunbier

“Johnny Future” is described as one of the most memorable strips of the 1960s. Debuting in the very first issue of Fantastic, as “The Missing Link”, rubbing shoulders with reprints of US superhero comics, the story became “Johnny Future” after 15 issues and ran for a total of 51 episodes, the only originated strip in the 40-page comic.

“What was so great about that series was the way its pages contrasted the crass, brutal crappiness of the American comicbook with the intelligent, sophisticated artistry of the European product,” enthuses Ron Tiner. “And the difference in the quality of the scripting of the Johnny Future stories was really funny… Where the American superhero would utter an expletive, then don his ridiculous costume to go out and brutalise somebody, Johnny Future was like a diffident Sherlock Holmes – he’d sit down and stroke his chin, thinking ‘I wonder if this event might not be the outcome of what took place at the Windsor hotel this morning!'”

(The strip was published by Rebellion as The Complete Johnny Future – Missing Link in 2020 – Ed)

The opening page of the eight-page story "Do You Believe in Sinsigs?" drawn by Luis Bermejo for Creepy #88, published by Warren in 1977.
The opening page of the eight-page story “Do You Believe in Sinsigs?” drawn by Luis Bermejo for Creepy #88, published by Warren in 1977.

In 1974, Bermejo, along with fellow Valencia Studio artists José Ortiz and Leopoldo Sanchez joined the agency Selecciones Illustrada and soon started working for Warren Publishing in  the US, becoming the one of the most prolific artists for the company alongside Ortiz and Esteban Maroto. His credits include titles such as Creepy, and primary artist for The Rook (recently relaunched by Dark Horse), Warren’s most well known recurring character after Vampirella.

Bermejo would also draw the serial “The Fox” in Vampirella in 1981 – 1982 and won the award for Best All Around Artist at Warren in 1981.

A full page panel from Lord of the Rings drawn by Luis Bermejo
A full page panel from “Lord of the Rings” drawn by Luis Bermejo

Bermejo also drew a series of Lord of the Rings comics, published across Europe (but never in English) between 1979 and 1981, based on the Ralph Bakshi film interpretation of JRR Tolkien’s story.

The cover of a Spanish adaptation of Isaac Asimov's I Robot, drawn by Luis Bermejo
The cover of a Spanish adaptation of Isaac Asimov’s “I Robot”, drawn by Luis Bermejo
A sample page from I Robot, published in Spanish by Editorial Brugera in 1983
A sample page from “I Robot”, published in Spanish by Editorial Brugera in 1983

He also worked on comic strip adaptations of the works of works by SF author Isaac Asimov, such as I, Robot – and thriller writer Raymond Chandler and was a talented impressionist oil painter.

One of Luis Bermejo's oil paintings
One of Luis Bermejo’s oil paintings
An action-packed page from Los Aventuras del Capitán Trueno, drawn by Luis Bermejo
An action-packed page from Los Aventuras del Capitán Trueno, drawn by Luis Bermejo

In 1986, Bermejo started a new bi-weekly Spanish comic in the series Gallant Adventures, a magazine containing “Los Aventuras del Capitán Trueno” (The Adventures of Captain Thunder), scripted by Víctor Moor, drawn throughout bar its final episode, which was drawn by Jesús Redondo. The same comic also featured another Bermejo strip, “El Sueno Eterno”, scripted by Adriano and Jesus Blasco.

• Luis Bermejo, born 12th August 1931, died 12th December 2015

Web Links

Dan Dare Info: Luis Bermejo Profile

Desk Artes: A list of Luis Bermejo’s British comics credits (in Spanish, compiled with the assistance of David Roach)

Luis Bermejo: 60 Years in Comics (a tribute in Spanish, published in 2009)

Luis Bermejo Rojo: A Tribute by Lew Stringer

Lambiek: Luis Bermejo

Luis Bermejo: Spanish Wikipedia Page (features more credits for his work than the English language version)

Tolkien Library: The Lord of the Ring Comics by Luis Bermejo – article by Pieter Collier) 

Lord of the Rings – drawn by Luis Bermejo

Luis Bermejo Rojo Facebook Page

The Complete Johnny Future: The Missing Link
By Alf Wallace and Luis Bermejo
ISBN: 978-1781087589

The Complete Johnny Future

One of the most memorable comic strips of the 1960s, which asks the question “What if King Kong became Superman?”

The Missing Link – a creature of limitless strength – is drawn to Britain in pursuit of an expedition party he encountered in his homeland. The man-ape causes havoc until he accidentally stumbles into an experimental nuclear research facility and is bombarded by radiation. Instead of killing him, the creature evolves into an advanced human.

Now possessing a genius mind, super-strength, enhanced senses and the ability to fly, as Johnny Future he protects mankind from such sinister beings as The Master, Disastro, Animal Man and the Secret Society of Scientists.

This is the complete hardcover collection of breath-taking Pulp adventure comics – beloved by fans and the creators it inspired Alan Moore among them.

My thanks to Ron Tiner for permission to feature his tribute to Luis Bermejo in this item. All © respective copyright owners (Johnny Future © Rebellion, formerly Time UK)

This article was last updated on Monday 26th February 2024 to add links and details of the “Johnny Future” collection



Categories: British Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Obituaries

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7 replies

  1. Lovely tribute, John. Sad news , especially at this time of year.
    I really LOVE his art in Fantastic, one of my all-time favourite UK Comics!
    RIP, Luis.

  2. One of greatest artists! RIP Luis!

Trackbacks

  1. RIP Luis Bermejo Rojo – Smash Pages
  2. In Memoriam: Luis Bermejo, Artist of "Creepy," "Vampirella," "Lord of the Rings" - Heavy Metal

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