Tributes to comic creators, actors and others
Just days after posting an “In Praise of… Leo Baxendale” feature, focusing on his later, creator-owned material, we’re sorry to report his passing. I know this is a loss is going to hit a lot of my friends hard, especially those who know… Read More ›
Artist Steve Marchant recalls the life and work of Nik Pollard, who along with others strove to give the comics form rightful study in the UK – and was a generous benefactor to London’s Cartoon Museum… Nik Pollard, lifelong comics… Read More ›
We’re sorry to report the passing of US comic artist Bernard Albert “Bernie” Wrightson, sometimes credited as Berni Wrightson, after a battle with brain cancer. The news was shared on his web site by his wife, Liz Wrightson. He was 68. He… Read More ›
I’m sorry to report the passing of the hugely/talented British film and comics artist John Watkiss, whose most recent comics work was Surgeon X from Image. He was 55. A very private man, he had been ill for some time…. Read More ›
While there’s been much to celebrate in 2016 when it comes to our industry, we couldn’t let the year pass without noting some of those involved now sadly no longer with us, including one of our very own contributors. So… Read More ›
Former Fleetway editor Barrie Tomlinson pays tribute to John Gillatt, the artist best known for his work on strips such as “Billy’s Boots”, “Black Archer” and “Jet-Ace Logan” (for Comet and Tiger), who we have just learned died in November…… Read More ›
We’re sorry to report the passing of Martin Aitchison, artist on Eagle‘s “Luck of the Legion“, “Danger Unlimited“, “The Lost World” and “Hornblower“, who died peacefully on 22nd October 2016, aged 96. Martin also illustrated a large number of Ladybird Books… Read More ›
We’re very sorry to report the passing of gifted and much-loved comic artist Steve Dillon, a renowned talent rightfully described by Jamie McElvie as “a true legend of comics“, perhaps best known internationally for his run on DC Comics Hellblazer and… Read More ›
We’re sorry to report that legendary US cartoonist Jack Davis has died, aged 91 – one of the founders of MAD magazine and certainly one of the best-known and recognisable cartoonists in the world. “Our hearts are broken,” a spokesperson… Read More ›
We’re very sorry to report the passing of artist, designer, photographer and downthetubes contributor Roger Perry, who died on Saturday 23rd July at his home in the Philippines – a day after celebrating his 78th birthday. His wife Rosa has… Read More ›
The sudden passing of the inspiring comics creator Alan Mitchell, perhaps best known for co-writing “Third World War” with Pat Mills for Crisis, aged just 55, came as a tremendous shock to both family and friends. Although we met only a couple of… Read More ›
We’re sorry to report the passing of Derek Pierson, who once self deprecatingly described his comics career as “from Hulton’s to IPC Magazines with Fleetway, taking a chunk of the middle”. Aged 77, he had been ill for some time. A… Read More ›
Just over a week ago the British small press lost one of its most hardworking and consistent artists – the incredible Stephen Prestwood. I’d worked with him – watched him drawing tirelessly for years, turning in an almost endless stream of… Read More ›
Writer Richmond Clements, co-editor of FutureQuake, pays tribute to an unsung hero of British comics – and particularly 2000AD – fandom, whose death was announced at the weekend… There has been a running black joke this year about the innumerable number… Read More ›
I was very sad to learn yesterday of the sudden passing of the extraordinary Canadian comic book writer, artist, cartoonist and animator Darwyn Cooke, whose death to cancer was announced by his family this weekend. He was just 53. This short statement,… Read More ›
Former comics editor David Hunt pays tribute to one of the great, and largely unsung force behind the success of British comics over several decades – Gil Page, who died earlier this week. I last saw my dear friend Gil Page… Read More ›
We’re sorry to report the passing of Gil Page, an editorial stalwart of Amalgamated Press, Fleetway, IPC and latterly Egmont, as that company’s Managing Editor. He passed away peacefully in his sleep earlier in the week, aged 79. “Gil was… Read More ›
The very welcome reveal of 2000AD‘s cover of their first Misty collection – featuring art from a 1980 Misty Special – came tinged with the sad news of the passing of the much-admired artist who painted it, Shirley Bellwood, who had… Read More ›
A tribute to the comics writer best known for his work on titles such as Battle and Buster
We’re sorry to report the death of artist Kenneth (Ken) Barr, aged 83. He is perhaps best known to downthetubes readers for his Commando covers, but was an innovative artist whose covers for publishers such as Marvel and a wide variety of… Read More ›