Older downthetubes readers may recall credits for an artist, Vanyo, or Eduardo Vanyo (and, sometimes, as Vano), in the pages of weekly British comics such as 2000AD. But I hadn’t realised until recently that “Vanyo” was an alias for two Spanish artists, neither, sadly, still with us, one member of the once prolific team dying earlier this year.
Vanyo was, in fact, the professional name chosen by two comics artists, brothers Eduardo Vaño Ibarra (1944 – 2023) and Vicente Vaño Ibarra (1947 – 2006), themselves the sons of artist of Eduardo Vañó Pastor, a famous creator in Spain.
In addition to an impressive body of work in Spain and elsewhere in Europe, their credits in British comics, hired through the Bardon Agency, include “Judge Dredd” for 2000AD and “The Mind of Wolfie Smith” for Tornado and 2000AD, “Death Wish” for Speed, which has been collected by Rebellion, and “Bloodfang” and “The Hand” for Eagle.
They also worked on Battle Action Force and Wildcat. Vanyo supplied art for “The Flight of the Golden Hinde“, one of the series launching in the first issue of Battle and they would go on to draw episodes of “Operation Shark” and “Return of the Eagle” as well as “Carver”, a “Clash of the Guards” story which isn’t included in the recent collection from Rebellion, and episodes of “Action Force“.
In the late 1970s and early 1980s they worked for the Italian publisher Editorial Universo de Italia, contributing to magazines such as Monello, Albo dell’Intrepido and Bliz. They also worked for other European countries such as France, Germany and Belgium through another agency, Norma.
Over on his always enjoyable Boys Adventure Comics blog, downthetubes contributor Richard Sheaf notes that despite how prolific the “Vanyo” team were, you rarely see their original art from the strips they worked on here in the UK up for sale.
Was their art victim perhaps to the various management ordered purges of the IPC/ Fleetway art archives, the artists never offered its return? Artworks rarely surface for sale, although a page of “The Mind of Wolfie Smith” was sold earlier this year by Compal.
After a long career in comics, Vicente Vaño Ibarra left the industry, which came with some relief, because, as he himself declared, he had a love-hate relationship with drawing strips. He apparently enjoyed working as a comic artist, but he hated the harsh working conditions that were imposed on him. Unfortunately, his retirement was short: he was diagnosed with a serious illness, and died before his sixties.
Eduardo ended up retiring from comics for health reasons, reducing his artistic activity to some drawing and painting work for personal pleasure. He died earlier this year, his passing regretfully not picked up by us here at downthetubes. Our sympathies to family and friends.
“A wonderful artist who truly captured the essence of picture story telling,” notes former Battle editor David Hunt. “One always knew immediately what was going on in the countless clean and dynamic frames he created. Eduardo made it all look so effortless which it certainly wasn’t.”
WEB LINKS
• Lambiek: Eduardo Vaño Ibarra
• Tebeosfera: Eduardo Vaño Ibarra (in Spanish)
• Lambiek: Vicente Vaño Ibarra
• Tebeosfera: Vicente Vaño Ibarra (in Spanish)
• David McDonald of Hibernia interviewed Eduardo for their book, Fantastic Adventures (reviewed here by Peter Duncan, now sold out), during the pandemic. “He was a really nice guy,” says David, ” and sent me this video…”
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: 2000AD, British Comics, British Comics - Collections, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Obituaries