Coming Soon: Dazzle Ships and the Art of Confusion

By John Freeman on April 18, 2017

If you’re a fan of Commando comics, then you may want to check out Dazzle Ships: World War One and the Art of Confusion, out later this year.

Yes, it’s nonfiction – but there is a comics connection.

Written by Chris Barton this dazzling picture book explores art, desperation, and one man’s incredible idea for saving ships from German torpedoes in World War One. Dazzle camouflage transformed ordinary British and US ships into eye-popping masterpieces.

Credited to the British marine artist Norman Wilkinson it was his belief painting a ship in a dazzle pattern it could make it difficult for an enemy to estimate the correct range, speed, and heading.

The book art alone looks amazing, and Chris’ reputation as an author definitely makes this a title to look out for.

And the comics connection? The art is the work of Hong Kong born comic artist and illustrator Victo Ngai, a winner of a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal, no less, whose recent work includes promotional art for the IMAX release of Divergent.

Victo Ngai’s poster art for the IMAX release of Divergent

The samples of her work on her web site, not only include illustrations for magazines such as The New York Times, Scientific American, The New Yorker and Wired Magazine. There’s also a quite stunning wordless comic to read, I was born in 1930, 3500’N 10500’E which was inspired by her grandparents’ life in China.

I was born in 1930, 3500’N 10500’E by Victo Ngai

• Dazzle Ships: World War One and the Art of Confusion is due out from Lerner/Millbrook Press in September 2017. Pre-irder it now from amazon.co.uk (using this link helps support downthetubes, thank you)

John Freeman

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.