The next issue of Doctor Who Magazine (Issue 505) is published in the UK tomorrow (Thursday 17th November). Alongside a cover feature paying tribute to the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton (accompanied with rare photographs), there’s an affectionate tribute to artist Steve Dillon from the magazine’s founding editor, Dez Skinn.
Noting his early work for Marvel UK on Hulk Weekly and Doctor Who Weekly, Dez describes Steve, who died last month, as “possibly the most remarkable comics artist the industry has ever known.
“For this title, his artistic creations within his first few months alone were so exceptional that even now, almost 40 years later, there are few who do not fondly recall the names Abslom Daak- Dalek Killer, or Kroton – the Cyberman with a Soul,” Dez notes of Steve’s work on Doctor Who, bringing characters created by writer Steve Moore to life (another great talent sadly no longer with us).
The issue has news on the next season of the show, currently in production, a further feature on the making of the new The Power of the Daleks animation, whose production team included comic artists Martin Geraghty and Adrian Salmon; a stunning finale to the latest comic strip, “Bloodsport”, written by Mark Wright, drawn by Staz Johnson, coloured by James Offredi and lettered by Roger Langridge; and a fascinating feature on the late Peter Brachaki, the designer who created the original look of the TARDIS interior back in 1963, drawn from interview material with his surviving family in Britain and Poland, and work colleagues.
Alongside all this is of course Lew Stringer‘s pocket cartoon “Daft Dimension”, which posits a lovely alternate career for the Second Doctor. A final gem to the issue, diluting just a tad the cover price rise to £5.99 (US $11.99) as rising production costs bite.
• Doctor Who Magazine is available in all good newsagents (and some run by Zygons)
• Also out now: The Essential Doctor Who Issue 9: INVASIONS OF EARTH
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: British Comics, Doctor Who, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News
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