I’m sorry to report the passing of artist Edmund Bagwell, aka Edmund Perryman, who I first met as one of the team working in the Marvel UK basement back in the 1990s, bringing his unique style to the Black Axe series as well as Motormouth and Killpower.
Also known for his animation and computer graphics work Edmund, who lived in Seoul, South Korea, was, sadly, at just 50, a victim of pancreatic cancer.
His first professionally published work was for Deadline in 1988, writing and drawing “Syd Serene” as Anonyman.
(Edmund did work under other aliases too, including an early contribution to the Judge Dredd Mega-Special (1992) as Edmund Kitsune).
Post Marvel UK, he went on to work on 2000AD (on strips such as “Cradlegrave,” and “Indigo Prime”, both written by John Smith) and many other projects, including Liam Sharp‘s Event Horizon (perhaps unsurprisingly, since he and Liam were in that Bullpen, too).
“Edmund lived with me and Christina [McCormack] in Richmond, just outside London, back in the Marvel UK days,” Liam recalls. He also contributed to Mam Tor, drawing ‘Chase Variant’, and illustrating my prose story ‘Jed Lightsear’. We kept in touch, on and off, even after he moved to Seoul, and he did manage to get up to stay with us in Derby shortly before we moved to the US. We were in touch about Madefire projects too.
“Just a brilliant, under-appreciated talent with a unique voice.”
Also paying tribute, 2000AD commented on Twitter: “We’re devastated to hear the brilliant artist Edmund Bagwell has passed away. He will be sorely missed and our thoughts are with his family.”
Back in 2013, Mark Kardwell enthused about Edmund’s work on “Indigo Prime” on CBR, saying “Bagwell’s lines have a slickness that could be compared to masters like Michael Golden, Chris Sprouse or Duncan Fegredo”.
He also worked on “The Ten Seconders” written by Rob Williams in 2013, and in Kardwell’s short interview for CBR Bagwell described his work on Event Horizon as a “Year Zero” event in his career before he plunged into his time working on 2000AD.
On Twitter, Duncan Fegredo, who was his contemporary in his student days at Leeds Polytechnic, notes he was his model for Kid Eternity, back in 1991.
Edmund Bagwell in happier times, posing as Kid Eternity in my studio around 1989 ish. Photoshoot frequently interrupted by Xenon 2. pic.twitter.com/EbIDtCpdzA
— Duncan Fegredo (@duncanfegredo) May 16, 2017
“I was very sad to hear of his death,” said David Leach, who was also an editor at Marvel UK. “He was a genuinely fantastic artist with a wonderfully original style.
“I can’t say I knew him well,” he continues. “I first met him back in the glory days of Marvel UK and always enjoyed his company, he had an exceedingly dry sense of humour and a style of drawing I found utterly intoxicating, I came very close to working with him on a project, but sadly it was not to be. He will be sorely missed.”
A fellow Marvel UK editor, Alan Cowsill says Edmund was “one the of the best artists and best friends I’ve had.”
In his own tribute, recounting their days in a shared house, Andrew notes “Edmund was one of those artists who just had to draw and create. It was a compulsion. It was what he did, whether he got paid for it or not.”
Rob Williams has also echoed the views of many other comic creators who knew him, acknowledging his talent.
“I can’t believe that Edmund has gone,” says fellow artist Doug Braithwaite. “I have many fond memories of our time spent hanging out in those heady days at Marvel UK and the evenings we spent drinking and carousing in Richmond. It’s all so sad…
“Edmund was a wonderful, unique talent who’s work always showed a great love and understanding of the medium. He was a craftsman and storyteller of the highest order and I only wish more people were given exposure to his work- it was quite visionary. We will all miss him terribly and my condolences go out to his wife, Hae Sook and his family and friends”.
I’m more than happy to echo the comments. Even in his earlier career, his work had a unique style which he was far too modest to acknowledge even back in his MUK days, but it exploded on the pages of 2000AD.
My sympathies to all those who know him and his family.
• Edmund’s family have asked that donations be made to Pancreatic Cancer UK in Edmund’s memory
• Edmund Bagwell’s blog, “Four Colours Good” is here or you can find his musing on Twitter @BagG_E
• 2000AD has a tribute to Edmund here
• Alan Cowsill pays tribute to his friend here
• Steve Holland also has a tribute to Edmund over on Bear Alley
• Edmund Bagwell’s credits are listed here comicbookbook.db.com | His work as Edmund Perryman is listed here
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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.
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