We’re sorry to report the death of British scriptwriter, illustrator, comic artist and cartoonist Jon Edwards, his friends, Shane Chebsey and Matthew James among those paying tribute at the weekend.
In addition to his work in comics, creating independent projects such as Doc Mathias, Osanje and Wellington Proud, Jon was also a very talented musician and songwriter and reviewer.
Jon also worked with Paul H Birch for many years on various different projects, including some 100 episodes of the serialised adventure comic strip for the Birmingham Mail Online, “Carter’s Column”, and was a contributor to the Creepy Kofy Movietime Comic project.
Published work also included work on an adaptation of The Seven Lives of Dr Phibes, published by Blue Water, and his occasional Frank Miller/Sin City-esque parody of the life of Christ for Comics International magazine.
He was also, for a time, a consultant for Core Design on one of the early Tomb Raider games. His commissioned illustration work included a portrait of popular You Tuber Kim Ellendale on both her gaming and reaction channels.
Scratch Comics Publisher Shane Chebsey is, understandably, shocked to learn of the passing of his dear friend and long time comics collaborator and supporter.
“Jon was a talented, writer, artist and musician. He was a kind and generous soul, who definitely gave more to the world than he took. I’ll miss him greatly.”
“Jon was a fine illustrator, comic artist and cartoonist in his own right with a long standing and abiding love for the comics industry and the fantastic community it inspires,” said his friend, Matthew James, in a Facebook post.
“He had always been an ardent champion of his good friend Shane Chebsey, right from Shane’s early ventures in the 1990’s producing Comic Artists of the Future, to which Jon was a regular contributor, right up to Shane’s wonderful success today with Scratch Comics.
“Jon was, above all, a good man. Kind and so very generous with his time. He had a gentle, caring soul. And he also had a truly cracking sense of humour.
“If you happen to see that cheeky little avatar of his as you’re wandering around the intraweb, maybe over there on ‘X’ where he used to stalk Mark Millar for me, why not stop and have a read, it’s sure to raise a smile.”
Our sympathies to family and friends at this time.
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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: Art and Illustration, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, Obituaries, Other Worlds
In Memoriam: Illustrator and Graphic Novelist Michael Hague 
In Memoriam: Comic Artist Adam Terence Stone 
In Memoriam: Comic Artist Iain Buchanan 
In Memoriam: Cartoonist Peter Maddocks
Leave a Reply