It’s a party, yes? Draw Death’s Head Day is Coming!

Death's Head Promotional Ad

Remember this guy? If you do – mark your calendars, because #DrawDeathsHeadDay is fast approaching!

This annual event – now in its ninth year – takes place on 22nd March, a day when fans of the Marvel UK character flood the internet with art, cosplay, photos, etc. of their favourite Freelance Peacekeeping Agent. Oh, and celebrate his co-creator Simon Furman‘s birthday, too!

Just post your Death’s Head drawings, cosplay, photos, origami anywhere on social media on 22nd March using the #DrawDeathsHeadDay hashtag!

It’s a party, yes?

Death's Head's first appearance in "High Noon Tex", a strip published in a number of Marvel UK titles in the 1980s, written by Simon Furman, drawn by Bryan Hitch
Death’s Head’s first appearance in “High Noon Tex”, a strip published in a number of Marvel UK titles in the 1980s, written by Simon Furman, drawn by Bryan Hitch

First created as an supporting character for Marvel UK’s Transformers comic by writer Simon Furman and artist Geoff Senior, Death’s Head went on to become a star in his own right, arriving in the Marvel universe by way of a Doctor Who strip, “Crossroads in Time” (published in Doctor Who Magazine Issue 135) via the publisher’s Dragon’s Claws title and his own initial series.

He’s since guest starred in many a Marvel comic, and spawned further iterations, too, most notably Death’s Head II, created by Paul Neary, Dan Abnett and Liam Sharp. But back in 1991, before DH II debuted, there were plans for another series afoot at Marvel UK featuring the original “peacekeeping agent”, abandoned by Paul Neary. A “what If?” today near mythical in status, Simon Furman commissioned Geoff to draw this fantastic “What Might Have Been” cover for #DrawDeathsHeadDay!

Excellent, yes?

Death’s Head #1 (1991) - as it might have been, a commission by Death’s Head co-creator Simon Furman, drawn by the bounty hunter - sorry, peace-keeping agent’s - co-creator, Geoff Senior
Death’s Head #1 (1991) – as it might have been, a commission by Death’s Head co-creator Simon Furman, drawn by the bounty hunter – sorry, peace-keeping agent’s – co-creator, Geoff Senior

• Post your Death’s Head offers anywhere on social media using the hashtag #DrawDeathsHeadDay anytime on March 22nd. Head over to this Facebook event page for more information

Check out some of last year’s Death’s Head homage here on downthetubes

Follow Simon Furman on Twitter

Follow Geoff Senior on Twitter | Instagram

An early Death's Head advertorial strip drawn and lettered by Bryan Hitch, for Marvel UK, published in 1989 in various titles. "The whole point of these one pagers was to tell a story in one page using the creative team of the book. Only one editor misunderstood the brief!" recalls Richard Starkings, who planned the promotion
An early Death’s Head advertorial strip drawn and lettered by Bryan Hitch, for Marvel UK, published in 1989 in various titles. “The whole point of these one pagers was to tell a story in one page using the creative team of the book. Only one editor misunderstood the brief!” recalls Richard Starkings, who planned the promotion

DEATH’S HEAD COLLECTED

Death's Head: Freelance Peacekeeping Agent (2020)

Death’s Head: Freelance Peacekeeping Agent
Published 3rd March 2020
Published by Marvel Comics
ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1302923365

Meet one of Marvel UK’s biggest stars… the robot for hire known as Death’s Head. Just don’t call him a bounty hunter, yes?

Join the android assassin in this pulse-pounding collection of his original adventures, from distant dimensions to the far future. Death’s Head has his sights locked on an array of enemies… and will encounter familiar faces including the Fantastic Four, the Hulk, She- Hulk and Arno Stark, the ruthless Iron Man of the future.

But are you ready for Death’s Head’s mind-bending origin? For that matter, is he?

Buy this book and stay healthy, yes?

Collecting: Dragon’s Claws (1988) #5; Death’s Head (1988) #1-7, 9-10; Death’s Head: The Body In Question (1990) GN; Fantastic Four (1961) #338; Sensational She-Hulk (1989) #24; What If? (1989) #54; Marvel Heroes (2008) #33; material from Marvel Comics Presents (1988) #76

Death’s Head: Volume 1
by Simon Furman, Geoff Senior, Bryan Hitch
Published in 2007 by Panini UK

Death’s Head: Volume 2
by Simon Furman, Walter Simonson, Steve Parkhouse
Published in 2007 by Panini UK

The cult British freelance peacekeeping agent, Death’s Head returns once again in a collection of his greatest adventures that take him into the far future and into the past as he locks blasters with a host of enemies both villainous and noble, including the Fantastic Four and the corrupt Iron Man of 2020. 
Once more, the characters’ creator returns with an exclusive introduction. 

Reprints Death’s Head #8-10, The Sensational She-Hulk #24, Fantastic Four Vol.1 #338, Marvel Comics Presents Vol.1 #76, Strip #13-20 and What If… Vol.1 #54

Death's Head: Clone Drive (2020)

Death’s Head: Clone Drive
by Tini Howard (Writer), Kei Zama (Artist)
Published by Marvel Comics, 7th January 2020

Rising stars Tini Howard and Kei Zama take on Marvel UK’s hottest character, Death’s Head. When intergalactic mech merc Death’s Head botches a job and wakes up half assembled at a punk show, he goes on a rampage.

He’s not the only one feeling broken down and obsolete, however, as former Young Avengers Wiccan and Hulkling are on the scene with a plan of their own. There’s no way the best robot bounty hunter – oops, we mean ‘freelance peacekeeping agent’ – in this universe is getting taken down by a couple of C-list heroes still wearing their teenage tights. No, if anybody’s gonna take out Death’s Head, it’s gonna be… Death’s Head, yes? It’s time for an upgrade – meet the adolescent new model who’ll turn Death’s Head’s world upside down…

Collecting: Death’s Head 1-4

WEB LINKS

Transformers UK – A Death’s Head Reading Guide



Categories: British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, US Comics

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1 reply

  1. Thanks for the heads up. I’m in! Already have ideas, and still have some of my original Death’s Head comics to ‘draw’ inspiration from

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