Photo: Olivier Roller
Award-winning Charles “Charlie” Adlard is a British comic book artist and penciller, one of over 80 comic guest at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival in October, is best known for his work on the long-running, best-selling Image Comics series The Walking Dead created by Robert Kirkman.
“Charlie Adlard is the nicest man in comics,” says Festival patron and fellow artist Sean Phillips. “No matter how many times he’s asked to draw a zombie, he always smilingly does. No matter how many hours he’s been sat there drawing, he always makes sure every fan gets a sketch or an autograph. No matter how nervous the fans might be, he always puts them at ease. Nothing is too much trouble for Charlie. I wish I was more like Charlie”.
Born in 1966, he says he “did the usual school stuff, usual O and A levels blah, blah… All of this done in Shrewsbury – born and bred, y’see… Then went to study film and video at Maidstone Art College – emerged after three years with a BA and went to the bright lights of London to become a rock star!
“I found out that my BA was a pretty useless one where technical things were concerned so I found it hard to get a job within that industry – but I was also playing drums in a band and that seemed the better path to follow…
“Anyway – eight months later I found myself back in Shrewsbury and looking for what to do next – the band thing just didn’t work out…
“Then I suddenly realised why don’t I do comics again? Consequentially I spent the next 2 years struggling to get into that industry – and eventually succeeded! Thankyou to all concerned at Fleetway for giving me the chance…”
A panel from ‘Gulag’, a Judge Dredd story by Gordon Rennie drawn by Charlie, which began in 2000AD prog 1382. Image © Rebellion
His early credits include Warheads: Black Dawn for Marvel UK and Judge Dredd and Armitage for 2000AD. In 1995 he drew The X-Files for Topps, beginning his ongoing work as an artist for various US companies including Image and DC Comics as well as continued art for numerous 2000AD strips such as Nikolai Dante and Savage.
His major calling card today is his long-running role in the success of Robert Kirkman’s The Walking Dead.
A stunning duble page spread by Charlie Adlard from The Walking Dead Issue 78 – one of the artist’s favourite scenes from the hit comic. “he best work comes out when you least expect it,” he told Boomtron. The Walking Dead © 2013 Skybound LLC
“It staggers me why that’s the one that’s broken through,” he told German comics web site G Wie Gorilla in 2006. “It’s not like we’re leading the charge, there’s not a load of other books that aren’t about superheroes coming up behind us. We just seem to be floating around on our own. There might be a built-in audience for zombie books, but that’s even smaller and more specific than the superhero audience. And none of the other zombie books are going through the roof. It’s a phenomenon that I can’t really explain. And I don’t think there’s a new kind of reader who’s found his way into comics, it’s just the same old fandom. Which actually has its good sides, because they’re reading something other than superheroes for a change. If I was a publisher two years ago, and Robert had pitched The Walking Dead to me… But now it seems like we might actually get to finish this thing, however long it takes.”
Official web site: www.charlieadlard.com
• Charlie Adlard is on Facebook
Charlie appears at two events at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival
• Watch them Draw – Charlie Adlard: Saturday 19th October 2013 – 12:15 – 13:15 The Box, Wildman Street, Kendal
Ticket Price: £7.00. Purchase tickets online at The Brewery Arts Centre or by telephone Box Office: 01539 725 133 or in person in advance.
An opportunity to get close up to see Charlie drawing live and to find out how he goes about creating the images we see in comics like the popular Walking Dead series which he produces with American writer Robert Kirkman.
• The A-Z of Charlie Adlard – Sunday 20th October 2013 – 14:00 – 15:00 The Brewery Arts Centre Screen One
Ticket Price: £7.00. Purchase tickets online at The Brewery Arts Centre or by telephone Box Office: 01539 725 133 or in person in advance
Fellow comic artist Dan Berry will help chart Charlie’s fascinating journey as an artist, his life since “becoming” the Walking Dead and will help reveal how there is much more to Charlie than meets those scary eyes…
In order to ensure access to events LICAF advise you book tickets in advance and you’ll be guaranteed a seat – no uncertainty, no queuing. We’ve devised two options:-
1) Purchasing tickets for individual events
2) Purchasing a special pass offering substantial discounts to which you can add additional tickets if you wish.
Weekend Pass – £25 includes unlimited access to Comics Clock Tower plus you choose 4 daytime events (starting before 7pm).
Day Pass – £14 Saturday or Sunday includes unlimited access to Comics Clock Tower plus you choose 2 daytime events.
The Walking Dead © 2013 Skybound LLC. Judge Dredd © 2013 Rebellion
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
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: 2000AD, Events, Featured News, US Comics