The77 – The Summer Special features a great range of strips from a wide range of comic creators, and we’re thrilled to present, a series of tie-in “Meet the Creator” interviews conducted by Morgan Spiceman with the writers and artists involved in the project.
This time out, it’s a quick chat with artist Charlie Gillespie, whose credits for 2000AD include “Sinister Dexter” and “Vector 13”, and “Armitage”, “Judge Anderson” and “The Inspectre” for Judge Dredd Megazine, has also been an art director of interactive apps and a lead artist for various video games companies. His work includes drawings, paintings and concepts both traditional and digital for various publications, working for companies such as Codemasters, Lionhead, Tantalus, Ideaworks and Wizards of the Coast.
What is The77 for you?
Charlie Gillespie: An anthology comic full of fun, hopefully!
How did you get involved?
Charlie: I answered a shout out for artists on Twitter.
What is the story you’ve drawn, “The Collector”, written by former Tharg Steve MacManus, about?
Charlie: Minds moving in history.
Who are the characters?
Charlie: Thanatos, a man of girth – and a reporter I like to call Bubbles.
What are your hopes for The77?
Charlie: It would be cool to see it flourish, we need more on going projects in the uk.
How long have you been doing art?
Charlie: Since around 1972.
Who are your favourite artists?
Charlie: Lucien Freud, Norman Rockwell, Andrew Wyeth, N.C Wyeth. Comics wisem, my currents favourites are Chris Weston, Liam Sharp, Clint Langley, Richard Piers Rayner and Lee Carter, I could keep going – there are loads…
What are your favourite comics?
Charlie: 2000AD, Hellblazer, Requiem Vampire Knight, Daredevil sometimes depending who is on it. I enjoyed The Magic Order and most things Garth Ennis – and the Mighty SpaceWarp, of course.
What are your influences?
Charlie: Painters and detail freaks, mostly.
What characters would you love to draw?
Charlie: I’d like to have a go at most things, maybe Spikes Harvey Rotten, the series!
Who would you like to work with?
Charlie: Dark and twisted Subversive Rebels, with a sense of humour.
What advice would you have for upcoming artists?
Charlie: Less is less!
Charles, thanks very much for your time and the best of luck with all your projects!
• The77 – The Summer Special is available to order here from GetMyComics
• Follow the Kickstarter for The77 #3, which ends 6th September 2020, by using this link to receive a notification. #4 will be released mid October
• Follow Charlie Gillespie on Twitter | Art Station
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