Author and artist David Roach is trying to identify the artists of a number of DC Thomson strips – and his renewed quest, highlighted on downthetubes, is already paying off thanks to social media, and an Argentinian artist’s connections with the Dundee-based publisher have now been been confirmed by his daughter.
Last night, David posted an example of a “Damian Darke” strip from Debbie 271 , “A Friend in Need”, and the artist’s identity has now been confirmed as the late Ernesto Luis García Durán by his daughter, Val García Durán, who is also an incredible artist.
The Damian Darke story “A Friend in Need”, from Debbie 271, featuring art now known to be by Argentinian artist Luis Garcia Duran © DC Thomson
“After Spellbound was cancelled it merged with Debbie,” David explains, and Spellbound strips like ‘Supercats’ and ‘Damian Darke’ continued there for quite some time. Interestingly, new Spellbound strips continued to appear in Debbie – mostly drawn by Jordi Badia Romero, after these carry-overs came to an end, I’m not sure for how long.”
After suggesting the art was the work of Argentinian artist Ernesto Luis Garcia Duran, also known as Luis Garcia Duran, Val, alerted to his quest, confirmed the strip was her late father’s work.
Born in Palermo, Buenos Aires, Luis began drawing and painting at the age of 13. He studied at the Pan-American School of Art, working in advertising after graduation and beginning his career in comics in 1974, working for publishers like Editorial Yago. His first work as a comics artist appeared in Rayo Rojo, aged 18.
He drew for publishers in Argentina, but also drew strips for Charlton in the US, through the agency Columba Editoral, and Fleetway in the UK, working through Lluis Llorente‘s Creacceones agency, but until now, it had not been confirmed he had also done work for DC Thomson.
“He worked for [English publishers for] several years, although not directly,” Val noted, “but through an intermediary.”
Ernesto moved to Spain in the 1980s, living and working in Marbella, publishing the Marbella Sun Guide, a tourist guide and the comic magazine, Mark 2000, and working for Italy’s Eura Editoriale. His strips for Euracomix series include Leticia Gray, La Selvaggia (The Wild) and Taxi Driver, written by Ricardo Barrero. At the same time, he created works of art for the walls of the local jet set.
Art for the strip “Nan Hai”, written by Robin Wood, art by Luis García Durán
He also drew strips such as Aqui la Legione (in 1982, his first strip for the company), Kozacovich & Connors (1987) and Nan Hai (1992), all written by Robin Wood, published in the magazines Skorpio and LancioStory.
A page from “Villa Caraza Blues”, written and drawn by Luis García Durán
Returning to Argentina in 1988, and in 1996 was the founder of the Asociación Creadores de la Historieta Argentina (the Association of Creators of Argentine Comic Books) and launched the short-lived magazine Hacha, which featured his much praised strip “Villa Caraza Blues“.
In 2003, together with Pedrazzini, he created La marcha de los sueños (The March of Dreams), a comic used in the campaign of Adolfo Rodríguez Saa for that year’s presidential elections.
Later in life, he focused largely on drawing covers and a career in fine art, studying drawing and painting with Ana Rank and Guillermo Roux, his work featuring in exhibitions.
Art by and © Luis García Durán
Writing then on the Forum degli Eternauti on his passing in 2010, his daughter Val García Durán, a talented artist in her own right, said “My dad loved his job, and always tried to do it better and better. He never stopped investigating, experimenting, moving forward, always with great respect for his profession and the public.”
Sadly, a project she and her father were working on together, remained unfinished.
“He was a man of strong convictions,” notes author Armando Fernandez.
DC Thomson employed a number of South American artists in their girls comics in the 1970s, including the greats Alcatena and Garcia Seijas.
David Roach‘s quest to identify artists on other DC Thomson girls comics continues, and you can read about his current quest here on downthetubes – please do comment if you can help!
WEB LINKS
Art by and © Val García Durán
• Can you help David Roach identify some mystery comic artists – and writers, too?
• Luis García Durán – Facebook Page
• Luis García Durán credits for Euracomix are detailed here on www.editorialeaurea.it
• La Bitacora de Maneco: In Memoriam – Luis García Durán (1946 – 2010)
• Tebesfera: Luis García Durán (in Spanish)
• What are the Clouds: “The Forgotten” – Luis Garcia Duran (originally appeared in Fucine Mute 45)
• Luis García Durán posted some of his art to his personal blog, which is still online at garciaduran.blogspot.com
• For more about Argentinian comic artists in general , this Spanish title,100 años de historieta argentina by Iván De La Torre, published in 2014, may be of interest
• There are some smashing old photographs of South American comic artists here
VALERIA DURAN
• Valeria Duran is online at valgduran.portfoliobox.net | Facebook Page | Instagram | Twitter | Wall Art for Sale | Red Bubble
- About the Author
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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.
Categories: Art and Illustration, Comic Art, Comic Creator Spotlight, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Obituaries, Other Worlds
Australian artist Peter Foster worked for DC Thomson in the 80s and 90s. His style is fairly distinguished, and identifiable. Do you need to know what stories he worked on? (He doesn’t have email, so I’ll have to snail mail him.) He says that none of his artwork was ever returned….
Hiya – information always welcome! DC Thomson doesn’t generally return art – you should see its archives…