The next issue of Eaglemoss’ Marvel Fact Files (Issue 195, published here in the UK on the 8th December 2016 features a stunning original Death’s Head schematic gatefold, the work of Simon Furman and Kev Hopgood.
For the first time, the secrets beneath the skin (flexible micro chainmail, don’tcha know) of everyone’s favourite Freelance Peacekeeping Agent are laid bare – in painstaking detail.
The Death’s Head gatefold was drawn by Kev Hopgood, whose arsenal of Photoshop SPFX does impressive justice to the robot bounty hunter, and written by his co-creator, Simon Furman.
“Who else could say with absolute confidence that ‘his neural net is housed within a semi-sentient regenerative gel matrix with its own independent molecular power cell’?” editor John Tomlinson notes. “Simon did, and much else besides.”
Here’s the cover to look out for…
In related news, John tells us Marvel Fact Files Issue 203, on sale in the New Year, will feature an overview of artist Steve Dillon‘s Marvel career, along with an overview of one of his classic Punisher stories with Garth Ennis, “Welcome Back, Frank”.
“I didn’t know Steve very well so my knowledge of him is more of a living snapshot from 1988-90, when he and Brett Ewins were setting up Deadline magazine,” John, a Marvel UK veteran, who has also worked for many other British comics, in various capacities, tells us.
“It was a revealing snapshot though – they were both clearly extremely talented and destined for great things, and they were the undisputed stars of South Thames Studios, where they rented office space at the time.”
• Marvel Fact Files is available to order through newsagents or your local comic shop – or you can buy direct from Eaglemoss here
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: British Comics, Comic Previews, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News