The YouTube Comic & Collecting Channel, Still Only 35c has just released an interview with Alan Murray, Marvel UK Art Director from 1973 through 1979.
Alan joined Marvel UK early on, in February 1973, and his first work was on Spider-Man Comics Weekly No. 7, cover dated 31st March.
“At the peak, there were three artists with me art directing and producing artwork, he told Robert Menzies in his free-to-read FANSCENE No. 4 interview. “We had part-time staff who came in for the marketing and to send out merchandise. At maximum, you had about six people for the whole operation.
When the [comic] mergers started, we weren’t producing as many as seven and the staff decreased to suit,” he continued. “When we moved back to Sevenoaks it was back to Neil [Tennant] editing, me producing artwork and George Mina, my assistant artist. George was working with us in Holborn, then came with us to Sevenoaks. We eventually became surplus to requirements when Dez Skinn took over.”
Alan returned to freelancing after his Marvel UK days and enjoyed a long career in design. He sold a large number of early MUK artworks back in 2023.
In the new Still Only 35c interview Alan discusses his favourite art, and shares behind-the-scenes stories from Marvel UK’s history. This video also touches on Bronze Age comics.
YouTube Comic & Collecting Channel, Still Only 35c, shares CGC unboxings, insights on comic book history, collecting tips and tricks for both new and seasoned collectors, as well as conversations with creators and other collectors.
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Head downthetubes for…
• Check out the interview with Alan Murray in FANSCENE No. 4, which is free to read online here
• downthetubes, 1st August 2023: Marvel UK rarities, including “Dracula Lives” No. 1 cover, offered in latest Excalibur comics auction
Thanks to Andrew John Standish for the news tip
- About the Author
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John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as 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 Creator Interviews, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Features, US Comics
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