Remembering Ellie deVille, by Jenny Wackett

By John Freeman on December 27, 2019 • ( 1 )

Editor Jenny Wackett pays tribute to comics letterer and friend Ellie deVille, who died on Christmas Eve. Our full tribute to Ellie is here

Ellie deVille. Photo courtesy Jenny Wackett. Used with permission

I first met Ellie DeVille in the summer of 1996 when I was an Editor at Marvel Comics. The venue was a flat in Baker Street in London and the event was a joint birthday party for her and DC Editor Art Young.

“Don’t worry, it’s just a small do with a handful of writers and artists,” said Simon Jowett, a close friend of theirs, as we walked down from Baker Street tube. “We’re a bit late,” I replied. It was almost 11.00pm. Simon chuckled.

When Art opened the door the flat was packed with people and the party was jamming! I handed Art a bunch of yellow roses and Ellie said: “You’re lovely!”. And that was the start of our 23-year-friendship… Our chippy lunches, when Ellie would deliver her lettering to Dave Bishop (2000AD, Egmont Fleetway), wild weekends, barbecues in the garden, walking to Brent Cross on speed, days out, long weekends in Wales, walking Billy (her dog), chilling out (freezing our arses off at Barry Island, February 2018), lettering comics, snuggling up, chatting, dancing, giggling, laughing lots and being besties.

The main thing I will remember most about the amazing Ellie DeVille is that her door, her home, her heart was open to everyone, and all those that entered fell in love with her – whether you were strangers, work buddies, next door neighbours or faraway friends from India, Mexico and Japan. Everyone was welcome.

Ellie was one of the most important people in my life. I feel so lucky that she was my friend. I love her now. I will love her forever. Ellie DeVille is/was my Oracle x

Jenny Wackett
Editor Marvel Comics / Egmont Fleetway / Freelance

• Read our full tribute to Ellie deVille here

• Donations in memory of Ellie DeVille may be sent either to the Marie Curie Hospice, Cardiff and the Vale, Bridgeman Road, Penarth CF64 3YR or donate at www.mariecurie.org.uk/donate

About the Author
Latest Posts

John Freeman

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.