Book Palace Books have announced two new illustrators projects, both spotlighting top draw British comic creators and their work, including Ron Embleton, Frank Humphris and Denis Mcloughlin.
The next illustrators Special Edition, due to be published next month, has the rather long-winded title, The Very Best of British Boys’ Comics, but don’t let that put you off, because a preview reveals it’s simply crammed with gorgeous classic art from titles such as Eagle, Look and Learn and Thriller Picture Library.
Inside, Peter Jackson, the great historical illustrator, David Ashford and Norman Wright join forces to tell us about the truly extraordinary artists who excelled at historical comic strips and illustrations.
This latest illustrators project is very much a tribute to the life and work of the much-admired archivist and writer on British comics David Ashford, who, sadly, died last year, some of his last writings are included within, and there’s a smashing tribute to him from Book Palace publisher Geoff West, too.
In the article “Blazing Guns and Flashing Swords!”, David focuses on highwaymen in comics and books: galloping horses, velvet masks, Smoking pistols, stand and deliver… He takes readers on a fascinating moonlit ride through the perilous roads of old England to meet up with the artists who have helped to create the visual images of the notorious masked highwaymen who were known as “Gentlemen of the Road”.
In “British Illustrators of the Wild West”, David investigates the history and legends of the Wild West as portrayed in British comics. Gunslingers, Cattle Rustlers, Buffalo Bill, Kit Carson, Billy the Kid; all come whooping, hollering and slapping leather.
Also on the way from Book Palace is a more specialist tome, Charles Dickens: Drawings and Paintings by Ron Embleton, out in April – a complete collection of Ron’s Dickensian themed artworks.
Created during the 1970s these images covered a variety of themes including characters from the novels of Dickens, children’s street games, street vendors, horse-borne transport and Edwardian entertainment, and you’ll often find sets of them offered on auction sites such as eBay – but this book offers much more.
Charles Dickens: Drawings and Paintings by Ron Embleton includes an introduction to Ron Embleton’s art and career, including photographs of the artist in his studio and the techniques he employed to create these delightful images, scanned directly from the originals.
As ever, based on previews provided online, both items look top notch in terms of content and a determination to deliver these spotlights on vintage illustration to the highest of standards. check them out for yourselves.
illustrators Special Edition: The Very Best of British Boys’ Comics
Authors: David Ashford, Norman Wright
Artists: Peter Jackson, Don Lawrence, Geoff Campion, James McConnell, Frank Humphris, Denis Mcloughlin, Derek Eyles, Ron Embleton, et al
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due March 2021
Price: £25
Number of pages: 96
Format: Soft Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9″ x 11″ (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548131
• Order a copy and check out a preview here
Illustration Art Gallery presents Charles Dickens: Drawings and Paintings by Ron Embleton (Limited Edition)
Author: Peter Richardson
Artist: Ron Embleton
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due April 2021
Price: £30
Number of pages: 96
Format: Hard Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9″ x 11″ (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548124
• Order a copy here – special edition limited to just 600 copies worldwide
ALSO OUT SOON FROM BOOK PALACE
The Art of Sydney Jordan / The Art of Jim Holdaway (illustrators Special Edition)
A fitting tribute to two of the greatest British newspaper comic strip artists, Sydney Jordan, renowned for the finest SF strip Jeff Hawke and Jim Holdaway, the definitive artist on Peter O’Donnell’s iconic Modesty Blaise newspaper strip.
Authors: Peter Richardson (editor), Brian Bolland (foreword)
Artists: Jim Holdaway, Sydney Jordan
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due March 2021
Price: £30
Number of pages: 160
Format: Soft Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9″ x 11″ (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548094
• Order a copy here – special edition limited to just 1000 copies worldwide
The Art of Frank Bellamy (illustrators Special Edition) (Limited Edition)
Authors: Norman Boyd, Oliver Frey (intro)
Artist: Frank Bellamy
Publisher: Book Palace Books, due May 2021
Price: £30
Number of pages: 144
Format: Soft Cover; Full Colour illustrations
Size: 9″ x 11″ (216mm x 280mm)
ISBN: 9781913548087
• Order a copy here – special edition limited to just 1000 copies worldwide
WEB LINKS
• Book Palace Books: What’s New
• Ron Embleton art for sale at the Illustration Art Gallery
• Steve Holland’s tribute to David Ashford on Bear Alley Books
With thanks to Richard Sheaf
- 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: Books, British Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Other Worlds
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