Super Squirrel Undefeated: The Get-Well Carlos Project

By John Freeman on October 3, 2010

Kev Levell’s cover for the Get Well Carlos comic

Back in July, comic fans heard the news that the legendary comics artist Carlos Ezquerra was suffering from lung cancer, so they thought it would cheer him up if they sent him a get well card – and that it would make sense to say it with comics.

The project quickly morphed into a book as comic creators from across the globe got enthusiastic about sending Carlos their best wishes and that book has now been delivered to a very surprised but delighted Mr Ezquerra.

Wrapped in a cover drawn by Kevin Levell, the comic included get well messages from a host of creators.

A grateful Carlos – who had one lung removed in the battle in an ongoing effort to beat the cancer – has now sent a couple of messages through Facebook to Mark Howard, the man who made all the magic happen, indicating how much the comic meant to him and how it’s helped given him renewed determination to defeat the illness as he undergoes chemotherapy.

“I was overwhelmed with the get well card,” he writes, “a massive 34-page book full of beautiful illustrations and extremely nice words. It filled my heart with joy and my eyes with a couple of tears.

“What can I say but thanks – you are beautiful people and [you’ve] given me a reason to fight this illness and carry on working.”

The Get-Well Carlos team are now working on a follow up project and you can read more about that here on the downthetubes forum courtesy of The Emperor, if you want to take part.

• Get Well Carlos Ezquerra Super Squirrel Project – now reposted on downthetubes with thanks to editor Mark J. Howard

About the Author
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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.