Artist Colin Andrew: A Tribute by Syd Jordan

As we reported earlier this week, veteran comic artist Colin Andrew recently passed. Here, Syd Jordan pays tribute to this unsung artisan of British comics (and much more)...

An episode of Jeff Hawke: Overlord. Jeff Hawke © Daily Express

ENVOI

In the Eastern Chapel of Golders Green Crematorium, filled to overflowing with family and friends, Colin Andrew's simple "green" coffin rested on the venerable catafalque, its top and sides bedecked with drawings and written valedictions.

Between my first meeting with Colin and this moment, lay the gulf of sixty-two years. But the inner heart remembers. The 18th century turreted building in Dundee with a spiral staircase up to a little two-roomed studio, and the young darkly handsome visitor with a sheaf of drawings, an already evident talent and a dream...

A few years later and he, Willie Patterson and myself had been christened "The Scottish Mafia" by the Express strip department. A nickname which Colin's acerbic approach to authority did little to mollify! His was a quite staggering artistic grasp of form and texture, and his ability to create convincing scenarios without any reference was to amaze and intrigue his clients, from the world of comics to that of the advertising media.

When I asked Colin to stand in for me while I worked on a possible Jeff Hawke weekly, what I got was a fabulous set of "wall-to-wall" drawings with effortless dramatic lighting and wonderful character images of the aliens.

The literary quality of Scottish education is something I shared with both Willie and Colin and the scholarly side to Colin's nature was well served by that.

A heartfelt reading of Robert Burns' "A Man's a Man for a' that" and the closing music of Paul Robeson's "Going Home" linked his political beliefs to those of two others who dreamt of harmony among men. Modest, caring and honourable in his dealings, the tenor of his life was reflected in the range of people who came to mark his passing, good kindly folk whose grief was tempered by a sense of privilege at having been part of that life.

Good night, sweet prince;
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

You'd know where that's from, Colin.

In Memoriam: Colin Andrew

Colin Andrew. Photo courtesy the New Camden Journal

The following tribute is compiled with grateful thanks to Martin Baines, Gerry Dolan, Martin Griffiths, the Illustration Art Gallery (from where much of the information featured below about Colin's career was sourced), Steve Holland , the New Camden Journal and Geoff Senior.

We're saddened to report that the British comics industry is one less very talented artist with the loss of astute Scottish scholar and veteran artist Colin Andrew, whose credits span several decades including work for Eagle, Doctor Who Magazine, book publishers, advertising and much more.

Colin, who died in the Royal Free Hospital in Hampstead last week, had a long and varied career in comics and as an illustrator and book cover artist, yet remains one of the lesser-known names in the field despite some high profile work.

Born and raised in Dundee, he found work as a junior in Bill McCail's Mallard Features studio in Glasgow. His first published work was a cartoon in Lilliput magazine, and his first strip was for a local paper. For the latter he dreamed up the storylines and drew layouts for a story of anthropomorphic trains, in the spirit of Thomas the Tank Engine.

After his National Service, he moved to London and joined the King-Ganteaume studio, working mostly Westerns and historical strips for Pancho Villa, Rocky Mountain King, TV Heroes and other Len Miller titles. When the King-Ganteaume partnership split, Andrew continued to work for Kenneth King, contributing to Lone Star and Space Ace.

In the late 1950s, he was drawing a great deal for Zip (notably the "Captain Morgan" strip) and Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse. In 1960 he assisted Syd Jordan, another McCail studio alumni, on Jordan's Daily Express strip "Jeff Hawke" on stories such as 'Overlord'. The strips were written by Willie Patterson, with whom Andrew collaborated on two factual newspaper strips in Lord Beaverbrook's Glasgow Daily Herald, one a history of the world cup, the other on famous football players. He would go on to illutrate many sporting events as an illustrator in later life.

His favourite strip was also penned by Patterson, "What Is Exhibit X" in Boys' World, starring John Brody, a scientific investigator for the Daily Newsflash. The strip was subsequently taken over by other creators and Andrew found himself drawing "The Boy Who Knew Too Much" in Buster as well as features for Boys' World, Eagle, Lion and Tiger over the next few years.

A man of decided left-wing ideas, Colin and his wife Janet then worked as teachers in China in the mid-1960s, but he returned to strip work drawing "Tomorrow West" in Solo, followed by stints in "Fireball XL5" and "Stingray" in TV Century 21, and "Marina, Girl of the Sea" for Lady Penelope.

He also worked on the Eagle drawing "Home of the Wanderers" and "The Guinea Pig". In the 1970s he drew "Alias Smith and Jones" for TV Action.

His work in comics then became limited, as he concentrated on illustration (including work for both World of Wonder and Look and Learn) and book covers, including publishers such as the New English Library.

He also worked in advertising and for an advertising studio where he storyboarded television commercials; his work in the latter field included storyboarding the government's sell-off of PowerGen.

He was keen to support the Camden New Journal after its launch in the 1980s, volunteering to support it with cartoons and illustrations, and became a regular contributor for several years.

Andrew returned to comics in the 1990s via his friend Syd Jordan, who suggested he submit samples to Fleetway and Marvel UK. After some 18 months he was contacted by the latter, initially thanks to Paul Neary, and worked on several Doctor Who strips for Doctor Who Magazine.

It was at this point that I got to know Colin, although it was my successor, Gary Russell, who worked with him most. His work was astonishing, and perfect for the strip, bringing his talents to bear on bringing on strips featuring the Sontarans (in 'Pureblood') and Silurians ( in 'Final Genesis') - as well as many new creations.

"My memories of Colin are as a man of similar cloth to Syd Jordan," artist Gerry Dolan recalls, who also drew for DWM. "A gentleman who was talented visually, well educated and great company who also had a grounded sense of how the world worked. When they worked at Helicopter Grafix, those guys were mentors of a type to the younger generation of artists who were making a mark forthemselves in advertising.

"We worked hard were paid well and laughed a lot, and from guys like Colin and Syd learned a little bit of both the world we had missed and the possible world to come... I wish looking back that, that time could have stayed still a little bit longer."

In recent years, Colin shared Smudge Pencil studios, in London with artists such as Martin Griffiths, Kev Hopgood, Geoff Senior and Martin Baines.

"I met Colin, when I started working at Helicopter Grafix," Martin Griffiths recalls.

"He was one of those artist who could draw everything and draw it well, a fantastic artist! From a quick doodle to a highly finished illustration.

"Every artist in the studio would admit to being inspired by him.

"When Helicopter 'crashed' and all the artist went into other studios, we all kept in contact and would meet regularly for a beer or two, enjoying Colin's stories and opinions."

Storyboards for a Guinness ad by Colin Andrew.

 

"He was not a man who suffered fools," he continues, "although he would bite his lip if he felt like he was doing work for one, they would be paying the bills at the end of the day.

"Myself, Geoff Senior, Rick Fairlamb and Martin Baines, will miss his presence dearly at our regular Friday night get togethers."

"He was a brilliant, brilliant artist which was an honour knowing him," adds Martin Baines. "Colin could draw anything and his career spanned decades.

"I have known him for over 12 years as he was in the same advertising storyboards studio where I worked as a junior and I was awe of him. He always gave advice and support and will be greatly missed.

"I have lost a great friend and mentor."

"I'll remember Colin as a fantastic Artist and a Gent," says fellow Smudge Penciller Rick Fairlamb.

Colin Andrew. Photo: Geoff Senior

"Colin told amazing stories about his times in Russia and China when it really was 'Russia' and 'China'," recalls Geoff Senior. "As well as being an artist of the highest skill he was a font of historical facts and the wheeler dealings of political history.

"His travels were adventures themselves and he saw historical figures whom you read about in text books in the flesh.

"My favourite story was when in the Alps he went walking with a German friend. Without any specialist equipment he followed his friend through a narrow rock 'crevasse' which became so narrow he had to use flexed shoulders and 'shimmy' himself forward. At this point his feet dangling in space with no sign of any floor below!"Thankfully he made it across and they carried on. Soon they came to a dark hole in the ground. The German friend proceeded to jump into the hole. 'OK Colin, your turn now' called the friend from below. 'But it's dark' Colin exclaimed. 'I can't see the bottom!'

'Don't worry' came the answer. With which the friend lit a match below. 'There, now you can see.' Colin proceeded to jump just as the 'friend' blew out the match.

"That's my favourite story from Colin. Probably because it came from an era before 'health and safety' and people just got on with it.

"Colin was also convinced the Moon landings never happened," Geoff revealed. "The Van Allen belt radiation levels made it impossible, in Colin's view. I could never convince him otherwise, though it was a recurring conversation due to alcohol consumption.

"Martin Griffiths and I visited Colin in hospital the day before he died. We talked briefly as he was wearing a mask which hindered him a little. We made to leave and he smiled as he said goodbye.

"We never thought it was to be the last time we would see him. I'll miss him."

Colin is survived by his wife, Janet, and daughters Catriona and Shona.

Links

• Colin Andrew art at the Book Palace - http://bookpalace.com/acatalog/Home_Colin_Andrew_Art_808.html

• Colin Andrew's Doctor Who credits - http://tardis.wikia.com/wiki/Colin_Andrew

Copyright:

• Main photo: New Camden Journal

• 'What Is Exhibit X?' © IPC Media. Alias Smith and Jones © ABC TV. Doctor Who © BBC

 

In Memoriam: Dalek Designer Raymond Cusick

We're sorry to report the passing of Raymond Cusick, designer of Doctor Who's Daleks, and we thank Nick Abadzis for giving us permission to reproduce his visual tribute, posted on his blog earlier today.

While editing Doctor Who Magazine some 20 plus years ago now, I was lucky to encounter Raymond, and fellow early Who designer Barry Newbery, on several occasions. Both kindly opened their private archives to us, enabling publication of some early, previously unseen images from the very first Doctor Who adventures broadcast between 1963 and 1965.

While writer Terry Nation and the BBC jointly shared in the revenues generated from the sale of Dalek merchandise, as a BBC employee working in the visual effects department (alongside Ridley Scott, among others), Cusick received little more than a small bonus, £100 if memory serves, for designing Doctor Who's most popular adversary.

This cursory acknowledgment of his work by his employers at the time is one I am sure many comic creators down the years can identify with.

Godspeed, sir. You will be remembered.

Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Shaqui le Vesconte

This week, a scant eighth of the way into the 21st century that had already been mapped out for many children - and adults - we lost a true icon of British television and film.

The hallmark of Gerry Anderson's most famous and loved series was a setting one hundred years on. Now, at a halfway mark, we are in a unique position to see the past fifty years since series like Fireball XL5 must have opened eyes to the wonder of space, and wonder differently if now and in the next fifty years, the hope and optimism of Thunderbirds - his most human and accessible of series, speaking to every generation - is as much a fantasy as the universe of Steve Zodiac. in these dire social and economic times.

I only met Gerry once, briefly at a convention many years ago, and spoke to him on one other occasion, trying to arrange an interview for the Gerry Anderson Complete Comic History website - an interview that, unfortunately, never happened. Unlike others, I never got the chance to tell him how much his series, and particularly the comic and annual tie-ins I starting reading when only four years old (Joe 90: Top Secret), had meant, and continued to mean something and inspire well into adult life.

What that briefest of conversations confirmed is what many have already said, and probably far better. Quiet and modest, polite and gentlemanly. An incredible far cry from the action heroes he created but then, to other creatives, inspiration can also come from a quiet determination to do better, to raise the bar. Gerry's shows did that not only for the whole British and television SF genre, but also his own. During the 1960s, each new series was technically more brilliant than the last, and tried to push the envelope. Not always successfully but at least he showed a willingness not to full into a rut.

Another strength of his was recognising talent and giving those people under him the chance to flourish, producing quality work - names like musician Barry Gray, effects expert Derek Meddings, scriptwriter and editor of TV Century 21 Alan Fennell. Names which, like Gerry himself now, are no longer with us and have left their own legacies.

It was Fennell himself, writing in the Thunderbirds Television Mail Supplement in December 1965, who perhaps put his finger on the reason for success: "All the old 'do's and don'ts' of publishing had been ignored in one fell swoop. The originators asked why things could not be done... and then did them."

Gerry Anderson was not a born maker of puppet films, it was a serendipitous event that he became involved when no other opportunities to produce were about. So his outsider approach, the question presumably being 'Why can't we make puppet films as well as any other?" and then doing just that, is what does make them stand out. No-one had made puppet film series with such utter conviction and daring, and, if we're honest, no-one has ever come close to bettering them since. Which is why, close to the fiftieth anniversary of the creation of Thunderbirds, that series quite rightly lives on as the pinnacle of his success. It had real human values. It was a true family show. It put life above all else, in a world where - still evidently not learning from historic mistakes - it is sometimes placed last over commercial and political concerns.

Unfortunately, unlike the hero of his follow-up series Captain Scarlet, Gerry was not indestructible. It had been evident in recent years his health was failing. Even the heartening news that he was on the verge of making a new series of Thunderbirds could not push that to the background. As with all the most dramatic moments in his shows, the clock was ticking away...

But his legacy does live on, in every media conceivable. Hopefully, for at least another fifty years, until we reach those well-imagined and immaculately believable 2060s.

And hopefully, forever.

Thank you, Gerry. A lot of us are where we are now because of you and your team, because you all inspired, and made us believe not only what was possible - but more.

• Shaqui le Vesconte is webmaster for Gerry Anderson: The Complete Comic History

• Please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Society in memory of Gerry via his son Jamie Anderson's Just Giving Page:justgiving.com/Remembering GerrryAnderson

 

Gerry Anderson: A Tribute by Peter Greenwood

When we lose a personality of any kind, there is always a outcry for this loss, but in this case the loss is so much more personal to an entire generation of adults and children alike. Gerry Anderson, who passed this month, was and will remain the Walt Disney of United Kingdom.

He built his career from the ground up, struggling to get a foothold with no contacts in the film industry. He was, in the best sense of the term, a self made filmmaker, and as such he was instrumental in gathering a crew of such immense talent that their work resonates at full strength to this day.

From a tiny studio, Century 21 Productions produced adventures in the best traditions of a boy's own adventure annuals with its unique British charm and design. The magical and hypnotic space age craft brought all of us to the edge of our chairs.

This complex group of worlds were linked by the beautiful TV Century 21 comic pages, with artwork and storytelling that was and is to this day in step with the impressive nature of the shows each strip mirrored.

With the addition of Dinky's Die Cast range the craftsmanship that made England great was front and centre in every outing for the golden area that was Gerry Anderson's reign as the king of British children's television.

Gerry Anderson broke so much new ground in so many areas it will now be almost impossible in the future of children's television not to walk in his shadow, a legacy that is not I can almost say with total certainty ever never be equaled in it's diversity again.

He was the first to pull together all aspects of marketing for television, with his publishing division and a recording unit for children's albums TV21 Toys, fancy dress, sweets, ice lollies and an amazing stand alone Project Sword space toys line.

Anderson merchandising provided income to a whole generation of British workers. This was no flash in the pan operation... and for all of this, production on these shows had a budget that was not even close to the live action fare from ATV.

Ironically, ATV and all its owners have profited above and beyond even Lew Grade's expectations for these shows. I'm sure he would have ordered another 32 episodes of Thunderbirds had they understood the vast returns it was to continue to generate to this day.

You see, Gerry was a leader strong and with a sense of what he wanted from his creations, in his office with monitors watching the progress on his stages in order to get these complex children's film to the screen wielding the producers power with pure skill.

For myself, I loved these shows - all of them - and I played with the toys and read the comics and watched them and continue to, as they are ageless and timeless in so many ways. Ttheir charm is beyond a doubt as the next group of children will soon find.

And to this day, all of us involved in merchandising and licensing of classic television look to Century 21 productions and marvel at the vast scope of what was produced and accomplished ..it was such a uncommon feat of brilliant marketing unequaled to this day.

So we have lost a master of our childhood day dreams in Gerry Anderson, yet in one sense he will be with us in so many levels for all time.

So thank you Gerry, for showing us the way and raising the bar so high for the future of great British Television.

• Peter Greenwood, whose numerous licensing credits include a series of Thunderbirds-inspired Kit Kat adverts for Australian television, is currently working on the retro-merchandising of TV comedy My Favourite Martian, which was also a strip drawn by Bill Titcombe for TV Century 21. A digital collection of the strips is in the works for 2013

• Please consider making a donation to the Alzheimer's Society in memory of Gerry via his son Jamie Anderson's Just Giving Page: justgiving.com/RememberingGerrryAnderson


 

In Memoriam: Jose Luis Ferrer

We're sorry to report the passing of Catalan comics artist and illustrator Jose Luis Ferrer (José Luis Ferrér Rozalen), whose credits included 2000AD, Starlord and many other British comics.

His agent, Esteve Dalmau, told downthetubes he finally succumbed to an aggressive brain tumor earlier today.

A panel from the Future Shock
'Space Bug' for 2000AD
Prog 55

Signing his work as, simply, Ferrer, Jose studied Fine Art but was basically self taught and had been drawing professionally for more than 30 years, half of which have been spent doing comics for various publishers, mostly in Spain.

More recently, he also drew "Horrifying Hijinks at the Haunted Hotel” for Pulp Toons, who pay tribute to him here.

Lambiek notes he began his career drawing for the action comics published by Galaor and Toray in the 1960s. He drew for collections like Batallas Decisivas de la Humanidad, Hazañas del Oeste and Hazañas Bélicas, before turning to agency work.

He was affiliated with studios like Bulls Press, Union Studio (1975-79) and Recreo (1979-82) and worked for publishing houses in France, Britain, Germany, Sweden and the USA.

He worked for several British publishers in the 1970s and 80s: firstly, IPC and Fleetway, drawing strips such as Ants and Robo Hunter for early issues of 2000AD, and Ro Busters for Star Lord.

His first credit for 2000AD was a Tharg Future Shock, 'Times Past', written by Martin Lock for Prog 42.

"I also worked with DC Thomson through Norma Comics on war and science fiction stories, and also in Germany (mainly with Bastei)," he once told me. "Here, I basically did children’s comics, horror comics, and adaptations for TV series such as The Real Ghostbusters and Captain Future." He worked on this last series for five years.

Jose subsequently had worked with TV3 and have published with Norma Comics and have also worked with the principal publishing houses in Spain on projects such as encyclopedias,
text books and more.

• Ferrer's Future Shocks - A List
• Ferrer: A Flickr Gallery
• Lambiek Entry

In Memoriam: Joe Kubert

We're very sorry to report the passing of US comic creator Joe Kubert, whose legacy as an industry great and influence on comic artists the world over - including the UK - cannot be in any doubt, has died. He was 85.

Quite apart from his work in comics (which includes Tarzan, Sergeant Rock, Hawkman, Tor and the acclaimed 1996 graphic novel Fax From Sarajevo, Joe was a pioneer in art instruction, opening Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art school in 1976.

Now known simply as The Kubert School, the institute has turned out several well-known artists including Dave Dorman, Steve Bissette, Alex Maleev and many more - not least of which are his sons, Adam and Andy, who also teach at the School today.

"A great artist and a great man," commented British comics artist Dave Gibbons on Twitter as news began to break of his passing. 

His final published work is likely appear in the pages of Before Watchmen: Nite Owl or his solicited six-issue Joe Kubert Presents miniseries.

• Joseph 'Joe' Kubert: Born 18th September, 1926, died 12th August 2012 

A Tribute to Neil Emery, who helped bring back Charley's War

Here at downthetubes we were sorry to learn this week of the death of Charley's War fan site runner Neil Emery, who his partner tells us passed suddenly and unexpectedly, cause unknown, at the far too early age of 39 in June.

Charley's War co-creator Pat Mills campaigned for some time for the re-publication of the critically-acclaimd World War One series first published in Battle Picture Weekly. But it was Neil's interest in the saga, creating a small but fascinating web site devoted to the saga (that grew very quickly), which played a significant role in revitalising interest in the series and persuading Titan Books to reprint it.

Recently, after a long absence from the web following the death of his mother in 2006, Neil 'rebooted' the site and both he and I (as the current editor of Titan's Charley's War books) talked about expanding the resource, giving it a higher profile it fully deserved. Sadly, shockingly, those plans are, for now, in abeyance.

I had only limited contact with Neil and did not know him well, but he was always helpful in all our correspondence and I wish I'd known him better. ("I'm currently finding myself," he noted on his Blogger profile. "I did see myself in Ealing Broadway once, but couldn't find me in the crowd.")

downthetubes extends our sympathies to all those who knew Neil well at this time.

Here, Catherine Marie Gypsy Glenton, Neil's partner, pays tribute to him. in a piece she fully admits is "written from the heart"....

A dedication to Neil Emery


It is with great sorrow and heartache that I bring you the news, that my partner Neil Emery, who most of you here will know as the author and creater of the stunning Charley's War website charleyswar.tripod.com died suddenly on 18th June 2010.

He died in my arms, cause of death not yet determind, aged just 39.

Those of you familar with the Charley's War site will know how passionate Neil was on the subject and the time and effort he put in to making the site shows his dedication and love for the comic and World War 1.

The best tribute I can give you on Neil and give you a little of Neil's background, is by way of a few excerpts from the eulogy myself and my daughter wrote and read out at Neil's funeral...

We will never meet anyone like Neil again. Some people are lucky enough to be blessed with one gift in life: Neil was multi talented. A draughtsman by trade, he was an amazing artist, musician and historian, particularly of World War 1. A prolific writer and journalist admired by people around the globe for his articles and blogs, but mostly for his intelligence, wit and humour, he was a comedy genius.

Often referring to himself as an "anorak", his knowledge on subjects he was passionate about was infinite. He would have made a great teacher.

Those who were lucky enough to meet Neil in person would find the most polite, warm, quiet, unassuming man. He had a beautiful presence about him: he would always try to think for others. He was often shy, but if you were privileged enough to get close to Neil, the wall of shyness fell and there would be the most amazing character that could fill a stadium.

Neil was brilliant, articulate, a complex and a unique individual, misunderstood at times, but the good soul always shone through. Honest and deep, yet forthright and modest, he was a no nonsense person who wouldn't suffer a fool, yet was fiercely loyal to those he cared about.

He is idolized and loved by many for his wit and warmth. His real father Pete Townshend (that’s an in joke) described Neil as ‘The Legend’, and he was to so many, he captured the hearts of so many people it is no exaggeration to say that tears are falling all around the world for Neil today.

• Visit Neil's site at: charleyswar.tripod.com. Be aware that the site has limited bandwidth and traffic is likely to be high over the next few days.

• Pat Mills has initiated a comments thread on his Facebook page, Pat Mills Political Comics


• A tribute to Neil by 'Amanda and Super Amanda'

In Memoriam: Modesty Blaise creator Peter O'Donnell

We're very sorry to report the death of Modesty Blaise creator Peter O'Donnell, who died over the Bank Holiday weekend at the age of 90.

Peter, who lived in Brighton, celebrated his 90th birthday earlier this month, had been ill for some time, suffering from Parkinson's disease.

He began writing professionally at the age of 16, and, while writing several popular newspaper strips down the years, including 'Garth' and 'Romeo Brown', is best known as the creator of female action hero Modesty Blaise, first published as a comic strip 1963, but who also featured in several novels from 1965 onwards and also made it to the silver screen on more than one occasion.

The books (all written by O'Donnell) ran concurrently with the comic strip until 1996 and the comic strip ran until 2001, running to over 10,000 strips.

'Modesty Blaise' ran daily in the Evening Standard newspaper during the 1960s. O’Donnell retired from writing in 2001, but had continued to oversee Titan Books release of more than a dozen Modesty Blaise collections, contributing introductions and commentaries to his classic stories.

His work was highly regarded: O'Donnell counted author Kingsley Amis among Modesty's fans and won the Haxtur Award in the category Best Script for the Modesty Blaise strip story Bad Suki in 2006 at the Asturias Internation Comic Convention in Spain, Peter.

"Peter had a 75-year-long career as a writer," notes comics expert Steve Holland in his online tribute to O'Donnell, "his first story appearing in the pages of Scout in 1936. He then joined the staff of the Amalgamated Press, working on Butterfly, Comic Cuts and Illustrated Chips.

"...In 1952 he was asked to take over the 'Belinda' strip in the Daily Mirror while the regular author was ill; soon after he was invited to take over the writing of 'Garth', which he went on to write for the next thirteen years. Other strips written by O'Donnell include 'For Better or Worse', 'Tug Transom' and 'Romeo Brown', the latter teaming him up with Jim Holdaway for the first time."

"I had the privilege of editing Peter on his graphic novel adaptation of the first Modesty Blaise story, drawn by the late Dick Giordano," recalls Mike Gold for Comic Mix of Modesty's US comic editions.

"It was something of an intimidating experience for me, having to discuss how to translate his own characters into the comic book medium. But Peter was eager to learn and immediately understood the differences between the comic strip and comic book media and how to best exploit the advantages of the latter; he quickly put me at ease. We stayed in touch ever since; I'll miss his annual Christmas card."

Despite retiring, he kept in contact with fans via the Modesty Blaise Ltd. web site and elsewhere.

Such was the popularity of his heroine that a film was made and released in 1966, widely regarded as a missed opportunity; O'Donnell himself was disappointed by the casting and the film, which starred Italian actress Monica Vitti as Modesty. To avoid any reoccurrence, he purchased all the rights and so gained full control.

In the 1970s he was approached by Diana Rigg, who wanted to bring the character to the small screen with herself playing Modesty Blaise. He was initially enthusiastic but the choice of leading man, Adam Faith, later became a stumbling block.

As well as writing the adventures of Modesty Blaise, O'Donnell also scripted the comic strip adaptations of Ian Fleming's James Bond novel Doctor No, wrote the 1968 Hammer movie Vengeance of She and wrote a series of swashbuckling romance novels under the pen name of Madeleine Brent.

"Peter O'Donnell was respected as one of the greatest writers in the comics medium today and had a devout following amongst comics professionals and fans alike”, says Titan’s Managing Director, Nick Landau.

"I am honoured to have known him – and published his greatest creations, Modesty Blaise and Willie Garvin – for almost 40 years."

"What seems to have made the deepest impression on Modesty fans was not the storylines or adventures themselves, but the depth of Peter O'Donnell's characters," argues the Modesty Blaise Books web site's anonymous owner, a huge resource for Modesty fans. "Not just Modesty, but Willie Garvin, Tarrant, Fraser, Steve and Dinah... to name just a few.

Paying tribute to him on the London Evening Standard web site, avid fan Paul Woods sums up what so many admirers of O'Donnell's work feel. "I loved 'Modesty Blaise' since it first appeared in the Standard, which my mother always brought home from work," he recalls. "When I went off to university I made her clip out the strips and save them for me, and she had to describe the latest plot developments in her weekly letters to me!

"Later I collected all the Modesty novels and short story collections, and have re-read them many times. Mr O'Donnell was a fine storyteller, mixing suspense and humour most adeptly, and the relationship between his two lead characters, Modesty and Willie Garvin was superbly developed. There truly has never been a newspaper cartoon strip to rival Modesty Blaise - were there one it would certainly make me a devotee of that newspaper!"

Peter O’Donnell, born 11th April 1920, died on 3rd May, 2010. Survived by his wife, Constance, and their two daughters, Jill and Janet.

Obituaries and Tributes

• Bear Alley: a tribute by Steve Holland

• Blimey! It's Another Blog About Comics: Tribute by Lew Stringer

• College English: RIP Madeline Brent
"Although he is 'best known' as the author of Modesty Blaise, I personally knew him best for that series of unusually strong romance novels," writes Debbie Gascoyne. "I don’t think I would have ever guessed that they were written by a man; I liked them for their plucky and relatively believable heroines, romantic and adventurous plots, and for the glimpses they gave me of places like China, Venice and Cornwall, all of which I have now visited myself."

• Comic Mix: Tribute by Mike Gold

• Comic Artist Steve Epting: Good News, Terrible News
"If you've never read Modesty Blaise, I highly recommend it, particularly the first seven years or so of the strip which were drawn by the incomparable Jim Holdaway. I place these as my all time favorite adventure strip, even edging out Prince Valiant and Terry and the Pirates. In the words of Chuck Dixon - 'O'Donnell is in a very, very small club of writers who were masters of writing clear, concise, compelling action.'"

• Forbidden Planet International 4thMay 2010: Peter O’Donnell R.I.P. 1920-2010

• London Evening Standard, 4th May 2010: Modesty Blaise author dies aged 90

• The Daily Telegraph, 5th May 2010: Obituary

• The Guardian, 5th May 2010: Obituary by Steve Holland

• Make Mine Mystery: A tribute by by crime writer Mark Troy
"O'Donnell showed me that it is possible to write a strong female protagonist in an adventure series without sinking to the misogynistic burlesque of Carter Brown's Mavis Seidlitz and others of that era. O'Donnell treated his protagonist with love and respect. His portrayal of the relationship based on respect, not sex, between Modesty and Willie was another powerful influence on me. and the model for the relationship between Ava and Moon in my stories."

• The Times, 4 May 2010: Peter O’Donnell: creator of the comic strip heroine Modesty Blaise

• World of Hurt: In Memoriam - Peter O'Donnell
"I cannot overstate what an tremendous influence Modesty Blaise was on World of Hurt," writes Jay Potts, creator and artist on the mature readers recommended World of Hurt comic. "Once I decided to create a black and white adventure strip, I engaged in a crash course on the best examples of the genre.  Although, artistically I found my primary inspiration in the work of Alex Raymond and Al Williamson, from a writing standpoint Peter O’Donnell was my greatest influence."

Other Links

• Modesty Blaise Ltd: www.modestyblaiseltd.com
Official Modesty Blaise website, sanctioned by Peter O'Donnell

• Modesty Blaise Books: www.modestyblaisebooks.com

Information on the Modesty Blaise books, their cover artwork, and related media

• Modesty Blaise News: Blaise Blog
Modesty Blaise Books-related blog

• Enrique Badia Romero

Modesty Blaise artist

• Modesty Blaise Homepage

Includes an exclusive interview with Peter O'Donnell

• a href="http://www3.sympatico.ca/jim.pattison/modesty/index.htm" target="_blank">The Modesty Blaise Dossier by Jim Pattison

• Modesty Blaise books on amazon.co.uk


Modesty Blaise books on amazon.com


• Peter O'Donnell on Wikipedia

• Modesty Blaise on Wikipedia

John Hicklenton: A Tribute by Pat Mills

Earlier this month, the phenomenal comics artist John Hicklenton sadly passed away.

Pat Mills, who often worked with John, looks back at the career of an extraordinarily talented artist here on the downthetubes main site, a version of his feature for Judge Dredd: The Megazine which has also appeared elsewhere online.

Best known for his brutal, visceral work on flagship 2000AD characters like Judge Dredd (in particular Heavy Metal Dredd) and Nemesis the Warlock during the 1980s and 90s, John suffered from multiple sclerosis and recorded an award-winning documentary, Here's Johnny, about living with the condition.

He chose to end his life at the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland.

John was working right up to the day before he died, completing work on a new book, 100 Months, which will be published later this year.

• Read the tribute by Pat Mills