Two pages that need absolutely no introduction. Gaze into the fist of Dredd is the best single panel in 80 years of comic strip art. I remember reading this as a child and actually being concerned for Dredd and then I turn the page and Boom! He punches straight through Fear's head! Straight through his HEAD!
This story, from the panel borders up, just gets harder to understand the older I get. I think, for the kind of story being told, this is the finest illustrated action story I've ever seen...and I've seen most.
Ach!...that sounds wrong. What I meant is I've always loved this story, but as a wee-un it was the figures I was captivated by...later it was quality of the inking/feathering...instead of getting easier to imagine arriving at (as an artist) it slips away. Now...I'm puzzled by how you worked out all the panel bordering. That must seem silly but I would urge any artist to try and un-pick how this was done, if you scoff at that you don't know what you are looking at, look again...on a deadline! It sets the bar so high. To me this really is the perfect 'realist' strip in some ways - in a hundred years of comics. I'm a big fan of so many styles and artists, it's impossible to compare usually. But with this strip - no movie is needed. It's all there for the reader and (IMO) it's more interesting to experience than a film would be. Hollywood can't touch this, it's a classic.
Yeah! Amazing comic pages! I poured over these pages as a lad. Used to dig them out and study the artwork time and time again. The Death stories were fantastic.
I hope your still adding pages to the actress & the bishop, A hidden legacy. Your black and white comic strip pages are in a league of their own. There needs to be more! I really hope you have something special, quietly building up in the shadows of your studio. A free range master piece.
I have a new Actress & Bish story bubbling away. Nothing drawn yet. And another thing which you probably won't like but no publisher for either. I might have to self-publish.
I always liked the pattern on the inside of Fear's man-trap as he throws it. Brian is that a 'ben-day' type pattern from Lettraset or something?...or did you draw them out??
Wonderful detail, great pages, I'd love to know how long you worked on them because it was all worth it. Even Dredd's apparent impotence in the pre-gaze panels helps set things up so well. I always loved the hands on the dark J's...it must be heart warming to know that there are thousands out there who, when they see a Heberden or Bouchard's node, they think of you Brian...all the best!
Morgan said: "Holy hell, those pages are brilliant, I miss seeing art like this in comics."
We all miss seeing art like this... On the radio today I heard someone say that the Moon Landing of 1969 will be the one event of the twentieth century that will still be talked about in the thirtieth century. Wrong. The Moon Landing AND Gaze Into The Fist Of Dredd.
Two pages that need absolutely no introduction. Gaze into the fist of Dredd is the best single panel in 80 years of comic strip art. I remember reading this as a child and actually being concerned for Dredd and then I turn the page and Boom! He punches straight through Fear's head! Straight through his HEAD!
ReplyDeleteThe best - 'nuff said.
Great moments in comics, number one.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant stuff. The lucky current owner is here...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.comicartfans.com/GalleryRoom.asp?GSub=8067
This story, from the panel borders up, just gets harder to understand the older I get. I think, for the kind of story being told, this is the finest illustrated action story I've ever seen...and I've seen most.
ReplyDeleteAch!...that sounds wrong. What I meant is I've always loved this story, but as a wee-un it was the figures I was captivated by...later it was quality of the inking/feathering...instead of getting easier to imagine arriving at (as an artist) it slips away. Now...I'm puzzled by how you worked out all the panel bordering. That must seem silly but I would urge any artist to try and un-pick how this was done, if you scoff at that you don't know what you are looking at, look again...on a deadline! It sets the bar so high. To me this really is the perfect 'realist' strip in some ways - in a hundred years of comics. I'm a big fan of so many styles and artists, it's impossible to compare usually. But with this strip - no movie is needed. It's all there for the reader and (IMO) it's more interesting to experience than a film would be. Hollywood can't touch this, it's a classic.
ReplyDeleteYeah! Amazing comic pages!
ReplyDeleteI poured over these pages as a lad. Used to dig them out and study the artwork time and time again. The Death stories were fantastic.
I hope your still adding pages to the actress & the bishop, A hidden legacy. Your black and white comic strip pages are in a league of their own. There needs to be more! I really hope you have something special, quietly building up in the shadows of your studio. A free range master piece.
ReplyDeleteI have a new Actress & Bish story bubbling away. Nothing drawn yet. And another thing which you probably won't like but no publisher for either. I might have to self-publish.
ReplyDeleteDraw it and they will come.(add Actress joke here)
ReplyDeleteHoly hell, those pages are brilliant, I miss seeing art like this in comics.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI always liked the pattern on the inside of Fear's man-trap as he throws it. Brian is that a 'ben-day' type pattern from Lettraset or something?...or did you draw them out??
ReplyDeleteI actually drew that, Stewart!
ReplyDeleteI always wondered about that...bleeding 'eck!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful detail, great pages, I'd love to know how long you worked on them because it was all worth it. Even Dredd's apparent impotence in the pre-gaze panels helps set things up so well. I always loved the hands on the dark J's...it must be heart warming to know that there are thousands out there who, when they see a Heberden or Bouchard's node, they think of you Brian...all the best!
ReplyDeleteMorgan said:
ReplyDelete"Holy hell, those pages are brilliant, I miss seeing art like this in comics."
We all miss seeing art like this... On the radio today I heard someone say that the Moon Landing of 1969 will be the one event of the twentieth century that will still be talked about in the thirtieth century. Wrong. The Moon Landing AND Gaze Into The Fist Of Dredd.