Here’s a story I drew for the DC Big Book of Thugs. The pay was pretty hopeless but the three-page format was fun, especially as it gave you the opportunity to draw historical stuff.
Like tricorn hats, for example. My first serious exposure to this headgear had been a toy ad drawn by the incomparable Russ Heath, the ten year old me had thought it one of the greatest drawings I’d ever seen.
And how it should be done.
30 May 2012 at 21:34
Wicked righteous post! I’ve always thought young kids would be MUCH more receptive to history and the valuable lessons it teaches through comics! OUTSTANDING! Also, I’m dying, as I clearly remember the add for the soldiers in so many comics in the 1970s growing up. Always wanted to get them, but never did….I imagine I wasn’t missing much. I had plenty of regular army men.
31 May 2012 at 09:03
I always wanted them as well, along with the 132 Piece Roman Soldiers set (also drawn by Russ Heath). Apparently they were all a bit rubbish.
31 May 2012 at 16:23
For $2 in 1975, I suppose we shouldn’t have expected much. :)
31 May 2012 at 08:42
Brentallica couldn’t have said it better.
2 June 2012 at 14:34
I like the eye and intensity of the soldier looking at us in panel 1 of page 3. Great face.
3 June 2012 at 16:33
I always preferred the chap holding the sword in the third panel on that page, at least I did until I was putting this post together when I noticed that he’s got a double line for a nose.
3 June 2012 at 18:18
I would have thought that just a kind of flat front to his nose. I’ve always admired your actions scenes like that of the governor shooting, in particular the off-balance victim.
5 July 2012 at 21:20
Did the Russ Heath ‘toy ad’ influence your 2000AD, Dredd Civil-War cover Mick?
6 July 2012 at 13:32
No, it wasn’t that. I think it was around that time that I’d first seen some images of Paul Philippoteaux’s Gettysburg Cyclorama, which seems to have had not a little effect.