Hi Woodsy,
Just come across your MOONBASE CENTRAL blog for May 22nd, featuring Ron Turner's Rick Random/Space Ace strips.
During the 80s, I worked with Ron on his Nick Hazard strips and various other projects and since his death, have endeavoured to keep his work in print.
I'm currently publishing reprinted collections of Space Ace, now lovingly restored and colourised by UK artist, John Ridgway.
This is a non-profit making venture and like your Project Sword book, self-published and not available in shops. Two volumes out so far, with a third hopefully, next month.
If you think they might be of interest to Anderson fans, you might like to run the pages I've sent on your blog.
If anyone is interested in a copy, I'll send full details.
Cheers,
John
I've got several Space Ace strips, one of which I've reproduced right here on the blog. I admit I do prefer Ron's, Rick Random stories myself first seen in Super Detective Library, and having a final hurrah six part story (five parts drawn by Ron) in 2000AD comic.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I like the colourisation of these strips which takes away a lot of the appealing and signature stark contrasts in Ron's black & white art, but I suppose if you're aiming for a wider audience rather than the original fan base I suppose that's the way to go - not for me though.
I've still got some of the Nick Hazard comics sent to me by the very accommodating and all round nice fella, John Lawrence who, as he says was lucky enough to work with Ron during his later years. To my mind these later works from Ron were a welcome return to Ron's golden years.
Good luck with the Space Ace reprints, John.
Growing up with Ron's Rick Random and Space Ace, I never at the time thought it would look better in colour. It had an attractiveness and uniqueness all of its own, and I felt it didn't need anything else, even though I discovered later that it was a style, borne of expediancy. But Ron was first and foremost a painter and even though I'd seen his work on paperback covers, it wasn't until The Daleks appeared that I realised just how effective his work could be in this medium.
DeleteI think John Ridgway has done an exceptional job on Space Ace, using mostly Ron's own choice of colours and rather than merely 'colouring in', has thoughtfully used his expertise to re-interpret the work in the way I believe Ron would have done had he had the opportunity. In so doing, John has helped to identify aspects and emphasise elements, not immediately noticeable in b/w, thus taking the strip to another level of enjoyment.
I appreciate that not everyone feels this way, and to each his own, but I do think that Ron would have approved of what we're doing, and helping to keep his work alive for a 21st century audience.
Beautiful reprints John. Have you a website?
ReplyDeleteNo, but now we're coming up to the 3rd volume, I'm working on it. If you're interested in details of how to get copies, please contact me at spaceace.54@virginmedia.com
DeleteLovely project. Great subject for reprints.
ReplyDeleteHi Woodsy
ReplyDeleteThanks for displaying pages from Space Ace and already getting interesting feedback. Look forward to more.
I am trying to find copies of Space Ace vols. 1 & 2. I am in USA. Can anyone suggest a sales source?
ReplyDeleteThanks,
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Hi Lincoln, looks like the creator John Lawrence has a twitter address https://twitter.com/larryjohn_21
DeleteI never did say "THANK YOU"!
DeletePardon me for my tardiness...
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I also found this contact and payment info Lincoln: Ron Turner’s Beyond and and previous issues of Space Ace cost £9.50 (UK) £12.95 Europe and £14.95 (international). Again, copies may be obtained via PayPal (please use friends and family option) at: spaceace.54@virginmedia.com. Otherwise cheques (UK funds only) payable to: John Lawrence, to 39 Carterweys, Dunstable, Bedfordshire, LU5 4RB
ReplyDeleteI never did say "THANK YOU"!
ReplyDeletePardon me for my tardiness...
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