I have been privileged to work on various comic strips related to things I loved in my childhood (and well beyond). In addition to a recurring stint on Doctor Who, I worked on a Thunderbirds strip for Redan from 2000 – 2005.
I was fully aware, having grown up with the gorgeous work in the TV21 comic, of what had been done by my predecessors, in particular Frank Bellamy, Jennings, Ron Turner; Ron Embleton and - my own particular favourite artist - Mike Noble, on Dalek and Anderson strips in that title.
There were commercial and demographic reasons why my strips were drawn in a much more simplified way, but I always regretted that I hadn’t done work on Thunderbirds that could try to approach the excellence of the 1960s strips.
More recently, I’ve been lucky enough to redress the balance somewhat with full colour covers for the Signum Century 21 and Eaglemoss TV21 reprints, and latterly with the Big Chief Studios range of Anderson action-figures’ box artworks and prints.
Even more fortunately, I struck up a friendship with Mike Noble, and we have used the opportunity to work together three times now, once on the Big Chief Captain Scarlet box and also on a poster for the Network release of the Captain Scarlet blu-rays.
But the first thing we worked on together was a poster of Zero-X, which Mike had drawn in a long series of brilliant comic strips in TV21. Mike was interested to see if his artwork could be combined with my digital painting, a technology I was surprised to find he was fascinated by.
He supplied a full-colour traditionally-painted image of the craft, which I then (under his strict supervision) set into my digital painting of a stellar nursery.
Happily, we both liked the results and issued it as a poster a few years ago. Working with Mike has been an unexpected career highlight for me; he is one of the greats of the comics world, as well as being a true gentleman.
Since I was asked to contribute to this blog, I have managed to add to my (long, long) list of wonderful 1960s SpaceX and Century 21 toys (and many other genre-related items) ...
something which has been a bit of a Holy Grail for me since I saw the red and black illustration (and strangely brief description) of it in the old Project Sword catalogue: the Century 21 Zero-X. So the surprises keep coming . . .
Lee Sullivan
UK
My favourite TV21 was also Mike Noble, followed by Ron Embleton. Mike's strips had a dynamism about them that easily rivalled that of Jack Kirby. I was pleased to see his new artwork in the Anderson comics back in the '90s. Hard to believe that it's now been quarter of a century or so ago since they first appeared. 25 years before that, TV21 was still on the go.
ReplyDeleteI know Kid, where does the time go! I have some of those 90's Anderson comics in the loft along with Action 21 and other Engale publications.
DeleteFantastic article Lee. Its great to see you collaborating with Mike Noble. I love the fact that you have painted the Zero-X and managed to track down the toy. Great collection too. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteThanks, my pleasure entirely.
DeleteGood lord! I woulda given anything for that Zero-X toy!
ReplyDeleteMike Noble and Ron Turner were always my favourite illustrators, with Ron Embleton a close third. Its great to see Lee following in such talented footsteps and keeping the bar high! have to say Lee, you've lost brownie points for further excluding me from the Zero X owners club! I'm even more jealous! ha, ha
ReplyDeleteSorry Bill. If I'd have known . . . :)
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