9/6 Smart Arts #7

Another pair of fanzine illustrations from the days when dinosaurs ruled the airwaves!

COLD FUSION

The first is from the back cover of issue #3 of Hugh Campbell’s excellent Fusion zine published from Scotland. I did a bunch of drawings for Fusion mostly of Alan Moore/Alan Davis characters, including Marvelman, Kid Marvelman and this one of D.R. & Quinch the alien delinquents from 2000AD. Davis was my big artistic hero of the time, having replaced John Byrne as a role model, with work I found beautifully fluid, clean-lined and supple.

This was the golden era of UK comics fandom with a vibrant thriving scene spread across a wide range of home-made publications. These all featured extensive letters pages where the movers and shakers of the exploding UK scene would gather for heated discussion and debate, fans and professionals all in it together. Long before the internet, the comics community in Britain was extensive, well-connected, engaged and motivated to new heights by the incredible unleashed energies of the so-called British Invasion!

GALLERY artefact #057

Drawing © Grant Morrison 1984 (Characters © Rebellion)

IT'S BAT MAN AGAIN!

The Batman and Robin pic from 1985 has been taken from a bad photocopy on pink paper but I like the dynamism of the drawing here and you can practically see all of my influences in one image, from the Neal Adams foreshortening to the Terry Austin ink lines, the Marshall Rogers graphic effects, a bit of Byrne, a hint of Starlin…

GALLERY artefact #058

Drawing © Grant Morrison 1985 (Characters © DC Comics)

I have no idea where the original wound up and can’t remember who this was created for. I suspect it was for ace fanzine FA based on the time frame but it could have been for any number of outlets. I don’t think it ever showed up anywhere. This might be its only public appearance! Another good example of my illustrative approach, which privileged hard-edged linework and non-naturalistic visual effects like speedlines and textures.