CRIVENS! COMICS & STUFF!: THE EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT - AND CAPTAIN PUGWASH SETS SAIL...

Thursday, 22 March 2012

THE EAGLE TAKES FLIGHT - AND CAPTAIN PUGWASH SETS SAIL...

EAGLE #1 - a landmark in British publishing history. However, nowadays, not many people know that not only did the new comic launch the career of DAN DARE, it was also responsible for unveiling another swashbuckling 'hero' to the waiting world - none other than CAPTAIN PUGWASH! Yes, that's right - JOHN RYAN's master of The BLACK PIG first appeared in the premier issue of MARCUS MORRIS's and FRANK HAMPSON's 1950s masterpiece - the Eagle.

This comic was the top-selling title of its day - and arguably the most famous adventure weekly that Britain ever produced. Even today, a dedicated fan club exists to commemorate the glory that was Eagle. And just think - it would probably never have existed if not for horror and crime comics of the '40s giving rise to a desire for more 'wholesome' periodicals for young and impressionable readers. From every fire a Phoenix rises - although in this case it was a Phoenix in the form of an Eagle.

Anyway, enjoy the front and back covers of the first edition - along with the debut of ol' Captain Pugwash, Britain's best-loved pirate.

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About the artist:

From 1985 to 2000 A.D. (little joke there), I contributed to a variety of high profile comics and magazines for various companies.

For IPC/FLEETWAY/EGMONT, I freelanced as a lettering and logo artist on various weekly comics and monthly magazines, and also as a resize comic artist and spot illustrator on pocket books, summer specials and annuals.

For MARVEL U.K., BLACK LIBRARY, REDAN and USBORNE BOOKS, I again freelanced as a lettering artist, also working as a restoration artist for MARVEL U.S., restoring and re-creating certain pages of JACK KIRBY art for their MARVEL MASTERWORKS editions.

I also lettered the MARVELMAN sample pages submitted to MARVEL U.S. when they were considering acquiring the character, which - as we all now know - they DID.

Supplied comic strips, cartoons and illustrated advertisements for local business campaigns and newspaper publication on a professional basis since the age of 16. Did my first paid art job for publication at 14 or 15 for Lanarkshire Education Board.

Have also made TV appearances as a collector of memorabilia.

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Just some of the titles I worked on are:

2000 A.D. * JUDGE DREDD MEGAZINE * DICEMAN * SONIC The COMIC * JUDGE DREDD, LAWMAN Of The FUTURE * CRISIS * REVOLVER * EAGLE * TIGER * BATTLE ACTION-FORCE * BUSTER * WHIZZER & CHIPS * WHOOPEE * NIPPER * SCHOOL FUN * ACE VENTURA, PET DETECTIVE * The REAL GHOSTBUSTERS * DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE * COUNT DUCKULA * RUGRATS * The TRANSFORMERS * DEATH'S HEAD * THUNDERCATS * GALAXY RANGERS * DRAGON'S CLAWS * SINDY * MARVEL MASTERWORKS * The TROLLS * LOADED * INFERNO * WARHAMMER * ROSE BLACK.

Copyright Notice:

Images remain the property of their respective copyright owners and are used here only for the purpose of review, promotion, and nostalgia.

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In the case of images culled from my own collection where copyright of an item isn't mine, I impose no copying restrictions on fellow bloggers.

(Although, if you don't allow copying on your own site, then you really shouldn't be copying from others, should you?)

And while you can credit this blog if you like, it's not mandatory. Who has time to make notes of every casually visited site during an idle browse of the internet?

In the case of anyone copying images of my own artwork and calligraphy, I affirm my right to be identified as the creator, and any such copying should not be for the purpose of monetary or material gain. (Unless it's mine.)

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Please also note that this blog is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or connected to, any organisation, business, or group, and is wholly independent.