SF Comics: Creators' Views

The Eagle Flies Again SF Special published in September 2005 featured over 50 contributions from British comics revealing their favourite SF comics. But the editorial team received a few more than they had space to print, so, here are those that weren't included in the hard copy edition...

Rob Kirby, Author
Currently working on: Marvel UK index and history book, tentatively re-titled the Wonderful World of Marvel UK, for publication in the near future by Quality Communications (who publish Comics International). The book will of course be copiously illustrated with covers and posters created especially for the British book, as well as previously unseen artwork for many series and comics that never got past the drawing board stage.
All-time favourite SF comic character? Warlock
What's your favourite SF comic strip that you've worked on? Deathshade
Why? Only self-created strip that I've written and inked other than working (very, very) intermittently on series such as British Bulldog.
Which comics artist best known for their SF strip do you most admire? Jim Starlin
Which comics writer best known for their SF strip do you most admire? Jim Starlin
If you could work on a comic strip based on just one sf television series or film, which would it be? Doctor Who
Why? Simply because it's also one one of Britain's longest running, and most recognisable, comic strips across several publishers and many decades.
The return of Doctor Who to TV -- a good or bad idea? Good, and long overdue. We need that eccentric British feel of the Doctor Who's and Sapphire and Steels etc. to balance out the high standard of recent American output provided by The X-Files et al over the last decade or so.
Is Star Trek dead or just resting? I'm sure it's just resting, and that it'll come back refreshed. The mistake they made was to continually launch new series too close to the end of the previous one, rather that allowing a breathing space between productions, and hence time to reflect on new directions. Like Doctor Who, the Star Trek Universe now has its own momentum, and is way too big to just fade away over night forever.

Barry Renshaw, Writer, Publisher
Currently working on: RedEye, Twelve, Seven Sentinels
Web Siite: www.enginecomics.co.uk
All-time favourite SF comic character? Judge Dredd
What's your favourite SF comic strip that you've worked on? I've done a lot of fanzine stuff over the years, and it's still Dredd!
Why? It's a strip (along with Marvel Star Wars reprints) that I grew up with from a really young age and most connected to, this ultimate anti hero, fair but mostly firm, it was what convinced me I wanted to draw comics for the rest of my life.
Which comics artist best known for their SF strip do you most admire? So many... where do I start? Don Lawrence, Carlos Ezquerra, Brian Bolland, Cam Kennedy... the list goes on.
Which comics writer best known for their SF strip do you most admire? John Wagner, for just his huge prolific output, his consistent quality, and his incredibly tight scripts, that are really examples of telling a story simply and effectively.
My fellow Squaxx have a running joke when we discuss our scripts, comparing them to Wagner...
PANEL 1: Dredd.
PANEL 2: Dredd on Lawmaster.
PANEL 3: Dredd shoots Lawgiver.
Do you read science fiction or fantasy? If so, who's your favourite author? I grew up with early Heinlen, Arthur C Clarke and Bradbury. These days, when I get time, its Philip K Dick who really gets my brain going.
If you could work on a comic strip based on just one sf television series or film, which would it be? Star Wars. Trek is a close second, Doctor Who a close third.
Why? Such a huge universe to play in. And I love lightsabres.
The return of Doctor Who -- a good or bad idea? Bloody brilliant idea. And Russell T Davis deserves a medal.
Is Star Trek dead or just resting? Resting. It needs new blood and to remember where it came from. The Original Series was daring and controversial in its time. DS9 had flashes of genius. The less said about Voyager the better. For Trek to work in these post-Buffy, post-24 days it needs to have strong characters that change and grow, and producers willing to take a chance, rather than just using it as an overflogged cash cow. They could have really done something great with Enterprise, but they've instead jepardised the whole franchise. Learn from Russell T Davies: let the fans take over!

John Reppion, Writer
Currently working on: Albion with my wife Leah Moore, my father in law Alan and my good mate Shane Oakley.
Web site: http://uk.geocities.com/moore_reppion@btinternet.com/index.html
All-time favourite SF comic character? Jack B. Quick - I love the one where he butters the cat's back to test the "butter side down vs. land on their feet" hypothesis. It's stupid but clever.
What's your favourite SF comic strip that you've worked on? I'm going to have to say Albion since it's the only vaguely SF stuff I've worked on in comics
Why? Apart from the above mentioned reason, everyone loves gadgets and robots and time travel and... whoops... I've said too much!
Which comics artist best known for their SF strip do you most admire? Virgil Finlay. His artwork is just stunning.
Do you read science fiction or fantasy? If so, who's your favourite author? H. P. Lovecraft. Not an original choice but he's the best.
If you could work on a comic strip based on just one sf television series or film, which would it be? Fred Dekker's Night Of The Creeps (1986)
Why? It's got everything: Aliens, zombies, axe murderers. It would make a fantastic comic.
The return of Doctor Who -- a good or bad idea? Billie Piper -- Bad Idea.
Is Star Trek dead or just resting? I can feel a pulse but it's weak...

Andrew Skilleter, Artist
Currently working on: Thunderbirds, Doctor Who, Dan Dare and miscellaneous illustration and creating/writing.
Web site: www.andrewskilleter.co.uk
All-time favourite SF comic character? Has to be Dan Dare, meaning the quality and genius of the entire creation.
What's your favourite SF comic strip that you've worked on? As a painter rather than a picture strip artist, then of course Doctor Who.
Why? Because of the immense scope and variety it offers to artists and its very British quality.
Which comics artist best known for their SF strip do you most admire? Different ones for different reasons; Frank Hampson for the genius of creating the whole package from scratch, Keith Watson for his graphic and hardware brilliance, Frank Bellamy for his unique personal style. Ron Embleton and Don Lawrence for their technique and colour skills pioneering the painted strip in the UK.
Which comics writer best known for their SF strip do you most admire? Frank Hampson. Who can match the Venus story? -- no-one.
Do you read science fiction or fantasy? If so, who's your favourite author? I'm a promiscuous reader and if not a mainstream novel then it'll be fantasy with a small ‘f' -- I think Pratchett reigns supreme in his genre -- I warm to his humour, common sense and humanity and rooting for the ordinary guy (& gal). But I had a thing for a while for Robert Rankin's quirkiness and I explore some of these age cross-over novels.
If you could work on a comic strip based on just one sf television series or film, which would it be? Given my history, I guess it would be Doctor Who but I'm not a great picture strip artist.
Why? See above and because I've been with it since 1979.
The return of Doctor Who -- a good or bad idea? Good -- but it's for a new generation -- they must decide. But one has to marvel at the backing the BBC has given it and the quality of production -- good show, shame about the Doctor's short attention span!
Is Star Trek dead or just resting? No knowledge; no opinion. I never saw its appeal. Sorry!