Online Art
Board Supplies

Comic art for the major US companies such as Marvel or DC is drawn on special art board that includes 'blue line' indicators so the artists draw to the correct size proprotional to the final US comic book art size. Artists contracted to the companies are provided with this board, although I am not sure if this is still supplied gratis, as it was in Paul Neary's day as Editorial Director at Marvel UK, or if they have to pay for it.

Page measurements apparently vary slightly from company to company, so using ordinary Bristol board and a ruler may be a better option for the aspiring artist than seeking down this specialised board.

2000AD is now published pro to US comic book size.

BlueLine
There is a type of Bristol board called BlueLine which features these the official comic page measurments printed on it. It's solicited through Previews and, therefore, most comic shops should be able to order it. Some artists don't like it.

Bristol Board
• Most art supply shops in Belfast sell Bristol board in A3 20 sheet blocks.

Art Supplies

• Great Art Supplies
Gerstaecker UK Limited / Great Art, Normandy House, 1 Nether Street, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1EA
Telephone Order line 0845 601 5772 (Local call rate)
Described as Europe's largest and brightest catalogue for art materials, this company says "Whatever your angle - whether you're an art student, leisure painter, art teacher or professional artist - we're sure that you'll find that we are full of all the supplies you need." They publish a variety of catalogues for each country -- one artist I know orders material from their French rather than UK edition.

• London Graphics Company
16-18 Shelton Street, Covent Garden London WC2H 9JL
Tel: 020 7759 4500 Fax: 020 7759 4585
London Graphic Centre was established in 1973 as a specialist graphic materials supplier to the London Design and Advertising market.

Dip Pens

• Hans Presto
This Swedish (with English translation) site apparently stocks and sells just about every dip pen ever made. It also has sections on Lettering, Comics and Handwriting. (thanks to artist Kev Hopgood for this one)

NEW BRITISH COMICS COLLECTIONS AVAIALBLE NOW...

This is the first Dan Dare collection I've edited for Titan Books, comprising work by Frank Hampson, Frank Bellamy and Don Harley.

Superb World War 1 strip first published in Battle and another collection edited by me for Titan

John Cooper
Compiled with thanks to John Cooper, Jeremy Briggs and Richard Sheaf

Official Website: Hijacked!
Artwork for sale: www.artprintuk.com

John CooperPerhaps best known as the artist on Johnny Red for Battle Picture Weekly, John Cooper is regarded by some as the British "Gil Kane". John continues to draw three frame strips to ilustrate news stories for Channel Four to this day and is a highly accomplished landscape painter.

John first drew comic strip for TV21, drawing Secret Agent 21 for the 1968 annual followed by Thunderbirds, Captain Scarlet; Joe 90 for Joe 90 comic and and Lady Penelope for Lady Penelope comic.

Most of his art credits are for IPC, working on titles such as One Eyed Jack for Valiant, Johnny Red for Battle, Roy of the Rovers and a limited number of strips for 2000AD.

Notes on Credit List
John gave me a list of all his comics credits to date back in 2003, but unfortnately I seem to have lost the page covering his work prior to 1976 - sorry. As usual, information is welcome.

Unless otherwise indicated, the list below details the strips he worked on and the years they were completed ("Completed"), not necessarily the year in which they were published (DC Thomson, for example, have been known to hold on to work for some years before publishing it).

2000AD
M.A.C.H. 1 Appeared in #5, dated 26 March 1977; also #8, 9, 22, 34, 35, 58
Harlem Heroes Completed 1979
Judge Dredd John's first Judge Dredd - Muggers Moon - appeared in #19. This was the first commissioned Judge Dredd strip, held back for its overt violence. Also Judge Dredds for #19, 126, 139, 231-232, 298-299, 515
Tharg’s Future Shocks #47, 50, 85, 135
Tharg's Terror Tales  
Cold Spots Appeared in #1494
Action
Play Till You Drop Completed 1976
Look out for Lefty Completed 1976
Battle
Dredger Information welcome
Johnny RedJohnny Red Information welcome
• For more on Johnny Red visit www.falconsquadron.sevenpennynightmare.co.uk  
Bullet
Pickford Completed 1976
Twisty Completed 1976
Kid Cox Completed 1977
Captain Scarlet
Captain Scarlet Completed 1994
Channel 4
South of Waterloo Comic Completed 1988
Daily Mirror
Scorer Completed 1990
Eagle (1980s)

One Eyed Jack

Published 09/07/83 -15/09/84, 8/10/84-15/12/84?
• Reprinted from Valiant 20/12/75-16/10/76
Gaunt Published 22/02/84-30/03/85
• Reprinted from Battle 25/06/77-17/09/77 & 05/11/77-12/11/77
The Ultimate Warrior Published 06/04/85-27/04/85
Computer Warrior Published 20/07/85-24/08/85 & 28/09/85-11/01/86
M.A.C.H. 1 Published 27/09/86 (Reprinted from 2000AD prog 8); 04/10/86 (Reprinted from 2000AD prog 9); 03/01/87 (Reprinted from prog 22)
Johnny Red • Reprinted from Battle, 30/01/88-14/10/89 but not in 15/10/88, 29/10/88, 05/11/88
Mask & Venom  
Jungle Rescue Published 29/10/88-19/11/88
The Prisoner Published 26/11/88-31/12/88
Robot on the run Published 07/01/89-25/03/89
The Amstor Computer  
Shooting Star Published 01/10/83
They were caught with the boot on Published 08/10/83
Bike-Man’s Bluff Published 05/11/83
There’s no such thing as magic Published 26/11/83
Mercenary Published 14/01/84
The Alien Pet Published 03/01/84
The thief and the computer Published 21/04/84
Snow beast Published 16/06/84
Happy Families Published 09/06/84
Grand Prix Magazine
Skid Solo Completed 1999
Hotshot
Playmaker Completed 1992
Look In
Fall Guy Completed 1981
Worzel Gummidge Completed 1981
Chips Completed 1981
Murphy's Mob Completed 1983
Norman Whiteside Completed 1983
Streethawk Completed 1985
Knight Rider Completed 1986
Steve Cram Completed 1986
Wiliam Perry Completed 1986
The 'A' Team Completed 1987
Airwolf Completed 1987
Marvel Comics
Blake's 7 Completed 1981
Trakker Completed 1993
Doctor Who Completed 1994
Biker Mice from Mars Completed 1995
Match of the Day Magazine
Roy of the Rovers Completed 2001
Wonderland Figure Completed 2001
News of the World
Camp Keeper Completed 2002
Radio Times
Soccer and Hockey Completed 1989
England versus France Completed 1992
Euro Cup Completed 1992
David Beckham Completed 2001
Red Dwarf
Ray of the Rovers Completed 1992
Road Maniax
Road Maniax Completed 1995
Roy of the Rovers
Mars Bros Completed 1983
Go For It Completed 1986
United Completed 1992
Roy of the Rovers Completed 1993
Scoop
Guts to be a Goalie Completed 1978
Speed Kings Completed 1977
Stark Completed 1981
Superstar Completed 1980
Scream
Library of Death  
Death Road Published 28/04/84
Soccer Library - DC Thomson
Soccer Libraries and Covers To Present
The Sport
Various work Completed 1991
Starlord

Timequake

 Published 20/05/78
The Sun
Striker Completed 1995
Sunday Times
Lost in Space Completed 1998
Supernaturals
Ghostling Tale Issue 5 (Published 26/12/87-08/01/88)

Ghostling Tale

Issue 6 (Published 09/1/88-22/01/88)
Target
Kojak Completed 1978
Tornado
Lawless Touch Completed 1979
Total Football
David Beckham Completed 1998
Billy's Boots Completed 2001
TV Century 21

Early John Cooper art from the 1968 TV21 AnnualAgent 21: 1968 TV Century 21 Annual

• Click the image or here for a larger version

 
Valiant
One Eyed Jack  
Young Telegraph
Sherlock Holmes Completed 1992
Jason and the Golden Fleece Completed 1993
Gulliver's Travels Completed 1993
The Nutcracker Completed 1993
Journey to the Centre of the Earth Completed 1994
Wendy - DC Thomson
Wendy To Present
Where's Wally?
Where's Wally Completed 1996



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