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Post by dem bones on Jan 10, 2008 23:18:44 GMT
I can't think of a better way to start than quote Ade's recent post in full: I've been a Bolton fan since he adapted DRACULA PRINCE OF DARKNESS for House of Hammer magazine. I've a decent collection of his work that's appeared over the years ( though I prefer his *early* stuff to the more photorealist) - the sample you supply here a good example of the stuff I don't jones on that much. He did a fun NEW Avengers strip where the trio tackle Dracula - if photobucket wasn't such an arse - I'd scan the opening the full page shot ( I think you'd dig it Dem). Maybe when I grab a free moment I will.
Of course Bolton also illustrated the lion's share of THE MONSTER CLUB adaption - a strip originally drawn as a promotional tool for the trade premiere. I have a copy ( uber rare by all accounts) that I paid the princely sum of 25 smackers for in an auction. He also painted a geneology chart seen in the film ( but stolen off set) and the etching like drawings seen too.
One of my favourite series he drew was for LOOK-IN - his Bionic Woman work was phenomenal - balletic in quality in contrast to Martin Asbury's kinetic aggressive Six Million Dollar Man art ( which is also bloody fine work too).
I met John Bolton once when he signed a copy of HOH for me - probably circa 1979 at a Fantasy Con for which he drew a very Flash Gordonesque poster for ( that I've long since lost alas). Incidently he also did work for a Grandeams Flash Gordon Annual - coinicidence? - unlikely.
Defo an inspiration to me - thanks for highlighting this phenomenal British artist...
adeHere are a couple of the 'etching like drawings' When Sam manages to temporarily escape the clutches of the ghouls by taking refuge in the crumbling church, he discovers that he is not the first to seek sanctuary within its walls. Propped up in a chair, a skeleton, protecting his manuscript on the history of the Loughville community. As Sam reads through this terrifying document, several images are flashed onscreen to illustrate the narrative. I've taken the liberty of reproducing a few samples here from my never-ending supply of grainy screenshots, but if anybody knows if the originals have ever been published in book form, I'd be delighted to know! For more samples of John's work visit: www.johnbolton.com/
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Post by weirdmonger on Jan 11, 2008 8:48:27 GMT
I remember John Bolton was once featured in the professional version of 'Skeleton Crew'. I can't find my copy now! :-(
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Post by dem bones on Jan 11, 2008 9:04:35 GMT
Skeleton Crew: Vol 2, Issue 1 (Argus, July, 1990) The first of the mainstream issues includes a Deaditorial by Dave Hughes outlining the necessity to kill off the fanzine and go professional - he'd be excellent interview material, I'm thinking. The fiction is supplied by Stephen King ( The Reploids) and an excellent Mark Morris effort ( Playing God) which I'll attempt to sum up later. Hughes also interviews cover artist John "Loughville!" Bolton and Peter Straub, Phil Nutman interrogates David Cronenberg, there's a lengthy article on Sandman by the editor's flatmate, news, reviews .....
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Post by killercrab on Jan 25, 2008 11:05:44 GMT
This one's for Dem...
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Post by dem bones on Jan 25, 2008 13:44:09 GMT
Thanks for sharing that, ade. Top script, too!
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Post by killercrab on Jan 25, 2008 18:29:03 GMT
It's actually the first page of a very fang in cheek ( ouch) New Avengers strip from the 1977 Grandreams annual - a company that kicked out *alot* of tv annuals I can tell you. The story of course isn't about a real vampire - but a disparaged movie lighting man called .. drumroll - Martin Count! Steed gets to say stuff like 'Give it up Count!I've pulled your teeth... *gum* quietly!'
Ha ha ...
All the usual vampire cliches get a knockings - witness this -
' Elsewhere , Steed has arrived at the home of professor L.Sing , Britain's leading expert on the subject of vampires ...'
And I thought that was you.:-)
Transpires Count is using poison inflicting dummy fangs and eventually the avenging trio trap him in his coffin - naturally.
' That really puts the lid on this case ' - Gambit smiles or would if John had drawn him smiling. They then walk off for a stake ... steak through a door marked EXIT. For all it's tongue in cheekness - it does feel like an Avengers story - albeit less subtle than on tv - but good enough for me to have read ' countless' times .
See it's infectious - glad you liked it.
ade
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Post by dem bones on Jan 25, 2008 19:35:03 GMT
' Elsewhere , Steed has arrived at the home of professor L.Sing , Britain's leading expert on the subject of vampires ...' And I thought that was you.:-) ade Nope, it's Monkey the Magnificent. I abdicated after a brief but brilliant career of upsetting everybody in the vampire kingdom. Yes, that storyline is definitely my type of thing. I always like it when the 'vampire' is revealed as a lowdown crook with no 'supernatural powers' whatsoever! Did you see Bear Behaving Badly this afternoon, BTW? It was a Halloween special featuring Horrible Henry the Headless Postman!
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Post by killercrab on Jan 25, 2008 21:45:17 GMT
Did you see Bear Behaving Badly this afternoon, BTW? It was a Halloween special featuring Horrible Henry the Headless Postman! >.
Postman Pate-less ... bwaarrrr
Sorry I missed it.:-)
ade
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Post by dem bones on Jan 26, 2008 6:10:58 GMT
Bear Behaving Badly is the best thing on TV right now. Trust me. Nev The Bear. "Fwightened!" Right. Back to the obscenely gifted Mr. Bolton. Remember that cover of The Chronicles that began the thread? This is what was on the back. John Bolton It also appears in International Glamour #16 as mentioned on the Vampirella comic thread.
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Post by Craig Herbertson on Jan 26, 2008 13:34:19 GMT
mmh - has Bolton been reading my mind? He's a superb illustrator and his choice of subject matter is not going to lose him any points either.
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