Classic Marvel Corner Boxes

Here are some classic Marvel style Corner Boxes that I did last year. I loved those old corner boxes, something I feel is sorely missing from today's Marvel books. 

I hope you like them!

Transformers - G1 Cartoon-Style

The Transformers was my first professional comics work, producing artwork for Panini Comics' Transformers: Armada, which led to working on the 2003 Metrodome DVD UK release of the original 1980s Transformers cartoon. As someone who collected the toys and loved the Marvel Comic, it was a huge thrill to get to draw those Robots in disguise. 

Recently, I produced several pieces of artwork paying homage to that classic show which proved to be very popular online. Here are some of those pieces, which include a piece based on a Powermaster Optimus Prime vs Hulk fan strip I drew when I was 14 years old (I'm going to have to find that and post it on here sometime!), plus how I imagine that Transformers-hunting Freelance Peacekeeping Agent Death's Head to have looked if he'd have appeared in the cartoon. 

I'm hoping to include these pieces in a limited run Art of Simon Williams sketchbook/art book in the near future... so keep watching this space for more details, yes?

Hulk Smash!

It's been awhile, folks... I hope you have all been keeping safe and well during this Pandemic. Times have been crazy to say the least, but hopefully now there is a light at the end of the tunnel... 

I've been working away on various projects since I posted last, and even had my work published by Marvel US (in the form of the Death's Head: Freelance Peacekeeping Agent TPB, reprinting my Hulk vs Death's Head strip from Marvel Heroes!). I'm currently working on an art book, which collects various buts and pieces that I've worked on, so more news on that to come!

Also, this happened! Big Lou Ferrigno, the Original live-action Incredible Hulk himself featured my artwork on his official social media pages! Needless to say, I was ever-so-slightly ecstatic about this, as Lou is a lifelong hero of mine! The artwork is a piece I had done  based on the classic 1978 TV series starring Lou as the Hulk, and the late Bill Bixby as his tragic, tormented alter-ego David Banner. 

Anyways, until next time... here's a recent picture I drew of the ever Incredible Hulk. Enjoy... or you'll make him angry.

And you wouldn't like* him when he's angry...

* We actually love him when he's angry! 
Art by Simon Williams. 

Death's Head - Iron Man #126 Homage Cover

Here's a new Death's Head pic from yours truly, yes? It's a homage to John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton's iconic cover to Iron Man issue 126 (one of my favourite covers of all-time!). I had the idea to do this years ago, so have finally got round to doing it. Hope you like it, yes?

Artwork by Simon Williams, after
John Romita Jr. and Bob Layton.

Hulk vs Death's Head - the COMPLETE strip!

More than a few folks who follow me on Twitter have enquired about where they may purchase the original Hulk vs Death's Head strip, which was printed in a VERY limited run of my Soulman Inc Sketch-book back in 2009. Since said book is long out of print, I thought I'd treat you guys to the strip... as it was originally published in it's entirety! So put on your purple pants, get a packet of Jelly babies... and enjoy, yes?

Page 2

Page 3

Page 5

Page 4, yes?

Page 7

Page 6

Page 8

Page 9

HULK SMASH!

Page 10

Page 13

Page >Vwoorp< 12

Page 15

Page 14

"Me Grimlock munch metal!"

Page 16

Marvel Cinematic Universe - Grey Hulk, the Thing and Death's Head

"Kevin Feige? Call my
agent, yes?"

Here are some digital imaginings that I have produced on Photoshop, featuring some characters that I would love to see in Marvel's movies... including the grey incarnation of the Hulk, the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing from the Fantastic Four and Marvel UK's legendary Bounty Hun-- I mean Freelance Peacekeeping Agent, Death's Head (whom I know a lot of fans would love to see appear on the big screen... the Guardians of the Galaxy section of the MCU would be a perfect place for him to show up!). These images depict how I imagine these characters would look like if they were ever to appear in the Marvel Cinematic Universe... Hope you like them!

Death's Head - I can actually imagine the
legendary Tom Baker providing the voice!

I wonder if we'll ever see Mark Ruffalo's Bruce
Banner turn into the Grey Hulk... 

Maybe one day we'll see this on the big screen... for me,  it would be the
ultimate Marvel movie moment! 

Draw Death's Head Day 2K18

It's been awhile, hasn't it?  I really must start posting again more often. Meantime, here's my artwork for this year's Draw Death's Head Day (a yearly tradition on social media which falls on the birthday of Death's Head's creator Simon Furman). I hope you like my contribution... which is a homage to Marvel's Transformers #5.

The Official Death's Head of the Marvel Universe

Continuing the celebration of the 30th anniversary of Marvel's very own Freelance Peacekeeping Agent, Death's Head, I decided to put together this unofficial entry for the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe... in a style which fits with the 80's version of the book (which Death's Head was never featured, to my knowledge). The text is from the Death's Head entry* on the Marvel Wikia site, and the artwork is from Panini's Death's Head Collection, Volume One (pencils by me, inks by David Roach.)

* If you wrote the text featured on the Wikia page, let me know and I'll credit you, yes?

Happy 30th Anniversary Death's head!

Transformers #113, Death's
Head's debut appearance.
Cover by Geoff Senior.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of one of the greatest UK comic characters of all-time, Death's Head! Created by writer Simon Furman and artist Geoff Senior, Death's Head made his debut appearance in Marvel UK's Transformers issue 113. Since then, he has appeared in many different forms and incarnations... but it is the original that has endured in the hearts of fans. Here is a piece of artwork I've produced, which is a homage to Geoff Senior's cover to TF 113. 

On a personal note, it's been a dream come true as a long time fan turned professional comic artist to have been able to contribute to the history of Death's Head, even if in just a small way. So I'd like to say a huge "Thank you" to Stubbies Furman and Senior for giving us such a memorable character... I have a feeling this Freelance peacekeeping Agent will be in business for many years to come!

Artwork by Stubbie Williams, yes?

The Mighty World of Marvel!

I received a comment last night on Twitter saying that my Hulk piece had a classic Mighty World of Marvel feel to it. The Mighty World of Marvel is of course, the classic 1970's Marvel UK title that started my love for comics (and of course, the Hulk!) in the first place. So, I decided to put this together... just for fun!

UPDATE: I've also added an 80's style Marvel UK version below. Still only 10p!

Yes, True Believers... at one time, you could get all this for 10p!!!

Dreams CAN come true, yes?

Ouch, yes? Full page action from the
Soulman Inc Sketchbook (2009).

It's no secret that two of my all-time favourite characters in comics are the Incredible Hulk and Death's Head. By the time Death's Head got his own comic back in the late 80s', he had transitioned from the Transformers Universe (where he made his debut) to the Marvel Universe (via, of all people... the 7th Doctor!). This meant that the Freelance Peacekeeping Agent crossed paths with the likes of the Fantastic Four and Iron Man 2020, and then guest-starred in Walt Simonson's Fantastic Four run, and an issue of She-Hulk (written by Simon Furman, and drawn by Bryan Hitch... both familiar with the character for obvious reasons, yes?). This led to me drawing my own stories featuring Death's Head in what was my dream-battle: fighting the Incredible Hulk. I always hoped that this was something that would happen... but when the original was destroyed, and replaced by Death's Head II, it seemed very unlikely that it would ever take place (note: Death's Head II DID fight the Hulk in an issue of Battle-Tide II... but it wasn't the same, as DH was a completely different character by then).

Who's that in the background? Artist is obsessed,
yes? From Spectacular Spider-Man (UK) no. 115.

Fast forward to the 2010s (the tensies?!). I was now a professional comic artist... living the dream, and drawing my favourite Marvel heroes! I got my start at Panini Comics in 2003, who had taken over the reigns of Marvel UK. This led to a run on their SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ADVENTURES book, where I got to draw Spidey teaming up with the likes of the Fantastic Four, X-Men, Iron Man, Thor, Doctor Strange and also the Incredible Hulk! At this time, the character of Death's Head was in limbo... and hadn't seen print since the mid 90's. This led to me constantly nagging my editors (apologies to Ed Hammond and Brady Webb!) to let me draw Death's Head into a Spider-Man comic. At the time, the powers that be didn't feel they could make that happen (despite Ed and Brady being HUUUGE fans of Death's Head!), so I had to be content with sneaking the time-travelling Freelance Peacekeeper into a couple of issues in background cameos. However, this did lead to me producing artwork for the 2 Death's Head collections from Panini... which made me an official Death's Head artist. Finally, yes?

I still needed to scratch that Hulk vs DH itch though, so I drew up my own story, which was part of my Soulman Inc Sketchbook back in 2009. This featured Death's Head, as he appeared in his own title versus the classic, savage Incredible Hulk... in a black and white strip which was my love-letter to the old 70's Marvel UK comics. It even featured a cameo of the 4th Doctor and K9! This proved to be popular enough, and got some great feedback from fans and fellow pros alike. Roll on two years, where I had an email that would make everything worthwhile. Ed Hammond had contacted me to draw a strip for Marvel Heroes issue 33. It was to be a Hulk story where ol' Greenskin would be in battle with... the original, one and only, in his debut Green costume/armour/Freelance Peacekeeping gear -- DEATH'S HEAD! This was a dream come true for several reasons... as not only was it a battle I had wanted to see, and of course DRAW, but also it was finally the return of Death's Head, in his original form, to the world of Marvel UK and more importantly, comics! Mission accomplished, yes?

So there you have it. If you are reading this, and you have a dream that you'd someday like to make happen... remember this story. I was told in school that I was wasting my time in regards to wanting to draw comics... and look what I've accomplished since then! 

If I can do it... you can too, yes? 

Drawn back in 1989! Check out that dynamic last panel!

It's official, yes? From Marvel Heroes no. 33
(and reprinted in the 2015 Marvel Heroes Annual).

Guardians of the Galaxy vol.3? Let's make it happen, yes?

Here's a recent Death's Head sketch that I decided to throw some colours on in Photoshop (threw gently I must add. Death's Head hates people throwing stuff at him).

"James Gunn? Nice name, hrm? Ready for my close up now, yes?"

On a related note, after watching Marvel Studios newest blockbuster, Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 (which I loved every minute of... go see it!), I couldn't help but think how well Death's Head would fit into the Guardians movie franchise. I hope this is something that GotG director James Gunn would consider... as I couldn't think of anyone better to bring ol' DH to the big screen! Hey, you've introduced Sylvester Stallone into Vol.2... maybe this could be a role for his pal Arnie? Just a thought...

NOT Death's Head, yes?

"DON'T call me a Bounty Hunter..."

Last year, the talented folks at Mastermind Creations released a 3rd Party Transformers figure named ANUBIS, a Freelance Peacekeeper who has more than a passing resemblance to a certain other Freelance Peacekeeping Agent who appeared in the 80's Marvel UK TRANSFORMERS comic (possible relation, yes?), which is also a character I have been known to draw in the past. This awesome figure included a comic book written by Hector Sigma and Marty McPrime, with artwork by the art team of Art Anderson and colourist Rick Lensflare. Now, despite the fact that Art's work is very similar to a certain soul-powered comic artist, I can neither confirm nor deny any rumours of us being one and the same. However, I can say that any similarities between the work of Art Anderson and myself are purely intentional...

You can read the strip here at my DeviantART page. I hope you enjoy, yes?

Marvel Heroes Annual 2015, yes?

This years MARVEL HEROES annual 2015 from Panini Comics is out now, folks... and among the awesome Marvel UK stories featured is a reprint of the 2 part Hulk vs Death's Head strip featured in MARVEL HEROES #31!!! The story, the Brute and the Bounty Hunter is written by Transformers Legend and Death's Head co-creator Simon Furman, art by myself with colours by Jason Cardy and Kat Nicholson (plus Ferg Handley, John Ross and John Charles on the excellent first part of the story!)! This strip featured the return of the original Death's Head to the pages of Marvel UK, and was a dream come true for me to work on! This book is now out in all good newsagents and bookshops.... don't miss it, yes? You wouldn't want to make the Hulk angry...

"Buy it now, yes?"

Custom Death's Heads and TV Hulks!

Earlier this year, I decided to get back into one of my favourite hobbies... customising Action Figures. I have always wanted a Death's Head figure (which Marvel have now released an official figure of), plus an action figure featuring the TV version of the Incredible Hulk, as portrayed by Lou Ferrigno. I decided to make the original Death's Head, and also Death's Head II, which is based off Liam Sharp's incredible artwork. The original Death's Head is made from a Marvel Legends Thor Buster Iron Man, and Death's Head II is made from a Marvel Legends Colossus figure.

The original, yes? Made using a modified Marvel Legends Thor Buster Iron Man figure,

"Awww, don't worry. We're buddies now!" Death's Head II.

As for the TV Hulk, I made two different Hulk figures: my original attempt was a modified Marvel Select Ultimate Hulk, and the other is a modified Marvel Legends Avengers Movie Hulk... all with fully sculpted heads by yours truly.

TV Hulk... original version. Made from a Marvel Select Ultimate Hulk... while
I am still pleased with how this turned out, I wanted to do a more TV accurate
figure, as this one has the comic Hulk's physique and proportions.

This is the newer version, made using a Marvel Legends Avengers Movie Hulk. Just don't
make him angry... you wouldn't like him when he's angry!