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.

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).

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?"

Marvel Heroes and Spider-Man Annuals 2012

This years MARVEL HEROES and SPIDER-MAN Annuals, published by those fine folks at Panini Comics UK both feature a little dose of Soulmania! Yep, both books feature comics strips by yours truly!

First up is MARVEL HEROES Annual 2012, which features among others, an Incredible Hulk strip of mine.... and is a re-print from MARVEL HEROES #5. I drew this strip wayyy back in 2008, and am still proud of it to this day. I'm doubly thrilled to see it printed in a hard-back format as well. It's a great little story written by James Peaty... and features ol' Greenskin against the forces of Hydra (as seen recently on the big-screen in this years awesome Marvel movie, Captain America: The First Avenger)! Other strips in this awesome annual feature Captain America, a Doctor Strange/Hawkeye team up, Iron Man and a certain web-slinger, who does whatever a spider can!

Which brings us to this years SPIDER-MAN Annual, which features not one, but THREE Spidey strips... reprinted from my work on Panini Comic's SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN ADVENTURES (all inked by Simon Ecob, with colours by the brilliant Jason Cardy)!!

First up there is a Spidey/Thor team up from SPEC SPIDEY#129 (also recently re-printed in MARVEL HEROES #34).. written by Ferg Handley. Then there is the Spidey/Fantastic Four two-parter (as featured in SPEC SPIDEY issues 119 & 120).. written by Mitch Scanlon. Add to that a Spidey/Avengers team-up from SPEC SPIDEY issue 126, and you've got an action-packed annual featuring a multitude of guest-stars!

With Christmas coming up, would make some MARVELous stocking fillers! Both annuals are out now in all good UK bookshops, priced £7.99.

Death's Head

The classic Freelance Peacekeeping
Agent. The original... and best, yes?
Artwork by Geoff Senior.

It's no secret that I am a HUGE fan of Marvel UK's classic character Death's Head. Created by Simon Furman, and first appearing in Marvel UK's TRANSFORMERS title as a bounty hunte... sorry, Freelance Peacekeeping Agent, Death's Head was part of several classic UK Transformers storylines. Along the way, he battled the likes of Galvatron, Shockwave, Cyclonus and Scourge and even Unicron! From the get-go, Mr. Furman knew his character was destined for great things... and Death's Head eventually moved on from the Transformers universe (via a certain Timelord... in a classic Dr. Who strip written by Mr. Furman and classic DH artist Geoff Senior) to the Marvel Universe. From there he went on to battle Dragon's Claws (another Furman/Senior classic) in Dragon's Claws issue 5, then star in his own 10 issue series, followed by a graphic novel which told Death's Head's origin story: Death's Head: The Body In Question (which features absolutely beautiful painted artwork from Mr. Senior!). He even went on to guest star in several US Marvel titles... including She-Hulk, Marvel Comics Presents and the Fantastic Four (which at the time was written and drawn by Walt Simonson, who had become a fan of the character).

Marvel Heroes 25

Issue 25 of Panini Comic's MARVEL HEROES title is out today in all good UK newsagents.... and features an all-new INCREDIBLE HULK story drawn by yours truly. This is my second Hulk strip for the title (my first being in issue 5), and I'm really pleased with how it's turned out.
This Hulktastic story is written by Marvel/Panini UK regular Ferg Handley, pencils by me and awesome inks by Gary Erskine. A Hulk-sized thanks to MARVEL HEROES Editor Ed Hammond for giving me this story to do... I had a blast drawing it, and hope you guys enjoy it!

The Incredible Hulk and me.

Ever since I read my first Marvel comic back in 1977, I've been a fan of the Incredible Hulk. I don't know if it was Sal Buscema's awesome artwork, or the larger-than-life image of the Green Goliath (I suspect it was a little of both), but my four year old self just feel in love with the character. Several months later, the classic TV series starring Bill Bixby and Lou Ferrigno debuted... but I was already a fan by then, collecting Marvel UK's MIGHTY WORLD OF MARVEL every week (I can remember wondering, even at that early age if the live-action Hulk would be wearing his ripped purple trousers!).

Since that very day, my life's ambition was to draw the Incredible one for Marvel Comics... something I am very, very proud to say I've been able to achieve. Since starting in the comics industry in 2003, I've drawn the Hulk several times -- the first time being a Hulk vs Thing battle in Panini Comic's SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN issue 100, and a couple of months after that a cover for the 2005 INCREDIBLE HULK Annual. From there I've gone on to draw three Incredible Hulk comic strips for the Panini/Marvel UK title MARVEL HEROES (the third of which featured the Hulk fighting another all-time favourite of mine, Death's Head -- which was another dream come true), a Hero Initiative cover for Marvel US's HULK #1 (printed in the Marvel/Hero Initiative HULK 100 Project Collection), drawn Hulk spot illos for SFX Magazine's preview feature for the 2008 INCREDIBLE HULK movie, and produced the cover and disc artwork for the entire line of UK Incredible Hulk cartoon DVD's... which include the classic 1966, 1982 and 1996 cartoon shows.

The Mighty World Of Marvel

Back in the 1970's, the first comic I ever read was a Marvel UK comic by the name of The Mighty World Of Marvel. This title featured black and white reprints of US Marvel stories, with the Incredible Hulk it's lead strip. This title (along with Marvel UK's other line of comics) featured some beautiful cover artwork, especially produced for these UK collections by the US Marvel Bullpen. Here are some of my favourite ones... most of them featuring the artwork of Pablo Marcos, who after Sal Buscema is my favourite classic Hulk artist. Looking at these covers brings back some wonderful memories of a more innocent time. My thanks to my mum and dad for always making sure I had my weekly fix from the Mighty World Of Marvel.