The Smoke Clears (18)
Last Updated (Wednesday, 15 June 2011 14:40) Written by Administrator Monday, 13 June 2011 00:00
That's it - make sure she's dead before you even rescue her...
Luke's nose looks a bit sideways? Like an Irish Television newsreader (or is that just their lighting people? In 30+ years I've never been able to decide). If Stephen Fry worked for them, they might be able to correct his by weaving their wonky lighting magic. Or make it worse.
Cor, brill, action for Boys!
For Boys 1977. Brill!
This is very old. Has to be late 1977-early '78. See the funny looking dart-like flash from the gun? (funny John? - everything looks funny!) See it - pointing down, and er, sideways? I just realised where that came from.
In '77 I was doing that in muzzle-flares. I was just thinking about today's strip downstairs and I remembered and old Warlord annual cover. And... I've just dug it out: there's the weird muzzle flare! My wife is amazed at the obscure - and unimportant things I can recall from the distant mists of time; not the item to get in the supermarket, nor the important phone call. No, things like, "Bruce Boxleitner. He was in Bring 'em Back Alive and Ron Ely was in Tarzan"
'Smoking Cigar' of '77
(8 or 9 yrs)
I think I used the effect in an earlier comic too... hold on I'll just have a look. I'm actually going to look for it now - this is live folks. Hang on... crap scanner's on the blink.
Minutes later: Here you go!
It's a daft comic, centred around a German soldier. I liked the Germans the most because they had the best looking gear. My sister would say "But they were flamin' 'orrible Nazis!". I suppose that's another reason why Star Wars struck a chord with me: the baddies looked so like the German Army. Adventure for boys was still largely centred around World War II in 1977. Once again, George has showed how astute he was.
Plotting #101-b
I never planned the stories, just made them up as I drew them. Dad said "John, if you decided on the story first - it'd be much better." Or words to that effect.
He was right. Perhaps if I'd stayed in Scotland in 1977 my pal Niall B (a 9 year old military expert) might have written the war stories and I could have illustrated them! But then again, there'd be no wee Johnny.
BONUS CONTENT!
Neil Baker (see comments below) made a witty remark which sparked this:
Thanks for reading! Care to comment?
Comments
I'd say keep up the good work, but you did this 30 years ago or so.
Precisely! Needs must Tom. All the black, grey and blue pens must have run out
Yep - if I kept that up, I'd never get any work ;)
I read that first line as 'Hell comes to cell 2187' - now there's a pitch.
Ha ha brilliant Neil. If you recall the Marvel adaptation, it wouldn't be at all unusual for them to hype up a coming installment like that - and have it on the cover. Sometimes you'd wonder how familiar the creators actually were with the film they were adapting. But really, it's just the Marvel way to shift comics. One cover had them entering the Yavin base with weapons drawn with a line something like: "Dare they enter the hidden fortress of DEATH!?!?!?"
You open the comic and they just saunter in. Oh hello. Hi, nice to meet you.
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