EXTRACTS: British War Comics Illustrators Special © 2018 The Book Palace (144 PAGES in Full edition)

One of the finest comics draughtsmen to work in the field of comics. Gino D'Antonio 1 War Special Issue—The Dami Studio by Diego Cordoba CONTENTS 2 We take a nostalgic look back to the golden age of war comics. 54 10 A hugely influential agent—read how he helped bring great comic artists to the UK. Roy Dami Introduction EDITORIAL 46 Giorgio De Gaspari 16 The genesis of this latest illustrators special goes back several years to the day that David Roach, comics historian and champion of some of the least known, but nevertheless most talented artists working within the field of European comics, made a discovery akin toHoward Carter's opening of the Tomb of Tutankhamon. In the aptly named 'Iron Mountain', a cavernous warehouse on a bleak location somewhere in London's Canning Town, lay piles and piles of artwork from the Fleetway archives. Even though a lot of the art had been routinely destroyed, filched or otherwise drifted off the radar, there was much that had survived and, included in this treasure trove, was some of the most exciting art ever conceived for UK comics—more particularly the hundreds of covers for pocket-sized war comics that had been painted by some of the greatest illustrators working in the latter part of the 20th century. Fromthat day on, we have had beennursing the desire to bring this artwork to awider audience and celebrate the lives of some of the artists who created this amazing collection of paintings. Now that moment is here—we hope you enjoy the results. Finally we would like to thank all those who helped bring this issue to life: Giovanni Scarpa, Roy Felmang, MarkAlfrey, Rufus Dayglo, Ron Tiner andHeritage Auctions. The opinions expressed in illustrators are those of the writers and are not necessarily those of the editor and publishers. The accuracy of the authentication of all images is the responsibility of the contributors. Cover Image:Alessandro Biffignandi Hugo Pratt Before he achieved fame with Corto Maltese, there was a brush with the UK war comics… 143 Alessandro Biffignandi Illustrators The Book Palace Jubilee House Bedwardine Road Crystal Palace London SE19 3AP Email: IQ@bookpalace.com Web: www.bookpalace.com Contact GW: gw@bookpalace.com Tel: 020 8768 0022 (From overseas +44 20 8768 0022) Publisher: Geoff West Editor & Art Director: Peter Richardson Deputy Editor & Designer: Diego Cordoba Consultant Editor: David Ashford, Norman Boyd, Alan Richardson Featured Writers: Diego Cordoba, Peter Richardson Subscriptions & Distribution: David Howarth Advertising: ads@bookpalace.com An in-depth feature on a truly eccentric but magnificent painter. illustrators ISBN 978-1-907081-47-7 ISSN 2052-6520 Special Issue Number 2 Published Winter 2017/2018 Copyright © 2017 by The Book Palace Ltd. All text and artwork copyright is vested with the respective creators and publishers. None of the material within these pages may be reproduced without the written consent of illustrators or the aforementioned copyright holders. The images reproduced within these pages are for research purposes and all efforts have been made to ensure their historical accuracy. illustrators is published quarterly. Each issue £18 POST FREE worldwide. 4 issue subscription UK £59 4 issue subscription EU/USA £72 Available in the USA from budplant.com Trade Orders : IQ@bookpalace.com or gazellebookservices.co.uk Printed in China by Prolong Press Ltd War, superheroes, the dark arts and a love of glamorous women coloured the work of this great artist. 126 Ferdinando Tacconi Like his friend and colleague Gino D'Antonio, Calegari's work was packed with raw energy. 90 Renzo Calegari Pino Dell'Orco A master of brush and ink drawing and a master of paint—find out more in Ron Tiner's superb feature. Restricted colour and dynamic design underpinned some of the greatest cover art ever. His punch and memorable cover art dominated the early years of the war pocket libraries. 102 Nino Caroselli 114