Don't Think of the Elephantmen

ELEPHANTMEN 2010 BOOTH BANNER

2010-02-18T15:55:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN 2010 BOOTH BANNER, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ENEMY SPECIES

MIKI

2010-01-29T14:22:00.001-08:00

MIKI, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

VANITY in the Pink!

2010-01-27T16:32:00.001-08:00

VANITY in the Pink!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

WAR TOYS IN COLOUR

2010-01-07T20:27:00.001-08:00

WAR TOYS IN COLOUR, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

In preparation for ELEPHANTMEN volume #0 hardcover

HAPPY NEW DECADE!

2010-01-02T11:49:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW DECADE!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2010-01-02T11:24:00.001-08:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

PEACE BEGINS WITH MIKI

2009-12-21T16:11:00.001-08:00

PEACE BEGINS WIHT MIKI, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

UNDER THE MISTLETOE

2009-12-20T11:38:00.001-08:00

UNDER THE MISTLETOE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE

2009-12-19T16:52:00.001-08:00

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Christmas!

HIP FLASK

2009-12-14T15:16:00.001-08:00

HIP FLASK, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Hip, doesn't smoke, but this drawing by Rafael Navarro IS smokin'!

SELF PORTRAIT

2009-12-07T11:23:00.001-08:00

Richard Starkings, originally uploaded by The Jaunty Scamp.

ELEPHANTMEN #26 COVER

2009-12-03T12:42:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #26 COVER, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ELEPHANTMEN #26 COVER

2009-12-03T12:40:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #26 COVER PENCILS

2009-11-27T17:44:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #26 COVER PENCILS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Blackthorne. 'Nuff Said!

Previews Spotlight Interviews - Elephantmen #24

2009-11-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

Bob Bretall of the Comic Book Page podcast talks with Richard about Elephantmen #24, currently offered in November Previews.

Download it >>

Collectors Paradise conversation with Richard Starkings

2009-11-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

Collectors Paradise site >>

MIKI PINKIE

2009-11-03T13:09:00.001-08:00

MIKI PINKIE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

FATAL DISEASES TPB

2009-11-03T13:06:00.001-08:00

FATAL DISEASES TPB, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

FATAL DISEASES TPB

2009-11-03T13:05:00.001-08:00

FATAL DISEASES TPB, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Reverse

EBONY and MIKI

2009-11-03T12:57:00.001-08:00

EBONY and MIKI, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Spine art for the trade paperback of ELEPHANTMEN: FATAL DISEASES by Moritat and Boo Cook!

Tusk's football team?

2009-10-06T10:29:00.000-07:00

United Football League Unveils the Florida Tuskers Helmet & Logos

remind you of anyone...?

jg

ANDROIDS MAY NOT DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP

2009-07-29T14:54:00.001-07:00

ANDROIDS MAY NOT DREAM OF ELECTRIC SHEEP, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

But Isa Hackett Dick, daughter of Phillip K. IS a Dream. What a surreal moment. What a sweetheart.

PHOTO OP

2009-07-29T11:46:00.001-07:00

PHOTO OP, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

You gotta love girls dressed in costumes you helped design!

MIKI, HIP and YVETTE

2009-07-29T11:09:00.001-07:00

MIKI, HIP and YVETTE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Peace in our time!

WHAT'S STARKINGS DOING?!

2009-07-29T11:07:00.001-07:00

WHAT'S STARKINGS DOING?!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Put that tongue in, Rich! It's only money. And stop referrring to yourself in the third person!

MORITAT & ANDRE

2009-07-29T10:23:00.001-07:00

MORITAT & ANDRE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

They daren't look up. Starkings won't let them!

ELEPHANTMEN at SDCC 2009

2009-07-20T16:04:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN at SDCC 2009, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Taking No Prisoners. Booth #2106

ELEPHANTMEN @ SDCC

2009-07-10T16:33:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN @ SDCC, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ELEPHANTMEN creators -- Richard Starkings, Moritat and John JG Roshell will be at Comicraft's usual spot in the Independent Publisher's Pavilion -- booth 2106, just across from DC Comics. Comicraft will be premiering the new Image Comics trade paperback DAMAGED GOODS collecting Marian Churchland's SOLD OUT issues of ELEPHANTMEN as well as copies of the new ELEPHANTMEN VOLUME 2 hardcover -- FATAL DISEASES. Moritat will be sketching on request alongside a number of special guests. Stop by the Comicraft booth to find out who! Plus -- free posters, buttons, fridge magnets and tattoos!

ELEPHANTMEN #22

2009-06-23T16:34:00.003-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #22, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

A quick tease from issue #22 which features art by up-and-comer Andre Szymanowicz and starts tying together various story threads from the DANGEROUS LIAISONS storylines...

CAB FARE

2009-06-23T15:55:00.001-07:00

CAB FARE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here's a sneak peek at the special signature plate for the copies of ELEPHANTMEN DAMAGED GOODS we'll be selling at San Diego Comic-con next month. Miki Art by Marian Churchland.

A BUNCH OF DALEKS

2009-06-23T15:46:00.001-07:00

A BUNCH OF DALEKS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Just for the hell of it, art by legubrious Lee Sullivan!

NEMESIS OF THE DALEKS

2009-06-23T15:45:00.003-07:00

NEMESIS OF THE DALEKS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Abslom Daak -- on a Hoverbout!

THE DALEKS

2009-06-23T15:45:00.001-07:00

THE DALEKS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

On Hoverbouts!

EBOO!NY

2009-06-23T14:56:00.001-07:00

EBOO!NY, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Just in case you guys think I forgot the title of this blog! Here's another KICKASS page from The BOOSTAH!

ICE, ICE BABY!

2009-06-23T14:42:00.001-07:00

ICE, ICE BABY!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

It's sonic.

DOCTOR WHO • AN EVEN COLDER DAY IN HELL!

2009-06-23T14:09:00.001-07:00

DOCTOR WHO • AN EVEN COLDER DAY IN HELL!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

COLD-BLOODED WAR!

In this standalone tale, the Doctor and Donna attempt to broker a peace plan between two very hierarchical and pompous alien races, the Draconians and Ice Warriors. But their best efforts are derailed by someone who stands to gain from the continued conflict.

Diamond order code is JUN09 0969.

Synchronistically, right after wrapping up my introduction to COLD DAY IN HELL, those awfully nice chaps at IDW asked me if I could script a story for the Tenth Doctor and Donna from a plot by my good friend and all-round good egg, Gary Russell (Gary succeeded John Freeman as editor of DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE -- having worked for him as assistant editor for some time in the 90's -- and has worked in the DOCTOR WHO field ever since, writing, producing and directing audios for BIG FINISH and, more recently, script editing DOCTOR WHO, SARAH JANE ADVENTURES and TORCHWOOD for BBC WALES).

As noted in my introduction to the Panini collection, my time as editor of the strip started and ended in Hell. Simon Furman's COLD DAY IN HELL -- kicks off the volume, and my last strip, NEMESIS OF THE DALEKS, which I co-wrote as Richard Alan with John Tomlinson (Steve Alan) was set on a planet called Hell. Check out John Freeman's blog, DOWN THE TUBES for more on COLD DAY IN HELL.

Stranger still, the first strip in COLD DAY IN HELL features the Ice Warriors, and my story for IDW, COLD-BLOODED WAR, features... the Ice Warriors! And the Draconians. And Alpha Centauri, just for kicks.

Adrian Salmon's art on this issue is Just Beautiful! It was an unexpected pleasure to work with him. Ade's seemingly effortless storytelling and simple linework is amazing -- right up there with Paul Grist.

You can see more preview art from the issue on Chris Ryall's blog here.

DOCTOR WHO

2009-06-23T13:48:00.001-07:00

DOCTOR WHO, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

A collection of seventh Doctor DOCTOR WHO stories I edited, and in some cases co-wrote under the name Richard Alan, and lettered under the pseudonym ZED, was published by Panini UK last month and became available at your LCBS earlier this month.

For the record, I co-wrote TIME AND TIDE, lettered by Tom Orzechowski (what's up with THAT?!) with SLEEZE BROTHERS co-creator John Carnell, and I co-plotted, uncredited, PLANET OF THE DEAD.

The last story I co-wrote for the Seventh Doctor, NEMESIS OF THE DALEKS, is being held over for the next volume, so that they can hang on to that snappy title, no doubt.

This fine tome features the first work (on PLANET OF THE DEAD) of my good friend Lee Sullivan, who is still drawing DOCTOR WHO strips (for BATTLES IN TIME) today. Check out his website here.

Also included in the collection is an introduction by Yours Truly detailing how the strip was nearly dropped from DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE altogether, and a series of interviews with the many creators featured in the book complied by John Freeman, who edited the strip -- and also designed and then edited the entire magazine! -- after my departure...

WAR TOYS VARIANT COVER

2009-06-09T15:52:00.001-07:00

WAR TOYS VARIANT COVER, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

And speaking of Marian...

ELEPHANTMEN DAMAGED GOODS

2009-06-09T15:50:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN DAMAGED GOODS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

I have a handful of advance copies of the Marian Churchland ELEPHANTMEN collection which I'll be selling at THE COMIC BUG tomorrow, June 10th. Manhattan Beach -- see you there!

IS THAT YVETTE?

2009-05-31T18:39:00.001-07:00

IS THAT YVETTE?, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

In issue #21?

Surely not!

EYE ON BOO COOK!

2009-05-31T18:25:00.001-07:00

EYE ON BOO!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Ebony is ready to KILL KILL KILL!

From ELEPHANTMEN #21

By the BOOSTAH!

ELEPHANTMEN FATAL DISEASES

2009-05-20T18:59:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN FATAL DISEASES, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

On Sale Next Week!

312 pages -- 9 issues and extras collected!

ELEPHANTMEN #19

2009-05-20T18:56:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #19, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Still in stores and selling out fast.

SHE'S BACK

2009-05-20T18:46:00.003-07:00

SHE'S BACK, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Well, she's not.

YVETTE

2009-05-20T18:46:00.001-07:00

YVETTE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

She doesn't look happy, does she?

WAR TOYS ONE SHOT IN JULY

2009-05-20T18:45:00.001-07:00

WAR TOYS ONE SHOT IN JULY, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Gregory Wright has finished the colours for the upcoming WAR TOYS One Shot which brings back Yvette...

EBONY IN GREEN

2009-05-20T18:43:00.001-07:00

EBONY IN GREEN, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Boo Cook is doing the Work of His Life on ELEPHANTMEN #21 -- in stores in September. Here's another tease!

BRANDON GRAHAM DRAWS HIP

2009-05-05T09:01:00.001-07:00

BRANDON GRAHAM DRAWS HIP, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

The massively talented Brandon Graham (KING CITY, MULTIPLE WARHEADS) has created an introduction to the next ELEPHANTMEN trade paperback in comic book form. That's me looking like Peter Gabriel.

ELEPHANTMEN #21

2009-04-30T16:09:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #21, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ELEPHANTMEN #19

2009-04-16T18:58:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #19, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Is in the bag, lettered and goes to print next week!

ELEPHANTMEN #18

2009-04-16T12:08:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #18, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here's Jeff's cover coloured by The Mighty Boo Cook!

ELEPHANTMEN #18 PENCIL VARIANT

2009-04-16T12:07:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #18 PENCIL VARIANT, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here are J Scott Campbell's awesome pencils for the cover of next week's issue!

MOTHER AND CHILD

2009-04-14T16:13:00.001-07:00

MOTHER AND CHILD, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

My mate Cam sent me a Q&A regarding mothers in science fiction. You can read my answers below...

MOTHER!

2009-04-14T16:05:00.001-07:00

MOTHER!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

• Do you think the role of the mother in science fiction films is important and does it correlate to other genres?

RICH: Absolutely the mother is important in Science Fiction -- inasmuch as her presence (or absence!) almost always represents the Earth Mother, the nurturing influence without which no man, woman, or mankind can survive or grow.

In oh so many Science Fiction films, women are either dressed as men (ALIEN, TERMINATOR, 1984, OUTLAND, STAR TREK) or appear as provocatively dressed sex objects (BLADE RUNNER, FIFTH ELEMENT, SPECIES, STAR TREK, STAR WARS) and most of those movies are missing maternal figures. Science Fiction writers and movie makers seem to be suggesting that space, and science, are the provinces of men -- so women must dress and behave like men to participate... or undress to make the experience more pleasurable for men (LOGAN'S RUN, CLOCKWORK ORANGE, OUTLAND).

I think it's significant in the ALIEN series that Ripley progressively develops the qualities of a mother -- first as Newt's surrogate mother in ALIENS, then as the mother of a maturing alien in ALIEN3 and finally as the mother of the halfbreed and the understanding, nurturing companion of the android Call in RESURRECTION.

In many ways ALIEN is akin to the Frankenstein monster. Created by scientists, both the monster and the aliens behave monstrously without the warmth and balance of a caring mother -- they serve only the greedy purposes of the hungry, egocentric father, whose dependence on the intellect ultimately turns into fear of the very thing he has created, and death at its hands.

Ripley survives the ALIEN series and her survival in each movie follows her demonstrations of compassion and affection -- first for Jones, the cat in ALIEN, then for Newt in ALIENS, for ALL mankind in 3 and for the halfbreed and Call (and all mankind again) in RESURRECTION.

In a similar fashion, John Connor mothers the Terminator in T2, after his mother has become more manlike and machinelike, and the Terminator becomes the protector in 3 and SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. I think mothering and the qualities of compassion are presented in Science Fiction as something of a lost art that has to be recovered. Roy Batty destroys his father in BLADE RUNNER and the compassion he demonstrates at the end of the movie triggers in Deckard the desire to pursue his relationship with Rachael no matter what.

• Many SF films don't feature a mother at all;, the boys follow in their father's footsteps --- is this simply because the sci~fi genre is a "Boy's Own adventure" or do you think there are ideological and narrative reasons why this should be so?

RICH: I think men have come to represent the intellect, the cold reason of science, rather than the warmth of nature and nurture which is attributed to the mother. I also subscribe to the whole HERO'S JOURNEY philosophy played out in STAR WARS -- it seems as if being orphaned is a requirement for Joseph Campbell's archetypal hero. Loss of the parent frees the hero and cuts off his options. He has to discover the balance between the compassion of the mother and the intellectual reasoning of the father on his on terms through his own experience.

• In ELEPHANTMEN, the mothers are seen as reproductive machines and then disposed of -- is there no place for the mother in the world of MAPPO, where Nikken wants to be both "father and mother"?

RICH: MAPPO's disposal of the mothers creates the instant hero archetype! Hip, Ebony and Horn are all seeking in themselves qualities that were never demonstrated by their father figures (Nikken and the architects of MAPPO). I see elements of Ripley's struggle with the Alien in WAR TOYS -- only in my story the roles are reversed; Hip and Horn regard Yvette as the Alien and Hip's demonstrations of compassion in the course of the story indicate that he is emerging from the mindset of the cold scientific father and discovering the nurturing qualities of the mother. It's interesting to me that I subconsciously chose to illustrate Hip's compassion in a scene wherein he saves a mother and child.

ELEPHANTMEN #23 COVER

2009-04-10T15:22:00.003-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #23 COVER, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Ebony has Der Happy Stick!

ELEPHANTMEN #22 COVER

2009-04-10T15:22:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #22 COVER, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Boo Cook on top form. Hip on top of T-Rex

ELEPHANTMEN MEET THE SUICIDE GIRLS @ ECCC

2009-04-07T16:24:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN MEET THE SUICIDE GIRLS @ ECCC, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Full story and pics here:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=86603&id=691215162&l=2778062ea3

NYCC 2009

2009-04-07T16:16:00.001-07:00

NYCC 2009, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

That's me in the corner

THE RETURN OF YVETTE

2009-04-02T09:45:00.001-07:00

THE RETURN OF YVETTE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Coming in July!

EMERALD CITY HERE I COME!

2009-04-02T08:58:00.001-07:00

Picture 11, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

This is the FRANK CHO cover of the MONSTERS AND DAMES hardcover sketchbook -- logo by Yours Truly -- exclusively available from those awfully nice people at ECCC. Buy several! Moritat and I will be set up somewhere in the hall... soon as I know I'll post the booth number! Moritat and Marian Churchland provided a gorgeous illustration of Ebony and Miki... see a previous post for a looksee.

EBONY HIDE

2009-03-29T17:41:00.001-07:00

EBONY HIDE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ELEPHANTMEN # 21. What has Ebony got to hide?

ELEPHANTMEN #19 TUSK

2009-03-29T17:36:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #19 TUSK, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

More from Marian. And you thought Tusk died in #17. And he DID!

ELEPHANTMEN JULY

2009-03-28T08:23:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN JULY, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ELEPHANTMEN: YVETTE

2009-03-23T12:00:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN: YVETTE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

This little sketch is a tease for the upcoming ELEPHANTMEN: WAR TOYS one shot NIGHTINGALE or DANGEROUS LIAISONS part 0 of 8. It follows ELEPHANTMEN #20 and precedes #21.

MY MOST FAVORITEST PANEL

2009-03-23T11:55:00.001-07:00

MY MOST FAVORITEST PANEL, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

From ELEPHANTMEN #18 -- on sale next month!

ELEPHANTMEN #18 Title Page

2009-03-18T18:20:00.001-07:00

Picture 45, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

I love this issue.

ELEPHANTMEN #18

2009-03-18T17:12:00.001-07:00

Picture 44, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Issue #17 goes on sale next week, but we're already putting together #18... here's one of my favourite pages featuring Sutekh and Horus!

ELEPHANTMEN #21

2009-03-18T16:54:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #21, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here's our ad for THE COMICS JOURNAL, featuring the awesome colour artwork of BOOster COOK!

ELEPHANTMEN #19

2009-03-18T15:03:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #19, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

And here's Marian's lovely cover for issue #19.

ELEPHANTMEN #21

2009-03-18T14:42:00.001-07:00

ELEPHANTMEN #21, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Ebony looks pretty happy here... but he has no idea how much Boo Cook is gonna put him through the wringer in the pages that follow. Poor Ebony.

Sahara's story

2009-03-18T14:38:00.001-07:00

Sahara's story, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Marian recreates a brief scene from ELEPHANTMEN #15, and makes it all her own...

Sahara and Serengheti

2009-03-18T14:36:00.001-07:00

Sahara and Serengheti, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Attentive readers of ELEPHANTMEN will have noticed the unexplored confrontation between Sahara and her father, Serengheti, in issue #15... Rising star, Marian Churchland is currently wrapping up issue #19 which fills in the gap... her art is just BEAUTIFUL and the good news is she's onboard for issues #18-20.

ELEPHANTMAN by Stéphane Roux

2009-02-16T19:17:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMAN by Stéphane Roux, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Last week I spent five days in the blistering cold with a whole bunch of friends from British comics on the occasion of NEW YORK COMIC CON. The show was tremendous and, even though I had not been to a New York show before, I was surprised to discover that there were already a host of vigilant ELEPHANTMEN readers on the East coast. I'd like to take this opportunity to say Thank You to all the people who came up to the Image booth to buy the latest issue or say how much they were enjoying the series, and to my good neighbors at Image, SPAWN's Whilce Portacio, Glen Brunswick & Dan McDaid of JERSEY GODS and those awfully nice PHONOGRAM chaps.

It was also great to be at home with the Braithwaites, Dougie and Sue, Dave and Helen Elliott, Dave Hine and Gary Erskine, as well as my friends from Marvel US in the 80's and 90's -- Greg Wright, Carl Potts and Marie Javins.

The picture above is by French artist and gent, Stéphane Roux. His FRENCH CON FRAMED sketchbook is awesome -- track it down @ www.frenchbulldogstudio.com
See you next year!

MORITAT vs MARIAN

2009-02-01T15:42:00.001-08:00

MORITAT vs MARIAN, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here's the piece ELEPHANTMEN artists Moritat and Marian Churchland have created together for the Emerald City Comic Con book MONSTERS & DAMES. It's not the cover, but I used it so i could mock up the logo I was creating for Emerald Citizen Jim Demonakos.

ELEPHANTMEN #21 IS COMING

2009-01-31T12:32:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #21, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

I suggest you get out of the way.

SAHARA by MORITAT!

2009-01-26T17:48:00.001-08:00

SAHARA by MORITAT!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

MORITAT IS BACK!

2009-01-26T17:45:00.001-08:00

MORITAT IS BACK!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

I'm happy to report that Moritat is drawing ELEPHANTMEN again! This panel and the one above are featured in a six page framing sequence coming up in issue #17...

ARCHIE COMICS

2009-01-19T13:33:00.000-08:00

ARCHIE GOODWIN by Archie Goodwin, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Just a dozen years ago, if you asked anyone in the comic book industry who THE Nicest Man in Comics was, they'd reply to a man (and woman): "Archie Goodwin!"

I was lucky enough to spend time with Archie in the late 80's when I worked at Marvel UK's offices in London as group editor of the Boys' Adventure titles. Traditionally in Britain comics (NOT comic BOOKS) are magazine sized and published every week rather than every month. The titles under my supervision included TRANSFORMERS, ACTION FORCE (GI JOE to you Yanks) ZOIDS, THUNDERCATS and THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS... licensed titles that could command sales of 40,000 copies a week and up.

ACTION FORCE, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

For years, Marvel UK editors dreamed of creating monthly titles in the style and format of our US counterparts, and most of those hopes centered around CAPTAIN BRITAIN, a character originally created by Marvel editors and writers in New York which later went on to enjoy acclaim and healthy sales under the guidance of two of Britain's Best Comic Creators -- Alan Moore and Alan Davis. However, the monthly, black and white CAPTAIN BRITAIN magazine which ran for 14 issues without Alan Moore, failed at British newsstands, and my predecessor, editor Ian Rimmer, was informed that a proposed colour monthly US format CAPTAIN BRITAIN would not fly.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Nevertheless management agreed to consider new titles originated by British creators, and Ian was encouraged in this endeavour by our good friend Tom DeFalco from Marvel's editorial headquarters in Manhattan, stationed with us for two or three months in 1987. But before Ian could get as far as commissioning material, his frustrations with the management of Marvel UK -- frustrations all editors encountered at Marvel from time to time -- inspired him to move on.

So it was left to me to carry the torch and convince Marvel management that Marvel UK should be generating original material. I was aided and abetted by my long time colleague Simon Furman who was the writer of TRANSFORMERS when I got my first TRANSFORMERS lettering assignment at Marvel UK in 1985, and who continues to write TRANSFORMERS to this day! Simon, working with ace TRANSFORMERS artist Geoff Senior, pitched a Science Fiction ROLLERBALL-meets-JUDGE DREDD series by the name of DRAGON'S TEETH which, for various legal reasons we don't need to go into here, eventually hit newsstands as DRAGON'S CLAWS.

DRAGON'S CLAWS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

We had high hopes for the book, which we believed would appeal not only to regular readers of our weekly TRANSFORMERS comics, but also 2000AD readers in Britain and super-hero fans in America. For the most part, we were wrong, and that might very well have been the beginning and the end of Marvel UK's line of US style monthlies...

ENTER: ARCHIE GOODWIN

Shortly after we had started work on DRAGON'S TEETH, management had heard word that Marvel US's creator owned imprint, EPIC COMICS, was in negotiations to publish two books which had recently been published in England by our competitor, IPC. Those two books were THE NEW STATESMEN by John Smith and Jim Baikie, and THIRD WORLD WAR by Pat Mills and Carlos Ezquerra. Both had been serialized in IPC's 2000AD spinoff title, CRISIS. CRISIS was the product of demands by 2000AD writers and artists for intellectual properties and characters they could create and own. IPC had negotiated the rights to publish the new titles in CRISIS in the UK and EPIC had approached the creators for the rights to publish them in the US. Management at Marvel UK didn't like this cross-pollination with our competitor and, being somewhat creatively short-sighted at the time, neither did I... So we appealed to then Marvel president Jim Galton to intercede and deny EPIC COMICS the right to publish the two books. Galton agreed... on ONE condition. Marvel UK would have to produce two titles to take their place.

RESULT!

DEATH'S HEAD, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Before management could find a way of avoiding complying with Galton's request, I approached Simon Furman about pitching DEATH'S HEAD, (a freelance peacekeeping agent -- don't call him a Bounty Hunter -- Simon had created as a supporting character in TRANSFORMERS) as a monthly series and John Carnell and Andy Lanning about pitching THE SLEEZE BROTHERS.

THE SLEEZE BROTHERS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

As editor of THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS, I had been working closely with John and Andy for months and from time to time they would entertain us with stories of two characters they'd created by the names of El'Ape and Deadbeat Sleeze. THE REAL GHOSTBUSTERS was Marvel's biggest selling title at the time and John and Andy were the two most prolific and talented creators on the book. Management liked them and gave me the thumbs up.

STAY SLEEZY, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

At some point in this timeline, management also decided it would be a good idea for me to promote DRAGON'S CLAWS at a popular comic convention in the US... SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON (perhaps you've heard of it?). I had already spent time in New York in November 1987 after Tom DeFalco had been promoted to editor in chief. Tom had introduced me to editor Greg Wright (the same Gregory Wright who has recoloured SLEEZE for this very publication) as well as Mark Gruenwald, Ralph Macchio, Walt & Weezie Simonson, Chris Claremont... and Archie Goodwin.

So on my way to California I stopped by Marvel's New York offices to say "Hi" to my American counterparts. Where was the harm in that? I saw Archie in the EPIC offices and stepped in to have a chat. Archie, who was renowned for his good humour and general bonhomie was standoffish, you might even say he was pissedoffish. Little did I know until then that Archie was as famous for his Wrath as he was for his Mirth. Somehow the subject of the CRISIS titles came up. Steam started to come out of Archie's ears and his face reddened. Nervously I protested that he must understand why we had to object to Marvel US's publication of Marvel UK's competitors titles, and I heard myself say; "If we reprinted DC Comics in England, you'd probably feel the same way!" What an idiot. Archie fixed me with a steely eye and dismissed my protest with a simple, matter of fact "No, I wouldn't."

In that second I realized how much broader Archie's view of the comic book industry was than my own and I quickly muttered some lame excuses and left. As I did so I felt sure that Archie would never talk to me again... but Archie was much more magnanimous than me in that regard as well.

A few short weeks later, Archie was in London for the 1988 UK Comic Art Convention (UKCAC) and to my delight and surprise, stepped into my office at the old Marvel UK location in Arundel House to say "Hello." If there had been a chip on his shoulder, Archie had put salt on it and eaten it... he asked after the projects I was working on and I eagerly showed him artwork for THE SLEEZE BROTHERS and talked to him about MY frustrations with Marvel management. At this point in the 80's, comic creators on both sides of the Atlantic were looking for better treatment and better deals. CRISIS was offering creators ownership of their creations and I felt that Marvel UK should be offering that kind of deal too. WATCHMEN had recently been a critical and financial success and, as Alan Moore, Dave Gibbons and John Higgins had all worked for Marvel UK in the early 80's, I argued that, had we treated them better, we might have been in a position to publish a hit like WATCHMEN.

UKCAC 1988: ME: "On my far right, Archie Goodwin, editor in chief, EPIC Comics, next to him, Andy Lanning, artist on THE SLEEZE BROTHERS, next to him, Simon Furman, writer of DRAGON'S CLAWS and DEATH'S HEAD... and I'm Richard Starkings--" ARCHIE: "Because SOMEONE has to be!", originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ANDY LANNING, JOHN CARNELL, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Archie was impressed by THE SLEEZE BROTHERS and offered to go to bat with management on our behalf. I was dumbfounded -- THE SLEEZE BROTHERS would not have found itself a niche had we not forced Archie to nix the two CRISIS books, yet now, just a short time later, he was offering to help us establish SLEEZE as the very first (sadly, also the last) EPIC UK title. That was Archie's sublime talent; he could change the nature and quality of a book seemingly just by looking at it, and he affected the way you behaved as an editor just by walking through your office. Archie spoke with management, management approved THE SLEEZE BROTHERS as an EPIC title. It was as simple as that! Archie also put me in touch with MARSHAL LAW co-creator Kevin O'Neill, who supplied me with an EPIC contract to use as a model for THE SLEEZE BROTHERS.

BIG GUNS A-GOGO!, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

And here we are, Twenty Years Later. Marvel UK (now Panini UK) have recently reprinted DRAGON'S CLAWS and DEATH'S HEAD in trade paperback editions. And while it's good to see them back in print, it's a little disappointing to see that these new editions have been printed from scans of the original comics. Presumably the original film has been lost or destroyed and the original artwork was dispersed amongst collectors a long time ago.

Thanks to Archie Goodwin, THE SLEEZE BROTHERS has not suffered the same fate. The publication rights reverted to John and Andy in the mid-90's and are now governed by John and myself under the auspices of FOOF PRODUCTIONS, a business founded by John and Andy Banks. Andy Lanning has tracked down the original artwork and we are digitally remastering the book from page one on -- New Words, New Colours, New Letters. This is NOT your father's Oldsmobile!

In the not too distant future THE SLEEZE BROTHERS will be making its way onto your mobile phones, the internet and your television screen... check out the animated short SLEEZE BROTHERS featurette posted above.

Sadly Archie passed away in 1998 after a ten year battle with cancer, but he remains an inspiration to thousands of creators in the comic book industry to this day. Archie taught me more about creator rights by his example than anyone before or since. There would be no ELEPHANTMEN without THE SLEEZE BROTHERS and no SLEEZE BROTHERS without Archie Goodwin.

So, thanks, Archie, you still are THE Nicest Man in Comics. Period.

ARCHIE GOODWIN, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

THE SLEEZE BROTHERS ARE BACK!

2009-01-16T18:59:00.001-08:00

THE SLEEZE BROTHERS PAGE 2, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

We're digitally remastering THE SLEEZE BROTHERS on the occasion of the book's 20th anniversary! TWENTY years?!?

Digitally remastering involves Comicraft's Secret Weapon, John JG Roshell, deleting the lettering from the scans of the original artwork and performing a little digital art restoration so that our Ace Colorist, Gregory Wright, can color the complete art before yours truly adds the digital lettering.

Now, traditionally at Marvel UK in the 80's, we lettered on crackback and then stuck the lettering over the inked art, thus leaving complete art underneath... however some bright spark in editorial, Richard Starkings I think his name was, decided that Marvel UK letterers should work the AMERICAN way, adding the lettering directly on the board over the pencils, thus saving the inker time and Marvel money! What an idiot. Rumour has it he moved to America and revolutionized the art of comic book lettering over there. I betcha the Yanks will regret taking his advice in twenty years, you mark my words!

THE SLEEZE BROTHERS debut in ELEPHANTMEN #16

THE SLEEZE BROTHERS, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

WATCHING THE ELEPHANTMEN

2009-01-08T17:26:00.001-08:00

WATCHING THE ELEPHANTMEN, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

I just want to make it completely clear to all those concerned that ELEPHANTMEN, Image Comics sleeper hit series and WATCHMEN, DC Comics massively successful maxi series and trade paperback, are two completely different comics.

Aside from the fact that both titles contain the word 'MEN' and the fact that Dave Gibbons has drawn both the ELEPHANTMEN and WATCHMEN, the only other similarities between the titles is the fact that, like Dave Gibbons and Alan Moore, I am British and also my name is Alan. Well, my middle name. Also I once went out with a girl who later married a New Zealander by the name of Dave Gibbons. True story.

WATCHMEN is a finite series, ELEPHANTMEN is an ongoing monthly series. HIP FLASK, the 'parent' title to ELEPHANTMEN, actually IS a finite series, and, like WATCHMEN, a murder mystery of sorts. Also, like WATCHMEN, ELEPHANTMEN features a broad cast of characters, unlike another massively successful comic, THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS, which centers on one character and is not a murder mystery.

Furthermore, WATCHMEN is soon to be a major motion picture and is at the center of a legal battle between Warner Bros and 20th Century Fox. ELEPHANTMEN is completely free of any legal entanglements relating to picture distribution and the movie, TV and toy rights are currently still available.

Ahem, I repeat, ELEPHANTMEN movie, TV and toy rights are currently STILL AVAILABLE. Have your guy call my guy.

So there you have it, WATCHMEN and ELEPHANTMEN... completely different and not comparable at all, except in regards to the points raised above.

And a nine panel grid.

And a character by the name of Rorshach.

Just kidding.

ELEPHANTMEN #16

2008-12-30T15:53:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #16 , originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Chris Burnham's pencils aren't bad either!

ELEPHANTMEN #16

2008-12-30T15:50:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #16, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Issue #16 is almost finished -- and the colours by Tatto look just beautiful.

ELEPHANTMEN #15

2008-12-10T21:28:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #15, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Not Only has Boo Cook provided ink finishes for issue #15, but also colour finishes! Here's a sneak peek...

ELEPHANTMEN #15

2008-12-10T21:26:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #15, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Boo has Cooked up his unique colour pallette over generous flats provided by Gabo Bautista!

ELEPHANTMEN #14 cover

2008-12-09T19:55:00.003-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #14 cover, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

In stores today -- front cover by Boisterous Boo Cook, one of his bestest yet!

ELEPHANTMEN #14 flip cover

2008-12-09T19:55:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #14 flip cover, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

By the ever generous Kevin Eastman!

Miki and Hip in flagrante delicto

2008-11-24T18:17:00.001-08:00

Miki and Hip in flagrante delicto, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Miki and Hip in flagrante delicto

2008-11-24T18:15:00.001-08:00

Miki and Hip in flagrante delicto, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

ELEPHANTMEN #18

2008-11-24T18:09:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #18 , originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here's a sneak peek at issue #18 of ELEPHANTMEN -- "Bad Girl." Hip, Wagner and Miki, what more could you want?

ELEPHANTMEN #20 cover

2008-11-24T18:02:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #20 cover, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Here's Marian's cover for issue #20

ELEPHANTMEN #18 flip cover

2008-11-24T17:35:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #18 flip cover, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

This is Marian's beautiful cover to issue #18, featuring Miki and the god Horus. Well, a statue of Horus.

ELEPHANTMEN #20

2008-11-24T17:21:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #20, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Hip and Vanity in Tammy and Sally's diner!

ELEPHANTMEN #20

2008-11-24T17:14:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #20, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

And here's a nice surprise. Marian Churchland has completed her second issue -- Marian's work can be seen in issues 18-20. Unfortunately most of the pages I downloaded today were corrupted by the file transfer, but here's a snap of a page I was able to see properly.

ELEPHANTMEN #15

2008-11-24T16:34:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #15, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

And here is Ian's original pencil breakdown for the same panel.

ELEPHANTMEN #15

2008-11-24T16:31:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN #15, originally uploaded by richstarkings.

Boisterous Boo Cook has almost finished inking and embellishing Ian Churchill's kickass breakdowns for the conclusion of WORLDS COLLIDE. Here's Serengheti looking a little worse for wear...

CAPTAIN STONEHEART TRAILER

2008-11-22T12:43:00.001-08:00

ELEPHANTMEN TRAILER

2008-11-22T12:37:00.001-08:00

NO SURRENDER TRAILER

2008-11-22T12:36:00.001-08:00

WAR TOYS REVIEW AND INTERVIEW

2008-11-22T12:35:00.001-08:00

WAR TOYS TRAILER

2008-11-22T12:33:00.001-08:00