Nominated for the 'Best Comics-Related Book' Eisner Award 2021
"The definitive educational title to bring readers through the journey of comic strips from the perspective of British history... a whole new world of information and staggeringly beautiful art." - Comic Beat
This wildly entertaining and educational tome is a journey through the history of British comics - from the birth of the 20th century to the 80s invasion of American comics by the likes of
Brian Bolland,
Dave Gibbons and
Kevin O' Neill (to name but a few), right up to today's up-and-coming British art stars and the talents of tomorrow.
Revealing the extraordinary history of the UK's prolific comic book industry from the 19th Century to the 21st, this ground breaking volume celebrates the incredible artists who made a huge impact on British comics and would go on to revolutionize the industry on a global scale. Featuring a Who's Who of talent, including
Brian Bolland,
Yvonne Hutton,
Dave Gibbons, celebrated greats such as
Don Lawrence and lost masters like
Reg Bunn and
Shirley Bellwood. Author and
2000 AD artist
David Roach takes us on a journey through time detailing the surprising and fascinating evolution of the art from its humble beginnings to its current world-conquering status.
Including artwork from a vast number highly-acclaimed artists, carefully scanned from original artwork,
Masters of British Comic Art is the definitive study and celebration of a beloved industry.
Roach, David: - David Roach joined the art Droids at 2000 AD in late 1986 after studying Fine Art and Philosophy at art college, going on to draw Nemesis the Warlock and Judge Anderson for five years. In the '90s he was one of many artists enticed over to America where he drew Star Wars and Aliens for Dark Horse, Star Trek for Wildstorm, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs for Topps and numerous strips for DC including a lengthy association with Batman which he both drew and inked. Much of the late '90s was spent drawing Dungeons and Dragons illustrations for Wizards of the Coast, but he returned to British comics in 1999 with work for Panini's Doctor Who Magazine where he still draws or inks the comic strip, and is the company's Principal Graphic Novel cover artist. The new millennium also saw a return to 2000 AD where he drew Judge Dredd, Synnamon and in 2016 returned to Judge Anderson in Prog 2000. Away from comics, Roach has created artwork for records, advertising, storyboards and countless commissions. He also lectures in art and enjoys an alternate existence as a fine artist working with life-models to create large scale drawings of the nude. In a parallel career Roach has also written extensively about art, comics and pop culture and has contributed to various titles including Escape, Comic Book Artist and Illustrators magazine. He has written or co-written numerous art books including the Warren Companion (with Jon B Cooke for TwoMorrows, 2001), The Fleetway Companion (with Steve Holland for the Book Palace, 2007) The Art of War (Carlton, 2008), Life Style Illustrations of the '50s and '60s (two volumes for Fiell books compiled by Rian Hughes, 2010, 2013) and several books for Dynamite including the Art of Vampirella (2013), The Art of José González (2015) and Masters of Spanish Comic Art (2017). Future books will include The Art of Luis García Mozos and Drawings Volume 1; a collection of his favourite life-drawings. He lives in Cardiff with two daughters and far too many comics.
