Nigel Dobbyn 1963 - 2019

Many of us in the UK comics community were shocked and saddened to hear this morning that the comic artist Nigel Dobbyn has passed away. He suffered a sudden and unexpected heart attack last Saturday. He was just 56 years old.

The sad news was announced on the 2000AD website:
https://2000ad.com/post/5774?fbclid=IwAR0nIFUXhBev_n4YlS-OdxHws0SsFglw-EKN99ULk77YNIwJlQ50mhBCQuQ

I'd known Nigel for over 20 years as we'd met when freelancing for Sonic the Comic in the 1990s. A softly spoken and gentle man, Nigel was one of the nice guys in the industry and an incredibly talented artist. I was a writer on Sonic the Comic and Nigel illustrated several of my stories. He always did a fantastic job and I loved his art style and rich colour work. 

Here's one of the stories we worked on. Trapped in the Vortex was published in Sonic the Poster Mag No.9 in 1994. Script by Lew Stringer, Art/colours by Nigel Dobbyn, Letters by Elita Fell...

Trapped in the Vortex was one of my favourite stories that we did together.

Nigel also worked for many other comics throughout his career of course, including 2000AD, The Beano, Spider-Man and Friends and more. He had a great versatility to his work, able to adapt his style to suit the job. Down the Tubes has a fuller account of his career, which you can read here:
https://downthetubes.net/?p=110547

I'd occasionally see Nigel at various comics conventions and we last chatted at the Oldham Comic Con in May. Myself and his other friends and colleagues in the industry are stunned by this tragic news and tributes are pouring in on social media from creators and fans alike. 

A few years ago, Nigel drew this fabulous birthday card for me featuring my Brickman character. A fantastic surprise.

My deepest condolences to Nigel's wife Sue and the family for this awful loss, and to his many friends who always regarded him as a decent man and top talent. He will be sadly missed. 

Above: At the Birmingham International Comic Art Show in 2007. The Sonic the Comic team reunited. Left to right: Lew Stringer, Nigel Kitching, Richard Elson, Nigel Dobbyn. 

Sonic the Comic crew at Sheffield

Cover by Nigel Dobbyn.

Next weekend there'll be a mini-reunion of contributors who worked on Sonic the Comic as three of us are guests at the Sheffield Film and Comic Con on August 15th/16th.

Artist Nigel Dobbyn, the comic's original editor Richard Burton, and myself (a scriptwriter on the comic for most of its run) will be there to meet those of you who read Sonic the Comic back in the 1990s.

Sonic the Comic was a big success for Egmont Fleetway, running from 1993 to 2002 and featuring top quality work from people such as Richard Elson, Roberto Corona, Nigel Kitching, Mick McMahon and many more.

I may only be at the event on Saturday (not sure yet, update to follow) so come along and it'd be great to meet you. There are loads of other guests too of course. Check out the website for full details of the show:
http://www.sheffieldfilmandcomiccon.com/

Birthday fun

I've never been one for making a big fuss of my own birthday. I had presents as a kid of course, gratefully received, but I never had a party (or wanted one) except for my grandad and aunt joining us for tea or suchlike. Around our way in the 1960s/70s, birthday celebrations were something you grew out of as you got older, and it was the same for most of my friends. Don't get me wrong; I had a happy childhood so I don't feel I missed out at all. Different strokes for different folks and all that.

That's not to say I don't appreciate it when people send cards or wish me a happy birthday of course. Take a look at these two fine pieces of artwork posted on my Facebook page today by fellow artists. The one above of Brickman is by the brilliant Nigel Dobbyn and it's absolutely fantastic. Many of you will know Nigel's work from a variety of comics such as 2000AD, Sonic the Comic and The Beano. A really top artist and good bloke and I'm chuffed that he took the time to draw that image. Check out his website here:
http://www.nigeldobbyn.co.uk/portfolio/

I'm equally chuffed with this excellent loose and lively Man-Brick sketch by the incredibly talented Peter Richardson. Peter was also a Sonic the Comic contributor in its early days and has since widened his portfolio with numerous strip and illustration work over the years. Take a look at his website here:
http://www.peter-richardson-illustration.com/home/4585846259

Anyway, good art is worth sharing so I thought I'd post them here. Terrific digital birthday cards from two great UK artists. Thanks lads! I'm very pleased with them.