Images from the exhibition
'Timeslay' cover art by Ian Kennedy
The Secrets of Somacover art by Ian Kennedy
Ian Kennedy
Kennedy's dramatic cover art was one of the major selling points of Starblazer. Born in Dundee in 1932, he studied at Morgan Academy then was taken on as an apprentice illustrator by DC Thomson, where his first published work was inking in the black squares in the Sunday Post crossword! At the same time he was taking evening classes at Dundee College of Art (now Duncan of Jordanstone College).
In 1954 Kennedy turned freelance, though he continued to supply work to DC Thomson, including Victor and Commando. Over the years he has contributed to numerous publications including other science-fiction comics 2000AD, Blake's 7 Magazine and a revival of Dan Dare in The Eagle. A keen aviation enthusiast, he also drew the programme covers for the RAF Leuchars Air Show for many years.
Keith Robson
Robson's brightly coloured spaceship designs were a distinctive feature of dozens of Starblazer covers. Born in Hartlepool, he has lived for many years in Newport-on-Tay, working on numerous DC Thomson publications including:
- The Dandy
- The Beano
- The Topper
- Bunty and
- The Scots Magazine
He has also worked as an illustrator and model-maker on children's TV programmes including Jackanory and The Magic House. He illustrated the popular book Time Tram Dundee and has run many schools work-shops throughout Tayside and Fife.
The Lost Destroyercover art by Keith Robson
The Enchanted Helmetcover art by Colin McNeil
Colin McNeil
Many of Starblazer's later covers (including this, the final issue) were the work of Duncan of Jordanstone alumnus Colin McNeil, who graduated from the School of Design in 1989.
Best known for his work on Judge Dredd, he has also worked for American comics including:
- Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight
- Marvel Comics Presents and
- The Savage Sword of Conan
Spanish & Argentinian Artists
DC Thomson often used foreign artists on Starblazer, as they had already done with their war comic Commando and girls' comics such as Judy. This partly because of their particular strengths in creating a more realistic style than the cartoonists normally employed by Thomson, and partly because they usually came cheap! The most frequent contributors were:
- Enrique Alcatena
- Juan Sarompas
- Alberto Saichann
- Montero
- Boluda
- Segura
- Sanchez and Garijo
'The Planet Eater' story art by Sanchez
'Andromeda Incident' story art by Enrique Alcatena
Enrique Alcatena
Of the many foreign artists who worked on Starblazer, the best was arguably Alcatena from Buenos Aires.
Over the years he has illustrated some of the most famous American superhero characters including:
- Batman
- X-Men and
- The Fantastic Four
But his main interest has always been in more traditional fantasy. His style was ideal for the 'sword and sorcery' stories that Starblazer turned towards in its later years.
Find out more on Alcatena
Grant Morrison
Now one of the most famous names in comics, Grant Morrison began his career writing (and occasionally drawing) stories for Starblazer, after seeing an advert for new writers in the Sunday Post. Born in Glasgow in 1960, he would go on to write for 2000AD, where the success of his character Zenith led to work for DC Comics in America such as Animal Man, the Batman graphic novel Arkham Asylum and (through the Vertigo imprint) his most ambitious work The Invisibles. He is currently working on a new Batman and Robin comic debuting this summer.
"I look back on those stories with fondness," Morrison later recalled. "Starblazer taught me a lot about the disciplines of plot structure and the necessity for clarity and economy in the storytelling."
'Algol the Terrible' cover art by Grant Morrison and Keith Robson