Dez Skinn

Dez Skinn is a British comic book and magazine editor born in Yorkshire in 1951. Image File history File links Dez_skinn. ... Image File history File links Dez_skinn. ... A comic book is a magazine or book containing the art form of comics. ... A collection of magazines A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles, generally financed by advertising and/or purchase by readers. ... An Editor is a person who prepares text—typically language, but also images and sounds—for publication by correcting, condensing, or otherwise modifying it. ... Yorkshire is the largest traditional county of Great Britain, covering some 6,000 sq. ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ...

Early career

Following a journalistic stint on Yorkshire's Doncaster Evening Post, Dez Skinn moved to London in 1970 to pursue a career in comics and found work as a sub-editor with IPC where he worked on such titles as Whizzer and Chips, Cor!! and Buster. The comics publishing arm of Williams/Warner Bros headhunted him to work for them as managing editor of their fledgling Youth Group. It was during this time he edited titles such as MAD Magazine (UK Edition), Tarzan, Korak, Laurel & Hardy and revived Monster Mag. London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom, and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 1970 calendar). ... IPC Media is a large British publishing company, mainly producing consumer magazines. ... Whizzer and Chips was a British comic book that ran from the issues dated 18 October 1969 to 27 October 1990, when it merged with Buster. ... Cor!! was a British comic book that ran from (issues dates) 6 June 1970 to 15 June 1974, when it merged with Buster. ... Buster was a long-running British comic (28 May 1960 - 4 January 2000) which carried a mixture of humour and adventure strips, although the latter genre would become a rarer occurrence as the comic went on. ... A managing editor is a figure who overseas and coordinates the editorial activites of a publication. ... Harvey Kurtzmans cover for the first issue of the comic book Mad Mad is an American humor magazine founded by publisher William Gaines and editor Harvey Kurtzman in 1952. ... James H. Pierce and Joan Burroughs Pierce starred in the 1932-34 Tarzan radio series Tarzan, a character created by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first appeared in the 1914 novel Tarzan of the Apes, and then in twenty-three sequels. ... Korak is the ape name of Jack Clayton, son of Tarzan. ... Laurel and Hardy Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were the members of the most famous comedy duo in film history. ...

The House Of Hammer

Cover to House of Hammer #9 by Brian Lewis

The House Of Hammer was a monthly magazine featuring articles on Hammer Films series of horror and science fiction films. It also featured comic strip versions of its films, as well as new material, by creators such as Brian Bolland, Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, David Lloyd and Brian Lewis. The magazine won numerous Eagle Awards and was hugely successful and with issue 19 received US distribution after an initial one-off compilation issue. Image File history File links Hoh9. ... Image File history File links Hoh9. ... Hammer horror refers to horror films produced in the late 1950s through the 1970s by the British film studio Hammer Films. ... Bollands cover to Hellstorm: Prince Of Lies #16. ... Screenshot of Beneath a Steel Sky, backgrounds courtesy of Dave Gibbons. ... An illustration by John Bolton John Bolton (1951, London) is a comic book artist and illustrator most known for his dense, painted style - often verging on the photoreal or resembling an oil painting. ... Cover art for the collected edition of V for Vendetta by David Lloyd David Lloyd (born 1950) is a British comics artist best known as the illustrator of the graphic novel V for Vendetta, written by Alan Moore. ...

The title changed its name to Halls Of Horror after Warren Publishing had copyrighted the House Of Horror name in the US through publishing a single issue "ashcan" (500 copies, reprinting old Famous Monsters of Filmland material, in an attempt to prevent competition).Halls Of Horror lasted till issue 23 before it was abruptly cancelled, a cover for the unpublished issue 24 is in existence. Warren Publishing is a magazine firm founded by James Warren, who published his first magazines in 1957 and continued in the business for decades. ...

The title returned in 1982 from Quality Communications and lasted until its 30th issue plus a Dracula special. 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Quality Communications is the company formed by Dez Skinn in 1982 to publish Warrior, an anthology comic book title. ...

Starburst

In January 1978 Skinn launched the first issue of Starburst as an attempt to take advantage of Star Wars and the growth in the interest of science fiction and fantasy. Skinn published it under the company name of Starburst Publishing Ltd. It lasted 3 issues before being bought by Marvel UK when he joined them as editorial director. 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Starburst is a British science fiction magazine published every four weeks by Visual Imagination. ... The cover of the 2004 DVD widescreen release of the modified original Star Wars Trilogy. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... // For other meanings see Fantasy (disambiguation) Fantasy is a genre of art that uses magic and other supernatural forms as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. ... The Mighty World of Marvel #1: The very first Marvel UK title published in 1972. ...

The magazine is still being published by Visual Imagination. Visual Imagination Ltd. ...

Marvel Comics

In 1978 Skinn was headhunted by Stan Lee to help the floundering Marvel UK publishing company. Lee was concerned that sales were dropping and gave Skinn freedom to revitalise the company as he saw fit. Skinn did this by moving the company out of Sevenoaks, Kent and back to London, bringing in his own editorial team (at the expense of having to lose Neil Tennant, who went on to form the Pet Shop Boys) and then under the collective banner of "The Marvel Revolution" repositioning the flagging company. He launched new titles such as Doctor Who Weekly, Frantic Magazine (subtitled "Number Two in a Field of One", a MAD Magazine copy which featured very early artwork by Alan Moore and Hulk Weekly. All featured new material produced in the UK by British creators. Hulk Weekly is best remembered for reviving Captain Britain, which had previously been US-originated material, and a precursor to V for Vendetta in Night-Raven. 1978 (MCMLXXVIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1978 calendar). ... Stan Lee and his most famous co-creation, Spider-Man. ... The Mighty World of Marvel #1: The very first Marvel UK title published in 1972. ... Neil Tennant Neil Francis Tennant (born July 10, 1954 in North Shields, Northumberland, United Kingdom) is a British musician, who, with his colleague Chris Lowe, makes up the successful pop duo, the Pet Shop Boys. ... Pet Shop Boys are an English electronic/pop music duo, consisting of Neil Tennant (b. ... Doctor Who Weekly #1, cover dated October 17, 1979 Doctor Who Magazine (abbreviated as DWM) is a periodical devoted to the long-running British science fiction television series Doctor Who. ... Frantic Magazine is a comic book series published by Marvel UK from 1979 to 1980. ... Harvey Kurtzmans cover for the first issue of the comic book Mad Mad is an American humor magazine founded by publisher William Gaines and editor Harvey Kurtzman in 1952. ... Alan Moore Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton, England) is a British writer most famous for his work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels, Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... Hulk Weekly #1 Hulk Weekly was a Marvel UK title published under the editorship of Dez Skinn starting in 1979. ... This article is about the comic book series. ...

With news trade confusion over the difference between glossy US and equally glossy UK Narvel Comics, he successfully revamped existing weekly reprint titles such as The Mighty World Of Marvel into a more traditional-looking UK title as Marvel Comic and similarly adapted Marvel UK's Spider-Man reprint title. With Star Wars Weekly he added photocovers and interior text features to widen the comic's appeal. He also boosted the UK monthly output and his line of digest sized Pocket Books also proved successful, inexpensively offering 64 pages each of early Marvel superhero, horror and science fiction material. The Mighty World of Marvel #1 published in 1972 The Mighty World Of Marvel ( commonly shortened to MWOM ) was Marvel UKs first ever title published in 1972. ... The Mighty World of Marvel #1: The very first Marvel UK title published in 1972. ... Spider-Man swinging around his hometown, New York City. ... The cover of the 2004 DVD widescreen release of the modified original Star Wars Trilogy. ...

His aim was to use Marvel UK weeklies to introduce new young British readers to the adventure comic concept, weening them off traditional humour titles. They could then graduate to the UK monthlies and/or the US imports, so there were titles available for all ages within the Marvel stable, all the way up to the film magazine Starburst.

Despite lasting only 15 months, Skinn's tenure at Marvel was hugely productive and in this time he provided the likes of Alan Davis and a 17-year old Steve Dillon their first published work. He also gave work to John Wagner, Pat Mills, Steve Moore, Dave Gibbons, John Bolton, David Lloyd and Alan Moore which gave them greater exposure. His best known decision was to return Captain Britain from limbo, first of all as a Black Knight supporting character in Hulk Weekly, then in his own strip in The Mighty World Of Marvel. Alan Davis (born 1956) is a British writer and artist of comic books. ... Steve Dillon is a British comic book artist. ... John Wagner is a comics writer who has also written under the pseudonyms John Howard, T.B. Grover, Mike Stott, Keef Ripley, Rick Clark and Brian Skuter, among others. ... Pat Mills, nicknamed the godfather of British comics, is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since. ... Steve Moore Steve Moore (born September 22, 1978 in Windsor, Ontario, Canada) was an ice hockey player in the National Hockey League. ... Screenshot of Beneath a Steel Sky, backgrounds courtesy of Dave Gibbons. ... There are several people named John Bolton, including: John Gatenby Bolton – British-Australian astronomer (1922–1993) John R. Bolton – U.S. politician and diplomat U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. (2005-current) (b. ... Cover art for the collected edition of V for Vendetta by David Lloyd David Lloyd (born 1950) is a British comics artists best known as the illustrator of the graphic novel V for Vendetta, written by Alan Moore. ... Alan Moore Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton, England) is a British writer most famous for his work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels, Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... Captain Britain (Brian Braddock), also briefly known as Britannic, is a fictional character, a comic book superhero in the Marvel universe. ... Hulk Weekly #1 Hulk Weekly was a Marvel UK title published under the editorship of Dez Skinn starting in 1979. ... The Mighty World of Marvel #1 published in 1972 The Mighty World Of Marvel ( commonly shortened to MWOM ) was Marvel UKs first ever title published in 1972. ...

Skinn left Marvel in 1981 to launch and co-own a London west end design group, Studio System, working primarily in film and fashion for Columbia Pictures, British Airways, Liberty's, Browns of South Moulton Street and various high profile clients. But he soon returned to comics, reviving Starburst Magazines Ltd, renamed Quality Communications to remind him not to consider quantity his top priority, so he could start his most influential comic, the anthology title, Warrior. 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Quality Communications is the company formed by Dez Skinn in 1982 to publish Warrior, an anthology comic book title. ... Warrior #1 (March 1982), featuring an image of Axel Pressbutton by Steve Dillon. ...

Warrior

Warrior was first published in March 1982 and ran 26 issues to January 1985. It was a title where all the strips were creator owned, something unique in the British comics industry at the time. The title was a mass of creativity, creators such as Alan Moore, David Lloyd, Alan Davis, Brian Bolland and Garry Leach created and worked on many memorable stories. These included Marvelman, V for Vendetta, The Spiral Path, Axel Pressbutton and Father Shandor, Demon Stalker. Warrior #1 (March 1982), featuring an image of Axel Pressbutton by Steve Dillon. ... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Alan Moore Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton, England) is a British writer most famous for his work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels, Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... Cover art for the collected edition of V for Vendetta by David Lloyd David Lloyd (born 1950) is a British comics artist best known as the illustrator of the graphic novel V for Vendetta, written by Alan Moore. ... Alan Davis (born 1956) is a British writer and artist of comic books. ... Bollands cover to Hellstorm: Prince Of Lies #16. ... Miracleman#2, art by Garry Leach. ... Miracleman (originally Marvelman) was a British-authored superhero comic, first published on February 3, 1954. ... This article is about the comic book series. ... Axel Pressbutton #6, cover art by Mick Austin Axel Pressbutton is a comics character who first appeared in the strip Three-Eyes McGurk and his Death Planet Commandos in the British rock music magazine Dark Star in 1979. ...

When Warrior was cancelled, many of the unfinished stories were completed by various US comic publishing companies. However many of these stories had problems being completed due to the complicated issue of just who owned what, the most famous example of this is Marvelman. Warrior #1 (March 1982), featuring an image of Axel Pressbutton by Steve Dillon. ... Miracleman (originally Marvelman) was a British-authored superhero comic, first published on February 3, 1954. ...

Although Warrior was no more, Quality Communications continued on. Warrior #1 (March 1982), featuring an image of Axel Pressbutton by Steve Dillon. ... Quality Communications is the company formed by Dez Skinn in 1982 to publish Warrior, an anthology comic book title. ...

Quality Communications

Cover to Comics International #186

After Warrior ended, Quality Communications and Skinn carried on being involved in comics publishing for much of the remainder of the 1980s. First of all they helped repackage several stories from Warrior for Eclipse Comics, including Marvelman. Skinn also supervised US reprints of 2000 AD material which were recoloured, these reprints continued till 1989. Image File history File links Ci186. ... Image File history File links Ci186. ... Warrior #1 (March 1982), featuring an image of Axel Pressbutton by Steve Dillon. ... Quality Communications is the company formed by Dez Skinn in 1982 to publish Warrior, an anthology comic book title. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive, informally sometimes including the years 1979, 1990 and 1991. ... Warrior #1 (March 1982), featuring an image of Axel Pressbutton by Steve Dillon. ... Eclipse Comics was an American comic book publisher, one of several influential indendent publishers during the 1980s. ... Miracleman (originally Marvelman) was a British-authored superhero comic, first published on February 3, 1954. ... Cover of the first issue of 2000 AD, 26 February 1977. ... 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In 1990, Skinn produced the first issue of Comics International, a monthly comics news and reviews magazine which has enjoyed great success to the present day. They also publish Toy Max, a magazine for toy collectors. This article is about the year. ... Comics International #187 Comics International is a monthly news and reviews magazine about comic books published by Dez Skinns Quality Communications company since 1990. ...

Controversy

Skinn is a controversial figure, with several creators (most notably Alan Moore alleged on gossip sites to have major disputes over ownership of characters. Skinn states he not only commissioned but also helped, as editor, create V for Vendetta with Moore and Lloyd as well as still being involved with the rights of the character. Moore acknowledges Skinn creating the name V for Vendetta, Moore having been using the working title Ace of Shades, and that Skinn was involved in the start of the series in his article in the Vertigo trade paperback. A similar net gossip issue involves Marvelman, where Skinn states he owns part of the character, even going as far at a comic convention in Bristol to state he has documented proof of this. As yet, this proof remains unseen, outside of it being shown privately to Neil Gaiman's lawyer. Skinn, an easily accessable figure through his current publishing, admits being amazed by never being asked directly to prove his assertions and adds "They probably find it more fun to speculate wildly". Alan Moore Alan Moore (born November 18, 1953, in Northampton, England) is a British writer most famous for his work in comics, including the acclaimed graphic novels, Watchmen, V for Vendetta and From Hell. ... This article is about the comic book series. ... Miracleman (originally Marvelman) was a British-authored superhero comic, first published on February 3, 1954. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Greater Bristol. ...

Skinn has also been accused of breaching copyright, through the publication of Comix: The Underground Revolution (2004), a work in which Skinn is identified as author. Writing in The Comics Journal 263 , Patrick Rosencratz, author of Rebel Visions: The Underground Comix Revolution 1963-1975 (2003), alleged that Skinn had "extensively ''borrowed'' from Rebel Visions, helping himself to quotes from many interviews" Rosencratz had conducted. Rosencratz also noted that "Comix reprints seven of my photographs without my permission ... Our lawyer agrees that move crossed the legal line." Rosencratz further commented that complaints were made to the effect that Skinn had "swiped (copyrighted photographs) from the late comic journalist Clay Geerdes" on The Comics Journal message board. Skinn reportedly responded to these claims, stating that "No theft was intended".^[1] The Comics Journal is an American magazine of news and criticism pertaining to comic books and strips. ...

While Skinn admits subcontracting parts of the book to meet Chrysalis's tight deadline, he denies using what he describes as the pedantic Rosenkrantz tome, although he cannot speak for contractors.

Following Rosencratz's editorial, Trina Robbins contacted The Comics Journal via e-mail, published in issue #266, in which she noted that she wrote Chapter 6, "Girls on Top?". " I was not credited ... Dez e-mailed me with a request to contribute a chapter on women in the under-ground ... I did get paid for it ... one usually expects to be credited for what one writes".^[2] Trina Robbins (born 1938) is an American comics artist and writer. ...

Skinn believes that to have credited Robbins, when the chapter was primarily about her, would have made the piece too biased and adds, "A credit was never discussed, it's the Chrysalis way. I'd helped on previous books for them with no credit and that was talking about other people!"

The Comics Journal later followed up these claims in #268, in which it revealed that whilst Skinn and the estate of Clay Geerdes had quickly reached an amicable settlement, Skinn and Rosencratz had failed to reach an agreement, Skinn noting "I discovered he was again attacking me ... I emailed him saying he was jeopardizing possibility of a settlement". Skinn concluded the matter had reached an impasse, stating "He ignored me, the comments ran online. Ergo total negotiation breakdown."^[3]

However, both the American and United Kingdom publishers of Comix: The Underground Revolution noted that it was Skinn, as author, who was contractually bound to gain clearances for using copyrighted material, with British publisher Chrysalis noting that upon learning of the alleged breach of Patrick Rosencratz's copyright, they "immediately tried to contact Dez Skinn about this and asked him to sort it out. We have not heard back from him yet but we will continue to chase him". Skinn acceded the responsibility was his: "the commisioning publisher's contract throws everything and anything problem-wise back at me".^[3] Butterfly Chrysalis Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis For the record label created in 1969, see Chrysalis Records. ...

Skinn agreed to settle 50% of Rosenkrantz's demand (more than ten times the amount the commissioning publisher paid for visuals) through Comics Journal publisher Gary Groth (who admitted to his longtime friend Skinn that Rosenkrantz could be difficult to reason with) on the understanding such a settlement would be covered in print, as Groth had made news of the dispute in his own magazine. Despite payment being made upon receipt of invoice, no such coverage has appeared and promised copies of issues containing Rosenkrantz's outbursts and subsequent coverage have yet to be received.

Miscellaneous

Skinn's career in comics actually began in 1965 with his fanzine The Derinn Comicollector which led to his producing other titles including Eureka! (1969) and a comics news fanzine Oracle (1968) he also edited the British comic fan magazine Fantasy Advertiser from 1970 to 1975. Cover of Fantasy Advertiser #115, art by Dave Sim. ...

He has also written COMIX:the Underground Revolution, a history of underground comics, for Chrysalis Books (UK) and Thunder's Mouth (USA). His Quality Communications produced a hardcover edition.

Skinn is now involved with the UK's biggest comic event, the Comic Expo, which is held twice a year in Bristol and Brighton, where Skinn is now based. Comic Expo is the name given to the UKs largest comic book event. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Greater Bristol. ... Brighton is a town on the south coast of England, which together with its immediate neighbour Hove forms the city of Brighton & Hove. ...

He has a daughter, Alice Maud, born in 2002 to his partner Vaseema Hamilton, principal of BIMM (the Brighton Institute of Modern Music).

Notes and references

ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ... Trina Robbins (born 1938) is an American comics artist and writer. ... ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ... Micheal W. Dean (1964 – ) is a filmmaker, writer, and musician who lives in Los Angeles, California. ... ISSN, or International Standard Serial Number, is the unique eight-digit number applied to a periodical publication including electronic serials. ...

External links

• Comic Expo website
• Quality Communications website
• Dez Skinn interview