David Lloyd is one of the best-known and most respected comics artists Britain has produced. Night Raven, V For Vendetta, and now Kickback are merely the most prominent examples of an excellent body of work.
David began drawing comics professionally in the 1970s, one of a group of writers and artists who first came to prominence when Marvel UK began publishing original material alongside American reprints. He illustrated tales of Doctor Who and new stories of US superheroes, and created Night Raven with writer Steve Parkhouse: a Thirties masked adventurer in the best traditions of the pre-war pulp magazines. Although he only drew the strip for four months, its impact was significant. When editor Dez Skinn sought to recreate his success at Marvel UK with a new magazine, Warrior, he invited David to produce something along the same lines as Night Raven. That became the strip for which David may always be best known: V For Vendetta, co-created with Alan Moore. V was a true collaboration; David brought in Alan, and contributed some of the significant ideas that gave the strip its impact – such as the Guy Fawkes image, and the decision to dispense with thought balloons.
As well as being an inspired practitioner, David is also a keen educator of new comics artists, and taught for a number of years at the London Cartoon Centre. Many younger British strip illustrators have learnt from him. His art is distinctive, and resolutely in a British comics tradition. There is little of the exaggerated dynamic of the American superhero comic; instead, he blends the draughtsmanship of Frank Bellamy and Don Lawrence with the mood of Jesus Blasco to create a darkly atmospheric style. It doesn’t often seem to be sunny in a David Lloyd comic – the shadows are always there at the edge of the panel borders. His comics encapsulate the essence of film noir and the British kitchen sink drama – even when his art is coloured, it seems to be in black-and-white. All this is to be seen in his recent work Kickback, which he wrote as well as drew.
It is splendid to see an Eastercon acknowledge the world of comics, and David is an excellent addition to LX’s portfolio of guests.
Visit David’s own site, L for Lloyd to find out more!