The Sludge

[dreamticket]

Hi folks, again seeking help identifying an artist. The following Sludge page comes from the 1967 Lion annual. I think it's by Jose Ortiz, but I'm not sure. What do you think?

sludge2 (452x640).jpg

I have about four more art id. questions from the same annual, but I'll deal with those next time.

Also, any idea who would have written this?

Many thanks for your patience. Nice site.
Gordon.

[Digifiend]

Whoever it was, it's an unusual style (no black outlines), looks painted in fact, and with blue coloured speech, something that's rare even in this modern era of full colour comics.

[philcom55]

I'll check my copy but I'm pretty sure it's not Ortiz.

- Phil Rushton

[crow]

I'm pretty sure it's Bill Lacey.

[Kashgar]

It is Bill Lacey.

[philcom55]

Having just checked the original story I was about to agree with Crow before Kash settled the matter once and for all (Lacey did, after all, draw the first Sludge tale in the weekly Lion ). Even so, it's curious that his name isn't visible on the page as, at the time, he was one of the few artists working for Fleetway who could virtually be relied upon to include a signature somewhere.

- Phil Rushton

[Digifiend]

Maybe that's because it's painted? I assume the weekly version was in black and white, and used ink.

[dreamticket]

Having just checked the original story I was about to agree with Crow before Kash settled the matter once and for all (Lacey did, after all, draw the first Sludge tale in the weekly Lion ). Even so, it's curious that his name isn't visible on the page as, at the time, he was one of the few artists working for Fleetway who could virtually be relied upon to include a signature somewhere.

- Phil Rushton

There is some of his work, signed, in the annual. It's the only Lacey artwork I have to go on and it (does sort of) match up figure-wise with the figures and faces in the Sludge strip. What's got me thinking Ortiz is that I've got a Smokeman strip of his that is a much closer match-up. I'll scan it in when I've got more time. Meanwhile I'm going to put my other questions regarding this annual all together in a separate topic. Hope you all take a look - should be a doddle for you.


Thanks for your help so far.

[tony ingram]

We featured this strip in Crikey! #8 a few months ago. Checking back, it is indeed Bill Lacey.

[dreamticket]

Just for comparison, here are two pages of Smokemen. Signed Ortiz. Not great scans as they come from a bw reprint, and I assume the originals were in colour. I think there are similarities with the above Sludge page. Everyone still convinced it's by Lacey?

What is Crikey!?

Cheers,
Gordon.

smokemen3 (430x640).jpg

smokemen4 (438x640).jpg

[crow]

It's interesting that you perceive the styles to be the same. To me, they're nothing alike. The Sludge art is by Bill Lacey.

Crikey is a magazine about British comics. Have a dekko:

http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk/

http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2009/ ... ming-soon/

[Digifiend]

I can understand you not having heard of Crikey!, it's only available at Borders, Forbidden Planet, a few small retailers, and by mail order.

[felneymike]

Hmm, if it wasn't for the thread i'd be tempted to call OP's scans a European reprint, for some reason the colours and look of it remind me of the stereotyped image of package holidays to the Costa del Sol in the 70's

[tony ingram]

I can understand you not having heard of Crikey!, it's only available at Borders, Forbidden Planet, a few small retailers, and by mail order.

And also at http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk

[Digifiend]

I can understand you not having heard of Crikey!, it's only available at Borders, Forbidden Planet, a few small retailers, and by mail order.

And also at http://www.crikeyuk.co.uk

Mail order means sent in the post doesn't it - so ordering through the website is mail order, which I mentioned.

felneymike, I see what you mean - the painted colouring style was often used on holiday postcards. Not so often in comics, especially not in that era when colour wasn't commonplace.