Button Man bullet-in

Button Man bullet-in

Fri, 2011-07-15 18:35


DreamWorks have renewed their option to make a Button Man movie. That indicates an interest on their part but word is that other interests are taking priority just now.
This will be the fifth option renewal. Having somehow got the impression that this time it was make or break the news initially left me with a feeling of anti-climax but now - while there’s life there‘s hope . . right?

For visitors whose first language is not English bullet -in is a play on bulletin - an official report of public news, or of a patients progress etc (Chambers Dctionary 2001) My apologies to all but I found  it irresistable.

Submitted by Arthur on Fri, 2011-07-15 18:35


DreamWorks have renewed their option to make a Button Man movie. That indicates an interest on their part but word is that other interests are taking priority just now.
This will be the fifth option renewal. Having somehow got the impression that this time it was make or break the news initially left me with a feeling of anti-climax but now - while there’s life there‘s hope . . right?

For visitors whose first language is not English bullet -in is a play on bulletin - an official report of public news, or of a patients progress etc (Chambers Dctionary 2001) My apologies to all but I found  it irresistable.

Comments

Submitted by Bheki Latha (not verified) on Mon, 2011-07-18 15:24.

Well, it's better than nothing.

Wait, does this mean you posed for that picture of Harry yourself? Can we see it in full, and is there any way you could show us photos of some of the models for your lead characters?

I have some questions, I hope you don't mind answering.

I've always wondered what the extent of your involvement on Mazeworld was - did it extend to actually writing scripts, or was it confined to plotting?

All, or most, of the stories you did after Look-In more or less had a serious-minded tone to them. They always seemed to deal with moral or socially relevant topics. Was this a conscious decision? I suspect it must have been, and probably why you never got to draw a greater number of characters.

When you did Button Man 3, you did 3 consecutive double length episodes. The art was still appealing, but I was wondering if you took any strain getting them out, because by the final episode, your art is extremely loose, much looser than you've ever been?

And, finally, are there other gems of artwork hidden away or have you pretty much maxed them out? I will say again that the Strip Illustrators dinner artwork was a joy to look at, the way you were able to capture all those different art styles.

Thank you.

Submitted by Arthur on Tue, 2011-07-19 09:08.

Hullo Bheki,
A picture I had just happened to kind of fit. I took no photographs of lead characters.
Alan Grant wrote and plotted Mazeworld. At the concept stage I made suggestions which he chose to use or ignore.
I wasn’t conscious of Look-in stories being serious minded. Angus Alan was responsible for the Look-in scripts under the editorial guidance of Colin Shelbourn who did have firm ideas about what was suitable for it’s readership.
If I did draw Button Man 3 in double length episodes I have no recollection of it. Could be just a question of a printing schedule decision by the editor. I did become interested in drawing in a looser style but was also working on a cheaper board and with nibs whose manufacture had deteriorated in quality so really tight drawing was a problem anyway.
There is lots of artwork that doesn’t appear on the site - but then, there are the books.

Submitted by Bheki Latha (not verified) on Tue, 2011-07-19 15:41.

You took no photos of lead characters? Then, how??? I've read ll your interviews, so I understand your process, but this statement has totally thrown me into a perplexed loop!

When I talk about a serious tone, I refer to things like your Dr Who story, which dealt with racism, a theme which also carried through to your X-Men stories. Button Man had moral questions, and Anderson, PSI explored them explicitly.

I pretty much have everything you've ever done for 2000AD and Marvel and DC, and the out of print stuff like the Look-In strips, I've been exposed to on the web. So if there's anything obscure you have hidden away, please share it with your devoted fans.

I guess the only question left is, do you still draw?

Thank you for your time.

Submitted by Arthur on Wed, 2011-07-20 10:31.

Hullo Bheki,
No need for perplexity. I have used photographic reference, but did not take photographs for major characters. Most of the friends, family and acquaintances that do guest appearances and a number of the locations are from pictures I took .
All the stories you refer to were devised and written by someone other than I. If there was moral purpose it was the authors.
The art barrel has been scraped dry I believe. If anything unexpected turns up it will get a mention.
In the terms I take you to mean, no I don’t draw any longer.

Submitted by Bheki Latha (not verified) on Wed, 2011-07-20 13:43.

One final question: What's your favourite colour?

Just kidding. Thank you so much for your answers. If any other questions come up, I may end up bugging you again.

So sad that you won't be blessing us with your art in the future, but hopefully you'll compile all the material in the Illustration section into an artbook, along with some more well-known stuff, maybe have those blokes who are doing the Mazeworld book print it? I'd definitely buy a copy.

Holding thumbs for the movie, and if it ever materialises, I really hope they do it right.

Thank you for the impact you've had on my life, and I wish you all the best.

Submitted by Arthur on Thu, 2011-07-21 09:36.

Hullo Bheki,
glad to be of help and thank you for the compliments.
I tend to favour blue.

Submitted by Andrew (not verified) on Fri, 2011-09-09 16:54.

Hi Arthur,

I've stumbled across this site while looking at the Wikipedia page for Button Man. I was a huge fan from the original run in 2000AD, and recently bought the first book together with the collected Shamballa which reignited my interest and reminded me how much I enjoyed your artwork.

I've ordered what I hope are the next two Button Man volumes, but am slightly confused by the titles, and can't find any confirmation elsewhere, so if you haven't got anything better to do, would you mind enlightening me?

The second volume is The Confessions of Harry Exton, but I've seen conflicting titles for the third volume - either Killer Killer, or Harry's Game. I've also seen the same front cover applied to both titles on different websites. Are they the same book with a different title?

Thanks.

Submitted by Arthur on Fri, 2011-09-09 23:13.

Hullo Andrew,
the titles of the Rebellion versions are, in order - The Killing Game. The Confessiona of Harry Exton and Killer Killer.
Harry's Game was a TV Northern Island spy/terroist TV thing. CAn't tbelieve everything you read on the internet I guess. This is right though, I have the books in front of me.
Best Arthur

Submitted by Andrew (not verified) on Mon, 2011-09-12 09:53.

Hi Arthur,

Thanks for that. I have them now, and am looking forward to readign them. Pity it's not your artwork on the Killer Killer cover though...

Thanks again

Andrew

Submitted by Arthur on Mon, 2011-09-12 10:23.

Hullo Andrew,
Your'e welcome. Agree about the cover but then I would wouldn't I. Enjoy.
Arthur