Buttonman

For Button Man, the first one in particular, I was consciously trying to do something different with story-telling technique and/but its popularity was unexpected. My account of the genesis of Button Man is in the introduction of the original 'graphic novel' version of Button Man by Kitchen Sink. I neglect to mention in it the influence of my watching the TV series Twin Peaks had on the look of the strip. An edited version of the introduction is in latest Rebellion copy. It could be reproduced on this site if there is a demand. If it helps, the book's editor James Vance in his bit did describe this introduction as "charming". He neglected to mention how essential he had been in my putting it together.
The process of creating Button Man was collaborative with writer John Wagner as driver. At this distance in time I have no idea how much of what appears was scripted by John and how much I added for reasons of my own. Whether for instance alligator killing heron (pic38) was asked for or some fancy of mine

I have drawn three stories - The Killing Game, Confessions of Harry Exton,and Button Man III, Killer Killer. There is a fourth, drawn by Frazer Irving, for which, to my surprise, I was credited it's idea by John Wagner.

All are available as books and the three I had a hand in are collected under one cover as Get Harry Ex. - Blog at

http://www.arthurranson.com/blog/get-more-button-man

There are French and Spanish versions of the first story 'The Killing Game'.

For a while DreamWorks held the option to make a movie from 'Button Man - The Killing Game'.

That option is now ( Feb. 2014) in the hands of RINGTHE JING Entertainment as producers.

http://www.arthurranson.com/blog/button-man-movie-part-two

This led to a deal with WarnerTV but now (April 19 2018) that too has folded.

Initially a 2000AD cover.

There's the plot right there.The Killing Game

The Killing Game. The first shot fired.

The Killing Game

The Killing Game. Always did my own `sound effects'. A control thing.

The Killing Game

The Killing Game. A few non-narrative frames in this story. Partly to avoid repetition of talking heads, but also influence of watching 'Twin Peaks' TV series.

The Killing Game. Long phone-call I didn't want as heads. 'Savage Nature' hints earlier - owl with mouse, spider with fly - here six frames. Visualised dialogue in all but final frame. John cut words after this drawn and is why 5 and 6 have that spare space.

The Killing Game. Cover of Dutch edition.

The Confessions of Harry Exton. Harry in USA.

The Confessions of Harry Exton. The house, in up-state New York, is that of my brother Gerald.

The Confessions of Harry Exton. Harry has nightmare.

The Confessions of Harry Exton

The Confessions of Harry Exton. Natural History Museum New York. First frame people from an SSI meeting. Then lion,dinosuar and snake - symbolism for Harry. Subtle or what.

The Confessions of Harry Exton. This picture of her house burning down freaked Maria my sister-in-law.

The Confessions of Harry Exton

The Confessions of Harry Exton. That's me on the video and then dead.

The Confessions of Harry Exton

The Confessions of Harry Exton. Natural History Museum New York.

The Confessions of Harry Exton. Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park, across the road from Natural History Museum

The Confessions of Harry Exton

Confessions of Harry Exton. Guest appearances - Dez Skinn and Peter Hogan.

Confessions of Harry Exton.

'Killer Killer' Thirteen Buttonmen out to get Harry.

'Killer Killer'. Believe operations room as one-time film set was John after seeing my drawing made it rather grand. Wanted space for US map, where each Voice sat and pics of other button men - at times all at once.