Bryan Talbot (born 24 February 1952) is a British

comics artist A cartoonist is a visual artist who specializes in both drawing and writing cartoons (individual images) or comics (sequential images). Cartoonists differ from comics writers or comics illustrators/artists in that they produce both the literar ...

and writer, best known as the creator of '' The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' and its sequels '' Heart of Empire'' and '' The Legend of Luther Arkwright'', as well as the ''Grandville'' series of books. He collaborated with his wife, Mary M. Talbot to produce '' Dotter of Her Father's Eyes'', which won the 2012 Costa biography award.

Early life

Bryan Talbot was born in Wigan, Lancashire, on 24 February 1952. He attended Wigan Grammar School, the Wigan School of Art, and Harris College in

Preston, Lancashire Preston () is a city on the north bank of the River Ribble in Lancashire, England. The city is the administrative centre of the county of Lancashire and the wider City of Preston, Lancashire, City of Preston local government district. Preston ...

, from which he graduated with a degree in

Graphic Design Graphic design is a profession, academic discipline and applied art that involves creating visual communications intended to transmit specific messages to social groups, with specific objectives. Graphic design is an interdisciplinary branch of ...

Career

Talbot began his comics work in the

underground comix Underground comix are small press or self-published comic books that are often socially relevant or satirical in nature. They differ from mainstream comics in depicting content forbidden to mainstream publications by the Comics Code Authority, ...

scene of the late 1960s. In 1969 his first work appeared as illustrations in ''Mallorn'', the British Tolkien Society magazine, followed in 1972 by a weekly strip in his college newspaper. He continued in the scene after leaving college, producing '' Brainstorm Comix'', the first three of which formed ''The Chester P. Hackenbush Trilogy'', a character reworked by

Alan Moore Alan Moore (born 18 November 1953) is an English author known primarily for his work in comic books including ''Watchmen'', ''V for Vendetta'', ''The Ballad of Halo Jones'', Swamp Thing (comic book), ''Swamp Thing'', ''Batman: The Killing Joke' ...

as Chester Williams for '' Swamp Thing''. Talbot started '' The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' in 1978. It was originally published in '' Near Myths'' and continued on over the years in other publications, including '' Pssst!'' and by the publisher Valkyrie Press. It was eventually collected into one volume by

Dark Horse Comics Dark Horse Comics is an American comic book, graphic novel, manga and Artist's book, art book publisher founded in Milwaukie, Oregon, by Mike Richardson in 1986. The company was created using funds earned from Richardson's chain of Portland, O ...

. Along with

Raymond Briggs Raymond Redvers Briggs (18 January 1934 – 9 August 2022) was an English illustrator, cartoonist, graphic novelist and author. Achieving critical and popular success among adults and children, he is best known in Britain for his 1978 story ...

' '' When the Wind Blows'', it is considered one of the first British

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

s. In the early-to-mid 1980s Talbot provided art for some of '' 2000 ADs flagship serials, producing three series of '' Nemesis the Warlock'', as well as occasional strips for ''

Judge Dredd Judge Joseph Dredd is a fictional character created by writer John Wagner and artist Carlos Ezquerra. He first appeared in the second issue of the British weekly anthology Comic book, comic ''2000 AD (comics), 2000 AD'' (1977). He is the magazi ...

''. Talbot moved to the U.S. market in the 1990s and principally worked for

DC Comics DC Comics (originally DC Comics, Inc., and also known simply as DC) is an American comic book publisher owned by DC Entertainment, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Discovery. DC is an initialism for "Detective Comics", an American comic book seri ...

on titles such as ''

Hellblazer ''John Constantine, Hellblazer'' is an American contemporary Horror fiction, horror comic-book series published by DC Comics since January 1988, and subsequently by its Vertigo Comics, Vertigo imprint since March 1993, when the imprint was introd ...

'', '' Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'', and '' Dead Boy Detectives''. Talbot collaborated with

Neil Gaiman Neil Richard MacKinnon Gaiman (; born Neil Richard Gaiman; 10 November 1960) is an English author of short fiction, novels, comic books, audio theatre, and screenplays. His works include the comic series ''The Sandman (comic book), The Sandma ...

on '' The Sandman'' and provided art for the " Fables & Reflections", " A Game of You", and " Worlds' End" story arcs. His '' The Tale of One Bad Rat'' (1994) deals with a girl's recovery from childhood

sexual abuse Sexual abuse or sex abuse is abusive sexual behavior by one person upon another. It is often perpetrated using physical force, or by taking advantage of another. It often consists of a persistent pattern of sexual assaults. The offender is re ...

. He drew '' The Nazz'' limited series which was written by Tom Veitch and worked with Tom's brother

Rick Veitch Richard Veitch (; born May 7, 1951) is an American comics artist and writer who has worked in mainstream, underground comics, underground, and alternative comics. Biography Rick Veitch is a native of the small town of Bellows Falls, Vermont. One ...

on ''Teknophage'', one of a number of

mini-series In the United States, a miniseries or mini-series is a television show or series that tells a story in a predetermined, limited number of episodes. Many miniseries can also be referred to, and shown, as a television film. " Limited series" is ...

he drew for Tekno Comix. Talbot has illustrated cards for the '' Magic: The Gathering'' collectible card game. He has illustrated Bill Willingham's ''

Fables Fable is a literary genre defined as a succinct fictional story, in prose or verse (poetry), verse, that features animals, legendary creatures, plants, inanimate objects, or forces of nature that are Anthropomorphism, anthropomorphized, and that ...

'', as well as returning to the Luther Arkwright universe with '' Heart of Empire''. In 2006, he announced the graphic novel ''Metronome'', an existential, textless erotically charged visual poem, written under the pseudonym Véronique Tanaka. He admitted that he was the author in 2009. Talbot turned down an offer to appear in character as Tanaka for an in-store signing of the work. In 2007 he released '' Alice in Sunderland'', which documents the connections between

Lewis Carroll Charles Lutwidge Dodgson (27 January 1832 – 14 January 1898), better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, was an English author, poet, mathematician, photographer and reluctant Anglicanism, Anglican deacon. His most notable works are ''Alice ...

Alice Liddell Alice Pleasance Hargreaves (''née'' Liddell, ; 4 May 1852 – 16 November 1934) was an English woman who, in her childhood, was an acquaintance and photography subject of Lewis Carroll. One of the stories he told her during a boating trip becam ...

, and the

Sunderland Sunderland () is a port City status in the United Kingdom, city and metropolitan borough in Tyne and Wear, England. It is a port at the mouth of the River Wear on the North Sea, approximately south-east of Newcastle upon Tyne. It is the most p ...

and Wearside area. He wrote and drew the layouts for '' Cherubs!'', which he describes as "an irreverent fast-paced supernatural comedy-adventure." In 2019 it was reported that Talbot was producing the third installment in the Arkwright series, titled ''The Legend of Luther Arkwright'', which was published by Dark Horse in 2022. In April 2024, it was announced that Talbot will be inducted into the Will Eisner Comic Awards Hall of Fame, the highest accolade for comic writers and artists from across the world.

Awards and recognition

* 1985 Eagle Award for Favourite Character for Torquemada, from '' Nemesis the Warlock'' * 1988: ** Eagle Award for Favourite Artist (British) ** Eagle Award for Favourite New Comic, for ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' ** Eagle Award for Favourite Character (UK), for Luther Arkwright ** Eagle Award for Favourite Comic Cover, for ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' * 1989 Society of Strip Illustration Mekon Award for "Best British Work" for ''The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' * 1995 UK Comic Art Award for Best New Publication for ''The Tale of One Bad Rat'' * 1996 Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album: Reprint, for ''The Tale of One Bad Rat'' * 1999 Haxtur Award, for Best Long Comic Strip for ''The Tale of One Bad Rat'' * 2000

Inkpot Award The Inkpot Award is an honor bestowed annually since 1974 by Comic-Con International. It is given to professionals in the fields of comic books, comic strips, animation, science fiction, and related areas of popular culture, at Comic-Con Internati ...

* 2007: ** BSFA Award nominee, Best Novel, for ''Alice in Sunderland'' ** Nominated for "Award for Favourite Comics Writer/Artist" Eagle Award ** Nominated for "Favourite Original Graphic Novel" Eagle Award, for ''Alice in Sunderland'' * 2008: Nominated for "Best Painter or Multimedia Artist (interior art)"

Eisner Award The Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards, commonly shortened to the Eisner Awards, are awards for creative achievement in American comic books. They are regarded as the most prestigious and significant awards in the comic industry and often referred ...

. * 2009 Talbot was given an

Honorary Doctorate An honorary degree is an academic degree for which a university (or other degree-awarding institution) has waived all of the usual requirements. It is also known by the Latin phrases ''honoris causa'' ("for the sake of the honour") or '' ad hon ...

of Arts by University of Sunderland in July 2009, the first time this has been done for a comic book artist. * 2010: Nominated for "Favourite Original Graphic Novel Published During 2009" Eagle Award for ''Grandville'' * 2012: ** Talbot was awarded an Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters on 17 July 2012 by

Northumbria University Northumbria University (legally the University of Northumbria at Newcastle) is a Public research university, public research university located in Newcastle upon Tyne, North East England, North East of England. It has been a university since 199 ...

in recognition of his lifetime's work in the graphic novel field. ** Winner of the Costa biography award for '' Dotter of Her Father's Eyes'', with Mary Talbot. ** Prix SNCF for "Best Bande Dessinée 2012" for ''Grandville Mon Amour'' * 2014: Guest of honor at NordicFuzzCon. * 2018: Elected a Fellow of the

Royal Society of Literature The Royal Society of Literature (RSL) is a learned society founded in 1820 by King George IV to "reward literary merit and excite literary talent". A charity that represents the voice of literature in the UK, the RSL has about 800 Fellows, elect ...

Bibliography

2000 AD

Tharg's Future Shocks

*"The Wages of Sin" (with

, in '' 2000 AD'' No. 257, 1982)

''Ro-Busters''

*'' Ro-Busters'': "Old Red Eyes is Back" (with Alan Moore, in ''2000AD Annual 1983'', 1982)

Nemesis the Warlock

* "The Gothic Empire (Book IV)" (in ''2000 AD'' No. 390–406, 1984–1985) * "Vengeance of Thoth (Book V)" (in ''2000 AD'' No. 435–445, 1985) * "Torquemurder (Book VI)" (in ''2000 AD'' No. 482–487 and 500–504, 1986–1987) *'' Torquemada'': "The Garden of Alien Delights" (with Pat Mills, in ''Diceman'' No. 3, 1986)

Sláine

*"The Time Killer" (with Pat Mills, in ''2000 AD'' No. 431, 1985)

Judge Dredd

* "House of Death" (with John Wagner/ Alan Grant, in '' Diceman'' No. 1, 1986) * "Last Voyage of the Flying Dutchman" (with John Wagner/Alan Grant, in ''2000 AD'' No. 459, 1986) * "Judge Dredd and the Seven Dwarves" (with John Wagner/Alan Grant, in ''Judge Dredd Annual 1987'', 1986) * "Ladies' Night" (with John Wagner/Alan Grant, in ''2000AD Annual 1987'', 1986) * "Caterpillars" (script by Michael Carroll, coloured by Alwyn Talbot, in ''2000 AD'' No. 1730, April 2011)

Enemy Alien

* "Enemy Alien" (with script and pencils Mike Matthews, in ''2000AD Sci-Fi Special 1987'')

Memento

* "Memento" (in ''2000 AD'' Prog 2002, 2001)

Ad Astra

*''Frank Fazakerly, Space Ace of the Future'' (October 1978 - September 1981)

Avatar Press

* ''

Nightjar Nightjars are medium-sized nocturnal or crepuscular birds in the family Caprimulgidae and order Caprimulgiformes, characterised by long wings, short legs, and very short bills. They are sometimes called bugeaters, their primary source of food ...

'' (with Alan Moore, in '' Alan Moore's Yuggoth Cultures and Other Growths'' No. 1,

Avatar Press Avatar Press is an independent American comic book publisher founded in 1996 by William A. Christensen, and based in Rantoul, Illinois. It was originally known for publishing bad girl comics, such as ''Pandora'', ''Hellina'', ''Lookers'', ''The ...

, 2003)

Brainstorm Comix

Chester P. Hackenbush, the Psychedelic Alchemist

* "Out of the Crucible", in ''Brainstorm Comix'' #1 (Alchemy, 1975) * "From Here to Infinity", in ''Brainstorm Comix'' #2 (Alchemy, 1976) * "A Streetcar Named Delirium", in ''Brainstorm Comix'' #4 (Alchemy, 1977)

Amazing Rock'n'Roll Adventures

* "The Omega Report", in ''Brainstorm Comix'' #6 (Alchemy, 1978)

Dark Horse Comics

*'' The Tale of One Bad Rat'' (1995, )

DC Comics/Vertigo

*''

Annual No. 1'' (written by

Jamie Delano Jamie Delano ( ; born 1954) is an English comic book writer. He was part of the first post-Alan Moore "British Invasion" of writers which started to feature in American comics in the 1980s. He is best known as the first writer of the comic book ...

, 1989) *''The Nazz'' (written by Tom Veitch, issue #1 coloured by Steve Whittaker and issues #2-4 coloured by Les Dorscheid, 1990 - 1991) *''

Batman Batman is a superhero who appears in American comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on M ...

: Dark Legends'' (reprints '' Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight'' No. 39 – 40, 50, 52 – 54, 1996, )

The Sandman

*''The Song of Orpheus'' (in ''Sandman Special'' 1, inks by Mark Buckingham, coloured by Daniel Vozzo, 1991) *'' A Game of You'' (

, 1991–1992, ) *'' Fables and Reflections'' (DC Comics, 1991–1993, ) *'' Worlds' End'' (DC Comics, 1993, ) *'' The Dreaming'' No. 9–12 (writer, with artists Dave Taylor (No. 9) and Peter Doherty (No. 10–12), DC Comics, February–May 1997) *'' The Dead Boy Detectives'' (with

Ed Brubaker Ed Brubaker (; born November 17, 1966) is an American comic book writer, cartoonist and screenwriter who works primarily in the crime fiction genre. He began his career with the semi-autobiographical series '' Lowlife'' and a number of serials i ...

Vertigo Vertigo is a condition in which a person has the sensation that they are moving, or that objects around them are moving, when they are not. Often it feels like a spinning or swaying movement. It may be associated with nausea, vomiting, perspira ...

, four-issue mini-series, 2001)

Shade, the Changing Man

*The Santa Fe Trail (written by Peter Milligan, inks by Mark Pennington, coloured by Daniel Vozzo, August 1991)

Fables

*''Bag o’Bones'' (with Bill Willingham, Vertigo, 2004, )

Desperado Publishing

*'' Cherubs!'' (with Mark Stafford,

, 104 pages, Desperado Publishing, November 2007, )

Jonathan Cape

*'' Alice in Sunderland'' (graphic novel,

Jonathan Cape Jonathan Cape is a British publishing firm headquartered in London and founded in 1921 by Herbert Jonathan Cape, who was head of the firm until his death. Cape and his business partner Wren Howard (1893–1968) set up the publishing house in ...

, April 2007, ) *'' Dotter of Her Father's Eyes'' (written by Mary M. Talbot, 2012) *'' Sally Heathcote: Suffragette'' ( written by Mary Talbot, lettering, layouts and rough pencils by Bryan, finished artwork by Kate Charlesworth, 2014) *'' The Red Virgin and the Vision of Utopia'' (written by Mary M. Talbot, 2016) *'' Rain (Graphic Novel)'' (written by Mary M. Talbot, 2019)

Grandville

*''Grandville'' (graphic novel, 104 pages, November 2009) *''Grandville Mon Amour'' (graphic novel, 104 pages, December 2010) *''Grandville Bête Noire'' (graphic novel, 104 pages, December 2012) *''Grandville: Nöel'' (graphic novel, Jonathan Cape, November 2014) *''Grandville: Force Majeure'' (graphic novel, Jonathan Cape, November 2017)

Luther Arkwright

*''The Papist Affair'' (in The Mixed Bunch 1, 1976) *'' The Adventures of Luther Arkwright'' (various publishers: 1978–1989, ) *''For A Few Gallons More'' (with Chris Welch, in Moon Comics 3, 1979 Street Comics) *''The Fire Opal of Set'' (in Imagine 14, 1984 TSR UK Ltd) *'' Heart of Empire: Or the Legacy of Luther Arkwright'' (Dark Horse Comics, nine-issue limited series, 1999, ) *'' The Legend of Luther Arkwright'' (Dark Horse Books, 2022, )

Moonstone Books

NBM Publishing

*''The Art of Bryan Talbot'' (96 pages, NBM Publishing, December 2007, ) *''

Metronome A metronome () is a device that produces an audible click or other sound at a uniform interval that can be set by the user, typically in beats per minute (BPM). Metronomes may also include synchronized visual motion, such as a swinging pendulum ...

'' (as Véronique Tanaka, 64 pages, NBM Publishing, May 2008, )

Sounds

*Scumworld (credited to The Crabs from Uranus, 1983 – 1984)

Tekno Comix

*''Neil Gaiman’s Mr. Hero the Newmatic Man'' (Issue #1, 6 pages pencils and inks, written by

, coloured by Angus McKie, 1995) *''Neil Gaiman’s Mr. Hero the Newmatic Man'' (Issue #2, 5 pages, inked by Angus McKie (1995, Tekno Comix Written by Rick Veitch, coloured by Angus McKie, 1995) *'' Neil Gaiman’s Wheel of Worlds'' One shot, 11 pages (1995, Tekno Comix Written by Rick Veitch, coloured by Angus McKie,) *''Neil Gaiman's Teknophage'' (pencils only, written by

, Issues #1-6, 1995-1996) *''Neil Gaiman's Phage: Shadow Death'' (script, with pencils by David Pugh and inks by Tim Perkins, six-issue limited series, Tekno Comix, June–November 1996)

Other

* ''Superharris'' with Bonk in Hac, Harris College's Student Newspaper 1971 - 1972) * ''Brainworms'' (script by Matthias Schultheiss, in ''

Crisis A crisis (: crises; : critical) is any event or period that will lead to an unstable and dangerous situation affecting an individual, group, or all of society. Crises are negative changes in the human or environmental affairs, especially when ...

presents the Second Xpresso Special'', 1991)

References

Interviews

British Comics Month – Bryan Talbot speaks

Forbidden Planet ''Forbidden Planet'' is a 1956 American science fiction action film from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, produced by Nicholas Nayfack and directed by Fred M. Wilcox (director), Fred M. Wilcox from a script by Cyril Hume that was based on a film story by ...

, 26 July 2006
Curioser and curioser – Bryan draws on Alice
''

Sunderland Echo The ''Sunderland Echo'' is a daily newspaper serving the City of Sunderland, Sunderland, South Tyneside and Easington (district), East Durham areas of North East England. The newspaper was founded by Samuel Storey (Liberal politician), Samuel ...

'', 17 March 2008 {{DEFAULTSORT:Talbot, Bryan 1952 births Living people 20th-century English male artists 21st-century English male artists Alumni of the University of Central Lancashire British comics artists British comics writers British graphic novelists Costa Book Award winners DC Comics people Game artists Inkpot Award winners People from Wigan Pseudonymous comics artists Silver Age comics creators Underground cartoonists