Edward Barker (cartoonist)
Encyclopedia
John Edward Barker was an English cartoonist
, best known for his work in International Times
and The Observer
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the comic strip "The Largactilites" (later renamed "The Galactilites"). He was described as "the wittiest and most idiosyncratic cartoonist to emerge from the British underground
press". His cartoons were usually signed simply "Edward".
, he studied at Moseley School of Art before joining an avant-garde project, the Birmingham Arts Lab
. In 1969, he was recruited by Graham Keen to join the staff of underground newspaper International Times
(IT). There, he introduced a regular cartoon, The Largactilites - "a collection of cone-shaped creatures who did very little and said less". In 1970, he was offered the opportunity to draw the series for The Observer, but faced immediate criticism over its title - Largactil (also known as chlorpromazine or Thorazine) being a drug used clinically to treat mental illness. The strip's name was changed to The Galactilites. However, after a few weeks Barker was released from his contract after submitting a four-frame strip which consisted solely of four horizon-lines, becoming the first cartoon to appear in Private Eye
s "Pseuds Corner".
He continued to work for various underground and music journals, including IT and New Musical Express, also designing album covers and publishing comic books. These included Edward's Heave Comics, published during the government of Edward Heath
; and Nasty Tales, co-published with Mick Farren
in 1971, which was prosecuted but cleared of obscenity charges in 1973 in the first such trial of a comic book in British history. Barker and Farren also organised the 1970 Phun City
free festival and co-published Watch Out Kids (1972), "a handbook of youth rebellion tracing the rise of youth culture from Elvis
and James Dean
through to the MC5
, the White Panthers and the Angry Brigade".
Barker later lived in Cornwall and Kent, before his death from heart failure at the age of 46. Farren wrote: "Edward may have drunk himself to death in 1997, but he was also one of the gentlest and most innocent beings who ever walked this Earth, which is possibly why the same Earth proved too much for him."
Cartoonist
A cartoonist is a person who specializes in drawing cartoons. This work is usually humorous, mainly created for entertainment, political commentary or advertising...
, best known for his work in International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
and The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, including the comic strip "The Largactilites" (later renamed "The Galactilites"). He was described as "the wittiest and most idiosyncratic cartoonist to emerge from the British underground
UK underground
The Underground was a countercultural movement in the United Kingdom linked to the underground culture in the United States and associated with the hippie phenomenon. Its primary focus was around Ladbroke Grove and Notting Hill in London...
press". His cartoons were usually signed simply "Edward".
Life
Born in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, he studied at Moseley School of Art before joining an avant-garde project, the Birmingham Arts Lab
Birmingham Arts Lab
The Birmingham Arts Laboratory or Arts Lab was an experimental arts centre and artist collective based in Birmingham, England from 1968 to 1982 – an "arts and performance space dedicated to radical research into art and creativity"...
. In 1969, he was recruited by Graham Keen to join the staff of underground newspaper International Times
International Times
International Times was an underground newspaper founded in London in 1966. Editors included Hoppy, David Mairowitz, Pete Stansill, Barry Miles, Jim Haynes and playwright Tom McGrath...
(IT). There, he introduced a regular cartoon, The Largactilites - "a collection of cone-shaped creatures who did very little and said less". In 1970, he was offered the opportunity to draw the series for The Observer, but faced immediate criticism over its title - Largactil (also known as chlorpromazine or Thorazine) being a drug used clinically to treat mental illness. The strip's name was changed to The Galactilites. However, after a few weeks Barker was released from his contract after submitting a four-frame strip which consisted solely of four horizon-lines, becoming the first cartoon to appear in Private Eye
Private Eye
Private Eye is a fortnightly British satirical and current affairs magazine, edited by Ian Hislop.Since its first publication in 1961, Private Eye has been a prominent critic and lampooner of public figures and entities that it deemed guilty of any of the sins of incompetence, inefficiency,...
s "Pseuds Corner".
He continued to work for various underground and music journals, including IT and New Musical Express, also designing album covers and publishing comic books. These included Edward's Heave Comics, published during the government of Edward Heath
Edward Heath
Sir Edward Richard George "Ted" Heath, KG, MBE, PC was a British Conservative politician who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and as Leader of the Conservative Party ....
; and Nasty Tales, co-published with Mick Farren
Mick Farren
Michael Anthony 'Mick' Farren is an English journalist, author and singer associated with counterculture and the UK Underground.-Music:...
in 1971, which was prosecuted but cleared of obscenity charges in 1973 in the first such trial of a comic book in British history. Barker and Farren also organised the 1970 Phun City
Phun City
Phun City was a rock festival held at Ecclesden Common near Worthing, England from July 24 to July 26, 1970. Excluding the one-day free concerts in London's Hyde Park, Phun City became the first large-scale free festival in the UK....
free festival and co-published Watch Out Kids (1972), "a handbook of youth rebellion tracing the rise of youth culture from Elvis
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
and James Dean
James Dean
James Byron Dean was an American film actor. He is a cultural icon, best embodied in the title of his most celebrated film, Rebel Without a Cause , in which he starred as troubled Los Angeles teenager Jim Stark...
through to the MC5
MC5
The MC5 is an American rock band formed in Lincoln Park, Michigan and originally active from 1964 to 1972. The original band line-up consisted of vocalist Rob Tyner, guitarists Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith, bassist Michael Davis, and drummer Dennis Thompson...
, the White Panthers and the Angry Brigade".
Barker later lived in Cornwall and Kent, before his death from heart failure at the age of 46. Farren wrote: "Edward may have drunk himself to death in 1997, but he was also one of the gentlest and most innocent beings who ever walked this Earth, which is possibly why the same Earth proved too much for him."