.gif)
John Higgins (comics)
Encyclopedia
John Higgins is an English comic book artist
and writer. He did significant work for 2000 AD, and he has frequently worked with writer Alan Moore
, most notably as colourist
for Watchmen
.
, Liverpool
. After leaving school when he was 15, he joined the army and, on leaving, spent some time in a commune
in Wiltshire
. He returned to Liverpool and, in 1971, resumed his studies at Wallasey College of Art where, in 1974, he qualified in technical illustration
, allowing him to get a job as a medical illustrator
at the Royal Marsden
.
After getting his first comic published in Brainstorm in 1975, he drew the cover for 2000 AD #43 in 1977
and decided to go freelance in 1978, with an eye on becoming a comic artist. In 1981 he started getting regular work at 2000 AD, one of his early projects being the art for a Tharg's Future Shocks
by Alan Moore
, as well as doing covers for Marvel UK
.
After this he worked steadily at 2000 AD and joined the British Invasion in the mid-eighties, notably doing the colouring on Moore's Watchmen
and Killing Joke
a job he got through colouring Steve Dillon
's art on Moore's ABC Warriors
story. This led to more work in the American market, although he has kept working on British titles too (especially with Judge Dredd
over 20 years).
Most recently he has provided the art for Greysuit with Pat Mills
, as well as working with Justin Gray
and Jimmy Palmiotti
on The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning
and Jonah Hex
#28.
In addition to providing the art, Higgins is also a writer. He wrote and drew his first Future Shock at 2000 AD and did the same for Razorjack
, a comic book
mini-series from Com.x
, which was reprinted in 2009.
Higgins has worked in a number of different areas providing artwork for animation, film and book covers like The Cabinet of Light
and The Morgaine Stories
.
Comic Book Artist
Comic Book Artist was an American magazine founded by Jon B. Cooke devoted to anecdotal histories of American comic books, with emphasis on comics published since the 1960s...
and writer. He did significant work for 2000 AD, and he has frequently worked with writer Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, most notably as colourist
Colorist
In comics, a colorist is responsible for adding color to black-and-white line art. For most of the 20th century this was done using brushes and dyes which were then used as guides to produce the printing plates...
for Watchmen
Watchmen
Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colourist John Higgins. The series was published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and has been subsequently reprinted in collected form...
.
Biography
John Higgins was born in WaltonWalton, Merseyside
Walton, originally known as Walton-on-the-Hill, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, is an area situated to the north of Anfield and the east of Bootle and Orrell Park. It is largely residential, with a diverse population.-History:...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. After leaving school when he was 15, he joined the army and, on leaving, spent some time in a commune
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
. He returned to Liverpool and, in 1971, resumed his studies at Wallasey College of Art where, in 1974, he qualified in technical illustration
Technical illustration
Technical Illustration is the use of illustration to visually communicate information of a technical nature. Technical illustrations can be components of technical drawings or diagrams...
, allowing him to get a job as a medical illustrator
Medical illustrator
A medical illustrator is a professional artist who interprets and creates visual material to help record and disseminate medical, biological and related knowledge. Medical illustrators not only produce such material but can also function as consultants and administrators within the field of...
at the Royal Marsden
The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
The Royal Marsden Hospital is a specialist cancer treatment hospital in London, England. It is an NHS Foundation Trust, and operates facilities on two sites:*The Chelsea site in Brompton, next to the Royal Brompton Hospital, on Fulham Road...
.
After getting his first comic published in Brainstorm in 1975, he drew the cover for 2000 AD #43 in 1977
1977 in comics
- Year overall :* Wendy and Richard Pini establish WaRP Graphics.* Jan and Dean Mullaney establish Eclipse Comics.* The United Kingdom's Eagle Awards are established.* Bob Brown dies at age 62.* Ciao magazine is launched.-January:...
and decided to go freelance in 1978, with an eye on becoming a comic artist. In 1981 he started getting regular work at 2000 AD, one of his early projects being the art for a Tharg's Future Shocks
Future Shocks
Future Shocks is the name given to a long running series of short strips in the weekly comic 2000 AD in 1977. The name originates in a book titled Future Shock, written by Alvin Toffler, published in 1970.-Publishing history:...
by Alan Moore
Alan Moore
Alan Oswald Moore is an English writer primarily known for his work in comic books, a medium where he has produced a number of critically acclaimed and popular series, including Watchmen, V for Vendetta, and From Hell...
, as well as doing covers for Marvel UK
Marvel UK
Marvel UK was an imprint of Marvel Comics formed in 1972 to reprint US produced stories for the British weekly comic market, though it later did produce original material by British creators such as Alan Moore, John Wagner, Dave Gibbons, Steve Dillon and Grant Morrison.Panini Comics obtained the...
.
After this he worked steadily at 2000 AD and joined the British Invasion in the mid-eighties, notably doing the colouring on Moore's Watchmen
Watchmen
Watchmen is a twelve-issue comic book limited series created by writer Alan Moore, artist Dave Gibbons, and colourist John Higgins. The series was published by DC Comics during 1986 and 1987, and has been subsequently reprinted in collected form...
and Killing Joke
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Killing Joke is an influential one-shot superhero graphic novel written by Alan Moore and drawn by Brian Bolland. First published by DC Comics in 1988, it has remained in print since then, and has also been reprinted as part of the trade paperback DC Universe: The Stories of Alan...
a job he got through colouring Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon is a British comic book artist, from Luton, Bedfordshire, best known for his work with writer Garth Ennis on Hellblazer, Preacher and The Punisher.-Biography:...
's art on Moore's ABC Warriors
ABC Warriors
ABC Warriors is a long-running 2000 AD comic strip written by Pat Mills, which first appeared in prog 119 in 1979 and continues to run today. Art for the opening episodes was by Kevin O'Neill, Mike McMahon, Brett Ewins, and Brendan McCarthy - who between them designed the original seven members of...
story. This led to more work in the American market, although he has kept working on British titles too (especially with Judge Dredd
Judge Dredd
Judge Joseph Dredd is a comics character whose strip in the British science fiction anthology 2000 AD is the magazine's longest running . Dredd is an American law enforcement officer in a violent city of the future where uniformed Judges combine the powers of police, judge, jury and executioner...
over 20 years).
Most recently he has provided the art for Greysuit with Pat Mills
Pat Mills
Pat Mills, nicknamed 'the godfather of British comics', is a comics writer and editor who, along with John Wagner, revitalised British boys comics in the 1970s, and has remained a leading light in British comics ever since....
, as well as working with Justin Gray
Justin Gray
Justin Gray is an American comic book writer published by DC Comics.-Biography:Gray has often collaborated with fellow writer Jimmy Palmiotti on series such as Hawkman, Jonah Hex, Power Girl, 21 Down, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters and The Resistance...
and Jimmy Palmiotti
Jimmy Palmiotti
James "Jimmy" Palmiotti is an American writer and inker of comic books, who also does writing for games, television and film.-Early life:Palmiotti is a graduate of the High School of Art and Design in New York City.-Career:...
on The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning
The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning
The Hills Have Eyes: The Beginning is a graphic novel prequel to both the 2006 remake of Wes Craven's horror movie classic The Hills Have Eyes and its Fox Atomic sequel, The Hills Have Eyes 2...
and Jonah Hex
Jonah Hex
Jonah Woodson Hex is a Western comic book antihero created by writer John Albano and artist Tony DeZuniga and published by DC Comics. Hex is a surly and cynical bounty hunter whose face is horribly scarred on the right side. Despite his poor reputation and personality, Hex is bound by a personal...
#28.
In addition to providing the art, Higgins is also a writer. He wrote and drew his first Future Shock at 2000 AD and did the same for Razorjack
Razorjack
Razorjack is an independent comic book created, written and illustrated by John Higgins, published first by Higgins' own Jack Publishing and later by Com.X.-Publication history:...
, a comic book
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
mini-series from Com.x
Com.x
-2000-2002:Com.x wwas founded in 2000 by Eddie Deighton, Russell Uttley and Neil Googe. Deighton later described how the group came together in 1999:...
, which was reprinted in 2009.
Higgins has worked in a number of different areas providing artwork for animation, film and book covers like The Cabinet of Light
The Cabinet of Light
The Cabinet of Light was the ninth novella published by Telos Publishing Ltd. as part of their Doctor Who novellas series. It was written by Daniel O'Mahony, and was released as a standard edition hardback, and a deluxe edition featuring a frontispiece by John Higgins...
and The Morgaine Stories
The Morgaine Stories
The Morgaine Stories, also known as The Morgaine Cycle, are a series of science fantasy novels by science fiction and fantasy writer C. J. Cherryh, published by DAW Books...
.
External links
- John Higgins Interview, 2000ADReview, April 19, 2003