| 18 January 2021 Despite my best intentions I have become an absentee landlord to this site. My neglect was primarily a consequence of limited time. Work, expanding family and tremendous opportunities to travel that I had never anticipated. In a little over a month it will be forty years since my first professional work was published. It still seems incredible to me because my career is due entirely to luck and the encouragement of others. Paul Neary, then Editor in Chief at Marvel UK, gave me my first break and became both mentor and friend. Mike Barr was the writer/editor on my first US work (BATO) and he patiently helped me learn some of the basics I still lacked. Chris Claremont enticed me over to Marvel (where I learned a tremendous amount from him) and, most significantly, editor Terry Kavanagh was instrumental in pushing me to fulfil my ambition to write. Terry also became a very good friend. I was never enthusiastic about travel or attending Conventions but I knew many creators used these gatherings as a rendezvous to meet other Professionals and discuss the peculiar existence that only the similarly afflicted can really appreciate. I have been fortunate to have met many of my childhood heroes and found the majority to be extremely nice people. Over the years I have befriended some of the Convention organisers who have always worked to make our trips comfortable, hassle free and fun. Mike Allwood in Bristol, UK. Jorge and Diego in Avilles, Spain. Jouko and Jaana in Helsinki, Finland. Royd Burgoyne in Australia. One of my most unique trips was the result of an amazing coincidence. Eduardo Rizzo invited me to his Con in Rosario, Argentina just weeks after I discovered my 'mysterious' grandfather had been born there. David Alabarcez, Edus, Vladimir and the crew couldn't have been more hospitable. David actually researched my family roots and turned the Rosarion Con into a 'Who do you think you are?' adventure. My US Convention trips are always greatly improved by the companionship and assistance of Paul, Larry, Chad, Erica and Off-White. Every trip is easier knowing that friends are waiting at the destination. Aside from all these unexpected perks I've had an amazing time working in comics. Not least because of the opportunity to play with so many of the characters that were a major part of my youth and inspired me to write and draw-- and still do Forty years later. 14 August 2014 When I built this site I promised myself I'd only maintain it IF I could make an update at least once a month. I managed that for a few years until there were delays due to numerous technical glitches. Then I had problems with unscrupulous types downloading all the work I posted, either to pad out their own site or, worst of all, to ink pencil images and attempt to sell them as original pages. More recently there have been a few who tried to convince me that websites are history-- that I should move on to Facebook or twitter. I accept I may be out of date but the site achieved what I set out to do and more-- even without regular updates. So I'll continue-- hopefully with more regular updates. 13 June 2010 Another year has passed since my last news update. I have avoided Conventions (except Bristol and, all being well, Birmingham in October) and the gallivanting I indulged in last year because I decided to do some work this year. I'm almost finished my fourth issue of Avengers Prime and hope to finish the long delayed Wolverine Annual in the not too distant future. 23 May 2009 In my last post, almost a year ago, I said I was contending with the backlog of work and hoped to be back on track soon. Things didn't quite go to plan so I shouldn't be surprised that I have had a few queries as to why my output has reduced so much and whether my 'wrist problem' is becoming more debilitating. Firstly, thanks to those who have expressed concern but my 'wrist problem' (not RSI or carpal tunnel syndrome-- read the September 2007 post below) is more of an annoyance than a disability. I have figured out a number of ways to overcome any restrictions but I still had to shorten my working day and that does prevent me from maintaining the 'head of steam' which usually keeps me focused. BUT, the real cause of my recent tardiness is that I've been having such a good time in the real world. For years I turned down the majority of convention invitations I received because they clashed with family obligations but, after my children were both married last year, I didn't have reason not to accept-- and, after all of the domestic upheaval of 2008, it seemed like a good time to travel a little and renew some old acquaintances. In September 08 my wife and I revisited the Avilles Comic Con organised by Jorge, Diego and all the members of the organisation. Avilles is a truly unique Convention. Its More like a rest home for comic creators than a comic convention. In October 08 I revisited the Mid-Ohio-Con and had the opportunity to spend some time with Chris Claremont thanks to James Henry the Managing Director of the Mid-Ohio-Con. Despite having done a fair amount of work with Chris rarely met face to face. Then, while stateside took an opportunity to visit friends in New York. In April 09 we attended two conventions in italy. Lanciano nel Fumetto organised by Luca Veronesi, with Helena and Gemma. It was a small and very friendly affair with three hour lunches and four hours for dinner. The food was fantastic but with so many generous courses it beggars the question why so many Italians remain slim. The following weekend we were in Naples for the Napoli COMICON. Organised by Claudio Curico-- Enrico, Luca and the rest of his team. Once again, we enjoyed fantastic hospitality and St Elmo's castle is undoubtedly the most spectacular venue of any convention I have attended. In between the two conventions my wife and I spent a few days in Rome as guests of Panini Comics. Thanks to Stefano Munarini and Marco Cecini. Just two weeks later I was at the Bristol International Comic Expo, organised by Mike Allwood . It was a much smaller event this year but possibly one of the most fun. Although I have to say the fact I got to see the new Star trek movie certainly helped elevate my mood. That brings things up to date and I have no other conventions planned until the International Comics Show in Birmingham Oct 3rd and 4th 2009. So its back to the drawing board. I'm still working on the three 38 page annuals for Marvel-- FF, Daredevil and Wolverine. I'm way behind any schedule I may have set myself because, in addition to all my gallivanting, progress on the annuals has been slowed by frequent requests from Marvel to do various covers and one-offs. The most recent is Uncanny X-Men-- Dark Days. 20 July 2008 The sketches I have posted in the latest update are not for sale but I hope to do more for offer to anyone on the Commissions list in the next few months. As I have already mentioned on Matt Platis' Forum, both my children were married this year so things have been hectic, in the nicest possible way, and I'm still contending with the backlog of work that accumulated while I've been busy celebrating. Thanks for your patience. Alan 2 September 2007 Not really news, more a clarification of facts. But first, I would like to thanks all those well- wishers who have e-mailed me at my site concerned for my health because of my tardiness in making posts to my website and my absence from Matt Platis’ Forum. As I have mentioned previously, what I euphemistically refer to as my ‘wrist problem’ has forced me to work at a slower rate and to limit the use of my right hand— less drawing, typing, using a computer mouse or anything that requires sustained dexterity (but worst of all no swimming, Badminton or anything that requires vigorous rotational movements or flicks of the wrist). My ‘wrist problem’ IS the result of a broken arm BUT the injury occurred many years ago when I was thirteen—I took a 30ft nosedive from a tree onto a tarmac playground… fortunately my head absorbed most of the impact and I escaped with a single fracture of the right ulna. My arm healed and all seemed well until, in my twenties, my wrist started to sublux (dislocate) because of a condition known as a 'Triangular fibrocartilage complex injury'. The Ulna (outside of the wrist), being without a bone to bone joint, is held in place by a web of ligaments that allow complex rotational movement and act as a cushion between the ulna carpal gap. Simplistically, the Triangular Fibrocartliage complex is a net that holds the Ulna in place and the TFCC injury is a ‘gap’ in the net so, depending on the direction of the stress applied, the Ulna can slip through the gap. The TFCC is a fairly common sporting injury and usually no more than a minor inconvenience so I never gave it much thought until, as I grew older, the frequency and severity of subluxing increased to such a degree that it began to destabilise the Radius Carpal joint—which is far more debilitating. Five or six years ago I was losing a maximum of two or three weeks a year because of the TFCC injury but last year it was over two full months. The wrist joint is extremely sophisticated and any currently available surgical intervention only offers a very limited reward but carries a high risk of impaired dexterity—and, possibly, an acceleration in the onset of an arthritic condition. I can still draw (Its silly things like stiff door-handles, stubborn pen tops and shaking hands that pose problems) and I may have continued the way I was going for a years, if I kept my hand permanently strapped up, but I decided to reduce my drawing hours and begin focused exercises in an to attempt to build up the wrist ligaments and slow the inevitable degradation— and if I’m really lucky maybe even improve the situation. Time will tell. Anyway, in the grand scheme of things my ‘wrist problem’ is extremely minor and only really significant because of its impact on my comic work. I have been able to use my time off to catch up on DIY, gardening and all those other things I usually neglect, so life is good. Thanks again to all those who expressed concern or support. Alan 16 April 2007 Please note that I had no input on the Catwoman page currently on auction at ... http://cgi.ebay.com/CATWOMAN-BY-ALAN-DAVIS-DICK-GIORDANO-SIGNED- PRINT_W0QQitemZ170102272291QQihZ007QQcategoryZ972QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem I can only assume this is an inked photocopy. Alan 15 March 2007 Hi Further to the news item of 15 November 2006 (below) in regard of art forgeries I offer an amusing sample of a forgery forwarded to me by Susan Callaghan who found the drawings in the Manchester Metropolitan University copy of, "How to Draw the Marvel Way". Click on the image for a larger view. Alan 17 January 2007 Hi I have had quite a few enquiries to my website address in regard to Original art-sales and auctions. I hope to get organised enough to arrange sales or auctions within the next few months-- although regular viewers will know I have been saying that for almost a year. I have also had a number of people ask to be alerted about any auctions. I just don't have the time to e-mail so many people individually so I have set up a separate e-mail address for anyone interested in being notified about art sales or auctions. alandavis@alandavis-comicart.com Anyone who writes to this address will be added to the address book so that each auction can be preceded by a mail drop to all interested parties. I have started this early to allow plenty of time for folk to get their name on the address book. BUT, as I have said above, it may be a while before I get organised so please don't expect any sales for a little while. Alan 15 November 2006 Hi Regular visitors to the site will know that I had been updating the site on a monthly basis until July, four months ago. They may also have been aware of technical difficulties a few months ago-- when the Homepage vanished for about a week. The glitch was cause by an upgrade to the site by the host service. Most of the bugs have been sorted but there may still be a few inactive links or missing pages. Another reason for my delay is that I have already posted quite a selection of oddities and I don't want to keep posting more of the same (AND since I have been working far more slowly than usual this year I've had very little new work to add). I have added a few more examples of work-in-progress in response to requests to my site e-mail address but I don't want the site to become a 'how-to...' book-- I have resisted invitations to do one of those for years because I feel I am still in the process of figuring it all out myself. Another, more serious and unpleasant concern is in regard to images being downloaded from my site. I have had two people contact me to say they have been offered pages that they believed were taken from the site, printed on art-board, inked and presented as an authentic original. I don't think there is anyway I can stop the thieves, except by ceasing further posting or discontinuing my site altogether. The pages in question were from the 'Unpublished pencils' section. Anyone offered one of these images should know that the pencils remain un-inked unless there is a link beside the page with a scan of the inks. So, caveat emptor. Alan |
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