Frazer Irving
Encyclopedia
Frazer Irving is a British comic book artist known for the 2000 AD series Necronauts
. Irving studied art at the University of Portsmouth
, England
, after which he took various temporary jobs in London
. Since breaking into the American market he has worked on a number of superhero titles, including a number with Grant Morrison
.
, a psychedelic tale based around Timothy Leary
and Charles Manson
(written by Gordon Rennie
), and The Simping Detective
and From Grace written by Simon Spurrier
.
He has done illustration work for RPG
companies like Wizards of the Coast
, Hogshead Publishing and Guardians of Order
, as well as small press
publications like The End Is Nigh
. He also does animations on Flash for advertising agencies.
Irving's style owes something to the art of Bernie Wrightson
, but with a computer-driven edge. His work on Seven Soldiers
: Klarion the Witch Boy
has received some praise in the United States and writer Grant Morrison said:
This led to further work at both of the Big Two, including the Iron Man: The Inevitable
mini-series
written by Joe Casey
, and Silent War
, a six-issue mini-series featuring the Inhumans
, written by David Hine
. As part of the Battle for the Cowl storyline he provided the art for the Azrael
mini-series written by Fabian Nicieza
.
Irving is responsible for the artwork on the Tertiary, Quandary and Quintessential
phase CD release of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
radio series adaptation.
He also provided the art on an arc of Grant Morrison's Batman & Robin
series for DC Comics, which was initially announced as following Philip Tan's arc, but was the pushed back to after Cameron Stewart
's run on the series and was finally confirmed to be in the issues after Andy Clarke
's stint, starting with #13, in addition to drawing the second issue of The Return of Bruce Wayne. Other projects include the X-Men
one-shot which was part of Brian Reed
's Timestorm 2009-2099
, the first and last issues of Phil Hester
's Days Missing for Archaia Studios
, and the new Xombi
series for DC Comics.
collections of a number of his stories:
Necronauts
Necronauts was a story that ran in the comics anthology 2000 AD, and was created by Gordon Rennie and Frazer Irving. It was this series that really brought Irving to public attention as his high contrast black and white artwork complimented Rennie's dark storyline.-Publication history:The outline...
. Irving studied art at the University of Portsmouth
University of Portsmouth
The University of Portsmouth is a university in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The University was ranked 60th out of 122 in The Sunday Times University Guide...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, after which he took various temporary jobs in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. Since breaking into the American market he has worked on a number of superhero titles, including a number with Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison
Grant Morrison is a Scottish comic book writer, playwright and occultist. He is known for his nonlinear narratives and counter-cultural leanings, as well as his successful runs on titles like Animal Man, Doom Patrol, JLA, The Invisibles, New X-Men, Fantastic Four, All-Star Superman, and...
.
Career
Irving has worked on Storming HeavenStorming Heaven (comics)
Storming Heaven is a 2000 AD comic strip created by Gordon Rennie and Frazer Irving, featuring battles between psychedelic superheroes.-Characters:*Dr Trips, based on Timothy Leary*Thomas Caliban, based on Charles Manson-Plot:...
, a psychedelic tale based around Timothy Leary
Timothy Leary
Timothy Francis Leary was an American psychologist and writer, known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs. During a time when drugs like LSD and psilocybin were legal, Leary conducted experiments at Harvard University under the Harvard Psilocybin Project, resulting in the Concord Prison...
and Charles Manson
Charles Manson
Charles Milles Manson is an American criminal who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in California in the late 1960s. He was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the Tate/LaBianca murders carried out by members of the group at his instruction...
(written by Gordon Rennie
Gordon Rennie
Gordon Rennie is a comics writer, responsible for White Trash: Moronic Inferno, as well as several comic strips for 2000 AD and novels for Warhammer Fantasy....
), and The Simping Detective
Jack Point (the Simping Detective)
Jack Point aka "the Simping Detective" is a character in the comic Judge Dredd Megazine, a spin-off from 2000 AD. He was created by Simon Spurrier and Frazer Irving....
and From Grace written by Simon Spurrier
Simon Spurrier
Simon Spurrier is a British comics writer, who has previously worked as a cook, a bookseller and an art director for the BBC.Getting his start in comics with the British small press, he went on to write his own series for 2000 AD, like Lobster Random, Bec & Kawl, The Simping Detective and Harry...
.
He has done illustration work for RPG
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
companies like Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, Hogshead Publishing and Guardians of Order
Guardians of Order
Guardians of Order was a Canadian company founded in 1996 by Mark C. MacKinnon in Guelph, Ontario. The company's business output consisted of role-playing games . Their first game is the anime inspired Big Eyes, Small Mouth. In 2006 Guardians of Order ceased operations due to overwhelming...
, as well as small press
British small press comics
British small press comics, once known as stripzines, are comic books self-published by amateur cartoonists and comic book creators, usually in short print runs, in the UK. A "small press comic" is essentially a zine composed predominantly of comic strips. The term emerged in the early 1980s to...
publications like The End Is Nigh
The End Is Nigh
The End Is Nigh was an annual British fanzine edited by Michael Molcher. It was launched at the Bristol Comic Expo in 2005 and, since becoming a semi-annual publication, each subsequent issue is also launched there....
. He also does animations on Flash for advertising agencies.
Irving's style owes something to the art of Bernie Wrightson
Bernie Wrightson
Bernie "Berni" Wrightson is an American artist known for his horror illustrations and comic books.-Biography:...
, but with a computer-driven edge. His work on Seven Soldiers
Seven Soldiers
Seven Soldiers is a comic book metaseries written by Grant Morrison and published by DC Comics. It was published as seven interrelated mini-series and two bookend issues. The series features a new version of the Seven Soldiers of Victory fighting to save Earth from the Sheeda.-Publication...
: Klarion the Witch Boy
Klarion the Witch Boy
Klarion the Witch Boy is a fictional character in the DC Comics universe character first seen in the pages of The Demon in 1973.-Kirby's Klarion:...
has received some praise in the United States and writer Grant Morrison said:
This led to further work at both of the Big Two, including the Iron Man: The Inevitable
Iron Man
Iron Man is a fictional character, a superhero in the . The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, first appearing in Tales of Suspense #39 .A billionaire playboy, industrialist and ingenious engineer,...
mini-series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
written by Joe Casey
Joe Casey
Joe Casey is an American comic book writer. He has worked on titles such as Wildcats 3.0, Uncanny X-Men, The Intimates, Adventures of Superman, and G.I. Joe: America's Elite, among others.-Biography:...
, and Silent War
Silent War
Silent War is a six-issue Marvel Comics comic book limited series which began in January 2007. It was written by David Hine, with art by Frazer Irving....
, a six-issue mini-series featuring the Inhumans
Inhumans
The Inhumans are a fictional race of superhumans, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. This race appears in various comic book series published by Marvel Comics and exists in that company's shared universe, known as the Marvel Universe....
, written by David Hine
David Hine
-Biography:Hine has been working in comics since the early 1980s. For Crisis he drew the series Sticky Fingers in 1989, and wrote and drew a number of short pieces in 1990 and 1991...
. As part of the Battle for the Cowl storyline he provided the art for the Azrael
Azrael (comics)
Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
mini-series written by Fabian Nicieza
Fabian Nicieza
Fabian Nicieza is an American comic book writer and editor who is best known for his work on Marvel titles such as X-Men, X-Force, New Warriors, Cable and Deadpool, and Thunderbolts, for all of which he helped create numerous characters.-Early life:The son of Omar and Irma Riguetti Nicieza, Fabian...
.
Irving is responsible for the artwork on the Tertiary, Quandary and Quintessential
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Tertiary to Quintessential Phases
The Tertiary Phase, Quandary Phase and Quintessential Phase are radio adaptations of the books Life, the Universe and Everything, So Long, and Thanks For All the Fish and Mostly Harmless produced in 2003 and 2004 by Above the Title Productions for BBC Radio 4...
phase CD release of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a science fiction comedy series created by Douglas Adams. Originally a radio comedy broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, it was later adapted to other formats, and over several years it gradually became an international multi-media phenomenon...
radio series adaptation.
He also provided the art on an arc of Grant Morrison's Batman & Robin
Batman and Robin (comic book)
Batman and Robin is an American comic book ongoing series, created by Grant Morrison and featuring Batman and Robin. The debut of the series followed the events of "Batman R.I.P.", Final Crisis, and "Battle for the Cowl" in which the original Batman, Bruce Wayne, apparently died at the hands of DC...
series for DC Comics, which was initially announced as following Philip Tan's arc, but was the pushed back to after Cameron Stewart
Cameron Stewart
Cameron Stewart is an Eisner Award and Shuster Award-winning and Eagle Award and Harvey Award-nominated Canadian comic book artist who has worked for DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse Comics.-Biography:...
's run on the series and was finally confirmed to be in the issues after Andy Clarke
Andy Clarke (comics)
Andy Clarke is a British comics artist who came to prominence working at 2000 AD and became known to a wider audience at DC Comics.-Biography:...
's stint, starting with #13, in addition to drawing the second issue of The Return of Bruce Wayne. Other projects include the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
one-shot which was part of Brian Reed
Brian Reed
Brian Reed is an American comic book and video game writer.-Marvel Comics:Work at Marvel Comics includes:*Spider-Man Unlimited #11*Spider-Woman: Origin...
's Timestorm 2009-2099
Timestorm 2009-2099
Timestorm 2009–2099 is a 2009 comic book limited series written by Brian Reed with pencils by Eric Battle and published by Marvel Comics. The series is a crossover between the mainstream Marvel Universe and a universe very similar to, but with notable differences from, the Marvel 2099...
, the first and last issues of Phil Hester
Phil Hester (comics)
Phil Hester is an American comic book artist, penciller and writer.-Biography:This Eisner Award-nominated artist was born in eastern Iowa, where he went on to study at the University of Iowa...
's Days Missing for Archaia Studios
Archaia Studios Press
Archaia Entertainment, LLC is an American comic book publishing company established by Mark Smylie in 2002.-History:Mark Smylie formed the company as a home for his comic Artesia because the publisher, Sirius Entertainment, wanted to print the third series in black and white...
, and the new Xombi
Xombi
Xombi is a fictional character, a comic book superhero published by DC Comics. He first appeared in Xombi #0, , and was created by John Rozum and Denys Cowan.-Fictional character biography:...
series for DC Comics.
Collected editions
There are other trade paperbackTrade paperback (comics)
In comics, a trade paperback is a collection of stories originally published in comic books, reprinted in book format, usually capturing one story arc from a single title or a series of stories with a connected story arc or common theme from one or more titles...
collections of a number of his stories:
- Storming Heaven: The Frazer Irving Collection (collects Storming HeavenStorming Heaven (comics)Storming Heaven is a 2000 AD comic strip created by Gordon Rennie and Frazer Irving, featuring battles between psychedelic superheroes.-Characters:*Dr Trips, based on Timothy Leary*Thomas Caliban, based on Charles Manson-Plot:...
, A Love Like Blood and From Grace and his two Shaun of the DeadShaun of the DeadShaun of the Dead is a 2004 British zombie comedy directed by Edgar Wright, starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, and written by Pegg and Wright. Pegg plays Shaun, a man attempting to get some kind of focus in his life as he deals with his girlfriend, his mother and stepfather...
tie-in comics, 144 pages, RebellionRebellion DevelopmentsRebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
, January 2007, ISBN 1-904265-77-4) - Tharg's Terror Tales Presents Necronauts and Love Like Blood (collects Necronauts and A Love Like Blood, 128 pages, Simon & SchusterSimon & SchusterSimon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, October 2011, ISBN 1-907992-51-0)
Covers only
- 2000 AD #1213, 1255-1256, 1259, 1302, 1325, 1330, 1377, 1498, 1621 (FleetwayFleetwayFleetway, also known as Fleetway Publications and Fleetway Editions, was a UK publishing company which mainly produced comic magazines. For a time owned by IPC Media, they are now a division of Egmont Publishing....
/RebellionRebellion DevelopmentsRebellion is a British computer games company, based in Oxford, who are most famous for the first Aliens vs. Predator computer game. It has published comic books since 2000 and launched its own book imprint, Abaddon Books, in 2006.-History:...
, 2000–2009) - Marvel Holiday Special '06 (MarvelMarvel ComicsMarvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
, 2006) - Sheena, Queen of the JungleSheena, Queen of the JungleSheena, Queen of the Jungle is a fictional, American comic book jungle girl heroine, published originally by Fiction House. The female counterpart to Tarzan, Sheena had two things in common with Edgar Rice Burrough's Jungle Lord: Both possessed the ability to communicate with wild animals and were...
#4 (Devil's DueDevil's Due PublishingDevil's Due Publishing is an independent comic book publishers in the United States. Based in Chicago, Illinois, DDP is best known for its wide selection of genres, including licensed and original creator-owned properties that populate its monthly comic book series and graphic novels.Though...
, 2007) - The DarknessThe Darkness (comics)The Darkness is a series of ongoing American comic books created by Marc Silvestri, Garth Ennis, and David Wohl and produced by Top Cow Productions. The comic first appeared in 1996 and enjoyed an initial period of relative success during the Top Cow/Image Comics boom of the late 1990s. However,...
#76 (Top Cow, 2009) - Days Missing #2-4 (Archaia StudiosArchaia Studios PressArchaia Entertainment, LLC is an American comic book publishing company established by Mark Smylie in 2002.-History:Mark Smylie formed the company as a home for his comic Artesia because the publisher, Sirius Entertainment, wanted to print the third series in black and white...
, 2009) - AzraelAzrael (comics)Azrael is the name of several fictional characters in the DC Comics universe. They are a group of assassins who were created by The Order of St. Dumas to "enforce god's will"...
#1 (DC ComicsDC ComicsDC Comics, Inc. is one of the largest and most successful companies operating in the market for American comic books and related media. It is the publishing unit of DC Entertainment a company of Warner Bros. Entertainment, which itself is owned by Time Warner...
, 2009) - Arkham Reborn #1-2 (DC Comics, 2009–2010)
- The Crazies #3 (ImageImage ComicsImage Comics is a United States comic book publisher. It was founded in 1992 by high-profile illustrators as a venue where creators could publish their material without giving up the copyrights to the characters they created, as creator-owned properties. It was immediately successful, and remains...
, 2010) - Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? #10 (Electric ShepherdElectric Shepherd ProductionsElectric Shepherd Productions is the production arm of the Philip K. Dick Estate. ESP is exclusively devoted to bringing the work of author Philip K...
, 2010) - Batman Incorporated #6-7 (DC Comics, 2011)
Role-playing games
- Pantheon and Other Roleplaying GamesPantheon (role-playing game)Pantheon and other Roleplaying Games is a 24-page book that includes 5 self-contained role-playing games for 3-6 players and designed to be completed in 1–2 hours.-System:...
(Hogshead, 2000) - Heaven and Earth Player's Guide (2nd edition) (Guardians of OrderGuardians of OrderGuardians of Order was a Canadian company founded in 1996 by Mark C. MacKinnon in Guelph, Ontario. The company's business output consisted of role-playing games . Their first game is the anime inspired Big Eyes, Small Mouth. In 2006 Guardians of Order ceased operations due to overwhelming...
, 2001) - NobilisNobilisNobilis is a contemporary fantasy role-playing game created by Jenna K. Moran, writing under the name R. Sean Borgstrom. The player characters are "Sovereign Powers" called the Nobilis; each Noble is the personification of an abstract concept or class of things such as Time, Death, cars, or...
(2nd edition) (Hogshead Publishing Ltd., 2002) - d20D20 SystemThe d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
Menace Manual (Wizards of the CoastWizards of the CoastWizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
, 2003) - Eberron Campaign SettingEberron Campaign SettingEberron Campaign Setting is a hardcover accessory for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The Eberron Campaign Setting book introduced Eberron, and is the core campaign setting, providing the campaign specific rules and details on the continent of Khorvaire...
(Wizards of the Coast, 2004) - Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
Monster Manual III (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
Awards
- 2001: Won "Best New Talent" National Comics Award for NecronautsNecronautsNecronauts was a story that ran in the comics anthology 2000 AD, and was created by Gordon Rennie and Frazer Irving. It was this series that really brought Irving to public attention as his high contrast black and white artwork complimented Rennie's dark storyline.-Publication history:The outline...
(tied with JockJock (artist)Mark Simpson, known by the pen name Jock, is a British comics artist, best known for his work in 2000 AD and on The Losers.-Career:...
) - 2002:
- Won "Best New Talent" National Comics Award
- Won "Best New Talent" Diamond Comics Award
- 2004: Won "Graphic Novel of the Year" Diamond Comics Award for NecronautsNecronautsNecronauts was a story that ran in the comics anthology 2000 AD, and was created by Gordon Rennie and Frazer Irving. It was this series that really brought Irving to public attention as his high contrast black and white artwork complimented Rennie's dark storyline.-Publication history:The outline...
with Gordon RennieGordon RennieGordon Rennie is a comics writer, responsible for White Trash: Moronic Inferno, as well as several comic strips for 2000 AD and novels for Warhammer Fantasy....
External links
- Frazer Irving at Red Slap
- B E N E A T H (with Simon Spurrier)
Interviews
- Interview @ PopImage, June 2002
- Brief interview with Ninth Art circa 2002
- REFLECTIONS: Talking with Frazer Irving, Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
, April 1, 2007 - Interview on the Bullpen Bulletins Podcast 2007
- Videocast: Frazer Irving at the New York Comic Con 2007
- Droid Interrogation: An Exclusive Interview with Frazer Irving on Gutsville, Batman & Robin, Days Missing… and More!, Hypergeek, August 21, 2009