
Warning: the interviewer may appear more intelligent than he actually is thanks to some creative editing. I take no responsibility for anything said by Frank Quitely during the interview, his words are his own and any lawsuits should be sent to him.
Dangerous Ink: Here we are, interviewing Frank Quitely.
Frank Quitely: For £6.50.
In total. Can you give us a brief history of Frank Quitely? The man, the history, the legend.
Emmm...1988 I met up with the guys who were just starting 'Electric Soup'. The first issue came out in September '89 and Frank Quitely was just a name I made up for that, and I just kept it.
So how about before FQ then? Previous to getting into all the comics shenanigans.
Well I actually started 'Electric Soup' when I was still at art school, and after art school I did a couple of years freelancing, doing posters for nightclubs, murals for restaurants, portraits of peoples pets, window dressing...and while I was doing the freelance stuff, I was also working on Electric Soup for...I dunno, three or four years I think it ran for. I had a couple of part-time jobs as well - in a supermarket, and in a cocktail bar. It was right after doing seventeen issues of Electric Soup that I first got professional work for what was then Fleetway, the Judge Dredd people.
Now how about a brief history of the work you've done, doesn't have to be one hundred percent complete.
It won't be complete, I can assure you. (Laughing). 'Electric Soup', then for 'Judge Dredd Megazine' I did 'Missionary Man' and 'Shimura' and 'Inaba', and then for D.C. I did around ten short stories in the Big Books series. And I also did, six at least, shorts for Vertigo anthology titles like 'Flinch' and 'Weird War', 'Strange Adventures' and 'Heartthrobs'. I did a 'Lobo' that was never printed. 'Batman', 'Flex Mentallo' first, then '20/20 Visions'; both for Vertigo. 'Offspring' which was a 'Kingdom Come' follow-up thing.
(Nodding) Mmmm.
You're kidding on you've heard of that one (laughing).
Well that's from 'The Kingdom'.
Oh yes, 'The Kingdom'! You clawed that one back there, Will.
Oh yes, clever man.
'The Invisibles', a three-page 'Transmetropolitan', 'The Authority', 'New X-Men', a short 'Captain America'. Ah, you haven't seen that; I can tell by your face.
There's a few you've mentioned that I haven't seen since you mention it.
'Sandman', that short 'Destiny' story. 'WE3'. (Thinking) What have I deliberately left out of the list? 'Blackheart'!
That the demon from Marvel?
(Both laughing)
We were young! No, no...he wasn't from Marvel. It was me and Robbie Morrison.
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