WHO CREATED ADAM ETERNO ?!?

Responding to appeals for more information on Adam in February 2007, DEZ SKINN, former editor of Comics International and Warrior and who worked at IPC FLEETWAY, offers this opinion on the 'origin' of such characters at the company:

"Created" is such a nebulous concept in comics, it would appear. Editors can have varying amounts of input, some happy just to shuffle paperwork and leave on time, others burning the midnight oil to improve the end product.

But Fleetway was definitely old school. While it had its share of paper shufflers, even they couldn't keep their hands off (and quite rightly too IMHO. They got the editor title for their ability to... edit!). I think the distinction is really that many, especially in the US, are production editors. You only have to look at their ages to realise they're not the most experienced contributor, and with strongly opinionated older freelancers "working for them" are often in unenviable positions... Some creatives don't take criticism, even though it's meant to be constructive, and if a freelancer is alienated and threatens walking away, whose side will the publisher take?

But Fleetway? Miss the deadline by a day and you'd lose that week's money, because a reprint would be slapped in, or an inventory ghosted strip. Even Leo Baxendale and Ken Reid had such a threat hanging over them. So, given the editor's power in this context, obviously they had a huge amount of input in creating new strips. Often the actual writer wouldn't even be decided before the strip was pretty well shaped up.

With Adam Eterno, I've no first hand knowledge, but I can't imagine for a second that Thunder editor Geoff Kemp, his assistant editor Chris Lowder or managing editor Jack LeGrand would not be very very involved in the creation of a character for a brand new title. When you consider that they were looking at TV advertising and wanting sales in excess of 250,000 a week firm, their jobs were on the line if they got it wrong. Freelance writers could simply move on, losing only a small piece of their income. Tom Tully was Jack's favourite, so he'd have been brought in fairly early, but very much to only flesh out their thoughts. Least that's my educated guess."

My sincerest thanks to JOHN FREEMAN at DOWNTHETUBES for conducting the interview which has been invaluable in helping us uncover the CREATOR/ORIGINS of the character.Please note that most of this early-days data is a "BEST GUESS SCENARIO".However I believe we are nearer the truth than we think!

WRITERS

Prior to the launch of THUNDER on OCTOBER 17TH 1970 the triad of Managing Editor JACK LEGRAND,Thunder Editor GEOFF KEMP and Assistant Editor CHRIS LOWDER working for I.P.C./FLEETWAY came up with the basic premise for the ADAM ETERNO storyline and plot and brought writer TOM TULLY onboard early in the process to help flesh out their ideas.TOM TULLY would then be the main writer on the first few Thunder stories with TED COWAN expounding on the original ideas .The character would thus mature and develope during the next 22 issues of THUNDER before joining up with LION after its last issue on MARCH 13TH 1971.


TED COWAN (CHRIS LOWDER wrote 4 intermittent strips) would become the main writer during LION & THUNDER's 3 year tenure(TOM TULLY was brought back to script the "INCAS" episode with some subtle differences to the original ORIGIN in THUNDER!)until 18TH MAY 1974 when LION joined up with VALIANT the following week.From here on it is believed that TOM TULLY wrote the bulk of the earlier stories with DON AVENELL working on the final ones,but as no payment records exist for that period it is not 100% certain.(Thanks to Steve Holland for that information as of July 12, 2007)

***SCOTT GOODALL is on record as saying he scripted about 3 stories (in correspondence with yours truly!)and believes he may have written "POMPEII" from Thunder Issues 21 & 22.***He attributes this to a couple of words from the strip-"Odius Limpus" as being in line with his kind of humour :-)

***DAVE GIBBONS***It has also been stated by DAVE GIBBONS famous for his work on 2000ad that he lettered a few early AE strips in his younger days(ComicsUK forum-thanks to Lew Stringer for info.)

WRITERS : WEEKLIES

THUNDER-TOM TULLY and TED COWAN

LION & THUNDER-TED COWAN/TOM TULLY & CHRIS LOWDER

VALIANT(& LION/& VULCAN)-TOM TULLY/DONNE AVENELL

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ORIGINAL CREATORS

JACK LEGRAND

JACK LEGRAND 1920-1986.He was well known for his work on FILM FUN in the early 40s and on but is perhaps more famous for his work as Managing Editor of numerous I.P.C. comics throughout the 60s and 70s and of course for being the creative force behind many fan favorites.Jack joined the staff of FILM FUN back in 1936 at the age of 16.Jack's family pedigree stretched right back with his father working on a Woman's magazine and his Uncle being chauffeur to LORD NORTHCLIFFE of the HARMSWORTH comic Empire!FRED CORDWELL,editor of FILM FUN played PROFESSOR LEWDROC in the Photo-Story-JACK KEEN,with his brother-in-law as JACK KEEN and JACK LEGRAND as his assistant BOB TROTTER.This can be seen in FILM FUN ANNUAL 1939.Jack served as a glider pilot during the Second World War and on being demobbed in 1946 returned to FILM FUN.Jack became a great "ideas" man and would often say-"If you think of a comic illustration,draw it and I will create a story around it".This would suggest that Jack was not so much an artist but a writer/creator.Indeed he would assume Senior Editorial status on FILM FUN in 1950 and on the paper's demise in 1962,would continue his career with I.P.C. becoming Managing Editor of several comics.Of course this would include a new title in 1970 called THUNDER which also happened to feature a new character called ADAM ETERNO,which he would co-create with GEOFF KEMP,CHRIS LOWDER,TOM TULLY and TOM KERR!

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GEOFF KEMP

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CHRIS LOWDER(aka JACK ADRIAN)

CHRIS LOWDER is perhaps notable as being the only one of the three GODS who actually created ADAM ETERNO who then went on to personally script 4 strips of the series in LION & THUNDER!Little is known personally of this great Writer and no photo exists online.However it can be surmised from the few facts available and other more reliable data that he was initially involved in an editorial capacity in comics and eventually went on to become a freelance writer.One common thread that runs through all his work is the concept of "Time" as witnessed by perhaps his most well known work of the late 70s - TIMEQUAKE.This was co-created with JOHN COOPER for the STARLORD comic back in 1978.The series revolved around a group known as Time Control who prevent alterations to the fabric of time.An excellent strip and highly recommended.Another series was INFINITY INC which was co-created with JESUS REDONDO.This strip was about a time-travel tourism company.So this would fit in neatly with DEZ SKINN's "best guess scenario" that CHRIS LOWDER as ASSISTANT EDITOR of THUNDER would have been involved with the creation of ADAM ETERNO,especially noting the time travel links with all the subsequent creations!He has been known variously as JACK ADRIAN and a plethora of other pseudonyms including "J. H. Teed" and "T.G. Cribbling".Interestingly some of his one-off strips for 2000AD,for whom he has worked extensively over the last 30 years,have been drawn by fellow AE Artists IAN KENNEDY and ERIC BRADBURY.

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TOM TULLY

TOM TULLY (now retired and living in Glasgow)was a Scottish freelance Writer who together with JACK LEGRAND,GEOFF KEMP AND CHRIS LOWDER co-created ADAM ETERNO for THUNDER comic back in OCTOBER 1970.He would become the main writer for almost the entire Weekly series until its end in 1976.



TOM TULLY has been one of the most prolific British comics writers over the last 30 years.Below is just a small selection of strips he either created /co-created or wrote for:



Roy of the Rovers (1969-1974)

Nipper

Johnny Red

The Leopard of Lime Street

The Mind of Wolfie Smith

Goalmouth

Galaxus(drawn by FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ)

Kelly's Eye(drawn variously by Brett Ewins and FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ)

Janus Stark

Steel Claw

Mytek the Mighty(drawn by ERIC BRADBURY)

Leave it to Lefty

Harlem Heroes (2000ad Issues 1-27)(drawn by DAVE GIBBONS.)

Inferno (drawn by Massimo Belardinelli)

The Mean Arena (drawn variously by John Richardson, ERIC BRADBURY, Mike White, and Steve Dillon).

An interesting interview conducted over 20 years ago can be found at the link below where TOM TULLY talks about his comics work but little or nothing about his early work on ADAM ETERNO!

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TED COWAN

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CHRISTOPHER LOWDER

See above.

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SCOTT GOODALL

SCOTT GOODALL,perhaps as far this site is concerned-more famous for his continuity of the original Janus Stark story in JANUS STARK published by MON JOURNAL in FRANCE,is on record as having written 3 AE stories and from hazy memory says he scripted POMPEII.I am in contact with the writer and will hopefully have more info in the near future.

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DONNE AVENELL

Donne Avenell,perhaps better known for his Phantom scripts took on the mantle of writer for the latter stories of Adam Eterno in Valiants final days.Sadly he has passed on.

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DAVE GIBBONS?

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WRITERS : SPECIALS & ANNUALS etc

Due to lack of Payment Records from the now defunct I.P.C. it is impossible to say conclusively who wrote what in either the Weeklies or the Specials/Annuals.And of course it is infinitely harder to discern a Writers style than that of an Artist as nothing tangible is in evidence.So we must rely on Archivists who through contacts can sometimes uncover the facts.Until then it is a mystery!

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ARTISTS

TOM KERR was asked to draw the first strip based on his experience as an artist and to help launch the strip with a recognisable style for the launch issue of THUNDER.COLIN PAGE then went on to draw the rest of the strip being gradually phased out in preference for the SOLANO LOPEZ STUDIO towards the end of THUNDER's run.This studio would then produce the bulk of the artwork for the LION run and on into the VALIANT years.It is widely believed that JUAN GIRALT took over drawing duties towards the end of the comics life before it teamed up with BATTLE the week after OCTOBER 16TH 1976 sans AE!

***All of the artists for both the WEEKLIES and SPECIALS/ANNUALS have been identified except for "The Goblin Crown" from Thunder Annual 1973***

ARTISTS : WEEKLIES

THUNDER No.1-"CREATOR" TOM KERR

THUNDER No.2-16 & 18 & 20-COLIN PAGE

THUNDER No.17 & 19 & 21-22;

LION Complete Series/

VALIANT (Almost Complete Series)-SOLANO LOPEZ STUDIO

VALIANT (Later Series)-JUAN GIRALT

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TOM KERR

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COLIN PAGE

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FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ

FRANCISCO SOLANO LOPEZ is an Argentinian artist(helped by his studio who would draw over his rough drafts,due to his heavy workload, in the process creating a dark gritty look to the strip)who took on the mantel of Adam Eterno in the "VIKINGS" episode in Issue 17 of THUNDER on 6th FEBRUARY 1971 and continued as the main artist for all the LION run and the bulk of the VALIANT run.His interpretation of Adam Eterno is perhaps the definitive one for the character!Below is a list of some of his works down through the years,mostly for British comics:



Kelly's Eye for KNOCKOUT comic (July 1962 - May 1974)(written by TOM TULLY)

Galaxus for BUSTER comic (June 1969 - April 1972)(written by TOM TULLY)

Janus Stark for SMASH comic (March 1969 - May 1974)(written by TOM TULLY)

Nipper for SCORCHER & SCORE Comic (June 1971 - Oct. 1974)(written by TOM TULLY)

El Ethernauta(ARGENTINA)-ongoing series.





SOLANO is still drawing today only this time as an Erotic Artist :-)

MAJOR UPDATE COMING SOON!

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JUAN GIRALT

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ARTISTS : SPECIALS & ANNUALS

Below is a list of all the Artists who contributed to the Specials/Annuals featuring Adam Eterno strips.The Text stories contained spot illustrations sometimes full page in size.As can be seen,from 1976 onwards I.P.C. employed reprints culled exclusively from SOLANO LOPEZ!

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TED KEARON
ERIC BRADBURY
LOPEZ STUDIO
JOHN CATCHPOLE
IAN KENNEDY
MUNOZ

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The Butler & The Robot-Lion Holiday Special 1971- (ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - TED KEARON

The Golden Sword of Vartzberg-Thunder Annual 1972-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - ERIC BRADBURY

Atlantis-Lion Holiday Special 1972-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - ERIC BRADBURY

The Goblin Crown-Thunder Annual 1973-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - ???

Ulric the Terrible-Thunder Annual 1973-(ORIGINAL/TEXT)- ARTIST - TED KEARON

The Ghostly Legion-Lion Holiday Special 1973-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Francis Drake-Thunder Annual 1974-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Leaping Terror-Thunder Annual 1974-(ORIGINAL/TEXT)- ARTIST - ERIC BRADBURY

Origin-Lion Holiday Special 1974 Rpt Thunder story 01 (remastered)-ARTIST - TOM KERR / COLIN PAGE

Switch In Time-Lion Annual 1975-a 2-part Spellbinder cross-over(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO(Spellbinder by GEOFF CAMPION)

The Curse of the Bradshaws-Lion Holiday Special 1975-(ORIGINAL/TEXT)- ARTIST - JOHN CATCHPOLE

The Golden Talisman-Valiant Summer Special 1975 Rpt Thunder story 05-ARTIST - COLIN PAGE

The Gold Key of Dundee / Tay Bridge Disaster-Lion Annual 1976-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Black Bedlam-Lion Annual 1976-(ORIGINAL/TEXT)- ARTIST - John CATCHPOLE

The Gold Mines of Endless Toil-Valiant Annual 1976(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - IAN KENNEDY

Baron Draxa-Valiant Summer Special 1976 Rpt Lion story 03-(ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Vikings-Lion Annual 1977 Rpt Thunder story 08 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Pompeii-Lion Annual 1977 Rpt Thunder story 12- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Belak the Sorcerer-Valiant Summer Special 1977 Rpt Lion story 19- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Incas-Lion Annual 1978 Rpt Lion story 01 (remastered)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Raven-Lion Annual 1978 Rpt Lion story 04 (remastered)- ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Rikki Delgano-Lion Annual 1978 Rpt Lion story 05 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Pirate Island-Valiant Annual 1978 Rpt Lion story 14 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Marsh Monster-Valiant Summer Special 1978 Rpt Lion story 16 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Neanderthals-Lion Annual 1979 Rpt Lion story 08 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Hound of the Hellibores-Valiant Annual 1979 Rpt Lion story 20 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

The Missing Spacemen-Valiant Summer Special 1979 (ORIGINAL)- ARTIST - MUNOZ

The Raven-Lion Annual 1980 Rpt Lion story 04 (remastered) - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Grunn the Grim-Lion Annual 1980 Rpt Lion story 02 - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

Baron Draxa-Valiant Annual 1980 Rpt Lion story 03 -(remastered) - ARTIST - LOPEZ STUDIO

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IAN KENNEDY

IAN KENNEDY drew the only full color AE strip ever!This was "The Gold Mines of Endless Toil" which appeared in Valiant Annual 1976.

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ARTISTS:JANUS STARK COVERS

GUIDO ZAMPERONI

All that is known of this Italian Artist is that he drew color covers for JANUS STARK of Adam Eterno for Issues 8 and 16.

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ENZO CHIOMENTI

ENZO CHIOMENTI was an Italian Artist more commonly known as Enzo, even Chiom was apparently born circa 1930 who worked on many FRENCH and GERMAN BDs,drawing the covers for JANUS STARK #6, #14, #21, #28, #29, #32,#36, #37, #39, #40,#42, #48, #50, and #51 featuring our hero Adam Eterno in full colour.It is not conclusively known if he redrew any scenes inside to flesh out the original panels to fit in with the particular format.

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WORK IN PROGRESS-CORRECTIONS ARE WELCOME!