Steve Dillon
Steve Dillon (22 March 1962 – 22 October 2016) was a British comic book artist, from Luton, Bedfordshire, best known for his work with writer Garth Ennis on "Hellblazer", "Preacher" and "The Punisher". Early life. Dillon was born in London in 1962 and raised in Luton, Bedfordshire. He was the oldest of three siblings, a sister younger by three years, Julie, and a brother younger by nine years who is cartoonist/costume designer Glyn Dillon. While attending Icknield High School, Dillon first realised his potential as a serious comic book artist during the production of a school comic book  called "Ultimate Sci Fi Adventures" with school friends Neil Bailey & Paul Mahon in 1975. His first strip in this comic was "The Space Vampire". This was followed by the "Escape from the Planet of the Apes" series. Career. Dillon got his first professional work at the age of 16, drawing the title story in the first issue of "Hulk Weekly" for Marvel UK, later working on the "Nick Fury" strip. In the 1980s he also drew for "Warrior" and "Doctor Who Magazine", where he created the character of Abslom Daak. He did a considerable amount of work for the comics  2000 AD and "Warrior". Along with Brett Ewins, Dillon started the seminal comic magazine "Deadline" in 1988, which continued for another seven years and was instrumental in supporting young, underground, comic artists such as Jamie Hewlett as well as championing and supporting new bands of the period such as The Senseless Things and Blur. "Deadline" is highly regarded for bringing underground comics and graphic novels into the mainstream during the 1990s. and can be considered as a precursor for publications such as Loaded and Dazed and Confused, as well as defining and promoting the nascent Britpop movement of the time . In mid-1989, Dillon met writer Garth Ennis, with whom he eventually had his most notable professional collaborations. During a social gathering about a year later in Dublin, Ennis recalls, "After everyone else had passed out, we sat up 'til dawn and killed off a bottle of Jameson, talking about what we wanted to do in comics- what we thought could be done with them, what the medium was for. I can recall a sort of mutual 'Oh yes, you. You’re the one. You get it.' This was to pay off handsomely in the years to come." With Ennis, Dillon  worked on "Hellblazer" and, later, on "Preacher" which concluded in 2000 after 66 issues. Dillon also created the character Dogwelder, featured in Ennis's series "Hitman". "Preacher" was made into a critically acclaimed TV show in 2016, starring Dominic Cooper. Dillon is credited as co-executive producer on the series. Death. Dillon's younger brother, concept artist Glyn, announced on social media on 22 October 2016 that Dillon had died in New York City. The cause was complications of a ruptured appendix. His death was met with an outpouring of grief and a number of tributes from the comics creator  community, as well as the following statement from DC Group editor Marie Javins: Dillon's long-time collaborator Garth Ennis paid tribute to Dillon thus: The first episode of season two of the "Preacher" TV series is dedicated to Dillon. Bibliography. UK publishers. Other. IPC Magazines Pyramid Books Atomeka Press John Brown DC Comics. Main artist Contributor Vertigo. Main artist Contributor Paradox. Contributor WildStorm. Main artist Marvel Comics. Main artist Contributor Epic. Main artist Marvel Knights. Main artist Ultimate. Main artist MAX. Main artist Image Comics. WildStorm. Main artist Other publishers. Eclipse Comics Penthouse