Glenn Dakin
Glenn Dakin (born 1960) is a British cartoonist and author of children's books. He is the author of the "Candle Man" book series, and he contributed to a number of British comics magazines including "Escape" and "Deadline" and was part of the British small press comics scene in the 1980s. His main creations are "Temptation" and the semi-autobiographical strip "Abe". Career. While at college in Manchester Dakin was drawing "Abe" for his college magazine when he met Paul Gravett, who introduced him to the concept of self publishing comics in zine form and distributing them via  the mail and Gravett's Fast Fiction service. While initially dismissive he soon became interested, corresponding with Eddie Campbell and Phil Elliott amongst others. Dakin has cited Tove Jansson's "Moomin" strip cartoons and novels as an influence for "Abe" and the optimistic melancholy present in his work. When Gravett launched "Escape Magazine" Dakin became a regular contributor. He also had strips in the Australian anthology "Fox Comics". By the late 80s he was publishing comics through the Harrier "New Wave" imprint including "Paris, The Man of Plaster" (with Steve Way) and the anthology "Gag!" He also co-edited, wrote  and drew "Sinister Romance" with Woodrow Phoenix. "Temptation", 'which was visually inspired by George Herriman's "Krazy Kat" and Johnny Hart's "B.C.", had run in "Escape", and found a home in "Deadline" magazine. It was later published as a collection by Penguin Books in 1991. Dakin collaborated with Phil Elliott on numerous strips including "Mr Day and Mr Night", "Greenhouse Warriors" and "The Man From Cancer". Dakin was employed by Marvel UK for a period where he wrote the comics "ClanDestine" and "The Real Ghostbusters" amongst others. Dakin currently writes children's books, develops and writes Children's television  shows for the BBC and has a regular strip, "Robot Crusoe", in The Sunday Times His "Abe" strips were collected by Top Shelf Productions in 2001 under the title "Abe: Wrong For All The Right Reasons". "Temptation" was reissued by Active Images in 2004. Both have an introduction by Eddie Campbell. Influence. Dakin has been cited by a number of American cartoonists, especially those connected to the publisher Highwater Books, as a major influence on their attitudes towards comics.