Hi Geoff, I know what you mean about doubting that Mike did all the Cadman series but he has stated that he was the only artist on that run (which reminds me, I must do a Comic Creator Spotlight on him). His style developed in quantum leaps between 1975 and 1980 so it is difficult to believe it is the same guy.geoff42 wrote:Hi, Col, Phoenix was right with respect me not naming Cadman's artist as I really didn't know. I'm aware that Mike Dorey drew the later Cadman strips but did he draw the first serial in 1976? I originally thought Cadman started in 1977, of which I have the issues. But, on checking, I find that Cadman preceded Soldier Sharp in 1976 and I don't have any Victors from that year; so, I can't verify whether or not Mike Dorey drew them. On a personal note, Dorey's style was more gritty but Colquohoun added a helluva a lot detail in his art that kind of wings it for me. But, of course, art is subjective. Sorry for the earlier misunderstanding, anyway. In addition to Dorey's art, from Steve Macmanus' book "My Life in the Nerve Centre", I recall Steve reflecting on Dorey along the lines of: He should have done a lot better than he did which, I imagine, suggests that he didn't follow the likes of Bolland and his contemporaries across the pond to America. That isn't a criticism on my part, just an observation from what Steve implied.
With Mike's earlier style, I would agree that Joe Colquhoun's work is far superior but when you look at Mike's work on Invasion and anything after that, they are both at the top of their game and it is a case of you pays your money and make your choice. Joe's work on Charley's War cannot be disputed as being a pinnacle of comic art but I think that Mike is woefully under-rated when you look at his work on Wolverine and Rayker for Warlord and is certainly the equal of what Joe was producing.
When I read Steve MacManus' book, that was also my take on it but there are many artists that never get the break they deserve. For me, Pat Wright is another one of those that stands out as his work was amazing but he never got picked up by those across the pond and when you look at how technically adept he was, he could have easily been another Bolland, but he never got the break and now he does political cartoons whereas Mike does commercial art and the last comic work that I saw of Mike's was a Commando cover.