Masters of Comics

Joel Meadows is a journalist and writer with over three decades of experience in newspapers, magazines, and books. His CV includes some of the most renowned publications in the world, including Time magazine, the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian, and the Observer. He has also written extensively about comics, film, TV, and culture for publications such as Variety, Empire, Big Issue in the North, and Comic Heroes. He is the editor-in-chief of Tripwire, a preeminent publication that covers comics, film, TV, and related subjects. He is also one of the producers of the Portsmouth International Comic Con.

"I took a pleasant stroll through Joel’s new book, Master of Comics, while sitting at my desk at Weta Workshop. As my eyes wander through the spaces where these master artists work, I’m warmed to see that I’m not alone in my ceaseless collecting of inspirational objects. Mine is a busy shared space surrounded by nearly buckling shelves filled with art, pop and comic culture sculptures that I’ve collected over the years. Many of the characters in this book (the ones in the comics, not the artists themselves!) also look back at me from these shelves. Superman, Hellboy, Hercules. These cultural icons have become both subject and muse for so many of us! Master of Comics is a terrific read for anyone interested in the characters who create the characters we love. It’s a story about the private rituals that set creative people apart and the beliefs that bring them together. Reading Joel’s interviews with these master craftspeople reminds us that while creative inspiration is as unique as each artist’s workspace, there are some things that all creative people share: a boundless enthusiasm for the project on the easel, pad, screen or, in my case, workbench; a clarity of vision; and a love of bringing something new and unique into the world."