Sketchbook #20: Sinister by SB Davis @2000AD

This is my 888th blip. I had hopes of doing something special to mark the occasion, but spent chained to the desk doing rewrites so it's another delve into the archives.

This sketch features Finnigan Sinister from the long-running 2000AD series Sinister Dexter, as drawn by Simon Davis. I could be wrong, but I think I gave Simon one of his first professional commissions, illustrating The Plagues of Necropolis in the Judge Dredd Megazine. Realising his talents, I swiftly had him drawing Missionary Man before nicking him for the Galaxy's greatest comic when I was made Tharg at the end of 1995.

Simon really hit his straps on Sinister Dexter, becoming the dominant artist on that wry, pun-laden series written by Dan Abnett. More recently Simon has been wowing readers with his work on Sláine. [Less well known is Simon's astounding talent as a portrait artist - indeed, his work in that area has won national prizes. Happily, he keeps working on comics too.]

If you're wondering about the message at the bottom left of this sketch, I think Simon drew the piece at my leaving drinks when I departed London [and 2000AD] for freelance life in Scotland.