Art For Art’s Sake Special: RIP Paul Neary, A Legend Of British Comics

We had news earlier this week that we’d lost a particular giant of British comics, artist, editor, writer, and publisher Paul Neary, who passed away after a long illness at the age of 74.

Anyone with any involvement in Marvel UK will know Neary’s name, whether it’s for his artwork across so many titles and characters, his work inking both Alan Davis and Bryan Hitch, his mentorship of many different young artists over the years, and his time as Marvel UK’s Editor-in-Chief.

Sadly, Neary passed away last week, aged 74. We send our condolences to his family, including his wife Bernie Jaye.

Instead of me writing about Neary’s long career, I’m going to post the words of his frequent collaborator and friend, Alan Davis, who posted this lovely tribute on social media.

“Extremely sad news about Paul Neary. A mentor, colleague and friend. Paul Nemy, born in Bournemouth, England 18 December 1949, passed away on 10 February 2024 after a long illness. In a career of more than fifty years, Paul earned international respect and recognition in numerous roles within the Comic book industry. Paul could write, pencil, ink, colour, letter and edit, skills he learned from studying the medium with an academic zeal.

‘Comics were an enthusiastic hobby for Paul when he moved to Leeds University to study for a degree in Metallurgy, but in his first summer break, Paul travelled to New York, bluffed his way into Jim Warren’s office, and secured his first professional work on Eerie magazine. Most notably, the Hunter series.

…

‘Those lucky enough to have known Paul will remember him as an intensely private man who had no interest in fame or public acclaim. Paul loved the creative process and fostering that creativity in others. Always professional, enthusiastic and polite but just below the surface, Paul’s anarchic sense of humour was poised to mock the mighty and expose the injustices of life. The greatest injustice being he went too soon. Condolences, thoughts and prayers to Bernie.”

PAUL NEARY – 18 December 1949 – 10 February 2024

Now, as is our way here, we’ll celebrate the art of the man in the best way that we can, focusing on just Paul’s artwork, as there have already been plenty of tributes paid to his work with art showing his inking over both Alan Davis and Bryan Hitch.

And I’ll open all this by showing you my favourite piece of his art, something very personal to me, the cover to Daredevils #1, still my favourite run of comics of all time, containing the Alan Moore & Alan Davis revamp of Captain Britain, masterminded by Neary during his time at Marvel…