Ron Embleton

Ronald Sydney Embleton (6 October 1930 - 13 February 1988) was a British comics artist and illustrator whose work was much admired by fans and editors alike. David Ashford and Norman Wright, writing in Book and Magazine Collector (March 2002) note that "his work for such diverse periodicals as Express Weekly, TV Century 21, Princess (comic)|Princess, Boy's World and Look and Learn have earned him the respect of every practitioner in the field and the gratitude of all of us who admire the art of the comic strip."[1]

Embleton -- who, in his early career, signed his work 'Ron' -- was born in London and submitted his first cartoon at the age of nine and, aged 12, won a national poster competition. After training at the South East Essex Technical College and School of Art he worked in a commercial studio for six months during which time he began freelancing comic strips to independent publishers. 'Ron' was beginning to establish himself when Embleton turned 18 and was called up for his National Service.

In 1950, Embleton returned to freelancing, setting up a studio with a schoolfriend, Terry Patrick, and James Bleach, whom Patrick knew from life-drawing classes. The three quickly established themselves with various independent publishers -- Scion, TV Boardman, Norman Light, DCMT and others -- and Embleton also began contributing to Amalgamated Press's Comet, Comic Cuts, Cowboy Comics and Super Detective Library.

Embleton's finest work during this period was for Mickey Mouse Weekly where he drew 'Rogers' Rangers' (1953), 'Strongbow the Mighty' (1954-57) and 'Don o' the Drums' (1957), and Express Weekly, where he took over the artwork (and subsequently the scripting) of 'Wulf the Briton'. It was on the latter that he developed his techniques for working in colour, creating over 300 pages of meticulously painted artwork during his four-year run on the strip (1956-60).

Embleton's fascination with historical characters and settings served him well with later strips, 'Wrath of the Gods' (Boy's World, 1963) and 'Johnny Frog' (Eagle, 1964), although Embleton was equally at home with contemporary adventure strips ('Biggles', TV Express, 1960) and science fiction: his artwork for 'Stingray' in TV Century 21 led to the show's creator, Gerry Anderson, inviting Embleton to provide artwork to grace the closing credits of his new show, Captain Scarlet.

In the 1960s, Embleton was also a prolific contributor to Look and Learn, producing illustrations for numerous series, including 'The Bath Road' (1962), 'Pioneers Across the Atlantic' (1962), 'The Travels of Marco Polo' (1964), 'Men of the Jolly Roger' (1965), 'Rogers' Rangers' (1970) and 'Legends of the Rhineland' (1972-73) amongst others; in 1969, Embleton also produced a fill-in story in the long-running 'The Trigan Empire' strip. Embleton also produced illustrations for titles aimed at younger children, amongst them Playhour, Once Upon a Time, The Storyteller and numerous books.

As well as producing illustrations for historical books and prints, Embleton spent much of the remainder of his career producing full-colour comic strips for Penthouse. 'Oh, Wicked Wanda!' (1973-80) was written by British author Frederick Mullally and poked fun at politics and sexual mores; it was followed by 'Sweet Chastity', written by Penthouse founder Bob Guccione.

Embleton died of a heart attack at the age of 57.

Books written and illustrated by Ron Embleton

• Pioneers and Heroes of the Wild West, by Embleton (London, Purnell, 1969 ISBN 036101208X)

Books illustrated by Ron Embleton

• The Adventures of Robin Hood Annual 2-4, nn, by Arthur Groom (London, Adprint, 1957-60)
• King Arthur and His Knights (London, Spring Books, 1957?)
• Davy Crockett Painting Book (London, Birn Bros, 1957?)
• The First Book of Heroes, by David Thornycroft (London, Dean, 1958)
• The Adventures of Sir Lancelot 2 (London, Adprint, 1958)
• Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans, by David Roberts (London, Adprint, 1959)
• R.C.M.P. Annual, by Graham Anderson (London, Purnell, 1961)
• Robin Hood Painting Book (London, Purnell, 1961)
• Great Spy Stories, ed. Virginia Shankland (London, Purnell, 1966)
• The Valiant Book of Pirates (London, Fleetway, 1967)
• The Finding Out Book of Battles, by George Surtees (London, Purnell, 1968)
• Slumber Tales, retold by Shirley Dean (Young World, 1968)
• The Land of Tales, retold by Edward Holmes (North Cheam, Young World, 1969 ISBN 0723806020)
• The Nightingale Book of Fairy Tales, retold by Shirley Dean (London, Young World, 1969)
• Time for Tales, retold by Phylis Brown (North Cheam, Young World, 1969 ISBN 0723806055)
• The Story of Newspapers, by W. D. Siddle (Loughborough, Wills & Hepworth Ladybird Books, 1969)
• Once Upon Another Time, being the latest adventures of your best loved fairytale folk, by Anne Webb (Sutton, Young World, 1970 ISBN 072380656X)
• Know About Dogs, by Edward Holmes (North Cheam, Young World, 1970 ISBN 0723806640)
• Know About the World by Edward Holmes (North Cheam, Young World, 1971 ISBN 0723807035)
• Aladdin, and other fairy stories, by Anne Webb (London, Young World, 1971 ISBN 0723807108)
• Jack and the Beanstalk, and other fairy stories, by Anne Webb (London, Young World, 1971 ISBN 0723807116)
• Sleeping Beauty, and other fairy tales, by Anne Webb (London, Young World, 1971 ISBN 0723807124)
• Snow White, and other fairy tales, by Anne Webb (London, Young World, 1971 ISBN 0723807132)
• The Ghost of Crumbling Castle, by Jane MacMichael (London, Blackie, 1972 ISBN 0216895332)
• My Rhyme Book of Fairytale Land (Sutton, Young World, 1972 ISBN 0723808511)
• Birds of the Farne Islands, by Peter Hawkey (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1973 ISBN 0902833790)
• The Frog Prince and five other traditional tales, retold by Jane MacMichael (Glasgow, Blackie, 1973 ISBN 0216896231)
• Puss in Boots [and] Tom Thumb (London, Collins, 1973 ISBN 0001204696)
• Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, retold by Christian Willcox (Glasgow, Blackie, 1973 ISBN 0216895596). Pop-up book with models designed by Brian Edwards
• The Roman Wall Reconstructed, by Charles Daniels (Newscastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1974 ISBN 085983056X)
• Geordie Pride, by Frank Graham & Sid Chaplin (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1974 ISBN 0859830616)
• Historical Northumberland, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, 1975 ISBN 0902833421)
• Holy Island, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1975 ISBN 0859830330)
• What the Soldiers Wore on Hadrian's Wall, by H. Russell Robinson (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1976 ISBN 0859830934)
• Hansel and Gretel and The Frog Prince (London, Collins, 1978 ISBN 000120467X)
• Cinderella and The Sleeping Beauty (London, Collins, 1978 ISBN 0001204688)
• Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood (London, Collins, 1978 ISBN 000120470X)
• Housesteads in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1978 ISBN 0859831167)
• Chesters and Carrawburgh in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle unpon Tyne, F. Graham, 1979 ISBN 0859831205)
• Legions of the North, by Michael Simkins (Oxford, Osprey, 1979 ISBN 184176129X)
• The Purnell Book of Famous Fairy Tales, by Barbara Hayes (Maidenhead, Purnell, 1979 ISBN 0361044135)
• The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine, by Michael Simkins (Oxford, Osprey, 1979 ISBN 085045333X)
• The Armour of the Roman Legions, by H. Russell Robinson (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1980 ISBN 0859831515)
• The Conquest of Mexico to the Great Fire of London (Basingstoke, Macmillan Children's Books, 1980 ISBN 0333284240). Series of wallcharts illustrated by Embleton, Angus McBride and Kenneth Lowther
• South Shields, Wallsend, Newcastle and Benwell in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1980 ISBN 0859831566)
• Dean's Enchating Stories from the Magic Castle (London, Dean, 1981 ISBN 060300248X). Jointly illustrated by Gill Embleton
• Roman Cook Book (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1981 ISBN 0859831272). Jointly illustrated by Gill Embleton
• The Stanegate, Corbridge, Vindolanda and Carvoran in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1981 ISBN 0859831817)
• Birdoswald, Bewcastle and Castleheads in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1982 ISBN 085983137X)
• Benwell to Chester in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1982 ISBN 0859831477)
• Best Known Fairy Stories, by Charles Perrault, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1983 ISBN 0600378144)
• Children's Favourite Stories, by Hans Christian Andersen, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1983 ISBN 0600378152)
• Best Children's Stories, by the Brothers Grimm, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1983 ISBN 0600378160)
• The Best Traditional Fairy Stories, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1983 ISBN 0600378179)
• Hadrian's Wall in the Days of the Romans, by Frank Graham (Newcastle upon Tyne, F. Graham, 1984 ISBN 0859831779)
• Aesop's Fables, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1985 ISBN 0603004253)
• Kenneth Grahame's The Wind in the Willows, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1985 ISBN 060300427X)
• Oscar Wilde's The Happy Prince, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1986 ISBN 0603004245)
• Sinbad the Sailor, retold by Lornie Leete-Hodge (London, Dean, 1986 ISBN 0603004261)
• Finding Out with Terry and Son, by Conrad Frost (London, Express Newspapers, 1987 ISBN 0850791588)
• Hadrian's Wall Reconstructed (Butler, 1987 ISBN 0946928142)
• Caesar's Legions. The Roman soldier 753BC to 117AD, by Nicholas V. Sekunda et al (Oxford, Osprey, 2000 ISBN 1841760447). Illustrated by Embleton, Richard Hook and Angus McBride. Based on previously published titles Early Roman Armies, Republican Roman Army 200-104BC and The Roman Army from Caesar to Trajan

External links

• Look and Learn search for Ron Embleton
• Toonpedia entry for Wicked Wanda
• Wicked Wanda strips