Massimo Belardinelli
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Massimo Belardinelli is an Italian comics artist best known for his work in the British science fiction comic 2000 AD. Bellardinelli had previously worked on a number of IPC titles and when 2000AD was being developed in 1978 he landed the plum job of drawing Dan Dare, which was to have been the feature strip of the new comic. However, Bellardinelli's vivid style and exaggeration of an established character displeased many readers, and after a year he was moved to the future sport strip Inferno (an installment of the popular Harlem Heroes series).
Series he worked on for the comic include Dan Dare, Flesh, Meltdown Man, and Sláine: he will be most affectionately remembered for Ace Trucking Co., which he co-created after requesting that writers John Wagner and Alan Grant come up with a strip featuring many different types of alien.
Represented in the UK by Studio Giolitti, he ceased UK work when that agency folded.
His work was notable for its delicate brushwork and imaginative depictions of the fantastic. Bellardinelli also hid numerous self-portraits in his strips. Many characters (and even some inanimate objects) bore a striking resemblance to their artist.
In the late 1990's, several newsgroups carried the rumour that Belardinelli had died, a rumour that spread through 2000 AD fandom and acquired the status of fact. However, detective work by David Brunt in 2003 established for certain that he is still alive and living near Rome. Belardinelli has recently been in correspondence with long-term fan Robby Cox. In one letter to Cox, Bellardinelli states "Unfortunately I am in poor health: my heart is naughty", which may suggest that the rumours were based in fact rather than being spread maliciously.
[edit] Bibliography
Comics work includes:
- Dan Dare (in 2000 AD #1-23, 1977)
- MACH One (in 2000 AD #3 & 23-24, 1977)
- Judge Dredd (in 2000 AD #8, 1977)
- Harlem Heroes:
- Harlem Heroes (in 2000 AD #25-27, 1977)
- Inferno (in 2000 AD #36-75, 1977-78)
- Flesh (in 2000 AD #86-97, 1978-79)
- The Angry Planet (in Tornado #1-22, 1979)
- Blackhawk (with Alan Grant/Kelvin Gosnell as "Alvin Gaunt", in 2000 AD #127-161, 1979)
- Meltdown Man (in 2000 AD #178-227, 1980-81)
- Ace Trucking Co. (in 2000 AD #232-236, 244-285, 1982 Sci-Fi Special & 288-293, 1981-82)
- Tharg's Time Twisters (in 2000 AD #297 & 306-307, 1983)
- Tharg the Mighty (in 2000 AD #308-312, 1983)
- Sláine (in 2000 AD #331-334 & 337-344, 1983)
- Tharg's Time Twisters (in 2000 AD # 360,
- Sláine (in 2000 AD #361-367 & 1985 2000 AD Annual, 1984)
- Tharg's Time Twisters (in 2000 AD #370 & 374, 1984)
- Ace Trucking Co. (in 2000 AD #378-390 & 392-400, 1984-85)
- Ace Trucking Co. (in 2000 AD #428-433 & 1986 2000 AD Annual, 1985)
- Mean Team Series One (in 2000 AD #437-447, 1985)
- Ace Trucking Co. (in 2000 AD #451-472, 475-483 & 485-498, 1986)
- The Dead (in 2000 AD #510-519, 1987)
- Mean Team Series Two (in 2000 AD #525-531, 533-535 & 537-541, 1987)
- Tharg's Future Shocks: "I'm a Believer " (with Neil Gaiman, in 2000 AD #546, 1987)
- Moon Runners (in 2000 AD #591-604, 607, 641-644 and three specials, 1988-89)
- Ace Trucking Co.: The Homecoming (in 1989 2000 AD Annual, 1988)
- Medivac 318 (in 2000 AD Winter Special # 2, 1989)
[edit] External links
- 2000 AD profile
- Massimo Belardinelli at Lambiek.net
- New (2005) art from Belardinelli
- Announcement by David Brunt of Bellardinelli's continued existence
- Announcement by Robby Cox of Massimo's correspondence with him and news of his failing health
