UPDATED: 'Centurions' covers by Will Simpson

A recent trip to #LFCC gave me the chance to talk to artist Will Simpson about some of his early comics covers for Centurions Power Xtreme that I thought he'd done but which were unsigned. I've updated my notes below - all new posts are thus

For anyone who enjoyed the cover of last week's 2000ad by Will Simpson I thought I'd just highlight some of his earlier cover artwork for a TV cartoon series toy line tie-in comic...yes, it's '80s comic series Centurions Power Xtreme - surely you remember it?

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 2, cover by Will Simpson
no signature present on the printed cover but he's kindly signed my copy with a Sharpie!

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 3, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 4, cover by Will Simpson
no signature present on the printed cover but he's kindly signed my copy with a Sharpie!

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 5, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 6, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 7, cover by Will Simpson
no signature present on the printed cover but he's kindly signed my copy with a Sharpie!

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 8, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 9, cover by Will Simpson

Published by London Editions the series ran for just 10 issue. He also confirmed that he didn't draw the covers for issues 1 or 10 (but we now know that he did do the covers for issue 2-9).

I think Will illustrated more than just the covers above but these were the only covers he signed.

Centurions covers by Will Simpson

For anyone who enjoyed the cover of last week's 2000ad by Will Simpson I thought I'd just highlight some of his earlier cover artwork for a TV cartoon series toy line tie-in comic...yes, it's '80s comic series Centurions Power Xtreme - surely you remember it?

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 3, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 5, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 6, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 8, cover by Will Simpson

Centurions Power Xtreme - issue 9, cover by Will Simpson

Published by London Editions the series ran for just 10 issue.

I think Will ilustrated more than just the covers above but these were the only covers he signed

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 10

Last issue then, from February 1988 we have...
A Michael Slattery cover...

Tim Perkins art of "The final conflict"

 A US reprint here 'Diplomatic immunity!'

Then this image, which was last seen at the back of issue #9 (ad which I thought would be the cover for this issue) is reproduced but in full cover, signature by Will Simpson visible bottom right...

Then there's a 2 pages text story "Into the sun!" followed by, as the centrespread, the wraparound (Will Simpson) cover from issue 3, before we get into "Skyvault Invasion!" by 'Marshall (who he?)

And the last US reprint (but from where, when and by who I have no idea)...

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 9

So here we go with the penultimate issue...
Cover is again by Will Simpson (his signature is hiding behind the A in 'breaks')

And the we're straight into the first story, "Peril in the Pacific" - the art style is unfamiliar (so no Tom Perkins or Michael Slattery) - which is odd because they've provided so much of the original material for Centurions so far

But then I just happened to glance at the first panel and I notice that, strangely, there is some graffiti on the building, here's a bigger scan...

So, then I start to consider who would write "McCrea" on this building? Only the artist presumably and the only famous artist, I know, called "McCrea" is John 'Hitman' McCrea. So I check out his Wikipedia page (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrea_(comics)) which says very vaguely... In 1989, after a few years of drawing television and toy tie-ins, he illustrated [Garth] Ennis's debut, the political series Troubled Souls, in Crisis, as well as its sequel, the farce For a Few Troubles More.

Hmmm, so Centurions #9 came out in January 1988 so maybe it is him, so then I google him and drop him an e-mail late on a Friday night. Gent that he is, he comes back almost straight away, and says "...yes that is my work, probably one of my first jobs, and had to be done quickly...I think I had 2 days to do it...and they pasted generic heads over all the main characters, which was a valuable introduction to the world of freelance art.... Only ever did that one story....". So there you have it then Centurions #9 contains John McCrea's first ever professional work.

And after that diversion we're back to a US reprint "Restoration"

 Then Tim Perkins joins in...

 Another US reprint strip...The enemy within

Before we get to what looks like a draft for the cover of the next issue (sadly it won't be used as the cover for issue 10).

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 8

From issue 8 we again have a diverse selection of artists...
Cover is by Will Simpson (his signature is hiding (again) on an ankle rocket)

'Time Trap' is by Tim Perkins (signature just visible in the bottom of frame one)

Then 'Forecast' is by Steve Ditko. I'll say that again, Steve Ditko. I can't think of any other independent British comic that featured his art. It's only 3 pages, but there you go.

Next up is Michael Slattery's contribution to the issue

Then we have the unattributed 'Arctic attack' - update 01/07/19...Tim Perkins has left a comment saying that this is his work

And all rounded off by 'The Monsters' by Michael Fleisher.

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 7

After all the British talent in issue 6 there is an enviable array of reprint talent in this issue...
Looks like another Will Simpson cover to me (although I can't see a signature anywhere)

Michael Slattery (artist on this title) has advised that this is by Tim Perkins

Unbelievably, Joe Kubert then gets 3 pages of his art in...this is from 1980 and I'm amazed to see it, I can't think of any other independent British comic to ever feature his art. If I'm wrong please let me know :)

'Life in outer space' is written by the legendary Marv Wolfman, again I can't think of any other independent British comic to ever feature his work, If I'm wrong please let me know :)

 Art by Michael Slattery (albeit unsigned)

And then just to round things off we get some Brian Bolland art! This is from 'Mystery in Space' 1980-81. So unexpected to find this here.

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 6

Issue 6 and the US reprints are missing in action this issue as we get all British, all new art.


Cover is by Will 'Game of Thrones' Simpson (look for his distinctive signature hiding on the ankle rocket for the character falling backwards).

 First strip is uncredited

 'Fight of the century' art is by Tim Perkins

Don't open the door, whatever you don don't open the door. You opened the door didn't you? Big Stee wouldn't like that.

'Terror takes control' is unsigned but the style is distinctive of Michael Slattery (who has contributed to previous issues).

Centurions Power Xtreme monthly - issue 5

From September 1987 we have issue 5 of Centurions Power Xtreme monthly.
Cover is again by Will Simpson (signature sneaked onto the flying art carapace, halfway down the extreme left hand side of the cover).

 First story is reprinted from issue 4 of the DC comics mini-series.

 DC comics issue 4 cover

As you can see the story was called 'Counterfeit' in the UK and 'Double cross' in the USA. Art, as ever, is by Don Heck.

Second story is original British material, it's 5 pages long and uncredited but the art is by M Slattery (last see in issue 3) and his watercolour palette.

Back page ad for toys.