JAMES BOND

JOHN McLUSKY

John McLusky, (20 January 1923 to 5 September 2006), was an artist for Bomber Command during World War II, and then worked as a freelance illustrator for clients like DC Thomson.

In 1957, The Daily Express had approached Ian Fleming, writer of the famous 'Bond' books, to publish a serial strip based on his world-famous secret agent. McLusky was asked to do the artwork and was thus the first to give James Bond 'a face'.

From 1958 to 1966, McLusky adapted 13 of Ian Fleming's James Bond novels or short stories. The episode here presented On her Majesty's secret Service 29 June 1964 – 15 May 1965 is scripted by Henry Gammidge as most other of the episodes McLusky drew.

During an interruption of 'James Bond' in 1962-64, McLusky drew The Beast of Loch Craggon for Eagle, and upon his departure from the Bond strip, he drew Secret Agent 13 in Fleetway's June. He made illustrations for the educational magazine Look and Learn and he was a contributor to TV Comic for 15 years. In this magazine, he drew comics versions of 'Orlando', 'Laurel & Hardy' and 'The Pink Panther'. In the late 1960s and early 1970s McLusky worked on the Thames TV series 'Hattytown'.

In 1982 McLusky returned to illustrate the James Bond strip, collaborating with writer Jim Lawrence to illustrate four new original James Bond stories.

John McLusky continued other work throughout his career – including substitute teaching and work as a puppeteer on Bournemouth pier. He continued this other work because at one stage he had almost lost the ability to speak due to his isolation from other human beings.