EXTRACTS: British War Comics Illustrators Special © 2018 The Book Palace (144 PAGES in Full edition)

48 later he returned to Il Vittorioso for which he drew ‘Storia di Re Artù’ (‘Story of King Arthur’) written by Mario Leone, an Italian politician who was also a writer. However, D’Antonio’s experiences as a writer began when he was asked to illustrate ‘Il Fortino Sull’Huron ’ (‘The Pillbox Over The Huron ’) which he also re-wrote—without telling his editor! He also worked for Edizione Audace on the series El Kid (1954) and I Tre Bill ( The Three Bills , 1955) both written by Gian Luigi Bonelli (a comic book writer and creator of many comic series, including Italy’s best-selling comic, Tex Willer which Bonelli produced with artist Aurelio Galleppini). In 1956, D’Antonio’s career became international after his acquaintance with another Italian illustrator Rinaldo Dami who ran his own studio of artists and worked for the British market among other international clients. So began D’Antonio’s career, which saw him produce scores of war stories as well as other genres for UK weekly comics and pocket libraries, keeping him busy well into the late 1960s. He also created covers for Eagle and Boys' World , but of special interest are his fully-painted adaptations of literary classics for the childrens’ publications Tell Me Why and World of Wonder: ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’, ‘Moby Dick’, ‘Quo Vadis’, ‘A Tale of Two Cities’, ‘Les Misérables’, ‘Swiss Family Robinson’ and ‘The Odyssey’. This was the first time D’Antonio attempted working in full colour in comics, ABOVE: A panel from the opening sequence of War Picture Library No. 67, 'Battle Drop'. The art for this story was so powerful that nearly every panel was recycled by both cover artists and interior artists throughout the run of the series. FACING PAGE: The magnificent splash page from WPL No. 53, 'Crash Call'. Arguably one of the finest stories to appear in the pocket- sized war comics. All Images © IPC Media