Jon Haward Art

When I got the go ahead to show ideas for a story for Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated I drew Gamina her battle Dragon. She was the first drawing produced to show the Frank Frazetta Fantasy Illustrated magazine guys, Alan Grant liked her too.

I wanted the Hell Crew to have a mix of characters. Typical Heroes and weird ones too. I felt the story should contain a mixture of humour and action, Alan is a brilliant writer of both. Just read his Lobo or 2000AD work.

Bebop started life in my sketch book while I was watching a film about the life of Robert Crumb (creator of Mr Natural, Fritz the Cat and Keep on Truckin').

Months later I redrew Bebop to appeal to childrens books. I liked the idea he was made out of dough. Originally he was going to be an alien energy being who had crash landed on to a flour processing factory. Thus turning into dough.

Alan again liked Bebop and when we decided to have him in the story he became a magical protector of Alexander MacGreat, a Scottish Shaman.

Alexander is based on a real person, my fellow friend and brilliant cartoonist, and father figure of the mad mental MacBam brothers, Dave Alexander.

Pickled Willy the drunken dwarf came quite quickly and was fun to draw.

I don't know where Puffin Samurai came from, but the puffin face is a bit like Kabuki theatre make up to look at.

Big Foot and the Brat - I've always liked the idea of a young boy having a Big Foot for a friend.

The Rock Giant and Old Knight on the Snail did not make the final list due to the fact that Hell Comes to Elf Town might seem like the Never Ending Story - which had a Dwarf like chap riding on a racing snail and a giant rock man.

Flamebo the Demon with the fire whip - well I love the Lord of Darkness in Ridley Scott's Legend movie.

The King of the Elf's was based on Kenneth Williams of the 'Carry on' films.

Captain Scratch is a rough thuggie version of Errol Flynn.

When I was painting Hell Comes to Elf Town I was looking at Frank Frazetta and the Hindlebrants brothers, Tim and Greg and Colin McNeil's work. I wanted the work to look colourful and exciting. I would say to appear in a magazine with Frank Frazetta's name attached was a great honour for me and a career high.