UPTON Colin

UPTON Colin

Born, 1960 in Winnipeg.

He moved to West Vancouver with his family at age 4 years. In 1978 he entered the Vancouver School of Decorative & Applied Arts which, in the same year, changed its name to the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design and later in 2008 became the Emily Carr University Of Art and Design. He dropped out in his 4th year due to failing grades and the death of his father.

His interest in cartooning was omnivorous, but it was the English translations of Asterix The Gaul and Tintin set the course of his future course. His work is heavily autobiographical (a direction inspired by Harvey Pekar’s American Splendor) supplemented by his reading, history, politics etc.

He used the mini comic format because there had been no publishers in Vancouver specializing in graphic periodicals since the days of World War 2, and because he was just starting out it was a good learning medium and a way to become recognized.

His four issue Big Thing series came about when Fantagraphics began publishing porn comics in order to stay afloat.

He has since become a regular contributor to Cloudscape Comics Society.

WORK:

CARTOONIST:

BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

Content:

Serial (all published by Cloudscape Comics):

Epic Canadiana, v.1. Ed., Bevan Thomas. 2013: “The Loon & The Flock.” 48-67.

Epic Canadiana, v.2. Ed., Bevan Thomas. Oct. 2015: “The Loon.” 27-40.

Story (all published by Cloudscape Comics):

21 Journeys. June 2011: “Volk”: 213-230.

Exploded View, March 2010: “It Came From The Heavens”: 172-186.

Giants of Main Street. March 2012: “Dust”: 56-66.

Historyonics: Stories Drawn  From The Past. Nov. 2008: “What Did You Do During The Cold War, Daddy?”: 60-69.

Mega Fauna. Oct. 2014: “Cat of Clay”: 137- 146.

Waterlogged: Tales From The Seventh Sea. June 2013: “The Tea Pirates”: 113- 120.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:

Content story & Cover front & back :

Colin Upton’s Other Big Thing, 2, July 1991: “The Battle Of Fort Casey.” Guest Car., Roberta Gregory.

Fantagraphic Books Inc. Black & white. Note: This issue follows Aeon Focus: Colin Upton’s Big Thing, 2, 1994. Black & white.

Colin Upton’s Other Big Thing, 3, December 1991: “The Home Front.” Fantagraphic Books Inc. Black & white interior.

PERIODICAL GRAPHIC COLLECTION:

 Content story & Cover front& back:

 Aeon Focus: Colin Upton’s Big Thing, 2, 1994, Aeon. Black & White interior.

PERIODICAL TEXT & GRAPHIC:

Content story:

Taddle Creek, XVII-1, 31, Winter 2013/14: “Confessions Of A Techno-Luddite”: 12-15.

ILLUSTRATOR:

 BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:

 Content pin up:

 Historyonics: Stories Drawn From  The Past. Cloudscape Comics, Nov. 2008: “Parasol Girl at the corner of Robson and Burrard, 1890’s”: 111.

SOURCE:

Interview:

A telephone interview by Mel Taylor (not published) 31 March 2018.

GALLERY:

C:\Users\Robert\Documents\CARTOONING ILLUSTRATION ANIMATION\IMAGE BY CARTOONIST\U\UPTON Colin, Colin Upton's Other Big Thing, 3, Dec 1991, fc.jpg Colin Upton’s Other Big Thing, 3, December 1991: Front cover