ASKWITH Mark
Mark, a one time manager of the Silver Snail comic book retail outlet, was principally a television producer who with Daniel Richler created “Prisoners of Gravity” for TVOntario, hosted by Rick Green of The Frantics comedy group. It was a newsmagazine which covered science fiction, fantasy horror and various forms of cartooning. Each program explored a theme. He was last seen as a producer for Space the Canadian science fiction channel.
He was also a part of the Toronto graphic stories scene from about 1974. During that time he scripted and with Dean Motter co-plotted The Prisoner.
In 1988, he was with bp Nichol co-consultant on the film Comic Book Confidential co-designer on the promotional booklet..
He wrote Silencers illustrated by R. G. Taylor. It first appeared in Caliber Presents as a trailer taken from the beginning of Book 2. The four part series followed, then was combined with a prologue added into a novel. This title should not be confused with The Silencers written by Fred Van Lente and illustrated by Steve Ellis which appeared a decade later in 2003 and is essentially a story about a crime family and its enforcers. This novel is about espionage and unlike the film of the same name which was a spoof, this story is deadly serious.
He has written short stories for anthologies including True North, Street Music, Negative Burn and Comics Eye as well as Growing Up With Comics.
WORK:
WRITER:
BOOK GRAPHIC COLLECTION:
Content novel:
Silencers. Illus., R.G. Taylor. Caliber Press, 1994.
BOOK GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY:
Content story:
Canadian Comics Cavalcade, 1-1, Summer 1986: Untitled. Illus., Jeffery Morgan: 26-29.
Growing Up With Comics. Desperado Publishing, 2008: “Will Eisner’s The Spirit.” Illus. R.G. Taylor: 38-41. “New Comics Day.” Illus. R. G. Taylor: 62-73. “Moebius: A Sketch.” Illus. R. G. Taylor: 99-106.
The Comic Eye, Ed., Mark Innes. Blind Bat Press, 2007: “Will Eisner’s The Spirit”. Illus., R. G. Taylor: 40-43.
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC: Published by Caliber Press. Colour cover. Black & white content.
Content serial:
Silencers …: “…”. Illus., R.G. (Rick) Taylor: …. | |
Bk 1, 1, July 1991: “Damage.”: 1-24.
Bk 2, 2, 1991: “Damage Control”: 25-48. |
Bk 3, 3, 1991: “Stories.”: 49-72.
Bk 4, 4, 1991: “Pieces.”: 73-96. |
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC ANTHOLOGY: Published by Caliber Press. Colour cover. Black & white content.
Content story:
Caliber Presents, 1-22, 1991: “Caliber Preview: Silencers”. Illus., R.G. Taylor: 50-60.
EDITOR:
PERIODICAL GRAPHIC:
Content story:
Pork Knight 1-1, no date: “Pork Knight, This Little Piggy.” Car., Rob Walton. Design & Layout, Rob Badali and Dean Motter: 1-32.
SOURCE:
Article book:
Comic Book Confidential. 1988: 1 & inside front & back covers
Article periodical:
Comics Interview,77, 1989: “Dean Motter & Mark Askwith”. Interview by Marty Herzog: 4-20.
The Silencers, Bk 2, 2, 1991: Interview by Tim Blackmore: 49-56.
The Silencers, Bk 3, 3, 1991: Interview by Tim Blackmore: 73-80.
The Silencers, Bk 4, 4, 1991: Interview by Tim Blackmore. 97-104.
Article newspaper:
Broadcast Week (The Globe and Mail) Mar. 3 to Mar. 9 1990: “Commander Rick eposes the lighter side of science fiction.” Writ., John Doyle,
Correspondence:
Dave Darrigo letter February 6, 2008.
GALLERY:
Silencers, 1994: Front Cover. Illus., R.G. Rick Taylor.