(Cam Kennedy (on the right) with publisher Ron Grossett promoting the graphic novel adaptation of Stevenson’s Kidnapped at the very first Hi-Ex convention in Inverness, pic from my Flickr)
On the 2000 AD forums there’s a posting up from Jim Campbell concerning a long time favourite artist of many of us (myself included), Cam Kennedy. Jim was wondering what work he had in the pipeline as there hasn’t been much for a wee while and the sad answer is that Cam is thinking on retirement fairly soon and is currently working on some illustration and painting work until his retirement but doesn’t anticipate any further comics work.
Cam has worked on all sorts of comics over the years, from Star Wars to literary adaptations of Robert Louis Stevenson (part of a very successful campaign to encourage reading), but for Brit readers he’s probably best loved for a slew of 2000 AD work, which included some of the Galaxy’s Greatest Comic’s most iconic characters, like Rogue Trooper and, of course, Judge Dredd, often working with John Wagner and Alan Grant (I’ve heard both Alan and Cam say they’ve worked together so often now their collaboration is almost like telepathy, they know what the other means and needs in a story), showcasing a very individual art style (personally I rank his Dredd art up there with Mick McMahon, Carlos Ezquerra and Brian Bolland – all very different but all brilliant and distinctive). I’ve had the pleasure of meeting Cam a couple of times and he was always delightful to talk to and in panels and discussions terrific talking about the comics scene, both his own career and the inspiration he took from predecessors. His retirement is well earned, but we’ll most certainly miss his presence in our comics. (via John Freeman’s Twitter)
(cover to Judge Dredd: the Art of Kenny Who?, a Caledonian touch to Dredd by the brilliant combination of Wagner, Grant and Kennedy, (c) Rebellion)
January 10th, 2010 at 3:27 am
This is sad news, but inevitable. Cam has been fighting glaucoma for a few years now (he’s been to the continent a few times to find a treatment that works) but it’s reached the stage that he won’t be able to work soon. It’s tragic when this happens to any artist, but at least Cam is someone who truly realised their potential as an artist and leaves behind an impeccable body of work.