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Documentary following Frank Quitely over the course of a day and a night, as he works on a page from his latest work, Jupiter's Legacy.

Frank Quitely is the alter ego of Glaswegian comic-book artist Vincent Deighan. As one of a group of British writers and artists who have reinvented the superhero genre, Frank's depictions of iconic characters like Superman, Batman and the X-Men have provided inspiration for some of Hollywood's biggest movie franchises.

In this film, we follow Frank over the course of a day and night as he works on a single page from his latest work, the epic superhero saga Jupiter's Legacy.

30 minutes

Frank Quitely

Frank Quitely
Alter Ego
Frank Quitely the alter ego of Glaswegian comic-book artist Vincent Deighan, part of a select group of British writers and artists who have re-invented the superhero genre. Frank’s depictions of iconic characters like Batman and the X-Men have thrilled generations of readers the world over and have provided inspiration for some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises.

Jupiter’s Legacy
Following Frank over the course of a day, this film reveals the painstaking work it takes to create just one panel of a comic book. We follow him as he draws his new work, β€œβ€, set in a world in which the grandsons and granddaughters of old superheroes have become Paris Hilton-esque celebrities, more concerned with lucrative endorsements than saving the world.

Comics and Social Trends
Frank discusses how comic books often reflect societal trends: β€œSuperman sells better in times of economic depression and Batman sells better in good times...When things are bad, people are looking for a God figure or a father figure. Whereas in the 80s for instance, when everyone was making money and people felt powerful and self-assured, then Batman seems to fit the zeitgeist better.”

Deadlines and Commitments
The film follows Frank at work in his Glasgow studio, and we see how the conflicting pressures of mounting deadlines and his commitment to quality push him to the limit. He eventually calls it a night at 04.30am, sleeping in his studio, as he does regularly.
Despite the long hours and stress, it’s clear that Frank holds a real passion for the unique medium of comics and what they can do.

Visual Narrative
β€œI’ve become fascinated by the visual narrative,” he says, β€œthe way it works, the way it flows. In a comic, you’re putting something down that doesn’t really work in a film, doesn’t really work in prose. The more I understand about how they work, the more I realise how unique they are”
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Credits

Role Contributor
Director Joseph Briffa
Executive Producer Richard Bright

Broadcasts

Frank Quitely: Comic book artist at work

The Scottish artist who produced depictions of iconic characters like Superman and Batman

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