Don Melia
Don Melia | |
---|---|
Born | Liverpool, England, UK | 25 December 1953
Died | 21 August 1992 Liverpool, England, UK | (aged 38)
Notable work | Matt Black: Charcoal, Heartbreak Hotel (comics), Strip AIDS, Buddies |
Don Melia (25 December 1953 – 21 August 1992) was a gay British cartoonist, editor, activist, and philanthropist.[1] Born in Liverpool, he was known largely for his involvement in Matt Black: Charcoal, Strip AIDS, Heartbreak Hotel, and Buddies, comic series that helped uplift the gay community, bring attention to and educate the public about the AIDS crisis, and helped create a gay community in the comics industry.[2][3]
Personal life and career
In his early life, before beginning his comics career, Don Melia worked in the film industry which was his start in media.[1]
As a gay cartoonist and media personality, Don Melia always hoped that Britain could develop an LGBTQ+ comic community which was a large reason behind his activism.
After creating Strip Aids, Don Melia was hired by
Comics
Matt Black: Charcoal (1986–1987)
Don Melia is the illustrator behind Matt Black: Charcoal,[5] a comic in which he and Lionel Gracey-Whitman, the creator and writer of the comic, created the first gay superhero in history, Matt Black.[2]
Heartbreak Hotel (1987–1988)
Don Melia is a creator and cartoonist of Heartbreak Hotel,[6] a comic series that was tied to music and had a large and varied number of cartoonist involved with the series.[2] In the first issue of Heartbreak Hotel, Don Melia's comic "Heartbreak Hotel" appeared, named after the song "Heartbreak Hotel" by Elvis Presley.
Some of the notable cartoonists involved with the series are Dave McKean, Grant Morrison, Alan Moore and Bryan Talbot.[2][7]
Strip AIDS (1987)
Don Melia was the creator and editor of
Some of the notable cartoonists involved with Strip AIDS include Melinda Gebbie, Dave Gibbons, Alan Moore, and Posy Simmonds.[2]
Buddies (1991–1999)
Don Melia is editor of the first two editions of Buddies, a comics series that attempted to mimic the US series Gay Comix in order to create the gay comics community that he wished Britain had.[1][2] The two editions edited by Melia focused primarily on comics depicting the experience of gay men in England.[2]
Death
Don Melia died of AIDS-related illnesses on 21 August 1992, in Liverpool, England.[1][2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Obituary: Don Melia". The Independent. 1 September 1992. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-7326415-6-3.
- ^ ISBN 9781496841346.
- ^ ISSN 2040-3232.
- ^ Melia, Don; Gracey-Whitman, Lionel (1986). Matt Black: Charcoal. London: Willyprods / Small Time Ink.
- ^ Melia, Don; Gracey-Whitman, Lionel (1988). Heartbreak Hotel. London: Willyprods / Small Time Ink.
- ^ Freeman, John (31 March 2015). "Who Remembers Blaam!?". Down the Tubes. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ Melia, Don (1987). Strip AIDS. London: Willyprods / Small Time Ink.