Classic cover artists: Ian Kennedy (part two)

I opened this series of IPC’s Classic Cover Artists with an entry for the uniquely-talented Ian Kennedy, aware that the four covers I chose to illustrate the post were barely adequate for an artist who produced so many stunning cover paintings for IPC from the late 1970s through the entire 1980s, and beyond. And this all goes without mention of the 1200+ covers he has produced for DC Thomson’s Commando. That first post featured some of his earlier covers, for 2000AD, Starlord, Tornado and Eagle, while this, part two, moves us further into the 1980s, with further brilliant Eagle covers and a striking Kitten Magee image for the short-lived Wildcat comic.

Aircraft and spaceships are perhaps what Ian is best known for (according to this Comics Wiki article, he has always had a passion for aircraft), but he is also a superb figure artist with the ability to generate life and expression through the deftest, most minimal of touches. I’ll never tire of admiring his work, and am grateful that there is so much of it.