Dez Skinn (b. February 4th, 1951) is the founder of Quality Communications.
Professional History
Skinn began his career as a sub-editor for IPC Magazines' comics division in 1970, working mainly on humor titles for the juvenile market. After a stint with publishers Warner Bros. (for whom he created the magazine 'House of Hammer', capitalizing on the then current fad for horror movies), he launched the science fiction magazine 'Starburst' before being headhunted by Stan Lee to head up the British division of Marvel Comics (Skinn's principal condition before taking the job was that Marvel UK would agree to take on Starburst). He turned the at that time somewhat moribund company, which had begun its life publishing only US reprints, into a successful operation publishing UK originated material, but due to disagreeing with some of their organizational policies, he left them in 1981 for the London West End Studio System, which specialized in design and advertising. He re-entered comics in 1982 as the head of Quality Communications, which from March 1982-February 1985 published 'Warrior', a revolutionary magazine which pioneered the concept of creator owned characters, reviving the 1950s character Marvelman under writer Alan Moore and artists Garry Leach and Alan Davis, as well as having input into the creation of strips like V for Vendetta (the title character of which was based on his Marvel UK character, Night Raven). V for Vendetta was later bought by DC, who concluded the storyline (unfinished since Warrior folded) in a limited series in 1988-89. From 1990 to 2006, Skinn published the trade magazine Comics International. He is still working on various comics related projects for Quality Communications, as well as writing a regular column for the trade magazine Comic Heroes.
Personal History
Dez Skinn was born in the town of Goole, Yorkshire, in the North of England in 1951. He entered the comics industry via self published fanzines.
Work History
Notes
In the course of his career, Skinn has won six Eagle Awards and, in 1982, the Society of Strip Illustration's 'Frank Bellamy Award' for Lifetime Achievement'. He is a controversial figure, whose career has been dogged by accusations and scandal, but who is nonetheless hugely significant in the history of the medium.