For Meg and Bella
It's Clobberin' Time!!
SIMON WILLIAMS
Real name: Simon Williams
Aliases: Soulman Inc, Big Daddy Soul
Occupation: Comic Artist, Idle of millions, DVD superstar, Welsh Comic Book hero
Former Occupation: Singer
Place of birth: Swansea, Wales. (Also known in ancient Celtic legends as the Sea of Swans)
Favourite artists/creative influences: Sal Buscema, John Buscema, Jack Kirby, John Byrne, Dale Keown, John Romita (Snr and Jnr), Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Neal Adams, Bruce Timm, Alan Davis, Ron Frenz, Bob Layton, Geoff Senior, Mike Zeck, Ernie Chan
Favourite Characters: The Incredible Hulk, The Thing, Death's Head, Optimus Prime, Wolverine, Spider-man, Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Doomlord, Batman, Superman
History: The legend of the Soulman began a many moons ago... in a time long forgotten. The son of the legendary Welsh King Arthur and Big Momma Soul... Simon is the heir to the throne of the fabled Sea of Swans. Rumour has it that Simon actually originated from the Marvel Universe. ... however, this has yet to be proven, and at this point remains a topic of much speculation.
Ever since an early age, Simon displayed a talent for drawing. And it was on that fateful day when his Nan bought him a copy of Mighty World Of Marvel # 231... his first Marvel comic -   that his destiny was written, and a new comic artist was born.
Simon grew up wanting only one thing: to draw comics..... especially Marvel comics. His all-time favourite character being the Incredible Hulk. He spent hours reading the adventures of his favourite characters...... and whilst doing so, studied the artwork of such legendary artists as Sal and John Buscema, Jack Kirby, John Byrne and many others. From this he taught himself to become the comic artist that he is today.
However, when Simon reached his late teens he discovered that he had another love....... singing. He joined up with friend Nigel Thomas to form a Blues Brothers tribute act, and although he didn't know it at the time was where the seeds in which Soulmania would be born. Their Blues Brothers act was never going to win any awards. ... although they captured the spirit of the original's characters, and became fairly well known in the Cardiff area..... even appearing on the TV charity show Telethon in 1990! Later, the two would join up with Rachel Spensley and her sisters Geraldine and Joanna... who between them organised, wrote and starred in two charity concerts... held in 1992 and 1996. Rachel has since gone on to live in Holland, and is now the lead singer of the band Freak Out.... although she will always be Simon's singing partner-in-crime!
In 1994, Simon started studying at Swansea College, which was where he met his long-time friend and artistic collaborator Jason Cardy. Simon then went on to study at the Swansea Institute of Higher Education in 1996, and it was around this time that Simon had an idea for his own group of Superheroes. He had an idea of a comic that the world had never seen the likes of before..... imagine a team of superheroes who would fight crime, but decked out in flares, afros, gold medallions and other seventies fashion accessories! Imagine a villain so dastardly, so deadly that he could wipe the world out with a single whim...... and all that can save us is Barry Gibb! This idea of course, was for the Sensational seventies crime-fighters known as the Discotronic Funk Commandos. The original name for the group was the Funktastic Four - but was changed so as not to ruffle any feathers at Marvel (whom Simon still had high aspirations to work for). When this idea was suggested to friends, they took some convincing...... probably due to the fact that they thought Simon was on something to come up with such a crazy idea! Simon then came up with some preliminary sketches, and when his friends Graham McLelland and Stuart Parris (who incidentally came up with the name Captain Massachusetts) saw them, they agreed that he wasn't mad after all.... and that he had come up with a very good, and original idea.
It was also during this time that Simon started getting a reputation for his singing....... and it was at his university student bar Tuesday night karaoke that the 'Soulman' in Soulman Inc, and thus Soulmania was born. It was singing such songs as 'Mustang Sally', 'Take Me To The River', 'Everybody Needs Somebody To Love' and of course, the Sam & Dave/Blues Brothers classic 'Soul Man' that led to 'Big Daddy Soul' fronting various bands in the South Wales area.... including his own Psychotronic Love Commandos and for a short time, Barry Hammett's Swing Shift. However, as much as he enjoyed the buzz of performing on stage (his last gig was sung in front of none other than Bonnie Tyler!), he felt that he was missing his true calling....... and that was drawing. So it was that the Soulman decided to give up singing (which was never a true career aspiration anyway), and concentrate on his true life's-calling: comics!
The Soulman, now more motivated than ever, begun his quest for comic book superstardom in earnest. He was training..... saying his prayers and sharpening his pencils. However, it wasn't until he set up his own web-site Soulman Inc that opportunity came calling.........
In 2003, Panini Comics were looking for artists for their new comic..... Transformers Armada. And it was at this time that they contacted Simon to see if he would be interested in doing some work for them. Naturally, Simon jumped at the chance...... as not only was he a huge Transformers fan, but he also would be working alongside such legendary Transformers creators as Simon Furman, Andrew Wildman and Lee Sullivan. Panini also publish all of Marvel characters here in the UK... an opportunity Simon couldn't resist! So at last...... Simon Williams was now officially a professional comic artist!
Since then, Simon has gone on to work on several different Panini titles..... including Action Man, Marvel Rampage and most frequently Spectacular Spider-man Adventures. And since working for Panini, Simon has achieved two of his lifelong ambitions....... to draw the Incredible Hulk (on the cover of Panini Book's Incredible Hulk Annual 2005), and to draw the Hulk vs. the Thing in an all-out slobberknocker (in Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 100). Aside from his work for Panini, Simon also produced a page for Wildcard Productions Feed America's Children special, which also featured artwork by Norm Breyfogle, Ron Frenz, Ron Lim, Paul Smith and many others.. All proceeds from this book went towards helping under-previliged children. He has also received much praise for his artwork as well...... from the comic-industry newspaper Comics International to comics legends Roy Thomas and Mike Ploog! Simon is still involved in the world of the Transformers as well.... having produced work for Metrodome's Transformers Season 3&4 boxset (which even features an interview with the great one), and also artwork for CardboardCutout.net's official Transformers Optimus Prime and Megatron standees.
Yes, the Soulman has indeed come a long way since that day when his Nan bought him his first Marvel comic..... and it's safe to say that Soulmania is running wilder than ever.
Proffessional Comic Work:
Simon has worked on a variety of comic titles and projects. Here is a list of what he has done so far:

Transformers

  • Transformers Armada Issues 3, 4, 5, 6- Poster, Fact Files
  • Transformers Armada Issues 7, 8 - Cover, Poster and fact files (in issue 7)
  • Transformers Armada Issue 9 - Cover, Poster and Mini-Con strip (written by Simon Furman, with inks by Bambos Georgiou)

  • CardboardCutout.net's official Transformers Optimus Prime and Megatron standees (with Jason Cardy).

DVD work:

  • Metrodome's Transformers Season 3+4 boxset - Cover logo (with Jason Cardy) and character bio pics of Rodimus Prime, Ultra Magnus, Kup, Arcee, Galvatron, Cyclonus and Scourge for the DVD extras. (Plus there is an interview with Simon on the Auto Assembly footage, which is apparently quite funny according to Jane Lawson!!)
  • Metrodome's Transformers Season 1 boxset- Cover Logo (with Jason Cardy)


Spider-man

  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 91 - (first published Marvel work.... a two panel 'day in the life of Spidey)
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 92 - Colourzone piece featuring Spider-man and the Punisher.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 93 - Two humourous 'What If?' pieces.... featuring the Kingpin and the Thing.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 94 - (Strip and Colourzone pic, plus humourous 'what if' pieces featuring Doctor Octopus and the Hulk). Strip Story by Jason Quinn, Inks by Bambos Georgiou and colours by Alan Craddock.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 95 - Two more 'What If? pieces..... featuring Mr Fantastic and the Vulture.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 96 - Strip (guest-starring Daredevil) and Cover.Story by Jason Quinn, Inks by Bambo Georgiou and Colours by Alan Craddock.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 99 - Cover and poster, with colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 100 - Cover, Strip and poster - Spidey and the Thing vs the Hulk.... my dream come true!!! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Maria Keane.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 102 - Cover, Strip and Poster- Spidey, the Avengers, the X-men, the Fantastic Four and Daredevil versus Doctor Octopus and his Octodroids... the tie-in issue to the Spider-man 2 movie. Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Alan Craddock.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 104 - Intro page mini-strip. Pencils and inks by me, with colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 107 - Cover, Strip and Poster- Spidey first battles, then teams up with Silver Sable to battle Tombstone and the Kingpin! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 110 - Cover, strip and Poster- Spidey versus Mysterio!!! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 112 - Comic strip and Poster- Spidey and Iron Man.... versus the Mandarin! Story by Jim Alexander, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 115 - Cover, strip and Poster- Spidey and Doctor Strange.... versus the hoardes of Nightmare! With cameos from the Hulk, Man-Thing and Death's Head! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 120 - Comic strip- Spidey and the Fantastic Four.... versus Doctor Doom! Part One of two parts.... Story by Mitchel Scanlon, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 121 - Comic strip- Spidey, the Fantastic Four and Doctor Doom..... versus an alternate future Reed Richards! Part two of two parts.... Story by Mitchel Scanlon, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 126 - Cover, Comic strip and Poster- Spidey and the Avengers..... versus the all-new Masters of Evil! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 129 - Comic strip- Spidey teams up with the Mighty  Thor! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 132 - Cover, Comic strip and poster- This issues got  it all! Spidey, Doctor Strange, The Avengers, the Fantastic Four..... even an appearance from Shuma Gorath! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by Simon Ecob and Colours by Jason Cardy.
  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures issue 137 - Comic strip- Spider-man vs the Green Goblin! Story by Ferg Handley, Inks by David Roach and Colours by Jason Cardy.

  • Spectacular Spider-man Adventures - Night Of The Goblin - Digest-sized pocket book.... reprinting amonst others, issue 107, 115, 120 and 121 of Panini's Spectacular Spider-man Adventures.

  • Spider-man Annual 2005 - Escape from Oscorp - a puzzle/board game, with inks by Simon Ecob.

Incredible Hulk

  • Incredible Hulk Annual 2005 - Cover Pencils and inks, with colours by Jason Cardy. Plus colourzone picture.

Marvel Rampage

  • Marvel Rampage issue 1 - Pencils and Inks- Monsters: A survival guide with Doctor Strange..... horror fact-file pictures, featuring Mummies, Zombies, Werewolfs and Vampires! (There's even a Yeti in there somewhere as well!)

Feed America's Children (Wildcard Productions)
  • One page of comic strip - pencils and inks.


Simon has also done various colourzone and diorama pics for Panini's Action Man.
Here you go, Soulmaniacs.... just for fun, a bio of my good self, done in the
style of 'The Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe'..... Enjoy!  - Simon.