'Writing and illustrating two complex graphic novels was a huge undertaking for Alexis. First published as Geis (Volumes 1 and 2), they were later reissued in paperback as The Curse of the Chosen. A review from Youth Book Services commented 'Deacon's exquisite illustrations, lush with detail, his complex characters, some noble and some diabolically evil, are also imbued with comic relief.' He had help with the colouring up but I think these original drawings show the real strength of his draughtsmanship and imagination.
Oscar Wilde's story of The Selfish Giant was a favourite of his so he decided to rewrite it in his own way. Then suitable for a picture book format, it was published by Random House. As quoted in The Bookseller, 'Deacon breathes new life into Wilde's timeless fairy tale.'
In 2005 Jonathan Cape commissioned the most exciting children's book artists of the day to produce illustrations for a collection of much of the verse in Roald Dahl's books. The result was Songs and Verse, a superb and very collectable book, 'a visual feast, zinging with colour and wit'. Fresh from his success with his own picture book, Beegu which had been voted the New York Times 'Best Illustrated Children's Book of 2003', Alexis was invited to illustrate some of the bugs from James and the Giant Peach.
