Friday 30 December 2011

Crimbo and That


'Ey up chuck.

So, Christmas happened. Very pleasurable and full of cidery evenings and MUCH cheese.

Here's just a brief brief (not very brief) rundown of what went on Decemberwise.

Thought Bubble Video
I briefly appeared in one. Weirdly. It was weird.


Thought Bubble film from Anne Holiday on Vimeo.

Did you spot me? Weird eh?! I was speaking to John Burdis in Judge armour.

Bristol Goings-On


Went to see Amplifier in Bristol with milady, didn't I?! IT WAS GOOD, WASN'T IT? Kind of spacey mod-prog with whirling guitars. Better live than I expected and catchier than a sneeze in a lift.

Bought the parentals many Bristol goods for festivus and I can't recommend higher The Bristol Cider Shop, Dr Burnorium's Hot Sauce Emporium (I shit you not) and... well basically the entire of St Nicholas' Market. It's bloody magic.

Other Comics


Two upcoming comics THAT YOU SHOULD KEEP YOUR FACE PEELED FOR. The first is El Bigote by a true comics chap and master of Turtles PJs Matt McLocusts McLaughlin and El Ch-ch-ch-cherry Chivo
Also - the second Vanguard. I have no idea when it's showing up and I believe Mammoth Jack: THE SEQUEL is being drawn by the aforementioned gloryChivo - but I've drawn an art card that'll be given out with it. Featuring the DONKEY FROM HELL.


So look out for that. It'll be Van Domtastic.

Crazy Fox Appearances


Honoured to have my artwork appear in the "Strode College" season planner thing promoting the incredible Pendarves Jenkins Combination. Not sure why but it makes me very happy to see my drawings in there - probably because it's a fixtures guide that's in all the local shops and takeaways and that. Glastonbury folk will look at it and go "WHO DREW THAT SHIT".
Didn't notice it at the time - but the Zarjaz/Dogbreath blog have preview'd my upcoming Tales From the Black Museum strip written by Mike Lynch. "Currently scheduled for Zarjaz 15" so that'll be next summer or thereabouts. Looking forward to seeing it in print!
Not only that - but Futurequake Press has published a story I drew earlier in the year. Written by John Paul Fitch and lettered by the mighty Bolt. If you've not read it I'd really appreciate you giving it a gander over there at the old Futurequake Press Blog.

Weekly Webcomics
Just what you need in those dark and wintry times - more tales from the Jamellabank. Written by the amazing Jasmine Woods. Pleased to report that the script for the entire run has now been completed - so we have a concrete idea of where we're going and how we're going to get there. Hint: It's going to be nuts.
The final (ever?) Time Tale featuring the appearance of Ghostpockets. Who, predictably, destroys the universe. Couldn't have been engineered by a finer chap - ! If you'd like to write a Time Tale give us a shout and we'll construct something!
Here's Flaubert St Cloud page six - and out of interest, here's a close-up of the first panel and a GUIDE to cameos.
From right to left: Lewis Powell, Steev Thulin-Hopper, Neil McClements, Mike Donachie, James Feist, Matt Soffe, Ben Moore and the Burleys.
...and part seven. Do keep your eyes on Crazy Fox Machine on Facebook. For developments and such.

Assorted Art
Drawn for Rich McAuliffe for being my 200th Twitter follower. I've since been asked about the ultimate fate of the unfortunate Moomin. He died a hero - for within him was a T-Rex Bomb (tm) that sploded and took apart the merciless lizard - saving Moominvalley. Shortly afterwards a statue was erected. But the Groke sat on it.

Three panels done for a large collaborative strip written by Dirk van Dom and presented to the 2000ad forum FOR CHRISTMAS. Other parts done by Stephen Prestwood, Filip Roncone, Neil "Bhuna" Roche and Tony Rothwell - can be seen with text in it's entirety here.
Finally - Christmas contributions were capped by this Gronky effort - an idea from forumite "Dash Decent" not Descent. NOT Descent. Whoops.

...and FINALLY...


We've got TWO teasers for you this time around - the first is from Tony Rothwell for his strip written by Blas Bigatti. THAT'S SO CONFUSING THAT IT DESTROYED THE MIND OF OTHER POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTORS.
SECONDLY on christmas I shared a snippet of our sensational cover by a veteran 2000ad artist that I'm still, for some reason, not revealing even though it's pretty obvious - - - stare at this beauty!
Sweet. You'll see the whole thing come March ;)

and I'll see YOU next year. Be lucky!

O x

Monday 19 December 2011

The Ballad of the Civil War Doctor (Updated)



It started moons ago, when David Tennant was on the throne. I produced this bit of rot in 2007.




Drawn 2007
"Metal Paul, killer of posers and wearer of denim was overjoyed when he was called back by the beeb with regards to his Whoaudition (hastily organized when David Tennant was killed to death by several angry Whofans who 'really thought the mockney gurning was just getting too much')."



When it was announced that Matt Smith was taking over as the Doctor I saw red - assuming "a romcom in space" type affair might occur. So in 2009 I tried to picture THE MOST HARDCORE Doctor - a battle-scarred veteran of a thousand psychic wars who'd been living on the edge so long where the winds of limbo roar (cheers Moorcock).
Drawn 2008
Here he be (although he's been remastered since observe my standard titles) and I got quite into the idea of him really. He'd nicked the uniform off of an abusive general who had been feeding his troops to an alien of some sort - and his companion was to be a Union soldier (a la Jamie I suppose who is surely the best companion of all time). He then runs into an old enemy - and using a hammer, sorts it the fuck out. 
                           Drawn 2011
After this he grows a beard and meets his former self in the snow - who is shocked, either at the prospect of his own future or the terrible skills of O before he got a graphics tablet and learnt how to letter.
Drawn 2009

After this he gets into a fight with a dinosaur who tries to eat his TARDIS. Also I don't think that's a Civil War uniform anymore... it looks like Jeremiah Phallushamr's uniform. Shit. 
Drawn 2011

At some point later in his timeline he adopts a more Otastic purple suit - where he appears in an alleyway de-bearded to confront an implausible action figure from the Ghostbusters cartoon.
Drawn 2010

Saturday 10 December 2011

'TIS WINTER

Time again for a bit of a round-up and round-about of all the general activity of the last few weeks.

First off it's high time I shared this with you - 
The superlative Carl Pearce drew this in response to something I did for him a billion years ago. Absolutely floored. The guy is a genius - he drew the cover for Dr WTF 2011 - click on his name up there and go and give him some love. Crabcake will be back sooner than you can say accurately say hammeltartleboon. 

Secondly - I went to see Professor Elemental in Stokes Croft. A very good, if not a slightly messy, evening. Met (and...I think bought drinks for) many a good Bristolian steampunker and admired many a beard. Elemental kicked some arse live as far as I recall. Then suddenly it was the next day and my head hurt. The Elemental comic is coming along well - I look forward to seeing it finished!

Thirdly - a plug for the blog of my workmate Dawn Powell - Subliminal Cheeze. If you've ever REALLY wanted to know what us down-at-heel working archaeologists get up to day-to-day then her odes to cider and in-depth taste tests will answer ALL YOUR QUESTIONS.

ART

Wha-hey. The finale of Time Tale III and the first two parts of IV. The latter was written by the amazing Ghostpockets. Who is a god. If you're interested in writing a Time Tale give us a shout ;)
Parts X & XI of Jamella & Marmalad. You can always catch up on my Facebook page if you'd like. Written by Jasmine - whom I've been officially annoying for two years this month. She also wrote Flaubert - which is ONGOING - >
I did several GIFTS for folk this last fortnight: 
This is for Chris Mole - the guitarist in Northern Oak and the guy responsible for the Professor Elemental comic (he's writing all the stories). This is based on a comic idea that he and I were fannying about with in 2007. All about a man's struggles in a future ice age - we're likely to pick it up and run with it again in the future. But until now - savour the sight of a character you don't know bumping into a time-travelling Elemental ;)
This is something that I (partially) drew for Nich Angell - creator of 7String and Cat & Meringue. He's an enormous inspiration and a good chap. His relentless drawing energy inspired me to start up my weekly webcomics which have emboldened my style and sped me up immeasurably. So for this reason I clumsily inserted Jamella into his DAILY Cat & Meringue strip. I'm currently working through the paper editions of it and man 'TIS BEEFY.
Portrait I did of Darren, a machine driver on our archaeological site. There's a mouse on his shoulder and he said his mother was going to frame it. I'm not certain why but I feel rather... well, proud of that really. 
*EDIT* Whoops! This is my entry for the 2000ad forum advent calendar -featuring Flaubert, Jamella and a TARDIS. Also Dirty Frank and John Burdis as a judge. I'll be doing more later in the month - but I recommend you take a look, there's some truly astounding stuff on there.

#
Christmas competition entry for the Rik Mayall Facebook page - if you go and like the picture I might win. It's highly unLIKEly but you might as well, like ;)
So - some very big news this last two weeks. First off, Dr WTF 2011 is now on sale digitally at Lulu and CAN BE YOURS for only two pounds! BUY IT

Secondly - the call for an artist was answered by the wonderful David Broughton (who drew a Spencer Nero tale for last Paragon wot I lettered). Additionally the incredibly talented Gavin Mitchell who won 2000ad's "Dragon's Den" Future Shock competition at Thought Bubble is doing a page for us. 
I shit you not. The guy kicks arse. On top of that revelation the COVER now finished and (I'll be brutally honest) IT'S FUCKING AMAZING. Partially all will be revealed as a festive teaser on Christmas day. So keep your eyes on the Dr WTF Facebook page ;)

Finally - here is the teaser for Paul Clark and Dan Bell's story from Dr WTF 2012 entitled "Lights Out"

EXCITED MUCH? See you again just afore Christmas ;)

O