During Donkey Intervals...

I have been drawing other things. Not many things though - largely self promotion and jam.

MAYBE I SHOULD DRAW JAM TO PROMOTE MYSELF.

...let's just let that go now, shall we?

Oh also before we pop on I'll just slap up a panel from THE OTHER THING I've been drawing this fortnight -

Watch out for a page of the Mammoth Jack epic - (written by Dirk van Dom) in Temple APA later this week. Very pleased to be drawing things that will get seen by people again. Also horses - but I barely draw them. Chunky legs.

"A Younger Sun" for The Weekly Themed Art Blog (or TAB) - the theme was dinos/monsters and I longed to draw a Brachiosaurus. They are my favourite dinosaurs because they were awesome and also they had long awesome necks and they were green.

THEY WERE FUCKING GREEN. They didn't have a feathery spine, wikipedia. THEY WEREN'T GREY AND BLOTCHY THEY

WERE

FUCKING GREEN.

I'm not writing a thesis about it, I'm not discussing it with anyone. I'm not telling you how I know they were green. Clue: It involves time eggs. Also - who knew the atmospheric composition was different in the Jurassic era and humans couldn't breathe it?! I certainly didn't. Nearly died.

This was, I believe, for a young man called Daniel Madley who became eightieth like for the ever-swelling Dr WTF Facebook page. Do pop along - ! Someone suggested I added Christ into the mix and I was like NO WAY Jetsharks I can believe, Invisible Bears I can believe - but Jesus?! You must be out of your cake.

Profound apologies for my second TAB this fortnight - specifically to the superlative mind of Henry Flint who I desperately aped to produce this testicular monstrosity. Shakara is in his little ship there and he's plunging through a giant eye made up of giant eyes. Instead it looks like a pierced ball sack. Sorry. I recommend Henry Flint.

"That Darn Masterchief" aka "Achievement Unlocked" aka "I can't draw licenses very well" - for Richmond Clements - who became the ONE HUNDREDTH LIKE for Dr WTF. A million thank yous - much beyond my shaky paltry Master Chief. I never understood Halo. It's like - there's this planet, and like, you're shooting, and like - then you're not. What's the deal with that. - and as for my Doctor Who anthology - it's in it's final stages and the digital version goes on sale

NEXT WEEK (PROBABLY)

Very exciting - and the print version? Well just turn your pretty eyes downward...

Finally - the third TAB entry is my interpretation of Judge Anderson. A bit Bibi Andersson, a bit ... androgynous ... stern and not at all busty or nipply or any of that shit. It genuinely irritates me. I mean - this shit is what makes the glorious unique world of Judge Dredd that little bit more bland. SHE WOULD AT THE VERY LEAST WEAR A BRA.

SERIOUSLY. PUT ON A BRA ANDERSON WE'RE TRYING TO STOP A DEATH CULT FROM KIDNAPPING THE DAUGHTER OF A WEALTHY INDUSTRIALIST.

IT'S NOT EVEN COLD IN HERE. HOW ARE YOUR NIPPLES PUSHING THROUGH LEATHER?!

Right, little finger off shift - little mind off rant, little bum off the chair - and back to the donkey violence - !

O

Kapowhoops

I must say, I intentionally didn't go to Kapow! convention in London this weekend because it seemed quite horrendously shallow to bring the leviathan American con format over here - replete with the vacuous stars of screen and blockbuster dullcomics. I see now that I was being very silly. Although Millar seems like a douche. Anyhow - I didn't go and I missed encountering some genuinely nice internet folk in real life, and copped out on staring gazedly at some of the best artists in British comics. And any platform for them is not a terribly bad thing at all.

On to Bristol International, anyway!

I was extremely proud to be part of an amazing comic - written by Mr Mark Howard (WHAT A CHAP) and co-drawn by the fantastic Davey Candlish, El Chivo, Filip Roncone & Lee Bates - with letters by the EXCELLENT Jim Campbell. This was then auctioned off by 'Genre for Japan' and we raised fifty quid! Many thanks to the kind wallet of author Toni Kelner and Wayne Simmons for calling us all to arms. It was an amazing auction featuring some of my favourite artists and writers - and we collectively earned over eleven thousand for Japan! Crikey.

I urge you to do or give. Japan still needs help.

Although the modest Feistmouse was extremely embarrassed by this pictorial birthday tribute, it was my pleasure to produce it. Do check out his Sun & Moon stories in Dogbreath, or visit the man himself on DeviantArt - or march into Portsmouth Ink and place down your arms bellowing "I COMMAND YOU TO TATTOO ME, FEIST". He is a true fella.

Drawn for The Weekly Themed Art Blog - on the subject of non-2000ad British Comics - this is my tribute to Jimmy and His Magic Patch. A Beano story in which a boy had his torn shorts repaired with a CHUNK OF MAGIC CARPET and thenceforth voyages across the winds of time. A majestic concept and one that was treated with such an appealing old school silliness that I've always gone back to it. I mean, so much time travel these days is all about the mystery of the mechanics - I loved it when it was like "look, he's travelling time - fucking deal with it" BUT WHY "Magic shorts is why, NOW SHUT UP THERE ARE DINOSAURS".

The first of two photo-traces I did this fortnight. I'll go into my anxieties over the method in the next one - but this was a brilliant concept for the brother of Lowri Ann Davies who is clearly an insanely silly child and deserves as many comics as the world can throw at him. I have no opinion or interest in Aston Villa or football - twas a requirement of the brother and nothing more!

My second was for Mother's Day/My Mother's birthday which fell on the same day this year. It's a portrayal of my grandmother who was a powerfully brilliant lady and will be remembered. Here though I must explain that I find the idea of photo-traces very cheap. People seem very impressed and excited in them - and they are the simplest and best way to capture a likeness. The awesome Staticgirl said that she thought mine were justified and contained enough of my personality to carry them through - and even though they take me as long as any picture to draw and colour - if not a little longer - I feel like I've got to the final image through a shortcut. Will do more observational drawing.

Finally - and WITH NO TRACING (disappointing without, isn't it) I pay tribute to the marvellous madcap doodlings of our Pal in Canada; Liam "Ghostpockets" Byrne. Who remains one of the nicest and most enthusiastic artists I've ever met on the internet. I urge you to seek him and his work out - it's fucking glorious.

OH and finally CLICK ON THIS WHOLE PARAGRAPH - because there you will find the Dr WTF?! website set up by my brother. Teasery and very VERY excellent. For an extra giggle view page source and see the HILARIOUS signature he implanted there.

That's it - I'm off. But beware ... DONKEYS are on their way ;)

O x

Morning Dew

....and we're off.

Another fortnightly update on my going-ons and adventures. I'm considering making them a little more frequent - BUT WHO HAS THE TIME?!

This is 'Junkyard Dog' an image for Mr Mark Corbett of Shoot the Moon - for becoming seventieth (!) like for Dr WTF on Facebook. Are you reading this and haven't liked it? THEN YOU ESSENTIALLY HATE ME. I don't mean to be needy BUT IT'S JUST HAPPENED.

Here, the first of two drawings for the Weekly Themed Art Blog images what it would be like if the Judges were in Tron. Thrilling thought. So thrilling I am now dancing.

This is the image for the 'editor' page of my Dr WTF anthology. It's me drinking out of a cup. I want you to guess which pun I've made/nicked from Joe Quesada. Actually don't. Don't guess. Just be quiet.

Dennis at sixty - I loved the Beano as a child (but scandalously I actually read the Dandy more - they had fucking Smasher!) -- Raise a glass to the nation's most treasured bully. That isn't Thatcher. OHOHOHOHO SATIRE.

Finally another image for the Weekly Themed Art Bloggity Blog. It's my favourite ever game. I bloody love it - so evocative, so heartbreaking, so fucking fantastic I'm going to cut short this blog and go and play it. But first...

The magnificent twelve stories in my anthology - go on - go and like it on Facebook. GO ON.

O x

Victim of the LEMUR?!

Interesting title. But it bears no relation to the blog at hand.

Just rushing in to update y'all on my various goings on over the last fortnight. It has rushed by and today has rammed me full in the face. Now I lie, spread-eagled with my fang'd jaw agape. My lifeblood and bits of skull scattered across the unforgiving tarmac.

This has nothing to do with a particularly resonant dead badger I saw on my road yesterday. When I came back from work it had gone. Who had taken it? For what nefarious purpose? I may never know.

Before we go on I'd like to further drag down the tone to briefly mention a chap who died this week - a regular fixture of Glastonbury high street - permanently at an easel painting the buildings. I was desperately sad to see the flowers and paint brushes stacked up at the side of the road.

This image is for the 2000ad forum's monthly competition. This one was "I Heart 2000ad" -

My personal pleasure button is in-universe continuity. The weak-ass Simpsons-style Marvel DC stuff gets me down. It's boring. Oh that's the same Batman that's been roaming the streets since 1939?! Fuck off. Seriously. From the moment I picked up 2000ad ten years ago I was swept into a world of imagination and gloriously psychedelic consistency. Rooted in to their own insane universes.

At the end of Dead Eyes when Indigo Prime showed up? HELLO. When Lobster Random was unmasked after D'Israeli's insane run on The Vort? INDEED. When Hammersteins showed up in Savage? When recently it turned out that all Ian Edginton's universes were connected?

ALRIGHT THEN.

Although how do you express continuity?

I just drew a stand-off in an unconvincing cake. Sorry.

This is a trace of a photo for my friend Arthur's birthday. I have a horse - ? Sorry I don't know why I wrote that but I'll leave it in as an insight into my brain. It's fairly scruffy and not very good but it looked quite shiny on paper. For a much better image see the original photograph - tracing is bad.

This is a dinosaur lawyer. For the band (?) Dinosaur Lawyers.

These two were for the Weekly Themed Art Blog - which you can also join in with on Facebook and observe the INCREDIBLY AMAZING stuff by other artists who are SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER than me.

Well - that's it then. I'll update ye when I have more stuff - and may I remind you to listen in to my adventures through time on Glastonbury FM Fridays 8-9pm and repeated Saturdays 5-6pm. Or just shuffle on over to MixCloud and listen WHENEVER YOU WANT. Say whhaaat.

Oh - and do 'like' Dr WTF on Facebook if you haven't already. It may seem outwardly to have fallen quiet - but the letters are nearly complete and the thing will be together and printing this time next week (HOW EXCITING).

O

Crabcake 3

Hello chaps - sorry for the long break in blogging BUT I HAVE BEEN BUSY.

Well - not busy, but y'know.

Busy.

Dr WTF?! Is coming along nicely (also if you click on the name there you can join in the Facebook group and keep track of it all - lots of lovely teaser images and the like). Do support us!

Don't NOT support us. No no no.

Anyway the primary reason I've come here today is to share with you what I've been up to. Crabcake 3.

Despite how it may appear I do have a plan. Well - no, I don't think any of us truly have a plan. I think the majority just bimble along like a hermit in a storm. There is no reality - only what we sculpt with our beautiful ignorant brains. What do you know about dermatology? Next to nothing I'm sure but some base their lives on it.

Sorry - what the fuck am I talking about. Carry on - ! Oh and don't forget my radio show is on every Friday from 8 to 9 pm - !

Sorry if these images are massive I can't think how else to do it -

May your gods go with you!

O x

Child of Babylon

...is what they used to call me. Was never sure why.

I lie - they used to call me Mr Mole because I look like a comical chubby cartoon mole. With fucking long hair.

This post will primarily be about DR WTF?! because DR WTF?! is the big story at the moment. What with FOUR - COUNT THEM - FOUR teasers up and about some very TANTALISING nuggets of glory. Or glorynuggets as I irritatingly just shorten'd.

First thought let me just get some very worthwhile little bits in about stuff I've been drawing lately. As that is, after all, what I do.

This first curious image is a coloured version of something the influential jazz pianist Monsieur Richard "Snakehips" Jenkins (a.k.a. The Jenk or King Jenko) doodled. There's not much to say about it apart from the fact that it's not a Beatle. Unless it's a Beatle.

This is the start of the BEST SAGA YOU'VE EVER HEARD ABOUT A GOAT THAT TRAVELS THROUGH HELL. How does he get there? What furry monstrosity rises from his surprised groin in the final panel? And who is the hidden dancer in the second page?! All these questions and four more will be answered in the next installment - ! See the bigger bugger here - or go and pay a visit to the writer and shower praise upon her.

This is an Ice Warrior. Simply an Ice Warrior. Larking about and doing all those things that Ice Warriors do.... strategically exploiting planets mainly.

Alright. On to the OBLIGATORY ANTHOLOGY UPDATE - I'll leave the new logo to do the talking.

WAPASSHHHH! Glorious eh? I'm humbled and forever grateful to the amazing Mike Carroll who put this together for me at extremely short notice. A dude of no small dudeness. WHO HAS HIS OWN WIKI PAGE. :O

So here we go - some previews and some kneeviews (eh?)

First - this is me and Chris Cronin - Thinking Outside the Box

Second - Oscar M & Louis Carter (Colours by Me) - Back to the Wreckage

Third - Matthew McLaughlin & Neil "Bhuna" Roche - Cosmic Excrement

Fourth - Emperor & Mike Bunt - The Secret of Comedy

Those are the official teasers - and here's some others I've got hold of recently....

Greg Meldrum & James Feist - Kitsch 'n' Sink

Jazz Woods & Liam "Ghostpockets" Byrne - Fear of the Dark

There are still nine other comics drifting into view and you can follow my tumblr or keep checking this thread for updates. By the next blog there will be an official website. Woool!

...why did I just exclaim wool?

=malcolmkirk.blogspot.com|utmccn I'VE THRILLED YOU SOMEHOW - !

ART IS HERE

NOISE IS HERE

O - x

Toughest Street in Town

...although ironically the toughest town I know IS Street. And it's a village.

Happy 2011 everyone - !! I'll be doing a YEAR REVIEW of 2010 in a bit and will be tap-dancing throughout using MY SPECIAL SKILLS.

New years was beautiful and I spent it with good humans staring at Glastonbury going nuts whilst chuckling into scrumpy. Christmas was a little subdued but as cosy as you could wish for without actually hugging a large rabbit in a warm cottage. All-in-all it makes return to the lonely cold of this empty house a little jarring - but I'll get by. I've still got some scrumpy after all!

Enough of this noise, on with the art!

..and this is the first page of the third part of Crabcake. It'll be a fictional nostalgia-filled part this month with lots of flashbacks to SHIT YOU NEVER DONE SEEN BEFORE. Also tons of continuity with things that NOBODY EVEN KNOWS ABOUT. I find that kind of stuff intensely orgasmic. Watch this space. Also go here - the bigger page is there.

A bit of an experiment this - I wanted to draw something a reminiscent of an eighteenth century painting where there's a gorgeous landscape and always some little bugger in there pointing or duelling or some shit. I've been assured this is because landowners wanted to show off their land although I always thought it was simply antiquarian-style hobby painters who felt sheepish about doing pure landscape. Anyway - far from gorgeous is my landscape - and pretty far off the original brief which was to portray these characters:

- The Blueshift Bombadier - Doctor Damastes

in any way that I fancied. This is how I fancied. Also it attracted some constructive criticism on Deviant Art which is pretty much the highest compliment you can get because it means people are paying attention. So I'm chuffed about that. Right all up in my face. Go here to see the big thing (oo err).

Now here's an odd one - this was for the superlative Mr Dirk Van Dom; a wordsmith of no small renown who put together a MASSIVE choose-your-own-adventure blog featuring this image and a ton of others for (and by) the forever-gorgeous folk over at 2000ad online. See the bigger thing here. Do give the game a go and give some love to those artists you find within!

A placemat done for a FAKEMAS (there was a hashtag on Twitter for it) meal at my place. Then I scanned it in and coloured it over the festive period whilst my sparkly girlfriend sat on my shoulder like a dove dropping bits of cheesy straw into my mouth. See the bigger thing here.

This duo of images are drawn for my main man Mr Roberto 'La Barba Hermosa' Phillips who turned ANCIENT the day before yesterday. Lawdy lawdy. The first was drawn by my good friend Sir Richard 'Subarashii' Denham and coloured by me - the second was done ENTIRELY by me and my soft doghands.

Right. Time for a little summary of my good bits and my new bits. I had two very proud moments this year -

The first is that I graduated in spectacular purple after a RELATIVELY inexpensive three years studying archaeology at Sheffield. I had a wonderful experience there and met some truly brilliant humans - and it was immensely sad and tremendously rewarding to finish it all.

The second is the image I drew and the subsequent goings on related to the Get Well Carlos Project. In which the colossally excellent Mark Howard put together AN ENORMOUS anthology of artists and writers to pay tribute to the one of the most influential artists in British comics - Mr Carlos Ezquerra - co-creator of Judge Dredd and easily the hardest-working comic creative in existence. Carlos had been diagnosed with lung cancer and motivated by his plight the comic was put together to remind him just how much we all respected him. Bizarrely we are now Facebook friends and I'm supremely glad to report that he's recovering - you can download the comic for free here or simply gaze apon his joyful Spanish face reading the comic.

I'm just one of several hundred creators in it, but to see how happy it made him made more satisfied than a dog in a big cake. NOM NOM NOM CAKEY DOGGY CAKE.

Where was I?

Oh yes. SO THINGS TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN 2011.

- Dr WTF?! (An anthology that'll sound a bit like this "BLAM WOOOO YEAAHHHH" in your head)

Also I now have a glorious script to draw courtesy of Mr Christov Cronin and the whole thing is sealed and buckled down and ready for a Spring appearance. VERY EXCITING.

- Flaubert St Cloud (A comic by me and milady about a GOAT THAT FUCKING TRAVELS THROUGH HELL SAY WHAAAAT)

- THE ARM OF ENGON FALGRAX which will surface soon like a kraken from the depths. A story about two fellows and their quest to ... follow a disembodied arm. Glory be.

- THE PUBLISHING OF CRABCAKE. Oh yes. It will be published. By me.

- THE ACTUAL MANIFESTATION OF CRAZYFOXMACHINE.CO.UK because a splash page saying 'coming soon' can only be exciting for so long.

- VARIOUS OTHER DEALIES AND THINGS THAT ARE FAINTLY UNOFFICIAL AT THE MOMENT. Ooooh vague and mysterious.

Right - That's quite enough. I'll be back to talk Dr WTF with extensive previews - as well as the first part of Flaubert St Cloud in the best part of a couple of weeks. Until then - have beautiful moments and positive thoughts and harsh harsh scrumpy.

ART BE HERE
AUDIO BE HERE

TUMBLR BE HERE (oh yeah that happened as well)

O - x