A look back on 2013.

All said and done 2013 was a pretty awesome comics year.

Having collected for my whole reading life my excitement for the medium has never waned. But this year especially has reminded me what a great hobby I share with some of the best people I know.

I worry where comics will end up. Sure it's a big world out there but numbers are malingering. The movies have helped some as have the TV series and the like. But for quality of product we've never been stronger. Eventually Jo public will understand.

Some high points of my year go to prove all the above points. 

Listed in no particular order.

The friendship and comics chat of some great guys and girls at the Chaos City Comics Club where we meet every Saturday. Marc Laming, Matt Harrower, Alex Martin, Christian Wildgoose, Mark Foster, Ross O'Neill, Natasha and the guys at Chaos City Comics and Krypton Komics. We have had some great road trips to Thoughtbubble, Nerdfest, NYCC and a whole lot more. There's more planned and I look forward to each and every meet up.

Getting to know the great Pat Mills and discovering that we have so much in common. He's a true professional and has more ideas in a single page than most writers have in a whole series.

The NYCC this year was the best so far. Getting to spend time with old and new friends. Rachel and Jess Deering continue to make me chuckle and I look forward to seeing them soon.

Getting my name in the brilliant Kings Watch from Dynamite Comics was amazing! Thanks to the aforementioned Mr Laming. One of the most talented guys I know and a true gent. I have a feeling that great things lay ahead for this Comics Club alumni. 

Having a character named after me (well my twitter handle of 'Riptide') in an upcoming comic by the super talented Matt Harrower was also an excellent moment.

Meeting the guys from 11 O'Clock Comics and The Orbiting Podcasts and getting a shout out made me smile on a boring commute.

Returning to writing comics (coming out soon I promise) and getting to be the comics reviewer for beardrock.com

The movies. Shit Beans! When I was a kid, who thought that we would get movies of this quality!?

And finally, the comics themselves! Better written and drawn than ever before. There's a real richness and diversity of product out there. Long may it continue.

Roll on 2014!

Bingo Bonanza Covers 1-3.

Years and years ago I tried to start a small press project with a lot of help from Ed Traquino.

It was great fun and still has some high points. 

Here are covers 1- 3.

Comics Club Christmas!

Last I night was the annual Chaos City Comics outing.

Joined by new alumni it was a great and laughter filled evening.

Below is just part of the great presents I got!

From the marvelous lady!

From the mighty Matt Harrower and Nathasha.

An amazing hardback Star Trek Collection from Derek and Marina Watson.

This amazing book from Timothy Stafford Stafford.

From Big 4 Comics Club member Alex and his missus Emily.

And these two from the most talented geezer I know - Marc Laming.

Now tell me your LCS is better than ours!

What a great Xmas Eve. Next year we might need a bigger boat!

NIA.

Happy Christmas from Never Iron Anything!

Twitter.

Possibly my favourite exchange between creators ever! 

Seasons.

Take a look at this video about Seasons by Mike Medaglia.

I did a review of it over at Bead Rock http://beardrock.com/eyebrow-art/comics/seasons and they were kind enough to include a quote of mine.

Have a look.

NIA.

Comics Club.

Me and some pals at our local comic shop have just posted our Best of 2013 list.

Take a look.

http://comicsneedyou.blogspot.co.uk/2013/12/comics-club-end-of-year-club.html


NIA

Best advert ever?

Beard Rock.

Hi All.

I have been posting a few pieces over at www.beardrock.com so it would be great if you could pop over there and have a read (in the comics section).

Also feel free to pop over to twitter and say hello @Ezohyez

NIA.

Review - Between The Billboards - Issue 1.

Between The Billboards: Part 1 – ‘Inevitable’.

Written and Drawn by O. D. Pomery.

www.owenpomery.com

Two pieces of barely illustrated grey and plain card enrap a number of White and grey images. But this parcel says so much more than the average comic and ina shorter time.

Perfectly reflecting the loneliness of a city. It uses static panels to reflect a quiet moment in the heart of a city. No interaction. No real speech of note. It’s a narrated story from start to finish. Commenting on the city and the people through billboards and wings.

It’s a short story in comic form that shows the life inside and outside of the space between two outward facing billboards in a nameless city. It’s part art project and part small press comic. It’s also truly beautiful in both the writing and the art.

It refreshingly poses humanely spoken feelings and questions of solitary reflection.

Then comes the parallel of the two billboards to the two upright wings of a butterfly. These are drawn with a minimalistic eye that says all that we need to hear. The parallel is almost unspoken. Just poetry in comics. This particular reader loved it.

The butterfly exists in the space between its wings as the bespectacled central character exists between the two arms of advertising billboards high in flight between the skyscrapers of a city..

The advertising is alive for mere moments in the eye of an observer as the life of a butterfly passes us by.

A book that sits in a pure moment. Existence portrayed as a fleeting moment of being.

It's a short book and in a small format.

It's layouts are simple and not much moves.

But then again it doesn't need to.

It’s well worth a look. I picked mine up at the London Comica Festival but you can get a copy through the creator’s website.

NIA.