Some Recent Aquisitions.

It’s been a busy Convention tabling month here and I’ve fallen behind a little on talking about some of the great books that I have bought and been given. So I thought I would do a few short round-ups of some of the sketchbooks I’ve got my hands on.

First up is something from Gustaffo Vargas.

I’ve only recently become a fan of this gentleman’s work after reviewing ‘L1MA’ during ‘Honest Review Month’ on here and dipping back into the Cyberpunk South American landscape he inhabits with the also excellent ‘Manu’. I genuinely think that Mr V will be a name on the front of a cracking Sci-Fi Image book in the next couple of years. He has a style that manages to bridge the line between Cyberpunk and Underground but has a mastery of form and physique. Full of imagination and twists that are fresh and surprising.  So when I saw this sketchbook on sale for just a measly £3.00 I jumped straight in. He sent it through just a couple of days later and included a great piece of original artwork for being the first order.

Buy yourself a copy over at https://gustaffovargas.bigcartel.com/product/gustaffo-vargas-sketchbook and follow this dude on Twitter @GustaffoVargas

Next up is ‘102: A Tribute to Jack Kirby’. This is a collection of art inspired by The King and the brainchild of prodigious comics maker Adam Falp.

Here’s how he describes it;

‘A 28 page A5 Art Book compiling tributes to The King of Comics. All proceeds are donated to The Kirby Museum. Featuring art from Russell Mark Olson, Lukasz Kowalczuk, Paul Harrison Davies, James Corcoran, Sandy Jarrell and many more’.

This is a cracking project and another one that I got straight to ordering when I heard about it. I’d also like to mention Tom Curry who did a cracking piece full of Kirby characters and Sarah Harris who used a combination of collage and line-work to create something really special. There’s also a great Kamandi double-pager from Adam himself.

Head over to https://goodfornothingcomics.bigcartel.com/product/102-a-tribut-to-jack-kirby and order your copy. You can also follow Adam Falp and his comics on Twitter @adamfalp

Next up is another offering from the always brilliant Darryl Thorpe (aka ‘Forpe’). Full disclosure that I own one of the pages from this and have it framed in the Comic Room, anyone who knows me can guess which one. This guy is a creator who operates on a combination of positive energy, originality and some wacky designs that have me comparing his work to a book like Head Lopper by Andrew MacLean or Rumble by John Arcudi and James Harren. Darryl’s work has an edgy energy that flies off the page and it was great to get this sketchbook of one page designs and homages through my door.

Find a copy over at https://www.deathbyheroism.com/products/forpe-sketchbook-preorder Or follow his ongoing webcomic for free at https://forpe.co.uk/erolvsevil

You can find this creator and follow him on Twitter @MrForpe

The King must be on the minds of the UK Small Press Scene at the moment because I also saw this from Jason Garrattley. I headed over to his website and ordered a copy based on the subject matter and the series of music and comic inspired zines I had seen from Jason over the last year or so. Jason describes this American Comics sized collection as follows at his Etsy shop.

‘A collection of digital collages and illustrations produced for the Jack Kirby blog - Kirby-Vision.’

The £5.00 cover price also contains a donation to the Jack Kirby Museum. 

Jason does the quirky and the cool with idiosyncratic ease and this is another book that you can spend your time on looking at images that are produced in various styles and techniques. Highly recommended.

Find this art book over at https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/732625418/kirby-vision and follow the creator on Twitter @JasonGarrattley

28 Page A5 Art Book compiling tributes to the King of Comics. All proceeds are donated to ThMe Kirby Museum. Featuring art from -

And finally here’s one that you need to put on your shopping list for Thoughtbubble. This is by my pod brother Vince Hunt and contains some cracking sketches and fully rendered pieces from this great artist. Vince is genuinely one of my favourite artists and especially when it comes to monsters and horror characters. I’ve had a peek inside this when he sent me the digital files and you will not be disappointed!

Head over to Table 93 in the Ask For Mercy Hall at the upcoming Thoughtbubble and grab your copy whilst stocks last. You can also find other examples of Vince’s work on Twitter @jesterdiablo and over on Instagram @jesterdiablo You can also pick up a copy of his ongoing series The Red Mask From Mars over at http://www.theredmaskfrommars.com/

Many thanks for reading!

T

Russell Mark Olsen 
Lukasz Kowalczuk 
Paul Harrison-Davies 
James Corcoran 
Sandy Jarrell

and many more!