BAM incoming!

Please excuse me for a moment of self promotion - more reviews of other people's much better comics will follow shortly.

BAM is back and I'll be tabling next to my podcast brother Vince Hunt. This is a cracking Small Press Comics and art centric event run by the locals creators and fans.

I'll have a variety of my comics on the table for you to buy from the sordid to the adventurous to the all ages kids section (yes folks I do children's comics as well - hard to believe I know). So I thought I would give you a little rundown of what will be available.

The Spark issue 1.

This is the new ongoing comics magazine from Fair Spark Books and one that I have co-edited with Aaron Rackley and also have a strip in the back with Vince Hunt called 'Monster Spotters Club'. The magazine is full of science fiction action and scary monsters and we are hard at work on issue two as I type. In the grand old tradition of British comics we have a host in the form of the mighty Springworth from Andy Hanks. 

This comic makes an ideal addition to a kid's Christmas presents and will occupy they for ruddy hours! Worth every penny at the price of £3.50!

Find your copy right here https://www.thesparkmag.co.uk/issue-1

Look he's back!

Making Comics with Springworth is a comics and activity book written by myself and gorgeously drawn and coloured by one of the best artists out there Andy Hanks. This is proving to be quite a hit and provides superhero and monster fighting action for kids and allows them to join in to colour and design costumes/creatures and explosions!

Ideal for bored kids in the back of cars! This'll shut them right up! 

Buy your copy here https://fairsparkbooks.co.uk/product/how-to-make-comics-with-springworth

https://fairsparkbooks.co.uk/product/how-to-make-comics-with-springworth

Just £3.50.

Now...……..

Prepare to get a bit dark.

'The Whore Chronicles' issue 1.

(Cover design by Vince Hunt).

Are you tired with the cliché driven images in our media of what prostitutes look like and behave like? I began to get annoyed with the glamorous lives that they never live being put on my tv screens and comics pages so I created this to show the truth.

Written by me with art by Vince Hunt, Rachael Ball, Sarah Harris, Charles Raymond, Rik Jackson, Tom Curry and Stuart Mulrain this is a comic and prose collection that is not for the sensitive. 

It won't be available forever. Get yours here https://neverironanything.bigcartel.com/product/the-whore-chronicles-physical-copy 

Reader Beware.

'Cyn'

This is a fun little zine that I did with Matt 'Block Rockin' Beats' Harrower earlier this year. It's a nostalgic look at the movies of the nineties with a short samurai strip written by me with art by Mr H.

I'll be selling it for a single pound or you'll get a free one with any other purchase.

If you're after an unbeatable Christmas deal then you have come to the right place! Vince will be on hand selling issues 1 - 4 of the Awesome Comics anthology for just £5!!!!

Featuring stories that are full of grindhouse action from Vince Hunt, Daniel Marc Chant, myself, Nick Prolix and the death defying Dan Butcher this is dripping in cool indie comics horror action if I do say so myself!

If you can't make it to the event then hop over to https://awesomecomicpod.bigcartel.com/

before they all sell out!

BAM is shaping up to be another top event and keep your eye out on here for more announcements.

Many thanks for reading.

Couple more comics to look out for @Thoughtbubble.

Hey all. 

As promised here are a few more books to look out for at the upcoming Thoughtbubble Comics Festival this weekend in Harrogate. It seems like it's been a great year for experimentation and stretching the medium and here are three great examples of that advancement and worthy of your attention in my humble opinion.

First up is the second offering of my old mucka's new beatnik/comics/poetry/jazz/abstract fusion series.

Oh Yes!

'PANNONICA' issue 2 by Nick Prolix is fresh off the printing press and is another series of images, instructions, musings and jamming on comics and more. (It also contains a nod to Wally Wood.)  A book that will twist your melon and yet also leave you somewhat inspired to create. I reviewed issue #1 here http://neverironanything.blogspot.com/2019/10/a-few-thoughts-on-pannonica-by-nick.html and this is a glorious second album!

'What straight lines,

You can freehand,

In the paddock'

Find Nick in the Ask For Mercy Hall or visit his website here

http://nickprolix.com/

And follow him on Twitter @nickprolix

'Park Bench    Kensington' by Peony Gent.

You know how it is when you work with someone and you don't realise how both of you are creators (of comics). During a lull at the recent MCM myself and Peony began talking about the comics we have been making and I handed her a copy of my recent book. She in turn gifted me this absolutely marvelous hand-crafted account of an interaction she had with a lonely and weary man whilst sat on a park bench. He told her about his life and his need to return home.

Peony returned to her more local home and created a comic from this brief but poignant conversation. It has an abstract truth about the story and a total veracity to the dialogue. I talked with Vince and Dan about it on the next Awesome Comics Podcast so have a listen next Monday for a more detailed dissection.

Peony will be at Table 131 in the Ask For Mercy Hall and you can also find her work online at http://www.peonygent.com/ and on Twitter @peonygent

Death Inc Book 3 from Charles H Raymond.

Charles and I are old pals and I finally got a chance to work with him on a comic project recently. His creator owned project Death Inc is an ongoing multi-leveled existentialist horror/fantasy series that has now reached an impressive and triumphant volume 3 (and just in time for Thoughtbubble!)

This is a series full of idiosyncratic twists and turns and deep black and white artwork that so suits the tone and story. Pop over and see the hardest working man in comics at Table 197a in the Ask For Mercy Hall.

You can also find this creator online and buy his books at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/NotsotinyComics?ref=s2-header-shopname 

and follow him on Twitter @not_so_tiny

I'll be at the Nobrow Table in the Ask For Mercy Hall (102-103) and you can find Vince at the Awesome Comics Podcast table in the same hall at table 93A. If you fancy showing us your new books and can't make it you can also find us on Twitter @theawesomepod or listen to upcoming episodes here http://awesomecomics.podbean.com/

Look for these outstanding deals!

Many thanks for reading!

Thoughtbubble Nobrow Signings!

This weekend is apparently Thoughtbubble? 

Had you heard? 

I'll be there with the Nobrow and Flying Eye table in the Ask For Mercy Hall Table 102-103. We'll have a few exclusive pins and tote bags as well as our usual selection of excellent books.

We'll also have a couple of signings that you won't want to miss.

First Up.

Luke Healy.

Saturday 1 - 2pm at the Nobrow Table.

Luke put himself through five months of grueling all weather hiking to bring you this outstanding graphic novel. It tells a tale of him walking the Pacific Crest Trail up one side of America and is at once hilarious, educational, inspirational, personal and might on an odd occasion make you wince. Pop over to grab a book and get it signed and sketched in and have a good chat.

On the Sunday - Luke Pearson - 1 - 2pm.

There isn't a person out there who doesn't love Hilda and reading about her adventures. Luke will be spending some time on the Sunday signing the books and chatting to fans. I dare you to ask him why our hero has blue hair.

I'll be there all weekend and looking forward to meeting with readers of this blog and listeners to The Awesome Comics Podcast.

Make sure you say hi!

Many thanks for reading.

Did Someone Say Wood Man Badges?

There are a few left and they’ll be available for purchase at the Nobrow and Flying Eye table at Thoughtbubble.

(Ask For Mercy Hall Tables 101-102).

We’ll also have all manner of other goodies and a few signings!

Watch this space.

In Preview - ‘Spookids’ issue 1 from Marc Jackson.

‘Spookids’ issue 1.

Created by Marc Jackson.

Published by Weirdo Comics.

24 pages - Full Colour - £5.00

Here’s what Marc has to say about this new release on his website.

‘Join Nellie, Bud and Eric the “SPOOKIDS” on a weird and wonderful caper in the new 4-issue mini-series starting in November. When Eric’s latest invention goes haywire, things start to get strange in their hometown leading them into a world of weirdness! What is a “Brain-hat” who is “Fred Danson” and just what is going on will all be revealed over the next few months!

Fans of 1980’s cartoons, Stranger Things, Scooby Doo and Peanuts will love this sci-fi/monster comic, that is suitable for ages 8+’

The Review - This book will be getting a release at Thoughtbubble in a few short days and you can find Marc in The Pride Hall at Table 33.

Over the last year or so I’ve had the chance to meet up with Marc and chat about comics. As well as being a really busy creator he’s also one of the organisers of MACCPOW - the Macclesfield Community Comics Art Festival that I was lucky enough to attend. He has a really striking and original all-ages style of comics art and writing that is immediately recognisable on a page. This style is assured and honed and has a hilarious energy.

‘Spookids’ is what us old folks used to call a ‘mini series’ and also has echoes of an age gone by within it’s storyline and tone. It also has that irreverence that we know well from good kids comics. It is the sort of comic that is so full of dangerous antics that make it a gem for a kid to read and giggle from the back seat of the car on a long drive. (Editor’s Note - experimenting on your friend’s brain is not recommended!)

‘Just one of Eric’s dumb experiments that almost killed me.’

The characters never sit still and even when just chatting are full of motion and activity. They don’t stagnate in front of computers or stare at smart phones they run about and have adventures. (Another good idea to set it in the eighties). The kids head into the woods or argue animatedly about ‘Nerd Stuff’. The comic also ends on a fun twist that makes you look for that next issue.

I have a few reservations about the colouring and layouts. For a style so dynamic and bouncy I feel it was a mistake to go with the two colour panels and to stick over and over again with the page layouts of three horizontal panels. For me this became a little bit of a labour to read each page and sucked some energy from the art. Marc’s line-work and character designs are so kinetic that a full colour job would have worked much better. A good example of what I mean is the final page big reveal is considerably dulled down and the impact lessened by having a solid grey across the page and little spots of orange. The possibilities to go nuts here are completely lost.

You can find Marc on Twitter @MARCmakescomics and buy his comics over at https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Marcmakescomics

On Saturday at Thoughtbubble Marc will also be running a couple of workshops. (See below for full details).

Many thanks for reading.

Some Comics to Look Out For at Thoughtbubble 2019.

Morning chums. I thought I would take a look at some of the books I think are well worth looking out for at Thoughtbubble 2019.

There’ll be more so watch this space.

‘The Bones Of The Sea’ by Gareth Hopkins.

Anyone who reads this blog knows that I am a fan of this creators work. He mixes the abstract with the magical and dark with some autobiographical musings (on occasion).

This is a book that combines the honest momentary thoughts of Gareth as he goes about his daily life with the poetry of some underwater gothic fantasy. An underwater battle between a Blue Whale and a Giant Squid rubs shoulders with X-Men comics and ham sandwiches. Gareth combines the truth of his life with the beauty and often bleakness of the abstract. 

The art in this new release is dense and swirling and hypnotic and I cannot recommend it enough.

Find out more about the work of Mr Hopkins by visiting http://www.grthink.com/and finding him on Twitter @grthink You can buy this upon release over at https://grthink.bigcartel.com/

Gareth will be found at Table 170 in the Ask For Mercy Hall.

Next up is ....

‘Sticky Ribs’ issue 2 by Dan White.

I absolutely loved the first issue in this series when I read it earlier this year and this is more of the same. Dan has a style that at first glance you may be forgiven for thinking is for kids but when you search further you realise quite how wonderfully fucked up his imagination and comics really are!

This issue is comprised of two stories. ‘Last Summer’ and ‘Christmas With Bunty’. The first story will suck you in with a ‘Lord of the Flies’/‘Where the Wild Things Are’ vibe and then twist your preconceptions and get you thinking much more about where and why this is all happening.

‘Christmas With Bunty’ is a text story with some great illustrations and you also get a piece on ‘Ghostwatch’ and the effect it had on Dan as a young man.

Once again this is highly recommended and you can find Dan in the Originals Hall at Table 16.

You can also find him on Twitter @thebeastmustdie and at his website https://milkthecat.blog/

‘Bell Time’ by David Robertson.

This is the story of Lenny. A school kid who upon the sounding of a bell is thrown into his own future and discovers that he now works as the librarian at his own school. Times have changed and the techniques of teaching and the marshalling of teenagers in the classroom have also been brought up to date with all the complications of the modern world. Whilst Lenny initially feels out of his depth we soon see him getting a grasp on what he might be able to achieve.

This book is absolutely as fun as it sounds and manages to cross all those great school comics and tv series we remember with the world of time travel. David has a simple and iconically British style and he understands how a comic should flow. 

Highly recommended.

You can find David in the Ask For Mercy Hall at Table 214. 

You can also find David on Twitter @FredEggComics and at his website http://fredeggcomics.blogspot.com/

‘Endswell’ Issue 2 by Peter Morey.

This is the second issue in the semi-autobiographical story of Peter and his family. It centres on a farm bought by his grandmother and the shenanigans when she takes in a whole army of dogs and a rather suspicious younger man.

The second issue came out a couple of months ago and focuses on the story of a couple of the dogs, much of it from their own point of view. This is a series that is at once a little funny, a little tragic and a little quirky. I’ve enjoyed both these issues and look forward to more from this up and coming creator.

Highly recommended.

You can find Peter in the ComiXology Hall at Table 174.

You can find him on twitter @PM_Illustration and at his website https://www.petermorey.com/(I also got a crafty and rather blue pull quote on the new issue).

‘Manu’ by Gustaffo Vargas.

This is the real deal. I did a deeper dive on the blog more recently and you can have a read of it here http://neverironanything.blogspot.com/2019/10/in-preview-manu-by-gustaffo-vargas.html

I’ve been mentioning this creator quite a few times recently and really think he’ll be the next creator to jump from the small press to the mainstream with his confident line and ability to draw pretty much anything from future cyberpunks to barbarians to jungle leopards. Get on this ship before these become collectors items.

Find Mr V in the ComiXology Hall at Table 154A.

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

Many thanks for reading.

Rozi Hathaway and something you need to read.

I have just read a new comic by the always insightful Rozi Hathaway. This is a story that will be going live on the Good Comics Blog here https://www.goodcomics.co.uk/at lunchtime today.

I have just read it more than once.

I am also more than a little broken by the emotion on show and the beauty in which Rozi portrays some moments that are true and raw and part of her life. The comic has an autobiographical elegance but lays everything out there for others to learn from and experience.

It is the best thing, in my humble opinion, that I have read of hers and I am more than a little moved by the story, the words and the art. This is what comics can do folks!

I’m not going to say much more than the fact that you really need to see it.

Follow Rozi on Twitter @angelsallfire and head over to her site http://rozihathaway.com

I have something in my eye.....

Many thanks for reading.