Latest Shenanigans.

Well now, since it's been six months since I posted anything on my blog, I best get on with some sort of update, eh?

Firstly, the British Showcase Anthology doesn't seem to be going ahead after all, so it looks like Meals on Wheels (Art by Tony Suleri and John Kirkham) won't be appearing in that one (though it'll probably appear in issue 10 of 100% Biodegradable).

Also, Indie Comics Quarterly, who were set to publish Living The Dream (art by Tony Suleri and John Kirkham), have been very quiet over the past 6 months, so I'm guessing it won't be appearing in their anthology any time soon (on the plus side, it'll be published in 100% Biodegradable issue 9, due out next month).

The good news is The Psychedelic Journal Of Time Travel is out now, featuring Everlasting Peace by myself, Tony Suleri and Ken Reynolds. 

You can find out more here:  http://thepsychedelicjournal.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/issue-5-is-live.html

Another project which is close to putting in an appearance is Mad Gods and Monkey Men, (by myself, Tony Suleri, John Kirkham and Ken Reynolds) for the upcoming Shit Flingers anthology. 

These medieval swashbuckling supernatural simians were created by Jimmy Furlong and Andrew Hartmann.  The Kickstarter will be coming soon, but for now you can check out some of the amazing art from a whole host of talented creators here:

http://shitflingers.tumblr.com

Slightly further on the horizon, I've had two strips accepted for the Steampunk Originals anthology (issues 7 and 8) from Arcana.  Since they've yet to publish issue 3 it might be a while before they appear, so here's a few panels from the strips in the meantime.

Time Waits by David Hailwood, Gary O' Donnell, Anne-Marie Woolley and Ken Reynolds

I'm also co-writing quite a few projects with John Freeman for his WarWorldz project (more on that at a later date), and editing my quarterly sci-fi comics anthology, 100% Biodegradable which is approaching its 9th issue.

So, rather busy then!

Other projects I'm working on.

So, as well as putting out plenty of my own comics, I've been submitting strips all over the bally shop!

I'm currently working on a ten pager (Mad Gods and Monkey Men) with Tony Suleri for Jimmy Furlong and Andrew Hartmann's delicately titled 'Shit Flingers' anthology.  The script has been accepted, and the art is in progress.  There's a hell of a lot of amazing creators involved in this whopper of an anthology (which involves swashbuckling supernatural simian shenanigans), so check out their Facebook page and give 'em a like.  With Tony having illustrated probably over 1,000 pages worth of monkey related carnage over the course of his comics career, he seemed a very natural choice to join the artists on this one!

They're still on the lookout for writers and artists, so if you're interested in getting involved, get in touch with Jimmy Furlong asap!

Artwork (c) Andrew Hartmann

I've also had a 'Meals On Wheels' strip accepted into issue 2 of Markosia's upcoming British Showcase Anthology (subject to approval of final coloured artwork), also illustrated by Tony Suleri.  There's still a day or so left to get in a script submission to editor Adam Cheal, if anyone fancies doing so.  Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Next years issue of The Psychedelic Journal Of Time Travel will also be featuring a four page strip from myself and Tony (subject to artistic approval), titled Everlasting Peace.  It's a brilliant anthology full of highly entertaining strips, so it's great to be a part of it.  My first draft of Everlasting Peace was initially rejected for 'Hippy bashing and overuse of quiche' which is a fact that I'm uncommonly proud of.

I'm also doing a few odds and ends for a couple of anthologies that Paul Birch is editing (which I'll mention more about when they're closer to release), and am currently working on a submission for Titan comics Lost In Space competition, to be illustrated by...Tony Suleri! (a huge surprise, I know...)

There's plenty more writing projects on the horizon, but I'm sure I've probably bored my one entire reader to tears by now so I'll mention them another time. 

Right, let's get back to the joys of lettering!

Work In Progress - the self published stuff

Since I'm involved in rather a lot of projects at the moment and we're at the mid-point of the year, I thought it was probably about time that I started mentioning a few of them on this blog.  I'll probably split this into several posts as there's so damn many of them, so let's get started with the self published comic stuff!

As well as putting out the bi-monthly sci-fi anthology 100% Biodegradable, which is gearing up for its fifth issue, I'm also working on a few one shots and mini-series with Tony Suleri.

We're just putting the finishing touches to the Highway Robbery anthology, which will be a 46 page full colour landscape orientated digital anthology, featuring simian bounty hunter Pubba Gintaro as he squares off against carnivorous bovine Elvis impersonator...King Burger!

The comic also features an eight page 'Faceless' backup strip illustrated by Dave Thomson, involving a headless psychotic robotic assassin with a liking for cartoons and chocolate bars (except Toblerone.  He's not too fond of that)

I'm also working with Tony Suleri on a one-shot Marren Kane comic, titled 'Matters Of The Heart'.  The artwork has been coloured and completed, and I just need to letter it all (whilst coming up with the script at the same time, since Marren Kane is always completely unscripted). 

It'll be nice to get this one finally out there, as the first nine pages were given out as a freebie at BICS in 2008.  The mighty Tim Perkins of Wizard's Keep even provided a few Marren Kane sketches for people who visited the Bulletproof comics stand (Marren was originally geared up to become Bulletproof comics flagship character, but unfortunately due to a change of editorial priorities the comic folded after issue 2.  Marren now appears regularly in a series of self contained adventures in the 100% Biodegradable anthology, which can be purchased here).  

(Photo of the marvellous Tim Perkins in action, by Lew Stringer)

Technofear is another large project with Tony Suleri that's been in the works for quite a while.  We self published issue 1 (of 3) probably ten or so years ago, and Tony has been patiently slogging away at parts 2 and 3 between his many other projects.  Part 2 is now completed, and once 3 is underway we shall look into relaunching the comic as a digital title.  The series features ape bounty hunter Pubba Gintaro as he undertakes a mission to bring a deadly Technomancer to justice, and comes up against zombies, cybernetic vampires, a bigoted police force and a whole host of lethal technology that's out to kill him.

Me and Tony are also working on a kung-fu zombie mini series; I'll mention a bit more about it when we're further into the project (the artwork for part one is almost finished, but I still have to write scripts for parts two and three).  For now, here's a teaser image.

Biodegradable Issue 4 Out Now!

Issue 4 of 100% Biodegradable - the digital comic anthology that I edit and contribute to - is now available to buy on both Comicsy and Drivethru for just 69p/$0.99.
It features hard boiled detectives, high speed car chases, brain harvesting aliens, adulterous martians and more!

With contributions from Jim Alexander (Judge Dredd, 2000ad, Planet Jimbot), Jon Haward (Judge Dredd, 2000ad, Tales Of The Buddha), Nigel Dobbyn (2000ad, Sonic The Comic, The Beano), Stewart Moore (Futurequake, Tin Man Games, The Solomon Kane film), Tony Suleri (Slumdroids, Cosmogenesis), Simon Mackie (The Temple Showcase, Satyr, Hallowscream), Paul H. Birch, Mats Engesten, Mike Parsons and David Hailwood.

The fantastic cover illustration was provided by Stewart Moore (with design elements by Assistant Editor, John Kirkham).

Issue 2 has also just become available to buy on Comixology (featuring Guided View mode for better viewing on Mobile Phones). 

If there's any talented artists and writers who fancy contributing to this bi-monthly anthology, then please get in touch at: biomekazoik@gmail.com

Temple Issue 16 Out Now!

Featuring a great B-Movie inspired cover from Ben Peter Johnson, the latest issue of the Temple Comic Showcase is available to download now.

The comic contains contributions from various Biodegradable regulars, such as Simon Mackie, Tony Suleri and Dave Hailwood, and is completely free (as are all the previous issues) and available from the following link:

 

http://www.comicsy.co.uk/templeapa/store/products/temple-apa-issue-16/

It's a great place for people who're looking to break into comics and want to get some of their strips out to an audience (some of the issues have been viewed by over a quarter of a million people!), so if you're interested in contributing to the next issue, pop along to the blog and follow the guidelines at the top:  http://templeapa.blogspot.co.uk/

The next deadline is 8th August, so get stuck in!

Biodegradable Issue 3

Issue 3 of the bi-monthly sci-fi digital comic anthology '100% Biodegradable', which I edit and write for, is out now!

Deep sea divers, deadly supernatural hell hounds, loved up aliens, and lashings of wondrous carnage and mayhem!

The comic is 30 pages, B/W and colour, featuring strips by Tony Suleri (Scar Comics, Futurequake), Mark Bertolini (Markosia, FUBAR Press) Carl Yonder (Action Lab Comics, Comixtribe) Dave Hailwood (Toxic, Strip Magazine), Dave Thomson (Strip Magazine, Dr WTF?) Simon Mackie, Mike Parsons and Denis Vermesse (cover by Carl Yonder, with design work by Assistant Editor John Kirkham)

All three issues of 100% Biodegradable were recently reviewed on the comic website A Place To Hang Your Cape and received an overall score of 8/10.  The reviewer, Robert Wallis, said a lot of positive things about the comics, and concluded with "Hailwood is a great economical storyteller and the artwork is consistently impressive. The standout story, however, comes in Issue 3: the images conjured up by Denis Vermesse “Life & Death” bring to mind Neil Gaiman‘s Sandman. The series is close to becoming a more-than reliable brand, and with, perhaps, a few more risks, it could be magnificent"

 So if you've got 69p/99 cents to spare, then please grab yourself a copy from DriveThru Comics or Comicsy

100% Biodegradable 2 Now Available!

100% Biodegradable Issue 2 is now available to buy from Drivethru comics and Comicsy, at the ridiculously affordable price of 69p/$0.99. 

Issue 2 of the digital sci-fi anthology features work by Tony Suleri, Stuart Giddings, Simon Mackie, Dave Thomson, Mike Parsons, David Hailwood, Paul Harrison-Davies and Neil Alexander.

Wise cracking one-eyed mutants…dissectable clones…vengeful photocopiers from outer space and gay aliens in love…oh my, yes, there’s a little something for everybody! 

We've got a lot of great work coming up, with contributions from regulars, newcomers and seasoned pro's alike.  So stay tuned, and keep an eye out for issue 3 which will be available mid-March. 

https://www.facebook.com/biodegradablecomic

'Maintains the quality, with truly knockout art from Tony Suleri and wonderfully funny stuff from Dave Hailwood and Stu Giddings' - John Freeman, Down The Tubes.

Temple 10 Out Now!

Coming to you in Terrifying 2D is the latest B-Movie themed showcase of the Temple APA.

Free to download, and containing 60 pages of comic strips and pin-ups from the likes of Tony Suleri, Tim West, Greg Meldrum and Paul Eldridge, the issue is well worth a gander.

So, hop along to the Temple's new blog site and download it now:

Temple APA Blog

If you're a comic artist or writer who's interested in contributing to the next issue, then please let me or Malcolm Kirk know.

Way Of The Dead

A brief taster of me and Tony Suleri's next project; a three issue Kung-fu Zombie mini-series titled 'Way Of The Dead'.

If all goes well (finding a publisher would be a start!), we plan to follow it up with five more mini-series.

Cover image supplied by the ever amazing Stu Smith.

Keep your eyes peeled for more designs and updates as the project progresses.

Highway Robbery Complete!

Highway Robbery, the ‘almost weekly’ web comic from myself and Tony Suleri was finally completed last week.

The strip was started in June last year, and had been expected to end in December with page thirty, but Tony couldn’t resist throwing in a couple of extra pages for dramatic effect. Due to various other strips Tony found himself working on (including Reaper for the upcoming issue of Futurequake), fitting the final seven pages into his schedule has been a challenge, but it’s all done now!
It’s been a fun strip to work on, especially since there’s no actual script and neither of us had a clue what was going to happen from one page to the next. I was quite surprised that the end result actually seems to make sense (alright, there’s a few potential plot holes lurking beneath the surface, and the occasional page that has no real bearing on the story, but I won’t go into them in case no-one’s noticed and we’ve got away with it!).

Hopefully the last seven pages will appear on the Bulletproof website soon, so keep an eye out for them.
Myself and Tony are all set to embark on our next project (with the generous assistance of Stu Smith - the original creator of King Burger - as cover artist) which’ll be a lot more sizable, and although it won’t have any gun-totting monkeys or bovine Elvis impersonators in it, it’ll certainly have its fair share of kung-fu zombies.

Watch this space for more details!