Collaboration Nostalgia Part I

This week, my collaborator Daniel Clifford has been looking back on his past comics work and posted That Cool Robot, our first collaboration together and Daniel's first published work in the medium of comics. Here it is again in case you haven't seen it.

That Cool Robot featured in the Paper Jam Comics Collective's Science-fiction themed anthology Robots... And That. It marked the beginning of what historians are now calling the PJCC's Golden Age. I get the impression that Daniel looks on this as not his best work (and to be fair, amazing work followed), but I look back at this as our three minute pop song. The beats of the first three pages are repeated like a verse, bridge and chorus and the climax is somewhat abrupt. Maybe it's a punk song. Maybe the leather jacket makes it a 50s rock and roll number. Either way, the musical analogy sits well with me. It's short, sweet, fun and tragic. Daniel and I both played in bands and wrote songs before coming to comics, so the fact that our first comic was like a song is rather fitting.

Draw Everyday Part VI

This week's draw everyday update was completed at yesterday's event at Sunderland Library. Daniel and Lee were doing another of their superb comics workshops while I was promoting Sugar Glider to the young people of Sunderland. (follow that link, by the way, Daniel and Lee have been doing some awesome stuff lately.)We met comics fans new and old and everyone seemed really impressed with what we were doing. I really love doing these small events because it gives you the chance to really talk to people about the book, and they too seemed really interested in what we were doing. Also, we were pleased to see the vast range of genres within comics represented both by what people were reading and what was on the shelves in Sunderland's library. Finally, a place that doesn't put Maus on the same shelf as Mickey Mouse.

Anyway, here's the sketchbook page. Remember, no edits here, just rearranged on to an A4 portrait page. This is Susie Sullivan, but you may know her better as Sugar Glider.

Leeds Alt Comics Fair, Thought Bubble and Canny Comic Con

October, November and December were fun months due to each one taking in a comics event and inviting us along for the jaunt.


First up was the 3rd Leeds Alternative Comics Fair, an event that has cemented itself as one of my favourites because it's in a pub. It's also an intimate affair, deftly organised by Hugh 'Shug' Raine and Steve Tillotson. LACF offers a diverse cross section of the UK small press scene, based mainly in the north, but with guests from much further afield too. As a result, there's something for everyone and a chance to speak to all of the exhibitors, something that's just not possible at the bigger events. I was sharing a table with Andy Waugh and we had a lovely time in spite of freakishly high temperatures and sunny conditions keeping punters away from the venue. You can check out Hugh's photos from the event here.

This little Susie made her first appearance at LACF, and proved to be the most popular thing at the table. As I'm sure you'll remember, it was made by my sister from another mister, Scarlet Pyjamas for my birthday way back in May. Someone suggested, in jest or in a stroke of genius perhaps, that she should come free, Beano-style, with a copy of the comic. As only one is in existence, that may be a bit of a bother...


Back in Leeds for Thought Bubble in November, it was the festival's first outing as a two-dayer. I was going for the weekend, sharing with Andy on Saturday and Helen Entwisle on the Sunday. We had a great one, and struck a nice balance between good sales and meeting comics mates new and old. My Sugar Glider co-creator, Daniel Clifford was also at TB, launching his new venture, Art Heroes, which you should check out. Here's a photo of mine and Andy's work entertaining the troops.

The last event of the year was a new one, the Canny Comic Con is the first comics event that has taken place in Newcastle in over fifteen years, it is the only major comics event in the gap between Inverness and Leeds and it was an absolute pleasure to be at Newcastle City Library to sell our wares. There was an electric atmosphere, with a crowd representing a range of ages and backgrounds. For me it's always a pleasure to sell stuff in Newcastle as that's where all or most of my work is set. Newcastle is essential to Sugar Glider, so it makes sense to get into the Toon and talk to its denizens about their superhero. It wasn't intentional, but our latest title, Sugar Glider Stories 2, even has the new City Library on the front cover! If you want to see what it all looked like, head over here. If you want to hear some interviews with exhibitors and guests head over here. Sales on the day were excellent, but more importantly, we got the chance to speak to returning Sugar Glider fans. Thanks for taking the time to stop by guys! Also a massive thank you to Alex and Stace who organised this wondrous day is such an effortless manner. I'll leave you with a photo of me and Andy at our table.

All in all, it was a great run of events to finish up the year. Three very different cons, but all were essential and I left them all with a great buzz for making comics and I'm looking forward to the next event in 2012.


Hopefully see you then.

Sugar Glider 2 Cover

The wait is almost over. At the back of Sugar Glider #1, you may remember being teased with these questions...

Those questions are about to be answered, some in full, some in part, with Sugar Glider #2. We finished it yesterday and Daniel and I started tweeting about it, drumming up some interest. Before we knew it, we'd passed another milestone of fans of the Sugar Glider Facebook page, demanding we reveal the front cover. Here it is, if you missed it:

Slightly tweaked from the preview you saw in Sugar Glider Stories #1, with the addition of some watercolour in the background. What I thought would have been a fairly simple paint scan, cut and paste in Photoshop, turned out to be quite the arduous task. I won't go into the details, but I really feel that I learnt a lot from colouring this front cover, and indeed, the as yet unrevealed back cover.


I was really blown away by the responses, comments, retweets, and so forth across the social media we exist upon. Thanks a lot guys! Here's hoping you enjoy the innards as much as this humble cover.


Sugar Glider #1 and Sugar Glider Stories #1 are available at Daniel's shop. We're down to the last few copies, so get them while you can.


Sugar Glider #2 will be available in a couple of weeks.

Sugar Glider Stories Review at FPI

Richard Bruton over at Forbidden Planet International Blog is the lovely chap who reviewed Sugar Glider #1 back in February, for those of you who can't remember, that review is here.

On Friday, he reviewed SG's sister publication, Sugar Glider Stories, and said rather complementary things about Daniel's writing, "a good ear for dialogue", and my strip, which I wrote and drew, "a great four pager". The full review can be read here.

Overall, the purpose of an anthology expanding the universe of such a new book was questioned, but it's something we were aware of. It's my hope that SGS will be more of a slow burner, and some people may choose to read all three of the main title before coming to the anthologies to fill in some gaps. Personally, I wanted to expand on the motivations of the antagonists in Sugar Glider with my four page strip in SGS, which I think I achieved. Those kids have a clear purpose now, which wasn't always made evident in Sugar Glider. If you were intrigued, or just confused, and wanted more, then that's why Sugar Glider Stories exists.

Sugar Glider Stories is available here for three pounds plus p&p.

In other news, there's more fan art on the SG Facebook page! Go see! And badges! You want badges? Get some here.

More Fan Art & Sugar Glider #2 Progress Report

If you're not already a fan of Sugar Glider Comics on Facebook, then you should be. Forshame! One great reason to click the link and like our page, is because you'll then get to see the abundance of super-awesome fan art that Daniel and I have been collecting since Sugar Glider #1 came into the world last November.

The latest is by Dani Abram and perfectly captures the ethos of the character. I've said this before, but seeing new Sugar Glider fan art is one of my favourite things about making this comic. It is such a huge compliment and so sweet that real people take time out of their lives to draw a character we created. Thank you!

In other news, work is progressing on SG #2, with new character designs taking up the bulk of our time. The whole book, however, is written, broken down into funny little pictures and approximately one third pencilled out for reals. I'll keep you lot updated as and when. There probably won't be any exciting pictures for now, so do be patient until I start inking!

Anyway, I turn old tomorrow, so I'd best be off. Take care now.

Sugar Glider Stories

Sugar Glider Stories is now finished and on sale over the Interwebs at my humble Shop, and also at Daniel's shop. For those of you who missed the big reveal, here is the cover that, surprisingly enough, didn't kill me...

The book looks at the lives and events of characters other than Susie, and also sets the scene for further developments in the main title, which you folks will see in Sugar Glider #2, due for release in the Summer. Or thereabouts.


Sugar Glider Stories was edited and written by Daniel and myself, and features art from numerous small press legends, newcomers and passers-by: Martin Eden, Matthew Craig, Graham Pearce & Jim Cameron, Lee Grice, Andrew Waugh, Martin Newman & The Christian, Dan Gilmore, Simon Cavanagh, Kevin 'Gio' Logue, James Cornell and Ian Mayor. You can read interviews and rants with each of the creators at Daniel's new blog. I'll take this opportunity to offer profound thanks to each of the contributors, you've really done something special here, guys! There's also a couple of strips written by me and drawn by Daniel!


For those of you who want a physical copy and a conversation with my good self, you can come to the 2nd Leeds Alternative Comics Fair on Saturday 19th March, at A Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds and pick up a copy there.

A few things to mention...

After the First Leeds Alt Comics Fair, naturally enough will follow the Second Leeds Alt Comics Fair. Last September's event was on reflection, my favourite comics event of the year. These things are never down to sales, but this event seemed to balance quality banter and camaraderie with a consistent footfall of punters who were willing to take a gander at our work. The second event will take place on Saturday 19th March, and the Nord-est will be represented by myself and Andy Waugh.

Sugar Glider's debonaire scribe, Daniel Clifford and PJCC member Martin Newman were on the radio last night talking comics with BBC Tees' Bob Fischer. In between the highly pleasant tunes, Daniel and Martin talked anthologies, zombies and touched on the creative impulse behind Sugar Glider. You may listen again for a week after broadcast.


Daniel also has a new website for you to add to your bookmarks and RSS feeds, in which he will be revealing the full list of contributors to Sugar Glider Stories. Each contributor has been interviewed by The Sidekick Cast's host, Gavin Jones.


Oh, and if you're interested, Sugar Glider Stories will be out hopefully in time for Leeds Alternative Comics Fair.

Pre-Order Sugar Glider

Here it is, folks! The cover of Sugar Glider #1! Revealed at the weekend when we passed 85 'likes' on the Sugar Glider Facebook fan page, go there now and become a fan now if you haven't done so already! Also, as of today, you can pre-order a copy of Sugar Glider #1 in the Shop, head over there and take advantage of the free p&p which in this age of postal service barbarism is a shining light in the void. Speaking of which, my esteemed colleague and SG co-creator, Daniel Clifford gets himself interviewed on the Sidekick Blog and recounts the anecdotes of how a few misspent evenings typing 'sugar glider' into Youtube resulted into the most anticipated comic of the century.

Anyway, if you missed it first time round - YOU CAN PRE-ORDER SUGAR GLIDER! Unless you want to come to Thought Bubble on 20th November and talk to us and stuff.

More Sugar Glider Stuff

Is this the best panel I've ever drawn? Maybe. But enough of this conjecture, my esteemed colleague, Daniel Clifford has posted an analysis of the must-have comic of the year classic in waiting, Sugar Glider. He talks about some of the major themes and how the idea came to fruition, using much cleverer words than me. This will be a super amazing comic, and Daniel distills just how excited we are to get it out there.


Speaking of which, if you become a fan of Sugar Glider Comics on that Facebook, when we get to the milestone of 100 fans, one lucky duck will receive an advance PDF copy of the comic! How awesome? So awesome.

Onwards!

Oh yes.


Now that last weekend's frivolities are over, and laurels have been rested upon, I've been thinking about getting stuff ready for Thought Bubble in November. This year, I'll be launching two new titles, assuming I get either one of them finished. Both have been in the pipeline for a while, so I'm dead chuffed to be getting them out there. The above image is from Sugar Glider by me and Daniel Clifford. It's an adventure story and you'll love it intensely.


What's more, there's the eagerly awaited Show & Tell that was first mentioned by me and co-creator Andrew Waugh about a year ago. We were going to do it with a third contributor, making it a small press Cerberus-like showcase, but due to other commitments, only Andy and I could fully prioritise the book, so we're making it a two headed affair instead. Expect new stuff, unpublished old stuff and a short Nightbus story - the first in a good while, and the usual comics joys from Mr Waugh.


But, it's equally likely I'll do nowt between now and then.