Collaboration Nostalgia Part III

Here's another Collaboration from the Belle Epoque of the Paper Jam Comics Collective. This was once again with writer Iain Milne, and was based on a fantastic idea from writer Iain Milne. After we spoke about it, I ran with the concept and adapted it into what you see before you.

This was destined for the centre pages of History... And That, so I wanted to try something a little different. Well, maybe not that different in hindsight, but there was a sense of responsibility attached to drawing the centre pages, especially when it's specifically designated, rather than just left to the cruel justice of the page order. I'm not sure if the idea of the paintings telling a story like a comics page really comes across, but to be honest, it's secondary to the flavour of the illustration as a whole. We had a line of dialogue at the end, but I removed it in the final cut, as the 'paintings' seem to say it all.

Collaboration Nostalgia Part II

Before I worked with Daniel on That Cool Robot, I collaborated with Paper Jam Comics Collective member Iain Milne. This first of these was called The Wolf Wrestler and appeared in You will Have To Wait... And That.

The script went through a number of changes, and Iain was always open to changes and suggestions, it was great working with him, with the trust that I could tell a very visually static story in my own way. At the time I was reading a lot of Brian Michael Bendis comics. I loved the way he got a character telling a story to camera or a talking heads conversation look so visually interesting, regardless of whether he was drawing the scene or entrusting the art to someone else. I wanted to have a go at that. I'm not sure if every panel is successful, but the challenge was a lot of fun.

The intention we had was for the guy making the phone call to be calling in a hit on himself. He considered himself such a failure, to his wife, family, everyone, but we never go into why. We do know that he can't bring himself to kill himself, at least not directly, so he hires someone else to do the job. The twist is in the end with the mugger threatening him with his stanley knife. Does he save him the bother? Or is this confrontation with death for real enough to turn his life around?

I'm not sure it's entirely clear that the guy in the phonebox is hiring the hitman to target himself. I think people reading it at a glance may assume that the target is a third man, but to be honest, the comic reads well either way, with the conclusion still having a bit of poetic injustice to it.

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.

Make Mini Comics

We love Newcastle City Library. Largely because it's a place where you can get books and comics and that for free. But also because they let a bunch of like minded comics creators put on the first comics convention in Newcastle in sixteen years. A few of the people behind the Canny Comic Con are getting their comics on again and holding another event at the City Library.

This Saturday, Make Mini Comics day is happening. It's a day of comics making, starting off with a bit of theory in the form of a couple of talks from Paul Thompson and Ingi Jensson (who did the poster above). The two will no doubt have some gems of inspiration to get the creative juices flowing in time for the mini comics making workshops, which I assume are being lead by Cuttlefish. You can make your own comics on any theme you like, a song, a shopping list, a funny story, a half-heard conversation, the end of the world, a chance meeting or just a bunch of words and pictures.

The talks are from 11:45am-1:00pm and the workshops are from 1-5pm. You've got to book a place for the talks at the library or over the phone (0191 277 4100) and everything is free. Libraries are awesome.

There's more info here.

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair Round Up

If you haven't seen the abundance of reports on the Leeds Alt Comics Fair, then this is no different. Except probably not as well written.

I took the train down from the Toon with my esteemed colleague and associate Mr Andrew Waugh, and we met up with the Newcastle Comics scene's benevolent estranged uncle, Ben Clark.

Here's Ben at 12:09, shortly after ordering the first pint of the day. Yeah, that's right, we were selling comics in a bar, and Nation of Shopkeepers was a truly welcoming host, with plenty of space for our wares and fine eats and drinks. I stuck with tea. Earl Grey. Hot.

So good, I was mooved to have an udder.

Our hosts were Hugh 'Shug' Raine and Steve Tillotson, who were kind enough to hand pick the creme de la small press. Andy, Ben and I were proper chuffed to be invited and showered Steve and Hugh with plaudits during the course of the afternoon. Here's Hugh directing punters to his stand.

Our table was next to the highly talented Kristyna Baczynski who makes highly delightful comics, prints, illustratins and ephemera. I also had a chat with Manchester's comics Tsar, Adam Cadwell and the supercool Gareth Van Brookes, who's new comic had everyone in tears. Of joy. Presumably.

This was as perfect a comics fair as there can be, mint hosts, good crack from the punters, pleasant table neighbours, and we actually sold stuff at a small event. If anyone wants to know, the Paper Jam Comics Collective's latest anthology Art... and that was the most popular of our offerings. Thanks for keeping it small press, Leeds! See you at Thought Bubble.

ART... AND THAT Aftermath, Thought Bubble and Twitter

Hi fans, just a quick one this time round. If you haven't read the rest of the PJCC members' debriefs on the launch of Art... And That, then, Forshame! I will say that it was truly amazing, the DLI Gallery and Empty Shop are top establishments and peoples, so massive thank yous to you guys. Another huge cheers me dears to Andy Waugh who helped organise our end of things, largely by putting the anthology together. 


I'm sharing a table with Andy at Thought Bubble this year and if you go here, you'll see our handsome faces. Blogger tells me I'm getting some traffic from the TB site, so if you're here because if that, say hi. Thought Bubble is taking place on 20th November, and pretty much all of the PJCC will be there in some capacity.


Also, on Friday, I drunkenly joined Twitter. Needless to say, my username has been changed to something sensible, @GB_COMICS if you want sporadic comics updates.

ART... AND THAT Launch Party

The cultural event of the season is fast approaching, this Friday, at Durham Art Gallery, the Paper Jam Comics Collective will be launching their latest anthology, Art... and that. We've been specially commissioned by the wonderful Empty Shop Gallery to be a part of this überevent that promises to be a right treat. The cover's by me, the grunt work of compiling it is by my learned friend, Mr Andrew Waugh and the innards are by the rest of the group in their full awesomeness. Andy came to the last PJCC Comics Night with a couple of proper real hard copies and I was really impressed with the quality, so get over to Durham and have a gander. The whole deal's on the Empty Shop website.

100 not out

To celebrate my hundredth post, I'll not tell you about another artist's death, but show you the cover for Art... and that.

The latest anthology from the Paper Jam Comics Collective, of course, you'll already have seen this if you frequent the PJCC blog. I had a lot of bother with this one, I wanted a balance of Western, non-Western, male and female artists, but had to eliminate some (Tracey Emin and Takashi Murakami) purely because the images of their work I'd chosen just didn't fit with the composition. I did, however make a few last minute changes, including the Sigmar Polke piece as soon as I found out he'd died. Being a painting, I don't think it fits as well as the others, which are for the most part, sculptures. You can have a point for each of the artists, and a bonus point of you can name any of the art works (if applicable).

Art... and that will be released at the end of July.

History... and that

I've barely had time to exhale recently, let alone make any work, let alone blog about the lack of work, so let me appear smug as I tell you that I completed my submission for the new Paper Jam Comics Collective anthology, History... and that in no less that two days! Here's a preview.

Mint, eh? You can see more in a few weeks time when all the magic happens, and numerous scraps of paper become a weighty tome of comics joy.

Do take care now.

Takeover Over

For those of you in the know, you'll know I've been orchestrating the Paper Jam comics Collective's takeover of Dennis J Reinmüller's Tumble and Fall. For those of you not in the know, now you know. Our month and a bit is over, so we're retreating. If you fancy seeing my last strip, it's here, if you want to see the group's run, start here and, ah, you know how to work the Internet.

Normal service will resume shortly.

Tumbling and Falling and Taking Over

The PJCC will be outstaying their welcome over the Christmas Season at Dennis J Reinmüller's Tumble and Fall. There'll be mulled wine and mince pies and someone will get uncharacteristically over-familiar as a result of the aforementioned Glühwein.

I'll try to post something new twice a week. That seems fair, right?

In other news, Grainger Street is available in the Shop. I'd make a lovely gift for a loved one, or even an enemy. Seriously, try it, it'll confuse the hell out of them. So I'd place an order before the weekend, so I can guarantee your Christmas present arrives in time for the big day. No Guarantees. Merry Christmas.

What I should've posted all about last month

Right, glad this mobile blogging's all up and running, I've been meaning to sort this for a while, but chronic laziness and such do not frequent blog posts make. Furthermore, we've moved on from the days when the Paper Jam Comics Collective had a tiny, or non-existant web presence. Remeber to check all the members' indivdual blogs for a truer account of what's actually happening in north east comics.

Anyway, that's a cross promotional way of saying the major events I'm involved with are in the past, namely two book festivals and the unofficial launch of the new anthology. You can read about those elsewhere. Follow the links. I'll wait. And so to new stuff.

I think just about every member of the PJCC will be at Thought Bubble this year, and why not? The last one was proper mint. We'll have a load of new stuff on the table and pictures will follow in the coming weeks. Let the unwarrented anticipation begin!

In Other News...

So, during a comics night a few weeks ago, I did a Gentleman Ghost strip, in honour of one of the greatest fictional characters of recent times. You can view it at Jack Fallow's lovely blog.

I've also got an old 24 minute comic posted up on the Paper Jam Comics Collective's collective blog.

I will, that is, in the future, be doing a ... something, but I'm not sure if I can say what it is yet, so I'll just abandon this sentence while it still sounds a bit mysterious.

This week, Gary has been reading Fluffy by Simone Lia. He described it as joyous.

Paper Jam In Sunderland

I did a little write up for the Paper Jam Comics Collective on events of seven days ago, and here it be...



Last weekend was highly fun for the PJCC, what with the Sunderland Friendship Festival inviting group members Gary Bainbridge, Ben Clark, and Paul Thompson to host a stall in their Books Marquee.

You might be wondering, “Hang on, what’s my favourite North East based small press comics rag tag band of hangers on doing at that Kite Festival thing?”

Equally, you might not be wondering that, but let’s run with it anyway. The old Kite Festival’s now the Friendship Festival, basically a family orientated get together, with two music tents, activities for kids, poetry readings, fairground stuff, proper mint kites, and now, us lot.

We were asked to be a part of the Books Marquee and flog some comics alongside other North East publishers. We've wanted to find a new non-comics audience for a while now and this was an opportunity to do so. We made a canny few sales of the new anthology Robots… and that and the group’s numerous individual titles.

Our new best mate, Leonie O’Moore, was also there, organising highly enjoyable workshops for kids and adults, which went down really well. We had loads of chats with some interesting and talented people, and watched the kites in the sun.

Anyone up for coming next year?

The Shop

If you want to exchange currency in order to own a copy of a comic made by me, now you can. Click on the picture across on the sidebar, peruse what's on offer and in a few clicks and a day or so, you can have your own folded and stapled wonder. Make haste!

In other news, I'll be making an appearance at the Friendship Festival in Sunderland on 4th and 5th of July. I'll be joined by other representatives of the Paper Jam Comics Collective and Mallard Small Press. Do come along and say hello.

Robots, Stars & Squares

There won't really be any order to this, so bear with me. Nightbus #01 is back in stock! Go down to the shop and get your good selves a copy now. Or soon. Put don't put it off too much. Carpe that diem.

The fifth anthology from Paper Jam Comics is called Robots... and that. It's so good it will make you break down and weep like a child. The launch party was fantastic, a new venue, the Star and Shadow Cinema afforded us the opportunity to show films and cram a load more people in than on previous occasions. There were new bands, well, different bands, and a new name for Jack's band. Daniel is the frontman for Squares who headlined the event, and we collaborated on a wee comic for Robots... which is previewed above. Previewed is a bit inappropriate, as the whole anthology has already been viewed by folk for about a week now. Daniel is a very talented writer and you should read his blog which also has a few entries on our creative process.

I urge you, if you haven't already, to go to the Squares myspace or facebook and befriend them. Whatever that means. Stalk them, that will be a far more constructive use of your time.

Hmmm... lots of links there. Speaking of which I've updated the links bit at the sidebar. Do enjoy yourself. I'll be back when I think of more stuff to write.

The weekend...

...was a bit up and down for me. A wonderful sunny Sunday spent selling comics at the Cumberland Arms. Bit o' Class. However, the room we were in was cold and dark and miserable. Boo! However, there was a really good atmosphere around our table. Yay! But it didn't really yield many sales. Rubbish! Then I went home. Woo-hoo! Then I made a couple of sales without even being there. Oh, misery!

Or something like that. What the event showed was a dramatic gap in my defences, people don't like comics, or at least, they don't seem to buy them; they do like free stuff and postcards, so perhaps that's where I should concentrate some of my efforts. So I've got plenty of stuff to get on with over Easter. Expect more updates with pictures, but the same constant air of disappointment.

Andy has some photos and better analysis.

All the kool kids are talking about it

Yes, that was indeed a kool with a k. Like Kool in the Gang. It's post-post ironic. Or something of that nature.

If you want, nay need, a place on the Interweb for updates about "...And That" anthology releases and indeed, their always wonderful launch parties. Aaaand a home for info on how to get involved with the Newcastle Comics Nights, held at Travelling Man where we eat, draw and make merry, then stop reading this and read the Paper Jam Comics blog for you shall not regret it.

Good day.