Thought Bubble 2014

I'll be appearing at Thought Bubble in Leeds once again. The convention this year is held on the 15th and 16th November and I'll be propping up the table in the New Dock Hall with my esteemed colleague, Andrew Waugh.

I'll have the usual stuff; Nightbus, Sugar Glider and a few odds and ends. Maybe even a few prints. Maybe. See you there.

A Bit of a Review of the Year 2012

I know it's late, but I don't want to get into the habit of just missing out the even numbered years. Nevertheless, let's look back at 2012, the Year I promised would be the Year of the Trilogy. Which it wasn't. But it was too.

I started off with the foolhardy notion that I could draw something everyday and blog about on a weekly basis. I did a total of nineteen Draw Everyday posts. Which is pitiful. I reckon I might give it another go. The pressure of having to blog something was a good motivator, but also a hinderance, in that I got hung up with having something ready for public consumption. Bottom line is, people are glad to see anything, and with Twitter and Instagram, those are probably the best places for such updates.

While I was waiting for the Sugar Glider 3 script from Daniel, I went to see The Artist at the cinema. There's a scene within a scene where one of the characters reminded me of Don Quixote from Sugar Glider 2, and after looking at the film's poster, an idea was set in motion that resulted in the most popular post of 2012 on the blog, and also the idea of promoting the free web serialisation of Sugar Glider with DVD box-esque posters. We quickly decided to do posters for the main title based on some of our favourite independent films, some of which related to the content and themes of the books. Then we thought it would be hilarious to parody more schmaltzy, sentimental romantic comedies for the two Sugar Glider Stories books to reflect their ensemble cast.

In February, there was still no sign of the SG3 script, but this little lady made an appearance, courtesy of Laura Swaddle.

March was spent mostly building up for the fourth Leeds Alt Comics Fair which took place in April. It's consistently one of the best comics events I've attended. I had time to work on a small mini comic called Column, about my thoughts on public art. I was going to do a larger and longer version if there was any interest, but I think it served more as an incentive or reward for people buying more than one comic. Here's my poster again, I was dead chuffed with it.

The merry merry month of May is home to my birthday, so not a lot of comics work going on there. However, I did find time to work on Nightbus 3, which at this point was pretty much simply called Nightbus. The lack of numeration was a conscious decision to not put off people who may think they were missing out on one and two, but simultaneously, could have been confused as an issue one. Comics, eh? Interestingly, a few people have said that it works as a starting point as well as an ending. I'm pleased to have created something that ends, not on a bang, but a full stop and an ellipsis.

In August, I went to the City of Lights to be proper romantic on mine and my wife's second anniversary (naturally), track down some BDs (success), capture a giant Totoro (he escaped), visit the Robert Crumb Retrospective (extensive) and cross the canal Saint-Martin and la Seine a few times (#riverfans). I adore Paris and love that they take comics seriously there, without question, clarification or defensiveness. I got the new Lewis Trondheim book for Christmas. It is an absolute joy. I'm going to write a comic in French. It'll be mint.

About a week later, I was at the Carlisle Megacon, another small to medium event that was lots of fun to attend. Sales weren't great, but I think this is the first of its kind in the area, so hopefully word of mouth will ensure a greater footfall next year.

Nightbus launched online in October, in time for Thought Bubble and the Canny Comic Con. It's been met with positive reviews and good sales so far. I'm really pleased with the book and the series as a whole. You can see a great leap forward from the first 'snapshot' to this one. I feel that my writing, really came into its own here, both in terms of visual storytelling, dialogue and story. It's something I've been looking forward to getting back to for so long. Leaving a trilogy unfinished is poor form, so I was glad to get back to those characters even if it was just to give them the send off they deserved.

What's new for 2013? Well SG3 is on its way, I can't guarantee a specific launch date, but you'll find out soon enough. And after I finish the second of my two trilogies? I plan to take a little break from comics. I'll concentrate on learning a few new tricks in Photoshop and Illustrator and maybe just drawing. I have plans to work with Daniel on something soon though, so don't get too upset.

I'll take this opportunity to say a massive cheers me dears to everyone who's helped to make 2012 a superawesome year, and will hopefully be there to make 2013 even better.

Thought Bubble 2012

On Saturday 17th November, I'll be exhibiting at Thought Bubble in Leeds. This year, I'll only be able to make it down for the Saturday, but I'll be joined in the New Dock Hall by the beardy wonder, Andy Waugh and on Sunday, we hand over the keys to the table to printmaker extraordinaire Helen Entwisle. The table in question is 170, illustrated below. It's near the back so we can be naughty and get away with it.

Thought Bubble is frequently a boatload of fun and I'm looking forward to seeing how the crowd take to the new issue of Nightbus. If you want to pick up a copy right now, head over to my Shop or Comicsy. Either that, or I'll see you on Saturday. Do come by and say hello, talk comics or buy something awesome.

I'll give you something for free if you cosplay as a character from Sugar Glider. Something free probably means a high five or a hug. Maybe a fist bump. Haven't really decided yet.

Nightbus

Here it is, folks, the big reveal of the cover to the long awaited Nightbus 3...

Yeah, colour. I deliberated hugely over that. I knew it needed something to lift it, but felt that the black and white version was still really strong and true to the noir roots of the book. In the end, I decided to take a risk, and I hope it paid off. Colour remains, one of the hardest things I have to deal with.

Let's talk composition, seeing as I understand that. I was never happy with the last two covers of Nightbus. One seemed to carry the impression of a narrative, but it just seemed forced and static. Two was even worse. So with this I tried to make a composition that complements the feel of the book, fractured, overlapping and with pace and movement. It's set against a backdrop which is Newcastle unmistakably, but isn't hampered by the landmarks.

I've decided to release this before Thought Bubble so you lot can get your hands on it earlier if you are so inclined. Hopefully a few reviews may inspire people to seek the book out specifically at TB. It seems a better tactic than relying on the whim of the crowd to bring punters to the table.

The cover features our core of characters from issue one, left to right, Conrad, Scarlet, Nadine and César. But who else may turn up?

A Bit of a Review of the Year 2011

I was going to call this post The Year of the Sugar Glider, but that seemed a bit conceited. Other things happened in 2011 aside from the runaway successes of SG, I just can't remember them.

I won't labour the points too much, but the year kicked off with a deluge of positive reviews of Sugar Glider issue one, which had been released in the November of 2010. In 2011, SG1 was joined by three more Sugar Glider titles, Sugar Glider Stories 1 was launched at the 2nd Leeds Alternative Comics Fair and finally, we got round to doing a Newcastle based launch for SG2. A thousand thank-yous to Mike and the crew at Travelling Man Newcastle. Finally, Sugar Glider Stories 2 was released at Thought Bubble. All of the titles have received positive reviews and any of the niggles about yet another superhero comic have been ironed out by issue two. This isn't a superhero comic, it's a comic about a girl who happens to have an absurd extra-curricular pursuit. Oh, and there's superheroes.

Speaking of conventions, the last of the year was an absolute delight. More is written elsewhere about how awesome and essential the Canny Comic Con was, but from my perspective, it was great to be able to meet Sugar Glider fans who had followed the series from the start, and new fans who were intrigued by this new Geordie heroine. The day itself was so much fun and I can't wait for next year's event.

One of the most wonderful and humbling and joyous things about doing Sugar Glider has been the fan art. We received a boatload at the start of the year, and it's kept coming with each release. A lot of people have taken to Susie so much as to spend some time drawing her. I think that's the greatest compliment. If you've got any fan art, of Susie in or out of costume, or indeed any of the Sugar Glider cast, email it, post it on Twitter, or the Facebook fan page or send a carrier pigeon.

New Year's Resolutions? Well, the obvious one is to get Sugar Glider 3 out, thus completing the trilogy. This is a big one for me really as I haven't completed a series since I first got into comics. Having said that, issues one and two have been so special, it would be a crime to rush the conclusion. Expect SG 3 before the end of 2012.

Secondly, I'd like to get super organised for comics fairs, preparing an emergency comic con kit esssentially. The reason being, I make that promise every time we do an event and always forget something. Never again. Plus, I don't do a massive number of events, so it would be good to get through them sans stress.

And finally, sort out the website. Andy Waugh has been badgering me about this for aaaaages, and his new site is amazing. I'm jealous. I want one too. So there.

Right, I think that's all for now. See you all on the 2012 side.

Thought Bubble 2011

It's a highly exciting time of year, or rather stressful... Thought Bubble's legendary comic con begins this weekend and I will be exhibiting comics new and old from the Sugar Glider universe, as well as classics like Grainger Street and Nightbus. I'll be sharing the table with my comrade-in-arms, Andrew Waugh on the Saturday. If you haven't read his modern fable, Hermit, then you should know your mother and I are very disappointed in you. I suppose you'll have a chance to rectify that on Saturday though, by still... On the Sunday, I'll be joined by the multi-talented printmaker and illustrator, Helen Entwisle. Be sure to pick up one of her joyous cards, prints or curios for a loved one for Christmas.

Thought Bubble 2011

I announced it, like, aaaaaages ago on Twitter, but in case you missed it, I'll be at the prestigious comics event of choice for the discerning punter, Thought Bubble.

This year, the comics convention is over two days, Saturday 19th November and Sunday 20th November. I'll be there for both days, with the usual classics, Grainger Street, Sugar Glider and Show & Tell. All being well, we should have new comics for you in the form of Sugar Glider #2 and Sugar Glider Stories #2. Oooooh! If you're interested, Daniel and I are working on both at the moment, I'm pencilling out SG2 and DC is finalising the roster of creators involved in SGS2, there'll be updates in the coming weeks, so stick around.

As always, my tablemate on Saturday is the charming beardy scotsman, Andrew Waugh. He'll have his joyous and thoughtful modern fable, Hermit. Andy's sure to have a few surprises up his sleeve too. Like a flick knife.

On the Sunday, I'll be joined by the über talented printmaker and illustrator, Helen Entwisle, who will have an abundance of screen printed tote bags, cards, zines, badges, brooches and beautiful stuff.


And if that isn't enough to get you all worked up with anticipation, have a gander at the exhibitors page for the festival - it's sure to be a good one!

Thought Bubble

This year's Thought Bubble, for me at least, will be all about the eagerly awaited. Sugar Glider has been in the making for over a year in reality and Show & Tell, the showcase collaboration between myself and Andrew Waugh was initially intended to go on sale at last year's TB, but we didn't get it out there for a number of reasons. We vowed not to let it fall by the wayside, so we redoubled our efforts to make the comic even better, including slaving over cover ideas and creating more comics to make for a more satisfying read. Speaking of the cover, it's a flip book with two covers - Andy's done one half and I've done the other - you'll have to bug him over on his blog or come talk to us at Thought Bubble if you want to see his cover!

So for your currency, you get a Nightbus strip AND a previously unpublished short story called Merry Fox (above). Andy's offering a delightfuly spooky story called Madam Doreen (below) AND some comedic delights that will have you lolling out loud, in the form of Big Things Hiding Behind Small Things.

The idea behind the book is to act as a way of saying to folks, if you like my work, you might like Andy's comics. And vice versa. It's like a really lo-fi version of Amazon recommendations or iTunes Genius. But more importantly, I think our work really complements each other so well. Andy and I have worked together successfully and effortlessly in the past, most notably on the Paper Jam Comics Collective's Robots... and that, and making a comic together seemed like the next step.


You can pick up a copy of Show & Tell from mine and Andy's table at Thought Bubble on Saturday.

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.

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.

A bit of a Review of the Year 2009

I haven't read a maaaaassive amount of these sorts of things this month, so let's crack on before it looks like I'm jumping on a bandwagon. Remember, I invented these in 1896, shortly after I patented the fake fact gag.

January set the ball rolling for the Paper Jam Comics Collective, we put on our most ambitious launch yet, with bands, cake and our fourth anthology, You Will Have To Wait ... and that, which contained a team up between my good self and Iain Milne, it was a chance to stretch a creative muscle and ushered in a year of various collaborations.

The PJCC capitalised on the successes after the launch with the forging of a new blog in the furnaces of the Internet. The digital age trembled at its sporadic updates. Jack Fallows and I celebrated by going to Edinburgh to sell our comics, we were looking forward to this, because this same city held host to a similar fair in 2008, sadly, this event was no comparison but we choked back the tears with Argentine tea, cracking wise with Mallard Small Press and reminding ourselves that February was considerably shorter than the other months so the terror would be over shortly.

Not a lot of note happened in March.

In April I discovered colour.

My bithday's in May so, I was celebrating all month so no posts. I must have been doing something all this time because...

In June we launched Robots ... and that, this time at a new venue, the Star and Shadow Cinema. If the last antho and launch was a step up, this was a quantum leap. We even had Scott Bakula there to prove it. The awesomeness of the PJCC was made evident to me in all its glory with this book; I collaborated with Daniel Clifford, who I had only met a few weeks before, and with Andy Waugh, who I'd been stalking online for a number of years, but eventually met in the real world this year. It may not seem much, but to clarify, I have my own comics and artistic practice, it could be all too easy for me to not bother with collaboration and not to run the risk of working with someone I don't know. I've worked with people unsuccessfully in the past, and the only truly successful collab I've worked on up to this point was Nightbus with Chris. I've known Chris for forever, so working together is perfectly natural, working with someone I've known even for a number of months, is still a bit of a risk. But this year, it paid off. And it's continuing to. I'm even suggesting collaborations to other people, which is something I'd never dream of a few years ago.

July brought an opportunity to sell comics to a non-specific comics audience, something we've been wanting to do for a while, so we jumped at the chance. Me, Paul Thompson and Ben Clark repesented for the PJCC at Sunderland's Friendship Festival and won over some hearts and minds. Thanks to Leonie O'Moore for sorting this and other events out. I also exhibited some art work at the Mushroom Works in Newcastle, which was a fantastic chance to finish an idea I started at my Degree Show.

August was a month of inexplicable Nightbus buzz, which took the form of a radio interview on NE1 fm, a couple of reviews on blogs and a big up from Small Press Big Mouth, the bestest podcast in the world. The last couple of summers have been dedicated to working on Nightbus, but this year was our year off. The bizarre media attention and an impromptu visit to Chris' new gaff gave us the impetus to come up with an outline for Nightbus #3, which you should expect in 2010.

I got a new job in September so not many posts, but did have time to reacquaint myself with the supremely talented Dennis J Reinmueller and appear among the highly talented guest strippers on his webcomic Tumble & Fall.

The PJCC launched their third antho of the year and sixth in total this October, Space Monkey is a kid friendly treasure trove of wonderfulness. Oh yes. My submission was another collaboration, more of a duel, perhaps, between me and Andy Waugh. I was also bigging up the group at Durham Book Fair, we didn't make many sales, but I did run an awesome workshop in spite of having the plague.

November was a busy month for me, work began in earnest for Show & Tell, a showcase of small press talent that would cross promote and essentially, show off, the work of a diverse range of artists. I started a Facebook competition for chums who wanted to be extras in my submission, a Nightbus short story. Thought Bubble came and was a roaring success, I launched my new comic/artists' book, Grainger Street, and met or caught up with a number of my small press chums and heroes, shout outs to Matt Sheret, Douglas Noble, the Banal Pig boys, Adam Cadwell, and Magda Boreyzsa.

December is still happening at the time of my writing this, but the only major event is the PJCC's residency, annexation, occupation, takeover, whatever you want to call it, of Dennis J Reinmueller's Tumble and Fall. My Christmas message is up there now.

So, 2009, was it worth doing?

Highs: The expansion of the Paper Jam Comics Collective into something resembling a Soviet-era war machine. Unarmed, poorly equipped and highly dangerous. The group allowed me to meet and hook up with awesome comics creators, and get fantastic results, I managed to step up my own game with my work.

Lows: Relatively disappointing sales at non-comics events, not so much of a problem when we were winning over hearts and minds, but a total wast of our time at the more disorganised events. Not as many of my own individual comics made as I would have liked, but swings and roundabouts, right? Also, still not finished reading War and Peace, but it's mint, so who cares?

Looking Forward to owt? Yeah, new anthologies: Adventure Arena, piloted by Daniel Clifford, Show & Tell, a group effort I've already mentioned, and the inevitable seventh ...and that which will demand your attention.

There's more: Old Collaborations - 2010 is the year me and Chris get Nightbus #3 into your mits! New Collaborations - I'm working on a superhero comic, of all things, with Daniel Clifford. It started off with a sketch, now we've planned a 24 part saga. New crazy experiment which is an anthology of sorts but it's not and there's even more collaboration involved - Martin Newman's Project Z, which involves me, Andy Waugh and Mike Thompson working on one chapter of a larger piece.

2010 should be a right laugh. May it bring you peace, prosperity and a shedload of mint comics. Many many thanks to all of you who've bought a comic, or decided to follow of the blog, especially if I haven't forced you into it.

Thought Bubble Debrief

I'll keep this short, as you can read most of the fun stuff at the respective blogs of other Paper Jam Comics Collective members. They're much more interesting anyway.

All I should mention are massive shout outs to the rest of the PJCC who milled around making our table look so much cooler than it actually was, Magda Boreysza, whose latest Toasty Cats is a delight, Douglas Noble, who I've been a fan of for some time and finally met, and the We Are Words and Pictures crew, who seem to hold similar values and aspirations to the PJCC but don't harbour fear and mistrust for organisation.

Also, Nightbus #1 got reviewed at Comic Impact. I was proper chuffed when I read this, so you should go read it too. Then buy yourself a copy. From the Shop!

Grainger Street

I finished work on a new book this weekend. I think you'll like it.

It's called Grainger Street, it totals 28 pages of quality paper stock and boasts a lino print cover. Top class. Grainger Street runs from Newcastle Central Station up to Grey's Monument and seeing as it's situated there, I've walked up and down it a number of times. The book is an attempt to draw together some of the things that I've encountered, thought about and seen on the way up to the Monument. It's bit of a guide to the city, but through my eyes and memories; as such, it's highly subjective, but you can go to the library if you want a rigorous historical document. It's one for Nightbus completists too, as one of the early stories was inspired by this street.

I'll be launching Grainger Street, to much pomp and fanfare, at Thought Bubble next weekend, do come along to the Paper Jam Comics table and say hello. Afterwards, it'll be available in my online shop, then in actual shops. Remember them?

Can I have a speaking part, please?

OK, about a fortnight ago, I held a competition on that Facebook. I'm doing a short seven page Nightbus comic for a showcase anthology starring me and Andy Waugh and maybe more. I had a pub scene with room for about five or so people. So I asked The first five or so people on Facebook that evening to demand that their face appear in this book. How exciting.

Here's the panel.

Top row: Conrad

Bottom row, left to right: Bernard, Alison, Laura S, Amy, Leonie, Laura J, Steve, César

I reckon I may add some greytones of I have time before Thought Bubble where the showcase will be making its first appearance. If we get it printed.

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!

A bit of a Review of the Year

I didn't do a review of the year last year because there wasn't really a lot on, but we did some notable stuff this year so let's do a token post for the month. Yeah, I know, but listen, I was busy, then ill, then busy, then there was Christmas. I don't judge you when you don't read every post.

Last year's first resolution, "to blog more, at least once a week with pictures and that" didn't really come to pass. That's a bit irrelevant really, as no-one reads this nonsense anyway.

The second one was a bit more successful, we went to not only one comics fair, but three. Thing in London (March), The Edinburgh Zine and Small Press Fair (August). The Edinburgh chaps are also having another one in February which we may attend, but London's looking a bit far away in this current climate.

Nightbus 1 and 2 came out, alongside a couple of lovely little books what I made. The third ...And That anthology came out, supported by a glorious launch party. The fourth should be getting compiled right now, but I'm doing this instead.

Well, there you go, a decent year. Hopefully better things will come along next year. Like money. PayPal's on the sidebar. Happy New Year.

I Thought, Therefore I Was

Greetings, the team is back from Thought Bubble, that team consisting of myself, Mr Jones, Captain Jack Fallows and Siobhan, his long-suffering ladyfriend. We were on an annexe of the Travelling Man table dedicated to our small press wonders and all went highly well. Not from a sales point of view, however. The event caters for a much more broad clientele than previous small press fair we've been to. This is very much a sci-fi, and mainstream comics gig, with a much smaller percentage of the punters interested in what we were offering. That said, things picked up and our 'flagship' titles of Nightbus #02, Objet Perdu and Jack's latest offering, Costume Party and crowd pleaser, Gentleman Ghost started selling like reasonably warm cakes.














It's not about the money, as we told ourselves as we tucked into tecso's least finest sandwiches for lunch, and we had the chance to catch up with some mates, acquaintances, and new people, including, in no particular order, the Banal Pig boys, Oliver East, Adam Cadwell, The Polaroid Press, the Mallard gents, Newthink Books and Tom Cassady, formerly of Outline. Big shout out to all a y'all. Word. Etc.













I also had the pleasure of shaking the hand of sequential art advocate Paul Gravett. The nature of the event being more mainsteam meant that there were a number of comics' heavy hitteres doing talks and signings, and of course, the conversations about never wanting to meet your heroes. In a way, Paul Gravett fits that bill for me, making a career through writing criticism, theory and history about comics, alongside an almost encyclopaedic knowledge of the medium. Imagine the scene, dear reader, when the man himself comes over to our rickety little table and only starts flicking through Nightbus, pointing out the very things I've laboured over and that a lot of people miss. Anyway, Mr Gravett offered to take some copies of Nightbus, Gentleman Ghost and Costume Party to the Comica Comiket event on Saturday 22nd November. Please, follow the links, I'll wait here.

I also had the pleasure of meeting C.B. Cebulski from Marvel, who, after he finishes reading the comics I thrust into his hands, will be on the blower in no time.

To sum up, Thought Bubble was possibly one of the most enjoyable comics fairs I've been to. Lots of splendid people to talk to, several cups of tea and a healthy compliment of doppelgangers. We'll see you next year.

Thought Bubble and Stuff of Grave Importance

We'll be at Thought Bubble tomorrow. Yeah, I know, it's short notice, but you can cancel dinner with your parents, right? Nightbus #1 and #2 will be on the Travelling Man table, along with me new artist's book, Objet Perdu, which is about losing things. It's one of those things that you probably won't like, but I've done it anyway. Some writing. Some photography. Something else.

Jack Fallows is a man who's so clever he knows all of the words in the English language, and all of the English words in other languages too. In between living a life devoted to being aloof and wishing it were 1920, he's gone and made a rather mint new comic and a website, no less. It's here.

I've got stuff in the new Mallard anthology. Go buy it here. Mallard is a quarterly anthology of comics, literature and such, manned by the sterling gentleman that is Tom England. Buy his comic so he can make more.

Magda Boreysza is one of the most wonderful artists I have had the pleasure of meeting/stalking (delete as appropriate). Her Toasty Cats series is one of the genuine highlights of the Small Press world, and you should buy them all. At the Edinburgh Zine Fair, we had a bit of a comics jam, and Magda's compiled the best of it into a cautionary tale in the new Toasty Cats. Tremendous stuff.

Anyway, here's a photo of some fire.

New Nightbus

Nightbus #02 is officially out there in the real world. A few copies were sold at the Newcastle Comics Evening last night and a further ten are on the shelves. I've also just returned from the Post Master's cottage to send copies down to TM's outposts in Manchester and Leeds. More physical outlets will come along in time, and of course, we'll have plenty at Thought Bubble in Leeds. Do come along for that.

The online shop on the sidebar has a new shopping cart facility, allowing you to buy both Nightbus 1 and 2 in one, wise and prudent transaction. Apologies to Europe and the rest of the world, for the astonomical postage costs, but take heart in the fact that the pound has fallen as dramatically as a drunken reveller in the Bigg Market.