Wallace and Gromit on your iPhone? Cracking Lad!

Digital comics are all the rage at the moment ( at least with me anyway).

I was at the Sony offices in London last week putting the  Digital Comic  Store through it’s paces on the PSP and now we have Titan Publishing launching Wallace and Gromit comics appearing on the iPhone.

Check out the press release for all the info.

Batman/Doc Savage Special – First Look

While I am really looking forward to this pulp inspired take on the Batman, there is a certain Geek Syndicate co-host who would probably rob a granny to get his hands on an early copy of this.  So I thought that he along with some of you might appreciate a look at a few pages.

This is from the special which is the preview to the upcoming 6 issue mini-series.  Set in DC’s new pulp Universe – First Wave, it features Doc Savage investigating what seems to be a gun slinging Batman.

The story is by Brian azzarello (100 Bullets), the gorgeous art is by Phil Noto, letters by Clem Robins and features a cover by J.G. Jones.  It’s available from Nov 11th

Bring on the pulp!

Post BICS Interview with con organiser Shane Chebsey

With the awesome British International Comics Show 2009 behind us I took a moment to catch up with one of the organisers of the con, Shane Chebsey and get his thought on how this year’s con went.

So would you consider this year’s show a success?

Very much so. The feedback from all sectors has been overwhelmingly positive and for the first time since producing the show we have not lost any money. We are now in a very strong position to improve the show even more for 2010.

Was there anything you wish you had done differently in hindsight?

I could nit pick, but overall we are very happy with how things went. As I’ve already stated publicly, the launch party didn’t even resemble the event we actually booked and paid for, but the only way to deal with that is to learn from it and to make sure we book another venue next year. Overall though I don’t think a free event with free food that nobody had to pay for other than us (and our kind sponsors Diamond) is really a major issue. The actual show that folks have paid to attend was -as always-excellent value for money. Our guests all did so much to help us out, and our event hosts were all professional and entertaining (including yourselves). We will – as always be making changes next year. We never rest on our laurels and constantly try to improve the show. Many of these changes are in response to feedback from visitors and exhibitors etc but overall we are now very happy with the basic model we’ve adopted for the show.

What were your personal highpoints?

Meeting Howard Chaykin, who was a pure joy to speak to, and actually crying with laughter during the Cosplay competition. Irma Page did a great job hosting that and keeping Tony Lee and Dan Boultwood in line, who were their usual flamboyant and mischievous selves (and we wouldn’t want the any other way).
It was also great to meet Michiru Morikawa and Pasqual Ferry who were wonderful guests all weekend long.

There has been some criticism aimed at the Launch party what was your take on the event?

Answered above.

Maybe a bit early in the day but now that you have rebranded yourself The British International Comic Show can we expect the 2010 show to still be held at the Think Tank or is moving an option?

Thanks to the name change moving is always an option, but for the foreseeable future the main show will remain in the centre of the country where it’s easiest for folks to get to at our superb Think Tank venue.

Name one guest you wished you could have had for this year’s show?

We had a few near misses this year that we hope to get in 2010 or 2011 who I’d have loved to be there.
These included: Brian Wood, Steve Rude, Bryan Hitch, and Ed McGuiness.
All of these will be appearing at BICS in the future though once work commitments allow it as they’ve all want to come.

I’d really like to get John Romita Jr along at some point, and we’ll be working hard to make that happen in the future. The names we actually have down for next year are really major creators though and I think folks will be very excited when we announce them later this year.

Would you ever consider extending the show beyond the two days it currently runs for?

Yes we’d consider it if we felt there was a demand and that we could put on a good event for a longer period and still make it good value for money. Most people are working Monday to Friday, so if we did expand the show into the week it would not include a trade fair.

Again this may be too early in the day but other than continuing to make the show even bigger and better do you guys have any specific aims to achieve for next year’s show?

Yes, as always we aim to attract a wider demographic to the show and to comics in general. We have taken steps to make this happen next year. We also aim to do more outreach during the year into schools, colleges libraries etc, promoting both the show and the medium of comics to the general public.

My own involvement with BICS has always been about promoting comics to a wider audience and educating people about the potential of the medium and I’ll continue to push this aspect of the show for as long as I’m involved.

Cheers for your time Shane!
Thanks Barry

GS Reporter: Nuge

Press Release – Insomnia Publications goes digital on the PSP this December!

At the moment it seem that everything  Crawford Coutts, Managing Director of Insomnia Publications and his team touch turns to gold. Their latest big announcement is a deal with Sony which will  all their comics comics coming to the PSP via the Digital Comics Store on the PlayStation®Network.

The Insomnia guys will be around all weekend at the London MCM Expo at the Comic Village, no doubt celebrating this huge coup.

The first comics to be released for the PSP will be Cages,  Cancertown and Burke and Hare in December.

Check out the all info below in the press release

Graphic novel sequel to Bram Stoker’s Dracula comes to MCM Expo

HARKER: Over a century ago, Bram Stoker brought the immortal Vampire Count Dracula to the printed page, affecting the hearts and minds of millions and starting a century of adaptations, prequels and sequels involving the enigmatic Count. And a hundred years later the Vampire has never been stronger, with books like Twilight hitting the bestseller lists and shows like True Blood and Being Human showing alternate takes of the popular mythos to critical acclaim.

Written by British comic writer Tony Lee (Doctor Who, Pride & Prejudice & Zombies, Outlaw: The Legend Of Robin Hood) and drawn / coloured by the acclaimed South African art team of Neil Van Antwerpen and Peter-David Douglas (Starship Troopers), FROM THE PAGES OF BRAM STOKER’S ‘DRACULA’: HARKER is a faithful return to the original characters, set six months on from the Count’s grizzly death, and six months before the birth of Jonathan and Mina’s son, Quincey.

The comic is being launched at the MCM Expo this weekend at Tony Lee’s stand in the Comic Village.

We reviewed  Harker several weeks ago  and, for those who are interested, you can listen to our review here.

In short  we thought the graphic novel was a worthy follow up to Bram Stoker’s original. It had a great plot by Tony Lee and some very atmospheric art from Neil Van Antwerpen and Peter-David Douglas to complement it.

Do yourself a favour and give it a look see if you’re at the show.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Preview image from Jonathan Ross’s Turf

So as most of you know a while back we interviewed  self confessed comic fan Jonathan Ross. During the interview Jonathan talked about writing his first ever comic entitled Turf.  Jonathan also announced that handling  the art duties was  Tommy Lee Edwards.

This brings us to last night where I was on twitter and noticed that Tommy had posted up a scanned image of one of the main character designs.

If this image is any indicator of what’s to come then we are in for one beautiful looking comic.

GS Reporter: Nuge

New web comic hits the net – Toybox Turmoil

When a young boy decides to spend a lazy afternoon playing with his action figures, he is unaware that he is affecting the lives of a super-hero called Jupiter John and a warrior king named Mada-Onu! The two strangers from different worlds are brought together in a new world and soon realize that they must join forces if they want to stay alive and return home. During the course of our heroes’ journey, they encounter a beautiful young woman who comes between them, as well as a young genius, Little Big Brain Boy, and the wizard Morningstar who  seem more interested in trying to kill each other rather than trying to help anyone! Toybox Turmoil is a tragic adventure inspired by the old super-hero team-up books from Marvel and DC.

We got sent this link by Alex Serra to his new web comic which has been six years in the making called Toybox Turmoil.

I’ve read the first chapter of the comic which has just gone online and I thought it was a great premise with some ace artwork to back it up.

The story itself is 70 pages and Alex will be updating the site on a weekly basis.

I do tend to forget when new strips are out on webcomics but I hope I can keep up with this one.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Source: toyboxturmoil.com

Neil Gaiman, Denise Mina and Ian Rankin at the Edinburgh Book Festival

Our mates over at the Forbidden Planet International blog were luck enough to be allowed to record an sold event with Neil Gaiman and Ian Rankin the Edinburgh Book Festival. Denise Mina chaired the event. You listen to what the guys discussing writing comics and prose here.

GS Reporter: Nuge

Press Release – Rhode Island Comic Creators Announce Assembly

Rhode Island Comic Creators Announce Assembly

Warwick RI, October 14, 2009: For the first time, independent and small press comic book creators will converge for the Annual New England Small Press Assembly. Organizers Nic Carcieri and Sam Gafford announced this week that this inaugural event will take place on Sunday July 18, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick RI.

Designed to celebrate and showcase the unique community of independent comic book creators that exists in New England, and Rhode Island specifically, artists are invited to purchase exhibit space for $25.00 for a 6 foot table, which includes 2 exhibitor badges. Plans are in their early stages and many more announcements will be forthcoming. To promote the event, organizers have launched the official website at http://nesmallpressassembly.com.

Organizers for the event are longtime small press creators and publishers. Carcieri is a lifelong comic book fan/collector whose storytelling began on the playgrounds of Davisville Elementary school when he would act out wild and imaginative adventures for all kinds of characters. Dabbling in poetry and short stories throughout his college years, Nic eventually returned to his first love, comic books. In 2006, Nic organized and published the 88 page not-for-profit artbook BOTS to promote autism awareness and raise money for the Autism Society of America. Several hundred dollars were donated to the ASA as a result of the project that contained artwork by Tim Sale, Craig Rousseau and Randy Kintz. Nic is the current Chairman of the United Fanzine Organization (UFO). The UFO is one of the longest running small press publishing organizations in the country. Founded in 1968 by legendary small presser, Carl Gafford, the UFO has entered its fifth decade of indie and small press publishing. Nic has continued to write and produce new, original material under his Portal Productions banner, including the small press anthology PORTALS as well as 2009’s HOLLYWOOD HIGHWAYS.

Sam Gafford has a long history of small press publishing dating back to the 1970’s when he followed his older brother Carl into the world of “fold and staple funny books”. This writer / artist / editor /publisher’s has an extensive body of work, some of the highlights include; COMIC FAN!, BOOT HILL, DC UNIVERSE, SMALL PRESS EXTRA and FRANKENZINE. Sam has also spent time involved in several small press publishing organizations such as Blue Plaque Productions (BPP), Small Press Syndicate (SPS) and the United Fanzine Organization (UFO). Currently, Sam is a frequent editor/contributor to many Main Enterprises publications.

Artists and attendees are encouraged to visit the event’s website often to stay informed of upcoming updates and announcements: http://nesmallpressassembly.com. Announcements will also be released through the event’s Twitter at http://twitter.com/nespa2010.

Press Release – ALTERNATE-HISTORY WESTERN “CITIZEN X: THE MISSION” DEBUTS AT BANKSHOT COMICS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 13, 2009

CONTACT: Brendan McGinley, Bankshot Comics
brendan@indeliblecomics.com

Bankshot officially announced today the debut of its new webcomic: “Citizen X: The Mission”, a western set in a
world where Hannibal Barca defeated Rome and led Carthage to become a lasting empire.