Monday, December 31, 2018

FRED EGG COMICS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2018


It's that time again. A wee summary of what I've been up to in comics this year.


In January, I continued my Tay Bridge disaster comic strips with Dundee Shmundee #11.


The character of Fred Egg made his return in a story I did for Copy This #47.


February means Hourly Comic Day 2018, and this year I was awake too many of the 24 hours.


That Comic Smell podcast had its first show of the year wherein we discussed our Christmas swag.


Dundee Shmundee #12.


The twelfth issue of Treehouse Comic appeared, featuring three of my stories; Missile Attack Concorde; TH:12:43; and Unexploded Grenade


In March, I completed my blog featuring single panels from Star Wars comics of the 1970s and 1980s; I Stand with the Hoojibs.

In April, That Comic Smell had two episodes, with topics being Love, and Treehouse Comic.


Dundee Shmundee #13


I put together "My Perfect Comic" for an article over at the ComixFlix website.


Another Dundee Shmundee #14 appeared in May.


In June, the Ink Pot studio in Dundee put out an anthology through Universe Publications, entitled Inkthology.


I did a story for it called Ink Drive, and performed it at a DeeCap launch event.


I wrote a story for Francesca Mancuso to draw called Everything in Moderation, which she ran over at her Dreams Addict website.

Dundee Shmundee #15


I began running my webcomic called Bell Time on a weekly basis at my blog.

In July, That Comic Smell had an on-location episode (in an Edinburgh restaurant) to discuss our Glenrothes Con swag.

Bell Time episodes 2, 3, 4, 5 were uploaded to the blog.

And the Inkthology fun continued with a That Comic Smell podcast featuring Rebecca Horner and Catriona Laird.

In August, That Comic Smell got right up to date with some New Comics Chat.

Bell Time continued with parts 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Dundee Shmundee #16.

I had a nice surprise when looking through a book I was interested in, The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain. I found I was quoted in there discussing the Al Williamson newspaper strips! It's a good read for UK Star Wars fans of a certain vintage.

That Comic Smell struck again, with episodes on British Comics, and one where we chose Top 3 Creators (with guest Olivia Hicks).

Dundee Shmundee #17

Five parts of Bell Time in September: 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

That Comic Smell discussed Ann Nocenti and her comic with David Aja, "The Seeds"


I was pleased to take part in a Beano Comics Record attempt as part of the V&A Dundee opening events.


I wrote an article on my comic book "Wow! Retracted" for the magazine, Comic Scene UK.


Olivia Hicks' Sarararara featured a guest comic by me, entitled, "Number Three's the Charm!"

Dundee Shmundee #18


The latest Big Brown Eyes anthology, "Barriers" had a story by me in, "Minty McAllister: Lady Journalist"

In October, That Comic Smell had a Q&A session, we all brought 2 Recommendations, and we did a tribute episode to Superman.

Bell Time parts 15, 16, 17, 18 went online.


I did a tribute comic to Billy MacKenzie for inclusion in Dead Singers Society #4.


The Graffito exhibition in Thurso had my comics Silently Falling, and the wraparound cover for Berserkotron on display.


After a visit to the Comics Archive at the University of Dundee I did a comic for their anthology "Chronicle"


I did a comic book history of comics in Dundee - called Dundee Comics Comic, which was published by Universe Publications.

Dundee Shmundee #19

I did a guest comic for Penned Guin.


In November, my latest comic book Break the Cake was released.

Bell Time 19, 20, 21, 22 were published online.


I did a few comics for the New Zealand anthology, Funtime Comics #31.


My two page Frankensteins comic appeared in Frankenstein Returns.

That Comic Smell 33 discussed our Favourite Female Characters and featured Alan Henderson.

Dundee Shmundee #20

Throughout December, Bell Time 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 appeared.

That Comic Smell 34: Asterix / Goodbye, Stan Lee, and 35: Christmas Do! both went online.

Dundee Shmundee #21


Next year, I'll be continuing Bell Time and my Tay Bridge Disaster comics, and am planning to publish the former in print. Coming up immediately in January is a strip for the next issue of Copy That!

I hope you all have a great 2019. Keep on being involved in comics; reading them, making them, selling them, reviewing them, whatever! Comics are the greatest!

Saturday, December 29, 2018

BELL TIME part 27



Click on image for larger view.

To read from the beginning, go here.
Scroll down to the "Bell Time Begins" post, and work your way back up.

Friday, December 28, 2018

Thursday, December 27, 2018

Monday, December 24, 2018

CHRISTMAS COMICS: Patty Cake / That Comic Smell



Patty Cake by Scott Roberts is one of the best comics of the 1990s and 2000s. This Christmas special issue is a prime example of why it is so good. Full of heart, good humour, and terrific art.

Part of the story is Patty Cake's instant and passionate desire for a new toy she spots in a catalogue:


Offsetting that is her Dad's plan to make her a gift...


The comic follows both of them obsessing over their respective wishes, leading up to Christmas Day. It's a great comic, and rereading it is always a treat.

The latest edition of That Comic Smell podcast is a Christmas comics discussion, and I bring up this very comic. Have a listen on iTunes, Soundcloud, and YouTube.

From the web:
"HO! HO! HO! Welcome all. In this bumper Christmas special the folks sit down to Christmas Dinner. Grab that chair and get stuck in with us. After stuffing your face (much like we did) jump in to hear what some kids asked the podcast. Yes, children actually asked us questions. Who’d have thought it, eh?
We also get even more festive. Each of us bring along a Christmas comic to show off and discuss.
This and all the usual comics chat on the only comics podcast to be on Santa’s Nice, Naughty and very indifferent list…
That Comic Smell!"


Saturday, December 22, 2018

BELL TIME part 26



Click on image for larger view.

To read from the beginning, go here.
Scroll down to the "Bell Time Begins" post, and work your way back up.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

BELL TIME part 25



Click on image for larger view.

To read from the beginning, go here.
Scroll down to the "Bell Time Begins" post, and work your way back up.

Saturday, December 08, 2018

BELL TIME part 24



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To read from the beginning, go here.
Scroll down to the "Bell Time Begins" post, and work your way back up.

Friday, December 07, 2018

THAT COMIC SMELL 34: Asterix / Goodbye, Stan Lee



The new episode of That Comic Smell is now online.

Have a listen at iTunes, Soundcloud and YouTube.

From the web:
"“Nuff Said”
Welcome Heroes of Gaul and Spidey Friends! In this episode of That Comic Smell we take a dive into the pool and get as tough as Obelix to take on those Romans for ourselves. Yes, we tackle the legend that is “Asterix” but not before we have a little goodbye to another comics giant, Stan Lee. We reminisce over some of our Stan written/ influenced books and Nando reads a very touching piece he wrote upon hearing the sad news.
Although there is a sadness in the first section of the podcast, Asterix and A LOT of sugar seems to make the folks here go a little mad as we laugh and gibber our way through various other topics such as toilet reading and what we have been reading lately.
This and all the usual comics chat on the only comics podcast that can be enjoyed both on and off the toilet…
That Comic Smell!"

Thursday, December 06, 2018

Saturday, December 01, 2018

BELL TIME part 23



Click on image for larger view.

To read from the beginning, go here.
Scroll down to the "Bell Time Begins" post, and work your way back up.