FOR THE RECORD at MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS

Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold discuss For the Record on their latest episode of Marvel Star Wars Explorers.

Have a listen here: https://marvelstarwarsexplorers.com/the-dark-crystal-3-the-age-of-resistance-part-ii-with-lauren-petronaci (The For the Record chat begins around the 20 minute mark).

FRED EGG COMICS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2025

I knew at the start of 2025 that I was going to do more comics work than ever before, and because of that I was going to put out less work to the public in terms of contributing to anthologies.

The work I concentrated on was a book concerned with my love of music through the years. I was going to draw all of it myself, no guest artists this time around. I aimed to have this completed by the end of the year, so had to concentrate. Between 2nd January and 2nd February, I wrote and laid out every idea I could think of related to music, as they came to me. I would sort out the running order of the pages once they were completed. I had 24 pages to do, and I planned to make sure I complete a page every weekend. I would get to go to sleep on Sunday night when I’d completed it. Although I had no guest artists, I wanted to included stories from my immediate family, so that was a further 7 pages. I also knew I’d have more ideas as I went along, and indeed I did. As the months went by a further 11 ideas presented themselves to me.

So I had 43 pages to complete, alongside front and back covers. Doable, but I couldn’t sit around waiting to begin, as I’d used up January now and had to leave room at the end for production. As I went through the year doing the work, I decided to post updates of Work in progress online. Layouts, pencils, and inks were posted on this blog, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, X, and over at the Awesome Comics Podcast substack. While this took up the majority of my time, I took part in some other comics related activities.

In February I had a comic in Ryan Ewing’s Pocket Thoughts Annual #7.

In March, That Comic Smell podcast had an episode on Science Fiction comics. Incidentally, our third comic is still in production and will hopefully be completed next year.

In April, I had a comic in Bob Corby’s Contains No MSG or AI.

In May, I appeared on Marvel Star Wars Explorers podcast, discussing Indiana Jones comics #29 and 30.

In August, I wrote about AI in comics as part of the Broken Frontier article Raging Against the Machine. As I explained, I successfully did the entire For the Record comic in one year. Now I aim to try to fund it on Kickstarter. I haven’t done this since 2021, when I published The Tay Bridge Disaster comic. A lot’s changed since then, so I’ll see how it goes. As an incentive, I have an idea for a compilation zine of Fred Egg Music comics from throughout the years. Thanks for all your interest, feedback, and comments throughout the year. It’s much appreciated. Have a great 2026!

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS: Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #29, 30

I'm guesting on the latest episode of this fun podcast, with hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold.

Discussing Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #29; "Shot by Both Sides", and #30, "Fireworks!" both by Linda Grant, Ricardo Villamonte, Danny Bulanadi, from May and July 1985.

I also shared my excitement for my new Star Wars Dub LP, and my lack of enthusiasm for Andor season 2.

From the website: 

"As Indy finds himself on the trail of a misplaced Chinese mummy, we finds ourselves once again joined by David Robertson, who is more than happy to offer up some fresh takes on Andor, plus Sam describes novel additions to his recent rewatch experience, we discuss the inherent humor in water-proof pouches of dynamite, and we all marvel at some surprisingly Indiana Jones-like Chronicles in the South Pacific." 

Have a listen here.

FRED EGG COMICS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2024

This has been another year greatly enhanced by taking time and making an effort to work on comics as much as possible. It’s not the easiest or most comfortable thing to do, but I’m glad to look back and see I’ve achieved what I have. 

I started off 2024 with an appearance in Pocket Thoughts Annual #6. This US zine from Ryan Ewing has become a regular project for me over the years, and is always a pleasure. This latest effort portrayed a real event where I was witness to a child’s genuine excitement about fruit being educated out of them by their parent.

This story was added to others I wrote and drew specifically for my comic book You Get What You Get. I also wrote stories for 26 guest artists to illustrate. They were: Emre Altındağ, Claire Brown, Clio Ding, Zu Dominiak, Joan Edam, Helena Edwardson, Fraser Geesin, Andy Hanks, Rozi Hathaway, Olivia Hicks, Rebecca Horner, Iain Cranford Hunter, Tim Kelly, Marc KZ, Francesca Mancuso, Nando, Paterson, Iestyn Pettigrew, Alex Potts, Ludi Price, Neil Scott, Mike Sedakat, Tom Stewart, Sam Stovold, Andy Strachan, and Cherish York. Thanks again to all of them for their sterling work. 

The comic launched at Dundee Zine Fest in November. I have wondered about the effectiveness of Zine oriented events as opposed to comic centric ones, but found to my surprise that the DZF was successful for me. Perhaps the sheer variety of topics covered and formats included in zine culture meant they were open to the comics I make? In any case, and whatever the reason, I had more sales there than I’ve had at any other comic con. 

Something else that came from that event was that a few weeks after, one of the people who bought my books contacted me to ask me questions regarding making comics. Turns out they were a student, and looking for quotes for their latest essay. Have a read of the Q&A session here.

Now, That Comic Smell. After our episode on comics available in local shops, you may have seen Tom’s video announcement that the podcast has ended. While this is true, there’s a little more to be said. Firstly, we are still meeting up regularly, just not recording the chats, so I sometimes forget we’ve “stopped”. Also, there are many episodes still in the can that will be put online (as Tom mentioned in his statement). And, we do plan to record further podcasts on a particular recurring topic we’ve been covering over the years. Lastly, we are still working on a third edition of our That Comic Smell Comic. So, although we’ve finished, there’s still more to look out for from That Comic Smell.

Towards the end of the year, it was a delight to guest once again on the Marvel Star Wars Explorers podcast. Their enthusiasm for Star Wars / Lucasfilm / Marvel / Disney keeps the show going past them having covered all the original Marvel Star Wars comics. At this point they are on to The Further Adventures of Indiana Jones 1980s comics, while also discussing the 1990s TV series The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and the current Star Wars Skeleton Crew TV series. The podcast is always an enjoyable listen.

Next year I am going to be concentrating on a couple of longer stories. The first is provisionally planned to be between 18-24 pages, and I aim to have it published this year. The other is around 60 pages and I’ll work away on that until it’s finished. In the meantime, I’ve done another page for the next Pocket Thoughts Annual, so hopefully that will be out soon.

Thanks for your interest. Wishing you all the best for 2025!

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS: Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #19

Cover by Brett Blevins.

I'm guesting on the latest episode of this fun podcast, with hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold.

Discussing Further Adventures of Indiana Jones #19; "Dragon by the Tail" by Larry Lieber, Vince Colletta, Robbie Carosella, from July 1984.

From the website: 

"As Indiana Jones... fights a dragon, David Robertson returns to the cast to share with us his Skeleton Crew scribblings, to join us in a test of our collective Henry Jones Sr. knowledge, to determine at what point the supernatural becomes too supernatural for Indy, and to go Star Trekkin' across the universe... on the Starship Enterprise under Captain Kirk." 

Have a listen here.

FRED EGG COMICS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2023

The year got started with a cartoon done for Pocket Thoughts Annual #5, edited by Ryan Ewing, called “Moral Panics”.

The first two That Comic Smell (Fernando Pons, Mike Sedakat, Tom Stewart, and myself) podcasts of 2023 were on “Intention Fails, Favourite Reads, Christmas Gift Show Off” and “Mike’s Longboxes of Goodies”.

I guested on Tony Esmond’s podcast Never Iron Anything, discussing Star Brand & the New Universe.

Brian Rudlof and Sam Stovold’s podcast Marvel Star Wars Explorers talking about the newspaper strip story, The Return of Ben Kenobi.

Alan Grant was the subject of the next TCS podcast, paying tribute to this talented writer and editor.

This was followed by us finally discussing Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars, the mid 1980s crossover juggernaut.

I contributed a comic called Legacy to Trickfilm #3, edited by Charles Brubaker.

Tony Esmond of the Awesome Comics Podcast and Never Iron Anything podcast guested with TCS to discuss Mad comics.

I then returned the favour and chatted with Tony on Never Iron Anything about Power Pack by Louise Simonson and June Brigman.

The TCS ongoing reread of Justice League International by Keith Giffen and J.M. DeMatteis reached its sixth instalment. 

Drawn Under the Influence reached its third issue. This time edited by Eamonn Clarke. I contributed a comic called Personal Message.

I released my latest comic book, Enough Nonsense. It was written by me, with art from myself and also Claire Brown, Peter Conrad, Clio D, Zu Dominiak, Joan Edam, Helena Edwardson, Andy Hanks, Donna Hart, Paddy Johnston, Marc KZ, Tim Kelly, Stuart McAdam, Francesca Mancuso, Norrie, Neil Paterson, Iestyn Pettigrew, Neil Scott, Mike Sedakat, Tom Stewart, Andrew Strachan, Vedabredda, and Cherish York.

I contributed a comic called A Discussion Regarding Equality to Pocket Thoughts Presents, edited by Ryan Ewing.

Comparing the first issue of series to the latest issue was the topic of the next TCS podcast. I chose Hulk #1 (1962) vs Hulk #3 (2023), and Star Wars #1 (1977) vs Star Wars #38 (2023). Not hard to predict which were my favourites!

The Marvel Star Wars Explorers have expanded their repertoire to other comics, now that they’ve covered every Marvel comic of the 1970s and 1980s. I joined them to discuss the Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom adaptation by David Michelinie and Jackson Guice.

The final That Comic Smell was our Christmas get together, where we discussed our favourite comics of the year.

A nice foray outwith comics was a guest appearance on And Why Not? with Stuart Mulrain, discussing a favourite movie of mine, Moonstruck.'

As we move into 2024, certain comics related projects are already up and running for me. Much work has been done on the upcoming That Comic Smell Comic, and the podcast will be continuing. I’m also working on a longer form comic story.

Hope you all have a great 2024!

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS: Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

I'm guesting on the latest episode of this fun podcast, with hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold.

Having discussed all the 70s and 80s Marvel Star Wars comics, they are now expanding the scope of their topics. 

This time it's the comics adaptation of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, by David Micheline and Jackson Guice.

Have a listen here.

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS: The Return of Ben Kenobi

I'm guesting on the latest episode of this fun podcast, discussing the newspaper strip story, The Return of Ben Kenobi, by Archie Goodwin and Al Williamson, with hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold.

Have a listen here.

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS: Dark Empire 2 #2

I'm guesting on the latest episode of this fun podcast, discussing Star Wars Dark Empire 2 #2 by Tom Veitch and Cam Kennedy, with hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold.

Have a listen here.

R.I.P. Tom Veitch.

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS #UK11

I'm guesting on the latest episode of this fun podcast, discussing Empire Strikes Back Monthly #153 by Steve Moore and Alan Davis, with hosts Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold.

Have a listen here.

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS #106

 

I was very pleased to guest on this fun podcast, which I've been following for a few years.

Have a listen here.

Thanks to Brian Rudloff and Sam Stovold for having me!

Art by Cynthia Martin.

MARVEL STAR WARS EXPLORERS #69

I've been enjoying this weekly podcast which covers each issue of the comics published between 1977 and 1986. I suppose it should technically be 1977-2019 after the recent one off edition. 

They were already at an issue numbered in the 50s when I started listening, so I've been playing catch up. 

I've been leaving comments on their Facebook page as I go along, and decided to send them an e-mail which they read out on their latest episode.

Have a listen to their show here. It's a lot of fun.