YOU GET WHAT YOU GET Previews: 5 of 5

My latest comic is released tomorrow. Here are the fifth in a week long series of previews.

An Unusual Occurrence. Story, art: DR.

Result. Story: DR, art: Mike Sedakat.

Playing Drums. Story: DR, art: Tom Stewart.

Rocket. Story: DR, art: Sam Stovold.

Pupil vs. O.T. Story: DR, art: Andy Strachan.

Mystery Shopping. Story: DR, art: Cherish York.

You Get What You Get will be available at Dundee Zine Fest 11am-4pm tomorrow at Art Angel. Hope to see you there!

Thereafter it will be available here.

ENOUGH NONSENSE Previews 5

Last round today of previews from my new comic Enough Nonsense.

Legacy. Story, art: DR.

Birdsong. Story: DR, art: Stuart McAdam.

Reviews. Story: DR, art: Tim Kelly.

Fluffy. Story: DR, art: Tom Stewart.

Real Numbers, Story: DR, art: Veddabredda.

Writer Complaint. Story: DR, art: Zu Dominiak.

Enough Nonsense is now available here.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC #3

I am working away on the next That Comic Smell anthology, along with my friends Nando Pons, Mike Sedakat, and Tom Stewart.

I have been writing scripts for them to illustrate, and they've been doing likewise. We'll also be doing solo stories.

Here's a wee tease of a story Tom wrote that I've drawn:

A WORD FROM TOM STEWART...

 A couple of days ago I told Tom the name of my next comic, and he wrote the following piece.

“When David first handed me a copy of Dump: The Difficult Turd Album, from his Fred Egg Comics imprint, I wondered how this guy I knew, a guy who hosted these comic meetings out of a library had produced his own one. I remember thinking “He must be rolling in it. Selling these off at a fiver a piece. He must have hundreds of these and just punting them around everywhere making a name for himself” I envisioned all of these comic shops and book shops stacked with copies of Dump and them being picked up alongside every book order and people grabbing the newest instalment the second it hits shelves.

Although I would later learn about and fall in love with the indie scene and find out that’s not EXACTLY the case, it still holds true in some respects. 

I have been friends with Dave, Mr Fred Egg Comics himself, for some time now. He has kindly gifted me his newest comic each time he brings a new one out. I have been with him in comic shops as he speaks to those in charge and hands them a stack of the latest Fred Egg published instalment to be sold in their store. We have spoken about how he has travelled to places and just so happened to have comics with him to hand into the local shops. These comics can be found all over and that really does make me smile. It brings so much joy because I know that people will see these tremendous works first hand. They will see not just the newest comic but the highly impressive volume of work the precedes it. Not only does Dave produce his own comics, not only does he write, draw, put together, collaborate with other artists he enjoys to showcase their talents, edit, work with printers to make sure every aspect is perfect, sell in stores and online, distribute and much else any self publisher worth their salt, takes part in to make sure their work gets out there. But he does so at such a high rate. These things come thick and fast. It shows two things very clearly. One is that Dave has so many ideas just bursting to get out that he gets them down on paper as quick as possible and the second, following on from that, is the ethic and sometimes words to live by “There are a thousand reasons to not make comics and only one reason to… because you have to” 

This “get up go/just get on with it” and “make your comics, now” attitude completely exudes off the pages of every one of Dave’s comics. Whether it’s the friends exchanging magic paint for their battling robots in Berserketron, taking a school library on a leap forward in time in the pages of Bell Time, exploring the local comics scene in Dundee Comics Comic, finding out the history of The Tay Bridge Disaster and certainly in the many anthologies like Break The Cake, Mount a Rescue, Booze Ha Ha, Zero Sum Bubble gum and many many more, one message is always clear as hell… Enjoy comics. Read them, make them, smell them, talk about them. The thought of that being available in many different comic shops and online. The fact that someone will hold those comics in their hands, pour over them and be able to take that influence away, even subconsciously is tremendous and we have Dave’s endless ideas, passion, sheer fastidiousness and mastery of the craft/art to thank for it. 

“Reject All” is another in the long line of Fred Egg Comics manifestos that I for one look forward to picking up the minute it hits shelves and soaking it in, becoming even more inspired with each turn of the page. 

Long may it continue. ”

Thank you, Tom.

(Hear more from Tom on That Comic Smell podcast)

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC #2: Previews 4

 More excerpts from the new issue:

Story by Tom Stewart, art by David Robertson.

Story and art by Al Henderson.

Story by Tom Stewart, art by Mike Sedakat.

That Comic Smell Comic 2 is available now here.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC #2: Previews 3

 More excerpts from the new issue:

Story by David Robertson, art by Mike Sedakat.

Story and art by Fernando Pons.

Story and art by Tom Stewart.

That Comic Smell Comic 2 is available now here.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC #2: Previews 1

The second issue of That Comic Smell Comic is out soon, with work by podcast hosts Fernando Pons, Mike Sedakat, Tom Stewart, and myself. We also have guests Alan Henderson and Olivia Hicks.

This week I'll be previewing excerpts of the strips.

Cover by Mike Sedakat.

Story by Olivia Hicks, art by David Robertson.

Story and art by Al Henderson.

That Comic Smell Comic will be available soon here.

More previews tomorrow.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC Previews 4

 Three more clips.

PC Gone Mad. Story: DR. Art: Mike Sedakat.

Omar. Tom Stewart.

Advertisement from the 1950s. Mike Sedakat.

Last set of preview clips tomorrow.

That Comic Smell Comic is available in print at the Fred Egg Comic Shop, and digitally at Comichaus.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC Previews 3

More clips from the new anthology comic.

Rocket. Story: Tom Stewart. Art: John Tucker.

Any That Comic Smell Podcast: Fernando Pons.

More previews tomorrow.

That Comic Smell Comic is available in print at the Fred Egg Comic Shop, and digitally at Comichaus.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC Previews 2

Another day of previews from the new anthology from our podcast team.

It's Doctor Time with the P.M.: DR

Disconnected. Story: Tom Stewart, Art: Mike Sedakat.

More previews to come!

That Comic Smell Comic is available at the Fred Egg Comics Shop. 

It is also at Comichaus.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC Previews 1

Pencils: Pons. Inks: Stewart. Colours: DR.

This week I am presenting a series of previews from the new anthology for members of the That Comic Smell podcast team, namely Fernando Pons, Mike Sedakat, Tom Stewart, and myself.

We are also joined by fabulous guest artist John Tucker!

Cosmic Jaunts. Story/art: Sedakat.

Nobody. Story: Stewart. Art: DR.

More previews tomorrow!

That Comic Smell Comic is available at the Fred Egg Comics Shop. 

It is also at Comichaus.

THAT COMIC SMELL COMIC available now

 

That Comic Smell Comic is available now from the Fred Egg Comic shop. 

Featuring stories written and drawn by hosts of the That Comic Smell podcast; Fernando Pons, David Robertson, Mike Sedakat, and Tom Stewart.

Also includes guest artwork by John Tucker!

1. COSMIC JAUNTS
(M. Sedakat)
2. NOBODY
(Story: T. Stewart / Art: D. Robertson)
3. DISCONNECTED
(Story: T. Stewart / Art: M. Sedakat)
4. IT’S DOCTOR TIME WITH THE PM!
(D. Robertson)
5. ANY THAT COMIC SMELL PODCAST
(F. Pons)
6. ROCKET
(Story: T. Stewart / Art: J. Tucker)
7. PC GONE MAD
(Story: D. Robertson / Art: M. Sedakat)
8. OMAR
(T. Stewart)
9. ADVERTISEMENT FROM THE 1950s
(M. Sedakat)
10. WE’VE COME A LONG WAY!
(Story: M. Sedakat / Art: D. Robertson)
11. AQUILA THE EAGLE
(M. Sedakat)

40 pages. Black & white / colour

Cover: pencils by F. Pons; inks by T. Stewart; colours by D. Robertson.

Previews of the stories will feature on the blog all next week!

NEVER IRON ANYTHING: Kent State by Derf Backderf

 

I'm delighted to be on Tony Esmond's Never Iron Anything alongside Tom Stewart discussing Derf Backderf's comic Kent State.

Have a listen here.

NOBODY colours

Today was spent doing colours for the story I'm drawing which was written by Tom Stewart. 

I decided to go digital with this one as I wanted the solid blocks of colour behind the character.

I was also replicating a comic cover, and the digital colour works better for that than paint.

NOBODY pencils

Here are pencilled layouts for a one page story called "Nobody", written by Tom Stewart.

AWESOME COMICS 250

The Awesome Comics Podcast has reached its 250th weekly show, and to commemorate this, Aaron David Rackley has put together an anthology.

It features Zachary Cobb, Kevin Couling, Cliff Cumber, Tom Curry, Damian Edwardson, Alan Henderson, Dave Hingley, David Kennedy, Russell Olson, Tom Sparke, Kieran Squires, Tom Stewart, Gustaffo Vargas, and Sam Webster,

I'm in there too. Here's a wee preview:

You can read the whole thing here.

AWESOME COMICS PODCAST #186

Have a listen here to the latest Awesome Comics show as Tom Stewart guests.

They discuss the creation of their Awesome Comics anthology series, That Comic Smell podcast, and make reading recommendations (including my own "Break the Cake" - thanks, Tom!).

ORCHESTRAS

What a thrill it was this week to work alongside the magnificent Scottish Ensemble to present a new comic story entitled, “Orchestras”.

The event was the latest DeeCAP (Dundee Comics Art Performance) held at the Dundee Comics Creative Space, and featuring fellow local comics creators Zu Dominiak, Andy Herd, Damon Herd (no relation), Norrie Millar, and myself!

I took the opportunity to premiere a new comic I made specially for the event, designed to work as a comic in its own right and as a performance piece accompanied by the Scottish Ensemble.

Here is how it turned out on the night. I hope you enjoy it…

I think you can see how much I enjoyed hearing the music from that vantage point. A truly exciting event to take part in.

Many thanks to Tom Stewart of That Comic Smell podcast for filming.

THAT COMIC SMELL GUEST POST: Tom Stewart

For a few weeks, I'm running a series of guest posts from my friends over at That Comic Smell podcast. The pieces are any length, style, whatever. The only brief I gave was to write something about comics. First up is Tom Stewart.

Dear comics,

I think it’s about high time you and me sat down for a little chat. Don’t worry I won’t take up too much of your time. Before you ask, yes I have been fine. No I haven’t had time to read any of your vast back catalogues as of recent. I’m still trying to plough my way through “The Stand” which is taking approximately 100 years. I’m sure you will still be there when I finish up though.

Enough about me, let’s talk about you. Haven’t you been a busy lot recently? Not only have all of your medium been taken and adapted into various films and TV Shows (Some good. Some utter shit) but your vast array of genres, subject matter and styles are getting bigger and bigger by the day. No your bum doesn’t look big on that shelf, although some of your works do come in all shapes and sizes. I’m just getting a bit shocked at how far you have come over the years. The snowball that is comics (you) shows no signs of stopping either. With the sheer enormity of comic conventions cropping up these days, also the size that some of them have become is crazy!! It almost seems like you’re a respected art form. Yet... are you?

As far as I am aware, whenever I mention you to people I still get “oh, that thing about superheroes. Isn’t that a bit kiddy” I honestly thought that with the popularity of the superheroes these days that, that kind of thing wouldn’t matter. It’s funny as well seeing as how the folks that come away with such phrases are usually the first people to sprout things like “Have you seen the new Avengers?” or “Spoder-min looks AWESOME doesn’t it?” and that’s the problem isn’t it? People only take you seriously when it suits them. They don’t see you as this platform for artists and writers to get down some of the most gutting punching and heart wrenching philosophical/political ideologies on paper in an understandable manner by accompanying it with diagrams and detailed references. To show how really fucked up the world can be or similarly how their world can be. To show the most romantic feelings ever conveyed or the most evil even one person can commit. The power to tell someone’s entire life and have it beautifully rendered also. To have 2 worlds colliding in perfect synchronicity on paper. Writing and pictures. I’ve got to say, you do one hell of a good job. These folks don’t understand you the way we do. By “We” I of course mean your fans. Now stop blushing, you know you have a massive fan base out there. I mean hell, there is an entire industry of incredible writers and artists that have worked with you over the years, there’s no need to modest. Stand proud. You have worked with some of the best. Alan Moore, Frank Quitely, Moebius, Frank Miller, Robert Crumb, Derf Backderf, Scott Snyder, Jack “The King” Kirby, Stan “The Man” Lee, Bill Finger, Steve Ditko, Mike Allred, to name but a few. These folks have been eager to work with you too. You have a lot to be proud of. So why do you reckon the stigma still?

Maybe it’s that when you put pictures with words people think that it lacks intelligence. Maybe that you lack imagination, even though I can’t think of anything more imaginative than the majority of the stories to come out of your being. Who knows?

All I know is, those folks are missing out.

It’s so good catching up with you. I know you don’t get a lot of time due to the aforementioned rate in which you are growing. Yet, the more you grow, the more I feel we all have time to catch up with you.

I best let you get off though. You’ve got more minds to mould and melt. I’m sure we will sit down and have another one of these catch up’s soon. There are lots more we need to discuss in the future.

Take care.

Tom

You can listen to That Comic Smell at Youtube, Soundcloud and iTunes.

TWO COMIC READINGS!

As part of an event which was the launch of both the H.G. Wells anthology comic and the newly rebranded Ink Pot studio, there was a ribbon cutting ceremony and a certificates presentation before a series of comics performances from Damon Herd's DeeCAP began. This included performances from Kathryn Briggs, Andy Herd, Stuart McAdam, Norrie Millar, Damon himself, and me.

I did two readings. The first was a story I wrote and drew previously - "Jeff Wayne's Musical Version of The War of the Worlds: an Introduction", and the second - "George vs Herbert", was done specifically for "Time & Space".

Here they are:

Many thanks to Tom Stewart of That Comic Smell podcast, who filmed these!