THAT COMIC SMELL: Mad

The latest episode is online now.

From the website:

"First off we want to say a MASSIVE thank you to our guest on this episode. Our good buddy Tony Esmond came to visit us and took part in our MAD conversation and it was an absolute pleasure to have him here and see him again.

For those who don’t know, Tony is one third of the brilliant Awesome Comics Podcast and the host of the wonderful Never Iron Anything Comics Review Podcast/Website. He also, along with buddy/artist Adam Falp, runs and puts out comics through their new underground comics publisher Tribute Press.

We went completely MAD for this one. We take a look at paperbacks, magazines, comics, and everything in-between, around and involved with Mad Magazine and it’s legacy. There were gifts exchanged, some thoughts and a load of laughs.

Come join us for this and all the usual comics chat on…

That Comic Smell!"

Have a listen here.

TRICKFILM #3

Trickfilm #3 is out now from Charles Brubaker and Micah Lisenfeld.

It features Edtropolis, Tom Motley, Josh Nickerson, and Dan Variano.

I also have a cartoon in there, called "Legacy".

Trickfilm #3 will be available soon here.

THAT COMIC SMELL: Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars

The latest episode was a chance to expose my inner mid-1980s Marvel Zombie self, with all my enthusiasm for Secret Wars; celebrating how it was published in Britain as a weekly comic, as a tie-in with Spider-Man Weekly, and the concurrent Secret Wars Panini Sticker Album. I lapped it all up!

From the website:

"It’s been a long time coming folks, we have hinted at it over the years and shouted it time and time again. We go head first into SECRET WARS!!
Get ready to find out if everyone enjoyed it and if the series stands up all these years later.
This and all the usual comics chat on…
That Comic Smell!"

Have a listen here.

PERSONAL MESSAGE

I've been writing and drawing something and thought I'd post some images of work progress, without spoiling the story.

First pic shows what I call the writing/layout page. It features full dialogue, and very minimal, and sometimes no, artwork. This is generally the method by which I write. 

If someone else is involved, i.e. an artist, I'll type up a script for them, as this layout page would be impenetrable to someone else. 

This latest piece is indeed for an anthology, so I typed up a script for the editor to read.

Next is more detailed pencils:

Then the page was inked:

This next pic is the page after it's been scanned and tidied up in Photoshop:

Panels five and eight have text which was also added in Photoshop (obscured here to avoid spoilers):

The next step will be colouring the page digitally.

Hope this was on interest!

THAT COMIC SMELL: Alan Grant

The latest That Comic Smell podcast discusses the work of esteemed writer/editor Alan Grant!

Have a listen here:

https://soundcloud.com/thatcomicsmell/that-comic-smell-episode-108-alan-grant

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:

REJECT ALL at ALMOST NORMAL COMICS

Warren "Wee" Elliott has reviewed Reject All over at Almost Normal Comics.

Have a read here.

THAT COMIC SMELL: Mike's Longboxes of Goodies

The latest episode is online now! Have a listen here.

From the website:

"Back in 2020, when we were all on lockdown, there was a little break where people could meet outdoors but at a distance. We took this time to have a little comic swap/mart in the driveway of That Comic Smell’s home.
It was one of the few times we had seen each other in person. Mike had been gifted various longboxes with A LOT of comics. They were predominantly DC titles and after we had met, had a good laugh and picked our way through them all, we went back home, read a bunch of them and discussed it over Skype.
This is a little blast from the past and some things that are discussed may be long past now but it just gives us a little glimpse into a time where we were still trying our hardest to stay connected with friends and loved ones.
It’s also where we got free comics and showed them off!
This and all the usual comics chat on…
That Comic Smell!

El Zorro (Alex Toth)
The Eternals (Jack Kirby)
Love and Rockets (Jaimie Hernandez)
Knockout and Tigerstyle (Adam Falp, Fraser Campbell)
Holly (Steven Ingram)
Penned Guin: Coincidence (Alan Henderson)
Machine Man (Steve Ditko)
2001 A Space Odyssey (Jack Kirby)
DC Action (Various DC)
Mad Magazine
The Flash (William Messner Loeb, Greg LaRocque, Mark Waid)
Batman #66 (Tom King, Jorge Fornes, Dave Stewart)
L.E.G.I.O.N (Alan Grant, Barry Kitson)
Tales of the Legion of superheroes (Paul Levitz, Steve Lightle)
Atlantis Chronicles (Peter David, Esteban Maroto)
Action Comics (John Byrne)
Justice League #1 Silver Age Classics (Gardner Fox, Mike Sekowsky, Joe Giella, Murphy Anderson, Bernard Sachs)
Superman Special (Walter Simonson)
Secret Origins: Shazam (Jerry Bingham, Roy Thomas)
Captain Atom (Greg Weisman, Cary Bates, Will Conrad)
Elongated Man: Europe 92 (Mike Parobeck)
Marvel Zombies #1 (Robert Kirkman, Sean Phillips)
Team Titans (Adam Hughes)
Legionnaires (Chris Sprouse)
Secret Origins Annual: Teen Titans (Various Heavy hitters)
Superman #487: Christmas in Suicide Slumberland (Jerry Ordway, Tom Grummett)
Hawk and Dove: A babe in Toyland (Kevin McGuire)
Eclipso #1 (Keith giffen, Robert Loren Fleming, Bart Sears)
Eclipso: Batman (Alan Grant, John Wagner)
Lobo's Christmas Special (Alan Grant, Keith Giffen)
X-Men
Superman: The Wedding Annual (Dan Jurgens, Karl Kesel, David Michelinie, Louise Simonson, Roger Stern)
Guy Gardner
Hawk World
Martian Manhunter (J.M. Dematteis, Mark Badger, Bob Lappan)
War of the Gods #1 (George Perez, Cynthia Martin)
Wonder Woman (George Perez, Colleen Doran)
Aquaman (Keith Giffen, Robert Loren Fleming, Curt Swan, Al Vey)
Superman: Returns to Action Comics (George Perez, Brett Breeding)
Justice League Europe (Keith Giffen, Marshall Rodgers)"

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.

NEVER IRON ANYTHING: Star Brand & the New Universe

On this episode, Tony Esmond and I discuss Star Brand by Jim Shooter, John Romita JR, and Al Williamson.

Have a listen here.