Thursday, December 31, 2020

FRED EGG COMICS REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2020

Here's my annual overview of what I've been up to comics wise this year. Writing this for 2020 was never going to be as straightforward as my previous efforts. Usually I list the comics and comics-related projects I've been involved with as they were released throughout the year, and say a little about each of them.

This time around, things were significantly different, due to COVID-19 and the impact it's had on the country, and the world. 

As the year got going before it hit, I knew I wanted to put out another anthology, and I knew it was going to be called Mount a Rescue. I'd completed or mostly completed a number of strips for it, and sent out scripts to many artists for them to draw guest comics. I'd started painting the cover and things were mostly going along nicely when coronavirus started to take hold. 

Around about March, I paused for a couple of weeks to consider. What does this mean? Is it appropriate to put out a comic in the middle of a pandemic? With an unknown number of people dying? I decided I was going to continue. Not doing comics as some form of solidarity, or in case it was in very poor taste, didn't make sense to me.

I was furloughed at work. Now, I do not make comics as a way to earn a living. Quite the opposite. I view it purely as an artform in which I am free to do and try whatever I want, and make the best comics I can. The negative side of this is that I spend a lot of my time at my place of employment, unable to get to work on my comics. I have been quietly resenting this for years, and sometimes just outright moaning about it to anyone who’d listen. But it is the deal I have made with my comics practice.

So when I was furloughed, you better believe I was not going to waste this extra time I had been granted. I worked on many comics projects throughout the year, and with all but one of them, they are fully coloured, either digitally or hand painted. Seven of these have yet to see print with their respective publishers. I can’t control that part of the process.

Mount a Rescue did come out in July and I was pleased with it. Everything had changed in a short period of time, and I hadn't mentioned the pandemic in the comic at all. I did a story called "Clap" for the back page, concerning the weekly applauding of the NHS.

As we got into the final third of the year, I proposed an idea I'd had for a while to my That Comic Smell podcast buddies. I reckoned I had enough time to work on putting together an anthology featuring work from all of us. I knew Mike was really getting up and running with his comics (see "The Real Prehistoric Beasts" - his first comic book), Tom would be up for writing scripts for us to draw (he ended up doing artwork too), and I'd always been intrigued by Nando's mention that he used to draw, but decided to stop and commit to reading instead of making. It was great to have him come out of retirement and do a comic for us. I worked hard on getting the comic assembled, completing it a few days before I returned to work. Then it was back to doing comics on a day off or odd hours here and there.

The TCS podcast itself has morphed into an online get together instead of the actual meet-ups we've traditionally had. These and Tony Esmond's regular Never Iron Anything have been great sources of pleasure, allowing me to chat comics with pals.

In any case, here’s how 2020 played out in comics land for me.

In January, Barnstormer Comics’ Star Jaws #30 continued running my Blade Runner tribute comic, “Los Angeles, November 2019”. Over the next six months it carried the whole story. I did my 25th Tay Bridge Disaster comic strip, and That Comic Smell podcast discussed European comics.

In February, I did my 26th Tay Bridge Disaster comic strip, and March presented two episodes of That Comic Smell; on Justice League International Vol 4, and “Holy Grails and Intention Fails”, in which we discussed the comics we really really want, and the ones we have but haven’t managed to read yet.

In April, I appeared for the first time on Tony Esmond’s Never Iron Anything podcast discussing Warlock by Jim Starlin. I did a comic for the Awesome Comics anthology, marking their 250th episode. That Comic Smell were busy, having our first remote meet-up discussing what we’ve been reading, and discussing the Top Three Comics Creators of all Time on video as part of Sparkcon. 

In May, I did “T-Minus: Not Happening”, a comic about The A-Team’s adventures in outer space, for Star Jaws #34.

In June, That Comic Smell discussed surreal / weird comics, and a marathon length movie chat was split into parts one and two. I was happy to go back on Never Iron Anything, this time to discuss The Cute Manifesto by James Kochalka.

In July, my latest comic book Mount a Rescue was released. That Comic Smell discussed heavy comics. I was delighted Star Jaws #37 featured a pull out middle section devoted to it. On Never Iron Anything, we talked Star Wars #80 by Mary Jo Duffy and Ron Frenz.

August was a busy month for podcasts. That Comic Smell covered comics aimed at children, Dark Horse, and “You Make Comics?” – comics created by people known for other things! I was on the Awesome Comics Podcast for their Brainstorming comics episode, and discussed Starblazer #69 “Nightmare Planet” on Never Iron Anything. 


In September Iestyn Pettigrew interviewed me about my influences and inspirations for the Zine Love website. I did my 27th Tay Bridge Disaster comic, a story called “Bunker Destruction” for Star Jaws #39, and artwork for the cover of Marc Casilli’s Liget #3. That Comic Smell did an episode called Who are you again?, on comic character changes, and a “bootleg” episode of The Lakes Comic Art Festival.

In October I did a couple of spots on Never Iron Anything; one on Peter Bagge, and another with Tom Stewart on Kent State by Derf. I also did a comic for Funtime Comics #33, the anthology from New Zealand (congratulations to them for dealing with COVID-19 effectively).

In November, I did a guest comic for Olivia Hicks’ Sarararara, and a story called “Journey into Space (interrupted) for the Race into Space! Anthology. I also discussed Mary Fleener on Never Iron Anything.

In December I had a David Prowse tribute comic in Star Jaws #42, then a couple of Christmas themed podcasts; a discussion of Christmas with the Super-Heroes from 1988 on Never Iron Anything, and the annual That Comic Smell Christmas do comparing our favourite comics of 2020.

I've completed work on my ongoing Tay Bridge Disaster comic, and will be releasing that next year in a natty landscape format. First time I've tried that.

That Comic Smell Comic will be out in early 2021.

There are a lot of comics completed for my next anthology, which I do know the name of, but am not telling yet. And I have started writing a longer narrative, which I aim to have completed over the festive period, and then get to work drawing.

Thanks for reading. I hope 2020 has been good to you, and let's try to make next year a good one!


Monday, December 28, 2020

MINDLESS ONES, SILENCE! #287

 

Gary Lactus and The Beast Must Die discuss some of my comics on the latest episode of their podcast. 

It starts around the 1 hour 16 minute mark. 

Have a listen here.

Thursday, December 24, 2020

CHRISTMAS COMICS: Flash Gordon

 

This edition has Flash decide to introduce Christmas to his alien buddies, however they already have their own versions!



Jungle Bells by Dan McCoy, Joseph Cooper, Omi Remalante, and Simon Bowland.

Have a great Christmas, everyone!

Monday, December 21, 2020

THAT COMIC SMELL: Christmas Do! (Our Best Reads of 2020)

The new episode is online now, celebrating Christmas and discussing our fave reads of the year.

From the website:

"HO! HO! HO!

Get ready because not even distance can stop the TCS crew from having their Christmas party and catch up.

We delve into what we have been reading this year and what we would consider out favourites of 2020. There is also a bit of general chatter as always but we mainly stick to the comics this time surprisingly.

It’s been a funny old year and we even had a bit of a break near the tail end of it to recharge and bank some more episodes. We have had to adapt to the new way of doing the show but we have plowed on and continued to enjoy talking comics and having you all listen. So thank you. A very Merry Christmas to you all and a Happy New Year.

Cheers!

Follow us on Twitter & Instagram @thatcomicsmell

Get us on…

Soundcloud: tinyurl.com/y8vzeh3c

Spotify: tinyurl.com/y2qtu2cs

YouTube: tinyurl.com/yajnxcno

Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/hwbqxab

Podbean: tinyurl.com/yxvecykj

and most places you find podcasts.

Don’t forget to Like, Share, Subscribe, Rate & Review.

Thanks again for listening and supporting the podcast

The Best of The Spirit (Will Eisner)

Pulp (Ed Brubaker, Sean Philips)

Blazing Combat (Archie Goodwin, plus many artists)

Once and Future (Kieron Gillen, Dan Mora)

La Casa [The House] (Paco Roca)

Kent State (Derf Backderf)

What We Don't Talk About (Charlot Kristensen)

New Gods (Jack Kirby)

Journey to the Surface of the Earth (Fraser Geesin)

Sarararara (Olivia Hicks)

Star Jaws (Robin Barnard)

Star Trek The Enterprise Logs (Gold Key)

Atomic Hercules (Adam Falp, Tony Esmond)

Tony Esmond is a Movie Star (Cliff Cumber, Tony Esmond)

Firepower (Robert Kirkman, Chris Samnee)

Homunculus (Joe Sparrow)

The Junction (Norm Konyu)

What We Mean By Yesterday (Ben Marra)

Follow Me In (Katriona Chapman)

V For Vendetta (Alan Moore, David Lloyd)

Apollo (Mike Collins, Matt Fitch, Chris Baker)

Graphic Biography of Malcolm X (Randy DuBurke, Andrew Helfer)

The Three Jokers (Geoff Johns, Jason Fabok, Brad Anderson)"

Saturday, December 19, 2020

STAR JAWS #42


The latest issue of Star Jaws is out now from Barnstormer Comics.

It features Robin Barnard, Martin Hand, and Paul B. Rainey.

My story, "Green & Black" also features. A tribute to Dave Prowse. Here's a clip:


More information on Star Jaws over at the Images Degrading Forever website here.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

NEW BIG STORY!


I’m doing another longer story in the format of my previous Berserkotron, Dump, and Bell Time. It’s always somewhat daunting when I finally sit down to begin the writing process on a big story. The ideas for it have been percolating away in my mind, and now it’s time to commit and arrange them into their final shape.

I plan to get the bulk of this written over the festive period. The first stage is writing down all my disparate thoughts and moving them around to get the overall structure for the story. I’ve done that today, and will get started on writing and laying out the comic pages tomorrow.

It’s an exciting process to do. A lot of work lies ahead over the next 2 or 3 years, but worth it.

Monday, December 14, 2020

NEVER IRON ANYTHING: The Christmas Episode

 

It was great to talk about an old favourite comic of mine with Tony Esmond, "Christmas with the Super-Heroes" from 1988.

Have a listen to the podcast here.

Saturday, December 05, 2020

DAVE PROWSE TRIBUTE COMIC


I'm working on a tribute comic to Dave Prowse.

Darth Vader in Star Wars, Julian in A Clockwork Orange, Frankenstein's monster, and of course, The Green Cross Code Man. All will be included!

Thursday, November 26, 2020

Tuesday, November 24, 2020

Monday, November 09, 2020

MY POLITICAL INSIGHT

I'm working on a comic called, "My Political Insight".

Here's a sneak preview panel:

Saturday, November 07, 2020

RACE INTO SPACE!


Race into Space! is a new anthology from The Lakes International Comic Art Festival.

It features the work of Martin Cater, Ed Doyle, Craig Fletcher, Naomi D’Silva, Alan Holloway, David Livens, John Maybury, James Newell, Gavin Pollock, and Richard Woods.

I'm in there too with my story "Journey into Space (Interrupted)." Here's a wee preview:




You can read the entire anthology online here.

Thursday, November 05, 2020

LIGETHQ


Marc Casilli has drawn a few guest comics for me over the years, and he recently talked about his appearance in Mount a Rescue.

I can't understand what he's saying, and can only assume he's expressing how grateful he is to be in the comic, that it was the happiest working situation he's ever experienced, and the comics he drew are his very best art to date.

His video can be viewed here.

Tuesday, November 03, 2020

Tuesday, October 27, 2020

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.

Thursday, October 22, 2020

FUNTIME COMICS #33: TALES FROM PANDEMIA

 

The latest edition of New Zealand based anthology Funtime Comics is out now!

Featuring Aaron Christiansen, Richard Clinghan, Simon Fletcher, Shaun Garea, Bob Gibbons, Alex Hallatt, Sarah Laing, Jared Lane, Malphunkson, Arcadio Esquivel Mayorga, Eddie Monotone, Karen Phelps, Tony Scanlan, Ryan Scott, Jay Skelton, Henry Sunderland, Paul Terpstra, Zak Waipara, Arthur Whelan, Brent Willis, Brendon Wright, and also me!

For more details, go here.

Friday, October 16, 2020

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

WHAT NEW WORLDS LIE AHEAD pages 1-4


Today I finished painting page four of this comic. 

The photo shows pages one to four.

These pages have all been scanned and blacks added in photoshop.

One more page to go, which will be different than these four.

Tuesday, October 06, 2020

Friday, October 02, 2020

NEVER IRON ANYTHING - Peter Bagge

 

Delighted to be on Tony Esmond's podcast again, this time talking about Peter Bagge's comics.

Have a listen here.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

STAR JAWS #39

The latest issue of Star Jaws is out now from Barnstormer Comics.

It features Robin Barnard, Martin Hand, and Paul B. Rainey.

My story, "Bunker Destruction" also features. Here's a clip:

More information on Star Jaws over at the Images Degrading Forever website here.

Monday, September 28, 2020

Saturday, September 26, 2020

THAT COMIC SMELL: Who are you, again? (Character changes)

 

The new episode is online now, discussing how different character have changed and evolved over the years.

From the website:

"Hello everyone!

In this episode of the pod we dive into characters that have REALLY changed over time. We mainly cover ones that have changed in design from their first iterations but we also go a little deeper and cover some other angles.

This and all the usual comics chat on…

That Comic Smell!

Get us on…

Soundcloud: tinyurl.com/y8vzeh3c

Spotify: tinyurl.com/y2qtu2cs

YouTube: tinyurl.com/yajnxcno

Apple Podcasts: tinyurl.com/hwbqxab

Podbean: tinyurl.com/yxvecykj

and most places you find podcasts.

Love and Rockets (Los Bros Hernandez)

Dennis the Menace (Beano, George Mooney, Davey Law)

Bananaman (The Nutty/Dandy, John Geering)

Drax the Destroyer (Jim Starlin, Mike Friedrich)

Garfield (Jim Davis)

Venom (Todd McFarlane)

Harley Quinn (Paul Dinin, Bruce Timm)

Catwoman (Bill Finger, Bob Kane)

Dragonball Z (Akira Toriyama)

Dan Dare (Frank Hampson, Ian Kennedy, Alan Moore :P Jokes, Grant Morrison, Dave Gibbons, Gary Erskine and many more)

Robin (Bill finger, Bob Kane, Jerry Robinson)

Iron Man (Stan Lee, Don Heck, Jack Kirby, Larry Lieber)

Nick Fury (Stan Lee, Jack Kirby)

Captain Marvel (Stan Lee, Gene Colan)"