Saturday, November 29, 2008

Winterview

THERE'S a new interview with me up at the Comic Related website, here.

Conducted by David O'Leary (not that one), it covers everything from Hero Killers and Tim Skinner to David Hasselhoff and Liam Gallagher!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Septic Isle US


Mick Trimble and I's Septic Isle graphic novella hit comic stores in the States yesterday. Just in time for Thanksgiving when everywhere will be closed!

Still, it's 52 pages, perfect-bound, with a wraparound cover by Eagle Award-winning artist Declan Shalvey - all for under six bucks!

More info here: www.britainisbroken.com

Monday, November 24, 2008

Larking around in Dublin

"So, you've been writing Doctor Who..."
Daredevil artist Michael Lark to me in the Park Inn Hotel bar, Dublin. He'd mistaken me for Paul Cornell (I think).

I attended the Dublin City Comic Con over the weekend and had a ridiculously enjoyable time. I'd carried 100 comics over with me on the plane and sold over 90 of them. All 50 copies of Tim Skinner: Total Scumbag went and the book received a hugely encouraging response from punters and professionals alike.

Indeed, Dec and I did a panel with Jonathan Hickman (The Nightly News, Pax Romana, Secret Warriors) and he told us he thought the book was "fucking hilarious" and that we should submit it to Image pronto.

The Dublin Con isn't the biggest comics-related event I've ever been to nor the busiest but the fans that turned up seemed very keen to get their hands on stuff they hadn't seen before. This was perfect for me as a first-time exhibitor and selling my stuff at a little bit less than usual to encourage sales worked wonders. British small pressers and indie publishers really should think about giving Dublin a go next year, especially as Bristol is downsizing for 2009.

Of course, the other crucial part of any con worth its salt is the social aspect and Dublin didn't disappoint there either. In fact, I preferred the cosy, intimate atmosphere in the Park Inn Hotel bar after the con each day to the chaos and noise of the Ramada at Bristol. I met some great people too, among them IDW artists Stephens Mooney and Thompson and their partners, Dec's hilarious mate John Skelton, writer/artist Paddy Brown and colourist extraordinaire Matt Hollingsworth.

My favourite moment of the whole show, though, was when an elderly chap who'd been propping up the hotel bar for most of the weekend accosted Dec for an autograph after being told he was the writer of Spider-Man. The look on Dec's face as the guy continued to pester him even after Dec had told him he had nothing to do with Spidey was absolutely priceless! Dec eventually gave him an autograph, too.

All in all, I really can't recommend the Dublin con enough - the organisers always pull together an impressive guest-list (Jim Lee, Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch in previous years; Michael Lark, Dan Slott and Tommy Lee Edwards this time), the atmosphere is friendly and fun, and, if you're a self-publisher, chances are you'll do decent business.

I'll probably pop back here later in the week to talk about a few of the Irish comics I bought over the weekend...

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Skinner invades Dublin

THE Tim Skinner: Total Scumbag one-shot is back from the printer and is ready for its debut at this weekend's Dublin City Comic Con. Guests for the weekend include: Dan Slott (writer of She Hulk, the Amazing Spider-Man), Adi Granov (Artist Iron Man), Olivier Copiel (Artist Thor), Jonathan Hickman (Writer/Artist The Nightly News, Pax Romana), Tommy Lee Edwards (Artist Marvel 1985), Michael Lark (Artist Dardevil, Gotham Central) and Paul Cornell (Writer Captain Britain And MI:13, Doctor Who).

I'm heading off to the Con late Friday morning and should touch down at Dublin Airport sometime after six in the evening (yes, I know short-haul flights are very bad for the environment but I haven't set foot on a plane in three-and-a-half years so I doubt my carbon footprint is enormous). I've never been to Dublin before (and Ireland only once) so it's something I'm really looking forward to. Dec and I have a table from which punters will be able to purchase the usual catalogue of superior Moonface Press product, plus Dec's frankly marvellous Frankenstein graphic novel. If you're at the Con, please come and say "Hi". And, y'know, buy our stuff.

Skinner only costs €3 (about £2.50) for 36 full-colour pages (30 pages of story, a letters page and a bit of deleted script) on gorgeous thick glossy paper. It looks so lovely, in fact, that you won't know whether to read it or snog it!

Monday, November 10, 2008

Skinner and stuff


Tim Skinner: Total Scumbag is finished and with the printer. Dec and I are both very proud of our latest collaboration and can't wait to get it out there. The 36-page, full-colour book will make its debut at the Dublin City Comic Con over the weekend of November 22-23 and will then go through the process of being submitted to Diamond.

You can find out more about the Dublin event here: www.dublincitycomiccon.com

Oh, and here's the blurb from the book's back cover for anyone not up to speed with the idea behind Tim Skinner...

"Soon after Tim Skinner inherited his grandfather's old comic book collection he discovered something extraordinary - it was magic and by making a simple wish he could step into the pages of any of the fabulous four-colour fantasies his heart desired. He could hang out with cowboys, futuristic robots or whingeing adolescent mutants.

Unfortunately, Tim is a loathsome piece of garbage and instead of enjoying fun and frolics in a universe of action and adventure he brutalises and exploits his comic-book chums for his own nefarious ends.

Truly, Tim Skinner is a total scumbag!"

* I'd really hoped to attend the Thought Bubble comics festival in Leeds this weekend but, unfortunately, it clashes with my son's fifth birthday. It's a shame as I've heard nothing but positive things about the event since its debut last year.

* Septic Isle hit UK stores last week and should arrive Stateside in the next fortnight. I know I've been doing this for a while but I still get a little buzz when I walk into a comic shop and see one of my book's shelved alongside other new titles from the likes of Marvel, DC and Image. I'm sad like that.

* There's a cracking Future Shock - called "The Lie" - in last week's 2000AD (PROG 1611) written by my pal Dave Baillie. If you're quick, you should still be able to grab yourself a copy.