Museum Cover Story!

On a recent London visit, Scott visited the National Army Museum in Chelsea where he proudly reported that my 'comics installation display' was still there which I was delighted to hear. The project is a few years old now but the fact it has been retained following a re-modelling of the original gallery it was commissioned for was welcome news.

The original brief was to show how Society's portrayal of the military had evolved over the years in various forms of media and following a successful tender exercise, I was selected to write and illustrate this aspect for the comics medium from Victorian story papers through to the popular 1960's & 1970's boys comics, adapting my storytelling and art style accordingly. I worked with the museum curation team to identify relevant publications from each era to feature and the ever talented Matt Soffe coloured my approved artwork. The outcome was a multipaged 'flip book' on display in the museum gallery for visitors to read and learn from.

I've previously written about various parts of the process, including here and here so thought I'd briefly share my rough sketches for what would become the project's cover. I'd already conceived that the story content would be viewed through the eyes of a news vendor, so having a newspaper type masthead seemed a logical fit, 'thumbnailing'  a couple of options.

The central paperboy figure option was selected allowing soldiers from different eras to be featured 'bursting' out of the comic pages within and away we went. I also sneaked in a couple of my favourite Zulu War combatants in although they don't feature on the era spreads within! Matt's dramatic colours really add drama and a period feel to things to give everything a polish for the finished article.

Here's Scott in the re-modelled gallery a couple of weeks ago and I'm hoping to visit again myself before too long. 

You may be interested to know that after consultation with the museum, I recently adapted my artwork and content to form a new short booklet to provide an affectionate and nostalgic view of the war comics of yester year and take a brief look at recent modern graphic novels dealing with themes of conflict entitled, WAR COMICS 'A Memento'. Only a short number of this publication are available directly from me at my convention and festival appearances.    

Yeti's are fun to draw!

Here's a fun wee panel of mine that makes me chuckle for some reason, ably coloured by Matt Soffe of course. I've always loved Yeti's, whether it was Tintin in Tibet or those Taun Taun's from Empire Strikes Back, so it was delight to have a bit of fun with one for this short strip I did for the Scottish charity comic, Life Support in aid of CHAS, where a black and white version appeared in our natural dialect.

On This Day.......A King's Legacy!

Today being the 147th anniversary of dramatic events in Zululand & Natal, I'm pleased to confirm my participation in a forthcoming community day honouring the spirit, history and heritage of 1879.

The event is hosted by our friends and trustees of the Royal Welsh Museum at Brecon Barracks where the 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot - later the South Wales Borderers - who served in the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879 were based.

I've been lucky enough to visit the remarkable museum there several times over the years most recently for their Goodwill Zulu Festival of two years ago which was a memorable day.   

Members of the Zulu Royal Family were in attendance with a guard of honour and drill presentations from longtime re-enactment chums the Die Hards. Zulu dance and music troupe led by Busi Mhlanga , a Welsh Male Voice Choir (from Aberhonddu I believe) and lots of other attractions and activities including yours truly all ably compared by Glyn Baker (son of  the ZULU movie produce Stanley, no less) and historian John Young among others.

It was quite something I'll be honest, being able to discuss and present my ZULU: Water Cart Rescue graphic novel to HRH Princess Zama-Zulu Shange and Glyn Baker and celebrate a shared heritage and connection of echoes past amongst so many like minded people.

I'll certainly be looking forward to making a return trip to Brecon this March to re-connect with so many of the fine folks who were there and see what new adventures await.  

The fabulous Beatrice & Busi showcasing my work!

Stop The Cavalry! SALUTE 53!

CHARGE! Things coming together a little for this year's convention and festival appearances so delighted to confirm that I'll be returning to SALUTE the popular wargaming event at London's Excel on 11 April! This year will be the 53rd event hosted by The South London Warlords club, an amazing achievement, with cavalry this year's selected theme, promising an exciting exclusive figure to catch for the first 500 attendees!

This year will be my 5th consecutive time exhibiting with, thankfully, each year improving on the last as myself and my historical themed comics get better known for which I am grateful and just the inspiration I need to keep focused on creating new art. 

The show is held at London's ExCel Centre and I'm at traders space TJ16, a similar spot to last year, so if you can make the show (which I recommend), please stop by and say hello.

Oh and the committee recently shared the welcome news that last year's event won the Wargames Illustrated magazine's award for best show of the year - HUZZAH!

Ten Years Gone

 

Doesn't seem like ten years as his music remains a constant part of my life, comforting, inspiring and just great to listen (and dance) too. Been lots of lovely tributes around which I've dipped in and out off but the music is the one I return to again and again. 

I'm pleased that I bought and played Blackstar before he died and had a chance to absorb it a little before the sad news emerged a couple of days later.

Something happened on the day he died and the stars look very different today. 

Thought Bubble Comic Festival 2025!

 

Yay Thought Bubble Comic Festival in this weekend in lovely Harrogate - let's hope the weather matches the surroundings! This year I'm in the same hall as last year, re-named 2000AD Hall, at Table B46. Please stop by if you can and say hi - I've a few new surprises!

Buxton Bonus!

A catch up at Sale led to joining the line up for the Sunday's Buxton Comic-Con! The event and others of organiser, Steven Howard, has been on my radar for a while but for various reasons dates or logistics didn't quite work out, so having a free day, was delighted to attend.

Buxton's only an hour or so from home so a delightful and scenic drive got me there in good time to set up with pleasant surprise of being next to actor Willie Coppen who's featured in many fine movies including Star Wars, Return of the Jedi, Willow, Snow White and the Witcher TV series amongst many he can't yet talk about! I've met Willie a couple of times in recent years and he's always great company.

It turned out to be a very enjoyable day, a slow start but the mild weather brought folk out and being free entry, there was a steady stream of visitors keen to chat and browse comics alongside the many other attractions and traders. 

My ZULU graphic novel generated a lot of interest and chats as it tends to do with folk who like me,  the movie had resonated with, and I ended up selling out of the hardback copies I'd taken which was encouraging, several being bought for gifts as 'hard to buy for' dads!

A fun day out and glad to finally get to one of Steven's events, hopefully I'll get to another before too long, unless that pesky dinosaur gets me - I don't think he Sawaurus!