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!

"You're Lucky We Found A Log!"

A page from 'Pointy Heads', the epilogue story in my ZULU: WATER CART RESCUE graphic novel, about a couple of Zulu children making the dangerous journey to Rorke's Drift, looking for their missing warrior fathers, who haven't returned from the battle there.... 

The graphic novel is currently only available direct from me - see convention appearances on the right, or from contacting or visiting Scott's Pops & Comics comic shop in Warrington, UK.

ZULU Then and Now!

With today's Anglo-Zulu War anniversaries here's a wee look at the movie's location which inspired my interest. The movie was shot in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa but not at Rorke's Drift itself, (which now houses a museum and working church on the original buildings footprint), but at the Royal Natal National Park, some 130 miles away - about 3 hours drive.

It was this location that I started my last SA trip 5 years ago, staying in the park's accommodation, enjoying a traditional braai and having fun exploring some of the parkland, scouting for movie shots.

The natural amphitheatre dominates the landscape and easily matches up with the movie as do several of the surrounding landmarks such as the distinctive knoll which represents Ulundi, the Royal homestead of the Zulu King, Cetshwayo during the opening marriage ceremony scene. 

The landscape hadn't changed much so matching up shots was possible in certain places.

 

Much fun and debate was had walking the ground where the movie that had affected us all was filmed all those years ago.

Didn't quite get perfect matches for some of the famous movie stills, maybe I need to return?

A very memorable trip on a historic occasion, remembered to this day.

Redcoat History - Colin Chats Comics!

Busy, busy but anyone missing my dulcet tones should listen to Chris Parkinson's interview with me discussing the inspiration and development of my Zulu War Comics! This was our full chat as featured on Chris's You Tube channel as part of the Clash of Empires exhibition.

Download the episode here and check out Chris's library of other interesting military history interviews and discussions and if you've not seen Chris and I's fun video chat here.

Battle-Ready Symposium Soldiers!

 

Had an absolute blast at the Anglo-Zulu War, Clash of Empires exhibition which still runs to 31st July and well worth a trip if you can. I'll try and write more when time allows but my two visits so far have both been great particularly the 3 day symposium, informative, interesting and fun, catching up with old and new friends alike, even Lady M enjoyed it!

Thanks to all who came and attended my presentation on the 'Water Cart Rescue' comics inspiration and development. I was a tad nervous beforehand with the calibre of earlier presenters and the audience including sundry Professors, Authors, Historians, Military Officers, Serviceman and lots of enthusiastic history and movie fans but talking about my two main passions, Comics n Zulus, soon relaxed me and thankfully, my talk was well received with some great comments afterwards and a nice spike in comics sold, thank you all very much.

All the talks have been filmed and will I understand, be made available on the exhibition's own youtube channel in due course, keep checking it here. 

Special thanks to John Freeman of comics news site, Down The Tubes, who gave the exhibition and me a wee plug ahead of my talk, much appreciated!

In the meantime, the hardworking and enthusiastic, Chris Parkinson zipped around doing a few 'on the hoof' interviews for his own excellent Redcoat History channel, which you can find here, including the one above with Tim of the Die-Hards, running through the soldier's campaign kit. Very informative and of course, the Die-Hards themselves have been a constant source of inspiration, support and friendship in my own comic endeavours!

I'm currently set for a third trip there before it finishes, so please treat yourself to a visit if you can, it would be a shame to miss it.

Zulu Water Cart Comic Interview !

Well this was fun, please check out the excellent job, Chris Parkinson has done of our wee interview chatting about my Zulu Wars comic :)

Also check Chris's own Redcoat History youtube playlists and archives for lots more of Zulu and many other Victorian campaigns, its a real treasure trove of great interviews and historic content you don't find anywhere else, click here for the link or go to my sidebar.

And don't forget that the Clash of Empires Anglo-Zulu War exhibition is now in full swing and is really excellent, if you have any interest in the period or just want to see things you wouldn't normally encounter and chat to folk who are passionate about the history, you don't want to miss out!

Clash of Empires!

Aha, coming round quicker than a fast approaching Zulu impi is the much anticipated Anglo-Zulu War Exhibition, 'Clash of Empires' which opens tomorrow at the Spear Museum of The Royal Philatelic Society in London!

This has been a long road and a real labour of love for everyone involved, but with challenges overcome promises to be very special with the largest public display of artifacts from the period in living memory. 

Much more to follow including the special symposium on the middle weekend with loads of authoritative speakers including yours truly making a presentation on my Zulu Wars Comic!

In the meantime, you can find out more and order tickets on their website here , see the youtube channel here and more including a short interview with co-curator, Alex Haimann, at the always excellent Redcoat History channel here

Really looking forward to seeing everything and catching up with many old friends not seen since my last trip to Kwa-Zulu Natal, including this fine looking fellow!

USUTHU!

New Comic Incoming!!!!

Yes, the rumours are true, the new colour edition of my long out of print 'cult comic classic' returns in a swanky new edition in glorious colour from Matt Soffe!

I could and will say more, but its quite a journey and true to the end I'm dashing off for its debut appearance this weekend at the previously mentioned SALUTE wargaming show! So will leave it there for now, but yes I'm totally pleased with it, finally! :)

New Art Prints Incoming!

Ooo these turned out nice, in a very busy delivery day yesterday, received these new art prints too, but why oh why, I wonder?

New Events Incoming!

Aha, as promised, I've updated the 2023 'tour' schedule with a few of the confirmed events for this year, some new and some very, very exciting, including this Saturday's Salute Wargaming show, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary!

This follows my debut there at Salute's previous show, way back in 2021! I really enjoyed the experience, even if they were clearly a little subdued given the covid situation we were all in at the time and indoor events were only really slowly emerging. Sensibly, they opted out of 2022 to allow the new committee time to fully plan their anniversary event so here we are. This year I return to table TE05 and hopefully we'll experience the full Salute in all its glory, if only I'd something new out.........

Look Out?

Look Out indeed as progress continue with a much cherished project! Things are happening and a number of 2023 comic shows and events, including a very unique one are confirmed, but I best get back to work, so thanks again for patience and interest - watch this space!

USUTHU!

Some quiet reflection to remember the 22 January 1879 events in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa which impacted on so many and still echoes in history today. I have previously mentioned the memorable trip I made in returning to the battlefields in 2019 as part of the 140th anniversary and while much has changed, annual commemoration events continue to be held at both iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift. 

This year, I only had the chance to rewatch the movie Zulu Dawn to mark the occasion and from afar,  watched with interest those able to attend this year's activities, fondly recalling my own visits and those I shared the experience with.

The UK's Die Hards at Rorke's Drift 22 January 2019

Making a new friend at the iSandlwana battlefield 2019

The Die Hards preparing to 'hold the line' 

Historian & Author Ian Knight points out the Zulu positions
 at iSandlwana (Jan 2019)

There are some tours and travel planned this year but at the moment, it's sadly unlikely I'll be able to join those overseas but something special much closer to home is looking promising which I'll update further when able and provides a further incentive to release you know what!.

Late in the evening

The sky and surroundings of Rorke's Drift late in the evening of the 22nd January 1879 bear the scars of the day's intense fighting. Tired, desperate with everything hanging in the balance, the battle's outcome is far from clear. 

A couple of quiet but tense panels from my forthcoming re-mastered Zulu Water Cart Rescue comics, art by me, colours by Matt Soffe.

22-1-22

 

22nd January always resonates being the anniversary of both the Battles of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift back in 1879 which had a profound impact on the Zulu Nation which still echoes today, 143 years on. Certainly in recent years, the Zulus themselves have taken their own history centre stage and commemorate their ancestors victory at iSandlwana with memorial services, speeches, re-enactments in an almost celebratory fashion.

I  was lucky enough to witness this for myself on the memorable 140th anniversary battlefields trip three years ago where, with a small group of intrepid adventurers we toured and explored various significant sites in deepest Zululand paying our own respects as invited guests, (as part of historian Ian Knight's group) at iSandlwana and a more intimate affair at Rorke's Drift, both attended by the UK's splendid Die Hards, re-enactment group.

I treasure these memories and the moments spent chatting with Zulu, South African and British travellers all of whom paid their respects to those fallen all those years ago, which I do so again today and remembering those who, since that trip, are no longer with us.