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.

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 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.........

New comics work coming along!

Well when I'm quiet, it usually means there's things cooking away in the background, which is indeed currently the case!

Firstly we're gearing up for the long awaited return to the world's largest steampunk festival, Asylum in a few weeks time, which means work is now finished on Accent UK's third in the trilogy of Asylum themed comics, featuring stories and fun all inspired by people and events encountered at the awesome event, edited by Dave West with many fab contributions.

Not sure I should yet reveal Gary Crutchley's enticing cover, but here's a wee look at designer, Andy Bloor's contents page;

We decided not to kickstart this one, allowing festival goers to be the very first to get their hands on it, with subsquent details and appearances to follow. Where best to find us at Asylum is also subject to final confirmation with strong rumours that Lincoln's Castle's old Victorian prison may be the best place, unless we can find a decent lawyer of course!

Gearing up then for an autumn/fall release will finally be the new collected Zulu:Water Cart rescue graphic novel, inspired by true events during the victorian Anglo-Zulu War at Rorke's Drift. It's been a wee while coming but hopefully be worth the wait for everyone!

More details on these releases and future appearance at events, including Asylum to follow!

Welcome 2022!

                                                            HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Well we may all be a bit battered and bruised by 2021 (and 2020!) but we made it this far so best pick ourselves up and get on with it!

I generally don't announce a lot of the plans I make as, a bit like 2021 (and 2020!), they don't always come off but I am fairly well placed to make the year ahead a special one for all those who have been patient with me in recent times with regards to new comic releases!

Yes this year should finally be the one - or did I say that last year - well a bit like Beetlejuice or was it Candyman?, I don't want to say the name three times but this;

 will;

 finally;

 happen!!

Watch this space!