Battles Through History Returns!

Delighted to support the return of Battles Through History, a multi-period military show in early October, last year was great fun and this year promises to be bigger and better. The full programme of events is about to be published so please keep an eye on their website here or their regularly updated facebook page here, where I was delighted to provide some header artwork as shown above!

Return the SALUTE!

 

Yay! A welcome return to the UK's largest wargaming show this weekend in London for SALUTE! Amazingly will be my fourth time exhibiting with my comics, art & more and each time I'm feeling more comfortable with the event being as its, obviously, not a traditional comics one. However being as many of my comics have a historical or fantasy basis there is a crossover with people's interests who would not otherwise likely come across my work. 

This year I'm in a different corner of the Excel convention space at TJ16 which, as you come in, is towards the back, bottom right as you'll see on the website's main map here. If you're able to attend, please stop by and say hello!

Travelling Through Time!

Well what a fab fun time we had waay down south in the previously unvisited (by us) South of England showground in West Sussex showground for Battles Through History!

As previously mentioned this was the first of a new annual multi-period military living history show with many attractions from the fantastic arena battle and drill displays, encampments, vehicles, vintage village, traders market, wargames, steampunks, pirates & more!

I was invited to join their military authors upstairs in the fancy Norfolk Pavilion which had fab panoramic views of the arena showground below where we all had a fun time given a schedule of interesting talks and presentations in the well appointed facilities. 

For a first event it was very well organised but there were some unexpected late difficulties with signage which ultimately resulted in a reduced footfall for our area. That said we had a fine community spirit going and did what we could to make ourselves more visible and the situation improved over the weekend with those who found us being supportive of our work and leaving us positive about next year.

Karen & I helped fly the Steampunk Flag at the show!

 

With fellow Zulu inspired author DJG Palmer & Alec 

With Gentleman and 'Chosen Man' Jason Salkey!

We managed a couple of strolls round part of the vast showground during our lunch breaks and got a very small taste of the scale of the show and the varied sights and attractions on offer. Here then is a  snapshot of what we encountered which I'm sure doesn't do the event justice. All in all though, we really enjoyed the show and plan to return next year if we have the opportunity, Huzzah! 

Napoleonic War Display!

American Civil War Battle

WW1 Sussex Yeomanry in Action!

The Hampshire Pipe Band!

Deborah II on loan from Norfolk Tank Museum!

A small sample of the many military vehicles on display!

'The Thin Red Line' original army tunics (sadly not Zulu War)

A War game diorama of Tel-El-Kebir!

The UK Virtual Military Show!

Battles Through History!

Really excited about this forthcoming event! It's a brand new large scale multi-period historical re-enactment show with lots and lots of extra features including living history, military vehicles, movie props, model making etc and a military author pavilion of which I've been invited to!

The show has been planned for a long-time and I've been 'onboard' for some time - you may have had a flyer from me or in my special ZULU: Water Cart Rescue packs but its finally here, funny how these things creep up on you when you're busy!

Please visit their informative website for full details of the many re-enactment groups attending, the programme and many varied attractions including a Steampunk Corner from the Surrey Steampunk Convivial which I'll be sure to visit :)

I'll be based in the glamourous sounding 'Norfolk Pavilion' where I'm also providing two talks; 

Saturday 10:40: Some You Win, Some Zulus! 

Join Comic Creator Colin Mathieson for an illustrated talk on the making of his graphic novel, Zulu:Water Cart Rescue, inspired by a real life dramatic event not featured in the famous Michael Caine movie. Hear about his creative journey from a small Scottish town to the legendary Rorke's Drift battlefield!

Sunday 10:40: History of War Comics! 

From Victorian Story Papers, Boy's Own Adventures to Commando, The Victor and modern conflict journalism, illustrating war has proved a rich and inspiring subject for artists and writers as an effective means of reaching a wide and youthful audience. Join Comic creator Colin Mathieson in this informal talk and illustrated presentation of how comics have portrayed war over the last hundred years.

Zulu: Water Cart Rescue comic interview!

 

With the current Zulu War anniversaries, here's another chance to see Chris Parkinson's fun wee interview with me on his excellent Redcoat History Channel regarding the Rorke's Drift Water Cart Rescue sortie and my adaptation of it into my comic strip!

The expanded deluxe hardcover is exclusively available from Scott's Pop's & Comics in Warrington or direct from me at forthcoming convention and festival appearances!

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.

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!

Salute Salute50!

Ian Knight, Alex Haimann & Me meeting for the first time since 2019!

Wow, that was fun! All that preparation, planning, travelling and then the day itself just speeds by, far too quickly and SALUTE50 was over as quick as it begun!

I was delighted with the response that my new release, ZULU: WATER CART RESCUE received and felt justified in attending the event with the interest and many encouraging comments received. That said, SALUTE is of course a wargaming show with models, figures, paints and the many, many game displays being people's priority, so this remains very much an outreach event for comics and one that I'm willing to invest the time and energy in to see if a successful crossover can be made to justify the expense in attending. 

One thing I may have to do is make the fact that my books are comics more obvious, as despite the various signage and displays, many thought that I was selling Zulu War gaming rules and were interested if any figures were being produced or recommending manufacturers existing sets to suite such a venture! Most saw the funny side and were intrigued enough by the comics concept to give them a try but it is something I need to address in future.

Check out Warspite's video for a great SALUTE50 overview and a wee cameo after 09:30!

The event itself was certainly much busier than the previous covid hit 2021 one and everyone was saying that it was 'back' in terms of attendance and atmosphere so it was nice to fully experience the show that had enticed me previously. Certainly the new organising committee seemed to pull out the stops by adding many features such as panel talks, increased demonstration and participation games to give attendees more to do than just shop, which in turn encouraged them to stay at the show for longer so it didn't markedly drop off early afternoon like before.

With Tim and James of the Die Hards in mufti!

A personal highlight was of course catching up with chums that I'd not seen since my last South African trip in 2019, with historian and author Ian Knight and fellow enthusiast (and exhibition curator) Alex Haimann and Tim Rose and James Dix of the Die Hards - although I'd of course seen Tim at Salute in 2021. Our time was brief together but well spent with updates, ideas and more being discussed and shared ahead of July's very exciting Clash of the Empires exhibition, more to follow!

My handy backing table restock and display items

Being kept busy at the table I didn't really get the chance to look round the show myself but there are already a few videos like the one above on YouTube to give you a feel of the event. Not enough time to see everything was a common theme but I guess the additional venue and related costs may make an extension to two days prohibitive but we'll see.

The only game I did see was the really quite wonderful, Battle of Ntombi River wargame display presented by the Hornchurch Wargames Club from, of course the Zulu War! This was fabulous to see  and discuss with one of the Club members and of course Ian Knight who I had visited the real scene with in 2010 and 2014, a special moment indeed. 

Ian & I at Ntombe in 2014 after wading across the river!

So there you are, over in a flash but a lovely memorable day with a few other highlights and potential contacts made so hopefully worthwhile overall and I do enjoy trying different types of events to spread the word of independent comics so would like to return next time too, fingers-crossed. Thanks to all who stopped and chatted and showed interest in my efforts, very much appreciated and of course sincere congratulations to the South London Warlords on their 50th anniversary, here's to many more. 

But overall just delighted to finally get my ZULU comic out there in the wild, USUTHU!