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.    

Debuting Books at Thought Bubble!

Thought Bubble have just published a list of many fab debuting books, comics & graphic novels at this year's forthcoming festival - convention weekend on 15th & 16th November!

They've kindly mentioned my latest, WAR COMICS: A Memento with fab colours by Matt Soffe and, all being well, I'll have a few other surprises with me too!

Find me in the Harrogate Convention Centre, the 2000AD Hall (the 2nd or 3rd Hall, depending on which entrance you use - see the festival's handy map here!), table B46.

If you can make it, you won't regret visiting, although your wallet or purse might as there will I'm sure be lots of new tempting comic treats to tempt you!

WAR COMICS!

My latest release is an affectionate exploration of the evolution of British war comics portrayal of military subjects from the 'gung ho' heroism of Victorian story papers, through World War patriotism and eventually the so called 'golden age' of 1970's action and adventure comics.    

The journey is framed from the viewpoint of a news vendor's family experiencing those historical and industry changes first hand and illustrated in the art style appropriate to the publications of the time.

Initially inspired by a commission from the National Army Museum, this was a fun and thought provoking project to pull together and I was delighted to again work with Matt Soffe who did a great job of colouring according to each period's industry practices and available technology.

It's both a nostalgic look at bygone eras but also a reflection on the potential power and influence the comics medium may have on its readers. While war comics may have all but disappeared from British newsagents (hang in there Commando!), there are plenty of graphic novels dealing with the subject of both historic and contemporary conflicts which I highlight and included in my talk at the recent Battles Through History event.  

I had a few advance comics of this at Ardingly which I'll also bring to Wow Comix's 'Spooky-Con' in Sale on Saturday 1st November followed by its official launch at the Thought Bubble Comic Art Festival where I'll be in the 2000AD Hall, table B46!

"Spy Stories, stirring them up!"

Here's a page from my National Army Museum commission for their Society gallery a couple of years ago. The gallery was one of the new features of the museum's major refurbishment telling the story of how the army had been portrayed by Society over the years and how these views changed with the times, highlighting movies, posters, souvenir commemorations etc.

My brief was to show how comics had similarly changed over a broad 100 year timeline from the early Victorian story papers and their celebration of 'Boys Own, Death or Glory' type adventures to post World War One paranoias and subsequent 1970's realities creeping into the comics of my youth, changing my art style, layouts etc to match each era's publications.

This is the 'Inter-war' period between the world wars when paranoia and threats of foreign invasions  were rife, contrasting with glorifying stories of WW1 heroes as a way perhaps of maintaining or manipulating moral, depending on your perspectives.

Glorious colours provided by the excellent and adaptable, Matt Soffe.

It was a fun and almost perfect project for me and my interests but with a punishing deadline ahead of the Queen's official opening! 

Still a project I'm particularly proud of and received many fine comments about. The full project was displayed as a comic 'flip book' for permanent display by the Gallery's entrance. I've not visited since covid, but understand there have been further changes made to the galleries so not sure whether it is currently on view or not? 

My own comics are 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.

2014 Moments in Comics

To finish the 2014 nostalgia, here's my favourite comics & graphic novels from last year. I made it too late to contribute to Forbidden Planet's 'Best Of' articles where I was one of many featured last year, so here's a short summary of what stood out to me;
 

COMMANDO: Great War Stories by George Low & Keith Page, covers by Ian Kennedy

This year, I’ve eagerly followed D C Thomson’s longstanding title as it ambitiously embarked on a monthly tribute to the range of ordinary characters caught up in the extraordinary events of The Great War. The pocket sized Commando format is perfectly suited to these tales across the many theatres of war often highlighting lessor know combatants and conflicts. The stories are necessary stand-alone but, through cameos, contrast the idealistic enlistment dreams of a young newspaper boy with the experiences of those already at war. Although the tales are not the graphic accounts of a Charley’s War or a White Death (see below), they are no less effective in bringing the stories of ordinary soldiers to a wider newsstand audience and that should be praised. Expertly written and illustrated by George Low and Keith Page behind exceptional new Ian Kennedy covers these are well worth seeking out and hopefully will be collected on the series conclusion.

  

WHITE DEATH by Robbie Morrison and Charlie Adlard   

Sticking with the First World War, this is the recent Image Comics re-release of the indie classic to tie in with the war’s centenary. Set in 1916 on the Italian Trentino mountain range it is unflinching in its portrayal of those soldiers caught up in the desperation of war. The futility of conflict is expertly played out through the eyes of a small group of Italian soldiers as their struggles with the enemy and their nihilist commander are dwarfed by the dangerous mountain terrain. The quieter moments really stand out with carefully chosen dialogue and images reflecting the horror of the soldiers experiences without being preachy. Not an easy read for sure but an important one, well deserving of its hardcover re-release from two of the UK’s leading talents.

 

MULP: Sceptre of the Sun #1 by Matt Gibbs and Sara Dunkerton

An absolute delight and a charming contrast to not only First World War stories but all other comics I’ve encountered this year. An anthropomorphic pulp adventure full of mice, mystery and exotic locations, what’s not to like! In the best adventure traditions, it’s rollicking fun with an Indiana Jones vibe as our heroes meet by an (alternative) Egyptian archaeological dig where their finds are under dangerous threat from spies working for a mysterious benefactor. Matt Gibbs clever and quick moving script allows Sara Dunkerton plenty of opportunity to show off her artistic skills with many dynamic locations and action scenes. As a fun first issue from two new creators this promises to be the start of something special.
 

 

Honourable mentions to Letty Wilson's delightful WEIRD MOOSE which I witnessed being created at Glasgow Comic-Con,  Top Shelf’s authentic American Civil Rights Movement book, MARCH, Jonathan Cape's SALLY HEATHCOTE: SUFFRAGETTE, Images Comics entertaining MANIFEST DESTINY and enjoyable indies BLACK FEATHER FALLS and HALF HANGED MacNAGHTEN from Soaring Penguin and Uproar Comics respectively.