Accent UK are Comic Heroes!

 

Ha! Ha! we'd almost forgotten about this but the latest Comic Heroes magazine is sure to be a best seller as it features a wee spotlight on Accent UK and interview with Dave West!

It's a lovely two page spread conducted by Miles Hamer who contacted Dave after recently reading his Whatever Happened to The Invisible Man? title. I assisted a wee bit and supplied the images and am delighted that it's come out so well - and amazed that I found a decent photo of Dave to use!

The same issue also features long time peer - and recent Copenhagen Comics companion, John Anderson of Soaring Penguin Press and my newly made chum from Stoke, Marc Jackson, who I understand regularly supplies a strip for the mag.

All in all its a good read and, as they say, available from all good newsagents - but grab it quick, that pic of Dave ensures it won't stay on the shelves for long!  

Stoked for More!

Just a few words about Sunday's Stoke-Con-Tent which was good fun in a bright sunny day in the potteries. Gary and I were making our second appearance at the twice yearly show and were joined by Gary's long term chum Chris Przygrodzki who is also making his Accent UK artistic debut with Tales of WesterNoir 3!

The Staffs University team couldn't have made us feel more welcome with smooth friendly set-up and regular check-ins throughout the day offering us teas and coffees and water - they even offered a certain Dave West's favourite tipple of Earl Grey which I'm sure he would approve of, even if he couldn't make the trip this time.

The Accent UK emporium all set up

Fun and enjoyable as it was, it was noticeably quieter than our previous October experience, possibly only half as busy? A number of factors came into play, the warm day, a number of rival shows (we counted 5!) including one in North Wales, not too far away, but the biggest one was that with it being the start of Easter, the uni itself had just 'broken up' the previous Friday, meaning many students had already made the trip home.

Things you only see at Comic-Con's, Chewbacca, a Dalek and a Starship drinks vendor!

This reduction in attendance was reflected in our sales which were just over 1/2 of the previous October, but being a local show, its inexpensive to attend so we were still happy with things and there are worst ways of spending a Sunday - Gary had skipped doing DIY for example!

Oliver had great taste as well as a great costume!

We all took the opportunity to have a look round the show and although I didn't make it to all the attractions, it was clear there was a nice vibe about the place. In addition to the uni staff who run the cartoon and animation course, Gary and I caught up with some of the students we'd previously met when we'd been invited in to speak after the October event, and see how their work was progressing - as well as the challenges of the course itself, the students are all encouraged to prepare for and exhibit at the con which is a real test for them to display and sell their work for the first time! What a great opportunity to learn from though in this friendly environment, both Gary and I were impressed when we visited and bemoaned the fact that there was nothing available to us when we were their age, however long ago that was!

Gary and I at the uni last October - hope I was talking sense!

 

Cheesy grins all round!

I was particularly pleased to catch up again with Jessica Martin, a musical actress and entertainer who we've gotten to know these last 2 or 3 years as she's bravely added 'comic creator' to her resume. Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious and I was pleased to hear of her forthcoming comics projects, including turning her own colourful life into a graphic novel to be published by Unbound, and is currently the subject of a fund raising campaign which I had already happily backed. Jessica was at Stoke embracing her Doctor Who pedigree where she played werewolf 'Mags' to Sylvester McCoy's Doctor, so it was good to chat to her about that and also with her long time chum, Bob, who frequently accompanies her on these excursions.

Jessica and Bob

Caught up with most of the other comic creators attending, albeit briefly in some cases - see the poster in my previous Stoke post for full line-up! Also met Marc Jackson for the first time who is an artist who's worked for the Beano, ACES Weekly and produced his own work and, it turns out, is fairly local to me in Cheshire. We have a few mutual contacts and Marc is also involved in comic events, more of which later!

Right, so yes a good enjoyable day in the sun and a show we'd hope to return to again - possibly this October, if they'll have us!

My little Stoke haul including some student comics

Stoke Con-Trent !

Here's a spiffing new image for this Sunday's Stoke-Con-Trent Comic Convention where Gary Crutchley, new Tales of WesterNoir artist, Chris Przygrodzki and yours truly are all attending! This is a popular show held every 6 months or so at Staffordshire University campus with a fine mixture of new, established and up and coming comic creators alongside some familiar names from TV & Film including Doctor Who, Star Wars, Game of Throne, Power Ranger and Walking Dead etc actors!

Here's a few pictures of when we first attended last October and if its anything like that one, it should be fun, come along and say 'hi' if you're around :)

2017 Tour List Updated!

No it's not an April fool, but since it is April, I thought I should finally reveal our 'tour' schedule for 2017! Better late than never considering that we've already made appearances at Copenhagen in February and Liverpool in March! Both of which were fun shows, books were sold and photos taken so you never know a write-up may (or may not) follow!

One thing to note though about this year is that although we intended to return to most of last year's shows and maybe take in one or two new ones, possibly breaking 2016's record of 16 shows, this won't now be the case. Due to changing circumstances, logistics and a couple of date clashes mean that the planned DemonCon, Dunfermilne, Killarney, Oxford, Belfast and Glasgow events are now missing from our itinerary!

Replacing them though are an early return to Stoke (next weekend!) and new appearances at Enniskillen and Glenrothes and a decision to 'split' the Accent UK team to cover both September's Glasgow MCM and Leeds Thought Bubble shows which now share a date. It's not been easy and hopefully there may be one or two still to squeeze in but again shows the hopefully 'rude' health of the UK comic convention scene at the moment as there are still dozens of other shows out there that we just couldn't consider without cloning ourselves!

So there we are, keep an eye here and on twitter and facebook for further updates but still plenty of chances to catch us this coming year and see what new releases we have planned, the first of which will be available at the aforementioned Stoke Con Trent show next Sunday, where alongside yours truly, Gary Crutchley and artist Chris Przygrodzki will be in attendance to launch Tales of WesterNoir #3, Accent UK's first release of 2017!

Gary Crutchley scripted & Chris Przygrodzki illustrated!

Going A Little Further!

The above David Bowie quote is something that I took to heart at the end of January to give me a challenging February and (bit of) March as I ventured into unknown waters and as the man says it was "the right place to do something exciting".

The results of my labours are I believe now out there and I will share here as soon as I can. Needless to say it involves two of my favourite things, comics and history!

Coming to Copenhagen!

The splendid show poster from Kerascoet!

Excusing the bad grammar above, Accent UK are dusting off their passports to make our first convention appearance of the year and what better place to start than Copenhagen Comics!

One of, if not, our favourite show which is always very different in approach and atmosphere to every other show we do and one we've been attending bi-annually since it started in 2004!! Really looking forward to catching up with our many Scandinavian friends and creators as well as fellow Brits including Garen Ewing and Cliodhna (Ztocial) who are making their own return trips.

That said the move from Summer to Winter may test us so maybe we should seek some local beverages to keep us warm! We'll see! For those attending we're at a large stand - number 23 - at the same central venue as recent years;

Details of all fellow exhibitors can be found here and details of homegrown and international guests here  and here including Tom Gauld who we've not seen recently. The guest list is always electic and apart from Tom (and Garen obviously!) I'm really excited to see Boulet again (John Anderson of UK's Soaring Penguin will be equally delighted), one half of Kerascoet (see poster above and the wonderfully macabre Miss Don't Touch and Beautiful Darkness) and Grzegorz Rosinski of Thorgal fame, of which Scott and I saw a wonderful exhibition of at the Comic Art Museum in Brussels a couple of years ago!

 

Hopefully there will be some new discoveries too!

Both my wee Moments of Adventure and the WesterNoir trade will be making their Danish debut along with, I think, 6 releases since our last trip, so something new for everyone!



















Sadly in a very late development, Gary Crutchley is now having to miss the trip which he was eagerly looking forward to and will watch proceedings from afar and hold the Accent UK fort at this end. We'll be thinking of you Gary and trying not to enjoy ourselves too much!

Right, off we go! 

Back from Berlin?

Mmm a wee trip to Berlin was preceeded by some exciting news which can't yet be revealed but is keeping me oh so quiet and very busy from updating so here's a few scenic shots.....