Dans La Tete De Sherlock Holmes!

My Accent UK buddy, Dave West actually spotted this great article on John Freeman's ever reliable Down The Tubes comics news site before I did and I thought it sounded familiar?

Checking out John's excellent article confirmed by thoughts, that this was one of the BD's I picked up when last in Brussels in summer 2019 - oh for the days of eazy, safe European travel to return!. 

I've long since fallen in love with the 9th Art since making our first trip to France many years ago and since then have steadily built up a sizeable collection of tomes, most of which have never been translated into English. 

My Francais sadly remains basic, but with strong art, a dictionary and a bit of perserverance, you can get the gist of a well told story and I've taken delight and inspiration from my BD souvenirs over the years in a way that a holiday T-shirt or trinket just can't match!.

In any case, The Sherlock Holmes book really caught my eye with it's distinctive art and cover, which like most BD's is hardback but with a unique die-cut so you can indeed see "Inside the Mind" of the great detective! 

The interiors follow this novel idea with intrically designed pages, panels and pictures which carry you carefully through the story, following the clues and making discoveries as you go - it's a real visual treat with lots of innovative tricks to enjoy along the way.    

The creators, Cyril Lieron and Benoit Dahan make a great team and have really come up with a fun and novel way of giving new life to the old detective.

We are lucky these days that more and more European works have now been translated into English so we can finally fully enjoy them and many of my recent favourite reads have come from Cinebook or IDW EuroComics impressive Corto Maltese or Magnetic Press's Sergi Toppi collection etc. In his article John hopes that someone too will pick up this Sherlock Holmes series so fingers-crossed, in the meantime I'd settle for being able to safely travel to Europe again and pick up the next installments in person! 

Bram Stoker's Dracula - The Graphic Novel Adaptation!

It seems a long time since I posted about some of my favourite reads, which is a shame as I'm probably reading more graphic novels and comics than I've done for a long time - thanks to my favourite local comic shop, Scott's Pops & Comics!

This doesn't necessary mean I'm up to date with things, although again I am reading and aware of contemporary releases far more than before, but at least I am catching up with things as they come to me or I re-discover them from a previous reading pile or forgotten shelf! So, without committing to doing a full 'best of', I will as time allows in the weeks ahead, try and highlight a few of my recent standout reads, such as;

Mike Mignola's adaption of Bram Stoker's Dracula (IDW)

A feature on the ever excellent Cartoonist Kayfabe's YouTube series (essential viewing for any comics creator and enthusiast!) led Scott to tracking down for me this excellent 2018 hardback reprinting of Mike Mignola's adaptation of this now classic version of the Dracula legend in the 1990's by legendary director Francis Ford Coppola.

I'd not paid a lot of attention to the movie at the time so passed on the original Topp's Comics adaptation which itself became a bit of a collector's item, with many claiming it was a 'turning point' for Mignola, discovering his distinctive art style from a tight Roy Thomas script. Certainly Mignola's trademark blacks and gothic styling are evident on every page, (although the inking is actually done by John Nyberg) and the original comics pre-dated Hellboy by at least a year.
 

In any case, IDW's excellent hardback is in oversize format about 1.5 times the comics and maybe half the size of the original art, reprinted here in stark black n white which best shows off the art and sets the story perfectly. There's also a delightful bonus section with about a dozen pages of Mignola's original pencils and covers which round off a great package.

An odd read for January perhaps but I think I originally read this around Halloween, which obviously is better timing?. It certainly made an impression and, not normally being a fan of horror, I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this, given the familiarity of the story and my indifference to the movie, (which I will now endeavour to rewatch!) but maybe it was just one of those occasions when the whole creative team complemented each other perfectly to execute a dramatic story in such a compelling way, comics at their very best!

Recommended

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!

Farewell to 2021!

Well surprisingly perhaps, we seem to have hurtled rather quickly to the year's end and sadly, not quite the one we'd hoped for, but we're here anyway and hopefully this finds you all safe n well and amongst loved ones, whether in person or in the virtual world.

We've actually had several highpoints this year despite the obvious, top of which was finally getting back to Scotland, after almost 18 months to catch up with family, it was the longest time I'd ever been from the land of my birth and it was great to return and see everyone thankfully safe n well, especially the nurses and carers in our family.

Beautiful Stonehaven, Market Square

A few other UK trips proved a welcome break from familiar surroundings and from summer we actually had some comic events to go to! Most were outdoors and 'substitute' events from those original scheduled, but a few in the autumn went ahead, almost as planned.

All were fun with a particular mention being Scott's first ever Free Comic Book Day event at his shop where he had an overwhelming response from the curious Warrington public!

Spotted in Glasgow

We also made trips to new events in Newark, Coventry, Stretford, Northwich and tried a few different things along the way, including a trip in Space! Thanks to all the intrepid organisers for their hard efforts in putting on these events in challenging times and equal thanks to all who braved the circumstances to support them and buy or show interest in our work, much appreciated.

There are of course plans and thoughts for next year when hopefully we'll all enjoy better and safer circumstances but for now a warm and Happy New Year as we bid farewell to 2021.

Northwich Calling!

 

I had a fab time in space last weekend and hope to post a few pictures in due course to show but there's no rest as we have another event this weekend, locally in Northwhich!

A brand new Comic & Film Festival to help celebrate Northwich's old art deco cinema re-openning as an arts venue! There's going to be movie props, actors, comics, funkos, memorabilia and us!

Come and say hi, if you're in town ahead of the Christmas tree light switch on!

 

Steampunks in Space!

 

In a surprisingly busy end to a fairly quiet year for events, we have the middle of our three November events this weekend with Steampunks in Space!

Being held at the National Space Centre in Leicester, a venue familiar to me after I featured it in my popular 'Heart's Desire' story for Accent UK's Return To The Asylum anthology comic! 

The event has run for several years in conjunction with the Space Centre and The Ministry of Steampunk who host Asylum, The Town That Never Was and other splendid events that we try to attend or exhibit at when we can. Finally the stars have aligned allowing us, (well me really as the others can't attend), to countdown our liftoff to space!

Full details can be found at the Space Centre's website but be warned I think they have already almost sold out of tickets!

Salute Salute!

The splendid tote goodie bag given out!

Well that was fun! Just a brief word to accompany a few snaps from last weekend's SALUTE 2020(2021) wargames show at the Excel Centre, London Docklands. 

It was our first time exhibiting and attending and although we were a little nervous as to how comics would be received at a primarily wargaming event, we were pleased with our reception. Lots of curious browsers, interested persons and several surprises of folks recongising us and our titles from other comic conventions or events.

We sold decently given the circumstances and unfamiliarity but had many positive reactions to our comics, particularly my (mainly) historicaly based, Moments of Adventure series and our Asylum Steampunk books, the first of which quickly sold out of the comics I had! 

A closer look at our two 'special guests' !!

It was odd being at the familiar Excel Centre not surrounded by other comic artists, art stalls or cosplayers - although the Excel also hosted a Star Trek convention, so that at least felt 'normal' to me and I wasn't phased at all !!!

A wee look at the hall and one of the games tables

Thanks to the South London Warlords for being to host an event of this type in unusual and challenging circumstances and, while I understand from others that we were experiencing a very different and scaled back SALUTE, we still enjoyed the day and hopefully can return!