2022 Comic Event Season Taking Shape!

Aha, well it's taken a wee while and sadly, already had a couple of false starts with cancelled and postponed events but finally the 2022 events season is taking shape!

It's pretty certain that my first event won't now be until May with the (normally) annual Free Comic Book Day event where I'll be joining a small but perfectly formed line-up of talented comic artists & writers at my favourite comic shop, Scott's Pop's & Comics in Warrington!

Last year's delayed event in August was a blast, real fun with a mad couple of hours as, after a quietish start, word got out and Scott's wee shop and invited artists were mobbed by a curious and engaged public, all hungry to discover new comics. It was a welcome relief from the lockdown stresses and for most of us, artists and attendess alike, the first event since 2019!

Time to produce a few more Comic packs?

Please keep and eye on the FCBD participants website to check out if your local comic shop has any plans and if you're anywhere close to Warrington, Scott's facebook page will post further details leading up to the event to tempt you along! 

Further details of confirmed events to follow :)

November 2021's Salute wargaming show in London

Salute was one of my last appearances of 2021

Are We Nearly There Yet?

Sadly the world has changed again these last few weeks and it's hard perhaps to be optimistic about things, but try we must and surely the future will be brighter after these dark days.

On the comics front, I was hoping that events would more or less return to a 'normal' schedule but while some have already taken place, a few of our regulars have postponed to next year or cancelled altogether - including the much loved and respected Edinburgh Comic-Con, which will be greatly missed, thanks to James and his team for all they achieved.

At this time of writing, I think I've only two actual confirmed events for the year ahead with another 3 or 4 applied for, so it's likely to be similiar to last year with a much reduced calendar from the busy heights of 2019. That said, I think everyone is far more appreciative of any that safely do go ahead, as we all cautiously try to get our lives back but sparing thoughts for all those whose lives will no longer be the same again whether through conflict or covid.

A Legend Lost

 

Sad news reached us a few days ago that British Comics Legend Ian Kennedy has left us which has hit many of us hard. Ian's distinctive art style was a major part of our childhood, decorating so many of our favourite comic covers and annuals, Commando, Victor, Warlord and much, much more.

He achieved so much and I really can't do justice to his 70+ year career here, but see John Freeman's Down The Tubes respectful article for a wee taster and several moving tributes.

Ian was one of my - and so many others - childhood art inspirations and it was pure delight when, late  in life he cautiously entered the world of modern comic conventions, allowing me and so many others to meet and thank him for the inspiration he'd provided. 

I was fortunate enough to meet him at his first 'English' event in Birmingham in 2015, arranged and invited by my good friend, and fellow Kennedy fan, Steve Tanner - see the photographic evidence below! Ian was quite taken aback by the warm reception he received from attendess and happily signed and chatted with everyone with modesty, humilty and a smile.

We struck up a casual friendship, being as we were both from the North-East of Scotland, which to my joy led to many happy chats at subsquent conventions and events as Ian embraced his new found 'celebrity'. I was even lucky enough to pop into his home and studio a couple of times which was beyond a thrill, meeting his wife, Gladys, who makes a lovely soup.

I could happily share another dozen or so memories and it's clear from reading everyone's tributes, so could many others. It's so rare that a talented artist genuinely meant so much to so many people and he will be greatly missed.

 

I may share more later but in the meantime here's just a small sample of his exceptional art.

 

Thoughts and love to his family and many friends.

2-2-22

 

The Calendar is producing some funny dates at the moment, I'm not too old to chuckle :)

Late in the evening

The sky and surroundings of Rorke's Drift late in the evening of the 22nd January 1879 bear the scars of the day's intense fighting. Tired, desperate with everything hanging in the balance, the battle's outcome is far from clear. 

A couple of quiet but tense panels from my forthcoming re-mastered Zulu Water Cart Rescue comics, art by me, colours by Matt Soffe.

22-1-22

 

22nd January always resonates being the anniversary of both the Battles of iSandlwana and Rorke's Drift back in 1879 which had a profound impact on the Zulu Nation which still echoes today, 143 years on. Certainly in recent years, the Zulus themselves have taken their own history centre stage and commemorate their ancestors victory at iSandlwana with memorial services, speeches, re-enactments in an almost celebratory fashion.

I  was lucky enough to witness this for myself on the memorable 140th anniversary battlefields trip three years ago where, with a small group of intrepid adventurers we toured and explored various significant sites in deepest Zululand paying our own respects as invited guests, (as part of historian Ian Knight's group) at iSandlwana and a more intimate affair at Rorke's Drift, both attended by the UK's splendid Die Hards, re-enactment group.

I treasure these memories and the moments spent chatting with Zulu, South African and British travellers all of whom paid their respects to those fallen all those years ago, which I do so again today and remembering those who, since that trip, are no longer with us.

  

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