Ace artist and designer Ant Williams is heading to the bustling Thought Bubble Comic Convention in Harrogate this weekend, and he’s using the opportunity to launch two fantastic projects sure to interest downthetubes readers!
Turning pro in the late 1980s, Ant Williams – an artist who’s work was always a pleasure to see in many a Marvel UK title many years ago now – work hauled his way up the greasy pole of comic book artistry, eventually drawing thousands of pages for 2000AD, Marvel and DC. He’s drawn pretty much all the characters he grew up reading, including Spider-man, The X-men, Deadpool, Iron Man, Batman, Superman, Judge Dredd and many more.
For the past 20 years or so, Ant has worked in the wider entertainment industry. Now after far too long, he’s back at the drawing board creating characters, worlds and stories and just having a good time!
The Comic Artist Survival Guide
At this year’s Thought Bubble Comic Convention (Table C25, the 2000AD Hall), Ant will be signing and selling The Comic Artist Survival Guide, a short book that takes a wander through the head of a comic book artist. (If you’re not at Thought Bubble, you can grab a copy here from this AmazonUK Affiliate Link)
“There are a stack of instructional books that teach you the tips, tricks and tools to drawing comics. This book is not one of them,” says Ant. “Instead, it’s a collection of the things I’ve learned about myself and my art over a nearly 40 year career.
“I write about what makes me tick, why I do what I do and how it might apply to others.
“I’ve been a professional comic book artist since 1987 and I’ve been lucky enough to work for Marvel, DC and many others. I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way but also learned a lot of good stuff that has served me well and kept me working and sane.
“I love drawing comics but every day at my drawing board, I wrestle with some of the same challenges and doubts as I did when I started back in the 80s. In this book are many of the ways I’ve learned to combat those challenges.
“The Comic Artist Survival Guide is full of the things I write down to tell my future self not to worry, keep scribbling and everything will be alright.
“This is the rambling unreliable manual that I’ve written for myself,” Ant admits. “However, I think my personal pep talks are pretty universal so hopefully this book also helps other artists who are not as far along their journey as I am.”
Whamblam Slam! Card Game
For the last few years Ant has been developing and licensing a series of tongue in cheek superhero artworks. He now has a very large library of characters, which he’s turned into Whamblam Slam! Card Game – a fun, professionally manufactured, card game.
The Whamblam Slam! Card Game brings Superpowers to the Tabletop. Get ready to battle with a multitude of colourful heroes and over the top villains…
“The brand-new Whamblam Slam! Card Game brings fast-paced, high-stakes fun to players of all ages,” Ant enthuses. “It’s inspired by the classic card vs card format, but with multiple rounds and unexpected twists that ramp up the tension, as our clueless heroes battle to defeat an inept rogues gallery of villains in an epic battle of stats, powers, and strategy!”
Each beautifully illustrated card features an original superhero or villain with unique abilities and power ratings across six categories – including Strength, Cunning, Intelligence, and Weirdness. This two-player game combines quick gameplay, vibrant art, and endless replay-ability.
Perfect for comic book fans, and collectors, you can pick up a copy at Thought Bubble, or can buy it online at antwilliamsartist.shop
Today a Card Game, Tomorrow the World!
Ant’s Whamblam Slam! Card Game began life as a collection of original tongue in cheek superhero themed artworks designed with merchandise and licensing in mind. Shortlisted in the International License Competition, he subsequently signed a clothing deal with Fresh Hoods for a range of clothing featuring the Whamblam art.
Since then, Whamblam has taken on a life of its own growing into a huge cast of hapless heroes and villains with an ever expanding story-world for them to play in. Drawing on an extensive background in publishing, licensing and the entertainment world, all the content is written and designed by Ant to appeal to the discerning comic fan and easily translate to other mediums and opportunities.
Surely a comic must be on the cards? (groan – Ed)
• Ant Williams is signing and selling The Comic Artist Survival Guide and the Whamblam Slam! Card Game at this year’s Thought Bubble Comic Convention (Table C25, the 2000AD Hall)
• Ant Williams is online at antwilliamsartist.com | Shop | Read more about Whamblam | Follow Ant on Facebook | Instagram
- About the Author
- Latest Posts
John is the founder of downthetubes, launched in 1998. He is a comics and magazine editor, writer, and Press Officer for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He also runs Crucible Comic Press.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine and Overkill for Marvel UK, Babylon 5 Magazine, Star Trek Magazine, and its successor, Star Trek Explorer, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics; and has edited several comic collections and graphic novels, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”, and Hancock: The Lad Himself, by Stephen Walsh and Keith Page.
He’s the writer of comics such as Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs”, with Dave Hailwood.
Categories: British Comics, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Events, Games, Other Worlds
Dark Horse announces Confabulation: An Anecdotal Autobiography by Dave Gibbons, to launch at Lakes Festival in October
Leave a Reply