A quick scurry around the interweb channels with items on writing comics by Alec Worley, a Dave Gibbons update, and news of a new feature film from Dave King…
Comic Writing Tips: 2000AD writer Alec Worley is publishing a four-part piece on how he ‘broke in’ to comics over on Substack, by writing twist-in-the-tale “Future Shock” shorts for the long running anthology comic. “Over the next four weeks, I’ll be going over hard truths, short story structure, submission tactics, and mental survival,” he says. Start here!
Comic creator memories: Recording continues apace for B7 Media’s audio version of comic creator Dave Gibbons autobiography, Confabulation. As we previously reported, the audiobook will be available exclusively to buy and download from audioteria.com in December 2023, and will be available on other audiobook platforms from Spring 2024.
The Shameless Plug: Separately, B7 Media are currently running a Kickstarter campaign for their Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies mini-series, which you can check out here, written by me, John Freeman (Doctor Who) with art by Neil Edwards (Fantastic Four, Spider-Man). I war
Animation director, producer, writer, storyboard artist, and lecturer and former comic artist Dave King returns to Bucharest, Romania, for the first time in about twenty years, as a jury member of the PITCH, PLEASE! panel, for the 18th edition of the Animest International Animation Film Festival, from 11 – 15th October. “I’m looking forward to seeing what projects a whole bunch of creators will be pitching, and giving them the benefit of my Yoda-like wisdom,” he says.
His Norway-based company, Dave King Creative, is currently developing a feature film, My Little Kaiju, and his talented team, has been joined by Takeshi Yagi, famed for directing and producing many shows in Japan’s Ultraman franchise.
Some random art, from Tumblr…
New John M. Burns Collection Teased: Noting our recent report on the retirement of legendary comic artist John M. Burns from the industry, Hibernia, publishers of the terrific Fleetway Files collections of strips such as Captain Condor and Angry Planet, limited copies still available here, have teased a new project, coming next year. “He will be sorely missed, but, he was extraordinarily prolific, so there is lots of ‘undiscovered’ art by him out there,” says publisher David McDonald. “Wishing him the very best in his retirement.
“We reprinted ‘Dolebusters’ a few years back in the Eagle Adventure Special, a cracking tale written by John Wagner and Alan Grant. We have something else by him lined up for next year, watch the stars! And no, that’s not a Starlord reference…”
It’s #Inktober: Artists across the globe are sharing art utilising the #Inktober hashtag as a unifier, across various platforms.
Here are four cool images we’ve seen so far, by Jan Ditlev, Tara Hannon, Mikel Janín, and Wamberto Nicomedes (Wam Nick)…
Jake Parker created Inktober in 2009 as a challenge to improve his inking skills and develop positive drawing habits. It has since grown into a worldwide endeavor with thousands of artists taking on the challenge every year.
Comic Creator Rights? Over on Popverse, Graeme McMillan, notes that, with high profile strikes by the Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America raising awareness of issues surrounding low payment, poor healthcare this summer, and a lack of job security in the entertainment industry, it’s raised the obvious question: why don’t comic creators have their own union or guild to protect them? After all, it’s not as if the comic book industry isn’t dealing with the same problems. “The truth of the matter is, a comic industry union has been tried more than once, but it’s never quite worked out,” he explains. Read his article here
New Partwork: Hachette’s new part work, Dungeons & Dragons Adventurer, is out now in newsagents and supermarkets. Packed with features aimed at both newcomers and veteran adventurers, you can find out more at danddadventurer.hachettepartworks.com
Female Adventure Hero incoming: Stephen White, whose credits include BEANO and “Oor Wullie”, has been developing a new comic character for some time, and she will debut next month. “I’m very happy to announce that Tara Togs will be making her debut in November,” he announced this week. “Not in the form of the graphic novel, but in a new short story that has been created especially for ComicScene. This nine page adventure will be her first footsteps into the world, and I’m very grateful to ComicScene for featuring her. You can find out more about ComicScene, and pre-order a copy here
And Finally… We round off with some Batman art by Spanish comic artist Sofia Girol Aviles, whose credits include work for McGraw Hill Education, Libsa and Estudio Fenix, and work published in different Spanish fanzines and magazines. Check out her portfolio here, and many other Spanish artists, too, seeking comics work
The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.
Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.
He’s the writer of “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: Animation, Art and Illustration, British Comics, Comic Art, Comics, Creating Comics, downthetubes Comics News, downthetubes News, Film, Magazines, Other Worlds