My complimentary copies of Accent UK’s ‘Predators’ anthology arrived today. You can get your’s by using Previews order code STK449777

Listening to: ‘A Praise Chorus’ by Jimmy Eat World

Lions, Tigers, Bears, and more … Oh my! Stalk and be stalked in this suspenseful collection of tales of a predatory nature. Wild beasts, hunters, cave girls and subtle terrors all feature in 25 self contained strips in the latest installment of Accent UK’s quality themed anthology series. Featuring established and emerging creators from around the globe. (STK449777) (C: 0-0-2)
SC. 192pgs, B&W……………$14.99

Listening to: ‘The Shining’ by Badly Drawn Boy

First of all I have contributed in some way to three AccentUK anthologies for 2011. As I’ve probably mentioned previously, I have provided art for Mark Clapham’s The Beast Within in Predators, I’ll be pencilling Paul Bowles’ Goodbye in 2ombies, and I have my own story Aspirations and Apparitions in Victoriana.

Colouring and lettering have recently been finished on the main feature of my debut comic, Rockstar Scientists. With pencils and inks provided by George Zapata and colours added by Amit Ghadge Subscribers to our facebook page would have already seen the image above, the inked cover of Rockstar Scientists #1, before George himself has added colour to it. Rockstar Scientists will be seeing the light of day late Spring 2011 and we’ll keep you updated.

Until then happy New Year and I’ll leave you with a titbit of another project that may be released early 2011 all going well. As I say I don’t like to jinx these things.

Listening to: ‘I love You When You’re Walkin’ Away’ by Plumtree

Top Ten Albums 2009

And if you don’t have a Spotify account here it is in no particular order:

• Emmy The Great – First Love
• Polly Scattergood – Polly Scattergood
• Bat For Lashes – Two Suns
• Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
• Future Of The Left – Travels With Myself And Another
• The Dead Weather – Horehound
• Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz
• La Roux – La Roux
• Fever Ray – Fever Ray
• Florence + The Machine – Lungs

The two audio depositories I have used above, Spotify and Last.fm respectively, are signifiers of how my acquisition of music has altered over the last year and will continue to change in the coming years.  An early adoption of mp3  technology in the mid ’90s did not deter me from buying CDs and collecting vinyl in the ’00s. Maybe its that collector mentality that hasn’t allowed the CD and DVD go the way of the TDK SA C-90 (other cassette tapes are available) quite yet. I think the physical versus virtual space, bits versus atoms will be the final death blow to the compact disc for me.

Small amount of my compact discs on shelving

More compact and denser HDD

However, I’m pleased to see a very gradual equilibrium forming between the valuation of digital and traditional formats that is being forged democratically between end consumers and originators, such as Goliaths Radiohead and David IAMX, cutting the middleman label bosses out. Not it has to be said due to any misguided act of spite but because of the old guard’s inability to adapt.

On a more personal note, around this time last year I set four New Year’s resolutions. Two of which I have gone some way to achieving. Sometime in 2011 I shall hopefully have a story published in Accent UK‘s Victoriana anthology. Sooner than that I have provided the art to Mark Clapham‘s story The Beast Within in Accent UK’s 2010 anthology Predators which will be out before Bristol International Comic Expo. As well as this honour, I have also worked on several covers and lettering projects which have been equally as fun. Also, my personal project that was called SolNoir and is now entitled Singualrity has begun to take shape thanks to the fantastic talents of artist Gerald Forton and colourist Danjerzone. 2009 has been a kind year to me but I’m really incredibly excited about 2010 and the next decade.

Listening to: ‘Land Of My Formers’ by Future of the Left

“Thought Bubble 2008 was literally the best UK con I have ever been to. Highly recommended to professionals and fans alike!” – John Reppion (Albion, Raise the Dead)

High praise indeed. I shall be tweeting with photos so follow me over at twitter.com/klj3 otherwise see you there hopefully around the Accent UK table.

Listening to: ‘I Could Never Be Your Woman’ by White Town

Listening to: ‘Strength Through Music’ by Amanda Palmer

Back at the beginning of February I was approached by indie horror director Stacy Davidson to…I’ve said too much. Here is a link to Stacy’s film company Odyssee Pictures and an article on his blog and below is the trailer to his latest film Sweat Shop. Just as tantalizing tidbits.

After spending almost three years as an idea somewhere in the back of my mind and on various scraps of paper around my desk I have finally started work on Obscura. This is a small comic I hope to finish and self-publish before Bristol International Comics Expo in May. Here is a glimpse at some of the early artwork.

As if the above wasn’t good enough. I’m also going to be contributing artwork to AccentUK‘s 2010 anthology Predators. I’m providing the artwork for Mark Clapham‘s words. It is a really great story entitled The Beast Within with an equally great script and I can’t wait to get started. It’s going to be so much fun.

So there you are a pretty busy and productive forty or so days. Told ya.

PS. Kevin Barry has started up a blog over at http://www.kmbarry.blogspot.com. He has posted some of the intial art for his comic Undying Faces. You really should take a look.

Listening to: ‘Barefoot Tonight’ by Miss Kittin