Small Press Expo at the Mercure

All this left me very little time to actually get out and buy anything. I did make it to Daniel Clifford’s table to pick up a copy of issue 1 of Sugar Glider. He obviously had done his job at the ‘What’s the point in small press superheroes?’ panel. Taken straight from Sugar Glider’s facebook page; Surrounded by friends and family with it all figured out, Susie Sullivan is desperately unsure of her purpose in life. Casting ordinary pursuits aside, Susie takes to the Newcastle skyline as the crime-fighting…SUGAR GLIDER! I highly recommend this and the companion book Sugar Glider Stories.

Sugar Glider, Sugar Glider Stories and a SG sticker adorning my notebook.

Listening to: ‘Don’t Play No Game That I Can’t Win’ by Beastie Boys

This is my new comic and my entry into round 2 of this years Dimestore Press’ Small Press Idol, The Unspeakables. This round is vote based and with your help will allow us to progress to round 3 (kinda obviously) where we will have four pages of sequentials featuring quantum space stations, tattooed eyes, living numbers and graverooms. If you have the time I would really appreciate your vote at the link above.

Here that link to vote again: http://bit.ly/cBhE5C

Listening to: ‘Born Free’ by M.I.A.

We have graduated to round 2 of Small Press Idol 2010 with three yes’. The above image is the rough pencils for The Unspeakables #0 front cover by Joe Griggs. And if you look below you can read our pitch for the multiple time and dimensions adventure:

Almost twenty years after his family’s mysterious disappearance, Timothy Sartre returns from a self imposed exile. Back then he was a thirteen year old boy, now he is a man equipped with the knowledge and, more importantly, the means to recover his life. Timothy knows he must go into the spaces between space but won’t be going alone. Enlisting a group of misfits to assist him, starting with Heather ‘The Body’ Jones, a supermodel cum actress who believes she is Frankenstein’s monster and the mathematical genius Oscar ‘Bluff’ Tellier, a man left blinded to light but open to numbers after a gambling accident. Operating out of a space station constructed entirely of quantum copies of other buildings, The Unspeakables fight enemies that lurk in the periphery of three dimensions in an attempt to find the truth not only about Timothy’s family but also about themselves. Just don’t believe anything your ‘eye’ tells you.

Round two consists of character and logo designs so if you like what you here then stay tuned for further updates.

Listening to: ‘Ghetto Rock’ by Mos Def

I know it was over a week ago but I’ve only just returned from a great week in Leeds visiting my friend which began with a bang with Thoughtbubble. Although I’ve been in and around comics since the my childhood this year’s Thoughtbubble one day event was only my second con after Bristol back in May. After the initial overwhelming amount of cosplay (our favourites were the duo dressed as the Riddler and Penguin) and not knowing where to start we set about having a look around. I was pleased to see that there was a lot of small press sat along side the larger independent retailers and the rockstars of comics such as Ben Templesmith and Frank Quitely.

Chief amongst these, aside from Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie who gratiously signed a copy of Phonogram: Rue Britannia for me, were the guys from We Are Words And Pictures and their anthology Solipsistic Pop.

A beautifully designed and bound fifty pages of comic, two mini comics and a sixteen page insert with a sticker and badge, that proudly adorns my jacket, thrown in for good measure. You can get a copy here and recommend you do. A brilliant read and also completely inspiring. These people make comics and brilliant ones at that.

Of course much more money was spent on small and large press alike. Some might say too much. I’m sure you wouldn’t.

Listening to: ‘Ghosts (Blestenation mix)’ by Ladytron