tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81966285067123631662024-03-13T23:14:09.098+00:00The Van DomainVan Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-9427699800059944932013-04-08T23:00:00.001+01:002013-04-08T23:00:49.663+01:00Vanguard Issue 3Well, sadly I've been neglecting this wee blog for some time it seems. Have been caught up in a whole heap of snowballing Real Life Shit this last year or so, which hasn't left much time for blogging, or writing of any description really. Hopefully I will be able to get back on track soon.<br />
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In the last few months I've had a few stories turn up here and there, like <i>"Five Minutes to Midnight"</i> in the most recent issue of <b>Something Wicked, </b><i>"Incarnation Shift"</i> in the most recent <b>Futurequake</b>, and a second airing of <i>"Claus Encounters of the Santa Kind"</i> which appeared in<b> Strip</b> magazine's Christmas Special at the end of last year - my widest exposure yet, an actual newsstand title! That came about as a result of submitting the strip to the Strip Showcase Challenge and being selected to represent that slot in the final issue of volume 1, which I was quite chuffed with!<br />
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<i>"Icarus Dangerous"</i> has also been continuing in <b>Paragon </b>of course, now up to episode 7 (!) which will appear in the forthcoming issue 13. The series will conclude in issue 14. I'll post a bit more about that in a later post but for now I just wanted to give a heads up on Issue 3 of <b>Vanguard</b>, which is finally locked and loaded after a bit of a tough year for myself and a few of the other chaps involved. Still, the end product looks damn good I must say, printer did a fantastic job and we even managed to get the full bleed on the pages sorted to perfection this time! Woah, major achievement there! :)<br />
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For loads of info about the comic, head on over to the <b><a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.ie/">Vanguard </a></b>blog, where you can check out plenty of sample pages and ogle at the wondrous artwork which adorns the free set of postcards we are giving out. Go on, away with ya!<br />
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<br />Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-83573734544351921672012-06-08T03:52:00.001+01:002012-06-19T13:11:43.403+01:00Ick-Day, chapter 4!Issue 10 of <b>Paragon </b>has been available for a couple of weeks now and I've been a bit re-miss in blogging about it. In between looking after the kids full time, taking online courses and trying to master Japanese, I seem to be letting my comic responsibilities slide....really need to sort that out and get my priorities straight!
Nevertheless, better late than never, so here is the fabulous <b>Matt Soffe-</b>rendered cover art for issue ten of <b>Paragon</b>:
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This is the biggest issue of Paragon yet, clocking in at about 52 pages. There's a great variety of content by writers such as <b>Matthew McLaughlin, Chris Cronin, Jim Cameron, Greg Meldrum, Davey Candlish</b> and myself, and artists such as <b>James Corcoran, Stephen Prestwood, Louis Carter, El Chivo, Davey Candlish </b>(again) and <b>Jim Cameron </b>(again!) Of specific relevance to THIS blog is myself and Mssr.Prestwood's ongoing series <b>Icarus Dangerous </b>(or Ick-Day as it would be known in Japan, where English words tend to be abbreviated down to a single syllable).<br />
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As you may remember, in the previous installment, Icarus had finally managed to locate his saviour Meriope and release her from imprisonment on the mysterious Bonemen's starship. Sadly, he also inadvertantly released some of Meriope's 'not-quite-fans', adding to his already not-inconsiderable problems. Now trapped between the advancing Bonemen on one side and a motley crew of mythical beings (including Gorgons, Centaurs, dismembered soldiers and, er, a young girl) on the other, Icarus must decide if the alien Meriope is really someone he can trust...or if she is actually just another threat to his well-being.<br />
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<b>Stephen Prestwood</b> has turned in his best work so far on this frenetic, action-packed chapter - take a look at the splash page below showing all our players in action to see what I mean:<br />
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Does that look like fun or does that look like fun? And yes, I know I say it every time, but this is STILL just the tip of the iceberg for this story. It just keeps on getting more and more dangerous for our hapless hero - if you don't believe me, you just need to check out the final shocking page of this installment!
And to that, you need to get your hands on a copy. To that end, I will hand you over to my editor <b>Davey Candlish,</b> who has provided all the info you need to order a copy (as well as plenty more previews) right <a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.jp/">HERE</a>.<br />
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If you are even slightly intrigued, please do order a copy and support the small-press and all of us comic-lovers, who are making these comics for YOUR enjoyment!
That is all!<br />
Until next time.....<br />
<b> Danger Out!
</b>Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-13821884656751642732012-04-16T16:07:00.000+01:002012-04-16T16:17:14.825+01:00Coming Soon...Even More Danger for Icarus!The new issue of <b>Paragon </b>is almost upon us, featuring (amongst other things) the continuing adventures of <b>Icarus Dangerous</b>, as things start to get reeeeeeeeeeally wierd. Now up to chapter 4, we will rejoin <i>Icarus </i>where we left him - with his souped-up sentient wings, on an alien spacecraft, millions of light years from home, on the run from an army of Bone Monsters, with <i>Meriope</i>, the not-so-grateful alien-in-sort-of-distress he has freed from imprisonment giving him an earful for inadvertantly releasing a whole bunch of FREAKS who have a bone to pick with her...and anyone who gets in their way! <i>Pickaxe </i>the miniaturised dwarf, <i>Ophalia </i>the Gorgon-like snake-beast, <i>Severus </i>the dismembered warrior, <i>Brusque </i>the monosyllabic Centaur and <i>Mynx </i>the, er, teenage minx, are all about to make Icarus' life even more insane than it already was...and that's before <i>Bonehead Dax </i>comes into the picture. And THAT's before....but that would be telling! Let's just say the ending to this chapter is a doozy!
As ever, <b>Stephen Prestwood </b>is on art duties and from what I have seen so far, Jack Kirby would be proud! Stephen's space-scapes are nothing short of perfection.
I won't put up any preview art from the strip until closer to the time of release, but just so that this post isn't piccy free, here is a super-cool pinup of Icarus Stephen did as a 'doodle', followed by the cover for issue 10 (also featuring Icarus) by the wonderful <b>Matt Soffe</b>.
More details on how to pick this baby up coming soon!
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He had put out a call for writers to take on the writing chores for his character <em>Jikan</em>, and when I got in touch interested about having a go at it, he was kind enough to give me the opportunity. I pitched an idea, he liked it, and away I went. The result was a tale called <em>"Griffin's Bounty"</em> --- and it was the very first multiple-page comic script I wrote. <br /><br />Thing is---that was back in (I'm guessing) March or April 2010. And it's only now that this story is going to be unleashed into the public eye! The reason? Nothing sinister, simply the fact that there were already a whole bunch of Jikan stories in the bag before I came on board, so its taken some time for my spin-of-the-wheel to come up. But it's coming around now, kicking off with the release of <strong>"The Jikan Chronicles, volume 2",</strong> a 90page collection of brand-new Jikan tales --- including not just the aforementioned "<em>Griffin's Bounty"</em> but also another tale I wrote entitled "<em>Uchuujin</em>" (that's "Alien" in Japanese).<br /><br />First of all, have a look at the cover, by Dave Candlish:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KncIQ8DVBCk/T4Po57CzfEI/AAAAAAAAAwc/TAFc6KVL4M0/s1600/jikancover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KncIQ8DVBCk/T4Po57CzfEI/AAAAAAAAAwc/TAFc6KVL4M0/s400/jikancover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729679232745045058" /></a><br /><br />Pretty sweet, huh?<br /><br />And guess what's sweeter? When you open the book and turn to the first page---it's the first page of "Griffin's Bounty", right up in your face for you to ogle at! The art is by my old friend <strong><a href="http://vivachivo.blogspot.com/">El Chivo</a></strong>, who I've worked with on a number of projects over the last two years (most recently with Mammoth-Jack in issue 2 of <strong><a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.jp/2012/03/vanguard-issue-2.html">Vanguard</a></strong>...you know what I'm talking about right? If not----why the Hell have you not checked out issue 2 of Vanguard? You can view it for free and everything!!) Here's a typically awesome panel from the story, and Jikan is having a bit of an awkward moment:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUQ1l2CU3KE/T4PpzcagBTI/AAAAAAAAAwo/KeCYFgnP1nM/s1600/Griffen%2Bpromo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CUQ1l2CU3KE/T4PpzcagBTI/AAAAAAAAAwo/KeCYFgnP1nM/s400/Griffen%2Bpromo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729680220955346226" /></a><br /><br />Nice one, Chivo!<br /><br />In this story, Sam Beckett...I mean, Jikan (sorry, I always think of Jikan as Quantum Leap Gone Native...really, there should be a Sam Beckett/Jikan crossover sometime, where Sam leaps into Jikan's body and says "Oh, boy" a lot...) turns up in ancient Greece, and is witness to a flock of typically boisterous griffin's doing a bit of ransacking and pillaging. He comes across a couple of survivors of the raid, young kids, who have been left all alone in the world as a result of the griffin attack. Naturally, Jikan decides he may as well help them out while he is hanging around waiting for his next leap, er, <em>time-shift</em>, and off he goes to set things right. Things don't turn out exactly as he was expecting them to though, and he finds himself up against a bigger threat than he thought. This story is notable as it introduces something new to the Jikan mix, something that will seem completely irrelevant at first, but will later turn out to be very important indeed.<br /><br /><br />Onto "<em>Uchuujin</em>" then, a shorter tale written as a bit of fun late last year. This one features art by <strong>Davey Candlish</strong>, which is cool, because I'd been wanting to work with Davey on something for a while, and his Mignola-stylings on this strip are quite groovy.<br /><br />Here's a panel:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HfoK7dTz_Pw/T4PrOxGgrVI/AAAAAAAAAw0/g08IvKcT-DU/s1600/UCHUUJIN%2Bpromo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HfoK7dTz_Pw/T4PrOxGgrVI/AAAAAAAAAw0/g08IvKcT-DU/s400/UCHUUJIN%2Bpromo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729681789876743506" /></a><br /><br /><strong>WHOK!</strong> Take that nasty...alien? Yeah, that's right, just for a change it's not demons Jikan's fighting in this tale, but ALIENS!!! Didn't see that coming, did you? Doesn't matter to Jikan though, aliens, demons, people, they're all just things to be chopped through if they piss him off. And the aliens in this story REALLY piss him off. This story also refers back to the previously mentioned "very important thing" Jikan comes into possession of in 'Griffin's Bounty', and we get a bit of a hint about what it can do and how it is going to change things for Jikan in the future. Luckily, you won't have to wait long to find out the truth, because in this very same volume is a multi-part story by fellow Jikan scribe <strong>Mark Howard,</strong> which explains everything via a series of shocking revelations, setting Jikan off in a new direction for his future adventures. <br /><br />Other contributors to <strong>The Jikan Chronicles volume 2 </strong>include writers <strong><a href="http://locustsofdeath.blogspot.com/">Matthew McLaughlin</a></strong> and <strong>Chris Cronin</strong>, and artists <strong>Dustin Parr</strong> and <strong><a href="http://chris-askham.blogspot.com/">Chris Askham</a></strong>. It's a great book and well worth the few quid required to get your hands on one (£1.50 for the digital download and a fiver for the book!) Click <strong><a href="http://www.lulu.com/shop/paragon-comic/the-jikan-chronicles-book-two/paperback/product-20036759.html">HERE </a></strong> and pick up a copy in whatever format tickles your fancy.<br /><br />Of course, my Jikan fun doesn't end with the two stories in this book. Oh no, I've also written a very special 2 part episode in which Jikan turns up on...well, that would be telling, to be honest, and I don't wanna. The 2 parter features art by a number of different artists, including <strong><a href="http://mygrimmbrother.blogspot.com/">Matt Soffe</a></strong> - coincidentally, another artist I've been wanting to work with on something for ages and ages. Jikan, eh? He's like a little-matchmaking cupid for artists and writers, bringing people together! :)<br /><br />I'll leave you with a preview panel from part 2 of "<em>Stowaway</em>", with art by the aforementioned Mr. Soffe. It's a doozy. This 2 parter will be appearing in an issue of Paragon in the VERY NEAR FUTURE (no, you won't have to wait over 2 years for it!) so keep your eyes and ears posted in the usual places for info as it becomes available.<br /><br />Thanks for reading - now go get yourself a seeing to by Jikan!<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mOqe9QQYTAQ/T4PuQNy6EUI/AAAAAAAAAxA/_BPeBOIBuCE/s1600/jikanstowaway.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 195px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mOqe9QQYTAQ/T4PuQNy6EUI/AAAAAAAAAxA/_BPeBOIBuCE/s400/jikanstowaway.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729685113293902146" /></a><br />(Jikan, Stowaway, art by Matt Soffe)Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-63800289684635269442012-04-10T08:33:00.004+01:002012-04-13T03:24:57.565+01:00Catching up....This re-location business has meant I haven't really been keeping this blog up-to-date. I've got a really cool new book to talk about, but before I get into that (in a separate post), thought I would take a moment to add in a couple of things that I did for the 2000ad forum in the last few months.<br /><br />The first is a 5 part Judge Dredd story which I wrote for last year's (God that sounds like ages ago) Forum Advent Calendar. I wrote it in the style of an old Daily Star Dredd and rounded up five different artists to illustrate each installment. The results were pretty damn good I have to say, with Owen Watts, Filip Roncone, Tony Rothwell, Neil Roche, and Stephen Prestwood all turning in some cool art for their contribution. It went down well on the forum too, I am glad to say. And here it is, in its entirety:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8mSqs5lJf10/T4PjrdfDUzI/AAAAAAAAAvI/sp8zpe_pKno/s1600/gift1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8mSqs5lJf10/T4PjrdfDUzI/AAAAAAAAAvI/sp8zpe_pKno/s400/gift1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729673486734152498" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aV-rYTeUdWk/T4Pjrv-o5ZI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/ulLd7nUg0hU/s1600/gift2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aV-rYTeUdWk/T4Pjrv-o5ZI/AAAAAAAAAvQ/ulLd7nUg0hU/s400/gift2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729673491698476434" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOjbkLnX4KA/T4Pjr9laYkI/AAAAAAAAAvc/VNJwKlaCvoM/s1600/gift3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lOjbkLnX4KA/T4Pjr9laYkI/AAAAAAAAAvc/VNJwKlaCvoM/s400/gift3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729673495350764098" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aEcPerZLHVk/T4PjsPn6psI/AAAAAAAAAvs/T-fKEO2YSxc/s1600/thegift4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aEcPerZLHVk/T4PjsPn6psI/AAAAAAAAAvs/T-fKEO2YSxc/s400/thegift4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729673500193105602" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4ihxqpvWew/T4PjtQOxAUI/AAAAAAAAAv4/wh4u-Pg0jTs/s1600/gift5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 144px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A4ihxqpvWew/T4PjtQOxAUI/AAAAAAAAAv4/wh4u-Pg0jTs/s400/gift5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729673517535920450" /></a><br /><br />Groovy, huh?<br /><br />A few months later, last February (that doesn't sound quite so long ago thankfully), there was an art/writing collaboration competition on the forum, to mark the 35th anniversary of the Galaxy's Greatest. The idea was that writers and artists were to collaborate on something, but it didn't really take off, unfortunately. I kind of cheated a bit....I wrote something, as I always do...then I took it to the NEXT LEVEL by drawing it myself!! But don't worry...I only said I "kind of" cheated...I did get a collaborator on-board, namely Owen Watts, who coloured and lettered my terribly bad scribbles, turning a turd into, well, something quite polished and pretty to look at! Here then, is the 2 pager I wrote/drew in honour of 2000ad's 35th Anniversary (don't worry, I won't be trading my word processor in for colouring pencils anytime soon).<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5R1xqdNqt3k/T4PlGbbcYFI/AAAAAAAAAwE/oVNXCQjQuKE/s1600/35th%2B1%2B-%2BBy%2BDirk%2BVan%2BDom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5R1xqdNqt3k/T4PlGbbcYFI/AAAAAAAAAwE/oVNXCQjQuKE/s400/35th%2B1%2B-%2BBy%2BDirk%2BVan%2BDom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729675049550241874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cwXUCrW25eI/T4PlG8FgxGI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/3S4-W0bfoqM/s1600/35th%2B2%2B-%2BBy%2BDirk%2BVan%2BDom.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 274px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cwXUCrW25eI/T4PlG8FgxGI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/3S4-W0bfoqM/s400/35th%2B2%2B-%2BBy%2BDirk%2BVan%2BDom.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5729675058316624994" /></a><br /><br /><br />And there we have it, a little bit of catching up and filling in the blanks.<br /><br /><br />Now onto something new and different.Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-45875640055212624842012-03-15T13:32:00.024+00:002012-03-15T20:26:29.557+00:00Vanguard Issue 2Oh look, I haven't been here since November. How time flies! Last time I was here, I was in full-time employment being paid a decent salary, had nary a care in the world and had plenty of time for engaging in my favourite passtime - comics, both reading and writing them. Things have changed drastically however. My company went bust and closed before Christmas (cheers!) leaving me unemployed with no salary and forced to depend on the dole for my weekly survival (not easy when you have a mortgage and four kids!!)<br /><br />To say that knocked me for six is an understatement. Took me quite a while to get my head around my new circumstances and I really didn't know what I was going to do with myself. Still don't, to be honest, but at least I've started to take a few steps in a new direction. As my wife is Japanese, we decided in January that we would make the most of this 'opportunity' (see, I'm a glass half-full kind of guy) and head to Japan for a while. It's something we've talked about before. It will be good for the wife to get home for a while, good for the kids to spend some time exploring that side of their culture and heritage, good for me for improving my Japanese skills, which I'm probably going to need sooner than later. Also, I can use the 'time-out' to try and come up with an 'action plan' for getting myself back into some kind of gainful employment. Or something. Kind of making this up as I go, to be honest. In any case, the tickets are bought and we fly on the 19th so I'm committed now. Just have to see how it all pans out. <br /><br />All of which is really just a massive lead-in to explaining why this -----<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjzYqqi8ZCc/T2H_YcpdbVI/AAAAAAAAAs4/5tsPXCEoQS4/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HjzYqqi8ZCc/T2H_YcpdbVI/AAAAAAAAAs4/5tsPXCEoQS4/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720133797209271634" /></a><br /><br />---- is so damn late! <br /><br />I pretty much lost all interest in my creative endeavours for a few months there and let everything slide, so by the time I started getting myself together and started organising things again, there was still a good bit of work to do. Nevertheless, the show must - eventually - go on, and so I am finally able to say - <strong><a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.com/">Vanguard Number 2</a></strong> is now available! And there is good news, which I will get to in a moment.<br /><br />This issue of <strong>Vanguard</strong> sees the continuation of the stories that began in issue 1. As before, art duties on International Woman of Mystery tale <strong>"Atomic Call"</strong> are by <strong><a href="http://www.batteredbug.co.uk/">David Blankley</a></strong>, while <strong><a href="http://lrgcarter.blogspot.com/">Louis Carter</a></strong> continues to produce some brilliantly bizarre artwork on sci-fi, fantasy epic <strong>"Halo and the Gryphon".</strong> This issue's violent installment of 1800's "When Good Donkey's Go Bad" tale<strong> "Mammoth-Jack"</strong> features a change of artist however, as my good friend <strong><a href="http://vivachivo.blogspot.com/">El Chivo</a></strong> takes over pencilling duties from <strong><a href="http://crazyfoxmachine.blogspot.com/">Owen Watts.</a></strong> But fear not, Mr. Watts is still on board providing some fantastic lettering work for the 6 page tale...and that's not his only contribution to this issue, as you will see when you take a look. <br /><br />Apart from this there is another single page <strong>Tucker </strong>story, featuring glorious, blood-soaked, full colour artwork by <a href="http://bhunas-blog.blogspot.com/"><strong>Bhuna</strong></a>. This tale features a change of direction for the psychopathic character originally created for <em>Hallowscream</em>, bringing a fantasy-based twist to proceedings in order to 'lighten' the serial-slashing tone somewhat. I've also got another two wonderful pages of art featuring the comic's fictional editor '<strong>Redbats</strong>' by <strong><a href="http://chaingunchimp.blogspot.com/">David Withers,</a></strong> who also provides lettering for two of the strips herein. And, of course, it would be remiss of me not to mention that lettering master <a href="http://clintflickerlettering.blogspot.com/"><strong>Jim Campbell</strong></a> has also deigned to grace us with his presence lettering <em>David Blankley's </em>noir-tastic Atomic Call pages. It's 24 pages of cover to cover action, sci-fi, fantasy, horror, alien creatures, ass-kicking babes, angry donkeys, demons and deceased serial killers. Honestly, what more do you want from a comic? What's that? Free gifts? Oh alright then....but we'll get to that. First...have a look at some preview pages why don't you?<br /><br /><em>Page from Atomic Call - art by David Blankley</em><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUOIt8evnLw/T2IABxMpw7I/AAAAAAAAAtE/xd4cAQQV0Vw/s1600/5.tif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zUOIt8evnLw/T2IABxMpw7I/AAAAAAAAAtE/xd4cAQQV0Vw/s400/5.tif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720134507100226482" /></a><br /><br /><em>Page from Halo and the Gryphon - art by Louis Carter</em><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D5FhI8l_0sg/T2IAPSzBTCI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/V4zbPUzh2Do/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 276px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-D5FhI8l_0sg/T2IAPSzBTCI/AAAAAAAAAtQ/V4zbPUzh2Do/s400/10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720134739457821730" /></a><br /><br /><em>Page from Mammoth-Jack - art by El Chivo</em><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLb96O-nR6M/T2IAfCR68vI/AAAAAAAAAtc/HXPyYAJk7Is/s1600/17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 271px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GLb96O-nR6M/T2IAfCR68vI/AAAAAAAAAtc/HXPyYAJk7Is/s400/17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720135009901933298" /></a><br /><br /><br />So, now to the crux of the matter. How do you get your hands on this? Well, there are two ways. Though I imagine the majority of you will be more interested in the first than the second. Because the first is...<br /><br /><strong>OPTION 1) READ FOR FREE!!</strong><br />Yes, that's right, I've decided to put this issue up online to be viewed, in it's entirety, for free. Why? Well, because I would like a lot of people to read it, to be blunt. Although I practically sold my entire print one of issue 1 over the course of five or six months, that still only came to a small number of copies distributed (less than 50). Which means less than 50 people read the comic. I'd certainly like to have more of a readership than that but since it's difficult to persuade people to part with their cash for something they can't see in the flesh before they take a chance on, I thought this might be the way to go. That, and the fact that I will be in Japan for at least the next six months and the postage costs back to the UK would be ridiculous! So, with that in mind, you can, right this very minute, make your way <strong><a href="http://vanguard.thecomicseries.com/">HERE </a></strong>and enjoy the comic. <br /><br />The only thing I would ask in return is that you throw a few comments our way upon reading. The beauty of that site is that you can comment on each page as you read, so if something comes to mind, if you like something or hate something, if you have suggestions for how we could improve things, you can very quickly make a note of it before going to the next page. I would love to know what you think of the stories/writing and I'm sure my collaborators would love to know how you find their art so please do take a few seconds to do this.<br /><br /><strong><em>Note -</em></strong> only issue 2 is available to view. I didn't think it would be fair to those who purchased a copy of issue 1 to then make it available for free, so I haven't done so. However, there is sufficient recaps given in the strips themselves that this shouldn't hinder your enjoyment of the comic. If you haven't read issue 1 and what you see here intrigues you enough that you would like to, I still have a few copies left which I would be more than happy to sell to you - failing that, the issue is also available to view as a myebook for the ridiculously low price of 50p - click <a href="http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=91175"><strong>HERE </strong></a>to access it.<br /><br /><br /><strong>OPTION 2 - BUY A PRINT COPY</strong><br />So, now that I've told you how you can read the comic for free, you're probably not going to be all that interested in paying for a print copy, are you. NEVERTHELESS, if you are the type of person (like me) who prefers his comics 'in the flesh' and likes to hold some really, physical paper in his hand whilst reading, let me see if I can entice you. Because for those who DO avail of a print copy of the comic there are a couple of extras. <br /><br />Firstly, you will receive - absolutely free - a copy of "Speed Date", a 16 page full-colour A5 comic that collects together both parts of slaser-serial killer story "Speed Date", which originally appeared in Hallowscream's 2010 and 2011 issues. Art on part 1 is by <em>Ghostpockets </em>and on part 2 by <em>Bhuna</em>. The story comes wrapped in a pair of beautiful covers rendered by Bhuna - check out his awesome "after Bill Sienkiewicz" homage:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pLKf2Y_uL68/T2IRyKpDVGI/AAAAAAAAAto/tdjTu_aBRBM/s1600/sd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pLKf2Y_uL68/T2IRyKpDVGI/AAAAAAAAAto/tdjTu_aBRBM/s400/sd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720154030261621858" /></a><br /><br />Secondly, you will also receive a set of four, full-colour, gloss laminated artcards featuring art by some of the comic's contributors. There's an unlettered version of <strong><a href="http://ghostpockets.tumblr.com/">Liam Byrne's</a></strong> groovy issue 1 cover art, an unlettered version of <em>David Blankley's </em>issue 2 cover and brand new images by <em>Owen Watts</em> and <em>Louis Carter</em>, featuring 'Mammoth-Jack' and 'Halo and the Gryphon' respectively. They look really, really good, if I do say so myself.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YqBUDxcpe1o/T2ITcWnIwcI/AAAAAAAAAt0/nRtVjKIlWrg/s1600/PC.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YqBUDxcpe1o/T2ITcWnIwcI/AAAAAAAAAt0/nRtVjKIlWrg/s400/PC.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5720155854540947906" /></a><br /><br />So there you have it. If you would like to support us by purchasing a copy, just email me at <strong>dirkvandom@gmail.com </strong>- or drop me a line on facebook, or a pm on the 2000ad forum - and I'll fix you up with as cheap a price as I can possibly manage. It's your feedback and comments - and readership - I'm after more than your money, so as long as my postage costs are covered I'm pretty much happy. The only thing is, if you want to go this way, you will have to let me know before Sunday so I can get everything ready for postage before I depart for distant shores. (Some travelling money would be nice, hint hint. :)<br /><br />That's it! I hope you all enjoy the comic, whichever way you choose to read it! And don't forget - let us know what you think!!!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-62135294263279245182011-11-29T21:33:00.008+00:002011-11-29T22:34:05.996+00:009The number 9 has been cropping up in my life quite a bit lately. <br /><br />First of all, my daughter Halo celebrated her 9th birthday on the 9th of November just gone. <br /><br />A couple of weeks after that we threw a belated birthday party for her that we themed around the movie '9', at which we had 9 guests, watched the movie, ate a birthday cake decorated with images of the movie's characters, made bookmarks and postcards featuring the characters and even got all crafty and made our own little sackdolls inspired by the dolls in the feature. (It was quite a hectic day. Especially when I realised I didn't have any glue with which to stick on the dolls' eyes and had to race around town on a Sunday afternoon calling at three damn shops - at least it wasn't 9! - before I finally found one that sold some. Sheesh.) <br /><br />My mother also turned 9 in the last few weeks. Or should I say 09. Or should I say 60, which is what the card actually said, except that my five year old read it upside down and happily announced to everybody "Nanny is 9!" (She was happy to go along with this, I must add!)<br /><br />Which brings me to another 9-related issue...an actual issue, the 9th in fact, of Super Awesome Eagle Award Nominated Small Press Anthology <strong><a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/">Paragon</a></strong>!!!! Here it is, look!<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvJxO3Wd_YM/TtVRtCJelQI/AAAAAAAAAqg/1_-JGJe0_rs/s1600/Paragon_9cover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GvJxO3Wd_YM/TtVRtCJelQI/AAAAAAAAAqg/1_-JGJe0_rs/s400/Paragon_9cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680536339110335746" /></a><br /><br /><br />Behind this fantastic cover are pages and pages of comic brilliance, including the first episode of a cracking new yarn by <strong><a href="http://hisowndrum.blogspot.com/">Greg Meldrum</a> </strong> and <strong>Davey Candlish</strong>, about cool-as-beans 1930's adventurer <em>Spencer Nero</em> (this issue's cover star) and his mysterious, mask-activated alter-ego Janus; the third high-octane installment of sci-fi epic <em>Rise of the Mekko-Sapiens</em> by <strong><a href="http://locustsofdeath.blogspot.com/">Matthew McLaughlin </a> </strong>and Vanguardian <strong><a href="http://lrgcarter.blogspot.com/">Louis Carter</a></strong>; a Roy Thomas/Conan-inspired episode of caveman-smushing madness in regular strip <em>Jikan </em>courtesy of(once again!) <strong>Matthew McLaughlin</strong> and <a href="http://james-corcoran.blogspot.com/"><strong>James Corcoran</strong></a>; and the 3rd installment of my own tale, <em>Icarus Dangerous </em>with art as ever by the brilliant <strong>Stephen Prestwood</strong>, excelling himself on this episode with panels such as <em>this</em>:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSvXBoxjdgY/TtVWio3AbTI/AAAAAAAAAqs/hrCv7z869vY/s1600/Icarus%2Bpromo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SSvXBoxjdgY/TtVWio3AbTI/AAAAAAAAAqs/hrCv7z869vY/s400/Icarus%2Bpromo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680541658081422642" /></a><br /><br />As you can see, part 3 picks up where part 2 left off, with <em>Icarus </em>cornered by the <em>Bonemen</em>, silent inhabitants of the interstellar starship he finds himself trapped on having attempted to rescue the alien female who saved him from drowning. He's also struggling to come to terms with the fact that the wings his father constructed for him - previously destroyed by his plunge into the ocean - have miraculously repaired themselves, sprouting feathers where there were none before, feathers that have special, somewhat <em>explosive</em>, properties. His make-shift wings are not what they used to be, though he has no idea yet just how much they - or he - have changed. As he rushes to stay ahead of the <em>Bonemen </em>and free <em>Meriope </em>from captivity, he will come to realise just how different things are. And how he will never be the same again. This chapter introduces us to a whole bunch of new characters who are destined to play a massive part in future episodes' proceedings. It was in the writing of this episode, and the one that follows, that I realised <em>Icarus </em>is my <em>Zenith</em>, in the sense that, although he is the title character, he is just the eye of a crazy storm that's about to kick off around him. And I can't wait to bring it to you!<br /><br />With all of this plus a set of extra, 'surprise' stories to really put the cherry on top of this ice-cream sundae of a comic, Paragon issue 9 is a mag you're sure to get your money's worth from! So head on over to the <a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>Paragon </strong></a> blog and read about how to pick yourself up a copy!<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br />D.Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-67812957612663858792011-11-03T21:28:00.008+00:002011-11-03T21:48:05.256+00:00Hallowscream 2011<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSaAQt0c4Vg/TrMKK7yoElI/AAAAAAAAApA/SEQyo5Rk_Pg/s1600/Hallowscream3Cover3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mSaAQt0c4Vg/TrMKK7yoElI/AAAAAAAAApA/SEQyo5Rk_Pg/s400/Hallowscream3Cover3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670887538754589266" /></a><br /><br />It's here!<br />It's out! <br />It's awesome!<br /><br />The 2011 edition of <strong><a href="http://www.backfromthedepths.co.uk/">Back From The Depths'</a> </strong><strong>Hallowscream </strong>is now available to download <strong>FREE </strong>and its the biggest and best one yet. Hours of reading here, with some great tales and artwork to be found within these virtual pages. This is my second year contributing and once again I've been lucky enough to work with two fantastic artists. Check out <strong><a href="http://bhunas-blog.blogspot.com/">Bhuna's</a> </strong>superb full colour artwork on <strong>Speed Date 2: Cruz Control </strong>and<strong> <a href="http://roughwell.blogspot.com/">Tony Rothwell's</a></strong> darkly atmospheric etchings on <strong>Wonderful World of Delight: Serendipity </strong>. The comic also contains a fantastic monster tale written by my old pal <strong><a href="http://locustsofdeath.blogspot.com">Matthew McLaughlin</a></strong> and illustrated by the wonderful stop-you-in-your-tracks-and-rip-your-jaw-right-off-your-face <strong><a href="http://ghostpockets.tumblr.com/">Ghostpockets</a></strong>, who I collaborated with for the original Speed Date in last year's edition.<br /><br /><strong>Hallowscream 2011 </strong>- so bloody good it's horrifying!<br /><br />Download from <strong><a href="http://www.clickwheel.net/features/308">CLICKWHEEL </a></strong>or <strong><a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11875984/Hallowscream%202011.pdf">DROPBOX</a></strong>, or view online at <strong><a href="http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=100119">MYEBOOK</a></strong>.Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-6223653914532189982011-10-29T21:20:00.011+01:002011-10-31T09:36:43.092+00:00The things you should fear the most aren't necessarily the ones that are mad, screaming obvious...Last year, one of the very first comics I wrote <strong> <a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/07/ice-cream-man-cometh.html">"Wonderful World of Delight" </a></strong> appeared online in the 7th edition of <strong><a href="http://templeapa.socialgo.com/">Temple APA</a>.</strong> Almost two years on, and this story remains close to my heart as one of my favourite creations, which is odd, as it was originally conceived as a throw-away strip, a quick tale with a gimmick that would be done and dusted in a couple of pages and that would be the end of it. Thing is, in the process of writing it, I created this bloke called <strong>Robin Baskerville</strong>...a larger-than-life nutter who somehow took on a life of his own and refused to get out of my head and leave me be.<br /><br />It was almost as if he had taken up residence in my imagination. I could hear him whispering to me in the night:<em> "Whaddaya mean, I only got one story to tell, are you outta your frosty, freakin' mind? I got a gazillion stories to tell! You might think you know me, but you ain't got no idea, chump. I've got stories to tell that you would not believe!" </em><br /><br />It's true. Robin has since filled me in on EVERYTHING about him, his entire life-story and history, who he really is, what he really does...it didn't make for easy imagining. And I can't even tell anyone about it. Robin scares me. He's bad. The baddest of the bad. This guy, who created himself, is the nastiest, vilest creation that has ever popped into my head. I know I need to tell his story. All of it. I'm just not quite sure how I'm going to do it yet. I have made a start though. Robin's second adventure is ready for consumption and will appear in this year's edition of <strong><a href="http://www.backfromthedepths.co.uk/">Hallowscream</a></strong>, just a couple of days hence. Here's a few panels from the story, with new artist <strong>Tony Rothwell</strong> more than filling the sizeable shoes left by <strong>Conor Boyle </strong>, who illustrated the original tale, and putting his own unique and darkly humourous stamp on things:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dAMrmaDm0LQ/Tqxo3eANbHI/AAAAAAAAAoM/H8n38iC2SKQ/s1600/mm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 284px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dAMrmaDm0LQ/Tqxo3eANbHI/AAAAAAAAAoM/H8n38iC2SKQ/s400/mm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669021333108649074" /></a><br /><br />The new tale, <em><strong>Wonderful World of Serendipity,</strong></em> will give fresh insight into the depth of Robin's depravity...but it won't scratch the surface of the unthinkable horrors that are yet to be revealed. I didn't have the necessary gumption to get into all of that right away, thought it best to simply present another snapshot of Robin as he is in the here-and-now of his zombie-ravaged, apocalyptic Wonderful World, before delving into his past and opening up a Pandora's box of terror. That's for another time, another place, but Mr. Baskerville's tale <em>will </em>be told, and when it is, you may very well regret hearing it.<br /> <br />But not half as much as I regret being the one who has to tell it...Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-54180021858529165272011-10-14T13:26:00.023+01:002011-10-15T23:25:08.929+01:00Mid-October UpdateWell! Where to begin? It's been a while since I've posted anything here. You might think that's because I've been working on looooooooooooads of new projects but, in actuality, I haven't. Nothing creative at least. Real life has been keeping my civilian alter-ego busy and hasn't left much time for Van Dom to strut his funky stuff, taking down criminal masterminds, saving damsels-in-distress and writing strange and messed up comic scripts. Nothing new anyway, though I have been tinkering away at certain works-in-progres. Nevertheless, there are a few things that have been happening.<br /><br />First and foremost - <strong>Vanguard!</strong> My self-published comic has gone down pretty well, I'm happy to report. I've sold nearly all my printed copies and had some very good feedback, and have also gathered up a few industry reviews, all of which were pretty positive. (Nobody told me to STOP anyway, and that's always a good sign!) You can get the skinny on all of that - with links to all the reviews and some info about the upcoming issue 2 - over on the <strong><a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.com/">Vanguard Blog</a></strong>. There's still a handful of copies left too if you haven't gotten around to picking one up yet. Ordering info can also be found on the Vanguard Blog. <br /><br />As a result of putting Vanguard together, I also found myself in a position to be nominated for the inaugural <strong>Irish Comic News Awards</strong>. Seemingly, to my surprise, some people did indeed nominate me and - to my even greater surprise - my name now appears on the short list for voting, in not one but two categories. So you can vote for me as best self-published writer, or Vanguard as best self-published comic. Obviously, I'm not going to win, or even come close (just <strong><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishcomicnews.com%2Ficn-awards-2011-voting-open%2F&h=sAQAhM-kU">LOOK </a></strong>at who is on the short list --- egads, what kind of whippersnapper am I even daring to have my name in there?!?) but it's definately an honour to be nominated and I'm very grateful. So a big, big thanks to anybody who did so. And, of course, if you DO want to vote for me, I certainly won't tell you not to! <br /><br />Over in <strong><a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/">Paragon</a></strong>, my ongoing adventure series <strong>Icarus Dangerous </strong>seems to be going down pretty well also. I got a few good reviews for episode 1 and managed to more-or-less keep it going for episode 2, although the <a href="http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2011/paragon-issue-8/"><strong>Forbidden Planet</strong></a> reviewer was a little disappointed that this episode wasn't as simple-and-straightforward as the first part. Not quite sure what to make of that really as this story, as a whole, is far from simple or straightforward! Hopefully episode 3 will get him back on board. Meanwhile, over at <a href="http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/131610993148264.htm"><strong>Comics Bulletin</strong></a>, the reviewer thoroughly enjoyed it, so go figure! What do you think of the story? I'd love to hear your views! <br /><br />Do you remember <strong>Speed Date</strong>, a short, gorey horror tale I wrote for last year's <strong><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=8196628506712363166&postID=389930599286624757">Hallowscream</a></strong>? Well, a few points of interest in relation to it. First of all, there is a sequel. Of course there is a sequel. I couldn't, in good conscience, leave it the way it ended, not with that vicious bastard Tucker still on the loose, a threat to honest-to-goodness, soulmate-seeking Speed Daters everywhere. Common decency demanded that I revisit the character and present a 'what happened next' type epilogue to the tale...a full colour (and what colour!) tale of love and romance that is now in the can, courtesy of the wonderful <strong><a href="http://bhunas-blog.blogspot.com/">Bhuna</a></strong>, and being lettered as we speak. <strong>Speed Date 2:Cruz Control </strong>is, like all good sequels, everything the first part had but MORE. MORE violence, MORE blood, MORE death, MORE twists. It is, honestly, the bloodiest 6 pages of comic I have ever witnessed. They don't come much more blood-soaked than this people, so keep an eye out for this year's Hallowscream at the end of the month to find out if Tucker gets his come-uppance or not. (Hint - Tucker will continue to appear in a 1 page, ongoing strip in Vanguard from issue 2) (Anti-hint - that doesn't necessarily mean what you think it does. Or does it?!) In the meantime - here are some sneak peaks from this blood-drenched tale...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rOmCwVfP35g/Tpgwbdv49mI/AAAAAAAAAlw/LB1K_8Svri0/s1600/SD2pP1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rOmCwVfP35g/Tpgwbdv49mI/AAAAAAAAAlw/LB1K_8Svri0/s400/SD2pP1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663329779818493538" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nh9abqo2Vyw/TpgwjGdnImI/AAAAAAAAAl8/ze5TodsRyvw/s1600/SD2p03p1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 294px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nh9abqo2Vyw/TpgwjGdnImI/AAAAAAAAAl8/ze5TodsRyvw/s400/SD2p03p1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663329911006765666" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYs5Z_Kd-lY/TpgwvuGLFpI/AAAAAAAAAmU/li-_aa6heCI/s1600/SD2p04p6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 225px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fYs5Z_Kd-lY/TpgwvuGLFpI/AAAAAAAAAmU/li-_aa6heCI/s400/SD2p04p6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663330127804307090" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-yp3yyYpCA/TpgwqVEujrI/AAAAAAAAAmI/PkMaYpBWEOo/s1600/SD2p04p1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U-yp3yyYpCA/TpgwqVEujrI/AAAAAAAAAmI/PkMaYpBWEOo/s400/SD2p04p1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663330035188010674" /></a><br /><br /><br />The second item of <strong>Speed Date</strong> related news is that the movie version of Part 1 (renamed <strong>SPEED KILLS</strong> as a short movie called 'Speed Date' already exists) is finally finished, and it looks bloody great. Audience reaction at a test screening recently was overwhelmingly positive, which was lucky, as both myself (as the writer of the original story) and <strong><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3951472/">Alan Rogers</a></strong> (director, producer and star of the movie) were sitting there in nervous anticipation of being run out of town for coming up with something so nasty and vile! Alan captured Tucker's 'charm' perfectly though, and somehow this made the acts he commits in the film just that little bit more palatable. The really big news though is that the movie has been picked to appear as part of the short film showcase at this year's Horrorthon festival in the IFI in Dublin. It's being shown on October the 31st at 11am (part of the <em>Short Film Showcase</em>) so if you are in the area and fancy checking it out, please come along. More info about this can be found on the Horrorthon website <strong><a href="http://horrorthon.com/">HERE</a></strong>. Be warned - you will be subjected to images such as this. Yikes!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3LDi0Q-eHg/TpgyUhCmQ2I/AAAAAAAAAmg/qrRuuIwfoMc/s1600/Ann%2BDead.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--3LDi0Q-eHg/TpgyUhCmQ2I/AAAAAAAAAmg/qrRuuIwfoMc/s400/Ann%2BDead.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663331859466437474" /></a><br /><br /><br />That's pretty much about all I have for you at the moment. It's too early to start previewing images from all the stories in the next issue of Vanguard, and everything else I am involved in is still in the early stages of W.I.P. I will be back before the end of the month though with news on another strip due to appear in Hallowscream, which features the return of another of my nastier creations, the jolly, jovial, jingle-singing zombie feeder/killer Robin Baskerville, this time rendered by the wonderful <strong>Tony Rothwell</strong>. Sneak peak below rounds out this entry. Ta-ta for now!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn6ObhUNQ2c/Tpg0hYL5I0I/AAAAAAAAAms/XI3jcq3sV9s/s1600/robin%2Bteaser.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn6ObhUNQ2c/Tpg0hYL5I0I/AAAAAAAAAms/XI3jcq3sV9s/s400/robin%2Bteaser.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5663334279451059010" /></a>Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-71624053921338806512011-08-11T21:43:00.008+01:002011-08-11T23:46:02.081+01:00Icarus is Out!Yep, <strong>Paragon Issue 8</strong> is finally out - and having received and read my copy today I can safely say it's a STONKER! Cosied up alongside wonderful scripts by Mark Howard, The Emperor and Matthew McLaughlin is Chapter II of my "Greek Legend Gone Interstellar" epic <strong>ICARUS DANGEROUS,</strong> in which our danger-prone hero Icarus says:
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<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArEfkjzM4VM/TkRABpC_9XI/AAAAAAAAAlI/0llbqdgiGRU/s1600/id2previewpanel.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 188px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ArEfkjzM4VM/TkRABpC_9XI/AAAAAAAAAlI/0llbqdgiGRU/s400/id2previewpanel.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639703030317184370" /></a>
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<br />If you read Chapter 1 (and if you didn't, stop reading this NOW and go read the blog entry for <strong><a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2011/03/adventures-of-icarus-continue-and.html">Paragon Issue 7</a></strong> instead) you'll know that Icarus has been saved from a watery grave by a strange amphibious female...who, seconds later, is captured and taken on board a monstrosity of a deeply submersed spacecraft! Icarus, helpful chap that he is (and nothing at all to do with the fact that some extremely HOT bikini-clad alien chiquita has just planted a whopper on his lips and might be up for offering a little more if he plays his cards right), decides to give chase in an attempt to rescue the damsel-in-distress who has just saved his life. A noble idea, if not the smartest one, but then Icarus never was the sharpest arrow in the quiver, so what do you expect? It all goes BADLY WRONG...and now Icarus finds himself marooned, millions of light years from Earth and even closer to that dag-blasted sun than EVER. And that's not even the WORST bit.
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<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gORAI8c0O1I/TkRB-HKyfDI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/wP0Pz4Pc5mE/s1600/IcarusPromo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gORAI8c0O1I/TkRB-HKyfDI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/wP0Pz4Pc5mE/s400/IcarusPromo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639705168706698290" /></a>
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<br />See? He's got VOICES IN HIS HEAD and everything. That's NEVER good!
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<br />Who is Meriope? What has she done to Icarus? Who are the alien creatures who have abducted them both and what do they want with Meriope? Find out the answers to SOME of these questions in "ICARUS OUT!", 8 pages of action wonderfully rendered in <strong>PRESTWOOD-VISION,</strong> appearing now in a PARAGON near you.
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<br />Go <strong><a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/">HERE </a></strong>to order! And get your Greek on!!!
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<br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cbxfodI9W0/TkRCvMR-EpI/AAAAAAAAAlY/xsgD5gwiXcc/s1600/paragon_8_cover_a4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_cbxfodI9W0/TkRCvMR-EpI/AAAAAAAAAlY/xsgD5gwiXcc/s400/paragon_8_cover_a4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5639706011892585106" /></a>
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<br />Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-72404420614711776072011-07-22T22:02:00.005+01:002011-08-11T23:47:03.283+01:00New project!Got these images today from<strong> Neil McClements,</strong> who is hard at work on a brand new project we are collaborating together on. I'm very excited about this one. These two characters are two very different individuals who couldn't be further removed, by either time or space.
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<br />Meet Khiabit-Ka, of the Intefs of Thebes, son of Nebhepetre Mentuhotep and commander of the Egyptian Theban Forces:
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<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLIPOi7oo-c/TinnCl0udrI/AAAAAAAAAko/g4rPfHjItNY/s1600/Khiabit-ka.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 253px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kLIPOi7oo-c/TinnCl0udrI/AAAAAAAAAko/g4rPfHjItNY/s400/Khiabit-ka.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632286840702531250" /></a>
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<br />And meet Mason Reeves, a young American and modern-day rookie cop who suffers from a highly advanced - and dangerous - form of Attention Deficit Disorder:
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<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oc0RBUZju8/TinnKcin0tI/AAAAAAAAAkw/ntNYmHRkL78/s1600/MasonReeves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4oc0RBUZju8/TinnKcin0tI/AAAAAAAAAkw/ntNYmHRkL78/s400/MasonReeves.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5632286975649632978" /></a>
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<br />Somehow, these two guys' lives are about to become intertwined...and it's going to make things very interesting for both of them! More info on this one later!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-75952226079427641562011-07-07T21:31:00.006+01:002011-11-04T21:17:38.440+00:00Vanguard Unleashed!!<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_gXfrtqoik/ThYX1A183YI/AAAAAAAAAis/yMgBV0evVfw/s1600/Page1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K_gXfrtqoik/ThYX1A183YI/AAAAAAAAAis/yMgBV0evVfw/s400/Page1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626710983972806018" /></a><br /><br />It's here! <br /><br />The culmination of several months work is back from the printers and looking awesome (if I do say so myself! :) <br /><br />My collaborators on this project have put their all into turning in some fantastic looking pages and the whole thing sits together really well. The only thing to do now is attempt to sell a few copies of <strong>VANGUARD ISSUE 1</strong> to you fine supporters of the small press comic arts, so stop wasting time reading this and go <a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>HERE </strong></a>for the full lowdown!!! You won't regret it!!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-31107798415836893702011-06-18T22:59:00.003+01:002011-06-18T23:06:58.820+01:00Paragon Issue 8<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I1MmZuoRajE/Tf0f2WxbjaI/AAAAAAAAAiU/o6CFfOJ6HDo/s1600/PARAGON%2B8%2Bcover%2Bby%2BChris%2BAskham.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I1MmZuoRajE/Tf0f2WxbjaI/AAAAAAAAAiU/o6CFfOJ6HDo/s400/PARAGON%2B8%2Bcover%2Bby%2BChris%2BAskham.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619682928714550690" /></a><br /><br />Check out the cover to <strong>Paragon Issue 8</strong> by the awesome <a href="http://chris-askham.blogspot.com/"><strong>CHRIS ASKHAM</strong></a>. It's a beaut isn't it? The comic is going to be available in the next couple of weeks, and it's got some great material inside by a bunch of really talented folk...and me! Returning on art duties for <strong>ICARUS DANGEROUS CHAPTER 2</strong> is <strong>STEPHEN PRESTWOOD </strong>- and below you can get a preview of page 1. <br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksyVzH4-s8g/Tf0haTd2B3I/AAAAAAAAAic/a2pOubqmevY/s1600/page1.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ksyVzH4-s8g/Tf0haTd2B3I/AAAAAAAAAic/a2pOubqmevY/s400/page1.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619684645814011762" /></a><br /><br />For more info, check out the <strong><a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/">PARAGON BLOG</a></strong>, where you will be able to order a copy of this very soon.Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-55152036314590990022011-06-03T23:45:00.004+01:002011-06-04T00:30:53.732+01:00Remember Alice?This poor girl fell foul of the evil <strong><a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2011/06/remember-tucker.html">TUCKER </a></strong>last year, when all she thought she was doing was going on a Speed Date with some specially selected, eligible batchelor elite. That's no good at all.<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QVGHVEyVieY/TelrMU9FphI/AAAAAAAAAh8/mInk7wSPU3Q/s1600/sd2pre.bmp"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 311px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QVGHVEyVieY/TelrMU9FphI/AAAAAAAAAh8/mInk7wSPU3Q/s400/sd2pre.bmp" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614136270021568018" /></a><br /><br />The bad news is, her situation hasn't really improved all that much, as this image - courtesy of <a href="http://bhunas-blog.blogspot.com/"><strong>BHUNA ROCHE</strong> </a> - will attest to. But not to worry. Tucker still has a few girls to get through, ONE of them might be right for him, if they're lucky... But they'll have to play their cards right and answer his questions JUST so, to even be in with a chance. One thing's for sure, before this night is over, things are going to get worse before they get better...<br /><br />Stay tuned for more nasty, blood-soaked, murderous speed-dating fun in <strong>SPEED DATE 2: CRUZ CONTROL! </strong>coming your way this Halloween!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-83152233574397916042011-06-03T23:22:00.009+01:002011-06-04T22:08:16.738+01:00Remember Tucker?<strong>Tucker Alert!!!</strong> This maniac is still on the loose and continues to stalk innocent young ladies in his misguided attempts to meet his perfect match and find his 'soul mate'! Word has reached me that he has now infiltrated <a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>VANGUARD!</strong> </a> and will be plying his nasty trade there! Beware! Look out for this tucker! He is armed and highly dangerous! Do NOT be fooled by his charm and winning smile and do NOT attempt to approach him, under any circumstances. Especially if he asks if you want to go <em><a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/11/hallowscream-2010.html"><strong>Speed Dating </strong></a></em>...<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8T3DIjp95QE/TeljSl0coDI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Pr0vAg5--sc/s1600/tmpphpo6J47q.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 313px; height: 342px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8T3DIjp95QE/TeljSl0coDI/AAAAAAAAAh0/Pr0vAg5--sc/s400/tmpphpo6J47q.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614127581534920754" /></a><br /><br />Art from "Tucker's Romantic Escapes: Escape 1", by <a href="http://vivachivo.blogspot.com/"><strong>EL CHIVO</strong> </a>!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-69776753125790992582011-06-03T22:45:00.005+01:002011-06-03T23:35:03.850+01:00Tales from the Emerald Isle 2<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pepcc78RvKw/TelWU15A-5I/AAAAAAAAAhY/BhzoDUzBz6U/s1600/CaptGallagherA5edit3a_copy%255B2%255D.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Pepcc78RvKw/TelWU15A-5I/AAAAAAAAAhY/BhzoDUzBz6U/s400/CaptGallagherA5edit3a_copy%255B2%255D.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614113326557625234" /></a><br /><br />Last year, <strong>David McDonald </strong>of <a href="http://hiberniabook.blogspot.com/"><strong>HIBERNIA COMICS</strong></a> put together a really cool 2000ad fanzine which focused exclusively on characters from the comic that were of Irish origin. I contributed a Sinister-Dexter tale to the anthology, which went down well enough, apart from the too-specifically-Irish-by-far pun I included at the end, which lost most readers (as the majority of them weren't specifically Irish at all. D'oh!) So I learnt a lesson from that, so I did. Know your readers!!! <br /><br />This second edition of the comic abandons the 2000ad angle and instead draws together random tales of fantasy and fiction, all of which are based in Ireland and contain Irish themes and characters. Designed as a "convention special", the stories are, as such, shorter and sweeter. Big fan of Slaine that I am, I wanted to do something in that vein, so decided to have a crack at bringing <strong>Fionn Mac Cumhaill</strong> to the, er, small page. I mean, come on, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, he got psychic powers from burning his finger while cooking a magic salmon for God's sake, and he stabs himself in the head with his own damn SPEAR to stop himself nodding off, how freaking awesome is that! If only I had the power to suck on my thumb and have all the answers to life's conundrums revealed to me in an instant...that would be SWEET. A big spear to poke myself in the head with when I was falling asleep while trying to get through "Shutter Island" for the twentieth time would also be convenient. But alas... I have neither. <em>Sigh</em>. Anyway, Fionn Mac Cumhaill, a bit of a brute and not very bright but he had lovely flowing white locks and...the Salmon Knowledge!! Here he is in action:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXng-__hBbA/TelbAJNBjrI/AAAAAAAAAhk/zretRwy-vLM/s1600/tmpphpo6J47q.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 357px; height: 175px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wXng-__hBbA/TelbAJNBjrI/AAAAAAAAAhk/zretRwy-vLM/s400/tmpphpo6J47q.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614118468522708658" /></a><br /><br />How indeed?? In this story, one of Fionn's most famous feats of derring-do (the outsmarting and slaying of fire-breathing underworld fairy Aillen at the Hill of Tara) comes back to haunt him when he encounters a foe hell-bent on taking revenge for this heroic act. Will Fionn manage to prevail this time? You'll have to read the story to find out!<br /><br />Art is by <a href="http://forflipssake.blogspot.com/"><strong>FILIP RONCONE</strong></a>, who went above and beyond the call of duty and put this 3 pager together in just three days!!! Not only that, but he also managed to produce what is one of my favourite pages of artwork based on a script I've written so far. <br /><br />Enjoy, and hopefully I will get the chance to write more Fionn adventures in the future. I had a lot of fun writing this one.<br /><br />DVDVan Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-4562024094760298542011-06-03T22:16:00.010+01:002011-06-03T23:34:22.441+01:00Temple APA Issue 9......is now avaiable for download online. FREE! See that fabulous, summery cover? It's great, isn't it, and it's even better on the inside, so get it now, get it good, get it <a href="http://dl.dropbox.com/u/11875984/Temple9.pdf"><strong>HERE</strong>!</a><br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wK8g96THklk/TelSp2wr2WI/AAAAAAAAAhI/LqS2TUry5pw/s1600/01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wK8g96THklk/TelSp2wr2WI/AAAAAAAAAhI/LqS2TUry5pw/s400/01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614109289521863010" /></a><br /><br />You can also obtain it from <a href="http://www.clickwheel.net/features/350?episode_id=3397"><strong>CLICKWHEEL</strong></a>, <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/file/m343q1o7phoeb9f/Temple9.pdf"><strong>MEDIAFIRE</strong></a> or view it as a <a href="http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=83966"><strong>MY EBOOK</strong>.</a><br /><br /><br />As usual, there's a nice collection of comic material from a wide variety of creators inside, including myself. This is the third issue I have been featured in, and although I don't have a new, complete strip appearing this time out, I do have preview pages from 4 of my forthcoming stories (3 of which will appear in Issue 1 of <a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>VANGUARD!</strong></a>), and also a brand-new one page strip featuring my cartoon character (and Vanguard 'frontman') <strong>Redbats</strong>. This fellow, here:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lP5B92mqV-I/TelVkKirUxI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/57QiIdVqS20/s1600/tmpphpo6J47q.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 166px; height: 399px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lP5B92mqV-I/TelVkKirUxI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/57QiIdVqS20/s400/tmpphpo6J47q.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614112490287485714" /></a><br /><br />This strip, drawn by <a href="http://lrgcarter.blogspot.com/"><strong>LOUIS CARTER</strong> </a>and lettered by <a href="http://clintflickerlettering.blogspot.com/"><strong>JIM CAMPBELL </strong></a>, serves as both an introduction to Vanguard's psychopathic 'editor' and sets up a bit of a running gag I am going to feature in the comic, about how "Van Dom" (ie, ME!) and my collaborators on the project are being held against our will and forced to create this comic at Redbat's behest. "Prison Break" shenanigans will ensue, mark my words! My money is on <a href="http://crazyfoxmachine.blogspot.com/"><strong>OWEN</strong> </a>being the first to break out and take on the Red one....he has that Crazy Fox of his sniffing around after all... (I've seen it, and boy does it look crazy!) Yes, indeed, Owen Watts and the Crazy Fox versus Redbats, that's a feature for issue 2 brewing in my mind even as I write these words!!<br /><br />So, yeah, <strong>Temple APA</strong>, check it out, give props where props are due. If you want to know more about Temple and what it is, or if you would like to contribute to a future issue, you can learn more <a href="http://templeapa.socialgo.com/ ">HERE</a>,<br /><br /><br />That Zit, keep it real!<br /><br />DVDVan Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-54409875500298815012011-05-13T23:01:00.012+01:002011-06-03T23:37:41.481+01:00UPDATE, MAY 2011!!So the old blogs been a bit dead of late, not because I haven't had anything to blog about, just because I've been so busy with work and family and all those kinds of things that tend to suck up every minute of free time. But such is life! This blog, like a plant, needs attention though, so with that in mind its time for some updates.<br /> <br /><br /><strong>ITEM!!!</strong><br /><br /><strong>Icarus Dangerous</strong> seems to have gone down well in <a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>PARAGON</strong></a>. I've had a number of nice compliments on the first episode of the series. I can't take all the credit though, as <strong>Stephen Prestwood's</strong> fantastic art really brought the strip to life, so I'm happy to announce he will be back on art duties for the second installment, when things really get interesting and some strange characters start to appear. <br /> <br />Review-wise, there have been three official reviews of the issue and story, and all have been favourable, to my relief! Here are the links to these reviews, if you would like to read them!<br /> <br /><strong><a href="http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2011/paragon-7-–-new-look-new-strips-mostly/">FORBIDDEN PLANET REVIEW</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.geekchocolate.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88:paragon-issue-7&catid=39:comics&Itemid=61">GEEK CHOCOLATE REVIEW</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.comicsbulletin.com/reviews/130237130072902.htm">LINE OF FIRE REVIEW </a></strong><br /><br />So who is the alien girl who saved Icarus' life? What was she doing in the ocean? Who are the cloaked figures in the ship that took her away? What exactly has she done to Icarus to save him? And what in the world is he going to do a million light-years from home? Find out the answers (maybe) in <strong>Chapter 2: Icarus Out!</strong> coming in Paragon issue 8!<br /> <br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkbdthoEhxY/Tc2zbNdaDaI/AAAAAAAAAhA/UsUHhJ4bwnQ/s1600/ID2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 273px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JkbdthoEhxY/Tc2zbNdaDaI/AAAAAAAAAhA/UsUHhJ4bwnQ/s400/ID2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606334391196978594" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>ITEM!!!</strong><br /><br />You may remember from previous posts how I had a strip called "<strong>Chronoleech</strong>" being done up to appear in this Not-Quite-Doctor-Who fanzine, which is on the verge of being published. Sadly, my partner on the project, <strong>NICOLAS BANNWARTH,</strong> ran into some problems at the start of the year and was unable to finish the art in time to meet the deadline. It was disappointing for both of us but it couldn't be helped. Nevertheless, the show must go on and here is the glorious cover to the finished project. <br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SQMuMyByZXA/Tc2sxBs0XgI/AAAAAAAAAgg/AVAvaMTKhb0/s1600/wtf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 282px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SQMuMyByZXA/Tc2sxBs0XgI/AAAAAAAAAgg/AVAvaMTKhb0/s400/wtf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606327069416119810" /></a><br /><br />I've been lucky enough to see a preview copy of this and it is one of the kookiest, most gloriously bizarre (and colourful!) comics I have ever seen! As soon as I have info on where you can order a copy from I will post about it here. If you are a Doctor Who fan you aren't going to want to miss this!<br /> <br />As for the fate of "Chronoleech"? Who knows? There's always <strong>Dr. WTF?! 2012!!</strong><br /> <br /><br /><strong>ITEM!!!</strong><br /><br />I currently have two new comic strips in production, both of which feature the return of two of my more homicidal creations. The first is a sequel to my horror short <strong>SPEED DATE</strong>, which appeared in last year's edition of <a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/11/hallowscream-2010.html"><strong>HALLOWSCREAM</strong></a>. This time round, <a href="http://bhunas-blog.blogspot.com/"><strong>NEIL 'BHUNA' ROCHE</strong></a> is on art duties, and his interpretation of Tucker promises to be darker and grittier than ever. The amazing skills of <a href="http://ghostpockets.blogspot.com/"><strong>GHOSTPOCKETS </strong></a>will be missed on this follow-up installment, but Bhuna is going to bring his own style to the table and the result will be nothing short of awesome! Will Tucker continue to terrorise and murder innocent young girls in his quest to find the 'perfect date'...or will he meet his match in more ways than one and get his come-uppance? You'll have to wait for this year's Hallowscream to find out! In the meantime, here are some character sketches of Tucker and one of the few surviving victims from the previous tale (let's call her Blondie) for your perusal.<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tqOW5l-e0Cs/Tc2t8LInJSI/AAAAAAAAAgo/6-GaIFWgi_U/s1600/tuckersketch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 262px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tqOW5l-e0Cs/Tc2t8LInJSI/AAAAAAAAAgo/6-GaIFWgi_U/s400/tuckersketch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606328360438801698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dglNrQCMxx8/Tc2uC67UszI/AAAAAAAAAgw/IskvMq_u19k/s1600/Cruzsketch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 303px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dglNrQCMxx8/Tc2uC67UszI/AAAAAAAAAgw/IskvMq_u19k/s400/Cruzsketch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606328476347183922" /></a><br /> <br />As for the second sequel, well, can you say "zombies" and "ice-cream"? If so, you might be able to figure out that <strong>"Basking" Robin Baskerville</strong> is on his way back, with a new artist, and a new agenda. More info on this, along with teaser images, soon! In the meantime, it has come to my attention that Mr. Baskerville is posting on Facebook these days and you can follow what he has to say by visiting the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/True-Zombie-Apocalypse-Stories/219891621357291?ref=ts"><strong>True Zombie Apocalypse Stories</strong></a> page set up by <a href="http://locustsofdeath.blogspot.com/"><strong>LOCUSTSOFDEATH </strong></a>on Facebook. He seems to post there as and when he gets a chance to get online! :)<br /><br /><br /><strong>ITEM!!! </strong><br /><br />Back to <a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>PARAGON </strong></a>and I currently have a brace of <strong>Jikan </strong>stories being worked on for inclusion in future issues. The first of these, <strong>"Griffin's Bounty"</strong> sees Jikan journey to ancient Greece where he encounters a pack of thieving griffins. Taking it upon himself to rescue a young girl taken from her family by the griffins, Jikan sets off on the treacherous climb to reach their mountain-top eyrie...where a few surprises are in store. Regular Jikan artist <a href="http://vivachivo.blogspot.com/"><strong>ELCHIVO </strong></a>is providing the art for this strip and as you can see from the sample below, he is the perfect choice to bring Jikan's newest foes to life!<br /> <br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WFE4WuizuOk/Tc2v3y18V3I/AAAAAAAAAg4/1ZEVKpJhsQg/s1600/jikanGRF1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 316px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WFE4WuizuOk/Tc2v3y18V3I/AAAAAAAAAg4/1ZEVKpJhsQg/s400/jikanGRF1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5606330484221826930" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>ITEM!!!</strong><br /><br />Last, but certainly not least there is ---- <a href="http://vanguardcomic.blogspot.com/"><strong>VANGUARD</strong></a>!!! Vanguard is...a little project of mine that I've been working on putting together with some wonderful artists for the last few months. It's an experiment really, a test run of my own anthology comic, which will hopefully go down well and lead to a regular publication. 4 strips per issue, 4 fantastic artists and hopefully a whole heap of fun, you need do no more than check out the offical blog for the comic to find out all you need to know. Do it. Do it <strong>NOW</strong>. What are you waiting for, go already!!!<br /><br />And check back here again soon for updates on yet MORE new stuff coming your way soon!!!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-68404049927254472942011-03-18T14:47:00.009+00:002011-03-25T09:55:24.234+00:00The adventures of ICARUS continue! And they're more DANGEROUS than ever!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3haxJhhg70s/TYNw2BtE3vI/AAAAAAAAAec/2WoNm3elwIQ/s1600/icd.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-3haxJhhg70s/TYNw2BtE3vI/AAAAAAAAAec/2WoNm3elwIQ/s400/icd.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585432036342292210" /></a><br /><br />We all know the legend of Icarus and Daedalus. Imprisoned by King Minos to prevent the secrets of the Labyrinth (which Daedalus built to hold the dreaded Minotaur) being revealed, they manufactured wings from bird feathers and wax in order to escape the island of Crete. Many years were spent on this endeavour, and when the day - and moment of truth - finally arrived whereupon they put their plan into action, the Gods smiled on them and the wings worked as they were meant to. As the duo fled Crete and made their way across the seas, however, reckless Icarus got carried away with his success and the elation of flying and grew over-confident of his abilities. Ignoring his father's words of warning as mere fatherly over-protectiveness, he allowed himself to fly higher into the mid-day sky, drawing so close to the sun that its heat melted the wax holding his feathers together. His wings came apart and he plummetted into the sea far below, where his story came to an abrupt and watery end. Or did it?<br /><br />In "Icarus Dangerous", it's not quite where the adventure ends. In fact, it's just the beginning of a wild ride that will take Icarus closer to the sun - and beyond - than he ever imagined! Strange beings, out-of-this-world situations and a whole host of legendary foes await him on his journey. Before long, he's going to curse the reckless, danger-prone nature which caused him to ignore his father's words. And he's going to have to fly like he's never flown before if he wants to live to regret it!<br /><br />"Icarus Dangerous" chapter 1 appears in Issue 7 of Eagle-Award nominated comic "<a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/">PARAGON</a>", with art by Stephen Prestwood and letters by <a href="http://clintflickerlettering.blogspot.com/">JIM CAMPBELL</a>. <br /><br />You can buy a print copy of the comic (FOR €3.00) <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/paragon-%237/15146944">here</a> or download a digital copy (FOR €1.00) <a href="http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/paragon-%237/15146945">here </a><a href="http://"></a><br /><br />Thanks for the support and enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83LLfyrI42o/TYNw7i_XmHI/AAAAAAAAAek/iAqtmAH21ao/s1600/Paragon%2B7%2Bcover.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 226px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-83LLfyrI42o/TYNw7i_XmHI/AAAAAAAAAek/iAqtmAH21ao/s400/Paragon%2B7%2Bcover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585432131176732786" /></a>Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-49666850918786440232011-02-02T14:40:00.021+00:002011-02-02T23:56:19.013+00:00Back in Business!Howdy folks and a belated Happy New Year to everybody reading. Been a bit quiet round these parts lately, due to A) my laptop packing it in before christmas and taking me an age to get repaired, B) complete and utter burn-out following the completion of my head-melting <strong> <a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/12/party-crash.html">"Party Crash!"</a> </strong> (which, I am happy to report seemed to go down pretty well with the good folk over at the 2000ad forums and has notched up an impressive 2000 page views since going live in December) and C) an extended stay over Christmas/New Year in my spiritual second home, Tokyo, during which little in the way of any new writing was done but fanciful plans were hatched and intriguing ideas were set in motion. It's 2011, baby, and it's gonna be good!<br /><br />I have a few projects on the go but can't talk about some of them, as they are all in the early stages of production. I find that spilling the beans on things too soon can release the magic from them, scattering it to the four corners of the internet from which it can seldom be reclaimed, so hush hush is the name of the game. What I can do is give you an update on a couple of things. First and foremost: <br /><br /><strong>Speed Kills</strong> (aka Speed Date the Movie) is complete! That is to say, the FILMING is complete. There is still the small matter of editing, adding a score, attaching credits, etc etc, but with the shooting of the exterior shots at the start of January, everything is now in the can and post-production can begin in earnest. Not long now. Tucker is coming! And this is how he travels:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUm5UncGqwI/AAAAAAAAAdo/LECssIGSoIo/s1600/167519_10150130826149104_786249103_7955043_650739_n.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUm5UncGqwI/AAAAAAAAAdo/LECssIGSoIo/s400/167519_10150130826149104_786249103_7955043_650739_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569186178055711490" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnah65WNzI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/stdo4CaPyF0/s1600/car.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnah65WNzI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/stdo4CaPyF0/s400/car.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569222690500654898" /></a><br /><br /><br /><strong>Dr.WTF?! </strong>is getting perilously close to completion and is almost ready to be unleashed upon the world. That old crazy fox <strong> <a href="http://crazyfoxmachine.blogspot.com/">Owen Watts </a></strong> has been doing sterling work at the helm of this particular project, taking it safely from the land of Conceptopia across the hazardous seas to Comiconica, the land of the rising comic. My project <strong>"Chronoleech"</strong> with <strong> <a href="http://sin-ethik.blogspot.com/">Mitahane</a></strong>, is developing nicely and features glorious time-warped panels such as this: <br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUlt-TMkAjI/AAAAAAAAAdY/CDl1cy4V0Zw/s1600/dr.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 396px; height: 249px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUlt-TMkAjI/AAAAAAAAAdY/CDl1cy4V0Zw/s400/dr.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569103331292611122" /></a><br /><br />And here's the pic <strong>Mitahane </strong>put together as a "teaser" image for the story:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUluJV0PxiI/AAAAAAAAAdg/an_gAUWrOJQ/s1600/teaser.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 283px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUluJV0PxiI/AAAAAAAAAdg/an_gAUWrOJQ/s400/teaser.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569103520974489122" /></a><br /><br />More info and teaser images can be found on the new <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Dr-WTF/122983944441503">Facebook </a>page Owen set up to promote the comic. <br /><br /><br />I posted the cover image for <strong><a href="http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com/">Paragon</a></strong> 7 <a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/10/icarusliving-dangerously.html">a few months back</a>. That issue should be coming out soon, featuring the first episode of my first ongoing series, <strong>Icarus Dangerous.</strong> There's been a slight change to the artistic arrangements for this strip and regular Paragon contributor (and artist on that title's supercool strip "<strong>Battle Ganesh</strong>") <strong>Stephen Prestwood</strong> will now be providing the sumptious visuals to illustrate my wordage. Really excited about this, I will be posting some teaser images as and when I am allowed to!<br /><br /><br />Another project in the works is a new noir/pulp-fiction type webcomic that harkens back to the old pulp comics of yore. The brainchild of one <strong>Chris Cronin</strong>, it will feature lots of hardboiled detectives, dames in distress, and shady hoodlums, alongside a smattering of horror and adventure stories. I will be providing a short horror tale for this comic, a troubling tale that goes under the title "Weep". It will hopefully give you some interesting nightmares and make you look at something common to us all in a very different light. Art on this strip will be by <strong> <a href="http://forflipssake.blogspot.com/">Filip Roncone</a> </strong>, who I collaborate with on <strong>Promise </strong>for <strong> <a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/11/hallowscream-2010.html">Hallowscream </a></strong>last year.<br /><br /><br />I have also had a script accepted by <strong><a href="http://futurequakepress.blogspot.com/">Futurequake</a></strong>, though this one is probably a little bit on the horizon. It was really good working with the editors of the magazine, who gave me some good advice on scripting structure and enabled me to work on tightening up my scripts. The process took a few months but by the end of it the script for this particular story, <strong>"Five Minutes to Midnight"</strong> had changed dramatically from the initial draft and was a much, much stronger story as a result. I have no idea if an artist has been allocated to this strip or not yet, but rest assured I will be back with a progress report as and when I have one. This is my highest profile gig to date and I am really looking forward to see the completed story in print.<br /><br /><br />That's about all I can really talk about. I do have another BIG project in the works but its far too early to talk about it, as I said at the start. Rather than say anything, I will instead leave you with some teaser images...more details on all of these and what they are about later! Top 2 images below are by <strong>David Blankley</strong>, bottom two are by <strong> <a href="http://lrgcarter.blogspot.com/">Louis Carter.</a> </strong><br /><br /><strong>Vandemonium is coming!!!</strong><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnYgzbxmkI/AAAAAAAAAdw/hioU3nttN1c/s1600/call-malone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 277px; height: 400px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnYgzbxmkI/AAAAAAAAAdw/hioU3nttN1c/s400/call-malone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569220472294447682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnYyH4Te1I/AAAAAAAAAd4/LBG7eHjB1Y0/s1600/call.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnYyH4Te1I/AAAAAAAAAd4/LBG7eHjB1Y0/s400/call.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569220769840593746" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnY54psdyI/AAAAAAAAAeA/QAmLwfYyGZo/s1600/halo.PNG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 75px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnY54psdyI/AAAAAAAAAeA/QAmLwfYyGZo/s400/halo.PNG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569220903191738146" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnZCMMhcgI/AAAAAAAAAeI/ttgttpAvEU4/s1600/gryphon.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 168px; height: 171px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TUnZCMMhcgI/AAAAAAAAAeI/ttgttpAvEU4/s400/gryphon.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569221045877043714" /></a>Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-52154451927756013412010-12-22T19:03:00.007+00:002010-12-23T11:11:31.198+00:00Temple APA Issue 8<a href="http://toothmas2010.blogspot.com/">PARTY CRASH!</a> wasn't the only thing I worked on over the last couple of months. I also managed to put together a festive little comic script featuring Santa Claus, which David Blankley illustrated and which appeared in the latest edition of online comics showcase <a href="http://templeapa.socialgo.com/">Temple APA</a>. This is a (lightly) Christmas themed edition of the publication, so I scripted to suit and came up with something as Christmassy as you can get. David's full colour art on this is absolutely glorious so please do check it out and get your yuletide groove on!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TRJMYB0GYoI/AAAAAAAAAcs/bx9xc8vMS-Y/s1600/01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 283px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TRJMYB0GYoI/AAAAAAAAAcs/bx9xc8vMS-Y/s400/01.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553585266188771970" /></a><br /><br />Download - FREE - from:<br /><a href="http://www.clickwheel.net/features/350?episode_id=3309">Clickwheel</a><br /><a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?ke9t8cg6re0u6z0">Mediafire</a><br /><br />or view as an E-book at <a href="http://www.myebook.com/index.php?option=ebook&id=61741">Myebook </a>(will require user account to view).<br /><br />Happy Christmas!Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-12765232993054706652010-12-22T18:47:00.006+00:002010-12-30T07:27:49.527+00:00Party Crash!So they do this advent calendar thing on the 2000ad forum every christmas, where forum members put together 'gifts' to the board which are posted throughout the month of December. The gift can be anything from a single picture, to a full comic strip, or even a random act of kindness. I decided to take part this year and recklessly threw my name into the ring when the call for contributors came up. It was only after this that I realised I had absolutely no idea what I was going to do. I'm not much cop with drawing, being more the writey-type, so my first thought was...write a comic script, get someone to draw it. But when I found out my good mate LocustsofDeath (real name) was already doing that, I tried to think of something else. Somehow, I hit on the idea of doing a 'choose your own adventure' story. This took various formats at the initial planning stage, until I eventually settled on the idea of having a 2000ad christmas party, which the reader gatecrashes, mingling with various 2000ad characters and getting mixed up in all kinds of shenanigans. When I started writing it, I thought it was going to be a breeze. But as I got into it, and 1 option led to 2 options, and 2 options led to 4 options, and 4 options led to EIGHT options...I soon realised I had created a monster. I won't lie - keeping track of this was a monumental task, especially when I ended up with 4 individual story threads that started to criss-cross amongst each other! It was tough. But with various spreadsheets and roadmaps I was able to keep a handle on it. <em>Just</em>.<br /><br />I realised early on that one thing I was definately going to need was pictures to accompany the text, just like the old books used to have, so I sent out a couple of mass emails to various guys from the forum who I had been interacting with throughout the year. Everybody was extremely supportive of the venture and with one or two exceptions where people were genuinely swamped with work, everybody agreed to help out. I ended up with 29 completely original illustrations to incorporate into the text, and completely awesome illustrations to boot. <br /><br />The whole project took 6-7 weeks to complete -- my laptop packing it in mid-way through the work didn't help and meant I had to play Frankenstein and bring to life an old desktop PC I'd stashed in the attic a couple of years ago, in order to finish the writing. But somehow, I managed to meet the deadline and get it ready just in time for my allocated slot on the advent calendar. Phew! <br /><br />So, having said all that, and without further ado, here's the link to the game. Hope you enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TRJK2w-TyiI/AAAAAAAAAck/ge6Ahtkdekc/s1600/chooseyourownadventure.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 237px; height: 400px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TRJK2w-TyiI/AAAAAAAAAck/ge6Ahtkdekc/s400/chooseyourownadventure.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553583595220879906" /></a><br />(cover mock-up by <a href="http://malcolmkirk.blogspot.com/">Malcolm Kirk</a> - using artwork by Chris Weston)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://toothmas2010.blogspot.com/">PARTY CRASH! THE 2000AD CHRISTMAS BLOWOUT, 2010! BY INVITATION ONLY!</a>Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-13870868092177733952010-12-03T22:04:00.003+00:002010-12-03T22:52:27.305+00:00Tales from the Emerald Isle<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TPltCmUOp9I/AAAAAAAAAO4/fQVPa7sEWCA/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TPltCmUOp9I/AAAAAAAAAO4/fQVPa7sEWCA/s400/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5546584307496036306" /></a><br />"Sinister Dexter: All Malone Again", my first ever script to appear in print format - that is, in actual ink, on actual paper! - appears in this brand new, supercool comic orchestrated and put together by David McDonald.<br /><br />Its a 28 page black & white fanzine featuring 2000ad characters of Irish origin and I'm really excited about being a part of it. Apart from Sinister Dexter you will find tales featuring Judge Joyce, Maeve the Many Armed, Slough Feg and the Harlem Heroes, all accompanied by some fabulous art. <br /><br />Only 100 issues have been printed and they are going fast so if you would like to support the venture (And me!) buy one - PLEASE! They won't last long!<br /><br />More info about how to order can be found <a href="http://hiberniabook.blogspot.com/2010/12/at-last-its-here.html">HERE</a>.<br /><br />So whaddaya waitin' fer! Go and buy one. Go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go ON!!!! :)Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8196628506712363166.post-42713870419737902402010-11-18T21:42:00.004+00:002010-11-22T23:43:02.593+00:00Templeton Peck is Awesome!!!...but that's beside the point.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.templeapa.socialgo.com/">Temple APA</a> is also awesome, and it's almost time for issue 8.<br /><br /><a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/07/ice-cream-man-cometh.html">Last time</a>, myself and <a href="http://pencilmonkeymagic.blogspot.com/">CONOR BOYLE</a> brought you a pleasant little tale about a very helpful Ice Cream Man named 'Basking' Robin, one of the survivors of an Earth-ravaging zombie apocalypse. This time, I have teamed up with David Blankley (who I recently collaborated with on a <a href="http://bountyquest.blogspot.com/2010/10/boys-are-back-in-town.html">Sinister Dexter</a> tale) to bring you...Santa!!!<br /><br />Yes, Santa, the one and only...(or should that be, one of many..?)<br /><br />The story is called "Claus Encounters of the Santa Kind" and here is a little preview. <br /><br />Issue 8 of TempleAPA is due to go live on the 28th November. Be there!!!<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TOWghRXgAKI/AAAAAAAAAOg/_xzP8q-ox8w/s1600/clausteaser.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 159px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_UEuWIvTKRLo/TOWghRXgAKI/AAAAAAAAAOg/_xzP8q-ox8w/s400/clausteaser.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5541011410007359650" /></a>Van Domhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01600338606356938118noreply@blogger.com0