Would you date this man?

Well, not unless you're a lady, and even then, probably not.

This is "Tucker" (Tuckah!!!) Liam Byrne's rendition of the main character from "Speed Date" (ever so slightly based on the actor who will take the role in the short film...EVER so slightly...I don't really know somebody who looks like this! Honest!!) :)
Nice work Liam, looking forward to seeing more!

Different interpretation of Atomic Call's "Angie"

This is a pretty cool version of my character Angelyna Cale, from my Atomic CALL series. Art by Johnny Boy Baptista, bringing to a close the set of 4 character studies he did for me. Always nice to see different artists' takes on your own characters!

Update August 2010

So it's been a pretty productive year so far! I've now got quite a few projects on the go, and if you'd told me any of them would be happening back in January before I started all this, I would have laughed at you.

I've got a good few comic scripts currently being done up by various wonderful artists for inclusion in a variety of superb publications, both print and digital. As well as a few one-off horror tales and a strip based on some popular 2000ad characters being done up for a new 2000ad fanzine, I have a few strips in the pipeline for Paragon, some tales featuring that magazine's flagship character "Jikan" and also my own series "Icarus Dangerous", which will be drawn by Jikan creator Davey Candlish and will be very fun and awesome!

I also have my Atomic CALL short story lined up to be serialised in the new Starscape storycomic, of which the first issue will be launching imminently and for which the accompanying illustrations are developing nicely. My story won't be debuting until issue 2 or 3, depending on a couple of factors, but that's cool...good things are worth waiting for, after all! :) (I will post info about issue 1 of this magazine when it is officially launched). To coincide with the running of this prose Atomic CALL adventure, I have written a 7 page Atomic CALL comic strip, which serves as an introduction to the main character, Call Malone. Art on this will be by an amazingly talent artist called Richard Jordan, and the strip will appear as a webcomic on Starscape Online. Really looking forward to that one!

Along with this, things are progressing nicely with the short film adaptation of my comic script "Speed Date". A quick update on that first - unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond his control, the original artist on the strip, Kyle Smart, has had to - reluctantly - leave the project. It's a shame, as I was looking forward to working with Kyle on this, but these things happen and can't be helped. I'm sure we will work together on something else some time in the future. But never fear, ably stepping into Kyle's shoes is Liam Byrne, another artist I have recently collaborated with on a separate project (which I can't talk about yet, as it's still "secret" :). Liam's work is as awesome as Kyle's and I am looking forward to seeing what he comes up with for the strip. As for the movie - well, filming went ahead on Saturday the 28th of August with Producer/Director/Location Scouter/Prop Builder/Casting Agent/Make Up Artist and Set Dresser extraordinaire Alan Rogers at the helm (did I mention he also plays the lead role??!?) It was a one day shoot and was a great success with a couple of the - usual - hiccups along the way. So that project is one step closer to completion...next stop...editing Hell!!!

That's the end of August update for now! But I have a feeling I'll be posting a lot of tantalising tidbits over the coming months as all of these projects begin to take shape!

Cheers!

DVD

Speed...Date?

So one of my little comic scripts "Speed Date" has been chosen by a small local production company (Big 10-4 Productions) to be adapted into a short horror movie. As there is already an Irish movie out there with the same name, the name for the film version has had to be changed and will be titled "Speed Kills" instead. Things are progressing nicely with this. Location has been scouted, auditions have been held, casting is imminent. The comic strip will feature art by Kyle Smart, who has agreed to let us use some of the finished panels in the end credits. Mike Marshall (a very nice guy who goes by the name LARF on the 2000ad Forum) and his company eatsleepthink design have kindly put together the title logo which appears above. We held a table quiz last night as a fundraising exercise (although most people involved are offering their services for free, there is still the minor issue of props and set dressing to be addressed) and it was an excellent night with a good turn out and a decent sum raised. Filming is due to occur on August 28th. Should be fun!

I will make further reports on the progress of this little venture as it becomes available! :)

The Ice-Cream Man Cometh...

CHING-CHINGA-LING-LING-LING...
What's that sound?
That's the sound of Issue 7 of Temple APA, which is now online.
Lots of cool strips and artwork within, including the new comic strip myself and Conor Boyle put together.
Click on the link below and have a read - hope you enjoy! :)

Temple APA Issue 7

Call Malone

And here she is, Call Malone, head of Atomic-CALL and my favourite creation. She's been living in my head for over 10 years and all I could ever visualise her as was a Winona Ryder clone... Now I finally have a real image of her, courtesy of Johnnyboy Baptista...and she's perfect. Nice one Johnny! :)

It's a Wonderful World...

"Basking Robin's Wonderful World of Delight" is another new comic strip I've written, this one with art by Conor Boyle.

This 4 pager will form part of my entry in the new issue of Temple APA, a digital showcase for new comic writers/artists.
You will be able to download the issue here:

http://templeapa.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network

Its not online yet but I will be sure to let you know when it is! :)
In the meantime, here's a panel to whet your appetite!

Promise

She's coming to geeeeeeeeeet you...
Here's a teaser panel from a new story called "Promise", which is due to appear in "Tales of the Supernatural" this Winter. Wonderful art by my partner on this project, Filip Roncone....

Sucked

Heres the complete "Sucked", written by me for inclusion in a "talent search" comics writer Mark Millar started up on his blog, in search of material for a new publication he is putting together. The art is by Elchivo, and is clearly awesome. The letters are by Jim Campbell, and are also awesome. Whether or not this is interesting enough to capture the mighty Mark Millar's attention or not is another matter entirely. But even if it doesn't, I had a blast writing it and Chivo had a blast drawing it so .... its all good, eh!

Sucked teaser

A panel from a little strip called "Sucked!", written by me, art by Elchivo, letters by Jim Campbell. With this strip I've finally been able to take a phobia I've had for a long time and put it to good use, in comic-strip form of course! This will be submitted to Mark Millar's search for new talent and will hopefully find a home someplace else as well. Elchivo definately needs someone to take notice of him soon! And Jim's lettering should be on everything!

Blood Monster

Here's another pics from Atomic-CALL "Reign of Blood", which will appear in Starscape this Winter. This is a "Blood" monster, one of the girls enemies in their first tale.
Awesome art by Shane Collins.

Atomic-CALL's Mandy and Raquel

Here's a couple of character studies of Mandy and Raquel from Atomic-CALL. The girls will appear alongside Angie in the "Reign of Blood" story which will be serialised in Starscape. Art on that will be by Shane Collins but these pics are commissions I got done by JohnnyBoy Baptista, to establish the look of the characters. Very cool stuff!

MANDY S.N.A (Surname Not Applicable)


RAQUEL WISEMAN

The Frog Commander (finished page)

Here's the finished strip. Just a wee bit of froggy fun. :)
I wrote, Ryan Thomason drew and lettered. What WILL the Frog Commander do next???

The Frog Commander

Here's a conceptual drawing of a little frog soldier, as drawn by Ryan Thomason for a one page comic strip I wrote for a competition on Millarworld. Isn't he cute! Will post the full strip as and when it is finished.

Atomic Call Update

The first four illustrations for Reign of Blood are complete and in the can. Here's a sample. Great work by Shane Collins who has made Angie his own and is really bringing her to life. These pics will accompany chapter 1 of the story when it appears in the new Starscape storycomic towards the end of the year.

In other news, I have completed and placed four comic scripts so far this year, all of which should have appeared in print by the end of the year. First up is "Basking Robin's Wonderful World of Delights", art by Conor Boyle, to appear in Temple APA issue 7 in the summer. Then there are two horror stories due out around Halloween time, "Weep" in Back from the Depths' "Hallowscream", and "Promise" (my personal favourite piece) in Down the Tubes' "Tales of the Supernatural". Art on both of these by Filip Roncone. Finally, for the moment, I have written an episode for Paragon's Jikan entitled "Griffins Bounty" featuring my favourite mythological creature (and inspiration for my son's name) the gryphon.

I'm currently at work on an Atomic Call comic strip and a new story called Icarus Dangerous...more on these as they develop!

Cheers!