Comiket at the British Library August 2014

Yesterday I had a great day at this year’s Comiket.  It’s always a nice event and a chance to sell my wares and catch up with creator friends.  This time round the event took place in the amazing building of the British Library.

My table neighbours were fabulous artists and buds Anna Dowsland (middle) and Francesca Dare (right).  Francesca was rightly proud of her new Penny Blackfeather banner and her new collected edition of Penny Blackfeather available through Sloth Comics.Comiket-2014-1Across a small divide were two collaborators for Tempo Lush Tales, Spandex creator Martin Eden (middle) and a very tired but still awesome Van Nim (right)!Comiket-2014-2 Next up you can see how another Tempo Lush Tales contributor, Keara Stewart made her way into many of my photos…Comiket-2014-3Clearly Keara and Karen Rubins were having an amazing time.
Keara is sporting a Lucy the Octopus badge.
Karen, talented comic creator (another Tempo Lush Tales artist) and Phoenix contributor is sporting a weird frown.Comiket-2014-4Finally, Keara’s weird face pulling is joined by Broken Frontier writer Andy Oliver and Myriad Editions editor Corinne PearlmanComiket-2014-5I was determined not to buy anything myself, but couldn’t resist the new children’s book Jampires.  It’s a collaboration between Sarah McIntyre and David O’Connell. Both extremely talented writer artists by themselves, their combined creative power has produced something very special or silly or both!Comiket-2014-6One of the unique features of Comiket is the drawing parade.  Here different artists draw live to a soundtrack of music chosen by themselves.
Here, the wonderful Jade Sarson doodles away.  Watch out for Jade’s art contributions to the upcoming Rosie and Jacinda comic!Comiket-2014-7One last look at my Comiket table before I focus on getting four new Tempo Lush comics ready for release in October!Comiket-2014-8

Comiket November 2013

I had a great time as always at Comiket this past weekend.  Thank you to everyone who bought the new Lucy comic and other Tempo Lush goodies

Suki Kabuki helped me sort out my new stock to sell.

ComiketNov2013-01In case she sat on it I covered it.  She did.ComiketNov2013-02Lucy supporter Lily Withycombe took this pic…ComiketNov2013-03I was proud to be table buddies with my WASP and Rosie and Jacinda collaborator Francesca DareComiketNov2013-04 ComiketNov2013-05Two more collaborators (with art in Tempo Lush titles coming in 2014) and old friends Sally-Anne Hickman and Francesca Cassavetti.ComiketNov2013-06The great Martin Eden, creator of SpandexComiketNov2013-07Tim Hassan, artist for a story in the upcoming Tempo Lush Tales and his first comic festival table, despite his art looking like he’s been a pro for years…ComiketNov2013-08Comiket’s Live Drawing Parade featured some amazing talent including Miss Moti creator and Strumpet editor Kripa JoshiComiketNov2013-09The buzzing comic-hungry crowdComiketNov2013-10A Lucy the Octopus style portrait I was commissioned to do of a very cute baby in boots with dragons on…ComiketNov2013-11Chilling after the show with Saul Taylor, Francesca Dare, Chantel Beaven, Lauren Murphy and Paul Shinn.ComiketNov2013-12Joined by Richard CarterComiketNov2013-13Tim Hassan with Karim Flint….ComiketNov2013-14Wu Wei editor and regular rice eating partner Mike MedagliaComiketNov2013-15Mike chats to Comica Festival organiser Megan Donnolley.  Also in the background is Elliot Baggott and seated is comics podcaster Stephen Lacey. ComiketNov2013-16 ComiketNov2013-17Finally check out Chantel Beaven’s accidental cosplay as Zarina Liew‘s human take on Lucy the OctopusComiketNov2013-18 ComiketNov2013-19Looking forward to next Summer’s Comiket at the British Library!

Upcoming workshops and Comic cons…

I’ll be running a workshop on defining the look of your comic characters as part of the Barking and Dagenham Reading Festival

Visualising characters in comics and graphic novels workshop
Saturday 12 October
Barking Learning Centre
2 Town Square, Barking IG11 7NB
A free event for children aged 11 to 16.
Time:  2pm to 4pm

I’ll also be selling comics, prints and bears and doing commissions / portraits at these wonderful events…

Comica Comiket Independent Comics Fair
Saturday 2 November 2013
Central Saint Martins
Handyside Street, London N1C 4AA

Thought Bubble Comic Con
Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 November 2013
New Dock Hall
Armouries Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1LT

Keep an eye on this space for future appearances…

Whole Bunch of Comic Shows Coming up…

I’ll be selling comics, prints and bears and doing commissions / portraits at these wonderful events…

Comica Comiket Independent Comics Fair
Saturday 20 April 2013
Central Saint Martins
Handyside Street, London N1C 4AA

MCM London Comic Con
Friday 24 – Sunday 26 May 2013
ExCeL London
Royal Victoria Dock, London E16 1XL

London Film and Comic Con
Friday 5 – Sunday 7 July 2013
Earls Court 2, Earls Court Exhibition Centre
Warwick Road, London SW5 9TA

Thought Bubble Comic Con
Saturday 23 – Sunday 24 November 2013
New Dock Hall
Armouries Drive, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS10 1LT

Keep an eye on this space for future appearances…

Spring Comiket 2012

Had a great time at Spring Comiket in the Bishopsgate Institute, East London on Saturday.  The Comica organisers Paul Gravett, Peter Stanbury and Megan Donnolley did an amazing job, as always, pulling such a big shindig together, and bringing in the crowds.

The bustling Comiket floor. Where's Timothy Winchester?

I’ve been to Comiket for the last four years, starting back when all I had to sell was Delicate Axiom and the Lucy the Octopus Mini Comic, when Comiket consisted of around twelve tables of creators selling their wares in a relatively small room in the Institute of Contemporary Arts.  Good to see how its snowballed!

This time around I wasn’t selling, but catching up with old comic scene friends and meeting creators.  I also managed to pick up a lovely bounty of small press comics…

Suki Kabuki displays small-press comic goodness

Top row:
Sevillana featuring the Alien Battle Monkey of Doom by Marina Williams
Jumping the Shark by Sammy Borras
Middle Row:
Panic Attacks 1: In the Beginning by Francesca Cassavetti
Places I Left You
by Douglas Noble
Cafe Suada Vol 1. by Jade Sarson
Wu Wei by Mike Medaglia
Bottom row:
The Human Beings and Social Notworking by Sofia Niazi
Fecal Depot 3
by Aaron ‘Smurf’ Murphy
The Life of Noise by Emma Mould and Andrew Godfrey
The Phoenix Issues 14 & 15

Alex "Smurf" Murphy holds Fecal Depot 3

Very nice running into Aaron ‘Smurf’ Murphy and picking up the latest volume of his compendium of work, Fecal Depot.  The issue contains Zardok Infiltration, a story that I’d written for the hugely talented Aaron to illustrate.  It was great to see how good his art for the story looks in print.

Marina Williams and Sevillana featuring the Alien Battle Monkey of Doom, plus cup cakes

Nice to meet Kiwi, Marina Williams and get a copy of Sevillana featuring the Alien Battle Monkey of Doom.  Note to the Comics Industry: Free gourmet cupcakes with every comic is an excellent idea.

Jade Sarson hides behind Cafe Suada

Next up I spotted future comics megastar Jade Sarson.  I’m loving Cafe Suada!

Douglas Noble holding Places I Left You

Picked up a cool looking stand alone comic from Douglas Noble.  After the show in the pub, we reminisced about growing up playing games on a ZX Spectrum (coincidentally 30 years old today).  We both agreed Horace and the Spiders kicked monkeys compared to Horace goes Skiing.

Andrew Godfrey holdsThe CF Diaries 1 while Emma Mould holds Secret Language 1

Good to see the lovely Andrew Godfrey and Emma Mould again, who despite hailing from Bristol seem to manage to make it to all the London comic events!

Hooligans, Sally-Anne Hickman and Francesca Cassavetti

At every comic show there’s always a few bad apples who spoil the tone for everyone else.  See Sally-Anne Hickman and Francesca Cassavetti above.

Alex Fitch interviewing James Turner

My final pic is of the great comics journalist / interviewer Alex Fitch having a chat with Super Animal Adventure Squad creator James Turner.  Alex did a marathon session totaling four hours on interviewing various comic talents.  You’ll be able to hear the results on Panel Borders (the UK’s only weekly broadcast radio show about comics), broadcast on Resonance (104.4 FM in London and available online everywhere).

It was a good day – always inspiring!  In fact, I’m off to draw a comic right now.