Go East, young man

Dan Lester has left the building.
On Friday, after two and a half years in Harlesden, Dan has packed up his belongings and headed for the Far East in search of new adventures.
What seemed like a month-long farewell party culminated last Thursday June 30th in his final goodbye to the comics fraternity at the launch of David B's latest oeuvre, the Self Made Hero published Black Paths. I have so far only dipped in to my copy, a thing of beauty, the usually stark black and white line work complemented by gorgeous colour. I will savour it slowly to make the pleasure last.

Dan could barely contain his joy at his awesome leaving card.

A month of events kicked off for me with David O'Connell's very jolly Queen Mum Workshop at Orbital, part of the International Alternative Press Fair, on June 9th. The 16th saw the London Print Studio play host to a private view for the Imagined Cities exhibition. Dan's official farewell barbecue took place on a rainy Saturday 18th (Sarah McIntyre wrote a report here). Next up was the Comix Reader launch on 22nd June – get yourselves a copy already, it's only a pound for chrissakes!
July 1st we celebrated We Are Words and Pictures displaying their work at Bookartbookshop and last night we popped by the incredibly talented Julia Scheele's birthday drinks in Camden.

















Latest news is that Dan arrived safely in Korea and has started making friends.

Thoughts on the Bubble

Leeds is definitely the best convention experience. Good size hall, good facilities, good attendance, and GREAT AFTERSHOW.
Drove down a carload of assorted comicsfolk to the sound of much hilarity. Richy K. ended up with a whole table while Sally Anne and I ended up with bigger space than we'd planned for, and the new tablecloth looked awesome: RESULT! Left it a bit late to check into our (very reasonable) hotel and got soaked walking back, hence the dodgy hair in the pic ( I know I look it, but I'd not had a drink yet, honest); also meant I managed to miss the panel game I was supposed to take part in (sorry, Ade).
Then the partying got under way. There was beer and pizza and burlesque sketching (Dan won the prize), and vodka and more beer and then there was DISCO! I'm not naming names but suffice to say that no one escaped the power of the turntable. As Sean so succinctly put it, now we've all broken the ice by exhibiting our moves, there's not much more we can do to shock.
Oh and I sold some comics, and badges too.
There's a proper review of the convention on downthetubes.com with a mention and a pic of yours truly.
Also more pics to be seen HERE. WARNING: may include dancing

Stirring stuff

Back from our travels to find that the cats have survived, as has Dan, possibly on a restricted diet, judging by the packets littering the kitchen.
Plenty to get on with, what with school starting tomorrow, anthologies to be organised, competitions to be entered, wine to be drunk...
With all our strenuous sporting activities, the swimming, the karting and the canoeing, I can't think why we haven't returned toned, tanned and rippling.
Surely the occasional soupçon of foie gras and confit is permitted...

Goin' South

Will be heading South tonight, for Tex Axile is at his European residence. The drive to the foothills of the Pyrennees will us take two days, with a stop somewhere near Limoges.
We will be making a not so small detour on the way back in order to fill our boot with wine.


Meanwhile back at the ranch, exciting developments may be taking shape, Dan manning the fort and taking the initiative to rally the troops.

Spot the difference

Dan is overjoyed at the sight of his birthday cake.


Dan is sorely disappointed and wondering why a scantily clad lovely hasn't jumped out.

See Dan with all the gang at 176 on Saturday!!!

Upcoming fair

Some more amazing reviews of my stuff have been posted up here and here by the lovely Richard Bruton.
Along with being totally over the moon, I am feeling slightly fraudulent as I haven't got anything new ready for the Alternative Press Fair.
It takes place in Camden this Sunday Feb 1st. Click HERE for more details.
I am trying to write and have come up with a few bits and pieces, including a script for Dan Lester's next comic. Dan is living with us again and seems to tolerate our current obsession with the Wire, despite repeatedly having to sit through episodes he's seen before.
This week was my birthday, so I am planning on some drinking this weekend.

Titillating tomes and monkey business

Last week I was in Paris yet again, where I visited the very strange but brilliant Musee de la Nature et de la Chasse, choc full of dead things, weird installations and talking trophies. In this country there would no doubt be a bunch of animal rights protesters stationed outside.
Across the road from the hospital where I was visiting my friend, for a few euros, I picked a copy of Tijuana Bibles, a compendium of racy mini comics from the 30's and 40's. Popular characters, movie stars and cultural icons like Aunt Jemima get down and dirty in these tiny eight page porno strips.

Since my return, the Tesco household has been graced by the presence of a fellow cartoonist, currently between residences.


And, no, this is not Dan Lester waiting for his turn in the bathroom at my house but the aforementioned museum...

We're off to Leeds tomorrow, so look out for my new tome if you're there...

Coming soon

I am now Dan Lester's bitch having done the artwork for a 3 page story which should appear in the next anthology, hopefully ready in time for Birmingham.
Here are a couple of preliminary sketches.


I shall be attempting to reach Paris once again this weekend, this time by air...

Once more into the breach

Hello my brethren! I'm back on top of things as I'm busy beavering away on my entry for this year's Observer competition. It's a good feeling after a summer of being blocked. Admittedly there were extenuating circumstances but I always feel that bit more alive when I'm creating something new. It may be shit but it's MY shit. And here's a sneak preview.

There has been some pretty disturbing stirring up of ancient history of late which has been occupying a lot of space in my little brain, hence the creative block, but I seem to have got to a place where I can compartmentalise.
I'm back off to Paris for ongoing family business and catching up with some more of my past.

A quick word to express how much I enjoyed The Dan Lester Mysteries "Marked for Death". That man can certainly tell a tale, and if even half of it is true I will keep my kids well away from him, after all he is sleazy Dan Lester and has been known to bandy words like balls about. The cover is gorgeous and the lovely Oliver has done a stirling job of the artwork.

Low Energy Day

Another brilliant day out with all the London Underground collective and all those other fab creators who made it to Camden on Saturday. A bit lighter on punters than the last one, no doubt due to the very warm weather (phew what a scorcher), so consequently not so lucrative. Not having any new product to push may have had some bearing on the matter too...
CLICK HERE to see more pics of the event.


Just finished part 7 of Paul Rainey's There's No Time Like the Present, a dystopian fantasy set in a Milton Keynes not a million miles from now, where time travel exists and the future is accessible online via the ultranet. Not normally a great fan of science fiction , I find this tale utterly gripping, as the story is just as much about two average blokes dealing with their frustration in an ordinary world and their inadequacy communicating with the opposite sex as it is about time travel. The characters and dialogue are written with a deadpan wit and Mr Rainey's beautifully clear drawings make it a pleasure to read.
Also got my hands on the new Bedsit Journal Issue 3 hot off the press, as well as the Dan Lester Mysteries.

Back on track

Back at work and looking forward to LOW ENERGY DAY in Camden on Saturday. It should be a fantastic day with even more creators than at No Barcodes, more punters than ever what with it being summer, and all those people who missed out last time not wanting to make the same mistake twice.
Unfortunately due to events beyond my control, there will not be any addition to the collection of titles I will be hawking but others have been more productive. I'm looking forward to the Dan Lester Mysteries along with several other new releases.
Popped down to the stall to see the lads briefly last week and everyone is gearing up for LED. David Baillie is gathering portraits of and by participants in a gallery. Check out all the contributions HERE, including a Jake Harrold by yours truly.

Spring is sprung

Tulips appearing in my garden and a little ray of sunshine to make everyone more cheerful. So far have been fortunate enough to have avoided the bug that has been striking people down left right and centre.
Been catching up with old friends and sorting out work as well as thinking about contributions to publications.
Camden again on Saturday. Spent some time on the stall in the afternoon then back to Chalk Farm in the evening for a few drinks with the Egan clan ending in slightly disgraceful behaviour (i.e. dancing) with Maire "Eileen" Fahey and Anne Witchard.

A few pics from the stall at various times:

Sean's new gloves


And the award goes to...








Dan the man









More fun and games last night with the aforementioned Egans plus Heva and the chichiraras.

Scribing

Creative scribing turned out to be a really good day . Not least because there were a few of us scribes doing our thing and it's always a blast to meet others in what can be quite an isolated line of work and exchange tips and anecdotes ("I once drew a nose this big!").
They are invariably top people or at the very least interesting ones. It was quite exhausting standing for over five hours of solid drawing, all the while concentrating on trying to convey the speakers' meaning.
However we get paid and fed for our trouble so I'm not complaining.
Saturday, wandered down to Camden market to check out Oli Smith's excellent London Underground Comics stall where I purchased Sean Azzopardi's Twelve Hour Shift collected edition, as well as some more Tales from the Flat and Dan Lester(Monkeys Might Puke)'s very funny 24Hour Comic. The Bedsit Journal guys had a stall there too but I think it was a one-off. Nice to see something edifying and worthwhile among the endless sea of tat, crafts and souvenirs.
And just a few steps away from the Hawley Arms. Very civilised.
Oh and I left some comics with Oli who will put them out next week I hope.