No Barcodes announced

Things seem to have got busy again, with regular strips and recurring freelance jobs fitting in and around subbing shifts.
Met up with Oli, Sean and Dan on thursday for a little reconnaissance mission in Portobello for a future convention site.
That one will be taking place later in the year,
but the exciting news is the official announcement of NO BARCODES, the London Underground Comics convention on Saturday May 31 2008 at Camden Lock Market.

Should be a fantastic day with all the jolly crowd from the stall plus all you lovely small press creators out there who want to come along and join in the fun. It will be free to punters and only about £7 to exhibitors – much better value than your average convention!
Check out the fabulous trailer video and further details of how to take part at www.londonundergroundcomics.com

Artybookshoppy party

Persuaded Nick to come and enjoy a couple of beers at the launch of the fabulous London Underground Comics window display on friday night and very jolly it was too. And ended in a Brick Lane curry.
Took Ned to the stall Saturday where he knocked off a few likenesses of the guys (for less blurry pictures of friday night and Ned's pics look here).
Then went home and cooked couscous for ten people.
Got up this morning and knocked up a few flyers for the upcoming Camden Comics Mini Con. Damn I'm good!

Brighton breezy

Popped down to the seaside for a lovely outing yesterday. Didn't actually see the sea as we spent a leisurely afternoon in the pub at the Gladstone Mini Con, meeting other creators, drinking beer and even selling the odd comic. Managed to bag the last half table and shared it with groovy Jimi Gherkin. Had the pleasure of meeting Dr Parsons and the Sound of Drowning among others but headed back to town before the evening's musical entertainment. All in all a very convivial event and, I would venture, a successful format.

Woke up this morning to find that it was snowing. A thick white blanket lay over the garden and the cemetary behind and more was coming thick and fast. Ned rushed out to the park for some winter fun with his mates. By mid afternoon, it had stopped and melted away as quickly as it appeared.

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.

More thing

Got round to reading more of my swag; Oliver Lambden swapped Issue 7 of Tales from the Flat with me and it just keeps getting better, from the wonderful cover (I chose Oliver's) all the way to the extra story by Mallorychan at the end. And the anthology is packed full of great stuff really nicely reproduced in full color for those who took advantage of the opportunity (I did for my Retainer story and am well pleased with the result).
Have now redesigned the cover of Party Pieces but decided in the end not to retitle it...

The Thing

It's been a while - had my head down for the last few weeks desperately trying to get the new comic finished for the Thing last Saturday. Printing, collating and stapling until past midnight but was all set for the early start in the morning. Had the good sense to wrap all comics in plastic as it was pissing down on the way there. Travelled from West London with the lovely Richy K Chandler and met up with the excellent Richard Peel at the venue. We were sharing a table and endeavoured to squeeze our wares on to the tiny space.
It was a fun day despite the cold and miserable weather. Didn't spend enough time browsing the other tables but still managed to come home with a pile of purchases and swaps which I am still working my way through.
On top of our usual stock, we were offering Richy's sweet new minicomics (Mish Mash Mosh, Govindra the Meditating Rabbit, and Subject 14d), Richard's bewildering array of £1 comics (as well as Intense Sticker Warriors), and my new opus.
I didn't do too badly but but felt unhappy with the cover which just isn't eye-catching enough. I am now redesigning it. And maybe renaming it.
I should have given it a lot more thought but was so determined to have it ready for the Thing...
The few people who aquired it on the day will have that uber-rare version that will be worth a mint one day.
As well as the above mentioned, I have so far enjoyed Alex Potts' Lost Shoe Comics number 4 (now that's got a great cover- lino cut), Will Kirby's one about getting over his girlfriend in Paris, Cath Arctic's Waterloo Teeth.....
There is lots more I haven't even looked at yet, including the anthology (except to check that my effort printed OK).
David O'Connell had the table next to ours, and, not content with being a thoroughly good egg, has produced the amazing Tozo in impeccable "ligne claire". I loved his hourly mini too.
Managed to catch a couple of drinks with Peter Lally in the pub but pushed off too early to really get stuck into the post-thing thing as I had a scrummy mexican meal awaiting chez Krissie.

TRIPTASTIC

Back in blighty and finally over the jetlag after one of the best trips ever where, as well as driving across the Mojave Desert and all that iconic stuff, I reconnected after twenty years with one of my best mates from art college.






Oh yes, and just by chance, we happened to bump into U2 at the Joshua Tree.