2D FESTIVAL!!!

GAH!!! Yes I KNOW I'm way late with this "report", but y'know, deadlines, so I apologise....

Anyhoo, as you know I very kindly got an invite to Derry's 2D Festival a couple of weeks ago, and I have to say Niki and I had an AMAZING time!

I've never been looked after so well at a convention before--they literally did everything for us apart from bathe us! Come to think of it....WHY didn't they bathe us dammit?! Next year I demand to be bathed!

We flew in on the Friday, interrupting the wonderful comic workshops being held at the time, but wasn't needed until a panel discussion that night in the PUB, entitled "Everyone's a Critic", about blogging, podcasts, and social network sites. I was on that panel with shiny headed Gary Erskine, bearded Sunnyside Comics Aaron Abernethy, the also bearded Mark Cardwell from Bad Librarianship Now, and hosted by the lovely Emma Vieceli, who did not have a beard.

Never done a panel in a pub before--have to say it's a surprising great place to have them! The talks basically just turn into a big pissed up laughathon! This actual panel is going to be aired on a future episode of Sunnyside Comics, so I'll update with a link

soon...

Instead of baby sitting me for the day, Niki went on a WAGs day trip around Derry with our good friend Mhairi and friend. I usually worry about Niki having a good time at conventions, but it was nice to know she was getting having a great time with the girls, probably talking about boobs and stuff...

And so Saturday was when I got to work, with Vieceli as my neighbour (and I couldn't think of a better neighbour to have!)) What's great about 2D is that it's a FREE event and very family orientated as well. We spent the whole day sketching for anyone that asked, and I later joined artists Ilya and Mark Stafford for the "Monster Me" sketching session (and did my back in!) where we drew some lovely people as grotesque monsters, though a bit worried about the 6 year old who asked to be drawn as "Kick Ass"... Gutted I was stuck with a crappy disposable camera that was useless so I don't have any evidence of sketches I'm afraid. But it's a genuinely good feeling handing over a sketch to a kid that you know is going to cherish it...

Later on it was back to the pub for our 2000AD panel with big daddy Pat Mills, Colin Wilson, Glenn Fabry, my old nemesis PJ Holden and myself. I'll be the first to admit we had a ropey start as we didn't really know what we were doing, but after the first 5 minutes we definately pulled it together and created a thing of utter BEAUTY. We got some great anecdotes, and funny moments like the entire crowd chanting for Pat to hug me, myself having to deny accusations that I looked like Gok Wan after my photo kept on appearing on the slideshow behind us, and after I shared a comment from Pat about my "zombie hands looking too sad" the crowd started doing "Jazz hands"! Unbelievable. We had so many lovely compliments from folk after that... See? Who needs Al Ewing with his Tharg mask doing his Orville the Duck impersonations!!!

I met so many lovely people, but special shout outs to: Eclectic Micks' Nick Roche and Stephen Mooney with lovely wife Jacintha (who REALLY isn't helping my Gok Wan case). Also the rest of the Sunnyside Comics team , Scott Ferguson and Karen Quinn--the only person on this Earth who apparently has the power to put that utter nutjob PJ in his place (seriously, he was like a hamster on crack!)! Wez and Sean are a couple of talented film makers who interviewed a bunch of the guests and I look forward to seeing how good my hair looked on camera...

Speaking of Sunnyside, they did a funny as hell podcast on 2D that can be found here!

Titan Books editor Steve White sat at my table for a while sketching, and left behind a BEAUTIFUL dinosaur sketch that is now framed in my studio. (pic at the bottom of this post!)

Finally, I obviously have to say a huge thank you to organisers David Campbell, Garry Leach, Ciaran Flanagan and Bridin Crilly. Those guys were amazing and if you need me back next year I'll be there if you bathe me this time... with a loofah.

(Photos courtesy of Ciaran Flanagan and Bec Hill)

(Sketch by the awesome Steve White)

BRISTOL COMIC CON REPORT!!!

WOW...what a weekend! I honestly had the BEST weekend at last weekend's Bristol convention!

I've not been in years, but Bristol was THE con to go to when trying to break in. I have to say, it was nice being there after all this time and not having to keep an eye out for an editor to pimp my work to...

This time, it was all about hanging at the 2000AD table with my new friends (Rebellion's Pye Parr, Luke Preece and Wiggz), and catching up with a lot of my old friends. And so much fun was had! It genuinely put me on such a high for days afterwards!

Check out these photos, all courtesy of Rebellion's Wiggz...
Above is me pencilling the big ass Dredd pic that would be later given away to a lucky chappy in a draw.
The finished piece! I'm telling you though, that gun was a pain in the ass to draw...whoever designed it needs a punch in the balls...

The next day I decided to tackle something a bit easier for the give away prize--a zombie. Hey kids, it's 2000AD artist Lee Carter!
The finished piece! It was harder than I thought finding the time to do this, as I gladly did sketches for anyone that asked, but also had to finish it before our 2000AD panel that writer Al Ewing was in charge of. The panel in question definitely had its bizarre moments like Al doing an Orville impersonation with the discarded skin of Tharg...?!
Here's me handing the zombie pic over to Jen, the well deserved winner! She even left me a nice message afterwards--makes it all worth it!
I was introduced to a lovely American bloke by the name of Jimmy Aquino of the fantastic podcast, Comic News Insider, who was obviously drunk because he asked to interview me the next day! Make with the clicky HERE to listen to a very funny show--my interview can be found around the 41 minute mark....I warn you, I do attempt to do a Welsh impersonation...

Thank you so much to all of those who stopped by the 2000AD booth to say hi. And good luck to all of you who showed us their portfolios--I've never been to a con where I've seen so many talents that deserve to be getting professional work--hang in there guys, your time will definately come!

I also met Cosmo--possibly the coolest 10 year old I've ever met in my life, and future comic book artist...or actor...

And finally thanks to all my friends, old and new, who made me laugh so bloody hard--you know who you are....

L

CONVENTION APPEARANCES!!!

Just a quick one guys to let you know that I'll be at The Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo on the 22nd-23rd May. You'll be able to find me at the 2000AD table all weekend! And just like at the previous SFX Weekender, myself, Clint Langley and whatever other droids are available, will be doing HUGE drawings that you can win in a raffle, of which you can get a ticket with every purchase!

Also, on the 4th and 5th of June, I'm a guest of the 2D Comics Festival in Northern Ireland, Derry! Never been to Ireland before and I can't wait!

L

DEFOE "A MURDER OF ANGELS" UPDATE!!!

Still quite a wait until Defoe returns to 2000AD in September, but that's fine by me, as I have LOADS to still do anyway!

Obviously I can't show much at this point, but above is a couple of non spoilery panels ( And yes, Defoe is pissed in that shot!).

Even though this is Book 4 of Defoe, Pat Mills and I are discussing Book 5, and I'm proud to say that he thought my idea for a story point (and cover) featuring Mungo's codpiece was "Excellent"...so that's nice....

L

"I'M IN A ROCK'N'ROLL BAND" UPDATE!!!

Hello again!

Well, BBC2's "I'M IN A ROCK 'N' ROLL BAND!" has recently aired Episode 2. More info on the series can be found on the BBC website HERE. A blog post on "the making of" can be found HERE.

For any Brits, you can view the series on BBC iPlayer HERE!

Below are some of the drawings I did for the main title sequence, which were then sent to my old mate Alan OBrien (drawn as the lead singer!) of SUMCREATIVE who did an unbelievable job jazzing it up with computery animation and wacky effects!

I've attached some screen shots of the final sequence that obviously don't do it any justice...

By the way, even though you may not see my name in every episode's credits, I HAVE worked on every episode...don't ask...

And yes, I drew myself as the drummer....what? You're just jealous cos I'm in a band...

L

"I'M IN A ROCK 'N' ROLL BAND" ON BBC2!!!

Hey guys,

You'd better be watching BBC2's "I'M IN A ROCK 'N' ROLL BAND!"-- a 6 part series starting this Saturday night at 21.40!!!

I was brought in by post production company SumCreative to join artists Mike Collins and Steve Beaumont on illustrating a pile of semi animated cutaway scenes of anecdotes told by top rock legends like Iggy Pop, Sting and Gene Simmons!!!

By the time I'd been brought in to help on this job, an artistic style had already been established, so don't expect to see any "Defoe" style renderings--this will look more like my "Bionicle" style

What you'll be able to see of my work in particular:

--The shadowy band members in the main title sequence (pay close attention to the drummer, who looks particulary attractive *ahem*)...

--I've been inking a large number of Steve Beaumont's pencils.

--I'm pencilling/inking some full scenes later on in the series, one of which involves the legendary KISS!!!

All these images have been coloured, animated and beautifully jazzed up with computery wizardry by the top people at SumCreative who have produced opening title/credit sequences for shows that I can guarantee that you've seen and been impressed by...

Once I've got the go ahead, I'll post up some pics to go with this.

But seriously, watch this show! It looks like it's going to be fantastic!

(P.S. Saturdays are officially my favourite day of the week---Total Wipeout, Doctor Who, and now this!!!)

L

SOMETHING FROM THE VAULTS 4!!!

You lot had better appreciate this post as it took bloody AGES top scan in!

Waaaaaaay back in 2003-2004 I was given the huge break by Shelly bond of Vertigo to pencil the series, "The Witching", written by Jon Vankin (with some cracking dialogue!) , with inks first by Ron Randall, then later by Dan Green, and covers by Tara McPherson

The series came to an end after 10 issues and I didn't see any trade collections released until last year when DC sent me Spanish and Italian versions. I very much doubt there'll ever be an English version!

This was a long time before I developed a style of my own, but I think the storytelling still stands up. Enjoy!

L