Adam Cadwell's Northern Slacker Vampires head back to the shelves

Great Beast Comics has announced that the long awaited third issue of Adam Cadwell's Northern Slacker Vampire series Blood Blokes is due to be released on 15th May after debuting at Toronto Comic Arts Festival. It will be available in both print and digital editions from the Great Beast store and on Comixology shortly after.

Blood Blokes #3 sees Vince awaken in the vampire house with more than a few questions. When he discovers the hard way that going home isn't an option he finds the life of a vampire to be alarmingly familiar, yet Vince still longs for a certain someone.

Great Beast was founded in April 2012 by UK based cartoonists Adam Cadwell and Marc Ellerby to provide fun and creative stories to as wide an audience as possible. All of our titles are creator owned and self published to a professional standard; these are comics brimming with passion and imagination. Great Beast takes it’s name from the very first Monster In My Pocket released in 1990 because we thought it sounded cool.

• Find Great Beast online, on Twitter, on Facebook and on Tumblr.

Great Beast Comics launches titles by Marc Ellerby, Adam Cadwell

Great Beast Comics has announced the release of their first two graphic novels, Ellerbisms by Marc Ellerby and The Everyday by Adam Cadwell.

Ellerbisms is the story of a relationship told in pictures through the autobiographical comics of Marc Ellerby.

Ellerbisms catches a glimpse into the life of a young couple, their highs and lows, their sighs and LOLs. Collecting more than 200 original strips from the cult web-comic plus an additional 30 pages of brand new material exclusive to this handsome softcover edition.

Ellerbisms - first conceived back in 2007 - has had write ups by Wired Magazine and The Guardian as well as receiving praise from notable comic industry professionals such as Warren Ellis and Kieron Gillen.

This new collection is a gem - the strips encompassing so many things about life and relationships it's impossible to detail them all. Head over to the Great Beast web site and check out some of the samples.

Since graduating with a First Class Honours in Illustration from the Kent Institute of Art and Design, Marc has illustrated comics and work for a number of clients as well as actively pursuing self initiated projects. His comic work has been recognised by bodies such as the Young Adult Library Services of America and the Harvey Awards and Eagle Awards.

In addition to Ellerbisms, his comics work includes Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter (also published by Great Beast).

Adam Cadwell's The Everyday cherishes the fleeting moments of our day to day to create an honest and hilarious portrait of modern life and the many little miracles and mysteries within. With crisp black and white artwork, keen observations and humble humour, Cadwell captures the minutiae of life we can so easily miss, a comic strip at a time, over 4 years of his life.

This hardback book collects all 200 comic strips from the acclaimed web-comic for the first time, at the size they were drawn and includes an introduction by the artist.

Based in Manchester, cartoonist, illustrator and storyboard artist Adam Cadwell also publishes his slacker vampire series Blood Blokes (an Eagle Award nominee 2012) through Great Beast. In June 2012 he launched the British Comic Awards, a national award to recognise important works and talent in the thriving UK comics culture.

Cadwell himself was one of the 54 British artists chosen for the Eisner nominated, graphic novel anthology Nelson, published by Blank Slate.

Cadwell’s comic work has been published by Jonathan Cape, Image Comics, Blank Slate Books, We Are Words + Pictures and Solipsistic Pop. His illustration work has also appeared in magazines such as MOJO and Shortlist.

Great Beast - takes its name from the very first Monster In My Pocket released in 1990 because the team thought it sounded cool  - was founded in April 2012 by UK based cartoonists Adam Cadwell and Marc Ellerby to provide fun and creative stories to as wide an audience as possible. All of their titles are creator owned and self published to a professional standard; these are comics brimming with passion and imagination.

Both books, as with all Great Beast releases, are available digitally too and the web site not only offers the opportunity to buy some great books but tie-in merchandise.


• Find Great Beast online, on Twitter, on Facebook and on Tumblr

Leeds Alternative Comic Fair back in December

The free Leeds Alternative Comics Fair returns for its fifth outing on Saturday 8th December, and this time it’s got a distinctly seasonal theme.

The organisers are encouraging everyone to ditch the Christmas shopping and discover a haven of creativity and inspiration from some of the finest artists in the North (and beyond), and there will be plenty of unique and unusual comics, art and crafts that will make great gifts.

Once again, it’ll take place at A Nation of Shopkeepers, a spacious bar that has proved to be the ideal venue with its great atmosphere, interesting food menu and well-stocked bar, and as usual the team will be keeping it intimate in scale so that attendees can have a good look at everything on offer, and get to chat with the creators about their wares.

Exhibitors this time include ‘friends of LACF’ Gareth Brookes, James ‘Couk’ Downing, Kristyna Baczynski, Adam Cadwell, Andy ‘Hexjibber’ Sykes, plus organisers Steve Tillotson and Hugh Raine, and Sean Azzopardi will be exhibiting for the first time, along with more new faces to be announced soon.

It’s on from 12 noon until 5pm and as usual the event is completely free to enter, so come along, have a browse, a chat, a drink and a fish finger sarnie, and pick up some unique presents for your friends and family (and don’t forget to treat yourself of course!)."

• More info: www.leedsaltcomics.wordpress.com Twitter: www.twitter.com/leedsaltcomics and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/385617881507995

Panel Borders: Manchester strips

Continuing a month of shows about comic communities around the UK, Alex Fitch travels to Manchester to talk to four local creators on Sunday's Panel Borders. Adam (Blood Blokes) Cadwell, John (Bad Machinery) Allison, Joe (Freak Leap) List and Chris (Video Nasties) Doherty talk about self publishing, the influence of other media on their work, using the internet to promote their comics, plus the experience of living and working in the North West of England. 

- Panel Borders: Manchester strips airs at 8.00pm, Sunday 17th June 2012, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

 

 

Great Beast awakens - a new UK indie publisher

The cover to Ellerbsims by
Marc Ellerby

Just launched is a new indie UK publisher, Great Beast, described as "the home of the UK’s best independent comics and creators."

The brainchild of creators Adam Cadwell and Marc Ellerby, Great Beast aims to provide the most fun and creative stories to as wide an audience as possible. All of their titles will be creator owned and professionally self published.

The fledgling publisher launches with two collections of successful self published and award nominated comics to Great Beast; Marc Ellerby's Chloe Noonan: Monster Hunter series, and the vampire slacker series Blood Blokes by Adam Cadwell.

Both creators will also be publishing long-awaited collections of their previous web-comic work, Ellerbisms and The Everyday, later in the year.

• For more information visit: www.greatbeastcomics.com

Leeds Alternative Comics Fair back in April

The Leeds Alternative Comics Fair is back once more on Saturday 28th April, and the fourth fair is once again going to be held at A Nation of Shopkeepers, which has proved itself an ideal venue with its great atmosphere, interesting food menu and a well-stocked bar. 

The organisers are sticking with the same formula as the previous fairs, with a diverse selection of creators from the North of England, keeping it intimate in scale so that attendees can have a good look at everything on offer, get to have a chat to the exhibitors and choose from a wide range of comics along with badges, posters, cards and other handmade items direct from their makers.

Exhibitors at the fair this time include John Allison, Oliver East, James Downing, Kristyna Baczynski, Dan Berry, Adam Cadwell, Gary Bainbridge and Andy ‘Hexjibber’ Sykes, organisers Steve Tillotson and Hugh Raine plus more yet to be confirmed. 

The Fair opens at 12 noon and runs until 5.00pm and as usual the event is completely free to enter, so get along, have a browse, a chat, a drink and a fish finger sarnie. 

• More info:  http://leedsalternativecomics.wordpress.com, Facebook search “Leeds Alternative Comics” or tweet them @leedsaltcomics

Comic Artists Map their influences in popular Internet 'Meme'

PJ Holden's 'Influence Map'

2000AD artist PJ Holden has joined the growing number of comic artists who have created 'influence maps' of their work, assembling the art of creators that has inspired him into a pleasing graphic (right).

The project is just part of an Internet 'meme' - a phrase coined by the web's credited creator Richard Dawkins back in 1976 -  defined as a concept that spreads quickly from person to person via the Internet, much like an esoteric inside joke.

Among Paul's influences are Steve Dillon, Cam Kennedy, Belfast cartoonist Ian Knox, Gil Kane and Mike McMahon.

"My intent was to start with the guys that probably influenced me in a thousand untold ways, people I read and loved as a kid and probably copied or imitated," he says in his Meme post on Facebook about the map. "Many of whom I haven’t really tapped into since I was 12. Then I wanted to move into people who are more obviously an influence, people who’s styles I’ve conciously borrowed techniques/renderings from.

"I will borrow a rendering style from an artist but i try and keep my art style – the actual shape of my drawing – my own. But, of course, it’s already been influenced by those that have gone before.

"...It’s been quite a trip through memory lane."

The Forbidden Planet International blog recently reported that several artists have recently created these maps, including Adam Cadwell. John Allison, Aaron Diaz and Rene Engström. Others are Hugh Raine, Paul Shinn and Hi-Ex co-organiser Vicky Stonebridge.  Illustrator Marian Bantjes has created her own design of Map, but it's also fascinating.


But this is just a tip of the iceberg, as this search of ace art community site deviantart reveals.

Paul suggests that those interested in creating their own could do worse than check out the http://britishcomicart.blogspot.com for artists who may have influenced you.

• Fox Orian created the template which seems to be being used by most artists for this 'Meme'; check out his own Map here

• Check out the Influence Maps on deviantart

Tube Surfing: Mazeworld, Mad Science and Harvey Pekar

Does the sporadically torrential rain of the last few days mean that's all the summer we're going to get? I hope not.

Onto the Tube Surf...

• Arthur Ranson sends word that Daniel Clifford, a fan of the artist's Mazeworld strip (produced in collaboration with writer Alan Grant), has set up a Facebook petition to get the strip re-published.

Arthur has written about Daniel's efforts over at his blog. "I, of course, believe a collection of the entire Mazeworld in one fat edition would be a nice thing to have," he notes, "but the reason this petition thing excites me is the thought of a social network of fans using their connection to create an outcome.

"Coincidentally in Saturday’s Guardian Review section there was a review of Cognitive Surplus: Creativity and Generosity in a Connected Age by Clay Shirkey whose suggestion is that the brainpower wasted with passive entertainment watching might be used via the internet to organise and do something in concert. Shirkey quotes examples of charities that have been set up. A Mazeworld reprint doesn’t have that significance but hey, we can be shallow too."

If you want to check out some pages from Mazeworld, you can do so at Arthur Ranson's website.

• Meanwhile, in Manchester, there are two events with British comic connections happening at the Lass O'Gowrie pub over the weekend as part of their epic Lass fest event.

The first, The Hammer House of Dezza, kicks off on Saturday at 3.00pm. It features veteran British comics editor Dez Skinn, who will be talking about his time at the helm of Hammer House of Horror Magazine, which included in its pages comic strips.

The second is on Sunday. It's Vworp 3, a one-day Doctor Who convention that numbers among its guests the aforementioned Dez Skinn and comic artist Adrian Salmon, alongside the likes of Doctor Who writers Terrance Dicks, Andrew Cartmel, Rob Shearman and actress Sophie Aldred, who played companion Ace alongside Seventh Doctor Sylvester McCoy.

• Speaking of events, there's lots forthcoming from the folks at Alternative Press (who describe themselves as "...a group of artists, comix creators, writers and poets dedicated to encouraging creativity through self-publishing").

The group has lots of exciting news, available via the above link, of fairs and exhibitions, including the Alternative Press Fair in November, Tunbridge Wells Zine Fest in August and much, much more.

Hang on, if I'm mentioning events, surely I've got to talk about Caption... I know John's plugged it recently, but it's well worth a reminder. Oxford's annual convention celebrates all things comics, but primarily the small press, with the theme of 'Mad Science' this year.

It looks like it's going to be another cracking event, with guests such as Melinda Gebbie, Jeremy Day, Al Davison and Darryl Cunningham all attending. I'll be along too as a punter and I can't wait!

Caption 2010 is held over two days on the weekend of 31st July.

This Tube Surf has been a bit verbose. Let's go for some quick hits:

• Rob Jackson makes ice cream and comics, and his blog is always worth a look.

• Dan McDaid goes all 'TV Action' for a pal, with a page of art homaging Doctor Who as he appeared in the 1970s comic Countdown. Oh yes!

• Adam Cadwell pays tribute to the recently deceased Harvey Pekar. He's also set up a Flickr group for pictorial tributes to Harvey. R.I.P. Mr Pekar...

And on that sad note, it's goodbye until my next Tube Surf...

Tube Surfing: Web-comics special!

Righty-ho, what's happening (in web-comics terms) out there...

Talented cartoonist Tom Humberstone took a break from his Hundred Days project (hundred cartoons in hundred days). He's back now, so go check out his stuff, which is rather cool...

Have you seen My Cardboard Life? It's kind of... defies description, really. Go look...

Adam Cadwell only has five more strips to go before he finishes The Everyday, his web-strip about, well, stuff that he notices in his everyday life. If you haven't caught it yet, it's worth a gander.

Are you reading Phil Spence's Ninja Bunny? Well worth your time... as is Marc Ellerby's diary comic, Ellerbisms.

Oh, and according to John Allison, the 't-shirt as vital part of the web-comic money-making ecosysytem' bubble has burst. You can console him by reading his excellent Bad Machinary and then help him by buying his stuff.

Tube Surfing: EveryDay Praise, Muppets and Mirabilis

• Forbidden Planet International's Richard Bruton has been heaping praise on the work of Manchester-based Adam Cadwell, whose EveryDay webcomic . "Cadwell’s work is much more slice of life, observational style than others," says Richard. "This means that the majority of strips tend to be stand-alone things, relying on an interesting idea, event or gag than any narrative, concentrating on the immediacy of the moment being conveyed in 3 or 4 panels of the strip... But where some autobiography that concentrates only on the minutiae of everyday life does come unstuck with the repetition, Cadwell’s work is fresh and interesting to read." Three collections of Adam's Everyday strip are now available from his web site. Read Richard's full review here

• Dan Abnett has just published the dates for his "Bloody Pact Tour" of the North, which starts at the Games Workshop Metro in Gateshead on 16th October.

• Good news for British fans of the Muppets and ace cartoonist Roger Langridge. .The first Muppet Show Comic Book collection, Meet the Muppets, is out this week and the good news for readers in the UK is that although the original comics weren't officially available in the UK, the collection is and is available from Amazon UK here. "So now British readers can stop wondering what I've been up to for the last year or so," says Roger. As an added incentive, the ten-page story he did for Disney Adventures a couple of years ago, which has never before been published in its entirety, will finally see the light of day in the collection. (There's a hardcover edition available, too).

• Martin Eden, creator of the critically acclaimed indie O-Men superhero comic, is putting the finishing touches to the first issue of his new project, Spandex. "The art is done, and now I just need to wait and see if I'm going to get lottery funding to print it up," he reveals on his blog.

• Bleeding Cool reports comics writer Mark Millar will be speaking at Charlotte Square Gardens as part of the Edinburgh Festival tomorrow night at 8pm, about comics, graphic novels and movies. However, as Jeremy Briggs reported here weeks ago the event is sold out: you'll need to see if there are returns on the door if you want to see him.

• Sky Box Office in the UK is to screen Watchmen from Monday 14th September.

• • Bleeding Cool also reports the hype for the Batman: Arkham Asylum game has given sales of Grant Morrison and Dave McKean's graphic novel that inspired it a huge boost.

• Broadcast reports Michael Chaplin, creator of the BBC drama Monarch Of The Glen, is adapting Goodnight Mister Tom author Michelle Magorian's new young adult novel Just Henry as a family drama special, potentially for ITV. While the project has not yet been given the go-ahead, it is in development at ITV Studios. Published by Egmont UK, Just Henry is a post WWII thriller that follows Henry, a film-loving and judgmental teen who lost his father in the war, as he reluctantly becomes friends with two classmates when they are put together to work on a school project. When Henry is given a camera to help with the project he takes a photo that turns everything upside down and in the process he teaches him about friendship and not to be so judgmental.

• And finally... they aren't actually new if you subscribed to much-missed subscription weekly The DFC, but if you missed the run of ace fantasy strip Mirabilis there you can now read the first 25 pages (ie the first chapter of the Winter book) over on the Mirabilis website. Highly recommended!