Inker Appeal from Ex Astris comic creator

Mike Nicoll - my colleague and co-creator of the Ex Astris science fiction strip we're producing - has too much work on his plate at the moment and he's looking for a reliable UK-based inker to work with him.

"There just aren't enough hours in the day!" says Mike. "I'm currently working on three CGI strips (Ex Astris and two others for a US company) as well as pencils and inks on a new project written by a rather famous UK creator for the European market - but John (Freeman) and I have two more projects which we're keen to get off the ground.

"Whilst I'm quite fast at pencilling, I'm criminally slow when it comes to inking -- so we need to recruit another member for our team who can take care of the inking."

Mike has sent us pencil samples of his art from one of the new projects (click the image above for full size). Anyone interested in applying should send samples to mikenicoll@hotmail.co.uk.

"Unfortunately there are no contracts up for grabs at the moment and therefore no guarantees of untold riches etc - yet!," Mike points out. "The new projects have not been approved for publication yet and so we can offer no money up front. But John and I have a pretty good record for getting our projects published so you'll just have to look at the art and decide if you feel we're worth taking a chance on."

The Script Archive Needs Your Help

We're sorry to report that the fab comic writers resource, the not-for-profit Comic Script Archive might be going down.

"It sucks because I know it’s been really helpful to a lot of you – even some pros have emailed me, happy that the site exists – all of them commenting that they ‘wished something like this was around’ when they were breaking in," says the site runner (whose name I can't actually find on the site -- which is really annoying!)

"That said, my hosting dues are up and I’m at a point, until December, where financially I’m living in a bunker. There’s just no way I can justify the cost (which is around $120 a year, not exactly life changing money, but that’s a utility bill).

It's a great resource for would be comic strip writers and we reckon it should continue. If you can, please donate whatever you feel comfortable with here: https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8587754

On the chance that the site does not make its goal, any donations offered will get kicked over to legendary comic writer John Ostrander’s cause: www.comix4sight.com/. As we've previously reported, John has been battling glaucoma and is need of support.

Plus, in the event that the site OVERshoots its goal, all overages will also go to John’s cause.

For the full details on the appeal here's a Tinyurl that directs back to the post: http://tinyurl.com/yecmors

• The Comic Book Script Archive is at www.comicbookscriptarchive.com

Tube Surfing: Harker, Comic Book Signings, Manwha UK and a Creators Union

• Brilliant news! The much-praised indie title written by Roger Gibson and drawn by Vincent Danks, Harker - described by one reader as a detective series with an X-Files/Avengers twist, which doesn't do it justice - is now available in 15 comic shops across the UK, with more about to jump on board. More info here on the Harker and Critchley blog

• New Scottish comic store Kingdom of Adventure has announced somme upcoming signing events: on 1st August Al Ewing and Colin MacNeill will be making the trip to Kirkcaldy, quickly followed on 8th August by Gary Erskine and Gordon Rennie.
Kingdom Of Adventure is a games and comic book shop in Kirkcaldy, Scotland and can be found at 21-23 Whytescauseway, Kirkcaldy, KY1 1XF. Tel: 01592 328121 Web: www.kingdomofadventure.co.uk

• (via the FPI Blog): Talking of signings, Forbidden Planet International Belfast plays host to two local artists, PJ Holden and John McCrea on Saturday 15th August. PJ, of course, has carved himself a good (and growing) rep with his work for Image and 2000AD, while John has worked on Garth Ennis’ Hitman, Captain America and The Boys spin-off Herogasm. John and PJ will be in the Belfast FPI, 52-54 Ann Street (phone 028 9043 8744) from 2 to 4.00pm.

• Online, the Facebook Comic Con Summer Gala scheduled to start on Thursday 13th August gathers pace, with an impressive line up of talent due to take part, including Paul Grist and Strangehaven creator Gary Spencer Millidge heading up the British Comics Panel. More info on the entire weekend, which will include Art Jams, contests, competitions and the launch of the Comic Book Creators Union, a coalescence of industry fans and professionals striving to improve conditions under which comic book creators work here on Facebook

• ComicBitsOnline reports on Seoul Graphics, a company aiming to get Korean Manhwa graphic novels onto the English speaking market, starting with the UK. The company is fronted by Dr. Jeeyeon Kim (BA, MA, PhD), Managing Director of Seoul Graphics and Korean / English Translator, who is looking for a British co-publisher.
One of the main projects is Hong’s Classical Mythology. Official site (under construction):
www.seoulgraphics.com