Jim Stewart, Mychailo Kazybrid feature in new, free Self Publisher Magazine

Self Publisher! Magazine #60 is available now free as a PDF download and introduces "a whole new look" to the magazine, offering lots of articles and features any indy creator or fan of such would enjoy, its editorial team at Dimestore Productions enthuse.

While this is a US magazine, based in Madison, it's of interest here for its interviews with British comics creators Jim "Ganjaman" Stewart and Wallace & Gromit artist Mychailo Kazybrid, talking about their careers in comic and self publishing.

There's also an ace strip by fab US artist Michael Neno, a guide to adding pictures to a SmashWords project, a look at Print on Demand, indie comic reviews and lots more.

Self Publisher! Magazine is the work of the Self Publisher Association, currently a "not for profit" group, their main goal in the coming months to officially become a Non-Profit organization, so thatthey  may better serve the world with their efforts to bring forth better tools for all creators to use to make it more likely that they can survive in today's changing markets.

"We are seeking to forge the foundation of a permanent Self Publisher Hall of Fame," they say, "and do everything we can to bring recognition to the do-it-yourself level of publishing. We hope you will take the time to learn about us, and then join in our efforts."

The editorial team on the magazine are doing everything they can to increase readership, so they can do more good for the self publishing comic creator community.

"We'd greatly appreciate anything you can do to help this issue go viral and reach our 1,000 download goal!", says publisher Ian Shires.

• Download it (PDF): www.selfpubmag.com/site/dload.php?id=12

It's Temple Time!

Undeath's a beach! The 44-page Temple APA (Issue Eleven) is now available to download as a totally free PDF file, containing contributions from the likes of Dave Hailwood, Jim Stewart, Paul Eldridge, Simon Mackie, Malcolm Kirk and Tony Suleri. 

Intended as a promtional device for aspiring British creators, the Temple is a useful discussion forum for people interested in self or pro publishing.




- You can download from Dropbox, MediaFire, FileDropper, or view online at MyEbook (login required due to mature content). PDF file size is 13.83 MB.




- Visit the Temple APA blog

Nexion Knuckles In

Nexion is a new anthology showcasing some of the fine underground comics talent of Glasgow and Edinburgh, full to the brim with Sci-Fi treats, Horror meats and myraid acts of unseemly behaviour!

Featuring 68 pages of black and white madness, all pulled together by the mighty yet modest Curt Sibling, other contributors include Iain Laurie, Craig Collins, Rob Miller, Jim Stewart, Dave Gordon and Secret Agent Comics publisher John Miller.

Nexion is available to buy for a measly £2.75 from Lulu.com and should surface at various UK comic marts over the next few months.

• For more info and sample pages visit: nexiongate.blogspot.com

Temple APA Issue 4 Online

The indie British creators group known as the Temple APA has just released the fourth issue of their 'portfolio' comic, available free in hi-res PDF format from their Forum here.

Intended as a digital showcase of British comic writers and artists both amateur and professional and also UK small press comics the comic, this stonking 132 page edition also includes an interview with Accent Press masterminds Dave West and Colin Mathieson.

Creators such as Tony Suleri, Dave Hailwood, Adam Grose, Paul Eldridge, Dave Thomson, John Kirkham and Jim Stewart; Malcolm Kirk, have all contributed material to the issue, ranging from full page comic strip to portfolio work. Adam Grose' work grows with confidence every time I see it, and his sample pages from new project, Time Wave Zero, are no exception. I definitely want to see more of Dave Thomson's work -- why isn't someone of this standard getting more notice from publishers? -- while Malcolm Kirk's parody of the sadly-missed Junior TV Times, Look-In, (or Pyook-In, as Malcom has re-named it), is a delight. Plus, with more great stuff from the likes of Paul Eldridge, Paul Harrison-Davies, Simon Mackie and others, this portfolio edition is well worth taking time to download.

That said, I think the team are missing a trick by not giving this quarterly outing a bit more structure: it might be worth considering making it more of a comic event, as sketch book pages and single page samples tend to be a little out of place. By taking a leaf from Accent Press' anthologies - extensively featured in this issue - and sticking to an overall theme for portfolio pieces -- SF, for example, heroes, steampunk or horror -- the Temple APA might prove an even nore attractive digital release.

The next issue is due in September and the team invite all British comic creators to join the APA and contribute via templeapa.ning.com

One great item in this edition is the ever-growing British Small Press Directory, useful for those of you trying to track down some of the higher profile indie titles at comics events or online. That this regular section has even more page dedicated to covering these is testament to the energy of the indie scene at the moment (and, of course, an indication of how ill-served our comic creators are by the sheer lack of professional outlets for their work...)

• Download Temple APA Issue Four

• Feedback on the work is always welcomed. Post any comments or feedback on the Temple APA forum here

Temple's Third Outing Online

The third Temple APA anthology, a collection of work from one of Britain's longest-running Amateur Press Associations, is available for download (PDF format).

Featuring work by Adam Grose, Dave Hailwood, Malcolm Kirk, Simon Mackie, Tony Suleri, Paul Eldridge and Jim Stewart, the anthology is intended as a platform to promote the creators and deliver some darn fine comics fun along the way. It also includes a new Small Press Directory.

My favourite parts of this issue have to be Simon Mackie's autobiographical strip and Tony Suleri's increasingly confident work - strip and illustration samples with simply stunning vibrancy. And, of course, it was great to read Paul Edridge's smashing strips he originally created over on the ROK Comics platform again -- both very funny! -- as is Malcolm Kirk's Stick Man.

"I'd like to attract some new and old faces for the next issue," says Dave Hailwood. "So if you're an old Temple member please send in a couple pages and if you can't spread the word!"

The next deadline is 22nd June 2009.

• Templeapa at: http://templeapa.ning.com