British team create 'Eden' for Dark Horse Presents

Creators Jim Alexander, John Higgins (assisted on colours by Sally Jane Hurst) and
Jim Campbell have a short story, "Eden", in the latest issue of Dark Horse Presents (#23), on sale now in all good comic shops.
 
Jim Alexander's publishing debut came as writer of Calhab Justice for Judge Dredd Megazine. He then went on to script Judge Dredd, Pandora and O'Rork. Recent work includes Gabriel, Scout One and for Black Hearted Press, and he recently formed a new publishing company, Planet Jimbot, with Jim Campbell (read our interview with Jim A about this venture here).

An SF tale centred on a man seeking to save Africa from environmental disaster, "Eden" a bit of a landmark for Jim Campbell, as it marks his first ever lettering for Dark Horse.

"I've been admirer of Dark Horse as a publisher since their earliest days, so this is a big deal for me. (Plus, y'know, John Watchmen Higgins.)"

Jim's lettering has graced the pages of both indie and mainstream comic titles, including the new STRIP: The Adventure Comics Magazine, where he's an invaluable part of the mix.

DHP #23 also features Dan Jolley and Leonard Kirk's supervillain tracker Clev, back out of prison to help the FBI hunt an invisible killer, Fred Van Lente and Freddie Williams II delve into a world of psychic espionage in Brain Boy, and Peter Hogan and Phil Winslade pull you into another magical dimension with "King's Road" (see news story).

• Buy Dark Horse Presents #23 from Forbidden Planet

Radio interviews featuring Denise Mina and John Higgins

Starting a month about the links between comics and literature, radio show and podcast Panel Borders presents Swedish Thrillers and dark Sci-Fi Fantasy this coming weekend.

Alex Fitch looks at an example of a series of books that are being adapted for comics and comics that are being continued as novels. Scots novelist Denise Mina discusses her adaptation of Stieg Larsson's Millennium trilogy as a series of graphic novels for DC Comics, starting with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Plus, writer / artist John Higgins explains the transition of his SF / horror comic series Razorjack into a series of books written by himself and other authors.

• Panel Borders: Swedish Thrillers and dark Sci-Fi Fantasy airs at 6.00pm, Sunday 3rd February 2013, repeated 4.30pm, Tuesday 5th February 2013, Resonance 104.4 FM (London) / streamed at www.resonancefm.com / podcast after broadcast at www.panelborders.wordpress.com

Comics Creators At Hi-Ex 2012: Part 2

Having taken a lot of photos of the various creators at the Hi-Ex comics convention, which took place at the Eden Court complex in Inverness last weekend, there was never going to be enough room in the main downthetubes review of the con to include all the images. Instead we present a selection of those images of the creators along with links to their websites, blogs and/or Facebook pages. They are in no particular order and the first part of this photo feature is here.

Artist Nigel Dobbyn has an eclectic selection of titles to his credit from The Beano's Billy The Cat to 2000AD via Thunderbirds and Transformers. The image he is showing here is entitled Primeval Priest and is available to buy from his website.

There are more details of Nigel Dobbyn's work on his website.

Glasgow's small press Team Girl Comic have four issues to their name as well as a selection of individual contributors' own titles and did a good trade, particularly on the Saturday. Shown here are editor Gillian Hatcher (left) with contributors Coleen Campbell (centre) and Clare Yvette (right).

There are more details of Team Girl Comic on their website and Facebook page.

French artist Michel Rodrigue is currently resident in Scotland and having been at the previous Hi-Ex was back this year on the Cinebook stand. His Cinebook titles are the two modern Clifton titles Jade and Black Moon which he was signing and sketching over the weekend. He is also the writer of the French series Sybil La Fee Cartable which is on its third book in France and the first book of which has just be translated into English by Papercutz as Sybil The Backpack Fairy and he was more than happy to sketch and sign copies of it as well.

There are more details of Michel Rodrigue on Lambiek.

There are more details of Sybil The Backpack Fairy on the Papercutz website and of Clifton the the Cinebook website.

From pink fairies to something rather darker and artist John Higgin's RazerJack, the death-bitch from the Twist Dimension. To promote RazerJack, John produces illustrations at each of the conventions that he attends and here is the image that he was working on on the Sunday at Hi-Ex.

There are more details of John Higgin's work on his website and of RazerJack on its Facebook page.

Write and artist Ian Sharman is also editor of Orang Utan Comics and AAM/Markosia as well as writer of Alpha Gods and Hero: 9-5. He took part in the Hi-Ex Pitching and Portfolio session on the Sunday. His latest title, as seen above, is Hypergirl.

There are more details of Ian Sharman's work on his blog and on the Orang Utan Comics website.

Perhaps the most unusual graphic novel available over the weekend was writer and animator Leslie MacKenzie's Gaelic title Cuir Stad Ak An Stoirm Shneashda which translates as Stop The Snow Storm. With art by Shona Shirley MacDonald, it uses the idea that the first peoples of Scotland were not from the south and Europe but from the north and the Arctic regions. As part of the publishing deal with the Gaelic Books Council the title will not be published in English for several years.

There are more details of Leslie MacKenzie's work on her website while Cuir Stad Ak An Stoirm Shneashda will be available from the Gaelic Books Council website.

A comic strip with killer STDs in it just sound like the sort of thing that should be in CLiNT magazine and the editorial team of CLiNT obviously thought so too. As can be seen above, artist and writer Monty Nero's Death Sentence started life as a small press comic but will get a new lease of life, and a lot more exposure, when it begins in CLiNT Vol 2 No 1 very soon.

There are more details of Monty Nero's work on his website and blog.

Artist Will Pickering worked on the Burke and Hare graphic novel published several years ago as well as contributing to a number of Glasgow based small press titles. He was also displaying Black Hearted Press' Gabriel title written by Jim Alexander.

There are more details of Will Pickering's work on his blog.

Londonderry's Uproar Comics came together through the city's 2D Comics Festival and its 2D Collective offshoot. They publish the Zombies Hi title which is an anthology of the main ongoing Zombies Hi story backed up with short zombie text stories and comic strip and has reached its fourth issue. Set after a zombie apocalypse within the defensive walls of the City of Derry, the comic is widely distributed within Northern Ireland. Artist Kevin Logue (left) drew attendees as zombies while writer Danny McLaughlin (centre) drummed up support and artist John Campbell (right) worked on pages for forthcoming issues.

There are more details of Zombies Hi on the Uproar Comics website.

Last and by no means least, especially since one of her titles is Eagle Award nominated this year as Best European Comic, is Irish writer Maura McHugh. Her two titles for Dublin's Atomic Diner Comics are the Eagle Award nominated 1920s mystery Jennifer Wilde and the supernatural Roisin Dubh as seen above.

There are more details of Maura McHugh's work on her website.

There are more details of Jennifer Wilde and Roisin Dubh on the Atomic Diner website.


The first part of Comics Creators At Hi-Ex is here.

The Hi-Ex website is here.

The downthetubes review of Hi-Ex 2012 is here.

Happy Birthday, 2000AD! From art droid John Higgins

Name: John Higgins


Blog or web site: 
www.turmoilcolour.com

Currently working on:

My on going project is Razorjack, created originally in 1999 and self publishing the first issue. Subsequently went with Com.x for a further two comic books culminating in the collected edition in 2009, and it continues to grow. We now have 3 prose novels, a musical suite and an art book, check website for all the new work.

That is my personal labour of creative love, but the project I am involved in at the moment with DC Comics that is an exciting roller coaster ride, that is taking me to even new creative highs, is DC’s Before Watchmen, I am working with Len Wein on “Curse of the Crimson Corsair.”

First memory of 2000AD?

I had just left art college and had come to London to look for SF Book cover illustration freelance work, I was in WH Smiths Euston Station, generally browsing amongst the books.
For me, SF illustration was the future (excuse the pun) - the SF book cover that kick started my mission to work in SF illustration was The Princess of Mars, by Edgar Rice Burroughs, painted by Bruce Pennington - he was a prolific book cover artist at that time.

Going past the SF section, I looked down from the high shelf nudie mag’s and saw in the juvenile section an SF cover, can’t remember the issue, might have been within the first 10 issues, looked inside and saw a gang of SF barbarians charging out of the frame on mutant/alien steeds. I got the same shot of “wow” as I did seeing that Pennington cover and I decided then my mission now was to do a comic strip in 2000AD, alongside SF book covers.

Favourite Character or Story?
Favourite Character is and always will be Judge Dredd. for story it is a toss up between Mick McMahon’s Angel Gang or Brian Bolland’s first Judge Death story, or maybe the Block Wars or it could be... so many others!


What do you like most about the 2000AD?

Its consistency, using the best new writers and artists, and still creating new interesting characters.

What would you most like to see in 2000AD as it heads to its Forties?

Continued consistency, a winning formula in my book.

If you worked on 2000AD, do you have an anecdote you'd like to share about your experience of Tharg and his minions?

I learnt early on at 2000AD how important it is to create a team and a team spirit. So the first 2000AD Christmas party in Kings Reach Tower was very important, I was no one of any note at that time, still not sure how I got in. It was an ad hoc drink initiated by Brian Lewis. Brian was a brilliant artist, you should check out his stuff if you don’t know him.  
(Artists seem to be the “drinkers” in comics as far as I can tell, except for Garth Ennis, who learnt from Steve Dillon, who learnt from Tom Frame!) 

When I got there around 18.00 all the day staff had left except for Kelvin Gosnell, the first editor, Brian Lewis, Mick McMahon, me and Gary Leach. I'm a bit blurry on others who might have been there, maybe Alan Grant.

I remember Brian was the one to buy and bring most of the drink (to a successful magazine run by one of the biggest and richest publishing companies in the world! I suppose 2000AD hadn’t proven it self at that stage).

The lesson I learnt was how important it was do these type of gatherings.  You can just be a cipher on a company's pay sheet if no one looks out for freelancers. if they don’t do it, you have to.

• This post is one in a series of tributes to 2000AD to mark its 35th birthday on 26th February 2012. More about 2000AD at www.2000adonline.com 

2000AD © Rebellion

Cardiff Comic Expo line-up revealed

Ticket sales for this year's Cardiff Comic Expo next month (25th-26th February) are booming - and are expected to increase further with publication of the event's schedule, outlined in full below.  

In addition to the event itself, show producer Mike Allwood tells us Cardiff Libraries are also working on an alternate programme and that will be relevealed in a couple of weeks when all is finalised. 

 SATURDAY 

 11am WHAT’S THAT COMING OVER THE HILL?WELSH COMICS’ DARK SIDE 

 Horror can come in different guises and in this panelGavin and Dan of the sidekickast strap on their machetes, load up on silver bullets and confront the creators of three very different offerings from the darker end of Welsh comics. From the mythical monsters of Unbelievable through the arcane World War 2 horrors of Dexters Half Dozen to the twisted nastiness of Damaged Goods the boys brave the darkness to find out what kinds of people come up with these terrors and whether we should avoid them in the bar later on? 

 11.45am JACK KIRBY MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT 

Writer Russell Payne is exclusively promoting the JACK KIRBY MUSEUM at this year’s convention. You can find out more about the “King of Comics” and join or donate to the Kirby Museum who are raising funds to opena "Pop-Up" MuseumWe explore the impact Kirby has had on modern culture. 

 12.30pm BOARDING MATT SAVAGE . MIKE COLLINS MIKE PLOOG hosted by JON RENNIE 

 The storyboard process has been used through the history of cinema to give directors the chance to visually communicate their vision of the film to the crew. In recent years, the line between storyboards and comics has narrowed, books of storyboards are published and they now appear pre-edited and animated before a shot of film is even exposed. We talk to storyboard professionals about the challenges of their work, the unique opportunity it gives them to define the visual tone of the movie and how the storyboard has changed over the course of their careers. A Cloth Cat Animation Panel 

 1.30pm THE ART OF STOP-MOTION ANIMATIONWith DINAMO STUDIOS! 

 2.30pm CREATING A MONSTER BITCH 

A Expo Exclusive Panel with John Higgins and Michael Carroll the creation of John’s signature creation, Razorjack and her history from comic to graphic and full novel to future plans… 

 3.15pm THE 2000AD MEGA-PANEL 

 2000AD is 35 years old on 26th February 2012 - ... One day early join Scrotnig droids John M Burns, David Roach, Mike Collins, Rob Williams, Patrick Goddard, Michael Carroll, Gordon Rennie & Mick McMahon to discuss the Prog, the Meg, and everything in between - including questions from select 2000AD creators to the panel. Hosted by Stacey Whittle & Iz McAuliffe of The Megacast podcast. Zarjaz !!

 4.15pm HORROR IS DEAD! 

 With the growing popularity of Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance in recent years, and many Crime/ Thriller books embracing a more graphic approach to storytelling, has traditional horror become redundant? Join Robin Furth ( Dark Tower writer ) and Wayne Simmons (bestselling author of FLU and FEVER) for this interactive panel looking at the future of the horror genre.　 

SUNDAY 

Noon NEVER MIND THE QUALITY 

The British Indie comics scene is currently busier than it has ever been, and it seems that every month new small publishers and titles are announcing their arrival. But is this really a good thing? Now that anyone with internet access can publish their work worldwide does that mean there are now more creators with less raw talent producing British comics than ever before? Join Peter Rogers and creators Michael Carroll, Chris Lynch, Steve Tanner, and Jon Haward in this spirited debate! 

 1pm TALES AND RELATIVE DRAWING IN SPACE 

The good Doctor has graced not only the TV screens since 1963 but has also saved the universe many times in novels, comics and audio dramas.How do creators work outside of the small screen framework timelines? And what does the future hold?Check out the finest creative line up this side of Gallifrey!With GARY RUSSELL, MIKE COLLINS, DAVE ROACH, GORDON RENNIE & EMMA BEEBY　　 

2pm CLOTH CAT MEDIA meets MIKE PLOOG 

A legend in the comics industry, Mike's career has seen him move effortlessly between horror comics, storyboarding, illustration and animation. We talk to this master of the visual arts about his career, his early years with Will Eisner and the American comics scene, what Steven Spielberg's house is really like and his recent illustrations for children's literature. 

 3pm Markosia - THE WELSH CONNECTION 

 "Unbelievably dark and interactive" 

 Three debut graphic novels, three rising stars of the Welsh comics scene, one publisher.Join Gavin and Dan of The Sidekickcast, as Simon Wyatt (Unbelievable: The man who ate daffodils), Chris Lynch (The Dark) and Peter Rogers (The Interactives) lift the curtain giving a unique behind the scenes look into the making of their books. And find out what else the UK's largest independent graphic novel publisher has in store for 2012

- For the latest info on the Cardiff Comic Expo: www.fantasyevents.org

 

John Higgins to launch Watchmen print sets at SDCC

To celebrate 25 years of Watchmen, the book's original colourist John Higgins has created a brand-new limited-edition Watchmen portfolio exclusively for San Diego Comic-Con 2011.

The new portfolio comes in two flavours, each containing a set of three individual prints of fan-favorite characters Sally Jupiter, Rorschach and The Comedian, each richly-detailed image penciled, inked and colored by John Higgins.

“For me, the appeal of this collection was to consider how each character had been used within the story of Watchmen, and to place them in settings specific to their role in the story," says John. "I’ve aimed to highlight the Comedian’s swaggering arrogance, the sexual glamour and allure of the original Silk Spectre, and the psychotic violence of Rorschach.”

Set A: Limited to 80 copies
The prints (11.7" x 16.5") are coloured in Turmoil Colour Studios’ contemporary colour style and printed on ‘Tintoretto Gesso 250gsm paper’ using the latest computer-controlled technology for a high-quality print run. All prints signed and numbered by John Higgins.
Available only at SDCC 2011 at the special price of $120 per set.

Set B: Limited to 20 copies
Containing three (11.75" x 17.75") silk-screened prints on perfect 'Somerset satin white, 250gsm paper’, with hand-separated colour by John in the Old Skool style of the classic Watchmen coloring. These hand-pulled silkscreen prints are all numbered, signed and embossed with the Turmoil Colour Studios symbol by John Higgins.
Available only at SDCC 2011 at the special price of $300 per set.

Both sets will be contained in a special TCS embossed portfolio envelope.

- Portfolios will only be available at the Splash Page Comic Art Booth #4400 at SDCC 2011, but can be pre-ordered by contacting John via his website at www.turmoilcolour.com or contact Mark Hay at www.splashpageart.com

- Spotlight on John Higgins at SDCC, is taking place on the Thursday 21st July between 1.30 - 2.30pm. Any audience member at the talk can enter a free draw to win one of Set A, of The limited edition Watchmen. Store value of $120.

Doctor Who Classics: Planet of the Dead re-mastered

US publisher IDW is currently publishing early Doctor Who stories from the Seventh Doctor era and the latest issue, on sale now in the US, features a rather special anniversary story by none other than myself and the wonderfully talented Lee Sullivan.

First published in Doctor Who Magazine in 1988, 'Planet of the Dead' (not to be confused with the more recent Who TV movie) was commissioned by then Doctor Who strip editor Richard (Elephantmen) Starkings to mark the 25th anniversary of the show. As my first Doctor Who story, you can imagine a tale featuring all the Doctors was something of a challenge, but thanks to Richard's editing and Lee's smashing art it turned out well, I think, and proved popular with readers.

Now coloured by Charlie Kirchoff, the story features alongside another great tale, 'Keepsake' by Simon Furman and John Higgins.

I'm pretty sure that this new edition is the first time my name has ever appeared on the cover of a US comic, so I'm pretty chuffed to be up there with such illustrious company.

'Planet of the Dead' was a two-part story featuring several past companions and the first seven doctors - in likeness, if not as the originals - and was intended as an anniversary tribute. The monsters of the piece were the Gwanzulum - shape-changing aliens that were also slipped into several other Marvel titles in the same month, to see if readers noticed their secret invasion.

Working with editor Richard Starkings was valuable experience for me - not just on this story but other titles such as The Real Ghostbusters and Thundercats. Richard devoured writing and comic art books and was, and is, a mine of information on the comics form. He taught me how to edit my strips, shape them better.

There was one instance on a Thundercats story I wrote, where economic circumstance force the cutting of a strip from 11 to five pages overnight and I argued it couldn't be done. He did it with consummate ease -- it was a very useful lesson!


Lee Sullivan, who also drew illustrations for a text story, 'Scream of the Silent', for the Doctor Who 25th Anniversary Special at around the same time, recalls that 'Planet of the Dead' was the first strip he’d drawn extensively featuring humans.

"I’d only just done a couple of strips for Transformers, he notes. "In one of those I had drawn a likeness of Richard Branson and that proved to be a 'career-moment' because, as a result, when Richard Starkings was assigning Who scripts to artists, he swapped mine to 'Planet' from 'Time and Tide', which Dougie Braithwaite ended up drawing. Suddenly I was having to deal with likenesses of all the 'dead' companions and all the Doctors, as well as being very aware of all the great artists I was following!

"It was a dream come true, though. I had followed Who in strip form since the first appearance of the Neville Main 'Hartnell' in TV Comic.

Of all the Doctors he had to visualize, the Seventh proved the most elusive to capture. " I think everyone found him hard – his face has an infinite variety of expressions," Lee says. "I find that I have to build a ‘virtual model’ of the character in my head, so that the drawings look consistent from panel to panel, but every photo of Sylvester shows a different face."

IDW's Doctor Who Comic Classics aren't officially distributed in the UK, but IDW told us earlier in the year that the digital edition will be available here, so look out for it when it's launched. 'Planet of the Dead' was, of course, also published in black and white by Panini, in their collection of early Seventh Doctor strips, A Cold Day in Hell.

They've done a great job on this Classics collection. I just wish more people in the UK could see it!

• IDW Comics is at: www.idwpublishing.com


• Lee Sullivan's Official web site


• More about Planet of the Dead on the TARDIS Index File

Bristol Expo Line Up continues to grow as weekend nears

An exclusive Watchmen print by Dave Gibbons and John Higgins will be on sale
at the Bristol International Comic Expo

A quick reminder - as if you needed one - that the Bristol International Comic and Small Press Expo takes place this weekend (14 -15th May 2011) at the Ramada City Inn & the Mercure Holland House Hotels.

Guest of Honour for the weekend in Rick Veitch, who will be joined by a host of other comic creators, including Sydney Jordan and Martin Asbury, along with publishers large and small.

There's a host of EXpo EXclusives that will be available to visitors, including the free STRIP Magazine Issue Zero and the chance to buy limited edition Watchmen and Razorjack prints.

Up for grabs will be...

• A very special free ashcan edition of the forthcoming UK Anthology, Nelson from Blank Slate Books featuring the work of 50 top creators at work on one single narrative (see news story).

• A special Watchmen print by Dave Gibbons and John Higgins, on sale for £15 and limited to just 75 pieces, marking the 25th birthday of the ground-breaking comic by Alan Moore: proceeds will go to the Draw The World Together Charity.(Pre-order on comicexpo@hotmail.co.uk).

The original artwork has been kindly donated by Dave Gibbons and will be auctioned for the Draw the World Together Charity. This is by sealed bids only and bidding forms will only be available from the Info Desk at the Ramada.

• John Higgins is offering a limited edition Foruli print at the event - limited to just 50 pieces - from his stand at the Ramada. (Pre-order email comicexpo@hotmail.co.uk). That's part of the 'Razorjack Attack' launch, which includes the release of Double Crossing from Com.X, the first novel by Michael Carroll.

• The Etherington Brothers - Bristol Expo regulars - will have30 copies of the 140 page limited edition sketch book El Sketchbook Lorenzo volume F.I.V.E. on sale at the Mercure. The book will be a limited run of only 60 copies in total, with the other 30 going on sale online after the show, but Bristol Expo is the only show they'll be available at, ever!

• Rogue Trooper, the world's greatest Genetic Infantryman, celebrates his 30th birthday at Expo thanks to John McCrea, who is producing a Signed & Numbered
Limited Edition Print which will also feature another legend from 2000AD.

• Markosia will be launching Slaughterman’s Creed by Cy Dethan and Stephen Downey, Quarantined by Michael Moreci and Monty Borror and they'll have copies of their Royal Wedding comics by Rich Johnston, Gary Erskine and Mike Collins for sale.

• SelfMadeHero will be exhibiting at Bristol with a range of new and signed copies of it's latest graphic novels and graphic novel biographies. They'll also be celebrating the launch of the first volume of their The Lovecraft Anthology with a special Lovecraft panel featuring SelfMadeHero creators and a signing featuring as many creators as we can lay our hands on.

They'll have creators sketching and signing at their tables throughout the weekend, so pop by and say hello.

Creators Rob Deas and Ian Edginton will also be on hand to talk about their new graphic adaptation of Pride & Prejudice.

• Print Media Productions will announce the launch date of Strip Magazine, a new monthly comic magazine for the UK, part of a range of comics projects. STRIP MAGAZINE Issue Zero will be given
away free to Expo visitors, featuring background on key strips in the new comic magazine such as Black Ops Extreme by John Freeman and PJ Holden, Warpaint by Phil Hester and John McCrea, Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway, Savant by Jim Alexander and Ferrer and Carlos Vila - plus some highlights of Print Media Productions graphic album range.

There's also a special competition in the sampler which will offer comic creators the chance to have their work in the title when it launches later in 2011.

Confirmed guests include: Henry Flint; Lee O'Connor; Dom Reardon; Simon Bisley; Paul Cornell; Stephen Baskerville; Laurence Campbell; Alan Davis; Dave Gibbons; John Higgins; Charles Adlard; Mark Buckingham; Richard Starkings; Sally Hurst; Lee Garbett; Ian Churchill; Gary Erskine; Rob Williams; Si Spencer; Neil Edwards; Ian Edginton; D’israeli; David Hine; Shaky Kane; Neil Roberts; Dylan Teague; Phil Winslade; Al Davison; Mike Collins; Gary Spencer Millidge; Andrew Wildman; Jasper Bark; Dylan Teague; Roger Gibson; Vince Danks; Martin Fisher; Simon Williams Rob Davis; Simon Gane; Neil Edwards; Sean Phillips; Michael Carroll; Patrick Goddard; Gordon Rennie; Emma Beeby; Paul Ridgon; Lew Stringer; Mike Molcher; Laura Howell; Jim Campbell; Kev Hopgood; John A. Short; Luca Erbetta; Graham Bleathman; Webley Wildfoot; Boo Cook; Bob Wayne; Tim Pilcher; Dave Lota; GM Jordan; Bryan Talbot; John Watson; Colin McNeil; Andi Ewington; Cosmo White; Jock; Tony Lee; Dan Boultwood; Serge Pelle; John M. Burns; Syd Jordan; Cy Dethan; Stephen Downey; Vicky Stonebridge; Nic Wilkinson; Ben Oliver; Dan Lockwood; Inj Culbard; James Hodgkins; Mike Bowden; Rob Deas; Jimmy Broxton; David Roach; Kat Nicholson; Jason Cardy; Al Ewing; Tom Eglington; Dean Beattie; Dave Shelton; and Adrian Salmon

Exhibitors include Com.X. Forbidden Planet London, Incognito Comics, Panini Comics, Self Made Hero, Reed Comics, Markosia, PsiCollectables, Genki Gear, The Comic Man, Astral Gypsy and Tripwire (who recently launched their digital edition).
• For more information on Exhibitors click HERE

• Pre-sales for Expo Tickets are now closed, but organisers tell us that if you want to avoid large queues then tickets will be available at 09.30 from the Ticket Desk in the downstairs foyer of the Ramada on Saturday and 10.00 on the Sunday.

Please note that the event does not open until 10.00 on Saturday and 10.30 on Sunday.

Roll Up for Roll Out with Furman, Senior and more this Sunday

Transformers comic writer and ace scripter in his own right Simon Furman, artists Geoff Senior, Andrew Wildman, John Higgins and Martin Griffiths be in Fordingbridge, Hampshire on Sunday (6th March), for All the Cool Stuff’s combined Transformers/Action Force mini-con(vention), Roll Out/Roll Call 2.

"I can’t remember the last time Geoff, Andy and I were all together at an event," says Simon, "and John Higgins (who provided amazing Transformers covers and posters — anyone remember that amazing snowy Dinobots scene he painted for TF-UK?). It makes it a line-up not to be missed."

Roll Out is the UK show dedicated to Transformers, Action Force & GI Joe and the organisers say they are "very proud" to have Simon Furman return to the event along with some very special guests from the world of Transformers, Action Force & GI-Joe.

Simon's work with Transformers has spanned across Marvel UK, US, Dreamwave, Titan Magazines and IDW comics, while both Geoff Senior and Andrew Wildman have helped visualize some of Simon's best known work.  Both Geoff and Simon were the creative force behind Simon's cult bounty hunter character creator Deaths' Head, and Andrew worked on many other MUK favourites including Galaxy Rangers, The Real Ghostbusters and Thundercats.

All three worked on Action Force during the 'International Heroes' era.

John Higgins might best known for his work on 2000AD and as the colourist for Watchmen, however he was also involved with Marvel UK's bid for Action Force during the Palitoy years and, as Simon notes, provided many covers for the Marvel UK Transformer comics.

A late addition to the line up is artist Martin Griffiths, a legend for the Marvel UK Thundercats comic, but who also worked on Transformers.

Joining them will be colourists Liam Shalloo and John-Paul Bove, the current regulars for IDW comics, having worked on Transformers titles.

Also at the event will be James Eatock, the editor of cereal:geek magazine (currently hyping its upcoming seventh issue) and the fountain of all knowledge on cartoons of the 1980's, who will be on hand to showcase the publication and its truly amazing artwork.

• Tickets for the event will be available on the door. For more information on event art exclusives and trading affiliates, check out the All The Cool Stuff site here

John Higgins World War 2 artwork in charity auction

A painting of a famous World War 2 aircraft has been painted by top comics artist John Higgins to raise money for charity.

John's picture of a de Havilland Mosquito NF MkXIII, registration MM550, one of the RAF's night fighters, will be auctioned locally at a fund raising event on 19th February 2011 to raise money for the development and up keep of the Chaucer Memorial in Rustington in West Sussex.

Any bids before this date for this painting would be most welcome: the highest pre-auction bid so far is £100.

"It's just a casual email auction up to the actual live auction on the 19th February," John told downthetubes. "Whoever wants to bid on it can just email me with a bid above £100.

"I will reply to each email giving a weekly up date on the bids to the 19th when we would have the highest 10 read out after the live auction. I want to at least see if we can get a bit of internet interest."

The money would be used to maintain the memorial in remembrance of all who died in World War 2 but specifically for this incidence when a small rural village experienced the impact of war at first hand and five people were killed.

Photo: Richard E. Flagg

At about midday on Saturday, 17th February 1945, with the end of the war in Europe less than three months away, the South Coast village of Rustington experienced its first air crash of the World War Two. As Britain at War Magazine notes here, it was a crash that brought death and destruction to this traditionally peaceful community, when a de Havilland Mosquito NF MkXIII, MM550, from the RAF’s Night Fighter Development Unit based at the nearby former Fleet Air Arm airfield at Ford, crashed into a row of residential bungalows in Chaucer Avenue, Rustington.

Five people had lost their lives, including the crew of the aircraft, pilot Wing Commander William Hudson Maguire DFC and navigator Flight Lieutenant Denis Strickland Lake DFM, both of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.

Subsequent reports in the local newspapers suggested that the stricken Mosquito had dived into the ground after “apparently trying to land on an open space”, barely six minutes after having taken off.

Determined not to forget any of the victims, the Chaucery Memorial Committee was formed and on 17th February 2010, 65 years after the disaster, a memorial remembering those who lost their lives on that fateful day was unveiled on a small road island directly opposite the bungalows into which the Mosquito had plunged, the destroyed ones having been rebuilt after the war.

The memorial commemorates the death of five people who all in their own way had given their life for their country.

Photo: Richard E. Flagg

Despite the loss of life, which included two air crew, two people, a mother and her three-month-old baby Angela, were miraculously saved from one of the demolished houses, injured and burnt.

Remembered on the plaque are Arthur Sidney Foster, a 57-year-old retired Policeman from London, who had been working in the rear garden of his home when he was killed in the crash; Edward Lennard Vincent, aged 63 and a Special Constable in Rustington; and Florence Mabel Ward, her body discovered under the engine of the ’plane, according to contemporary press reports.

Aboard the plane were Wing Commander William Hudson Maguire DFC RAFVR, the pilot, and Flight Lieutenant Denis Strickland Lake DFM RAFVR, the navigator.

Various people helped John complete the painting, which is on canvas acrylic and measures some 80 x 60cm.

• To make a pre-bid send an email to John via turmoilATglobalnet.co.uk. Initial bids must include a full postal address and contact telephone number.

• The live auction will take place at the Chaucery Memorial Jazz Night on 19th February (1930s and 40s Standards by The Jazzooits, featuring Sally Hurst and Barry Prockter) at the Woodlands Centre, Woodlands Road Rustington, West Sussex BN16 3HB

• Britain at War Magazine: Wartime Crash Remembered

• Photos on this page by Richard E. Flagg

Bristol Comic Expo tickets on sale now

Tickets for the Bristol International Comic Expo in May are now on sale - and in a special IN FIRST offer, if you buy now, before 30th January, you pay only the 2010 admission price.

"As you recall, we sold out last year," says organiser Mike Allwood, "and while we have expanded the event capacity, demand will once again be high, so pre-booking and a special low entry deal guarantees you can't miss out on the UK's Premier Comic Event."

The Bristol International Comic Expo runs from 14-15th May 2011, with the convention being held at the Ramada City Inn & the Mercure Holland House Hotels.

Plans are underway to bring the usual high octane mix of international guests, interactive panels, European Showcase, Big on Small Press, New Title launches and those ever collectable EXpo EXclusives.

The international guest list already includes Rick Veitch and Ron Marz, who will be helping celebrate the 40th anniversary of Swamp Thing and previewing the Green Lantern movie.

Also look out for a very special EXpo EXclusive as the Expo wishes the Watchmen a happy 25th birthday with Dave Gibbons and John Higgins, who are together again for the first time on something just a bit special as the event supports its regular charity.

Rogue Trooper - the world's greatest Genetic Infantryman - also celebrates his 30th birthday at Expo thanks to John McCrea, who is producing a Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Print which will also feature another legend from 2000AD.

"You will not want to miss this one," hints Mike. "it's the law!"

EXpo EXclusives launches from publishers Self Made Hero as they debut their take on HP Lovecraft plus Dalen Books Druids Volume 2.

Top creator guests are confirmed so far are Alan Davis, Mark Buckingham, Charles Adlard, Lee Garbett, Ian Churchill, Gary Erskine, Ian Edgington, David Hine, Shaky Kane, Mike Ploog, Dylan Teague, Al Davison, Mike Collins and John Watson, with many more to be confirmed.

EXpo EXhibitors include ComX, Ace Comics, Forbidden Planet London, Incognito Comics, Panini, Reed Comics, Markosia, Self Made Hero, PsiCollectables, The Comic Man, Astral Gypsy and Tripwire. Also in the New EXpanded EXpo European Showcase are Cinebook plus Dalen Books.

• The Expo's IN FIRST offer is NOW open until the 30th January 2011. Order your tickets from www.fantasyevents.org/bristolcomicexpo/tickets.html

• For further details email comicexpo@hotmail.co.uk

• Full details will be on www.fantasyevents.org and www.spexpo.co.uk

Razorjack Special Editions Released

Limited edition book publisher Foruli Publications has just published two very special box sets of John Higgins' graphic novel Razorjack, recently released in paperback by revived publisher Com.X.

In Razorjack, a trio of college kids inadvertently create an unstable nexus which enables the Death-Bitch, Razorjack, to break into our world from the Twist Dimension. Two maverick cops, Frame and Ross, are assigned a disturbingly horrific multiple-murder case which draws them into what is potentially the final battle between good and evil. The book collects all of John Higgins's Razorjack stories into one complete graphic novel and includes new story and art by John, created exclusively for this book.

John's story has received critical acclaim from several sources, including fellow comic creators Garth Ennis ("If there's any justice, this new collection should find the audience the story has always deserved." and Jimmy Palmiotti ("Razorjack delivers something rare: a solid story and artistic brilliance by John Higgins. It must be nice to be getting better with age.").

Published in association with Loco Motive Studios and Com.x the standard limited edition can be ordered from all good bookshops and online from amazon.co.uk and www.foruli.co.uk.

The Deluxe Edition, available exclusively from www.foruli.co.uk, is a hand bound 96-page book contained in a handmade solander case, accompanied by an original painting by John Higgins and a hand pulled eight-colour screenprint with 24 carat gold leaf. Each book, painting and print signed by John Higgins. The signed and lettered limited edition of 15 costs £250.

The Standard Edition, also hand bound and slipcased, is accompanied by a hand pulled eight-colour screenprint, both signed by John Higgins and limited to just 45 copies, priced £150.

• John, whose credits include Judge Dredd, Star Wars and, of course, his colouring for Watchmen, recently announced several signing events in upcoming weeks, starting with an appearance at the San Diego Comic Con, 24th - 28th July, signing at the Splash Page Comic Art booth, row 4400. Then, on Saturday 1st August, he'll be signing at Heroes For Sale, 277 Karangahape Rd, Auckland, New Zealand, from 10.00am. He's then on to Australia the following week, with a signing at Ace Comics & Games, Level 2, 121 Queen Street, Brisbane, on Sunday 9th August starting at 12.00 noon.

Razorjack On Sale This Week

John Higgins collection of Razorjack, which includes a new four-page strip, goes on sale in the UK in all good comic shops this Thursday (2nd April).

The collection has been published by revived indie Com.x, headed up by publisher Eddie Deighton (see news story). Their first new collection, Cla$$war Series One is already instore in the UK and sellling fast.

In Razorjack, a sequence of bizarre events create an unstable nexus that enables the death-bitch, Razorjack, and her twisted handmaidens the opportunity to finally break through into our world the most important dimension of them all The Core Dimension. Three college kids inadvertently create the opening from the alternate universe of The Twist Dimension and become a focus for the evil that is Razorjack.

Maverick cops, Frame and Ross, are assigned a disturbingly horrific multiple-murder case which draws them into what is potentially the final battle between good and evil...

"All I had wanted to do with Razorjack was to create my own world outside of what I had been commissioned to do all my professional life," says John, whose past credits include strips for 2000AD, The Hills Have Eyes and Thunderbolt Jaxon. "It kept me entertained writing, drawing and colouring it on and off for around ten years.

[Razorjack] is not profound, it won’t make you look at the world around you in a different way and it will never win the Nobel Prize for literature. (Although it would be nice to be nominated). But anyway, it is just a horror story populated by weird creatures, with colourful art and nice designs!"

• Buy Razorjack from amazon.com

• John will be doing a Razorjack signing at Orbital Comics in London on Saturday 18th April 2009

John Higgins Talks Razorjack, Watchmen

Brilliant artist and colourist John Higgins has just completed a new four page comic strip for his collected magnum opus, Razorjack. Published with revived Com.x, the Brit independent comic company that John says "have quality and production values that can be compared to any of the big companies".

Com.X is led by Eddie Deighton as the sole remaining Com.x creator and Publisher with his USA creative representative and co Publisher, Benjamin Shahrabani. (See news story)

"All I had wanted to do with Razorjack was to create my own world outside of what I had been commissioned to do all my professional life," John, whose past credits include strips for 2000AD, The Hills Have Eyes and Thunderbolt Jaxon, tells downthetubes. "As much as I love working on Batman, Spider-Man or even the Watchman (sorry Watchmen), it has always been as a gun for hire.

"Now that doesn't stop you from being the best you can be, the best artist, the best writer, the best colourist or the best anyone, of the long production line of creative people that makes the book that goes on the shelves. But I had a story I wanted to tell, a story that no one else could tell, it was a John Higgins story. It is not profound, it won’t make you look at the world around you in a different way and it will never win the Nobel Prize for literature. (Although it would be nice to be nominated). But anyway, it is just a horror story populated by weird creatures, with colourful art and nice designs.

"It kept me entertained writing, drawing and colouring it on and off for around ten years," says John, " and now it's finally collected into one book.

"Check it out, I hope for you to get at least a couple of hours enjoyment from it and if you do, tell your friends and even tell me."

John also tells us he's currently enjoying all the renewed interest in Watchmen generated by the new film. "I'm blown away by the interest in Watchmen now, from all corners – not just comic fans.

"For me it has always been a towering creative presence that has been there on the periphery of my career, for twenty odd years, due to the genius of Alan and Dave," he continues. "But until I had the opportunity to digitalize the colour for the Absolute Watchmen I had no real interest seeing it or talking about it. As I have said in my section of the Dave Gibbons book Watching the Watchmen, all I could see were the limitations imposed by the primitive colour printing process in 1986 when it was first printed and I hated what I saw on those collected editions for over twenty years.

"But thankfully I got the second bite of that creative cherry in 2005, and was gratified my Watchmen colour concept had stood the test of time and was still relevant for the subject matter. We could also finally get rid of the grey I used on the first couple of issues, before we found how badly it printed and create a consistency of scene colouring, add better modeling and balance the colour across the Watchmen spectrum. I was also working directly on the art/print files so no intermediate hands interpreted and hand sep’d my colour for the printing plates this time.

"Absolute had a direct link to my golden years at Marvel UK," John reveals. "I worked closely with that goddess of comic production, the immaculate Alison Gill who worked at Marvel UK all those years ago, (and she still only looks 16!) and who was one of the stalwarts of the socializing then and is now working at DC as the Head of the Production department ensuring the highest level of comic production. And a glass of White Chardonnay is till her tipple of choice!"

Absolute Watchmen original colour proofs are now on sale, via Splash Page Comic Art’s website www.splashpageart.com. When John was hired to re-master the colours for the oversized edition of the series in 2004, a single colour proof was printed out for each interior page of the book and the colours were checked for accuracy, which is what is being offered at Splash Page. With Watchmen original published artwork selling for several thousands per page and more, this is a rare opportunity to own a one-of-a-kind piece of original Watchmen artwork.

Each colour proof is printed on high quality paper that measures 11 X 17”, and will be signed by both Dave Gibbons, and John Higgins, and embossed with a Watchmen design seal at the bottom of the page. A certificate of authenticity will be provided for each page purchased.

• Read an interview with John Higgins on The Mindless Ones web site

• Issue 281 of Judge Dredd Megazine (dated 3 Mar 09) contains a seven-page interview with John, in which Michael Molcher covers almost every aspect of John's career. It's available digitally via www.clickwheel.net

• John will be doing a signing at Orbital Comics in London on Saturday 18th April 2009

Cla$$war Returns

This month sees the welcome return of British indie publisher Com.X, whose success was torpedoed by a series of unfortunate events shortly after it launched in the early Noughties.

Com.X kicks off its new projects with a hardcover collected edition of Cla$$war, comprising the first six issues of the superhero tale initially drawn by Trevor Hairsine back in 2002.

In a candid interview for ComicBookResources, publisher Eddie Deighton and Cla$$war writer Rob Williams reveal the story behind Com.X's woes that put paid to its initial publishing plans, which included the loss of two of its top artists to industry heavyweight Marvel Comics and a devastating burglary that saw all their equipment stolen and effectively brought an end to the company.

After launching its flagship sampler Issue#Zero in April 2000, Com.x released its first titles into the comic marketplace in February 2001. The first wave of titles were Bazooka Jules, John Higgins' Razorjack and Puncture, followed by Cla$$war, Sky Between Branches, Codename: Babetool, N-jin, and the collected edition of The Last American – titles whose art and production values were as high or higher than those of industry leaders like Marvel and DC Comics.

The company foundered, but is now back in business, with a collected edition of John Higgins' Razorjack set to debut by the end of March and a brand new original superhero graphic novel, 45, planned for this summer.

"45 is well on it's way to complete," publisher Eddie Deigton told CBR. "The script is finished, and we've gotten maybe about 35 artists on board for the whole project." You can view work in progress here

"The concept is that a normal Joe Public journalist finds out his wife is about to give birth to a baby that may have the S-gene -- or 'the super gene' -- and he has to face reality and accept the kid may change the whole course of his life," Eddie explains. "So he decides to go and interview 45 different superheroes."

• For more on Cla$$war and other upcoming Com.X projects, check out the publisher's blog at comxcomics.blogspot.com

• Read the CBR interview with the Com.X team