Web FInds: Someone Old, Some New

Art by Cliff Robinson

(with thanks to Matt Badham): Many British comic characters may not be getting the exposure these days - who wouldn't want to see new adventures of Steel Claw or Adam Eterno? - but thanks to the web, comic creators can keep these icons alive. Case in point is Someone Old, Someone New - a blog where artists feature old and new British comic characters in one frame of 'What If?' style fun.

The creation of 'MangaMax', who also runs the AIEEE blog on British comic characters, the  brief is simple: ask an artist to depict a chosen classic, long out of print British comic character meeting a modern, in print one. Whether they get along and what they're doing is entirely up to the artist - part of the fun of it seeing just what they'll come up with. The only stipulation anyone is given is that it must be black and white, the natural enviroment of the 70's, apart from that its all down to them.

Robot Archie and Judge Anderson
Art by Dave Taylor

Many artists have already stepped up to the plate, including Cliff Robinson (above, who helped kick the project off), Glenn Fabry, Dave Taylor, Paul Grist and many others.

The blog is also  a showcase for a slowly growing collection of commissions of Black Max, MangaMax's favourite ever British comic character - and convention sketches of those classic 60/70's strips he love so much.

So well worth checking out at: http://someoneoldsomeonenew.blogspot.com

- The Spider, Janus Stark and Robot Archie © IPC
- Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson © Rebellion

- Adam Eterno and Black Max © Egmont UK

WebFinds: Cliff Robinson's Captain Britain

Regular readers of downthetubes will remember artist Cliff Robinson - one of many great creators on 2000AD down the years. He began his own blog some time ago, and has been posting some fantastic art, including this brilliant 'faux' Captain Britain Weekly cover - inspired by CB's first run in with Captain America back in the 1970s - and a fun 'Robot Archie' illustration.

His blog features the preliminary drawings for the Robot Archie, Judge Anderson and
Modesty Blaise art. "Looking afresh at these drawings and the finished art, I'm beginning to wonder whether I've drawn Modesty's waist just a tad too thin," he notes.

• Check out his blog at: cliffrobinsoncomicart.blogspot.com

Robot Archie Needs You!

(with thanks to Leah Moore and John Reppion): Back in 2005 and 2006, British comic creators Leah Moore, John Reppion and artist Shane Oakley had the opportunity to resurrect a big gang of classic UK comics characters in their dad/father-in-law (some bloke called Alan something or other) plotted Wildstorm series, Albion.

"We loved scripting The Spider, Charlie Peace, Grimly Feendish… every single one of them to be honest," recall Leah and John. "It was a true honour (not to mention loads of fun) working with such important, influential characters and it’s almost impossible to pick just one favourite out the lot.

"We did, however, always have bit of a soft spot for the battling British robot himself -- Robot Archie -- and it seems we are not alone.

"www.RobotArchie.com (not yet live) aims to be the definitive fan-site for Archie enthusiasts the world over and we’re doing our bit to help make that dream a reality," they reveal on their web site. "So, Robot Archie fans, here’s how you can help. Artists: RA.com wants your Robot Archie pin-ups and more! Writers: RA.com wants your articles on Archie, his history, reviews, interviews, and anything else you can think of!

"Fans: RA.com wants your cover scans, collectors info, classic interviews and everything else!

"Anything Robot Archie related you can think of (within reason), RA.com wants!" the pair enthuse.

Leah and John are keen to stress that they are not running www.RobotArchie.com themselves but they will be doing everything they can to help out with getting the site up and running and getting as many people involved as possible. If you want to submit artwork, articles, or whatever to the site you can use www.moorereppion.com/contact and they’ll be only too happy to pass your info on to the RA.com webmaster.

"Robot Archie is a true British icon: a symbol of a lost age when Newsagents’ shelves groaned under the weight of a vast range of truly fantastic, original and spellbinding UK comics," notes John. "Let’s try to recapture some of that magic and work together to make www.RobotArchie.com a fitting tribute to Archie and all he stands for."