Wasted ends print edition with Issue 8, going digital

A quick reminder that the latest issue of adult comic WASTED is out now featuring  a stellar line up of talent including Kelly Jones, Mark Buckingham, Jason Brashill, Norm Breyfogle, John Wagner and Cam Kennedy.

Sadly, the WASTED team tell us this is the last print edition of the adult title - a combination of print and delivery costs and reduced sales mean they're moving to digital only editions in future.

"Terrestrial publication of WASTED ended with Issue 8," publisher Alan Grant told downthetubes.net. "From next issue on it'll be digital only, carried by DriveThru.

"A sad day, but still optimistic."



DriveThru already sell British titles such as 2000AD and Markosia, as well as many US comics.

Contributors to this final print issue also include (in no particular order): Tom Carney, Alex Ronald, Jon Haward, Gibson Quarter, Dave Alexander, Jamie Grant, Jason Wilson, Jim Devlin, Jules Boyle, Craig Collins, Curt Sibling, Martin Smith, Will Pickering, Alan Grant, Rob Baker, John Miller, Chaos Alexander, Adam Smith, Jane Turnbull, Paul McCann, Tom Green, Garry McLaughlin, Kent Tayler, Russ McPherson, Tony Rollinson and Adam Ford.

• Buy Wasted: www.badpressltd.com 

Tube Surfing: British Artists - Interviews and Unpublished Art

There has been a small flurry of British artists getting interviewed recently.

Alex Ronald, who has worked as an artdroid for 2000AD in the past and is now getting a lot of attention for the Vampire Vixens Of The Wehrmacht strip just started in Wasted, talks about VVW on the the Wasted blog.

Also short and sweet is an interview by Lew Stringer over on Blimey with Commando and Spaceship Away artist Martin Baines about the colouring work he has done on the Frank Bellamy Garth strips now being published by the Daily Mirror.

If those two have whetted your appetite then David Robertson, of Fred Egg Comics and organiser of the war comics exhibition now touring Angus Council libraries, presents an absolute beanfeast of an interview with Doctor Who and Hellblazer artist John Ridgway over on The Comics Journal. The interview is so long and detailed that TCJ split it over two postings, here and here (and managed to spell David's surname wrong in the title of the first one).

And finally... Our brothers in arms in the Commando office have discovered some unpublished art in their files by the late Jeff Bevan whose favourite subject to illustrate was ships. Pre-internet, when references for ships were less easy to come by, Commando used DC Thomson staff artist Bevan to create ship reference art that could be sent out to freelancer artists to use when drawing their Commando stories. The artwork has been declassified for the first time and is available to view on the Commando website, here and here.

Preview: Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht

VixenVert from Nicola Blackmore on Vimeo.

Here's Wasted magazine's advert for the incredibly impressive Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht which will feature in Issue 7 of the magazine. The art is by Alex Ronald and written by the mysterious "Emperor".

Yes, the title tells you pretty much everything you want to know about the story! You've got Nazis, and you got sexy ladies -- run with it!

She's Churchill's hottest secret weapon, a vampire babe snatched from the Nazi's and working on the side of good to thwart her evil sisters and bring Hitler's war machine crashing to a halt.

Her extremely reluctant side kick and chaperone is over zealous Military Chaplain William Morris. A fire and brimstone Presbyterian, Morris is vehemently intolerant of other faiths never mind undead hellspawn creatures!

• Check out the Vampire Vixens of the Wehrmacht on Facebook

• Wasted Comic blog

Win Bad Press goodies signed by Simon Bisley, Alan Grant and John Wagner

Bad Press Limited, publishers of the adult comic Wasted, have announced their festive competition, running from 10th December 2010 to 10th January 2011.

If you spend £9 (excluding postage) or more at www.badpressltd.com, they'll enter you in a grand prize draw to win a signed copy of their Bad Press Ltd. Edition #1 bundle, featuring an ultra-rare S*** The Dog #1 traced by Simon Bisley, Alan Grant and John Wagner, Wasted #1 defaced by All Star Supremo Frank Quitely, Northern Lightz #1 misplaced by Scottish Underground hero Dave Alexander and New British Comics #1 debased by rising star Tim Rees!

Of course, if you're a Wasted fan, for just £6 you could treat yourself this Christmas to one of just 25 limited edition #1 bundles packs, comprising of Wasted, S*** The Dog, Northern Lightz and New British Comics! (This offer includes free postage to UK residents, £3.00 to Europe and £6.00 to absolutely anywhere in the rest of the known world).

The winner of the competition will be announced in Wasted #7, on sale 5th February 2011 - check out the cover to that above!

• Full details at: www.badpressltd.com

Wasted #6 heading for stores... mind your heads!

The latest issue of adult comic Wasted (#6) has gone to press, with a cover by Cam Kennedy featuring Jon Haward and Alan Grant's Buddha.(Jon by the way, was recently interviewed here on the title's blog).

The new issue features, amongst other random things, these recurring strips - War On Drugs, Tales Of The Buddha, Lusi Sulfura, Total Fear, S*** The Dog, Junkie Dad, Amber Nectar and RamRod.

Contributors this issue are: Alan Grant, Cam Kennedy, Carlos Ezquerra, Johnny Horney, Dave Alexander, Russ McPherson, Liam Bryant, Craig Collins, Simon Bisley, Jon Haward, Rob Baker, Garry McLaughlin, Nick Very, Gibson Quarter, Ray Manta, John Miller, Robert Smith, Lex, Jamie McMorrow, Adam Smith, Claire Deakin, Jacek Zabawa, John Wagner, Martin Smith, Alan Kerr, James Corcoran, Paul McCann, Kent Taylor, Jules Boyle (ahem, apologies...), Jamie Grant, Jim Devlin and Pudsy (rest in peace).

Comics guru Brendan McCarthy says: "Wasted is the best new comic since Deadline!" And, Bad Press assure us, Brendan has never been known to be wrong!

• Buy Wasted: www.badpressltd.com

Catching up with Gibson Quarter

Gibson Quarter is best known for his illustration work on War on Drugs strips with writer Alan Grant, for the adult comics magazine Wasted which will soon see a sixth issue on sale.

He's also drawn stories for numerous other magazines and comics including Northern Lightz, FutureQuake, Something Wicked, Zarjaz and Dogbreath abd contributes to the webcomic, Fractal Friction.

In North America, he's provided art for Holmes Inc with Ty Templeton, and the upcoming 7th Wave #1.

downthetubes caught up with him via Sci-Fi Art Now, a new collection of SF art published by ILEX in the UK, which features an impressive robot image by this talented artist. This interview is cross posted from the SFAN blog...

What tools do you mainly use to create your art?

Gibson Quarter: Pencils, pencils and more pencils! When I have to ink, I use crow quills, (hunt 102 almost exclusively) brushes, and India ink.

What inspired you to become an artist?

A page of the online webcomic
Fractal Friction

Gibson: Time’s relentless march forward inspired me. I’ve always loved art, and could draw pretty well in my younger days. After not drawing for 10 years, (but still always reading comics, graphic novels and art books) I decided that if I don't get some of my art out into the world, I’ll really regret it when I’m older. So I got focused, and got going!

What was the most useful piece of advice you were given when you began learning your craft?

Gibson: Seth Fisher (R.I.P.) was very helpful, and offered this advice which has always stuck with me: “A good page takes a long time to make and is often redrawn several times to make it work. This is a secret part of the process of course. People assume it comes out right the first try.”

Which artists most inspire you?

Gibson: Arthur Adams, Frank Quitely, Joe Madureira, Chris Sanders, and many many others. I find a new favorite artist every day on Deviant art!

What is the appeal to you of science fiction as an inspiration for some of your work?

Gibson: Science Fiction is limited only by one’s creativity. None of the environments /people/creatures exist yet, so you can go crazy! It’s very freeing, and fun to draw.

Pencils for War on Drugs,
which appears in Britain's
adult comic Wasted

Do you have a favourite piece of work or project you have worked on (please send a related image if possible web link if applicable)

Inks for War on Drugs,
which appears in Britain's
adult comic Wasted

Gibson: My answer to this is usually always, ‘my latest creation.’ I try very hard to constantly improve my art. That said, I’m always proud of my War on Drugs art for Wasted magazine, especially when Gary Erskine inks my pencils.

In your career, have you had any bizarre experiences while creating your art?

Gibson: Nothing too crazy, but I do have a constant and ongoing battle with my cat, as he often tries to get up on my drawing table… it terrifies me when I’m inking pages!

What most frustrates you about being an artist?

Gibson: My speed. I always want to be faster and produce more, but it’s not always possible.

What keeps you going despite the hopefully occasional frustrations?

Gibson: Positive fan feedback on my work. It’s like manna from heaven!

What advice would you offer to anyone starting out as an artist?

Gibson: Don’t rush your art, and learn Photoshop... It can really help out in the early stages of creating good art.

• Check out more of Gibson's work at: http://gibsonquarter27art.blogspot.com. Contact him by email via gibsonquarter27ATyahoo.com

• Holmes Inc. is available from http://holmesinccomic.wordpress.com

• More about Wasted via: www.badpressltd.com


• Undertow #1 (Gibson's cover art featuring the Organ Grinder, right) will be available from 7th Wave from 1st December 2010: http://7thwavecomics.blogspot.com

Wasted 5 Out Now

The latest issue of adult humour title WASTED is now on sale.

It features the usual mix of madcap strips, including 10 pages of Alan Grant and Jon Haward's Tales of the Buddha, Kevin Eastman and Kevin O'Neill and Simon Bisley on S*** the Dog, Gary Erskine inking Gibson Quarter's War on Drugs, Alan Kerr's latest superb Lusi Sulfura, Alan Grant and Jim Devlin's The Dopranos, plus Alan Burrows takes his Fun Guys to the world of Alice in Wonderland.

It's a jam packed issue - and we're told Cam Kennedy is doing the cover of Issue 6. Aces!

• Buy it now from www.badpressltd.com/buy-wasted.php#5

Get Wasted! Issue 4 hits the stands

Issue 4 of adult humour magazine Wasted is on sale now, featuring a sexy cover by the ever-brilliant Dave Taylor.

This issue features more War On Drugs, Alan Kerr's absolutely superb Lusi Sulfura ("She was sent to Earth to drag souls to hell... but couldn't be bothered!"), and three fab Tales of the Buddha before he got enlightened strips by Alan Grant, drawn Jon Haward - always a highlight of each issue of the adults-only magazine.

"Buddha is bonkers stuff," admits Jon, "but every one I know say they like it – even Buddhists!"

This issue also see the debut of Adventures in Sherweed Forest: Robin Head and his Merrywanna Men, again written by Alan and drawn by Jon

"I decided to draw this strip in a homage style to humour comic greats Ken Reid and R.T.Nixon," says Jon, "who drew British humour kids comics that I read growing up in comics like Cor!, Buster, Shiver and Shake and Whizzer and Chips.

"All these stories were great fun to draw as they made me laugh all the time as I was drawing them," he adds, and given the above line-up of characters on Robin Head, we can see why!

• Wasted costs £3.25, ISSN 1751-2522 and is available in all disreputable comic stores across the country or you can buy it on line via http://badpressltd.com/buy-wasted.php or subscribe via http://badpressltd.com/subscriptions.php. We're sure copies will also be on sale at the upcoming Comics Expo in Bristol later this month, too.

• Read our review of Wasted Issue 3

• Read our review of Wasted Issue 2

• Tales of the Buddha: a WASTED gem!

In Review: Wasted #3

All right, confession time: Wasted Issue 3 has been on sale for postively ages and a review of this adult comic, available from specialist comic shops and online, is long overdue. The delay is not the fault of the Wasted team, who were not too zonked to kindly send me a copy for review simply ages ago, but my zonking out at the end of most days recently as I juggle several projects at once.

The issue is a the usual eclectic mix of humour strips, featuring a cover by Simon Bisley and work by the likes of Alan Grant, Jon Haward, Gibson Quarter, Alan Kerr, Curt Sibling, John A. Short, Jamie Grant, John Wagner and many others.

Highlights of the issue? For me, certainly the four-page 'Lusi Sulfura' by Alan Kerr, and the ever bonkers 'Tales of the Buddha' by Grant and Haward.

'The Steel Teacher' by Colin Barr, with art by Sibling and Jamie Grant, is another twisted gem, featuring a psychotic robot teacher looking not dissimilar to a once popular robot character from another comic, as its military programming reasserts itsef mid lesson. 'The Dopranos', with art by Jim Devlin is also great.

Since the issue was sitting on the top of my reviews pile, threatening to savage me if I ignored it any longer, as you can imagine, more than one person flicked through it. I have to note that many of the strips raised a laugh, but for those who had seen Wasted #1 and 2, the feeling was that some of the drug and alcohol jokes were a little repetitive and, perhaps, a wider range of topics need poking fun at in future issues.

Nevertheless, the good outweighs the humdrum and if you can still find a copy, do so, and consider giving it a try. The creative line up on this adult humour title is really impressive.

• More about Wasted at: www.wastedcomic.com. the comic also has a Myspace page: www.myspace.com/wastedcomic

Tales of the Buddha: A Wasted Gem (Among Others!)

• Classical Comics and Panini artist Jon Haward has a new blog, Haward Art House, where he's posting many a splendid piece of art from his burgeoning and impressive portfolio, including this cartoon featuring his Tales of the Buddha character that features in Alan Grant's very funny, over-18s only Wasted comic, which is about to re-launch.

The team sent downthetubes a copy recently, and Jon and Alan's strip is just one of the highlights as the would-be religious icon tries to find the right religion to hang his hat on.

Wasted Issue 1 comes wrapped in a cover courtesy Frank Quitely: the comic is the brainchild of Jamie Grant (propietor of Hope Street Studios and digi-inker/colourist on All Star Superman) and award-winning writer Alan Grant.

The varied comic strips and artists involved in Wasted include:

"TALES of the BUDDHA"
Drawn by the aformentioned Jon Haward, a long-time Spider-Man artist.

"WACCY BACCY RACES"
Juan McGarcia used to paint Judge Dredd under the pseudonym Xuasus. He is now a top animator, having worked on some of the decade's biggest animated movies.

"WAR on DRUG$"
Gibson Quarter is a young Canadian artist fast making a name for himself. This is inked by Jim Devlin and coloured by Derek Dow.

"SPLIFFY the STONER CHICK"
John Short is one of the UK's best-known and most successful independent comics creators. His Vietnam war comic is a classic of the genre.

"The FUN GUYS - They Crash Parties"
Alan Burrows has drawn Dan Dare, Judge Dredd and many others and the Fun Guys have crashed several other comics and always proved a hit.

"REX the SNIFFER DOG"
By Steve Samson, once the regular Judge Anderson artist and who painted many a stunning Overkill cover for Marvel UK, now working in computer games. Hoodies is by his friend Charles Gillespie, also a one-time Anderson artist, now Creative Director for a computer games company.

"HELL's BELLES"
Largely the brainchild of Dave Alexander, creator of The MacBams, Scotland's answer to the Furry Freak Brothers. Hell's Belles is inked by Colin Barr. Jim Devlin (The Dopranos) inked the War on Drug$ strip and also works as a colourist for DC Comics.

"The DIRTY DOG"
Drawn by Simon Bisley, one of the UK's very top artists - as if folk here needed telling. He painted the first, sell-out Judge Dredd/Batman crossover, and the first ground-breaking LOBO mini-series. Simon now works mainly for Hollywood as a concept artist, but is currently working on a new zombie comic with Alan.

"LUSI SULFURA"
Alan Kerr, alias 'Deadboy' is fast making a name for himself in Glasgow's incredibly hot art scene.

“BLACK CAPE”
Written by Fraser Campbell and drawn by Iain Laurie is Watchmen meets The Boys from the Blackstuff. Beautifully coloured by Derek Dow.

"FAST as F***"
Dave Taylor is a long-time collaborator with Alan Grant on Judge Anderson and Batman: Shadow of the Bat.

It's a great comic if you're a fan of the Furry Freak Brothers, and there's a gloriopus patrick Troughton-inspired Doctor Who parody that has to be seen to be believed!

• More about wasted at: www.wastedcomic.com