Tube Surfing: Ro-Jaws, Rebellion, Crikey!, Rankin, Road and Comic Fairs!

Ro-Jaws returns to 2000AD this week, making a comeback in the A.B.C. Warriors strip by Pat Mills and Clint Langley, who also provides the cover for Prog 1667, right.
Originally designed by Kevin O'Neill for the Ro-Busters strip in Starlord weekly over 30 years ago, this is something of a blast from the past - and if Ro-Jaws beahves like eh used to, we're sure it will be a blast. More info: www.2000adonline.com

• Talking of 2000AD, parent company Rebellion is undergoing something of a restructure, and part of the move puts the staff at its Derby studio under consultation as the lease on that studio expires. Develop Daily reports the firm is still committed to growing the staff at its Oxford HQ and expand its Runcorn base.
Rebellion Derby had most recently worked on completing Bethesda's Rogue Warrior. Its sister studios are hard at work finishing the new Alien vs Predator for Sega. Expect more news in coming weeks as to what this will mean for the games company.

• Novelist Ian Rankin was presented with West Lothian Libraries' Scot Scriever Award on 12th January. At his presentation ceremony he talked about how the local library in his native Fife had been a big draw for him as a youngster before he went on to talk about his career and take questions from the audience. When he was asked what he was reading at the moment he immediately said the latest Broons book and went go to give the examples of Granpaw Broon getting an ASBO and the wind turbine that now overlooks their But An' Ben holiday cottage as how the Sunday Post's strip, that has been running for almost three quarters of a century, was remaining contemporary.

• Sgt Mike Battle #14 is out now and sees the whirlwind romance between Roger Knightly and Shapely Charms reaches its thrilling finale. Can you really afford to miss the most shocking and heart-wrenching story in the history of comics? Do not worry about crying your eyes out as you read the comic because for a limited period you will get a free tissue with every issue!
Priced at £1.50, you can order your issue via the Sgt Mike Battle Fan Club on Facebook. For more information, visit www.sgtmikebattle.co.uk

• Good news from the publisher of Crikey! After concerns that the Borders collapse would damage the format of the title, we can report that despite earlier concerns it might have to black and white throughout, Crikey! 13 will have a centre section of eight pages in full colour. Discussions about expanded distribution through other retail outlets is also looking more positive.

• British Comic Creator Eddie Sharam got in touch with us lately, drawing our attention to the webcomic ROAD over on Zuda, which he writes and draws and will soon pass an impressive a 100 page milestone. He's been at it for over a year, with another year planned out. You can read ROAD on Zuda.com for free at zudacomics.com/road and Eddie would welcome feedback.

• And finally... here's a list of upcoming Golden Orbit comic fairs, which I hope to get chance to add to the events listing soon. All events start at midday apart from Leeds.

• Saturday, January 16, Birmingham - The Nautical Club, Bishopsgate Street, off Broad Street and a short walk from Smallbrook Queensway.
(Future date: February 20)

• Saturday, January 23, Manchester - Sachas Hotel, Tibb Street, Piccadilly
(Future date: March 13)

• Sunday, January 24, Liverpool - The Liner Hotel, Lord Nelson Street, off Lime Street
(Future date: March 14)

• Saturday, January 30, Leeds - Leeds Town Hall, The Headrow - from 11.00am
(Future date: March 6)

• Saturday, February 6, Sheffield - The Showroom, Paternoster Row, Sheaf Square (opp Railway Station)
(Future date: March 20)

• Saturday, February 13, Nottingham - Comfort Hotel, George St, off Upper Parliament St & Broad Street
(Future date: April 10)

• Saturday, February 27, Newcastle - University of Northumbria, Rutherford Hall, Ellison Place, off College Street

More details, map directions etc. at www.goldenorbit.co.uk

2009 Harvey Award Nominees Announced

The 2009 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con, with British creators Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely among the honoured nomimees.

DC Comics online comics service, Zuda Comics, has helped bring several new talents to light, an indication of the surely now undisputed importance of the web comic format.

Named in honour of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the US comic industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented 10th October 2009 in Baltimore, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Professionals who participate will be joining nearly 2,000 other comics professionals in honoring the outstanding comics achievements of 2008.

Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Friday, 28th August, 2009. Full details for submission of completed ballots can be found on the final ballot. Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field. Final ballots are available for download at www.harveyawards.org. Those without Internet access may request that paper ballots be sent to them via mail or fax by calling the Baltimore Comic-Con (410-526-7410) or e-mailing baltimorecomicccon@yahoo.com.

This will be the fourth year for the Harvey Awards at the Baltimore Comic-Con, which will be held 10-11th October, with top web comic creator will be Scott Kurtz (www.pvponline.com) on hand as master of Ceremonies at the award ceremony and banquet.

The 2008 Harvey Award Nominees:

BEST WRITER

• Kyle Baker for Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Marvel Comics

• John Gallagher, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Grant Morrison, All Star Superman, DC Comics

BEST ARTIST

• Gabriel Ba, The Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics

• Kyle Baker, Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!, Renaissance Press

• Jason Kruse, The World of Quest, Yen Press

• Frank Quitely, All Star Superman, DC Comics

BEST CARTOONIST

• Lar deSouza, Least I Could Do: www.leasticoulddo.com

• John Gallagher, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Al Jaffee, Tall Tales, Abrams Books

• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Thom Zahler, Love and Capes, Maerkle Press

BEST LETTERER

• Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!, Renaissance Press

• Rob Leigh, The Spirit, DC Comics

• Doug Sherwood, Local, Oni Press

• John Workman, Marvel 1985, Marvel Comics

• Thom Zahler, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

BEST INKER

• Rich Faber,Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Jamie Grant, All Star Superman, DC Comics


• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Mark Morales, Thor, Marvel Comics

• Ryan Winn, The Darkness, Image Comics

BEST COLOURIST

• Frank Cammuso, Otto's Orange Day, Raw Junior, LLC

• Jamie Grant, All Star Superman, DC Comics

• Laura Martin, Thor, Marvel Comics

• Wil Quintana, The Mice Templar, Image Comics

• Dave Stewart, The Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST

• Frank Cho, Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule! #3, Sky Dog Press

• James Jean, Fables, Vertigo Comics

• Jay Lynch, Mindshaft #23, Mindshaft Publishing

• Ken Rocafort, Pilot Season: Core #1, Top Cow

• Alex Ross, Justice Society of America, DC Comics

BEST NEW SERIES

• The Dreamer, IDW

• Echo, Abstract Studios

• High Moon, www.zudacomics.com/high_moon

• Night Owls, www.zudacomics.com/the_night_owls

• Supertron, www.zudacomics.com/supertron

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

• All Star Superman, DC Comics

• Captain America, Marvel Comics

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Mice Templar, Image Comics

• The Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

• Draw!, edited by Mike Manley, Twomorrows Publishing

• How To Make WebComics by Brad Guigar, Dave Kellett, Scott Kurtz, and Kris Straub, Image Comics

• Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier, Abrams Books

• Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW

• Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels edited by David A. Berona, Abrams Books

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL

• Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! by Tim Rickard, Tribune Media Services

• Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley, United Features Syndicate

• Mutts by Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate

• The Norm by Michael Jantze, Uclick Gocomics

• Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis, United Features Syndicate

BEST ANTHOLOGY

• Comic Book Tattoo edited by Rantz Hoseley, Image Comics

• Flight Volume 5, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, Villard

• Mome Volume 10, edited by Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books

• Piku #1, edited by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Self-Published

• Poggun Volume 2, edited by Joe Keatinge and Mark Andrew Smith, Image Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - ORIGINAL

• Bottomless Belly Button, Fantagraphics Books

• Rodrick Rules: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Essex County: The Country Nurse, Top Shelf

• Skim, Groundwood Books

• Too Cool To Be Forgotten, Top Shelf

• World of Quest Volume 2, Yen Press

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

• Amelia Rules!: Funny Stories, Renaissance Press

• M, Abrams Books

• Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• The Mice Templar Volume 1, Image Comics

• Queen and Country Volume 3, Oni Press

• em>Skyscrapers of the MidWest, Adhouse Books

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY

• ACME Novelty Library #19, Self-Published

• First Born: Aftermath #1, Top Cow

• Love and Rockets Volume 3 #1, Fantagraphics Books

• M, Abrams Books

• Nascar Heroes #5, NASCAR Comics

• Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard, First Second

• Y: The Last Man #60, Vertigo Comics

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

• Astounding Space Thills by Steve Conley, IDW

• Complete Peanuts, Fantagraphics Books

• Complete Terry and the Pirates, IDW

• Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles, IDW

• Wacky Packages, Abrams Books

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

• Gus and His Gang, First Second

• Pocket Full of Rain, Fantagraphics Books

• Red Coloured Elegy, Drawn and Quarterly

• Solanin, Viz

• Witchblade Takeru Manga #'s 11 & 12, Top Cow

BEST ON-LINE COMICS WORK

• Black Cherry Bombshells, Tony Trovarello and John Zito, www.zudacomics.com

• High Moon, www.zudacomics.com/high_moon

• Least I Could Do, Lar deSouza and Ryan Sohmer, www.leasticoulddo.com

• Night Owls, Bobby and Peter Timony www.zudacomics.com/the_night_owls

• PVP, Scott Kurtz, www.pvponline.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOUR IN COMICS

• Lar deSouza, Least I Could Do, www.leasticoulddo.com

• John Gallagher, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Al Jaffee, Tall Tales, Abrams Books

• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• David Malki, Wondermark, www.wondermark.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

• Complete Local: Hardcover Edition, Ryan Kelly and Brian Wood, Oni Press

• Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier, Abrams Books

• Queen and Country Volume 3, Greg Rucka, Mike Norton, Steve Rolston, and Chris Samnee, Oni Press

• Tall Tales, Al Jaffee, Abrams Books

• Wondermark Volume One: Beard of our Forefathers, David Malki, Dark Horse Comics

BEST NEW TALENT

• Matt Cassan, Nascar: Heroes, Nascar Comics

• Bryan J.L. Glass, The Mice Templar, Image Books

• Laura Innes, The Dreamer, IDW

• Tim Sievert, That Salty Air, Top Shelf

• Bobby Timony, Night Owls, www.zudacomics.com

Congratulations to all the nominees!

• For additional information about the Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org.

• For additional information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, visit www.comicon.com/baltimore.

Ten Questions: An Interview with Comic Creator Amy Pearson

Last year, DC Comics Zuda Comics showcased a stunning new adventure strip by hot new comics talent Amy Pearson. Now, the 22-year-old Sussex based artist has started publishing an updated, revamped edition of the strip on its own dedicated web site - www.mathemacomic.com - and downtheutbes caught up with her to ask her about the strip...

downthetubes: Briefly, tell us what Mathema is about. How would you pitch it to a comics publisher?


Amy: In Mathema, a mathematician has found a way to copy the skills of the ages - dreaming that everyone should have the gift of magic. But the discovery of Mathema forces those with Natural Born Power into the open, desperate to protect their ancient gift by whatever means necessary...

downthetubes: How did you come up with the story?

Amy: I love my fantasy stories but I'll admit I'm pretty selective about the kind of magic I 'buy-into'. Mathema is built on ideas for a magic system – making this work for me personally has taken a long time in the development. Emery appeared first and generally the rest of the story has been constructed around that.

The time period is important to the magic too. I was really influenced by the sense of discovery alongside interest in illusion as entertainment, also particularly new ideas opposing traditional religious forms.

downthetubes: Is this the first time Mathema has been published?


Amy: Mathema was first online over at Zuda. Being in the October 2008 competition. It finished second, and considering the competition I was very happy with that, but it was encouraging to see how divided some people were about the voting.  It was a great competition and experience, and a privilege to be put along side some really great creators.

Visually, the comic has changed a lot since then, I took on a lot of advice from the pros.  

downthetubes: Why have you chosen to publish on the web rather than in print?


Amy: Publishing the comic online was really the only way to go for me personally; obviously it'd be amazing to see Mathema in print one day(!) but I've never thought to try and sell it. For me it's about telling the story and sharing it with people – the web is the best way to do that.

downthetubes: What’s your background as an artist? How did you get into creating comics?

Amy: After Uni I went straight into a CG job in London as an animator.  I've always had a great interest in illustration as well and decided to try freelancing. Mathema started shortly after I made the change and most of my comic work has come from exposure during the Zuda competition. Changing to comics has been a real learning curve, but I'm really excited about Mathema being told this way.

downthetubes: Do you have any favourite creators or influences?


Amy: I can be pretty eclectic with the kinds of styles I like reading but to focus on influences for Mathema I think a couple of my favourite works are 'La Licorne' and 'Blacksad': the art in these is always an inspiration. On a purely story level it'd be wrong not to mention a personal Lovecraft influence.

downthetubes: What’s the most challenging thing about working on Mathema?


Amy: Patience! I always have remind myself to be very patient when creating any kind of art; there are so many specifics to the way comic art needs to be done this is even more the case for me and Mathema. (I also have to be patient about the story! There's so much of it I know and can't tell anyone about it yet!)

downthetubes: And what’s the best part about working on it?


Amy: Seeing my characters come to life and sharing that with other people.  I'm sure a lot of story tellers will say that they live with their ideas/characters 24/7, and this is true for me. Mathema has quite a few sides to it, I'm really looking forward to bringing these out along the way too.

downthetubes: What one valuable lesson have you learnt creating comics that you apply to your work now?

Amy: Again patience, but more specifically one of the things I've had to work on most is lettering. It was really the weakest point in the old version and a lot of problems have been solved in the re-release. Mathema is a sole project and previous feedback has really helped make the comic what it is.

downthetubes: What are your plans for the strip — and your — future? (Okay, that’s probably two questions!)

Amy: The plan for the strip is onwards and upwards! Now the comic has it's own space online I'm working on letting people know about it and settling into a regular update time, so people know when they're going to get their next instalment.  The first 'book' of Mathema is underway at the moment but eventually I hope to see the full project completed in three parts...

We'd like to thank Amy for her time answering our questions and strongly advise heading over to www.mathemacomic.com and check it out. And if you want to know more about the strip's development and news on its progress, visit Amy's blog: http://mathema-comic.blogspot.com. Mathema © 2009 Amy Pearson. All images used with permission.