Tim Bird's 'Grey Area' released by Avery Hill

Avery Hill Publishing - " a small yet perfectly formed publishing company" - has announced the publication of Grey Area Issue 1, by British writer and artist Tim Bird.

Titled While The City Sleeps, Tim's first full length comic is a paean to London and the culmination of an obsession that started when he moved to Golders Green in 2005, and is the first issue of an ongoing series featuring three vignettes exploring the metropolis at night.

Anyone familiar with Tim's work will recognise the poetic yet documentary eye and the confident lines that have garnered comparisons with the likes of Daniel Clowes, Seth and Craig Thompson, as he takes a tour above ground and below, through the then and now, and across the spectrum of stark anonymity and hazy society that coexist in our cities while some of us slumber. 

"I took the tube to places across town," he says of creating the story. "Places with familiar names, unusual names, places where friends lived, places where there were good comic book shops, or second hand record shops. Tottenham Court Road, Mudchute, Kilburn, Camden Town, Finchley.

"I wore comfortable shoes and carried my camera everywhere," he continues. "I photographed graffiti, bus stops, abandoned supermarket trolleys, tower blocks, barbed wire and construction sites. I would walk along the Regent's Canal from the Thames up to Little Italy, or along the Lea Valley from Tottenham Marshes out past the M25 into Essex - Waltham Abbey where shops close on Sundays."

Tim, who lives in South London, is a prolific web comic creator whose works include It’s A Bird’s Life, about the things that happen in his life – some important, some mundane, some funny and some serious.

"My comics take inspiration from the minutiae of city life," he says, "the stories found amid urban domesticity, the friends and family that I surround myself with."

He has also drawn comics that feature in Tiny Dancing and Reads, both published by Avery Hill Publishing, and contributed to the 69 Love Songs, Illustrated project; and a short comic to the first issue of Off Life, the UK’s first street press comics magazine.
• Grey Area Issue 1 is printed in A4 size, features 28 black and white pages with a Cairn Board cover, and is available now from the Avery Hill Publishing shop: www.bigcartel.averyhillpublishing.com

• Tim Bird's official web site is at www.timothybird.co.uk

• Avery Hill Publishing: www.averyhillpublishing.com

Issue 2 of Free Off Life 'street comic' released

Issue Two of OFF LIFE – the UK’s only free street press comic – is out this week. The magazine was being distributed in Bristol today, in London on Saturday and the digital edition was posted online at OFFLIFE.co.uk this evening.

Featuring an interview with Adrian Tomine and short comics from the likes of Oliver East, Darryl Cunningham, Dan Berry and Joe List, the editorial team think this could be a breakout issue for the comic, which aims to open comics to non-comics readers by distributing free in bars, galleries and coffee houses across Bristol and London.

"The Tomine interview discusses his history of self publishing, his beliefs of where comics fit in modern culture and how they could reach a wider audience," editor Daniel Humphry told downthetubes.


"The comics are a mix of published chaps and super talented unknowns. New advertisers on board include No Brow, comic publisher Ad House and a raft of comic shops.

"We're really happy with how Issue Two came together," Daniel adds. "Thanks to top comic creators putting their time and effort in to some fantastic stories we hope that Issue Two of OFF LIFE continues to bring comics to the masses and helps showcase the potential of this wonderful medium of ours."

• A full list of stockists is also available on the OFF LIFE web site: OFFLIFE.co.uk

 

Off Life, free indie comic zine out now

While I was away last week in the wilds of Scotland, OFF LIFE - the new, free indie comic magazine, available in print and online - got under way with a sparkling first issue crammed with some great comics. My apologies to the editorial team for not being about to give it a plug, because it's fantastic.

OFF LIFE is the UK's only street press comic magazine. Each issue featurs comic stories from today’s best indie talent, compiling them in a bi-monthly magazine and then leaving them around bars, coffee houses, shops and galleries for good people like you to pick up – free of charge.

The first issue has some fab strips - one pagers and longer strips - from talents such as Sean Azzopardi, Neill Cameron, Rob Davis and Lizz Lunney, just to name a few, along with a profile of ace creator Tom Gauld.

It's a strong start for the title that aims to put great talent in front of more people - not just comic fans - and I hope it's the success it deserves to be.

• If you're in a major city in the UK you may find a print copy lurking near you, but if not then you can view it online or download a PDF at: www.offlife.co.uk

 

 

Off Life, new Brit comic magazine, launches crowd fundng campaign

OFF LIFE, described by its creators as the UK's only street press comic magazine, is to launch this autumn - and has just launched a crowd funding campaign to back the first issue. 

Published bi-monthly, distributed free in galleries, coffee houses, bars, stores and expos in cities across the UK - and with a free world wide digital edition via www.offlife.co.uk - OFF LIFE Magazine will be full of one to five page comic stories and aims to provide a platform for up-and-coming indie talent while opening the comic medium to a whole new audience. Since the title was announce at the end of July, the editors have had over 60 submissions for consideration.

 

It's hoped the title will provide a space for the next generation of comic creators and a new model for our beloved medium to build on.

 

Editor Daniel Humphry says the magazine will feature the best new, undiscovered and underground comics artists taking aim on modern life with adult humour, slice of life storytelling and harsh realities.

In short: if it's happening out there, it'll be in here.

The team behind OFF LIFE are a team of experienced magazine editors and designers, who point out that although comic culture is at an all time high among mainstream audiences, with people watching The Walking Dead, Scott Pilgrim or Dark Knight, many will still not venture in to a comic shop to experience their first title. By bringing comics to the audience, free and literally under their noses, they hope to change this.

With Issue One due out in late September OFF LIFE has already received tremendous buzz and support. The project has been featured by us on downthetubes, Creative Review, Forbidden Planet, Comic Book Resources and many others while Guardian Cartoonist and comic book creator Tom Gauld has signed to contribute.

To date over 60 submissons have been received with many more pledged and tweets of support have come from every corner of the comic industry.

By helping fund Issue One of OFF LIFE, say the team, you will be helping create a platform for the next generation of comic creators and a new model for our beloved medium to build on.

All funding received from supporters will go directly to funding the print run and distribution of OFF LIFE Issue One. The £1000 plus target set for this Indiegogo page will fund over 3000 print copies and a free digital edition, and, should they reach target, the plan is to increase the print run accordingly.

After Issue One they plan to sustain the magazine through advertising and provisions for this have already been set in place. The magazine will always stay free to read.

No money from this donations page will be taken by the team behind the project.

"If we do not reach our entire goal then all funds will be combined with investment from the team to ensure a print run," says Daniel.

Even if you don't have spare cash to support the campaign, there are other ways you can help. For example, you could tell any comic creators you know to submit a piece.

The editorial team are inviting any and all interest in the publication. Whether you're a talent with a story, a potential stockist or an advertiser looking to target our unique market they'd love to hear from you.

Most importantly, come September please read our magazine. And if you can, enjoy it!

- Back the campaign: www.indiegogo.com/offlife

- OFF LIFE Magazine online: www.offlife.co.uk

- Follow us on Twitter @OFFLIFE_comic and spread the word!

Street press comic 'Off Life' preps for launch

OFF LIFE, described by its creators as the UK's only street press comic magazine, is to launch this autumn.

Editor Daniel Humphry says the magazine will feature the best new, undiscovered and underground comics artists taking aim on modern life with adult humour, slice of life storytelling and harsh realities.

In short: if it's happening out there, it'll be in here.

Published bi-monthly, OFF LIFE ("Comics for a lost generation") will be free to read and distributed across London and Bristol in bars, shops, galleries and comic expos.

A free online version of each issue will also be published via www.offlife.co.uk.

The editorial team are inviting any and all interest in the publication. Whether you're a talent with a story, a potential stockist or an advertiser looking to target our unique market they'd love to hear from you. Check their web site for info