Soulful Creative Bigs up Judge Dredd!

A five metre high strutting Judge Dredd pointing his ‘Lawgiver’ (gun) towards the sky, has been greeting world travellers as they approach London Heathrow Airport for the past week.

The massive 60 square metre graffiti art mural has been created as a tribute piece to the iconic British comic character to tie in with the DREDD 3D re-imagining of the comic book great on an old warehouse unit in Windsor by urban art agency, Soulful Creative, who specialise in creating large-scale artworks.

Soulful Creative founder Koze says, “We grew up with Judge Dredd and 2000AD and we wanted to pay homage to one of Britain's greatest science fiction comic characters, the wonderful stories and artwork that inspired so many over the years.”

The huge mural took two artists only one day to complete, using a mix of emulsion and spray paint to cover the whole side of the warehouse unit directly under the flight path. The dynamic piece has been designed to look like a spread from a comic book and depicts Judge Dredd aiming he's lawgiver into the air with his famous catch phrase ‘I AM THE LAW’ painted in bright orange and red colours in perspective next to him.

Soulful Creative is an urban art creative agency who specialise in creating unique and inspirational visual communications, through live art, murals, public art, events and installations. They pride themselves on delivering innovative and inspirational work by assembling the best creative team for each project they work on, comprised of the UK’s leading graffiti artists, street artists, illustrators and contemporary artists.

Soulful Creative have also made a dynamic film of the creation of the mural.


Judge, Jury & Executioner! from Soulful Creative on Vimeo
• More info: www.soulfulcreative.co.uk

DREDD is Number One!

DREDD 3D has stormed its way to the top of the UK film charts, taking over a million pounds on its opening weekend and trouncing competition that includes the new Total Recall remake - the first 18 certificate film to be Number One since 2010.

Released on Friday and getting some hugely positive reviews from both comics, SF and general media, Karl Urban’s Judge Dredd and Olivia Thirlby’s Judge Anderson take on Lena Headey’s murderous gangleader in this Alex Garland-scripted gorefest that truly earns its 18 certificate.

The day-in-the-life styled film, written by Garland (28 Days Later) and produced by DNA’s Allon Reich and Andrew Macdonald was shot in 3D with stunning slow motion photography.

In the future, America is an irradiated wasteland. On its East Coast, running from Boston to Washington DC (as in the 2000AD strip that inspired it) lies Mega City One: a vast, violent metropolis of over 400 million citizens living in perpetual fear. The only ones attempting to impose order in the urban chaos are The Judges. Law enforcers, juries, judges and executioners rolled into one.

The epitome of these Judges is Dredd, given a mission to road test a rookie Judge, the powerful psychic Cassandra Anderson. The Judges head for a seemingly routine homicide in the notorious Peach Trees mega-block - a 200 story vertical slum run by the pitiless Ma-Ma clan. But when the Judges attempt to arrest one of Ma-Ma’s chief henchmen, Ma-Ma shuts down the entire building and orders her clan to hunt the judges down, and they are caught in a vicious and relentless fight for survival...

- 2000AD Official Web Site: http://2000adonline.com

 

Dez Skinn and Chris J Thompson head to Malta Con

Writer, editor and publisher Dez Skinn - perhaps best known to comic fans for creating Warrior and Comics International and now working on a new international comic magazine - and Pop Culture King Journalist Chris J Thompson, who join the guest line up for Malta Comic Con 2012, which already includes ace artist Mike Carey.

With 42 years of experience in the comic industry and more awards and honours than one dares mention Dez Skinn influence on and contributions to the British comic landscape is immense, rivalled only by a few.

Referred to as the British "Stan Lee" by many, Dez's credits include work for IPC on titles such as Buster and Cor!, running Marvel UK and launching such titles as Doctor Who Weekly, Starburst and Hammer's House of Horror, 16 years editing trade magazine Comics International, creating Warrior comics magazine and founding Quality Communications a vehicle responsible of launching properties such as V for Vendetta he created in 1982 and still steers to date.

Dez is also the author of two books; Comix: The Underground Revolution and Comic Art Now, and is currently providing consultancy services to outside publishers, putting together the pilot issue for a new international comics magazine and co-writing a new feature film.

Chris J. Thompson is an internationally recognised comics retailer, journalist, podcaster and speaker who has attended and spoken at conventions across three continents including San Diego Comic Con where he has a yearly panel.

You can hear him on The Orbiting Pod and Pop Culture Hound podcasts; see his work at First Comic News, Bleeding Cool and various other sites and follow him via Twitter @popculturehound.

"Chris Thompson has been an avid supporter and permanent fixture in the MCC since 2010," says Chris Le Galle co-founder of Wicked Comics.

"During MCC 2011 Chris and fellow journalist Taylor Lilley virtually led all the talks, discussion panels and Q&A sessions, a role they will be reprising this year. Through the various mediums he works in Chris, is constantly assisting Wicked Comics and promoting the Malta Comic Con. With each visit to MCC Chris returns with a new stock of Maltese comic books to sell in England.

"On top of all this Chris always works closely with us, gives us sound advice and not only helps us secure some of the most esteemed guests but also helps us co-ordinate some of the most sought after activities during the convention.

"Throughout the years Chris has been an invaluable source of help, an inspiration in challenging times, an ambassador of both the MCC and Malta at large, and a great friend. This year we decided to invite him as a guest as a small token of appreciation for all his sterling work.

"Simply put, with out him the Malta Comic Con would not be the commendable and successful convention it is today."

• Malta Con 2012 is on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th December 2012 at St. James Cavalier (all floors), Valletta, Malta, between 10am and 6pm on both days. Web: www.maltacomic-con.com

SciFi Postcard Book to be released in January 2013

Just through my door this weekend: an advance copy of the Sci-Fi Art Now postcard book ILEX asked me to compile earlier this year, which features illustrations by a number of British comic artists, including Rian Hughes, Smuzz and Dave Taylor.

With a cover by Patrick J. Jones, it features some art used in the Sci-Fi Art Now book and other illustrations - 30 gorgeous SF-inspired postcards in total.

The artists featured are: Larry Blamire, Matt Gaser, Rian Hughes, Stuart Jennett, Paul McCaffrey, Aaron Jasinski, Patrick J. Jones, Michael Kaluta & Lee Moyer, Tom Kelly, Yigit Koroglu, John Malcolm, Sergey Musin, Nemons, 2012 Hugo and Chelsey Award-winning John Picacio, Neil Roberts, Steve Sampson, Smuzz (who I'm working with on the Crucible comic), John Sullivan, Dave Taylor and Oliver Wetter.

My thanks to them all for being part of this spin-off, which is set to be published in January and looks absolutely fantastic! Thanks also to editor Tim Pilcher and the ILEX team for creating another great book.

The collection is one of a series of Postcard books published by ILEX, which have been well received and sold very well in the UK. They include:  

• Army Camp! 30 Postcards That Do Ask and Do Tell! - A riotous introduction to the unintentionally homoerotic side of military life. Classic images date from between 1914 to 1946, when armies everywhere were crying out for fit, toned men to join up, bond together and make the world a better place.  

• Fantasy Art - Includes art by Robert Chang, Matt Dixon, Raymond Swanland and Matt Gaser featuring modern twists on traditional themes such as dragons, orcs, fairies and adventurers.  

• Lovelorn - 30 of the very best in cult romance comics of the 1950s. From Brides in Love and Romantic Hearts to G.I. Sweethearts and Romantic Adventures there are dozens of romantically quirky postcards ready for you to send to your beloved!  

• Tales of Terror - 30 of the scariest, most bizarre and downright strange horror comics covers. These pre-code horror comics make an ideal gift and are perfect to send chills in the post, or to simply keep and laugh at the uncanny covers. Each cult postcard includes the title, artist, publisher and publication date on the back.  

• Tattoos: 30 Postcards to Colour and Send - A fun, interactive postcard set includes 30 of the coolest designs by top manga artist and tattooist, Jian Yi. All the designs are clear line drawings of everything from fairies and flowers to dragons and tigers, and are easy to complete and colour, before wowing friends and family with a piece of original art through the post.  

• Vampires: 30 Postcards - Artists from different backgrounds and cultures share their versions of the vampire in their chosen medium. Each postcard includes the titles, artist, publisher and publication date on the back.  

• More about Sci-Fi Art Now on its dedicated blog here