downthetubes.net News Archive: June 2007

MAKE THE MOST OF SOUTH AFRICAN SEMIOTICS
12/6/07: From the darkest corners of South African, where terrible danger breeds the kind of comic auteur who fights with knives all day, jumps from moving trains all night, then somehow finds time to make awesome experimental comics at some point in the early morning comes Semiotic Cohesion #2, seen lurking at the Bristol Comics Festival but which somehow avoided closer inspection from downthetubes... until now.
The comic comprises thirteen little self-contained stories from nine artists, the subject matter ranging from the bureaucracy of reincarnation to a lonely man and his breakfast cereal to the very stuff of Love itself. "The artists come from wildly different backgrounds," says Terome McNally. "The disciplines of animation, ceramics, textile design, photography and more are all on display here for the good public's immediate delight."
• Comprising 44 pages, including cover in a new UK Format (160mm X 245mm) Semiotic Confusion #2 is available for £3.50 from www.semioticcohesion.com.
E-mail enquiries to terome@bastard.co.za. He'll know what to do.

FREQUENT FLYERS REALLY FLIES
11/6/07: Brighton-based Underfire Comics recently published two stunning new books -- Frequent Flyers (decribed by creator Dan Cox as "rip roaring super pop madness") and True Romance Comix Presents - 6 Stories of Heartbroken Tomorrows ("dystopian nightmares").
Both titles are worth tracking down - Dan told downthetubes The Winter Fountain, which features in True Romance Comix, has just been accepted for publication in Judge Dredd: The Megazine, while Frequent Flyers is a real gem of a comic, crammed with fun, fast moving, well-written stories. I could go on but let's just some it up with one word: fantastic. Buy it! We reckon Dan Cox is a talent to keep an eye on, and if plagues of monkey tatooists, alien drugs and supervillan artists a go go don't intrigue, then you're beyond hope! A world of mind-bending fun awaits you for just £2.85 for each book, or £5 for both titles.
• Previews at www.comicspace.com/danielcox

GRANT MORRISON: THE EARLY YEARS
10/6//07: Grant Morrison was one of several creators who redefined comics in the late 1980s and early 1990s, from his trailblazing creation of Zenith for 2000AD, through his metatextual innovations on DC Comics Animal Man, to his Dadaist super-heroics in Doom Patrol. Along the way, he explored the Batman mythos with his multilayered masterpiece Arkham Asylum and the literary Gothic storyline.
Sequart.org has just published Grant Morrison: The Early Years, exploring the unifying themes of Morrison's early work, providing a close analysis of stylistic and structural techniques.
"Morrison is arguably the greatest comic book writer in history," feels the book's author, Timothy Callahan, "and this book attempts to explain why."
Grant Morrison: The Early Years examines five of Morrison's works in detail. Using plain language, Callahan opens up Morrison's sometimes difficult texts and expands the reader's appreciation of their significance, creating a study accessible to both Grant Morrison aficionados and those new to his work. An extended interview with Morrison on his early career rounds out the volume.
"The book has already garnered considerable attention online and at February's New York Comic-Con," says publisher Julian Darius. "Author Timothy Callahan has been repeatedly praised in reviews of the book," Darius reveals, "and cover artist Kevin Colden has been in the news lately for receiving -- and declining -- a Xeric grant." Sequart Editor-in-Chief Mike Phillips is pleased with the final product as well. "From cover to cover," says Phillips, "this book is an eye-opener. It really helps you appreciate the little things in Grant's work that you may have missed the first ten times through!"
The book is the first in the new line of books from the Sequart Research & Literacy Organization, a non-profit devoted to the study and promotion of comic books as a legitimate art.
• For more information about Grant Morrison: The Early Years and information about ordering, visit www.sequart.org/books
• Buy it from amazon.com • Buy it from amazon.co.uk

FRANK HAMPSON TRIBUTE PRINT RELEASED
9/6/07: Top British illustrator Andrew Skilleter has released a personal homage to Dan Dare creator Frank Hampson, available for the first time as a Limited Edition Archival Art Print.
Titled Homage by Andrew Skilleter : Dedicated to the Genius of Frank Hampson, this lifetime print is published privately by, and only available from, the artist in an edition of only 200 Prints.
The traditionally painted artwork has been meticulously researched and represents weeks of detailed and dedicated work, with Andrew attempting to capture the classic feel of the strip using similar techniques and board acrylics but without the use of black line. Peter Hampson, Frank’s son, has been consulted and raised no objections its publication.
Andrew Skilleter is internationally known for his classic Doctor Who work, but his Dan Dare connections are numerous. He published the Astral Dan Dare magazine in the 1960s, the genesis of the long line of fan magazines that lead to Eagle Times and Spaceship Away and through his Who Dares publishing company he published and selected the visual content of Hampson’s biography, The Man Who Drew Tomorrow. He also worked with Keith Watson on two Eagle Dan Dare stories and more recently he has provided illustrations for Spaceship Away.
The painting is reproduced in seven colours using the latest Ultra Chrome light fast, archival ink technology with a life span of up to 75 years, on 255gsm matt art paper and measures 297 x 420 mm. Each titled print is approved, numbered and signed by the artist and comes with a certificate of authenticity, also signed & numbered. Each print is also wrapped in acid free tissue paper, poly bagged and mailed flat in protective packaging and is priced at £40.00 + £5.00 P & P. Overseas + £10.00
• To buy a copy of the print, online payment via PayPal should be made via artcols@freeuk.com or by cheque payable to Andrew Skilleter by post to Middle Copse, Wareham, BH20 7PB
• A new web site www.andrewskilleter.com will be on line soon. Andrew’s special Cybermen Portfolio can be viewed on: www.richardwho.com/andrewskilleter

BROKEN VOICE LAUNCHES HUNTED ON WEB -- AND WAP
9/6/07: Broken Voice Comics has begun serialisation of the first issue of Hunted, a four-part vampire-themed mini-series, as a web comic and mobile download.
Written by BVC's David A J Berner and illustrated by UK animation artist Kyriacos Kyprianou, Hunted is set in a fictional Balkan country where the existence of vampires is not only fully recognized by the state but, provided they stay within their own designated communities, vampires are officially tolerated.
This unusual setting is home to Elena (affectionately known as Leni). “Leni is a young girl who ignores her mother’s advice and ventures out into the woodlands that separate a human town from a nearby vampire village, explains Berner. "As the title suggests, finding her way back home again isn’t going to be so easy and she’ll be encountering some very interesting characters along the way – some of them human, some of them altogether more demonic!"
Kyriacos’ stylish and atmospheric artwork perfectly complements the story’s unusual setting. At times it hints at influences from Japanese manga but, fittingly enough, the over-riding feel of the comic is more akin to that of eastern European animation.
Hunted is the first BVC title to have a simultaneous launch both at the Broken Voice Comics website (www.brokenvoice.co.uk) and, in a specially adapted version, as a download for mobile phones available from ROK Comics (www.rokcomics.com).

CRIKEY! IT'S A MAGAZINE ABOUT BRITISH COMICS...
8/6/07: It had to happen. Growing interest in British comics has finally resulted in a new, independently produced magazine that rolls back the good times.
If you loved comics from 1955-1975 then the publishers of Crikey! reckon it's the magazine for you. Nostalgic and intelligent, irreverent and extravagant, the first 52-page issue dedicated to the very best of British comics, from scary top girls title Misty to classic cartoonist Ken Reid and Wham, and artist Frank Bellamy.
The magazine is the brain child of Brian Clarke, formerly managing editor at London Editions and co-owner of Newsstand Services (which later became Just Comics and Toontastic) and is set to become one of the best selling fanzines ever.
"There's so much interest in British comics now," says Brian. "I've noticed that people of a certain age seemed to have tired of traditional super hero American comics and they are going back to the wacky stories that they remember from their childhood.
"Our first issue celebrates all that was best with British Comics dropping in on Beano, Century TV21, Misty, Dandy, Jackie, Wham, Smash, Valiant and so many more superb memories of when comics were exciting and fun."
Reaction to Crikey! has been amazing, says Brian and he's already looking at a second print run for Issue One.
"There has always been a terrific sense of how important comics are throughout Manchester," says Brian, where the first issue of Crikey! has already been on sale, "and the reaction has been exactly as I would have expected.
"These are great comics – this is nostalgia for an age that the magazine brings back home. So slip off your shoes, put up your feet and go back to a time when the comics were King."
• Individual issues are available at £3.99 postage free or by subscription – four issues for £15.96. Orders to Brian Clarke, 4 Hillsborough Drive, Unsworth, Bury BL9 8LE
• Web site: www.crikeyuk.co.uk

THE FLYING FRIAR RETURNS THIS OCTOBER - IN COLOUR!
8/6/07: Markosia is to republish the critically acclaimed Flying Friar by Rich Johnston took this as a springboard for a graphic novella with German artist Thomas Nachlik in October - in colour...

It was a simple idea. What if a story about a miraculous Saint could be told using the pop cultural relevance of the superhero?
St Joseph of Copertino fitted the bill. Born in a rural society in 16th century Italy, he discovered that when he prayed - he could fly, see microscopically and exhibit feats of great strength. Dubbed the Flying Friar, he was sainted a century later, and his story lives on through the town of Copertino, in which he grew up.
So when London advertising copywriter Rich Johnston took this as a springboard for a graphic novella with German artist Thomas Nachlik, he looked to the popular TV hit Smallville to provide him with the notes he had to play. A childhood friend and great nephew of Martin Luther, Lux Luther, becomes Joseph's foil. And in a world of inquisitions and torturing of Galileo, the battle between religion and science takes on a very different tone to the one we know today.
Published in black and white in a small print run by Speakeasy Publishing in early 2006, The Flying Friar nevertheless saw worldwide media coverage from The Guardian, The Times and the Catholic Herald to Variety and Aint It Cool News. There were even commnets from blogs such as The Waffling Anglican suggesting a Holineness League of Christendom). This led to an instant sell out and an invitation for the author and his family to visit Copertino by the town's mayor.
But with the original publisher now closed, remaining copies sell for many times the books cover price online. Leading British publisher Markosia spotted an opportunity, and decided that it was time to step in.
"I was a massive fan of The Flying Friar in black and white," Harry Markos, Managing Partner and Publisher of Markosia explained. "It was a shame that so many people missed out on this book due to the lack of available copies, and true fans shouldn't have to pay exorbitant fees for such a title.
"We spoke with Rich about perhaps bringing it out again, this time with extras, some back matter to the story itself, as well as a 'what happened' for Rich when he went over there. And of course, this would provide the opportunity to provide some colour to the pages."
With Rich agreeing to re-print The Flying Friar under the Markosia banner, Harry Markos and his Markosia team went to work on the pages, enabling the book to be republished in full colour for October 2007. In addition to the colour, the new volume will feature a large variety of DVD-style extras, including unseen artwork, a photo journal of Copertino and original script.
So why return to the book? "The Flying Friar is a book juxtaposing the ideas and iconography behind Smallville and Superman and the real life story of a 17th century monk from Copertino in Italy," explains Rich Johnston, "A monk who could levitate and perform all sorts of wondrous acts, via the grace of God. So, while I saw it as having an appeal for the direct market, I always had my eye on an wider audience.
"The collapse of Speakeasy prevented me from accessing that audience, but Markosia has plans to directly tap into it. They have links with a Christian bookstore distributor in the USA who is very interested in this project."
There have been a number of attempts at Christian comic book fiction, but few have had lasting impact or indeed critical reaction. But Johnston believes The Flying Friar is different.
"Much is to do with the fact that The Flying Friar doesn't accept doctrine, it's very questioning and very political. It takes the current public battle between religion and science and transposes it to a time when to even question religion could find you tortured. This comic steps from the pages of the Bible to the pages of The God Delusion and back again repeatedly – as well as having a third foot in Smallville."
"The Times ran a large feature and the Catholic Times made it a front page feature. As a result, The Flying Friar sold out almost immediately . There was one store I persuaded to stock fifty copies of in advance, promising I'd buy back any unsold copies, and they sold out in less than a week. But Speakeasy's demise meant the book never got a second printing and it currently sells online for three times its original cover price. But I first got an inkling as to how big the book could be, when I was invited out by the mayor of Copertino to see the town and take part in a celebration of The Flying Friar. I spent four days in the town with my wife, being treated like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. We were on the local radio, television and newspapers and everywhere we went people took our photos and no one would let us pay for food or drink. It was quite remarkable."
With the new colour printing from Markosia, maybe Johnston will be invited back rather soon.
• More about The Flying Friar on Rich Johnston's web site
• www.markosia.com
• The Field Guide to Flying Saints

ARTPEEPS LAUNCHES
8/6/07: Over the past four years Hi8us Midlands has been working with and supporting some of the freshest illustrative talent in the West Midlands, and has now decided it was about time that they created somewhere for them to show off their work.
The result is www.artpeeps.co.uk and if you are interested in including some of your work on the site or would like to know more about the artists or work that Hi8us Midlands is involved in please contact Jemima or Sarah on 0121 753 7700 or jemima@hi8us.co.uk

ANTHONY JOHNSTON INTERVIEWED
8/6/07: Indie Comics News recently interviewed British comics creator Anthony Johnston, writer of the sci-fi epic Wasteland for Oni Press and the all-ages fantasy Western Texas Strangers for Image Comics, for their podcast. "It was ostensibly about Wasteland," says Andy in a recent ComicSpace bulletin, "but we ended up talking about pretty much everything, right from my childhood ambitions, through the hows, whats and whens of my first writing gigs, and finally on to the present day.
"It's very in-depth, enormously geeky, and therefore brilliant."
• You can download MP3 from here

SEAN PHILLIPS CONFIRMED FOR BICS 2007
8/6/07: The "Criminal" and "Marvel Zombies" artist Sean Phillips has now confirmed for the Birmingham International Comic Show 2007. Sean really is at the top of his game right now... producing some of the best comics on the market today. His storytelling and page design skills are distinctive, in an industry that so often relies on gimmicks and trends it's great to see an artist displaying so much talent and abilty on every page.
• Check out his bog at: surebeatsworking.blogspot.com