Lew Stringer Comics

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Next stop: Macclesfield!

Next stop on the convention circuit this year will be Macc-Pow! this Saturday, 23rd June at Macclesfield Town Hall. This one's a bit special because the event will be launching Goof!, a brand new online anthology comic, and many of the contributors will be in attendance.

Goof! will include the return of my Derek the Troll character in an all-new series, so jump on board when issue No.0 becomes available this weekend.

Goof! is published by Marc Jackson, and here's what he had to say about the launch...

"This weekend sees the launch of GOOF! issue zero, it’s like issue one, but it comes just before it! Like a bonus issue! More comics, fantastic! Featuring a feast of funnies created by an international line-up of cartoonists, all coming together to create something unique. At just £12 for 12 30 page issues, you’d be crazy to not sign-up and if you sign-up in person at MACC-POW! this Saturday www.maccpow.co.uk then you get it for just £10!! Holy WOW! Only a GOOF! could come up with that idea! Don’t miss out, make yours GOOF! This Saturday!"

https://www.goofcomic.co.uk

Macc-Pow! will also see David Leach and myself being interviewed by Jessica Kemp on our careers in comics, so that'll be a laugh... hopefully!

You can read more about Goof!, and see some preview images, on my Blimey! blog here:
https://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2018/06/goof-brand-new-comic-out-this-saturday.html

Monday, 18 June 2018

35 Years in Comics

This month marks 35 years since I had my first work published in a professional comic. The title was Marvel UK's The Daredevils and the job was a pocket cartoon entitled What If Iron Man Really Lived up to his Name?

Looking at it now, the style is crude and the gag very lame, but seeing it in print back in 1983 gave me a huge boost to my self esteem. At the time I was on the dole, having quit a dead-end office job, and had been trying to break into comics for a couple of years with no luck. (In retrospect it's understandable I made no initial headway because my work simply wasn't professional standard then.)

I'd been producing several fanzines and small press comics in order to gain experience and feedback, and Alan Moore (whom I knew from the Westminster Comic Marts and inevitable pub-meets) suggested I try Marvel UK with some ideas. He introduced me to Marvel editor Bernie Jaye in February 1983 and she asked me to submit some work. I soon came up with a variation on Marvel's "What If...?" series, sent in a bunch of cartoons, and at the April Westminster Comic Mart Bernie told me she'd be running them in The Daredevils from issue 7, published in June 1983. I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day!

The rate was very low; £5 a cartoon. Not enough to enable me to get off the dole at that point (and yes, I did declare it) but what it gave me was far more important, - the encouragement to carry on. Prior to that, I'd been on the verge of giving up my ambitions to be a cartoonist, but the euphoria of seeing my work in print gave me the confidence and incentive I needed. It's true what they say; once you've been published it gives other editors the assurance that you can do the job. After that, more work swiftly followed and I went full time self-employed in February 1984. I've been fortunate to work for many publications over the years; Oink!, Beano, Dandy, Sonic the Comic, Viz, Buster, Toxic, Doctor Who Magazine and many more. All thanks to Alan Moore and Bernie Jaye for having faith in me back in 1983.

Most importantly, I'd also like to thank all of you who have supported my work over the years, and I hope you continue to enjoy what I produce.

Sunday, 17 June 2018

Angry Eggo!

Who's annoyed Big Eggo? Find out in the Beano No.3940, on sale Wednesday 20th June!

Friday, 15 June 2018

Batteries recharged!

When you're self-employed it's very easy to forget to take a break. It's often difficult to find time anyway, when deadlines shift around, or something new crops up, and that week you thought was free suddenly isn't. Fortunately, this week I did manage to get away for a few days.

One big advantage of being single and freelance is that when the opportunity for a break does come up, I've only myself to schedule for. A last-minute decision, I set off to Blackpool early on Monday morning and stayed there until Wednesday evening. The resort is well past its 20th Century heyday and looking shabby in places now, but I still have an affection for the town and being on the coast, watching the waves crash against the shore, is always worth seeing.

On Thursday I went down to London to see Jessica Martin starring in Shirleymander at the Playground Theatre. I've known Jessica as a friend for a few years now in her capacity as a comics creator, and knew her television work of course, but this was the first time I'd seen her perform live in a play. It's the story of the rise and fall of Shirley Porter and the gerrymandering scandal of the 1990s. Jessica and the cast were superb in this well-structured play and it was poignant to see it on the anniversary of the Grenfell tower disaster, which is relevant to the story. The theatre itself is only a few streets away from Grenfell, and there was a silent march yesterday, so the play felt very relevant indeed, and very moving. The final performances are tonight and tomorrow afternoon, so catch it if you can!
https://theplaygroundtheatre.london

Check out Jessica Martin's website:
https://jessicamartinofficial.com

Anyway, that's enough gadding about for me this week. I'm back to work today, having just written a Team Toxic script for Toxic No.309, and now colouring Derek the Troll for Goof! No.1. This weekend I'll be drawing Team Toxic and Big Eggo, and scripting the final Big Eggo story. More info on those soon.

Sunday, 10 June 2018

This week's funny business...

I have a few strips being published on Wednesday 13th June, so here's a quick preview of all of them.

First up, Team Toxic encounter a new foe when Skegpool beach is endangered! See Toxic No.307!

That same day, Beano No.3939 will also be out, and Terry Tuff has a new plan to capture Big Eggo! It's doomed to failure!

Also out on Wednesday, Epic No.147 sees the stinky kids of Hygiene High get back to nature. Nature isn't happy about it! Script by Niall Murray, art by me.

...and still in the shops from two weeks ago (unless they'e sold out already) is Doctor Who Magazine No.526 featuring a new Daft Dimension strip of mine.

That's Toxic, Beano, Epic, and Doctor Who Magazine. All of these titles are available from newsagents and supermarkets across the UK!

A good day in Wythenshawe!

The Wythenshawe Comic Con was very enjoyable yesterday. Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table for a comic or sketch. You can read more about it, and see more photos, over on my Blimey! blog here:
https://lewstringer.blogspot.com/2018/06/photos-from-wythenshawe-comic-con.html

Saturday, 9 June 2018

Conventions to come...

I'm at Wythenshawe Comic Con today, so come and join us! After that, my next one will be Macc-Pow! on June 23rd, and several others afterwards at various locations around the UK. Here's the list...

WYTHENSHAWE COMIC CON,

South Manchester

9th June 2018

https://www.facebook.com/wythenshawecomiccon/

MACC-POW! No.3

Saturday 23rd June 2018

Macclesfield.

http://maccpow.co.uk

LONDON FILM AND COMIC CON

27th - 29th July 2018

Olympia, London

https://www.londonfilmandcomiccon.com