Drawing the future

One of the curious things about working in the comics industry is how far we have to work in advance. Believe it or not there are some who still think a strip is drawn shortly before publication. That's true for political cartoons in newspapers of course, which I believe are drawn the day before publication to keep them topical. In comics we have quite a bit more leeway than that.  

I'm currently drawing pages for The Dandy Annual 2017, which won't go on sale until July 2016. Most people won't even see it until Christmas Day 2016. I wish I could show you a preview but it's far too early for that. I'm afraid you'll have to wait until next summer. (Publishers aren't keen on images being released too far in advance in case rivals imitate them ahead of publication. It's quite understandable I suppose.)

I can tell you the strip I'm drawing includes snow, and references Christmas. I always like to put one winter story in the annuals if I can, knowing that many kids will be reading it at Christmas. 

I'm also working on a seasonal Daft Dimension strip for the Christmas issue of Doctor Who Magazine. That won't be out until December. There'll be an issue before that, out next week. I'll show a preview of that strip over the next few days. 

Then there's the New Year Team Toxic story to do, and a set of drawings for something else. It's a busy month! 

Thinking about it, I've just waffled on and told you virtually nothing. Sorry. Back to the drawing board...

Brickman Reviewed

Copyright © Lew Stringer 2015

There's some great reviews of Brickman Returns! appearing on the 'net. Here's a few:

"So what’s the appeal of Brickman? Well, quite apart from the nutty concept, Lew – whose pro credits include Doctor Who Magazine, Aces Weekly, VIZ and TOXIC – delivers some great art on the strip as Brickman hurtles blindly from one (often self-inflicted) crisis to another, utilising his considerable skills both as a humorist and comics aficianado to subvert and satirise superheroes and their ilk." - John Freeman, Down the Tubes:

http://downthetubes.net/?p=26758

"There are plenty of genuine laugh-out-loud moments in what is a truly nutty comic" - Phil Boyce, The Oink! Blog:

http://the-oink-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/brickman-returns-as-does-lew-stringer.html

"If these two publications don't have you laughing out loud multiple times you must be a DC lawyer or something." - John A. Short, Kult Creations:

http://kultcreations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/brickman-review.html


"A very funny comic book of Brickman strips is available now, right up your street if you know your Marvel Comics of the 60s, or The Cloak, or Combat Colin, and especially of course, Batman! Created by comics stalwart Lew Stringer, Brickman Returns is the usual crazy, hilarious and satirically knowing superhero antics, but funnier, crazier and wilder than ever- and all in colour too!" - Nigel Parkinson, Beano artist.
http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/dropped-brick-man.html

My thanks to everyone so far who has taken the time to review it. If you still haven't bought a copy (or the preceding title, Brickman Begins!) you can buy signed editions directly from me via Pay Pal by going to my online shop:

http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm 

Support Indie Comics!

My self-published Brickman Returns! comic has been selling well since its September launch but a few more sales wouldn't go amiss. Here's a few details about it, which also answer some questions I've been asked...

Isn't it the same material as in previous Brickman comics? 
No. Brickman Returns collects the 20 stories that appeared in Image Comics' Elephantmen in the USA between 2006 and 2009 but this is the first time they've appeared in a British comic. And they're all in full colour!

What else is in it?
There's a complete classic Combat Colin story from 1989 where Colin and Semi-Automatic Steve encounter their greatest nemesis, The Brain, for the first time.

Daft-tastic! Anything else?
You bet! There's also three pages of early Suburban Satanists strips, which were previously published in Norway in 1997 but now printed in English.

Gotta have it! Can I buy it in newsagents? 
Nope. Brickman Returns is an independent comic with a smallish print run and is only available directly from me by Pay Pal (see below), or from Nostalgia and Comics (14 - 16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EN). I also have copies for sale on my stand at any conventions I attend. Fellow cartoonist Nigel Parkinson is also selling them at events he goes to that I'm not at, so there's a few opportunities for you to buy it.

When will issue 2 be out?
It won't. Brickman Returns is a one-off. Well, it's a sequel to the 2005 book Brickman Begins (also available from me) but it's self-contained and can be read on its own. However if you buy both you'll have the complete Brickman saga. 

How come it's more expensive than The Beano or 2000AD? 
The unit cost per comic is higher for small print runs than it is for big runs of tens of thousands of copies that mainstream comics have. Don't worry. You're not being ripped off. 

Doesn't this sound like you're talking to yourself?
I suppose so, but some of the above were genuine questions I've been asked.

Well this one isn't is it?
Not this one, no, but you're just being pedantic now.

No I'm not!
Yes you are. 

Not! Not! Not!
Look, can I just give the details of where people can order the comic from?

It's your blog. You can do what you like. I don't care. 
Thank you. If you want a copy of Brickman Returns (and / or Brickman Begins) you'll find the ordering details on my online shop here:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

I've already got them. I'm you, remember?
Sheesh.

Support British comics!

Christmas is coming

I sent off my pages for the Christmas Team Toxic story in the early hours of this morning. I'll show more nearer to when it's published in Toxic No.264 on December 2nd but for now here's a close up of part of a panel.  

Satanist Scares

I was at the MCM London Comic Con on Saturday (read my review on my other blog by clicking here) and I was very pleased to see that Time Bomb Comics had launched their new 92 page book, Bomb Scares 2015. Not only is it a packed anthology of all-new horror comic stories by some great talent, it also features three pages of The Suburban Satanists by me. This is a different set of strips to those that appear in my new Brickman Returns comic, and these strips won't be appearing in next year's Suburban Satanists comic either, so to see them treat yourself to Bomb Scares! Here's the link for more info:
http://timebombcomics.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/bomb-scares.html   

Cover by Richard Elson and Dave Kendall.

See you this Saturday?

I know this is late notice but I'll be at the MCM London Comic Con this Saturday, 24th October, at the Excell, London. You'll find me either at the Doctor Who Magazine table or the Panini/Marvel tables, so drop by for a chat and a sketch. I'll also have copies of Brickman Returns on me so if you haven't bought one yet, now's your chance. 

I'll only be there on the Saturday, but the event runs across the whole weekend. Here's the official website:
http://www.mcmcomiccon.com/london/

Comic horrors!

There's a new issue of Toxic out tomorrow (21st October) and my Team Toxic strip has a suitably spooky theme. The Team investigate a haunted house and encounter one of their oldest foes; Frankendrac! 

It's been a long time since I've used Frankendrac as a villain in the strip so I'm sure some readers will be seeing him for the first time. Dare you enter the Haunted House of Horrible Horrors in Toxic No.262 this week? On sale Wednesday 21st October from newsagents and supermarkets.

Like most children's comics these days, Toxic comes bagged with gifts. In this case, a slingshot, stickers, and sweets. Here's the bag to look out for...