This morning I posted another dozen copies of Combat Colin No.3 to people all over the UK who had ordered copies (above). Tomorrow I'll be posting the stack shown below. And a few more every day this week.
Many thanks for your orders so far. Issue 3 is doing as well as previous issues in its launch week and although orders are bound to slow down soon I'm pleased with the response.
Of course, after PayPal's taken it's cut and the taxman takes his, I don't make much out of self publishing, but it breaks even at least... AND people who have been wanting my old strips back in print get their wish, so all's well!
If you're interested in buying copies of issue 3 or previous comics, you can order them directly from me here:
http://lewstringer.com/page7.htm
The third issue of Combat Colin is now in stock and ready for you to order from my online shop! 40 packed pages (4 colour covers, 36 black and white interiors) collecting more classic Combat Colin strips that originally appeared in The Transformers in 1989 and 1990.
This time, the stories become more bizarre than ever with Colin encountering The Brain, The Gunge, becoming trapped in The Place of No Return, and journeying to Mars!
PLUS bonus back-up features!
Not available in shops! Only available exclusively from me! Back issues also available! Order it via PayPal from my online shop:
http://lewstringer.com/page7.htm
My thanks to Kev Brett and his team for a very enjoyable Nottingham Comic Con yesterday. It was my first time as a guest at that show and I really enjoyed it. There was a steady stream of visitors to my table all day so I didn't have time to take many photos. Drew plenty of sketches of a variety of characters from Korky the Cat to Vampirella, and sold a few comics too.
My table neighbours were the writer Michael Robertson and fellow cartoonist Marc Jackson. I hadn't met Michael before so it was good to make his acquaintance. As well as being an author he's also the publisher of Off-Kilter Comics which you can find here:
https://offkiltercomics.bigcartel.com
Marc Jackson is also the editor/publisher of online comic Goof! which you can find here:
https://www.goofcomic.co.uk
It was also good to meet fellow Beano artist Steve Beckett at last, and to catch up with Matt Brooker, The Etherington Brothers, Steve Tanner and his family, - all too briefly unfortunately, and many more.
I was part of a panel on working in mainstream comics, alongside top artists Marc Laming and Chris Wildgoose, interviewed by the cartoonist Brick. An interesting and refreshing interview, focusing more on what the job involves rather than talking about the characters or the industry itself.
All in all, Nottingham Comic Con was a great day, and an ideal show to end my run of conventions for this year (13 in all).
**********************
Combat Colin No.3 made its debut at the convention, and will be on my online store sometime this week.
http://lewstringer.com/page7.htm
It's always a risk to self-publish, but I've produced six comics over the past three years and they've all been steady sellers. (Well, I hope Combat Colin No.3, out tomorrow, will be the same anyway.)
They'll never make me rich, - it's just a sideline to my mainstream comics work, - but they break even and I enjoy putting them together and bringing my old characters back into print. Some people can't understand the pleasure of producing comics for limited financial gain, but that's their loss. I enjoy the creative control and people enjoy reading them, so that's my reward.
All of these comics will be available to buy at Nottingham Comic Con this Saturday, 20th October, at the Nottingham Conference Centre, Level 0. Hope to see you there!
http://www.nottinghamcomiccon.co.uk
Incidentally, in case you were puzzled because I'd previously said Brickman Returns had sold out... I found a few at the bottom of a box today, so I'll be bringing those along to Nottingham. (I'll be doing a third printing next year.)
I'll update my online shop next week so you can buy Combat Colin No.3 from there too!
http://lewstringer.com/page7.htm
To confirm what I hoped in my previous post, I will have a limited number of copies of Combat Colin No.3 on sale exclusively from my table at Nottingham Comic Con this Saturday, 20th October. (It will be available to order online next week when I've received more copies.)
Combat Colin No.3 is another 40 page issue reprinting classic Combat Colin strips that originally appeared in Marvel UK's Transformers comic. This issue covers the period from July 1989 to February 1990 when the strip hit its stride, with Colin (and his assistant Semi-Automatic Steve) encountering monsters, aliens, and new bad guys.
The comic also has a few back-up bonus features, including a look back at the comics that inspired me to create Combat Colin!
Come along to Nottingham Comic Con on Saturday to buy a copy!
http://www.nottinghamcomiccon.co.uk
It's Nottingham Comic Con this Saturday (20th October) and you'll find me there, on the lower level at table 49. (See above.) The venue is the Nottingham Conference Centre NG1 4BU.
More info at their website:
http://www.nottinghamcomiccon.co.uk
This is the first time for me at this event so I'm looking forward to it. I've heard good things about this show and it's totally dedicated to comics, so you know that everyone who attends is interested in comics, not actors or wrestlers!
This will be my final convention appearance for this year. My next one is a long way off yet, April of next year.
I'll be bringing along my comics to sell, and hopefully launching Combat Colin No.3 at the event! Another 40 page issue packed with lunacy, collecting stories from 1989 into early 1990. They're only available from me so come along and buy one! (Mail order will be available next week.)
I have strips in three titles this week. Here's a brief preview...
Team Toxic star in Game On! in Toxic No.313, on sale Wednesday 17th October, published by Egmont. (Preview above.)
That same day, Hygiene High, the stinkiest school kids on Earth, are back again in Epic No.152. Script by Niall Murray, art by me. Published by D.C. Thomson.
The following day, Thursday 18th October, sees Doctor Who Magazine No.531 hit the stands, and another Daft Dimension from me featuring more Daft Daleks! Published by Panini UK.
All titles available from newsagents and supermarkets across the UK.
Here's a brief preview of a few snippets from Combat Colin No.3, - on sale soon! More news this week.
In the meantime, if you haven't bought the first two issues yet, you can order them directly from me here:
http://lewstringer.com/page7.htm
The next issue of Toxic goes on sale Wednesday 17th October and is a bumper edition with a games theme, packaged with various extras. My Team Toxic story gets into the spirit as they're plunged into a video game dimension! See what happens in Toxic No.313 next week!
...has a page in it that I drew. The Helter-Skelter of Doom is a puzzle page featuring several Beano favourites who are always fun to draw. The issue goes on sale from tomorrow, Wednesday 10th October.
This will be my last contribution for the Beano for the foreseeable future but I hope to be invited back again some day. I'd guess they're working on the Christmas issue now so it probably won't be until next year before (if) you see any of my work in the comic again.
I'm still contributing to Toxic, Epic, Doctor Who Magazine, and Goof! though, so you'll still find my work in newsagents (or online in the case of Goof!).
First Saturday in the month means a new issue of Goof! comic is online, including all-new Derek the Troll and lots of stuff by other cartoonists. The strips are creator-owned and the idea is we'll receive an equal share of the profits... but no sales will mean no money, so we need your support!
Subscriptions are just £12 for all 12 monthly issues, and whichever number you start subscribing with you'll still have access to the back issues so you won't miss a thing!
Have you subscribed yet? If not, what are your reservations? If you have, what do you think of the comic? Post a comment below, pro or con, and let me know.
Support independent comics! https://www.goofcomic.co.uk/
Just a reminder that on Sunday 7th October I'll be one of the guests at Stoke-Con-Trent. It takes place at Staffordshire University, Stoke-On-Trent, and you'll find me alongside the other comics creators in the Science block.
Details here: http://stokecontrent.co.uk
I'll be bringing along copies of Combat Colin 1 and 2, Derek the Troll, Pedantic Stan, and Brickman Begins, - plus doing sketches on request.
Yes, it's the same day that Doctor Who returns to our screens, but the con runs from 10am to 4pm so you'll still have time to get home to switch on the TV at 6.45. (That's my plan anyway!)
Come along and join us at Stoke-Con-Trent this Sunday!
http://stokecontrent.co.uk
