Meanwhile, Three Years Ago...

Facebook reminded me today that three years ago it was blazing hot and I was sitting on Blackpool promenade roughing out the script for a Team Toxic story. 

Holidays! Clear blue skies! Working for Toxic! How times have changed in just a few years. 

I made a few revisions when I wrote the finished script and drew it so the opening scene was different to how I'd first envisioned it in my notes. Here's the published pages next to my original art...

I enjoyed working on Toxic for 16 years but those days are gone now sadly. The mag now uses U.S. reprints of Teen Titans Go and suchlike as it's cheaper than giving work to UK artists. 

As for holidays.... maybe next year. 

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COUNTDOWN for Comic Scene action!

Countdown / TV Action was my favourite comic of the early 1970s so it was a pleasure to be asked to write about it for the Comicscene History of Comics partwork. It's in the issue that spotlights the year 1971 and is available to buy along with other issues at this link:
https://getmycomics.com/ComicScene

...or in digital at this link:

https://comicscene.org/join-comic-club/

 

Monster Fun is coming!

If you've bought the wonderful Black Beth special published this week by Rebellion turn to the back cover for the first glimpse at another special coming in September. Yes, Monster Fun is coming back with a snazzy new logo and new content! Proud to have contributed to this (reviving 1960s strip Wiz War from Pow! comic with writer Kek-W) and excited to see what else will be in it! 

More news on the Monster Fun Halloween Spooktacular later this year but you can pre-order it now from your local comics speciality shop (such as Close Encounters, Page 45, or Forbidden Planet) by using the Previews Catalogue that'll be out next week. Speak to your local comic shop for details.

https://www.previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUL211880

TOM PATERSON's cover artwork!

Happy Birthday to Sonic the Hedgehog!

Apparently it's the 30th Anniversary of Sonic the Hedgehog! A character that helped pay my mortgage when I was a writer on the official Sonic the Comic during the 1990s. It was a break from my usual stuff to write action-adventure strips and I really enjoyed those years. 

Pictured here with writer Nigel Kitching, artists Richard Elson and the late Nigel Dobbyn, and in the other photo with my editor Deborah Tate. Thanks also to the comic's original editor Richard Burton for bringing me on board back then. 

Also shown is one of my scripts and a panel from a story I wrote drawn by Nigel Dobbyn. Happy 30th Sonic!

Art by Nigel Dobbyn.

Summertime Sea Devils!

Here's an advance look at a panel from my next Daft Dimension comic strip. Yes, it's the Sea Devils on holiday! You can see the full version in Doctor Who Magazine No.566 when it arrives in shops on Thursday 24th June. 

My strip is but a small part of the magazine of course. The rest of it will be packed with news, interviews, and exclusive features pertaining to the world of Doctor Who past, present, and future. 

Having launched in 1979 (when it was Doctor Who Weekly for its first 43 issues), DWM is the world's longest running magazine based on a television series. 

Website:

https://doctorwhomagazine.com/

Busy times!

I've sent off my first two strips for the 2023 annuals, with lots more ahead to do over the coming weeks. I can't show anything properly for a long time yet but there's a glimpse of a couple of Biffo the Bear strips above. 

I also have two other big commissions to draw over the coming days, then there'll be the next Sgt.Shouty to do for The77, and The Daft Dimension for Doctor Who Magazine, so it's suddenly a very busy time!

Such is the nature of freelancing. It's always a roller coaster but you just hope it'll never get stuck at the bottom. Being self-employed is always highly risky, and the effects of the pandemic really had a knock on effect, but you just hope for the best. 

If I'm not blogging much over the next few weeks you'll know why. I'll either be chained to my drawing board or, if time allows, having an hours break in the sunshine. Stay safe, and please keep following my blog for more updates whenever I can post them.

Rewriting Extinction

I'm pleased to announce that I'm one of 300 creators who have contributed to the Rewriting Extinction cause, along with scientists, activists, and experts. I've illustrated a page written by John Freeman and I'll reveal more about that soon. 

Rewriting Extinction is a campaign to raise money and awareness for 7 projects to tackle BOTH the climate and the biodiversity crisis. 

You can see which other comics people are involved by visiting this page and clicking on the 'Creators' tab:

https://www.rewritingextinction.com/contributors/?fbclid=IwAR3x3fBF_hSM3zk8iy9lk7VVPxZZzwhWzlgSlsTOn1kZ8KxWqksNGijqo6U 

To find out more, check out their website with all the info and details how to donate:

https://www.rewritingextinction.com/the-plan/

Kickstarter now live for The77 issue 6

If you want to see what Sgt.Shouty of The Moon Force gets up to next you'll be interested to hear that the Kickstarter for The77 issue 6 is now up and running. 

With over 60 pages in every issue, The77 is a lively anthology of all-new strips from talented newcomers to seasoned professionals. You can find out more about the comic (and how to pledge to support it) at this link:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/the77comic/the77-comic-issue-6 

One of the pledge options includes a chance to have an original Sgt.Shouty sketch by me. Only four are available, so be quick if you're interested in that!

...and if you missed any of the previous issues you can buy them from the GetMyComics web shop at this link:

https://getmycomics.com/The77

 

New video interview on YouTube

I enjoyed being interviewed by cartoonist / convention organiser Marc Jackson this afternoon for his Macc-Pow! channel and the full video is now on You Tube. See this link to view it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GD816Dnej1c 

Live interview! Tune into MACC-POW this Friday!

This Friday (11th June) I'll be a guest on Marc Jackson's MACC-POW! You Tube channel for a *live interview* at 1.30pm Friday afternoon. Tune in if you can at this link:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFQYOqnHF8HdYuVsa8yQl4w

 

It'll be archived after transmission so you can watch it later if you miss it live! 

 

Are you a reader of The77?

These days there's more to comics than the few you see in newsagents. If you're looking for an independent comic that features work by established professionals as well as relative newcomers, check out The77. Over 60 pages in each issue of all-new material, including my Sgt.SHOUTY page in every issue. 

 

The first five issues are available from GetMyComics at this link:

https://getmycomics.com/The77

 

Are you a reader of The77? If not, any reason why you haven't tried it yet? If you are a reader, what are your thoughts on it, and of my Sgt.Shouty series? Post your comments below!  

 

Back in action!

Image ©2021 Lew Stringer.

After a lousy 15 months I think things are moving forward again. After two doses of the vaccine and the restrictions being eased I've been able to see a small number of friends again. Work has also picked up recently and I have a busy few weeks ahead! 

I won't go into detail yet about the work I have to do as I don't want to jinx anything and I'm still waiting for a contract on one job. Some of the things you already know about (work for the 2023 Annuals) but others I'll keep quiet about for now. I still have nothing long term unfortunately apart from The Daft Dimension in Doctor Who Magazine but all the other bits and bobs should help me survive another couple of months hopefully! We could all do with publishers taking risks on new titles but Covid looms large and the market is too volatile at present.

All of us have gone through "extraordinary times" as the media keeps calling it, and we're still a long way from the end point yet! More restrictions and maybe another lockdown will be inevitable but let's hope we can all get through this. Stay safe and enjoy each day as best you can.  

Carnival time! (2002)

Click on image to see it larger.

Several years ago I showed you some of the double page spreads I drew for Know How! magazine, and now here's another. This Funny Find-It was done for Know How! No.2 back in 2002. The idea being that the reader has to find the people shown in the sidebar. 

This is the image I submitted so obviously there would be text added in the blank areas when it was published. 

If you want to see more of these illustrations they're in this old blog post at this link:

https://lewstringercomics.blogspot.com/2013/03/know-how.html

 

Troll en route

My thanks to those of you who bought a copy of Derek the Troll this week. All orders have been dispatched now so if you haven't received yours already it'll be with you soon!

UPDATE:

The 20 issues I put on eBay this week have now sold out so I've relisted it with another ten:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203483690217

 

 

DEREK THE TROLL comic available again!

Gradually restarting the self-publishing side of my business, I'm listing one of my comics for sale again. This is the second printing (2018) of Derek the Troll /Rock Solid, a 32 page comic collecting some of the earliest work I did for professional publishers. 

Contents:

All of the Derek the Troll strips that I originally did for Warlock and White Dwarf magazines that were published by Games Workshop in the mid-1980s. 

The complete five-part series of Rock Solid, Space Hero that originally appeared in Swiftsure comic published by Harrier in 1985. 

As a bonus I'm including two mini-prints featuring Derek the Troll and Combat Colin!

The comic is signed inside by me, and will be bagged and boarded, and posted in a card-backed envelope for protection.

Format is the American size, which tends to be standard for independent comics now. I only have a limited number left, and have listed them on eBay from today at a Buy It Now price of just £6 including postage and packing. Visit this link to see the listing:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203479753334  

If this proves successful I'll be selling other items in the months to come. If you don't already have this Derek the Troll comic I hope you'll be interested enough to give it a try! Thanks for your support!