It's not a number... it's a stand-alone special

Today in 1967 the cult TV series The Prisoner made it's debut on our screens. (The same day as Captain Scarlet! What a day!) So I can't resist the chance to plug my Fanzine Funnies comic again, - a 32 page A5 landscape comic that collects all the strips I did in the 1990s satirising Prisoner fandom and also revealing the fate of Rover ("that big white balloon" as the public call it). 

 

Limited in quantity, and only available from my online shop, you can order it from the following link and I'll post it out to you, signed on the inside...

https://ko-fi.com/s/aca35fd9c0

It's Art Auction time again! COMBAT COLIN! TOM THUG! and DOCTOR WHO!

I've just listed some of my original artwork on eBay that I hope will interest some of you. Here's what's up for auction until Sunday 28th September...

The cover artwork for Combat Colin No.5, - and as a bonus I'm adding the actual printed comic as well.

 

A Tom Thug page from Buster dated June 13th 1992. Artwork that's over 30 years old and still clean and fresh. In this story, Tom grows a pony tail! The Nineties, eh? What were they like?

...and two Daft Dimension strips from Doctor Who Magazine Nos. 614 and 619 respectively. 

 

Want to find out more and see close up photos of each piece? Check out my listings at this link and good luck with your bids!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?item=203554298786&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562&_ssn=graphite47 

 

 

Things To Come

As previously mentioned, I've semi-retired from comics. Just to clarify (as some thought I'd given it up altogether) the emphasis is on semi, as in partially. I'll be cutting back but still creating comics, mostly on characters I own, for as long as health allows.

One of those characters is Brickman, and now I'll be able to focus on finishing off a short series of new Brickman and Trowel strips for an upcoming new comic.

As regards self publishing, I may publish Brickman No.2 before Combat Colin No.6. The main reason being that more work is needed to be done on Combat Colin No.6 which will be a 'giant size' issue with more pages.

As ever, bookmark and follow this blog for updates!  

If you want to check out my comics, here's my online shop:

https://ko-fi.com/lewstringer/shop  

Team Toxic Repeat Performance

Although I've quit working for mainstream kids' comics (see previous post as to why) I still have a presence on the newsstand in the form of Team Toxic reprints in Toxic magazine.

I wouldn't normally plug this magazine now as I don't get paid for the stories of mine it reprints BUT the latest issue (No.408) reprints one of my favourite episodes of Team Toxic from ten years ago. Like most creatives I'm always critical of my own work but I was pleased with my drawings in this one. 

 

 

I'm an idiot for paying £6.99 to buy a reprint of my own work but there you go. On a positive note it means that a new generation get to see my stories, which pleases me. 

 

The rest of the mag is full of lightweight features on Fortnite etc (which I haven't a clue about) and puzzles. Anyway, if you want a copy it's in newsagents now, with a huge plastic "archery set" taped to the cover, partially obscuring the logo. A sad indication that these mags perhaps sell based on whatever cheap toys they carry, rather than on brand loyalty.

 

Farewell to the mainstream

Dinah Mo.

 

As you know, I semi-retired this year and the other day I completed my last pages for a children's publication. It's one of three Dinah Mo stories that will be in The Dandy Annual 2027 which will be published next year in September 2026. 

 

(There are Dinah Mo stories in the latest Dandy annual (2026) but they're by Spanish artist Melchor Prats, who did a fantastic job on them.)

 

I've found that work opportunities have been gradually reducing for a few years now for whatever reasons, and the worry and stress of that has worn me down as well as the fatigue due to having CLL. I couldn't manage a weekly deadline now anyway. So I've decided that in my senior years I'll just focus on characters I own the rights to, plus my monthly mini-strip in Doctor Who Magazine. 

 

Basically my career has come full circle, back to the days 42 years ago when I was self-publishing and doing mini-strips for Marvel UK.

 

I've no bitterness, no resentment. That's how it's always been in this business, or in any creative industry. The older creators fade away to be replaced by a younger breed. But I'll still be producing my own comics, in my own time, with full creative control, so I'm still in the game for as long as I'm able to be. Thanks for all your support over the years!

 

Preview: The latest Daft Dimension for DOCTOR WHO MAGAZINE

As promised in my previous post, here's the finished version of the latest Daft Dimension comic strip. Only part of it of course, 'cos you'll find the full version in Doctor Who Magazine No.621. It'll be in shops this Thursday, 11th September. 

Alternatively you can order it directly from the publishers, Panini, at thos link (where you'll also find out more about the contents)...

https://www.panini.co.uk/shp_gbr_en/doctor-who-magazine-621-gbdrw621-uk02.html 

 

Daft Dimension in progress

There's a new issue of Doctor Who Magazine coming this Thursday (11th Sept) and I'll show you a full colour preview of my latest Daft Dimension in a day or two. In the meantime though, here's a scan of part of a panel when I'd completed the pencils and inks. Yes, the 13th Doctor is back, as the issue features an interview with Jodie Whittaker. 

See the full version in Doctor Who Magazine No.621, on sale Thursday 11th September, and look for a full colour version of this panel and a cover preview on this blog soon.