Who could that possibly be satirizing?

I'm currently working on the Sgt. Shouty page for the next issue of The77. Here's a clip from the previous issue showing the un-named villain who was a threat to society. (He was dealt with shortly after.)

 

Doctor Who Magazine No.629

There's a new issue of Doctor Who Magazine in shops this Thursday, (issue No.629), so here's a clip from my Daft Dimension strip, and the cover to look out for! Click on the image to see it larger.

********************************

Remember TOUGH GUY AND SCRUFFY?

Tough Guy was the vainest superhero in the world, super-powered but definitely not super smart! Aided by his far wiser assistant Scruffy, the characters were creations of mine that appeared in the short lived Triffik! weekly in 1992. 

A few years ago I compiled all the Tough Guy stories into a 32 page PDF comic that can be downloaded from my KoFi shop. Suitable for all ages, you can buy the comic from this link to download and read on your device:

https://ko-fi.com/s/fb5e501d04 

 

More recollections of OINK!

I'm thinking about Oink! a lot this week as it's 40 years since the comic was launched. It appeared at just the right time, as the 1980s were such a vibrant and refreshed environment for comics. We had Warrior, The Daredevils (featuring Captain Britain), Watchmen, The Dark Knight Returns, American Flagg, Knockabout, Escape, Charley's War in Battle, plus Marvel UK, numerous fanzines and more, and 2000AD at arguably its peak years. 

It puzzles me when I sometimes read comments saying that comics died in the mid-1980s because I know for a fact that the comics industry was really buzzing. (Quite often, those negative comments are from people who simply stopped buying comics when they left school in the Eighties.) 

Many of us back then would meet up regularly at London Comic Marts at Central Hall (and of course the nearby Westminster Arms pub) and there was a genuine excitement about the new projects that were forging ahead. People such as Dave Gibbons, Brian Bolland, Kevin O'Neill, Nick Landau, and more were the first wave of fans-turned-pro to enter the industry, and then those of us working for Marvel UK and Oink! were the next wave. (Of course there had been previous decades of many new creators joining the industry but by and large they hadn't come the route of fanzines and organised fandom, because it didn't really exist as such until the 1960s). 

Most of us who freelanced for Oink! (and also for Marvel UK and 2000AD) were around the same age, and perhaps too raw at the time for the long established comics, but we had ideas and developing styles to do something a little different. I'm not saying we knew better than our predecessors, just that we didn't want to comply to the same traditional formula, at least not at that young age. 

Anyway, I won't waffle on any further. It was a magical time in comics and I'm glad I was there. Oink! never set the world of comics alight like Watchmen or V for Vendetta did, but we worked hard and enjoyed what we did and I'm glad it's still fondly remembered 40 years on.

Tom Thug at 40!

 

It was exactly 40 years ago today when Oink! made its debut! Those were the days, my friend, we thought they'd never end... but but it lasted longer than a lot of comics, and one character endured more than others.

Oink! first appeared as a 32 page preview issue, bagged free with Whizzer and Chips, Eagle, and (I think) Buster on Saturday 26th April 1986. The contents of that preview issue were actually the pages we'd all done for the 'dummy' issue back in 1984. A dummy issue is a comic presentation that editors would pitch to management to see if they'd go for it. Many such 'dummies' of various comics never got the green light, but Oink! did... even though it took two years for IPC to finally launch it.

COVER BY IAN JACKSON.

At the time, IPC realised that their "traditional" type of comics were not as popular as they had been so they wanted something fresher and a bit more in tune with the times. They'd tried Krazy ten years earlier but even that had the usual look to it, so they looked beyond the established writers and artists to bring in newer talent for Oink! 

Oink's editors Mark Rogers and Patrick Gallagher had experience in writing for Buster and other comics, and the third editor, Tony Husband, was a popular cartoonist who'd contributed to various magazines. Together, and with Graham Exton (before he emigrated to the Bahamas) they had a vision for a more anarchic comic using newer talent. IPC's humour group editor Bob Paynter, with his 20 plus years of experience, contacted new creators too, such as myself. 

The very first Tom Thug strip.

I came up with Tom Thug, the brainless bully, and Bob Paynter developed the idea of him wanting to live up to the family lineage of Thugs (but always failing). I'm pretty sure now that Bob's input was inspired by the Dick Emery skinhead and his dad characters on TV ("Daaad! I got it wrong again!") but that never occurred to me at the time. (Hey, I was in my twenties. I didn't spend much time watching TV in the evenings.)  

Having brought me into the comic, Bob then just oversaw the production and left Mark, Patrick, and Tony to commission and create Oink! up in their studio in Manchester. Tom Thug became a regular fixture and I contributed to every issue, dealing solely with Mark Rogers who proved to be an excellent and creative editor. I also created other characters such as Pete and his Pimple, and (as writer only) Ham Dare (a Dan Dare parody) with Malcolm Douglas on art, and Sherlock Hams and The Hog of the Baskervilles (you can guess what that was a satire of) with art by Ron Tiner. 

Oink! was a fantastic comic to work for and we all had a great time. Sadly, for various reasons, it didn't last beyond 68 issues (69 if we count the Preview) and merged into Buster in 1988. Well, a few strips merged. I was thankfull that my Tom Thug and Pete and his Pimple strips had proven popular enough to make the leap over. Not without some changes though; Tom Thug (who had left school in the latter issues of Oink!) became a schoolboy again, and Pete's Pimple was no longer allowed to burst and cover people in pus. (Perhaps for the best.)

In its neutered form, Pete's Pimple didn't last long in Buster, but Tom Thug proved to be very successful. My idea was never for Tom to be an anti-hero like Dennis the Menace. (I felt the "cheeky scamp" trope was old hat by the Eighties.) Tom Thug was the villain, not someone to admire. An ignorant, stupid bully who always got his just desserts. The readers were invited to laugh at Tom, never with him. As we know, real-life bullies rarely get their rightful comeuppance so I hope the readers of Oink! and Buster felt some catharsis to see such a cretin get constantly defeated in the comics. 

Tom Thug ran in Buster until 1996 in new stories, and then a further three years as a reprint. (New owners Egmont had decided that making Buster all-reprint would cut costs (as creators are not paid for reprints), but it doomed the comic and it folded at the end of 1999.)

I gave Tom Thug a cameo appearance in the two Cor!! Buster specials that Rebellion published a few years ago but today's Oink! anniversary made me wonder what Tom would be like today if he'd continued to age as I'd intended when he was in Oink! So here we go....

 

Tom Thug 2026... As Tom was 16 in the later issues of Oink! he'd be in his fifties now. Like many of his type he never learned from his mistakes, became an habitual petty offender and spent his life in and out of prison. He's currently wearing a tag, has a self-made badly spelt tattoo, and is as dim as ever. Good news is that his cat Satan is still alive because (as far as I'm concerned) pets live forever in comics.  

So that's Tom, trapped in a cyclic fate of his own making as always! Happy anniversary ya mug! :) 

For more Oink! goodness, check out the dedicated Oink! Blog hosted by Phil Boyce. It's piggin' brilliant...

https://oink.blog/

Auction ending today!

This week's auction of my original comic art ends tonight! (Sunday 26th April). Here's a reminder of what's on offer...

A two page Pigswilla story from Oink! (1987)

A two page Tom Thug story from Buster (1994) - and page one of that is actually the front cover!

A Pup Parade strip from the Beano (2019).

A Daft Dimension strip from Doctor Who Weekly (2026). 

All bids welcome! Here's the link...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=graphite47&_sop=1 

Good luck!

 

Remember this cover?

I always felt privileged when Tom Thug took over the cover spot on Buster comic. By the 1990s he'd proven to be almost as popular as the title star himself, so the editor gave me the opportunity of doing three or four covers. A rare honour. 

Anyway, I did this cover for Buster dated 19th August 1994... and I'm currently selling the original artwork! The auction includes this front cover plus page two of the story that completes it. Bidding ends this Sunday so if you're interested in owning the artwork here's the link...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/206220113346?itmmeta=01KQ0BT9JSP9D7HFBHKY6J169Y&hash=item3003ad35c2:g:-6MAAeSwaZBp5QPq 

 

LFCC Postponed until 2027

Sad news today that this year's London Film and Comic Con has been postponed until 2027. It would have taken place in mid-June 2026 but is now delayed until August 14th and 15th 2027.

Having been a guest at the LFCC events for years (and was to be at this summer's show too) I can assure you that the organisers would not have made this decision unless they absolutely had to. They're a hard working team who always put on a great show, and I'm sure no one is more disappointed than they are.  

LFCC (and its comics section the London Comics Festival) always have an impressive number of guests from the various fields of entertainment and over the years it's proved to be a popular event. Certainly one of my favourite conventions. However, circumstances beyond their control have forced this decision. 

You can read more about the postponement over on John Freeman's Down the Tubes comics news site:

https://downthetubes.net/london-film-and-comic-con-cancelled-returning-in-2027/

 

Here's wishing LFCC to return in fine form next year. Meanwhile, I'll see you at other conventions this year such as Macc-Pow on 27th June. 

OINK! art! BUSTER cover! And more in my latest art auction

I've just listed more of my original comic art on eBay and the auctions will run until next Sunday evening (26th April). 

You'll see them all at this link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=graphite47

Remember Pigswilla, the giant robot pig from Oink! comic? There's a two page full colour strip from 1987 awaiting your bids. I know this character was popular, although he only made a handful of appearances so here's your chance to grab this rarity! 

 

In the 1990s, Tom Thug had become one of the most popular strips in Buster comic, and even took over the cherished cover spot from Buster himself a few times! One of those covers (including page 2) is in the auction right now!

It was a pleasure to have a decent run on Pup Parade for a while in the Beano several years ago as it had been one of my favourite strips as a child. One of the strips I drew in 2019 is up for bids!

 

 

Finally, something recent. So recent in fact that the issue I drew it for is still on sale! It's my Daft Dimension artwork from Doctor Who Magazine No.628 featuring the Quarks! In the auction right now. 

Here's the link again. Good luck with your bids!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=graphite47

 

Spring Sale!

UPDATE: BOTH PAGES SOLD. 

Special Spring Sale! I've just listed two Tom Thug pages, each at a special Buy It Now price. If you'd like to own original comic art pages from Buster from 1991, grab 'em before they're gone!

More info and photos at this link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=graphite47 

 

Auction ends soon on Dandy artwork

Just a brief reminder that my current art auction ends soon (the evening of Sunday 19th April) so if you're interested in original comic art from The Dandy Annual, here's your opportunity to bid. Good luck! All bids appreciated.

Here's the link: 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=graphite47 

Dandy artwork for sale this week

 

It's been a while since I listed any original art for sale but I currently have two items on eBay this week. The auctions end on Sunday 19th April so not long to go!

There's a Keyhole Kate strip from The Dandy Annual 2021 and a Postman Prat (Christmas theme) one from The Dandy Annual 2023. As you know, I draw my strips traditionally, ink on Bristol Board, and scan them into Photoshop (or other software) to colour them digitally. So... the originals are still black and white but I thought you'd like to see the colour versions (above). 

Please bid if you wish to have a chance of winning these original pieces of comic art. Good luck! Just to clarify; it's the black and white original art you'll receive, not the digital colour versions.

Here's the link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?sid=graphite47 

43 Years in Comics

I've been working in comics for 43 years this summer, although I'm semi-retired now so I do less but I thought I'd update this list of publications I've been featured in over that time. It's not 100% complete as I'm sure I've forgotten a few but hopefully it'll act as a guide if you collect my work. 

The Daredevils (What If cartoons)


The Mighty World of Marvel (What If cartoons)


Spider-Man Comic (Captain Wally, Snailman)

Learn With Moonbird (children books, ghosting Mike Higgs' art)


Swiftsure (Rock Solid, Brickman)


Brickman (Harrier Comics one-shot, 1986)


Transformers (Robo-Capers, Combat Colin)


Action Force (Combat Colin)


The Real Ghostbusters (Early episodes of Blimey! It’s Slimer)


Secret Wars (Macho Man)


Thundercats (Early episodes of One Cat and His Cod)


Jackpot Annual 1986 (Scooper)


Whoopee Annual 1987 (Bookworm)


2000AD Annual 1985 (article on old comic heroes)


Warlock (Derek the Troll)


White Dwarf (Derek the Troll)


Oink! (Tom Thug, Pete and his Pimple, Pigswilla, lots of others)


Buster (Tom Thug, Pete and his Pimple, Vampire Brats, Specky Hector)


Viz (Pathetic Sharks, Felix and his Amazing Underpants, Norman the Doorman, various others)


UT (various)


Sweet FA (various)


C’Mon Ref! (Whitley Baywatch)


Sunday Sport (Norma Snockers)


Daily Star (short run of Whitley Baywatch Wanderers)


Speakeasy (Pedantic Stan the Comics Fan)

Triffik! (Tough Guy)


2000AD Action Special (article on old UK comics)


Sonic the Comic (scripts on Sonic, Amy and Tekno, Tails, etc)


CiTV Tellytots (Scripts on Sooty, Mopatop’s Shop, Dog and Duck, etc)


Lego Adventures (Scripts)


The Seven Deadly Sins graphic novel (art on The Glut, written by Dave Gibbons)


Toxic magazine (Team Toxic)


Rampage (Mini-Marvels)


Marvel Heroes (Mini-Marvels)


Spectacular Spider-Man (Mini-Marvels)


Lucky Bag Comic (Horror Bags, Cheeky Monkeys)

Geek (Norway) (Suburban Satanists)


Herman Hedning (Sweden/Norway) (Suburban Satanists)


Beano (Super School, Rasher, Pup Parade, Big Eggo, various others)


Dandy (Postman Prat, Kid Cops, Keyhole Kate, a few others)


Beano Max (Super School)


Know How! (Various artwork)

Forstads Satanistine (Norway, 2003. Collection of Suburban Satanists strips)

Fun-Tastic Comic (Cover only) 

Jokes and Magic (various strips)

Brickman Begins! (USA) (book reprinting Brickman strips)


Epic (Hygiene High, Eric Fail, Zombie Sports)


Aces Weekly (digital) (Combat Colin)


Doctor Who Magazine (The Daft Dimension)


Elephantmen (USA) (Brickman Returns)


Grindhouse (USA) (Li’l House of Grind) 


Comic Heroes magazine (articles on old comics) 


Comic Scene magazine (articles on old comics)

You Are The Hero (book. New Derek the Troll page)


Stikkums (art for digital app)


TV21 (Network edition for Gerry Anderson boxset. Zoony the Lagoon)


The77 (Sgt.Shouty)


Liverpool Heartbeat magazines (various)


Cor!! Buster Specials 2019/2020 (Buster)


Battle Special 2020 (Specky Hector the Comics Collector)


Monster Fun Halloween Special 2021 (Wiz War)


Animal Planet (Bad Pets)


The Kirknewton Story (Close Encounters)


Stingray Comic Special (Network edition for Stingray box set) (Oink the Seal)

This Comic Is Haunted (Short Sharp Shocks)



The Dandy Summer Special 2024 (new version of Dinah Mo) 

The Dunfermline Story (Dead Famous. Script by Colin Maxwell)

Goof Summer Special (School of the Future, DeJa Vu Man)

Various Dandy, Beano, and Buster Annuals.

 

Extra: Before I turned professional I also contributed to a lot of fanzines. I can't remember all of them but here's a short list...

BEM (article on Power Comics)

The Owl's Effort (Fandumb At Large illustrations) 

Chain Reaction (Fandumb at Large comic strip)

Camera Obscura (Prisoner fanzine for which I did Rogue Rover and Alistair Sadgitt) 


 

Self published comics:


After Image (1979, various strips and articles)


Metamorph/Fantasy Express (1981 articles and strips)


Blimey! It's Brickman (1983)


Brickman on Toast

The Early Brickman

Combat Colin Summer Special 1967 (in reality published in the 1990s)

Combat Colin Special (c.2000)

Yampy Tales (Combat Colin and Brickman)

Rogue Rover (collecting the strips from Camera Obscura)

The Microlife of Alistair Sadgitt (collecting the strips from Camera Obscura)

Brickman Returns! (collecting the Brickman strips from Elephantmen)


Combat Colin 1 to 5 (reprinting strips from Action Force and Transformers)

Derek the Troll (reprinting Derek strips from Warlock and White Dwarf plus Rock Solid strips from Swiftsure)

Pedantic Stan the Comics Fan (collecting all the strips from Speakeasy)

Barmy Comix (digital, reprinting selected Brickman, Combat Colin, Derek the Troll, Pedantic Stan  strips)

Tough Guy and Scruffy (Digital. Collecting the strips from Triffik!) 

Brickman (new printing 2025/26)

 

Daft Dimension in progress

I've just sent off the artwork for the next Daft Dimension to Panini UK. I thought you might like to see a glimpse of it when it was partly completed. 

Here's a snapshot of part of a panel after I'd inked it on Bristol Board using a brushpen. After that I scanned it into Clip Studio Paint and cleaned it up and coloured it, then once it was completed I emailed it as a TIFF file to the editor. 

You can see the finished strip in Doctor Who Magazine No.629 at the end of this month.

Lawless interview from 2022

I'd forgotten about this until Joanne Alexander posted it on Facebook today. An interview she conducted with me at the Lawless Comic Con in Bristol back in 2022. Click on the link below to see the video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTCH_nMXA7Y 

 

Digital Fun!

A reminder that if you prefer digital comics that three of my titles are exclusive to download now. All high quality 32 page PDFs that you can read on your device for only £3 each.

The digital comics are:

BARMY COMIX No.1 featuring a bunch of "best bits" such as Combat Colin, Brickman, Derek the Troll and Pedantic Stan.

TOUGH GUY AND SCRUFFY No.1 collecting all the stories from the short-lived Triffik! weekly featuring the vainest superhero on Earth and his loyal assistant.

DEREK THE TROLL no.1 collecting all the Derek the Troll stories from Warlock and White Dwarf PLUS the complete Rock Solid, Space Hero saga from 1980s indie comic Swiftsure.

Visit my KoFi shop for more info about each comic...

https://ko-fi.com/lewstringer/shop

Latest Daft Preview

 

There's a new issue of Doctor Who Magazine out this week, so here's a small preview of part of my Daft Dimension strip that you'll find inside the mag. This time I've spotlighted the Quarks, the rarely seen robots from the 1960s. I think this may be the first time I've drawn them. 

Also in this issue, the regular fifteenth Doctor comic strip continues, plus there's a supplemental mini mag featuring an all-new comic strip with the fifth Doctor and Tegan! 

All in Doctor Who Magazine No.628, in shops on April 2nd! Go on, treat yourselves for Easter!

More info: https://doctorwhomagazine.com/

Normal service will be resumed

My apologies for not blogging recently, or listing any artwork for sale. I had some computer problems and also I haven't been well, but both things are improving hopefully. 

Normal service will be resumed soon. 

New event for September

I've been invited to the Hi Vis Kings Heath Comic Con that takes place on September 19th. More guests will be announced but the first wave is listed above. You can find out more about it and follow their updates at this link:

https://facebook.com/events/s/high-vis-kings-heath-comic-con/1168648792012272/

Due to having a chronic illness (CLL) I do get very weary at times now so I'm pacing myself with events this year and trying not to do too many cons that are close to each other. (I'm still feeling tired after the London con two weeks ago but I'm very glad I went.) 

Anyway, the Kings Heath show will only be a one day event and not too far to travel to so all being well I'll see you there! I'll be at other cons before then though so I'll keep you all posted on this blog. 

Brickman No.2 Reviewed!

My thanks to Phil Boyce over at the Oink! Blog for giving Brickman No.2 a glowing review! You can read his opinions at the following link:

https://oink.blog/2026/03/08/brickman-2-smack-you-in-the-face-fantastic/ 

Sgt.Shouty to return in The77 No.12

The Kickstarter for The77 No.12 is now live and you have until March 29th to pledge for a copy (and any rewards you might wish to buy). Amongst its contents will be another one page adventure with Sgt.Shouty, written and drawn by me. What's the volatile space hero up to this time? Find out in The77 No.12!

Follow this link to find out more about the comic and how to pledge your support...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/the77comic/the77-no12

Cover by Clint Langley.

Preview: Doctor Who Magazine 627

 There's a new issue of Doctor Who Magazine out this week so here's a little preview of part of my Daft Dimension strip. The theme being Doctor Who Stories You Never Heard Of. 

In the rest of the mag there's the 15th Doctor's battle with the Daleks in the main comic strip, plus loads of features and interviews. Doctor Who Magazine No.627. Don't miss it!

A lively weekend at London Comic Con Spring!

I really enjoyed being a guest at London Comic Con Spring last weekend. My first show since last summer and it turned out to steadily busy across the two days. My thanks to Tony Lee for the invite and the smooth organisation and to Kit Cox and the team for looking after the guests. As ever, the London show was a friendly place with lots of laughs and a good vibe to it. 

 

It was great to catch up with friends in the business such as Mike Perkins, David Leach, Rachael Smith, Nigel Parkinson, Ben Cullis, Steve Bull, Lee Townsend, Jenika Ioffreda, and many more. Also good to chat to so many people who stopped by my table (and thanks to all of you who bought art, sketches, and comics). 

With comics creators Rachael Smith and David Leach.

 

As always at Showmasters events there were lots of actors there too, including a considerable number who have been involved with Doctor Who including Ncuti Gatwa, Millie Gibson, Katy Manning, Colin Baker, Sophia Myles and more. It was a privilege on Saturday to be on a panel with famed Doctor Who producer and writer Philip Hinchcliffe who'd worked on the popular Tom Baker years. 

Health wise, I was totally drained by the end of the show and after returning home on Sunday night I slept most of the next day, but I'm so glad I attended and wouldn't change a thing. 

Here's to the next convention!

Just published! BRICKMAN No.2

The second issue of Brickman is now available to buy from my Ko-Fi shop. 

https://ko-fi.com/lewstringer/shop 

A 32 page comic (including covers) on quality paper, it collects the Brickman strips from the mid-1990s plus the Combat Colin story Prisoners of the Place of No Return that fits into the continuity, and an epilogue from 2005. 

There are also a couple of related articles as a bonus, and of course brand new cover art.

Full colour covers, black and white interiors. Mature Readers only.

I'll also be bringing some to the London Comic Con this weekend (Feb 28th to March 1st) at Olympia. 

Remember, these comics are not available from shops or from any other seller. Only directly from me.