Flashback to six years ago

Six years ago today, on 5th Sept 2015 I launched Brickman Returns at the splendid ICE 2015 (International Comics Expo) in Birmingham. The first comic in my new self-publishing venture. I followed it up with Derek the Troll, four issues of Combat Colin, and Pedantic Stan... and then the pandemic derailed everything. No conventions, less work, less money to spend on such vanity projects, so I put the comics on hiatus. They will return though... one day! 

 

 

In the meantime, Combat Colin issues 2 and 3 are still available to buy directly from me. Here's the link...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203526559034

 

 

Brickman on eBay

I thought I'd sold out of Brickman Returns but I've just found the last few! 32 pages, most in full colour, collecting the Brickman back-up strip that ran in Image Comics' Elephantmen several years ago.

Other strips in this issue include Combat Colin and The Suburban Satanists! 

Rated TEEN PLUS. 

I've put them on eBay so if you're interested in grabbing a copy, here's where to find them:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BRICKMAN-RETURNS-by-Lew-Stringer-Last-few-left-Batman-spoof/202560021411 

Brickman in progress (2007)

Here's a photo I took in 2007 while I was inking a Brickman page for Elephantmen, published by Image Comics in the USA. As you can see, it co-starred Combat Colin! 

A few years ago, I collected all of those pages I did for Image, and published them in a comic; Brickman Returns! You can order it from my online shop here:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

Catch up with the Lewniverse!

Thanks to all of you who have ordered copies of Combat Colin No.1 so far! I have a stack of orders to process and will be sending a pile of comics out every day to get through them. The first orders will go out tomorrow (Tuesday). 

The comic also sold well at Macc-Pow! last Saturday so I'm very pleased. (You can read more about that convention here:
https://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2017/07/a-successful-day-at-macc-pow.html )

For those of you who don't already have my previous comics I'm selling the three titles as a 'Comic pack' which works out cheaper than ordering them individually. You'll receive Brickman Returns, Derek the Troll, and Combat Colin No.1 together for £11 plus postage and you can order them from my online shop here:
http://lewstringer.com/page7.htm

(I know a couple of you ordered the set before I updated my shop so I'll refund you on the extra postage.)

It's been a busy weekend and today I'm catching up with mainstream comics work on Toxic and Doctor Who Magazine.

Brickman gets around!

Top Beano artist Nigel Parkinson will be selling copies of my Brickman Returns comic at the Bournemouth Film and Comic Con this weekend! He'll be doing Dennis the Menace sketches for anyone who wants one too of course, ably assisted by Beano colourist Nika Nartova, so drop by his table! 

The following weekend, I'll be at the International Comic Expo (ICE 2016) in Birmingham, and I'll have Brickman comics with me of course, plus... hopefully... my new comic too, fresh from the printers. More news soon!

Brickman in Lancaster

I'm very pleased to reveal that copies of my comic Brickman Returns are now on sale at Lancaster's fine comic shop First Age Comics. Thanks to proprietor Mark Braithwaite for offering to stock them after I met him at Lancaster Comics Day last weekend. 

As you can see from the photo above, you'll find them alongside DC Universe Rebirth and various other top U.S. comics. Where better placement for a Batman parody?

So, if you live in or around Lancaster, or are visiting that nice part of the country, drop in at First Age Comics and Buy Brickman!

First Age Comics,

3 Moor Lane,

Lancaster 

LA1 1QD.

https://www.facebook.com/FirstAgeComics/ 

Don't miss out!

I'll be bringing along copies of Brickman Returns! to Lancaster Comics Day on Sunday but for those of you who aren't attending you can still buy copies from me by post! Brickman Returns! is a sequel to the previous collection, Brickman Begins! (also still available) but it's also a self contained story in its own right.

Brickman Returns! is a 32 page full colour comic on top quality paper featuring 20 pages of my Batman parody Brickman, a 3 page Combat Colin classic from the 1980s, and 3 pages of The Suburban Satanists, plus a two page feature on the history of the characters.

The first print has sold out but I still have copies of the second printing. Don't miss out! You can order Brickman Returns! (and the previous book, Brickman Begins!) directly from me from my online shop via PayPal:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm   

Get into Combat!

I'm sometimes asked "When is Combat Colin coming back?". The answer of course is that he's been back for several years, albeit not on a regular basis. So this is just a brief reminder that brand new full colour three page Combat Colin stories appear in these issues of online comic Aces Weekly:

Volume 1, No.1.
Colin and Steve confront new monsters The Zombie-Yeds!

Volume 8, No.7
Colin's Combat Trousers have been nicked by an old enemy! Guest-starring The Giggly Sisters!

Volume 16, No.6
Colin and Semi-Automatic Steve blast off into space!

Aces Weekly is an adventure/humour anthology comic and each issue features six strips by various creators with Combat Colin appearing in the three issues mentioned. I'll be doing another complete episode sometime soon. 
http://www.acesweekly.co.uk/

Don't forget that Combat Colin also guest stars in several pages of the Brickman saga in Brickman Returns, my self-published comic available by post directly from me:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

Bits and bobs

I took a day off and went over to Birmingham today to browse the shops. A quick reminder that Nostalgia and Comics still have a few copies of my Brickman Returns comic left. You'll find it displayed alongside the comics produced by my good friends at Panini UK such as The Mighty World of Marvel and The Astonishing Spider-Man. 

Nostalgia and Comics is based at 14 - 16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EN, just a few minutes walk from the new and impressive Central Station (the refurbished New Street Station).

Alternatively, if you're not visiting Birmingham, you can order the comic directly from me at this link (along with the earlier collection, Brickman Begins if you wish):
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

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I'm coming back to The Beano! I was recently commissioned to do six episodes of a strip. I've already drawn three. More news soon. 

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Finally, here's an old photo I found today which was taken back in 2002 at the Raptus Comic Festival in Norway. I'm afraid I can't remember who took it but they snapped me autographing a copy of Herman Hedning, the comic that featured my Suburban Satanists strip at the time. Fellow artist Dave Windett is facing us at the right of the photo. Good times! 

Have a Happy Brickmas!

With Christmas fast approaching, if you want a copy of my comic Brickman Returns for yourself or anyone else, now would be a good time to order it. The comic is in stock and will be sent out within a day of receiving your order. I'll sign every issue I sell, and will add a dedication if you wish, at no extra charge obviously. 

Brickman Returns has 32 pages featuring 20 pages of Brickman in full colour, plus Combat Colin and the Suburban Satanists! Professionally printed and on quality paper with excellent reproduction. 

To find out more, and how to buy your copy, see my website:

http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

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!

Brickman at the Lakes

I won't be at the Lakes International Comic Art Festival this weekend but Brickman will! Thanks to my good Beano pal Nigel Parkinson, there'll be copies of Brickman Returns available to buy from the table he'll be at with his colourist Nika Narkova. Drop by and buy! - And have a chat with Nigel and Nika too of course! 

Here's what Nigel said about Brickman Returns on his blog:
http://nigelparkinsoncartoons.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/dropped-brick-man.html

And here's the official website for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. I was there last year and I thoroughly recommend it!
http://www.comicartfestival.com/

If you can't make it to the event but you'd like a copy of my comic, you can buy it directly from me here:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

Brickman Update

All the orders for Brickman Returns! that I received last week have now been dispatched. The orders I've received today will be posted on Monday. Thanks to all of you who have bought copies. It's much appreciated. 

It just goes to prove that there is still interest in independent comics. Admittedly, Brickman Returns! is only a modest effort with a small print run, but there has been a steady stream of sales since it was launched on September 5th. And that's with no advertising except plugging it online in a handful of places, and selling it directly. (Copies are also still available at Nostalgia and Comics, 14  - 16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham). 

Curiously there was some resistance from a few Christians concerned about the "Satanic content", ie: my Suburban Satanists strip which runs as a back-up in the comic. Subsequently some people have refused to buy it on those grounds without actually seeing the strip. I was quite staggered that a humour strip tacking the mickey out of an incompetent bunch of devil-worshippers would upset anyone, although there was a similar response in the 1990s when it appeared in Sweden and Norway. Personally I think the humour in Suburban Satanists is very mild, and I suspect the objectors may be imagining it to be more explicit than it is, but if that's their decision so be it. To be fair, no one has yet said it should be censored, they've just explained why they won't buy it, so I'm glad that at least they've offered their reasons and obviously they're not going to enjoy my daft comic if it makes them uncomfortable or fearful. It's not for me to argue against it as it's their choice and obviously they're entitled to that. However, I am continuing with my intention to publish the Suburban Satanists in their own comic early next year. 

Next Sunday, 11th October, I'll be a guest at Comic Con Leicester and will be bringing along a few copies of Brickman Returns! (and the previous collection, Brickman Begins!). Due to Sunday rail service I won't be arriving until about 11am but I hope to see you there!  
http://www.comicconleicester.co.uk/

If you haven't bought a copy of Brickman Returns! yet and you want to order one by post, you can do so from my online shop here:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

New review

My thanks to John Short of Kult Creations for giving a glowing review of my Brickman comics! "If these two publications don't have you laughing out loud multiple times you must be a DC lawyer or something." You can read the full review here:
http://kultcreations.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/brickman-review.html

While you're there, check out the rest of the Kult Creatons blog for John's own wonderful publications. His latest book, Octobriana: The Undergound History is a must-have item for anyone interested in comics history (and that's all of you, right?) I'll be posting a full review of it on my Blimey! blog soon.

If you're one of the people who hasn't got around to buying a copy of Brickman Returns! yet, you can order a signed copy directly from me from my online shop:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

Rough and ready!

I thought that some of you might be interested in seeing the rough mock up of the Brickman Returns! cover compared to the finished version. 

On the left are my rough pencils which I scanned into Photoshop in two halves. This left a shadow across the join but that didn't matter as it was just for a quick mock up for my own use so that I could determine where to place the cover text. 

As you can see, I made a few alterations to both the drawing and the cover copy before the end result.

After I'd done this rough I then finalised the pencils, inked it, and scanned it into Photoshop again so I could colour it. You'll notice that I didn't complete the characters on the left. They'd be partially obscured by captions so there was no point in drawing them in full. Anyway, at this point it was time to add colour. Firstly the flats...

...then the finished, graduated colours. It took me a while to decide on the background colour. I didn't want to leave it white, and a plain colour didn't feel right either. At one point I was thinking of going with the version seen on the left (below) but I felt that the characters would stand out better with some yellow behind them, so the one on the right was my final choice.

I added a few more stars and gnats, rejigged the logo and cover text, and the cover was done. Then it was time to send the files of the entire issue off to the printer.

The finished result looks spectacular. Full marks to UK Comics Creative for doing such a fantastic printing job! 

If you'd like to buy a copy it's available now from my online shop:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

The first review is in, and it's over on The Oink! Blog here:
http://the-oink-blog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/brickman-returns-as-does-lew-stringer.html

A Brick-tastic week!

My thanks to every one of you who bought a copy of Brickman Returns! It's been a week since the launch at ICE and what a great response every day! I've cleared half the print run already. Admittedly that includes the ten percent of the run that are on sale or return at Nostalgia and Comics, so we'll see how that goes, but the rest have been zooming to all corners of the UK with brisk sales by post. All orders I received up to 3.00pm today have been dispatched now, with a couple more to go in the morning. Next week I'll be sending out the free copies to a few people I promised them to, and for those of you overseas who enquired about prices I'll get back to you all soon.

The photo above is of the first box of comics just before I posted off the last three copies. Don't worry if you haven't bought one yet; I have another full box of issues. Naturally, sales will slow down now after the initial demand but if you want a copy it's better to order sooner rather than later. As there's been such a great interest in the comic I will be going to a second print, but as yet I don't know how long that will take.

I'll also be working on my next self-published comic in a few months. Suburban Satanists No.1 will reprint the strips I did for Egmont Norway and Sweden in the late 1990s, in English for the first time. I'm hoping to publish that early next year. 

Anyway, back to the present and, again, many thanks to all of you who bought a copy. Your support is really appreciated.

Brickman Returns! 32 pages, full colour, quality paper. Available to order from my online shop:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

Brickman in Birmingham Again!

It's been a busy launch week for Brickman Returns! and I'm now happy to say that copies are available from Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham!

I'm particularly pleased about this because, not only is Nostalgia and Comics one of the best comic speciality shops in the country, it was the first shop to stock my fanzines back when I did my original one, After Image, way back in 1979. They also stocked my Brickman mini-comics in the early 1980s, so I felt very proud to see my newest creation placed upon the shelves today. 

Nostalgia and Comics was one of the first comic speciality shops to open in the UK and it's still a fantastic place to visit. It has a wide range of comics, graphic novels, and related merchandise, the shop is nicely laid out, and the staff are friendly and helpful. 

For its launch week you'll find copies of Brickman Returns! on the shelves with all the other comics that were published this week. After that it'll be in the indie comics section along with It Girl, Newstreet, and other UK independent titles.   

Nostalgia and Comics is based at 14 to 16 Smallbrook Queensway, Birmingham B5 4EN just a few minutes walk from New Street Station.  

Their official Facebook page is here:
https://www.facebook.com/NostalgiaComics

So if you're in or around Birmingham, pick up a copy of Brickman Returns! 
If you can't make it to the shop, copies are also available to buy directly from me at my website:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

BRICKMAN RETURNS! now available to order by post

Here's a photo of the first batch of Brickman Returns! to be sent out by post today. These are just the orders I received before 7.00a.m. today. I'll be making another trip to the post office later with another stack.

My thanks to everyone who's bought a copy so far. Obviously interest will slow down after the initial surge of orders but I'm over the moon with the response so far, with both sales at ICE and orders by mail. 

If you want a copy for yourself, you'll find ordering info over on my online shop here:
http://www.lewstringer.com/page7.htm

If you live outside the UK, e-mail me at lew.stringer@BTopenworld.com for prices to your part of the world.

I didn't get around to taking any photos at ICE at the weekend but Jon Laight has written a great piece on the show for Down the Tubes, along with a good selection of photos that he took (such as the one of me below). Visit here to see the article:
http://downthetubes.net/?p=25365

Successful launch for Brickman Returns!

Just got back today from the International Comics Expo (ICE) which took place in Birmingham at the weekend. A fantastic event that went by far too quickly. Here's a photo taken just a few minutes before the show opened, where the launch of Brickman Returns! proved to be even better than I'd anticipated. I had to replenish the stack of comics on my table twice as they practically sold out. (Don't worry; I have plenty more at home.) Tomorrow I'll add details of how to buy the comic by post.

Thanks to Shane Chebsey and his team for an excellent show. It was great to meet up with friends old and new including Mike Collins, David Leach, Staz Johnson (next to me in the photo), Nigel Parkinson, Nika Narkova, Sarah Littlehales, Dan Harrison, Jatinder Ghataora, Laura Watton-Davies, Jessica Martin, Laura Howell, Deborah Tate, Robbie Morrison, Tim Pilcher, David Bailie, Dave Taylor, Dylan Teague, David Roach, Rachael Stott, Hunt Emerson, John McCrea, Paul H. Birch, Steve Tanner and his family, Steve Pugh, Steve Yeowell, John Ross, and many others, plus no doubt obvious ones I should have remembered. 

Many thanks to everyone who stopped by my table to buy comics and/or a sketch! I really appreciate it. 

ICE, and the following day's event, Comics Uncovered, had a really positive vibe to them and are genuinely beneficial for the UK comics community and industry. I hope they'll return next year!   

https://internationlcomicexpo.wordpress.com/