Cosmic Comics revisited!

A couple of years ago Hibernia Comics published a fine collection of Kevin O'Neill's early IPC strips under the name Cosmic Comics. It proved to be very successful, and now it's been reprinted... and expanded, thanks to Kevin himself.

In the revised Cosmic Comics, the artist has created a new 28 page section called Kev's Own which is a collection of Kevin O’Neill’s early covers, samples and unpublished work for magazines like Interplanetary News and Legend Horror Classics, as well as Titan books cover designs and the never-before-reprinted ‘7 Wonders of the Galaxy’ series from 2000 AD and more!

Also included in  ‘Kev's Own’ is commentary by Kevin on the art included and his early career.

With the addition of the new 28 page section, Cosmic Comics now runs to 96 pages. A worthwhile addition to any bookshelf.

Why am I plugging this on a blog that's usually about my own work? Well, the book includes the strip The Truth About Santa that I scripted and Kev illustrated for The Oink! Book back in the 1980s. That aside, the book is well worth shouting about anyway because it's a brilliant collection of material by one of the comics greats!

There are only a limited number of these books available so hurry if you want one (and who wouldn't?) to this page to order your copy:

http://www.comicsy.co.uk/hibernia/ 

 

DEREK THE TROLL available again!

I still have issues... issues of Derek the Troll that is! Published a few years ago there are still some left, unread and in new condition straight out of the printer's box. 

32 pages of material including all of the Derek the Troll strips I did for Warlock and White Dwarf in the 1980s, plus the complete saga of Rock Solid, Space Hero that I did for Swiftsure comic in 1985! PLUS I'll throw in an A6 Derek the Troll colour mini-print while stocks last!

To buy one directly from me, please PayPal £6 (six pounds) to 

lew.stringer@BTopenworld.com

Important: I only accept orders from within the UK. Don't forget to add your address so I know where to send it to!

Comics will be sent bagged and boarded in a protective envelope (and I'll sign each issue too). 

Blast Process at the Shrewsbury Comics Trail

My artwork at The Dingle. Photo by James Fletcher.

 

The YouTube channel Blast Process was at the launch of the Shrewsbury Comics Trail in July and they've just uploaded their video which you can see at this link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9mhpVry-DA

Screen grab from the Blast Process video.

As reported here a couple of months ago, I was pleased to be a contributor to the Comics Trail, which features nine pieces of art by different artists displayed on billboards around Shrewsbury telling the story of the town in comic strip form (written by none other than John Wagner). Other artists include Sonia Leong, Charlie Adlard, Rachael Smith, Doug Braithwaite, Al Davison, Hannah Berry, Mike Perkins, and Jimmy Broxton.

The displays will be up for another 11 months yet so if you're visiting Shrewsbury follow the trail! 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/215274830414109

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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

 

 

The77 ANNUAL needs your support!

Dr.Plank from The77 issue 3.

Last week the Kickstarter for The77 Annual was fully funded only a short time after it went live... but then a backer pulled out, taking away a significant amount he'd pledged. Apparently the same person did it to two other projects too, also leaving them underfunded. 

Whether due to a sudden change in personal circumstances or malicious sabotage it brought The77 Annual back to 80% funding, so it needs more pledges to make it a reality. Kickstarter campaigns only see the comics published if the project reaches its goal, so let's hope it can make it. So far it's looking good but it's not there yet so if you want to see a brand new 136 page annual featuring new and established comics talent here's the link to visit...

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/the77comic/the77-comic-annual-number-1

I'll have two pages in the book; The Origin of Doctor Plank, telling the backstory to Sgt.Shouty's nemesis (and, yes, Shouty himself will be in the story too of course). 

The annual will be available in two formats; hardback only exclusive to Kickstarter backers (with a cover by Mark Montague), and softback (with a cover by Ade Hughes) will will be on general release after the campaign. You can choose either, or both, when you pledge to the Kickstarter. 

The77 has been the breakout hit of the indie scene so I hope you'll consider backing the 136 page annual! More news as it develops! 

If there are any back issues of The77 you've missed, you can buy them directly from the publisher at this link:

https://the77comic.bigcartel.com/

 

   

Combat Colin comics still in stock

Just another reminder that I still have some Combat Colin comics in stock on eBay. Unread, brand new condition straight out of the printer's box! 40 pages in each issue of Nos. 2 and 3, reprinting my classic Combat Colin strips from Marvel's The Transformers weekly from 30 years ago. Give 'em a try if you haven't read them, - or perhaps you remember them from way back when and would like them in these new collections.

Here's the link to find out more!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/graphite47/m.html?item=203554298786 

 

Convention Memories

42 years ago today I went to my first comic convention (Birmingham Metropole Hotel, 1979) and enjoyed it so much I carried on going to more over the next 40 years! I've met some wonderful friends in comics so I thought it was worth posting this again; a compilation of a few memories from those four decades pre-pandemic. 

More shows to come in the future I hope! Meanwhile, click on the photo to enlarge it and see which comics creators you can spot in the compilation. Post your answers below if you wish! 

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