Issues 1 and 2 of Rob Jackson's It's A Man's Life In The Ice Cream Business are now available to purchase at his site.

Though certainly not without story-telling guile, Rob Jackson is a cartoonist who reliably works a lack of inventive telling to his advantage when producing stories with absurd complications. Here, however - where the autobiographical subject matter is the relatively mundane business of food-selling at rural markets - the 'this happened, then this happened' approach is not so complementary, and edges the pamphlets toward pedestrian diary-comics territory.

Vitally though, It's A Man's Life In The Ice Cream Business is charming, folksy stuff, and leaves you not just with a hankering for black peas and whinberry-flavoured ice cream, but with a piqued curiosity about the heritage of Jackson's livelihood, too. There's a satisfying sense that Jackson - who at one juncture loses then regains his soup confidence - is preserving more than just memories and the odd recipe.

The Eagle Awards are open for nominations until the end of the month, were you can vote for Jack Kirby as Best Newcomer Artist, and some fitting choices too.Voting begins on 15 February, and the winners are live streamed at the MCM London Comic Con, Excel Centre, 25-27 May. That's sure to be imaginative.

Brian John Mitchell writes to tell us about a new website, Silber Media, a site blending music (some free downloads), read-able comics and web-zines...The store includes his mini-comic collaborations with the likes of Eric Shonborn and Dave Sim.

Rebecca McCarthy asks if we can mention "a self contained one shot comic, mixing romance and superhero genres with hopefully a bit of a twist". AER is drawn by Chris Pullen, 24 pages of b&w A4 and available from IndieManga for £3.50. Rebecca also is looking for good homes for review copies so if you do that, drop her a line. Here's the link.

These BugSlugs brought to you by Andrew Luke; creating a bit of a stir in Belfast. A twice weekly comic sheet, Newszoom, is a live adaptation of the day's news to comics form, updated Tuesdays and Thursdays. It exists as part of In Time, an exhibition of my 24 hour comics which are really good. In Time runs from 2nd February to 15th March from the Arts and Disability Forum, Royal Avenue, Opps. Central Library Belfast. And today I'm promoting the docufilm I made on the Belfast comics scene.

The Invisible Artist from Northern Visions/NvTv on Vimeo.

(Background notes on my LJ)

New mini issue of the comic Monstrum Horrendum now available to read for free online here.

Craig Thompson Talks With Marcel Theroux
Later this month, the American graphic novelist Craig Thompson is in London to promote Habibi, one of the most acclaimed graphic novels of 2011, seven years in the making and published in Britain by Faber & Faber. Craig has kindly agreed to do one ‘live’ speaking engagement for Comica Festival. For this UK exclusive event on Monday January 23rd, Craig will give his illustrated talk and presentation about the ‘making of’ this remarkable book, giving rare insights into his research and process.

Lew Stringer, posts a Whizzer and Chips / Oink cross-over.

Lew Stringer was a huge influence on me as a 1980s comics reader. His humour work on the UK Transformers comic, as well as the ruder 'Oink', and others, made him I think, a national treasure. His blog, "Blimey! It's another blog about comics!", is great too.

Happy Christmas from me, Bug-Karters. Drink and telly now.

Tommie Kelly at ICN: "Just for Christmas, Im giving away all my digital comics to ICN readers. These links will be available until St Stephen’s Day, so get them while you can."

No money very well spent, methinks.

ASHES by Alex De Campi and Jimmy Broxton has reached its threshold, so will be published - There's still 11 days left if you want to be sure of bagging one of the initial print run limited edition hardcovers for $30

Over at Metropoppyfield, a new comic by Chris Reynolds to download: "After Third Stage and Planetfall I thought I'd like to do another "Monitor in Space" type of story. But this time, in place of Planetfall's hardware of 'childhood wonder', I thought I'd use spacecraft more in the line of Apollo and Space Shuttle technology - as if those designs had carried on for just a few more years." - Chris Reynolds

Thoughtbubble is this weekend in Leeds (there's events running this week in the lead-up too), and you can see whats on HERE

'Ashes', by Alex de Campi and Jimmy Broxton is half-way towards being funded. It sounds great, and if like me you want this on your shelf, preorder now!

Aeon Press, book-publishing arm of Albedo One magazine - and Ireland's only dedicated publisher of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror - has recently launched two new collections (at Octocon and at Bristolcon): Box of Delights, edited by John Kenny; and Transtories, edited by Colin Harvey. Print and pdf copies of the titles are now available at Albedo One. (Me, I've read Box Of Delights and particularly loved Priya Sharma's The Show - a flawlessly crafted story, which generates some chilling anticipation. Enticingly, the same author features in Transtories.)

Teares of Ireland on Irish Comics Wiki, wherein is lively presented, as in a map, a list of the unheard of cruelties and perfidious Treacheries of blood-thirsty Jesuits and the Popish Faction: as a warning piece to her sister nations to prevent the like miseries...

Andy Luke's and Carl Boyle's short documentary on Belfast comics creators features interviews with Paddy Brown, PJ Holden, Davey Francis and others, and provides a window onto Northern Ireland's comics scene, past and present.

Over at Irish Comic News, David O'Leary flashes a spotlight on the winners of the inaugural ICN Awards:

BEST SELF PUBLISHED IRISH ARTIST: Alan Nolan

Alan is the co-creator of the popular Sancho with Ian Whelan. Alan had a breakout 2011 with O’Brien Press with three original books aimed at a younger audience. Death by Chocolate was followed in October by Six Million Ways To Die in the Murder Can Be Fatal Series. The Big Break Detectives was also released in October. Nominated for five awards in this years nominations, the Wicklow native walked away with Best Self Published Irish Artist.

BEST SELF PUBLISHED IRISH WRITER: Mike Lynch


The County Clare based writer is the co-creator of Blackstar which launched in the pages of Irish language anthology Rira. Most recently seen in print in Uproar Comics Zombies Hi! #3, the Eagle Award nominated Lynch has a full slate for 2012 that will include work in Zarjaz, Nestor and Wire & Gas among others.

BEST MAINSTREAM PUBLISHED IRISH ARTIST: Nick Roche

Nick is of course best known for his extensive work in the Transformers universe. A regular contributor to the Eclectic Micks blog, Nick is no stranger to licensed work following work on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Doctor Who. He won this category having run neck and neck with our runner-up right until the end of voting.

BEST MAINSTREAM PUBLISHED IRISH WRITER: Garth Ennis

Perhaps Ireland’s best known comic creator export. Ennis’ name is legendary in comic circles worldwide. Having struck gold with his Vertigo Comics opus Preacher, Ennis did it again with DC’s The Boys which moved to Dynamite Entertainment early on in its run. Having worked on everything from the Punisher to Hellblazer, he has an extensive back catalogue in the war genre and a number of creator owned books at Avatar Press.

BEST IRISH WEBCOMIC: The Cattle Raid of Cooley

Paddy Brown’s continuing web comic which is part of the Ulster Cycle series, chronicles the fabled Irish epic and running almost continuously since August 2008, it won in a category where any one of four could have nicked the title.

BEST IRISH SELF PUBLISHED COMIC: League of Volunteers

The launch issue of Atomic Diner’s heralded in a whole new era in Irish comic publishing with the aim of realising a shared Irish superhero universe. Written by Atomic Diner chief Rob Curley and art by Barry Keegan, the book hit a ton of critical acclaim and commercial success.

BEST IRISH CREATOR MAINSTREAM PUBLISHED COMIC: Thunderbolts

Written by Jeff Parker and rotating art by Kev Walker and Declan Shalvey, the continuing adventures of one of Marvel Comic’s favourite super hero teams holds a fond place in many fans reading lists with its mix of excellent writing and arresting visuals.

BEST IRISH COMIC RELATED BLOG or PODCAST: The Pubcast

Hosted by Simon and Wayne and Graham and recorded in a pub somewhere inDublin weekly to talk all things geek like, this was another category that went close to being decided by a few votes.

BEST IRISH COMIC SHOP: Dublin City Comics

The first winner of the Best Comic Shop category is based on Bolton Street in Dublin. Renowned for its friendly atmosphere and its ‘Geekeasy’ it will have a job on its hands to keep the title next year in a category where once more the result was very close.

OVERALL BEST IRISH COMIC: League of Volunteers

Winner of two categories for the Atomic Diner property is no mean achievement. With two issues printed and a vital part of the overall vision by Rob Curley, this book is deserving of the title of Overall Best Irish Comic.

HALL OF FAME (individual): Garth Ennis

It seems fitting that out first inductee to the ICN Hall of Fame is our most famous export. A standard-bearer for all who have come after him, Garth Ennis’ name is synonymous with quality comics.

HALL OF FAME (comic): Mister Amperduke

Bob Byrne’s acclaimed silent 2000 panel epic story is a landmark in comic storytelling. Lauded in many circles as a great achievement, it is a worthy entrant to the first Hall of Fame Comic category.

New Comic and Zine Fair in Galway!
ComicsWest is Irelands newest comic event. Hosted by the popular Comic Book society at NUI Galway, ComicsWest celebrates Irish comics and creators as well as offering up talks, workshops and stalls. There'll also be a Q&A with Irish artists and writers.
12 - 10pm November 12th 2011, NUI Galway. Free Entry.
For more info contact: comicbook@socs.nuigalway.ie

A few days left to run on Al's Indiegogo campaign to raise funds for The Alchemist's Easel. Al needs no introduction on these pages, but if you've just come in......Al is probably one of the comics industry's greatest assets. His stories are as real as it gets, his images are mesmerising, and his approach and delivery is as innovative as the UFOs viewed by the primitives.

http://www.indiegogo.com/The-Alchemists-Easel

Orbital Comics in London hosts the 'Just 1 Page' Horror themed exhibition and auction this weekend, Friday through Sunday, featuring lots of comic art from familiar names* to readers of this weblog.

*(Disclaimer: Including mine).

There's a new one-day comics event happening in Newcastle this December: The Canny Comic Con. Keep up to date with guests and exhibitors on the event blog: http://cannycomiccon.blogspot.com/

At Speech Balloons Paul H Birch thoughtfully tackles the sensitive task of reviewing Spirit Of Hope.

Comika Comiket returns in November.

Heres the spiel:

"The spectacular Great Hall at the Bishopsgate Institute is the new venue for Comica Comiket, the Comica Festival’s 6th one-day comics and art fair - bigger and better than ever, offering the best of British creators, publishers, small presses, graphic artists and suppliers under one roof. Throughout the day, top artists will be taking part on stage in the Comica Drawing Parade, with their live artworks and demos projected on a giant screen."

Tickets: Free, all welcome
Where: Great Hall, Bishopsgate Institute, London
When: Saturday, November 12, 2011 - 11am to 6pm

My comic Inside Outsiders is available for viewing at Irish Comic News. The blurb: Psychosexual subtext pervades this League Of Extraordinary Toy Story as action figures undertake the perilous search for a fellow room-dweller who has fled an emotionally complicated relationship with a promiscuous Bratz doll.

Welcome back to FA – the Comiczine.

From the FA editorial team:

2010′s online revival of the former print comics fanzine was one of the things that gave our founding editor, Martin Skidmore, a great deal of enjoyment in what, tragically, turned out to be the last few months of his life.

Three of his friends – Tony Keen, Andrew Moreton, and Will Morgan – have pooled our resources to keep FA alive as a source for comics discussion, history and criticism.

We hope that you will support us by visiting frequently, commenting, recommending us to your friends, and by contributing articles, features, reviews, interviews or short strips. (Submissions guidelines will be published soon.)

We aim to retain FA’s distinctive balance as “the serious fanzine with a sense of fun”, and to produce a website that Martin would have enjoyed – and, that you will too! Please let us know if you think we’re getting it right.

Flying Leaf Creature is out!

Rob Jackson's trademark blend of absurdist, child-like whimsy, sweet-humoured tone and disarmingly naïve cartooning (shades of Mr. Benn here) is present in this full-colour tabloid-format comic. High on the bizarre-o-meter, this one pits a motley team against a criminal organisation with its finger in a hole other reality (sic), to gleefully entertaining effect.

Beguiling stuff! Available from Rob Jackson Comics.

MCM Expo London Comic Con is expanding its Comic Village area after tables for the 28-30 October show sold out in record time. Due to the massive demand, the Comic Village will now be enlarged by 50 per cent to give even more comic creators the chance to attend the UK’s biggest pop culture event.

For details about Comic Village, e-mail Comicvillage@mcmexpo.net

Paul Rainey's There's No Time Like The Present is one of the finest, most affecting, comics published in the past few years. Top news, then, that he's now working on a new long comic, Thunder Brother; Soap Division. He'll be publishing new pages every Monday and Friday, so pop it in your RSS reader, favourites folder, or just make a good old fashioned diary note.

The Spirit of Hope is a wonderful charity anthology currently available directly from the comic book alliance website (with free limited edition prints while stocks last), also available through Amazon and Diamond (so ask for it at your local comic store, they should be able to get it in!)

The Alchemist's Easel - A Rough Guide To Drawing The Unconscious by Al Davison is "part autobiography part 'how to draw' and part dream showcase". A new Indiegogo project may fund a limited edition book by Al, which will be used to fund the softcover edition. Early investers can also get limited edition ink drawings and art from the book.

If you're too strapped for cash, you can take an active part in tweeting, emailing, forum posting and..oh right, you got it? Are you sure? Go on. go do it now.

There is some some enthusiastic discuss on the Facebook page and for those lending some extra participation the Indiegogo campaign page has some cool bonus features which I'm not looking at until I earn it. Wakey, wakey. Social bookmark time.

Less than three weeks to go to one of the world's first Bar Camps devoted solely to comics. Bar Camp is FREE FOR EVERYONE given that it runs on corporate sponsorship. Or should do, but y'know, this is comics. Blick Studios are our first sponsor, providing a reduced venue rent, full use of tech and presentation equipment and tea and coffee on tap.

Sales outlets and distribution - Patrick Brown
Establishing a regular local market in Dublin - Gar Shanley
Motivation - Gareth McKnight
Drawing from Comics Scripts - Stephen Downey
Writer Pitching & Bar Camp OR Digital Distribution- Andy Luke
Web Publishing - Gareth Watson

We're also hoping to see sessions on managing self-employment, institutionalised funding and design and marketing, organised by local entrepreneurs and council support from outside comics.

None of these presentations or discussions are time-fixed. On the morning of the event, the presenters place the titles on post-its on an open grid. Nor is any one person running Bar Camp. It is a group effort from everyone who is attending.

The website is a wiki. were you can read and add details, register, find the Google groups, the ICN forums, the tweeters or whatever way you want to plug into the discussion AND organisation. That's right. Bar Camp is COMMUNALLY run and EVERYONE is considered a guest.

Website
Indiegogo Fundraiser Page
Comics I made about Bar Camp
#ComicsCamp

It should be noted, CAPTION guest Paul Duffield's long running online FREAKANGELS comic (written by Warren Ellis) concludes today.

CAPTION is this weekend! Get down to Oxford if you can.

Guests include:
~Blue Lou - political cartoonist and artist
http://www.bluelou.net/
~NJ Culbard - is best known for his work on the Sherlock Holmes and Lovecraft adaptations for Self-Made Hero.
http://strangeplanetstories.blogspot.com/
~Jeremy Day will be getting the festivities off to a flying start on the Saturday with one of her fun workshops.
http://jeremyday.org.uk/
~Paul Gravett - will be letting us know what it's like to spend a year in his life.
http://www.paulgravett.com/
~Paul Grist, creator of Kane and Jack Staff.
~Paul Duffield, manga creator and artist on Freak Angels.
http://spoonbard.com/
~Kate Brown, creator of The Spider Moon and Fish + Chocolate
http://danse-macabre.nu/index.html
~Andy Luke, small press creator will be talking about his new comic Absence
http://absencecomic.com/
~Paul Rainey and Rob Wells will be representing Comics- On The Ration
http://comicsontheration.blogspot.com/
...And many more!!

If you've never been before, why not make this year your first?

From FA Online: Very Sad News - FA's editor and long term stalwart of UK comics fandom Martin Skidmore died of cancer in University College Hospital at 7pm yesterday. He will be profoundly missed. Tributes to Martin and his work are linked below...

http://www.chezchrissie.co.uk/journal/?p=1303#respond
http://lucidfrenzy.blogspot.com/2011/07/rip-martin-skidmore-good-amateur-table.html
http://www.thesinglesjukebox.com/?p=3885
http://nedraggett.wordpress.com/2011/07/27/rip-martin-skidmore/
http://comiczine-fa.com/no-category/messages-for-martin-skidmore/
http://mrstsk.tumblr.com/day/2011/07/28
http://freakytrigger.co.uk/ft/2011/07/martin-skidmore/

Sad News from FA Online:

"FA's editor and long term stalwart of UK comics fandom Martin Skidmore is seriously ill with terminal cancer. He's presently in University College Hospital and is unlikely to be getting better.

"Martin has contributed a huge amount to the British comics scene as editor of Worlds Collide, the original FA, Trident Comics and much more. He's been an inspiration to many and a good friend to lot of us.

"FA is going to take a hiatus for a while, so there won't be any new articles for the next couple of weeks or so, but if you'd like to send him a message you can add a comment here: http://comiczine-fa.com/no-category/messages-for-martin-skidmore/."

This Friday evening, Bugpowder-chum Matt Badham is interviewing Al Ewing of Judge Dredd and Zombo fame. And you, if you're around and about Manchester, can see and hear it happen as it happens!

It kicks off at half past six at the Lass O'Gowrie on Charles Street. It'll cost you £2 (Earth Money) on the door and should be jolly good fun.

Update: You could win a pint!

NEW CROSS TURN LEFT happens THIS SUNDAY! Get down there if you can, looks like it's going to be a fun one.

You can see the press release Here, or visit the WEBSITE, or find them on social networking sites.

The UK and Ireland's first comics barcamp is happening in Belfast on Saturday 3rd September. You can read, register, plan and the like at comicsbarcampbelfast.pbworks.com

A blast from the past, in this gallery of 80's/90's small press covers, courtesy of Ed Pinsent.

Irish Comic News : There Is Nothing Small About Our Press

A spontaneous flurry of climactic activity by a wide variety of inking micks and paddys at pads bring us this new site, with a forum, a digital sales distribution system and more interviews than you can put on your Looking for work form.

Comix Reader Mega-Launch!!

It's Tomorrow Night :

Come help us celebrate the launch of our second cartoon and comix paper! Meet the artists and have a drink with us! If you don't yet have a copy, come and get one - it only costs a pound! Get it signed if you want! It'll be fun!
It's on June 22, 6:30pm - 10:30pm (or until the pub shuts) at The Miller Pub, 96 Snowfields, London Bridge.
It's also the launch for Lord Hurk & Kevin Ward's Static Revolter 2, and Gareth Brookes' The Black Project issue 1 (more info here : http://www.thecomixreader.com/2011/06/alternative-comix-mega-launch-comix.html)

From Ellen Lindner:
"This mega-mega-mega launch celebrates the launch of the second issue of the Comix Reader, edited by Richard Cowdry and featuring work by Lord Hurk, Tanya Meditzky, Eliot Baggott, Barnaby Richards, Julia Homersham and many, many more. BUT! On this very evening we will also see the launch of The Black Project, a dark adolescent tale in writing, linocut and embroidery by Comix Reader contributor Gareth Brookes, and - as if that were not enough! - Static Revolter 2, a surreal, mad, and utterly wonderful pamphlet by Comix Reader cover artist Lord Hurk and Comix Reader contributor Kevin Ward. Learn more at http://www.thecomixreader.com/ - we're fairly excited for this triumvirate of excellent publications to hit the streets! Look for us on the ground floor..."

Have a drink, read some comix-paper, discuss underground comics of the past, present, future. Get there on the bus, by tube, if you're not drinking- drive there, get the bus there and get the tube home, get the tube there and catch the bus home, walk there, enjoy yourself while your there.
See you there!

Wednesday, June 22 · 6:30pm - Closing