The 2005 UK Webcomix Thing is running an anthology that all UK Smallpressers are invited to submit to not just those exhibiting on the day. However, depending on the amount of submissions, priority will be given to exhibitors.

The theme is 'Small', make of that what you will, and submissions should be (preferably) 1 page long, though 2 page stories will be considered depending on available space.

The dimensions of the comic will be A5 (portrait) so bear that in mind when creating. Closing date for submissions is the 19th of February 2004 end of December 2004, so you've got lots of time to come up with an original entry.

Need more information? Email me directly at mardou85@hotmail.com

Jason Lyne invites submissions for the next issue of TOPAZ. Themed 'Aladdin/Eastern', this A4 edition is scheduled for release in early 2005. Always a critical/popular success, TOPAZ is a melting-pot of diverse art and writing styles, and a worthy home for your creative effort. Send relevant short strips, illusrations etc. to: Jason Lyne, 15 Brazwick Avenue, North Bersted, Bognor Regis, PO21 5DZ, England.

Tom Gauld writes to inform of a gallery show he's partaking in entitled Normal featuring along with himself the artists Matt Dennis, Malcolm Goldie, David Lucas and Wilfrid Wood. It's at the SEA Gallery, 70 St John Street, London, EC1M 4DT from the 3rd to the 18th of November with a private view on the 3rd, being a Wednesday, at 6pm. For more information contact Ted. A press release-flyer-thingy can be found here.

Wow and blimey this is cool! Patrick Findlay, organiser of the UK Web & Mini Comix Thing 2005 event in London next spring has put together a . There's loads of people I've not heard of on there as well as the usual suspects, and while not comprehensive (one of the joys of this small press lark is that it can never be fully mapped) he's welcoming one and all to submit their sites. Get in there!

Andy Vine writes with news of his anti-sweatshop comic No Sweat available to buy from that link or downloadable in PDF form.

"In 2001, in Puebla, central Mexico, hundreds of sweatshop workers took on the local police, judges, bosses and big corporations in a fight for dignity at work and an independent union.

They won..."

Marc Baines of Kingly Books writes with news of a party...

Chris Reynolds' new graphic novel collection The Dial and Other Stories will be launched at Mono, Kings Court, King Street, Glasgow, G1, on Wednesday 6th October 2004 at 8pm.

Music will be provided by Salty Cellar and Hairy Hi-Fi DJs and refreshments available while supplies last. All are welcome.

A small exhibition of Chris's One-Panel-Stories will be on show between the 1st and 7th October at the above venue.

Pippa from Underfire Comics writes:

We are a group of comic artists / writers / gobshites based in Brighton. We publish a quarterly anthology called Rapid Fire as well as a couple of mini series'. (To date 'Dream Time' and 'Black Jet' - more in the pipeline). We have stockists throughout the U.K. and can be found at the London and Bristol comic conventions. Interested parties can also order comics via our website.

We are currently looking to collaborate with other comic artists, writers or collectives in the Brighton area, with a view to raising the profile of sequential art within the local community and getting gallery space at events such as the Fringe festival.

We have recently made a number of changes to the way we operate and also to the design of our 'Rapid Fire' anthology. (New issue (4) out in time for the Comics Winter Festival). Rather than operating in a void, we would welcome comments on the 'new look' as well as feedback on any of our titles.

Contact us via the website.

Yesterday's Society section of The obligatory Guardian reprted on Lickin' Shot, a semi-autobiographical comic book written by former members of black gangs in Manchester.

"The story, with its drive-by shootings and tales of empty praise and glory before the hero's final rejection of his life of crime, has been played out in plenty of ghetto films."

You can download it from www.lifelinepublications.org.

Roy of the Rovers is resurrected in Monday's Guardian. Sadly they don't reprint the strip that accompanied the article online. I could scan it if people are interested in viewing/hosting it?

"....not quite as ridiculous as winning the 1986 Milk Cup with a line-up including Bob Wilson, Emlyn Hughes, and Martin Kemp and Steve Norman from Spandau Ballet."

Alistair Kennedy knocks up a list of comic books/graphic novels that should be filmed in the Edinburgh Student Newspaper.

"Student delves into its graphic novel library to track down the comics that aren’t being translated into cinemas, but should."

Eddie Campbell is interviewed by Milo George in the launching issue of the online magazine, Graphic Novel Review.

He discusses his Batman book, his Egomania magazine and his upcoming Graphic Novel, The Fate Of The Artist.

"Pictures have illustrated words and words have explained pictures since the beginning of time. Somebody reads a dull comic and extrapolates rules from it. Who do they think they are? There are all these people trying to be the rule-makers and the end result is bad for the art of Comics. Fuck 'em all, that's what I say."

A massive sombrero goes out to Jon Chandler who now officially and cordially invites you to peruse his new website. It rocks!

To even the scales, The Herald also runs a piece on 'The Titeuf Phenomenon"

The Sunday Herald reports on Le Téméraire, a comic published in Nazi occupied France.

"Britain was treated with particular disdain, and Irish rebels were revered, in the eight-page publication. It featured a regular illustrated story called The Secret Of Professor O’Brien, which portrayed the relentless pursuit of a heroic Irish scientist by evil English secret service torturers who coveted his formula for making gold."

There's an ad here, Experienced Artists for Driving Games wanted by a games company based in the North East.

As reviewed in The Telegraph:

"Noble's is an art of accretion, of excess, and of apparently limitless elaboration. It belongs to a strand of visionary and fantasy art in Britain that includes Blake and Richard Dadd, but also Viz comics and the cartoons of Robert Crumb."

'Paul Noble' is at the Whitechapel Gallery, London E1 (020 7522 7888), until Nov 14.

"Titeuf's prime characteristic is that he is curious. He wants to understand. But he understands nothing," said Zep - who says he was heavily influenced by the British cartoonist Leo Baxendale, creator of the classic Bash Street Kids.

Here's the Croydon printing.

"Comics - even posh comics originally published in French - don't much go in for understatement."

The Huddersfield Daily Examiner is reporting that graffiti artist Keith Hopwell will give tips on the art of Japanese graphic novels at their Teenage Kicks series of workshops.

Teenage Kicks will last from 11am to 4pm and costs £3.50 per person (lunch included). Places must be pre-booked.

For details, phone Alex Markham 01484 226300 or 07906 765851.

Alternatively, you can email alex.markham@kirklees.gov.uk

Patrick Findlay emailed to say that the UK Web and Mini Comix Thing is confirmed for March 19th 2005 at the same venue (but in a bigger hall) in East London. He writes:

If you are interested in exhibiting please let me know as soon as possible. 2005 will be in the Great Hall as the Octagon is not available. The Great Hall is much larger and more expensive, so i'll be looking to secure the rent ASAP. The great hall is directly adjacenet to the main Road so it will be easier to find. It used to be a theatre and has a stage and a balcony area and curtains and everything.

Exhibitor fees are £35 but they will go up to £40 from 1 January and £45 from 1 March. Visitor tickets will be £2.50, a reduction on last year. This year all profits will go to the organisers, ie, this is a For Profit Venture.

There have been several changes to the format, and these will be detailed on the web site. They include a broadening of the scope for exhibitors to cater for anything online such as illustrators, illustrated story tellers, and the like. There will also be provision for more mainstream comics resellers due to the size of the hall.

Tickets will be available soon, and there will be advanced advertising as soon as the income allows. There will be ads in Comics International, and a substantial Google Ad Campaign plus other things.

Again, if you could do your best to spread the word, that would help. We need exhibitors, special guests, sponsors and organisers. Please feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.

A big hat goes out to Jon Chandler for his new updated website. See Ripper the Fuckin Elephant in all his glory. Great stuff!

[Originaly posted by Mardou]

Again from The Guardian.

On 16 October the Newsroom will be hosting a day of events as part of The Big Draw, the campaign to get people drawing.

Supported by top Guardian and Observer cartoonists, artists, illustrators and designers, The Big Draw is an opportunity to learn more about the wide range of art that contributes to the newspapers' success.

Sessions are free of charge but places are limited and you will need to book in advance. To obtain a booking form please email your name and address in an email titled 'The Big Draw' to newsroom@guardian.co.uk or telephone 020 7886 9806.

All in The Guardian...
A review of his new book, The Apes Of Wrath.

"Apes of Wrath is not, however, just a collection of fun cartoons and good Bush gags. It is also a cry of fury against the Bush presidency, and what Bell names the Blair sycophancy."

There's a gallery of extracts from the book at this link.

There's an exhibtion of work for this book at The Guardian Newsroom.

"Apes of Wrath opens on 17 September until 12 November 2004.

Opening times
Monday - Friday : 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday : 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Admission is free.

The Newsroom, Archive and Visitor Centre
60 Farringdon Road
London EC1R 3GA
Tel 020 7886 9898
Fax 020 7490 8359
Email newsroom@ guardian.co.uk"

And you can chat to Steve Bell online, Friday September 17, 11am by clicking this link. The site allows you to leave a question if you're not about at the allotted time.

Two reviews of In The Shadow Of No Towers, the first reprinted from Salon, the second by Aili McConnon, who offers this:

"Spiegelman subtly suggests that as he stands on the "faultline where World History and Personal History collide", struggling to articulate trauma, loss and memory, he can better understand the plight of others caught in the aftermath of large-scale violence.".

There's also images and more info at the US publishers website.

Just noticed this article from an old Guardian that mentions Ware's Jimmy Corrigan in a rundown of the role design is occupying in our lives.

"In Clowes's capable hands, escapist iconography is given new and more resonant life, and The Death Ray reads as a cautionary parable and an acidic rumination on the travails of adolescence."

Remember that idea for a CDR featuring PDF samples of small press comics that Simon Perrins came up with a while back? Shane Chesby of SmallZone has joined him and it looks like it's actually going to happen. Shane writes:

"It's being produced and distributed by Simon Perrins and myself, and designed by Sharron Wilson. Any publisher with a new comic, or work in progress is free to submit work. We need sample pages, publisher profiles, and any links to websites or artwork sent to my email address, no larger than 1mb. Copies of the CD will be sent to publishers, retailers, readers, and given away free with many small press titles including Incoming!. Anyone is also free to make copies, and add their own stuff to the copies
and pass them onto their firends."