Baz Renshaw wants to hear your experiences of selling comics (or contributing to an anthology) for his new expanded guide to self publishing. The new edition is planned to debut at Bristol 2009. Over to Baz:

A few years ago, I put together a Rough Guide to Self publishing at a Small Press talk at Bristol comics festival. It went down pretty well, so I did a better version, eventually doing three ever expanding editions. I always intended to go back and rewrite it from scratch, as I've learnt a lot more since it was published which I think may be of benefit to those wanting to do their own comic, but a lot of my time was swallowed by the day job and Redeye.

The cut off point for submissions will be 1st January 2009, as I hope to have the finished article ready for the Bristol Comics Festival in May 09. Contact me at editor@enginecomics.co.uk for further info.

the web and mini comix thing is back for 2009, and the tables are cheaper (relatively speaking) if you get in there early

check out james nash- he loves you, apparently

London Underground Comics has been going for nearly a year now, and Oli Smith wants you to help him celebrate on 18th October: (Vid contains some sweary words:)

Too awesome! There will also be 24 hour comic things happening, further details can be found on the website.

Birmingham was fun! A big hello to anyone who I might have spoken to there.

One attendee was PJ Holden, who sent this to the Bugpowder mailbag:

Hi there,

-PJ..

Other comic readers have been hurriedly put into production for the iPhone, but this one I think really benefits from being designed by an established artist who understands the content and the importance of the user interface.

Long-running online comic Halloween Man begins a team-up with Tim Seeley's Spike TV Scream Award nominated Hack/Slash, beginning October 15th. Just in time for Halloween! It's free, as is the archive at the link. Go show them some love, and tell them I sent you.

Issue 3 of the Bedsit Journal is out now.
So far it's in Gosh, Foyles, and the Cartoon Museum in London, and Punker Bunker, David's Comics and Red Mutha in Brighton. It'll roll out to other shops fairly soon, but meanwhile you can order it online here (with free postage!).
Anyway, it's a 40 page issue, litho printed on heavy, good quality paper, full colour cover. Most importantly it presents a big slab of new 'alternative' (i.e. not superheroes) UK comics. It has work by me (Richard Cowdry), Peter Lally, Bird, and Hannah Glickstein.
Click the cover below for general news and information about the comic.

rob jackson has a new comic out, called 8 stories

also keep an eye on the forbidden planet blog, as they have promised a week of small press reviews, starting with ben powis's whale hunt.

more shameless self promotion i'm afraid, the 80-page collection of banal pig comics 1-3 is available now for the special offer price of £5.00

Joe Gordon just posted up a piece on the FP blog with Declan Shalvey, which touches on the UK small press scene, working on Eagle-winning Hero Killers & the help Jon Haward gave to him. Includes some interesting examples of the creative process.

Things have been a little hectic for us here at Stately Bugpowder Mansion. Our apologies for the infrequent updates. Remember, its never too late to volunteer to join the crew! Membership gets you backstage access to the Bugpowder HQ, the ability to plug whatever small press event and/or product you fancy, and the respect of your peers.

In other news:

Here's cartoonist Liz Greenfield on the process behind her new web-comic Steak and Kidney Punches (which appears on the Dark Horse webby thang).

An interview with The DFC’s David Fickling is up.

Top Shelf have recently put eight new strips of Joe Decie's up on their webcomics page
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0/decie2/1
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/ts2.0/decie3/1

Decadence #6 is a special space themed comic anthology from the Decadence regulars.

Making its debut at the Birmingham International Comics Show will be my latest MicroComic presentation - "Stuff For You".

Think of it as a little refreshing commercial break to read between greater more worthy tomes.

As well as showcasing modern advances in Male Grooming, this issue also features amazing celebrity cameo appearances, including A-List superstar Christopher Walken*! Walken completists, this is one you won't want to miss.

*(Christopher Walken does not endorse this unnofficial appearance).

Absolutely free, you may find this MicroComic lying around at Birmingham, thrust randomly into your hand, or available on request from myself. Stop me and try one!

Pillar of the Small Press Shane 'Smallzone.co.uk' Chebsey has released details of events at the upcoming Birmingham International Comics Show (BICS for short). The 'All Killer No Filler' schedule includes (of possible particular interest to Bugpowdees) the "Incredibly Strange Comics" panel hosted by Paul Gravett, portfolio reviews (DC Comics, Disney & Titan) for those wanting to go Pro, plus there'll be over 50 Small Press publishers exhibiting at the show.

I've bought my tickets, there were still rooms available when I booked this week. If you see me, say 'Hi!' (optionally followed by 'What are you drinking?').

Oh, and BICS has a message board forum now apparently.

Elbow just won the Mercury Music prize, for the their album which features a cover and interior art by Oli 'Trains are Mint' East. (Pics at the link, on FP's blog)

Sheridan Cottage returns for another series of Sunday night runs. Last week featured a spotlight on Dan Lester and 24 Hour Comics, this week is a broad retrospective on UK comics in the last few years, and where we might be heading next.

State of the Union is online now.

Columns over the next few weeks will be reporting on my experiences running a stall selling mini-comics at the Oxford town and county market, as well as the month long Collective exhibition at the Jam Factory.

Marc Ellerby has a new mini comic out, Sad Girls for Life- details here

There's a new issue of the comics magazine Colouring Outside The Lines coming out with an interview with Liz Lunney amongst others. I keep an issue by my toilet. It's very good.

Scott McCloud involved in Google's new Chrome Browser

Joe Gordon provides proper perspective and context, and Sean Azzopardi blogs about LUC's Low Energy Day

Limited Time Top Shelf sale again. (Via the very readable LITG)

for all you northeners, the manchester zinefest is also tomorrow, the 30th august at URBIS, ground floor, between midday and 6pm, with stalls from Sam's World, Ladyfest Manchester, Cause n Effect, Hayase!, Mount Pleasant, Manifesta, Dirt Cheap, Attack!!!! magazine, Cherry Bomb Comics, Dans la Matin, Brazilian Nuts, Subtext, Cafe Royal, Camp Yellow, Veracidad Tenaz, Black and White Cat Press, Load of Noise and our very own Manchester Zinefest stall.

There's also workshops between 12.30 and 6 including talk on history of the Radical Press in the 602 and 70s with Bob Dickenson, Radical History Walk and Mapmaking, paper manipulation with Dans La Matin, Zines and Radical Politics discussion with Melanie (editor, Reassess Your Weapons ), Humaira (editor, Race Revolt) and Marion (Zine Fest organiser and zine writer), Music Zines discussion and possibly more

Plus an exhibition, of some form

Bring a zine, opinions, eyes, ideas or just some pocket money, more details at www.manchesterzinefest.org.uk

Hello Bugpowder,
I am proud to invite you to The Caption Comics Collective Closedown Party
Friday, August 29, 2008
3:00pm - 11:00pm
The Old Jam Factory,
Hollybush Row, OX1 1HU,
Oxford, United Kingdom

Comics jam, sketching and closedown party for the Caption Comics Collective Exhibition at the Jam Factory. David Baillie, Andy Luke and Daniel Merlin Goodbrey in the afternoon, with Jeremy Dennis and Ellen Lindner coming along in the evening. Possibly others! It's hard to tell with cartoonists. You know what -- you should come along, too.

Facebook Event Listing

And of course, Low Energy Day, the huge UK comics art fun day happening in Camden Market on Saturday, which you may have heard of.

Joe Decie has some nice web comics on Top Shelf 2.0

Emma Welch has recently published her first comic called 'Arcaders' more details on her blog

PJ Holden exhibits his comic MURDERDROME on the iPhone:

Using the sensationalism of a father-son creative collaboration and exploration of shared narrative, previously forgotten MP decides to attach his black eggs of attention. Jason Wilson's 'His and Hers Smuggling Vacation' has been attracting a good readership including much journalistic interest for its honed book art style, and use of solid research. MPs name is associated with a poor grasp of understanding of health and cultural matter.

Jason will be signing copies of the book at Birmingham Borders Store, Bull Ring Centre, this Saturday August 23rd 12-3pm.

I've just finished reading a few comics including Oli Smith's Weekend Friends, which seems to be a return to form, and the rather excellent Dan Lester Mysteries by Dan, Oliver Lambden and Jake H. I really enjoyed the latter, which is like an expansive ice cream parlour situated next to a Bushmills distillery. Overstreet, learn !

UK indie comics & manga portal IndieReview has had a revamp, the start of their new-look website, which includes star-ratings in the reviews, more on webcomics and the offer of free Word Press driven blogs for UK small press creators. Get in touch with them!

The Press Release can be found here.

The Observer and Random House have called for entries to this year's Graphic Short Story Competition. The first prize is a grand plus seeing your entry across two pages of the Observer. Judges include Mark Haddon and Rutu Modan; deadline, 17th October 2008.
Details here.

The Dan Lester Mysteries, a new comic by (Sleazy) Dan Lester and Oliver Lambden is out now, available at www.monkeysmightpuke.com or at the Camden Comics stall on Saturdays.

Dan Locke has a new blog which should be well worth bookmarking.

The Observer/Jonathan Cape/ Comica Graphic Short Story competition is back, this time its 2 pages of the Observer, details at http://www.randomhouse.co.uk/graphicnovels/competition.htm

On Thursday 14th August at 5pm, Resonance FM will broadcast "Stand Up Comics: Music and Performance by Small Press Artists and Writers" as part of the weekly comics programme, 'Strip'. Tune in for poetry, stories, music and dialogue, featuring:

Matthew Thurber of Ambergris and creator of 1-800 Mice
Steven Tillotson, banal pig comics
Daniel Locke, Green comics

Mystery Dick

Pestrepeller (see Mystery Dick)
Sylvie Winn, The Director of Tall Buildings
Gareth Brookes, Appalling Nonsense
Dan Lester, Monkeys Might Puke
Jimi Gherkin

You can hear the show by tuning into Resonance FM 104.4 on an old fashioned radio (in London) or at www.resonancefm.com.

adam cadwell sez:

"I thought I let you all see a little video I put together from last month's Manchester Comix Collective Drink 'n' Draw. It was a quiet turn out but we knocked out a 4 page Comic Jam about sacrificing David Bowie and an army of child Terry Wogans".
watch it here

manchester based comic types are invited to the next drink and draw on august 24th, location tbc so keep an eye on the mcc website if you're interested

ben powis sez:

"my first comic Turtle Guitar is now available to read for FREE online!" bargain.

and gosh comics sez:

Ian Edgington and D'Israeli are signing at copies of their new Stickleback collection, along with copies of the Scarlet Traces trilogy, Leviathan and the rest of the duo's back catalogue, on Saturday 16th August from 4pm-6pm.

(bit of a blantant advert, but if you've never been to Gosh and live in London you should definitely check it out)

david bailey* sez:

please look at my website (paraphrasing)

*he's not david baillie

lizz lunney is doing a comic a day for august.

also, have a look at patrick brown's comics inspired by irish mythology.

Anyone here get the Page 45 mailings?* You might want to resubscribe.

"...In the meantime some of you may have already received the following post-script to your emails:

And, I might add, if you know of any of your mates that have signed up to the Page 45 Mailshot in the last 18 months, do encourage them to get back in contact, please!

Completely new computer due today, then all will be dandy."

* Bugpowder heartily recommends this twice-weekly service.
**Bugpowder does not openly endorse the defenestration of any Microsoft employees.

Alex Fitch's recent podcasts may be of interest - Take it away, Alex:

"Interview with Eagle award winning artist Tom Humberstone about his comics from Everything you never wanted to know about Crohn’s disease and to How to date a girl in ten days plus his blog / sold out graphic novella My Fellow Americans.

Interview with cartoonist Dan Lester about his humour comics such as Monkeys might puke and the use of satire and reoccurring characters in gag strips plus the similarities between humour and crime fiction and solving the problems of both on the pages of his new murder mystery comic.

Also, encouraging the next generation of small pressers:
Interview with Dan Berry, a lecturer from North Wales School of art and design about the new Illustration for Graphic Novels course he’s going to be teaching from this autumn, about introducing a new generation to the craft of making comics and also about Dan’s interest in typography and how it’s one of the most under-appreciated aspects of comic books.

My next small press extravaganza - following next week's cameos by Richy Chandler (Tempo Lush), Bevis Musson (Dead Queen Detectives) and the ubiquitous Oli Smith in the broadcast of my gay comics panel from Bristol - is a one hour special curated by Gemma Cantlow (Layby Perk) which features musical and spoken word performances by small press creators. More info at http://www.myspace.com/sucomics
(actually, having looked, not a huge amount of info, but chatted to Gemma about it yesterday; it sounds very exciting - expect music by Dan Lester and stuff by Banal Piggers + much much more. Hopefully this'll become a quarterly event...)"

If you're in Oxford tomorrow evening you may like to pop by The Oxford Jam Factory from 6:30pm onwards for the premiere launch of the Caption Cartoonists Collective Exhibition which runs the month of August. It also "runs the gamut from the autobiographical to the fantastic, in a broad range of styles and
media. You'll find narratives to follow around the gallery, keenly
observed slices of life, adventure, surrealism and humour."

A UK creator has made the final round in the international Small Press Idol competition over at Comicspace. Here's what he says:

Against all odds the super pop chaos of Tokyo Gonzo is through to the final round of Dimestore's Small Press Idol 2008. The most sales of the 32 page issue 0 gets the winner a four issue mini series.

Tokyo Gonzo is written and drawn by Daniel Cox and Bob Molesworth.

Speech Balloons: the latest in the world of comics.

The Technique needs some explaining. (One-page strip.)

The Apostrophe and Coma comic is available to read as a pdf

Out of the bag in the last few days Oli and the LUC men are putting together "Low Energy Day", following the success of No Barcodes. Scheduled for August 30th, it features more tables, similar price structure and 'Tales from the Flat's Lawrence Powell as DJ.

More details and the YouTube video on the official announcement, and specific visitor and exhibitor info here.

Chris Doherty has new pages from his comic, Video Nasties, up at his live journal. go see.