P-Con III - Tales Of A Long Weekend In Dublin: Sunday

12:00: Is It About a Bicycle? Flann O’Brien: Ireland’s Master Storyteller
With Leah, Pádraig and Nicholas Whyte. Which went very, very well despite Leah's having only re-read half of The Third Policeman in preperation.

14:00: Comics Are the New Black,Graphic Novels Are the New Rock’n’Roll
With Leah and myself and Bob Neilson. Very interesting and much less pessimistic than Saturday's comics panel.

15:00: The Other Inkling: C S Lewis
With Susanna Clarke, Caroline Symcox and Colin Smythe. Proved very fascinating indeed.

16:00 SF & F Pictionary
The boy's team won (thanks largely to my expert rendering of "Wind In The Willows" I think).

After the raffle came the closing ceremony which was very moving as Mr. Pádraig Ó Méaloid announced his retirement from con running and handed the reigns of P-Con over to Mr. Frank Darcy. A few tears were shed but it was genrally a fittingly happy end to a fantastic convention.


Deirdre, Fluffcthulhu and Leah after the ceremony.


Fluffcthulhu, Leah and Juliet.


Leah, Susanna, Pádraig and Brian in the lobby before we left for an Indian meal.

J.

Fake Autographs On V Posters...again!!

Yup. Once again there are posters on Ebay which have apparently been signed by Alan Moore. If someone got him to sign a V poster i'd be more than surprised...I'd give them the £50 myself!! Watch out merchandise hunters, all is not what it seems....
L.

Edit: 01:05 AM:

Curiously, the images seem to have been removed from the auction. However, the following text is still there:

A genuine, movie poster of "V FOR VENDETTA" signed by Natalie Portman, Hugo Weaving, Stephen Rea, John Hurt, Sinéad Cusack, Stephen Fry, Rupert Graves, Roger Allam, Tim Pigott-Smith, John Standing, set decorator Peter Walpole, production designer Owen Paterson, writer Alan Moore, illustrator David Lloyd, the screenwriting team of Andy Wachowski & Larry Wachowski, producer Joel Silver, and director James Teigue. These are actual, handwritten, AUTHENTIC signatures obtained in person at Saks Fifth Avenue's Unforgettable Evening Benefit for the Entertainment Industry Foundation Women's Cancer Research Fundraiser held at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, and at other venues which are intentionally omitted here for security reasons.

So there was Alan, in California (without having held a valid passport since the 1980's) having a right good laugh with Joel Silver and the Wachowski's. Yeah right.

J.

P-Con III - Tales Of A Long Weekend In Dublin: Saturday

Saturday morning: We missed the opening ceremony and arrived too late for Leah to take part in the "Just A Minute" quiz because of heavy traffic on the way to the con.
We basically hung about for a couple of hours chatting to various people, reading comics and buying books.

From the 20,000 Leagues stand we picked up:


A grand little tale of revenge accross the generations produced in partnership with Rad Comics.

And...

Issue 2 of Sancho, which is even better than #1 (of you can believe that).


The back of the issue bears the above quote from some pair of little known comics folk. Some people will endorse anything I suppose.

At 13:00 I was lucky enough to attend a screening of "Loving The Alien" a short film about UFOs and UFO culture by Ronan Gallagher.
They even stuck me on the panel afterwards with Ronan and Frank Darcy which was loads of fun and very interesting.
Ronan is a fantastic film maker with a really down to earth and honest approach to even the most weird and wonderful of subjects. I am reliably informed that his new website should be up an running soon so keep an e-eye out for it.

14:00: Susanna Clarke's big interview, which was fascinating enough to make us buy "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell" as soon as we got home.

16:00: Charity auction, which went fantastically well thanks to John W. Sexton's unparalleled compering skills.

17:00: How To Break Into the American Comics Market panel, with us, Bob Byrne, Paul Cornell and John Hendrick. I believe the conclusion was "don't bother".

19:00: Nice meal in the hotel restaurant.

(Clockwise round the table: Pádraig, Michael aka captainlucy, Deirdre, Paul, Juliette, Colin, Susanna, Caroline, Leah and some big fat bloke)

20:30: Table quiz. On our team were Paul Cornell, Caroline Symcox and Colin Greenland.

We won!

J.

P-Con III - Tales Of A Long Weekend In Dublin: Friday.

Right, I suppose we'd better start at the beginning.

On Friday the 10th of March our plane touched down in Dublin airport at about 17:30. We were met at the arrivals gate by one Mr. Pádraig ÓMéalóid and a very nice man called Peter. The latter drove us to the Ashling hotel whilst the former pointed out landmarks and places of note and interest.

Arriving in the Ashling hotel (the venue for Phoenix Convention) we soon found ourselves sitting in the venue's very pleasant bar area. In between seemingly endless pints of Guinness we were introduced to myriads of fantastically nice and interesting people including (but by no means restricted to) Paul Cornell, Caroline Symcox, Susanna Clarke, Colin Greenland, Bob Byrne, Juliet E. McKenna, John W. Sexton and Bob Neilson.

Pádraig and his lovely wife Deirdre had to leave reasonably early as they (understandably) had a lot to sort out before the next day. However, before retiring to bed Mr. ÓMéalóid made this entry in his live journal.

It seems fair to say that we were slightly the worse for drink by the time Ian Whelan and Al Nolan arrived (both of whom stuck to diet coke). Ian and his bride to be Nicola had very kindly offered to put us up in their home so, after prising us away from the bar, he drove us off to Wicklow where we fell sound asleep as soon as our heads hit the pillows.

It may very well prove to be a blessing that we forgot to take any photographs on Friday night.

J.

P-Con III Post Con Pre-report

Our plane landed in Liverpool at 18:25 so we've not been home long.

P-Con III was so fantastic and so much happened that I couldn't possibly hope to just sit down and sum it all up so quickly and easily. I do believe that Leah and myself will be attempting a reasonably detailed account of the whole event here on the news blog very soon.

In the meantime, all I can say is: "wow!" and "Thank you so very, very much Mr. Pádraig ÓMéalóid".

Thank you also to the entire fan community of Dublin who are without a doubt the most devoted and organised bunch of lovely folks we've ever met.

J.

WIN: The Steel Claw -The Vanishing Man

Win The Steel Claw - The Vanishing Man from Titan Books over on our message board.

"Now starring in Albion - a brand new US comics series plotted by the legendary Alan Moore - the Steel Claw joins the Spider as the next classic British comics character to receive the beautifully packaged hardcover archive treatment! When a lab experiment goes disastrously awry, Louis Crandell discovers that when his right hand - the eponymous steel claw - connects with electricity, he becomes invisible! But to what nefarious ends can he put this new power?

Never-before-collected, boasting a stunning new cover by comics legend Brian Bolland (Batman: The Killing Joke), and featuring exclusive new articles exploring the history of the Steel Claw, this collection is the perfect introduction!"


Click to enter.

controlarms.org: The Million Faces Petition @ Bristol Comic Expo

This May at the Bristol Comics Expo, Leah and I will be stationed in the main hall next to the Control Arms table offering our support to The Million Faces Petition.

About The Campaign
Lack of controls on the arms trade is fuelling conflict, poverty and human rights abuses worldwide. Every government is responsible. The Control Arms campaign is asking governments to toughen up controls on the arms trade.



Our Million Faces petition is collecting photos and self portraits from around the world to reach our goal of one million faces by June 2006. We will use these faces to send a powerful, global message of support to the world's governments for an International Arms Trade Treaty.

Basically, there are two ways you can get involved in The Million Faces Campaign:

1. If you're going to be attending the Bristol Comics Expo then all you need to do is drop by our table or the Control Arms table and pick up a special Expo Action Card. Sketch yourself a quick self portrait (or take a little time and create a masterpiece) and hand the card in to the Control Arms people.
2. If you're not going to be at Bristol in May then visit www.controlarms.org and upload your own self portrait to add your face to the petition.

All portraits will be uploaded and displayed on the Control Arms website in a fully searchable gallery. Who knows, you're picture might end up next to some of comics biggest names.

J.

David Lloyd Art Exhibition In London 7th - 17th March

Click on the screen grab (above) to visit the Guardian website.

Interview With John Online

People just keep asking us questions and we keep answering them, so you need to keep reading them I suppose.

>>>CLICK HERE<<<

J.

Moore & Reppion Newsarama Interview

Blah, blah, blah. We do go on don't we?

>>>>CLICK HERE TO READ THE PIECE<<<<

J.

Collectormania G-Mex Report

We had a great time in Manchester over the weekend.
We read lots of nice comics, drank lots of nice drink and ate a lot of very nice sandwiches.
Big thanks to everyone involved in the organising and running of the con.

Blag Roll (cool stuff we got for free):

From James Hodgkins we obtained a fantastic Lass Vegas Deluxe Edition and a copy of his brilliant Sketch Book Vol 1.



Al Davison was kind enough to give us a copy of his brand new Figures & Phantasms book of sketches, drawings and prints, which is marvellous.



Adam Cadwell & Chris Doherty handed over a wonderful comic entitled My Beloved Monsters.



And last, but by no means least (and actually, it was the first thing we blagged...) we grabbed a couple of copies of Dave Gibbons and John Higgins's latest offering: Thunderbolt Jaxon. This is going to be an amazing series!



We also met a lot of very nice people like John McCrea, Randy Martinez and Cynthia Cummens, not to mention hanging about with the Accent UK lads and Mike "The End Is Nigh" Molcher.
Looking forward to the next con already.

J.

M & R Sign 12 Month Contract With Dynamite Entertainment

Visit Newsarama.com or DynamiteEntertainment.com for more info.

J.

bat girl #3 Amber's turn....

now amber's at it too....

Bat Girl meme...my turn.

see the artistic excellence...behold batgirl...
L

Accent UK "Monsters" Anthology

Here's a sneak preview of "Lusca", the short tale we've written for the upcoming Accent UK anthology entitled "Monsters". The book should be out in April we think...watch this space for details.We've been lucky enough to get this opportunity to work with the incredibly talented Dave Hitchcock who's work we've both admired for a few years now. Suffice to say, we're very excited about the project.

J.

Batgirl Meme "Okay, I give in"

I've done one...
(for what it's worth).

J.

Albion #4 Rescheduled For April 12th 2006

Just announced over on the Wildstorm site:

On Sale April 12, 2006

Sorry for the delay folks, it'll be worth the wait. We promise.

J.

Happy New Year!

All the best for 2006.

L&J

Seasons Greetings.

Thank you very much to everyone who has sent us an Xmas card, either real or virtual.


We wish everyone all the very best for the festive season.

HO-HO-HO!

J&L

Celebrity Endorsement Number 3: David Lloyd

David Lloyd Endorsement.


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Leeds Signing Report.

We had a great day out in Leeds on Monday.

OK Comics is lovely little establishement which we heartily endorse. If we lived in Leeds we'd never be out of the place.
Jarrod and the lads looked after us really well during the day; filling us full of coffee and smiling politley as we talked a load of rubbish at them.

Thanks to everyone who popped in and chatted to us and got us to scrawl on their copies of Albion and The End Is Nigh.


The OK Comics staff.

We'd never met Mr. Al Ewing before Monday but we really enjoyed his company and managed to get our mitts on some of his splendid Beat Girl Comics which are bloody hilarious.


Al Ewing.

After the signing we all adjourned to lovely little pub called The Angel where we ended up staying until about 10 o'clock. A round for seven people never came to more than a tenner! Good times!


Mike "Kong My Whopper" Molcher.

Mike Molcher (yes he really is that tall) is grinning because he's the editor of the best magazine in the world and everyone knows it!

The End Is Nigh is now available at Travelling Man comic shops accross the UK.

If you don't have a Travelling Man near you then march into your nearest comic shop and ask them if they have a copy.
If they don't then get them to order some in! All they have to do is email endisnigheditor@yahoo.co.uk and request some mags.

Get buying/ordering/reading!

J.

Albion #3 Sells Out!!

ALBION #3 (of 6) (JUN050419)

In stores 10/5/2005; sold out 12/8/2005

initial orders 16,452

print run 21,476

you heard it here first kids!

L

Win The New Titan Spider Book!

We're running a competition on our messageboard for one lucky reader to win a copy of The Spider - King Of Crooks.

Get over to the board now for your chance to win!

J.

Albion #4 Out Dec 28th

Sadly not in time for Xmas :(

J.

World AIDS Day Dec 1st 2005

Click on the image (above) to visit www.worldaidsday.org 

J. H. Williams Art Show Webcast

Superstar artist J. H. Williams III (Promethea, Wild Girl, Desolation Jones) is having an art show/signing party in San Francisco on the 2nd of December.

"But I can't get to San Fancisco" I hear you sigh. No problem, there's a webcast!

Visit http://isotopecomics.com/

J.

The Spider - King Of Crooks Out Now!

A couple of copies of The Spider - King Of Crooks arrived today.
Lovely big hardbacks they are too (we were expecting paperbacks for some reason).
Looking forward to having a good old read later.

Just noticed the big fat full page Albion ad in the back too. Nice! :)

J.

Leeds Signing in 3 Weeks

Click on the screen shot (above) to visit the OK Comics website.

Just to remind you that we'll be signing at:

OK Comics
19 Thorntons Arcade
Briggate
Leeds City Centre
LS1 6LQ
United Kingdom

Tel: (044) 08452 266 427

On Monday December 12th 2005 from 12 noon.

Don't forget.

J.

Brighton Expo Essentials

Yes, the Brighton Comic Expo looms large this weekend but since we're not going to be attending we thought we'd give you a few recommendations as to what to buy and whom to see.

• The 20,000 Leagues lads will be there, all the way from Ireland, flogging the latest Sancho installment "Vampires of Dublin" (three pounds)
  (Sharing the table with Alan and Ian will be Bridgeen Gillespie of Mr.Maximo fame, who will be launching a brand new project. Lots of other Irish goodies worth a glance there as well)

• The End Is Nigh #2 - War, featuring contributions from too many cool people to mention will be on sale for three pounds and ninety nine pence

• The Death Camp Jones folks will be there flogging Pony School, Action Stations and other filth for around two pounds a go

• Future Quake #5 will be on sale for three pound fifty along with its new all Manga spin off publication Manga Quake for two pound fifty

• Engine Comics will be there flogging Red Eye #5 (three pounds) and tonnes of other great stuff

• Make sure to check in on Gary Millidge and pick up your copies of Strangehaven #18 or the Conspiracies TPB if you haven't already got them

• And keep an eye out for Solar Wind, Omnivistascope and Doomlord which are bound to be somewhere around

Lots and lots of cool guests and lots and lots of lovely comics. Should be a good weekend.

Enjoy yourselves!

J.

Moore & Reppion Th3rd World Studios Project

Click on the screen shot (above) to visit the Th3rd World Studios Forum

Yes, there's been a bit of hush-hushed mention of this project in the past but we can now reveal the facts.

Leah and I have signed up to do an 11 page story for the forthcoming Th3rd World Studios: Space Doubles series.

Our artist on the project is going to be the very talented Mr. Adam Geen and we'll be sharing the issue (out around June 2006 if all goes well) with Trigger writer Jason Hall.

We're very excited. :)

More news to follow as and when.

J.

Remember, Remember, The Fifth Of November...

Moore & Reppion Signing In Leeds

Click on the screen shot (above) to visit the OK Comics website.

Leah and I will be signing at

OK Comics
19 Thorntons Arcade
Briggate
Leeds City Centre
LS1 6LQ
United Kingdom

Tel: (044) 08452 266 427

On Monday December 12th 2005 from 12 noon.

See you there.

J.

The End Is Nigh #2 Launch

Press Release: THE END IS NIGH - get it ... before it's too late!

Announcing the second fantastic issue of THE END IS NIGH, the official magazine of the apocalypse!

Launching at the Comics Expo in Brighton on November 19 and 20, this issue it's war as we examine the whys and wherefores of how mankind's favourite pasttime could spell its demise!

The issue features an EXCLUSIVE interview with comic writing god ALAN MOORE! Discussing the apocalyptic themes through most of his work, the writer turns dark prophet as he reveals why DR and Quinch's nuclear fetish was a bad idea, why George Bush is a bad idea, and even makes his own end-of-the-world prediction!

Don't miss the fantastic full-colour cover by 2000AD favourite BOO COOK and artwork by 2000AD legend FRAZER IRVING! And there's also an interview with JOHN WAGNER and ALAN GRANT about The Last American, and artist MELINDA GEBBIE talks about her work on the film of When the Wind Blows.

Plus there are the usual comic strips, news articles, in-depth features and funnies.

At a special convention price of £3.99 (normal price £4.99), you can't afford to miss it! The website at www.endisnigh.co.uk will soon be updated with sneak previews of this issue's fantastic content! Check out our ads in the forthcoming issue of Comics International!

(Oh, and me and Leah are in it aswell!)

J.

Seasons Screechings!

Signed V for Vendetta posters...FAKES!!!

This is one of the most foolhardy things I have seen all year. Some bright spark in Australia has decided that the V for Vendetta Film posters would sell for lots more money if they were signed. The posters went on eBay earlier this month and sold to several people. The thing is they were not only "signed" by the cast members but also Alan Moore, my dad and the worlds least enthusiastic 'V for vendetta- the movie' fan. If any of the signatures are real I will eat my copy of V with ketchup. Its not helped by the fact that all of them are done in the same pen, meaning that the cast and my dad got together one day in a cosy little room, sat down and signed these posters all together....Imagine the little bits of banter...

"Mr Moore can you pass me another silver pen...mine's run out..."

"certainly Ms Portman or may I call you Natalie?"

Dad has vehemently opposed being connected with this film, he has not taken any of the option money, and has told Joel Silver personally how he feels about it.
The idea of him signing posters is hilarious. I know they were forged by some abysmal poster selling twerp, but it seems they have not researched their stock even slightly. I feel very sorry for all those who bought these items with their hard earned cash and would advise them to request a refund, leave bad feedback and contact eBay about the forgeries.

The seller says: "Each poster, without exception, is an original HAND SIGNED collectible by all the castmembers listed. We do not sell any reproductions of any kind, and completely guarantee each poster's authenticity. NOT an inkjet print, NOT an autopen, NOT a copy of any sort. This is a studio printed poster direct from the production studio. The poster you see in this listing is the poster you will receive. Every collectible at MovieArtHouse has been authenticated and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity . Our Certificate of Authenticity is recognized by every major insurance carrier worldwide and we financially stand behind it. We have an outstanding reputation for the thoroughness of our research, for our business integrity and for our service to our clients. "

which sounds pretty authentic...Unless you see the jpeg of the actual poster...


My dad's signature is notorioiusly very easy to forge (not that i ever have of course!) but this is not even close... a peremptory glance at another Alan Moore Signature would reveal the disparity.

Ah well, I hope future buyers from this ebayer will be more careful. The fact that he has sold over 400 items and only has 2 negative feedbacks is really alarming. Ebayer Beware!

Thanks to Rich Johnston at Lying in The Gutters for this tip off, well spotted that man!

L.

Cover For Albion #6 Online

Click on the screen shot (above) to visit the Wildstorm site.

Beware of spoilers!

J.

Dark Horse Script Finished

We finished working on the script late Saturday night/early Sunday morning and we've just emailed it off to Scott Allie a few minutes ago.

Hope he likes it. *fingers crossed*

J.

DEC Asia Quake Appeal

Click on the screen shot (above) to go to the DEC website and make a donation.

This earthquake has wiped out entire villages and at least 20,000 people are feared dead, with many more injured and without shelter. Pakistan is worst hit, but parts of India and Afghanistan are also affected. Many of the people involved live in isolated communities, cut off and desperately in need of help.

Visit: http://www.dec.org.uk/