Website

After 14 years of maintaining a website, I've finally got myself a domain name. With my old ISP cutting me off a lot quicker than expected, thanks to Wolfgang at Gestalt my comic work, in all its glory, can now be found here. Who knows, I might even have the time to update the site one day....

But with SW: Invasion #1 now in the shops, thoughts turn to San Diego. It's been 15 years since I last braved an SDCC and everyone warns me to expect the worst.... bigger, busier, louder... But I'm really looking forward to being there this year, initial reaction to Invasion has been terrific, and this will be my first ever US Comic Con as an author.

So if you are attending, pass by the Dark Horse stand and say hi.......

SW: Invasion #1

Coming to a comic shop near you, within the week....

Chris Knox

Just heard the awful news that old friend Chris Knox suffered a stroke earlier this week in Auckland, and may not walk again. Back in the day Chris was the lead singer for New Zealand's best local band - Toy Love - and after they broke up in the early 80's went on to have an illustrious career in music, journalism and cartooning. Without a doubt, he is one of NZ's finest songwriters, and if you ever saw him perform his music live it was always an unforgettable experience.

For Chris, and his family Barbara, John and Leisha... our thoughts are with you.....

Rough Stuff

OK, I haven't posted much over the last month, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been doing anything! Here's some of what's been happenin'......

• More Dredd on the way. Yep, a thirty-pager(!) for The Megazine, due for publication any minute. Should come complete with probably my best ever Dredd cover, and a feature interview....

• Issue 12 of Rough Stuff contains a big 15 page interview, complete with images from all over (many never before published).

• The Example has been making waves here in Oz, with a big article on Tom and I in the May 5 issue of The Australian. The article is available online here.

• Last night was the combined launch party for The Example and Flinch at Dymocks Bookshop in Melbourne. A big crowd listened to speeches by Tom Taylor, Shaun Tan, and Wolfgang Bylsma followed by a lengthy book signing session by contributing authors and artists Tom, Bobby.N, Tom Bonin and Shaun Tan.

• Friday May 8 is the day that Star Wars: Invasion Preview #1 goes online. Yay! Online Preview #2 next month, followed by the first actual monthly comic in July. Tom Taylor and I will be at the San Diego Comic Con signing copies at both the Dark Horse and Gestalt stands.

Is that enough for ya?....

Mega-City One

Terrific post by long-time 2000AD contributor D'Isreaeli on how a selection of Dredd artists have portayed the architecture of Mega-City One over the years.

Mick McMahon is rightly credited as the most influential artist who really did most of the early, definitive groundwork, but I'm wondering why particular favorite of mine Kev Walker doesn't get a mention...

Go Jo!

Our wonderful Star Wars: Invasion cover artist Jo Chen is up for Best Cover Artist in the recently announced Eisner Award Nominations. Yay!

Mission Accomplished

Well, that all turned out rather well. With Melbourne and Brisbane Supanova events on successive weekends, it has been 10 days of near-constant solid Con styling, and rather seductive for all that. But clearly I'm going to have to lift my game... writer and fellow traveller Tom Taylor has taken to this Con stuff like a seasoned pro, and I'm going to have to be careful or get left coughing and spluttering in his dust! We both especially enjoyed the Brisbane leg.... the whole event was much bigger than the Melbourne Con, I got to talk to a lot of new fans, some of the Cosplay was just stunning, and despite protesting loud and long, Tom and I were swept into all the inner circle socialising. We both loved it.

Highlights

• Our two Masterclass events at each event. They all started slowly but gradually we dragged in the fans, and by Brisbane we were working like a well- oiled machine.

• The public reception to The Example. The sales were terrific... and many buyers returned to tell us how much they enjoyed reading the book.

• Friday night's Opening session in Brisbane. The crowd was well warmed up, and went ballistic when Tom, Jhonen and Todd started to mess with our master of ceremonies' bald, but very humid pate.

• Talking tech stuff with Todd McFarlane on Saturday night.

• Eating Sushi with Tom Taylor, Jhonan Vasquez, Amber Benson and Adam Busch on Saturday evening. OK, I don't eat fish, but the chicken teriyaki was to die for, and the moving conveyer belt of sushi dishes passing by was hipnotic. And as with the rest of the weekend, Mr Vasquez had us all in stitches.

Lowlights

• Our Brisbane flight being delayed by a huge thunderstorm that hit Melbourne lunchtime Friday. And then having to fly though it all again when we finally did get to liftoff. I try to enjoy flying, I really do, but this one was a bit scary.

Supanova 2009

Over the next two weekends the Supanova Pop Culture Expos (Melbourne March 28 - 29, and Brisbane April 4 - 5) mark the start of our Con Season here in Australia (such that it is!)

Tom Taylor and I will be attending both events, and presenting a Comics Masterclass on the Friday evening preceding each event. To mark the occasion Gestalt are publishing a special limited edition of the first comic story Tom and I worked on together, The Example, and we will have a limited number of signed copies available at both events. If you can't make it in person, the book will also be available via Amazon.

So look us up at Supanova, have a chat, pick up a copy of The Example.