Here, there and everywhere...
Colin has a pint with Garth Ennis and travels the country
Wow! I’ve had a busy time over the last few weeks and that’s set to continue for the next few weeks too.
The New Glasgow Looking Glass
Firstly, I finished putting together The New Glasgow Looking Glass and it’s all ready for the launch event on June 7th. The Glasgow Looking Glass was a comic publication from 1825-26, and is perhaps the first comic in the world. Printed by John Watson printers and written/drawn by William Heath, it lasted for 19 issues. It featured caricatures of well-known people of the time and satirical cartoons and comic strips on current events.
The Mitchell Library in Glasgow is hosting the event, which is FREE. You’ll also be able to pick up a copy of the new issue for only £3 (and some sketches for a bit more). Contributors to the new issue include Lew Stringer, Stewart K Moore, Connor Tierney, Chris Connelly, Dave Cranna, Jim Stewart, David Alexander, Mark Abnett and Andrew Turnbull. More details of the event are here - Exhibition: Glasgow through the Looking-Glass - Glasgow Life
Commando Swap Meet
This year I’d made a conscious decision to fewer comic conventions, mainly so I could concentrate on creating new material, however, many other events have sprung up to grab my time. My first event of the year was the Commando and British Weekly Comics Swap Meet in Glasgow. An annual event, it’s a must for lovers of British comics of yesteryear. Two more of these events occur later in the year - at Stoke on Trent (I’m hoping to attend) in June and Colchester in October. More details on the Facebook page.
Blazer Annual
The other major project I completed was the latest instalment of Derringer & So’n for Steve MacManus’ Blazer comic. This year The77 Publications are producing an annual, so there’s a higher page count per story and it’ll be in colour! Artist Ewan Power came on board to illustrate my story and I took on colouring and lettering duties on this explosive adventure that leads on from the last panel of the previous story in issue 4 (although you won’t need to read that to follow this new yarn).
VE Day
With this year being the 80th anniversary of VE Day, there have been a number of related events around the country. I took the Commando Comics stall to the event in Perth which featured re-enactors, military vehicles and live music. As always, the Commando comics provided a wave of nostalgia for may people visiting the stall. I’ll also be at the next major military event in Perth, the Perth Salute, which this year takes place on August 10th.
School Visit
A couple of weeks ago I was booked by Johnstone High School to do a history and comics talk. I talked about my first comics, about Robert the Bruce and William Wallace and gave the pupils tips on storytelling. It’s always a thrill to work with youngsters and inspire them in their writing and drawing. The event was booked through the Scottish Book Trust’s Live Literature programme which part-funds visits by authors to schools, colleges and other organisations.
Garth Ennis in Edinburgh
Forbidden Planet in Edinburgh organised a signing event with Garth Ennis last Saturday, so I went along with comic historian John McShane. We got some books signed and had a chat with Garth at the event and then went for a pint afterwards. We were in great company as we sipped IPA, Guinness and Merlot as Commando writer Ferg Handley and UKCAC co-founder Frank Plowright also turned up. I couldn’t stay too late, but there was some great chat in the pub, with Garth and Ferg talking at length about military history, reminiscing with Frank about UKCAC, and John McShane bringing his usual brand of humour and extensive comics knowledge to the table. Ferg tells me he didn’t get home until 2am…
That’s it for the latest roundup of news. I still have two Commando stories to be published, so I’ll be writing about those sometime, and Neil Slorance and I are hard at work on Uncannie Investigashuns, our spooky comic with stories from around Scotland. I may also be creating some satirical cartoons for the Outwith Festival, a local annual arts festival in Dunfermline, and then working on a 200th anniversary edition of The Edinburgh Spy (you heard it here first).
Schedule
A busy schedule for a few weeks.
The Bruce Festival - 31 May/1 June, Pittencrieff Park, Dunfermline.
I’ll have a stall there with my local history books, The Dunfermline Story, Raid on the Forth, Flight of the Eagle and King Robert the Bruce.
Glasgow Through The looking Glass - 7 June, Mitchell Library, Glasgow.
Public talks and exhibition about Glasgow’s history, featuring John McShane on The Glasgow Looking Glass. The Bon Accord pub afterwards!
Commando Swapmeet - 21 June, Stoke on Trent.
I’ll be there with back issues of Commando, exclusive Commando posters, signed copies of my own Commandos and my true war stories books.
Dunfermline Talk/Drawing & Writing Workshop - 5 July, Dunfermline Library
In my hometown offering a talk on The Dunfermline Story book and a comic workshop for artists and writers. Book Here: Dunfermline Story Talk, Writing & Drawing Workshop
Auld Alliance Comic Festival, 5/6 July, French Institute, Edinburgh
I’ll be along on the Sunday to talk about Scottish comics with John McShane, The Glasgow Looking Glass and The Edinburgh Spy. Details here: Auld Alliance Comic Festival
Small Press Day - 19 July.
I may be doing something for this, but plans haven’t been finalised (or I might just take a day off!).
Sequential Scotland - 2 August, Doubletree, Glasgow
I’m sharing a table at this new comic event with Nic Rossert of Sloth Comics. Event Details: Sequential Scotland
City of Perth Salute - 10 August, Perth.
I’ll be here with the Commando Comics stall.