Have you been out today?

So, in something of a change of pace from the more usual state of things (as indicated by this blog's title) I have been not merely out of the house but off and away to Inverness for the very splendid Hi-Ex comics expo. I was there last year in a very low key kind of way (with nothing to sell or plug I just wandered about a bit and appeared, rather farcically, on a couple of panels). This year, with a book to flog and a table to sit behind, and alongside fellow DFC alumni (on my left) Jim Medway, (to my right and round the corner) Sarah McIntyre and (over there) Gary Northfield, I was rather more obviously present. Indeed I was flanked by Bergman and McBoo themselves (only the latter in this pic - stolen from the Forbidden Planet blog, hope they don't mind - but take my word for it, Bergman was there on the other side).



I sold some books, sketched and signed and, in quiet moments, brought down the general level of the jam comics that the DFC crowd were putting together for fun (I'm not sure what happened to those strips - I think they may have been auctioned off - so I can't show you them. But perhaps they'll emerge on t'internet somewhere in due course. I'll keep an eye out).

Lovely, as ever, to meet a few people who were fans of The DFC. It's always the same: those that read it express their dismay at its demise and say how good it was. If only it had had longer to build up its audience. If only more people had known of its existence. But they're glad too to know that some of the material is finding new life in the DFC Library titles. And it's not impossible that The DFC itself might even reappear one day and this time find the audience it always deserved.

As noted some time ago, Hi-Ex's brilliant organisers, Vicky and Rich, had created one of those "poke your head through the picture to have your photo taken" things (for which there must surely be a proper term but I just don't know it) of Bergman and McBoo so naturally we all had to have a go.

Here's me and Gentleman Jim Medway...




Here's Sarah McIntyre and husband Stuart (but not in that order)...




And Gary Northfield and Lauren O'Farrell (whom I think I may well have called Laura all weekend - apologies if so)...




Even though I was never exactly rushed off my feet I did feel duty-bound to stay at my table for most of the time so hardly saw what else was on offer from other creators and barely even managed to chat to old mate Charlie Adlard for more than a couple of minutes. But I was never less than content sat in DFC Corner, watching Jim draw countless wonderful sketches with appalling ease. His zombie cat sketches - there were a lot of zombies knocking about, it seemed like a good commercial venture - were a particular artistic triumph. The happy giggling of children creating at the activity tables that Sarah had organised also helped keep me smiling (as did the fruits of their labours - a succession of monsters and aliens as well as the occasional Wanted poster - my own paltry contribution to the endeavour).

The event as a whole was, it seemed to me, a great success. Bigger, better and better attended than last year's and a real credit to Vicky and Rich's incredible hard work. It's still a low key kind of affair compared to some other comics events around the country but it's warm and welcoming, very family-friendly and, hey, it's in the highlands of Scotland so you'll never get a better view out of your train window travelling to any other con.

[EDIT: See more, and better, words and pictures about Hi-Ex at Sarah's blog (which you should be reading anyway!) here].

Got back yesterday evening from a splendid time at Hi-Ex in Inverness over the weekend. More of that later but in the meantime it's a Tuesday and we have a schedule to adhere to so...


A6, Daler Rowney (for a change) sketchbook number 8, beginning December '96.













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Sorry for the lack of stuff this week, I've been talking to schoolchildren in Peterborough and throwing together the Good Dog, Bad Dog mini comic for Hi-Ex this weekend. And now I need to pack. So you'll just have to go to Inverness and see me there if you want anything else out of me before Tuesday. Go on, you know you want to. There will be stormtroopers and rain, what more could you ask for?

A6, Daler Rowney (for a change) sketchbook number 8, beginning December '96.











The line "The girl sleeps with your crescent wrench" comes from Hal Hartley's debut feature film The Unbelievable Truth which also influenced the seen through a doorway images at the top of the right hand page. Long time since I watched it but there's some lovely framing in that film if I remember rightly.




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It sounds as if I'm bored, half asleep and talking into the telephone from a neighbouring county (none of which was in any way the case, I was in fact enjoying myself, engaged and addressing the telephone in the usual manner) but if such petty details fail to put you off, or, indeed, if you wish to listen to Kate Brown, Ben Haggarty and host Alex Fitch sounding clear, lively and intelligent during the bits where I'm not mumbling and rambling (mambling?) then the Panel Borders DFC Library podcast is here. It's well worth a listen.

Here's sneak preview panel from the Good Dog, Bad Dog mini comic I'm putting together to give away with copies of the book purchased at Hi-Ex later in the month.

Last night I took part in a three way interview that Alex Fitch of Resonance FM conducted for his Strip! show with myself, Ben Haggarty (writer of Mezolith) and Kate Brown (creator of Spider Moon) about the first wave of DFC Library releases. Should you wish to hear me saying "erm" a lot and totally losing my thread on more than one occasion (and also listen to Kate and Ben saying "erm" rather less and generally being rather more coherent) then the DFC Library show will be broadcast tonight (Thursday 18th March) on Resonance 104.4 FM in London at 5pm, streamed at www.resonancefm.com.

There'll be a podcast available shortly after at www.panelborders.wordpress.com and I'll try to remember to link directly to it once it's there.

Another lovely take on Bergman and McBoo, this time from the marvellous Mr Jonathan Edwards.

It is very happy-making.

More lovely Good Dog, Bad Dog fan art (this time from the stupendously talented Warwick Johnson Cadwell) over here.

It's a beauty.

This is nothing to do with me.

A6, Daler Rowney (for a change) sketchbook number 8, beginning December '96.











The late lamented Belinda's (see right hand page) was the fine establishment in which I would occasionally meet Mr Adrian Reynolds for a lunchtime breakfast back in the days when he still worked at the (also late and lamented) Heffers Children's Bookshop. It's getting harder and harder to get a greasy fry up in Cambridge (though in many other respects it's a very civilised place).




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Ladies and gentlemen: Mr Faz Choudhury has produced lovely, lovely movie poster-style Good Dog, Bad Dog artwork here and I commend it to you.

Also, embarrassingly belatedly, the splendid Mr Paul Harrison-Davies shows his take on Bergman and McBoo here.

Ta very much to you both, sirs. You are gents.

Chance to win a free copy of Good Dog, Bad Dog here. No strings, no commitment and no salesman will visit your home.

A6, Daler Rowney (for a change) sketchbook number 8, beginning December '96.














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More Doggy fan art from:

Rob Davis
and
Neill Cameron (channeling Frank Miller).

Ta very much, both. Bless you.

I was interviewed (by email) about Good Dog, Bad Dog for the Book Zone (For Boys) blog yesterday. You can see the resulting blatherings here.

Lovely bit of Good Dog, Bad Dog fan art by the remarkable Mr Lorenzo Etherington here.

So my book Good Dog, Bad Dog is published today. In celebration of this momentous occasion the powers that be have declared today to be World Book Day. I am honoured. (Just a coincidence? Surely not!)

What's more, I've already had my first rave review. Blimey.

[Edit: And another good one here. Ta very much].

[Edit II: And another here. Cheers].

Hurry if you want to order a copy from Amazon though as, at time of writing, they only seem to have two left in stock, which must surely be some kind of a good sign. Better yet, buy one from your favourite local independent bookshop or even directly from me if you're going to be at Hi-Ex in Inverness later this month or the MCM Expo in May. I'll be attending both of these, and signing, rubber stamping and sketching in copies of the book for anyone that requests such a thing. I shall also have Bergman and McBoo badges (while stocks last) and a new GDBD mini comic (fingers crossed). I'll also be at Bristol (also May) where I won't be behind a table but may do a brief signing at some point (if I finally remember to reply to the organiser's email on the subject). All of which amounts to a lot more time spent outside the house than I'm used to so forgive me if you see me at any of these places and I appear a little dazed. Please be patient and kind and talk to me about pens to reassure me.

Right, that's enough of the hard sell for a while. Normal service will now be resumed.

A6, Daler Rowney (for a change) sketchbook number 8, beginning December '96.














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