So I wrote a comic.

It's taken me some time to get around to writing this post. However, it is something I felt I should do because not only is it a rare thing for me to be proud of something I've done (which I am), but also because it felt write to share the talent of my collaborator.

This story (the making of story more than the actual comic) started at the beginning of this year. I received a message from comic book creator (and my pal) Matt Garvey, who informed me of a competition he had decided to run through the Millarworld forum he was a part of to give unpublished creators the chance to have a four page comic printed in the back of one of his future works.

I recall thinking that this was a great idea and, after some encouragement (and possibly abuse) from Matt, I decided to give it a try.

Now, as I attempted to make this dream a reality, I remember that the various aspect of creating this comic had varying levels of difficulty. The writing of this story's script I, surprisingly, found to be the easiest part of the whole endeavour, with my being able to complete it within a lunch hour. What was more difficult was coming up with the idea in the first place, until it finally hit during a daft Twitter conversation with Matt and Joseph Nathan Smith (to which both get my grateful thanks).

However, the most difficult part of the whole endeavour was finding an artist who wasn't published (scratching out most my rolodex) and who wanted to work on the idea I had. Thank God then for the great talent of Ayoade Adobarin, an artist who answered my general call on the forum and brought with him a talent which exceeded what I thought it would look like. I've praised a lot of artists in my time, but this guy takes the biscuit (the cake, the whole damn shop) for not only making a bar bones idea look infinitely better, but also putting up with my vague flights of fancy. (Side note, if you are a creator wanting an artist, you can do a hell of a lot worse than this guy.)

In the end, sadly, it was all for nought as we didn't win. However, this isn't a problem for me as, first of all, we were beaten by a far superior idea (which I look forward to seeing in the finished article). But also, it showed me what I can do when I put my mind to it and that belief in oneself (along with Matt Garvey hurling insults) can achieve anything.

So, with that in mind, I figured I'd put up the finished article here to show everyone that if an idiot like me can help make four pages of comic book goodness then it's a possibility for anyone.

With that in mind, here is the comic Ayoade and I made. We hope you enjoy.

Free Comic Book Day 2017

So another Free Comic Book Day has been and gone. For me, 2017 was a heck of a lot shorter than 2016 as my son tagged along for his second year running (I hope I can make this a reoccurring thing). However, as he was a new born last year, his attention span this time round was a lot shorter and so it really was a case of 'in and out.'

That said, despite its rather limited effect on my life, Free Comic Book Day is still a fantastic occasion. This year, this was made so due to my local comic shop again opening in a new (bigger) location on the second FCBD running. It was good to see the shop in a more spacious environment given its humble, cramped beginnings. It was also good to see that, despite its space, it was very cramped due to the number of customers who had shown up within the first 15 minutes of the day. In my opinion, it's a sign that FCBD does its job in that it pulls in comic fans both old and new. In fact, as I left the shop I spotted a couple who just happened to be passing by actually stop and go in (let's just hope they bought something).

But back to the comics and my LCS presented its customers with a vast selection of the free comics. This year, we were offered the chance to get as many as we wanted (we were limited to 7 each last year) and while I could have picked up many more, I only took copies of the books which really interested me. These books were:

Buffy: The High School Years

Kid Savage

The Legend of Zelda

Steam Wars: Strike Leader

Riverdale

Star Trek The Next Generation: Mirror Broken

2000 AD

I Hate Image

The Looking Glass Wars: Crossfire

Keyser Soze: Scorched Earth

Wonder Woman Special Edition

Doctor Who

Betty and Veronica

So thirteen books in all. Of course, this wasn't all I bought as I also picked up a copy of the JLA The Ray one-shot. This was a book which caught my eye back when it was released and while I had intended to pick it up digitally, I really wanted to make a purchase today from the shop to support them because they had offered all this freebies and, as with all comic shops, doing this isn't free. I do feel bad I didn't buy more but hopefully I can start making up for that in the future.

In the meantime though, I now have 14 new comics to read. I'm probably going to give them a whole post to talk about my thoughts on them towards the end of the month (Pull List style). There are a number of which I'm truly excited to read (Star Trek, Betty and Veronica, Wonder Woman, Keyser Soze) and some which intrigue me (pretty much all the rest).

Hopefully, I can find the time during May to read through them all.

April 2017's Pull List

So April is over. I have to admit that it's felt like a very short month, although that was probably helped by my last post being a few days late.

It's probably also been helped by the fact that I've been snowed under at work and in life, making me grateful that my pull list has been so short (although I'd never have a problem if it were bigger).

Titans #11 was the first comic for this month, which saw an end to the series second arc, Made in Manhattan, with the Titans facing off against the Fearsome Five to save a captured Nightwing and Flash. Now, I keep going back and forth on Titans as a series, with some issues feeling a bit bland while others come across to me as really compelling reads. However, issue 10 felt a bit more of the former because, while did enjoy the action sequences, particularly for Omen and Bumblebee, the story didn't seem to be particularly memorable save for the surprise revelation in the aftermath. Now this I was not expecting and leaves me in two minds about how I feel about; on the plus side it feels like a good reason to bring the Duncan's into the team full time, but on the downside, it feels like an unneeded plot twist. I'm still enjoying Brett Booth's art meanwhile as, though it's not perfect, it looks like the style best suited to displaying these characters. To be honest, I'm convinced that it's getting to read these classic characters which keeps me coming back while, all in all, it's still a fun book. And with the Lazaras contract now around the corner, I am looking forward to the future of this book, good or bad.

Next was Copperhead #12, which saw Clara deal with the fallout coming from the mayor's death while continuing to hunt his killer as her past slowly catches up with her. Unfortunately, this series, which had so much promise back when it started and had me hooked from the moment when I reviewed the first issue, just seems to have run out of steam after returning from its hiatus. The story now feels a little convoluted, not helped by the inclusion of the Ford character, and the pace just feels like it's ground to a halt. Also, both Clara and Boo no longer read as they did previously and while this might have to do with their changed dynamic I don't think so and it kinda hurt this issue. A final nail of he coffin though is Drew Moss' art which doesn't sit right with me, with places looking a bit rushed. Of course, this is all my opinion but I didn't enjoy this issue and neither the story nor the cliffhanger ending gripped me. What makes it even worse is hat I lost 8 pages to a preview for another book, meaning I bought a $3.99 book and got $2.99 worth of pages, not something I can stand. I'm not sure I care about this series at this point anymore and so will give it until the end of the arc (as I've budgeted for that) to turn me around but, as of right now, I think Copperhead is heading off my pull list.

Third on the list was Black Science #30 which returns it's focus to Grant McKay who attempts to make a daring escape from his prison in the wake of the Zirite invasion. Now, I've got to admit that the previous issue didn't grip me like most Black Science issues do. However, this installment more than made up for any concerns I had last time around. Despite a slow start, the pace built up as McKay attempted to evade possession, right up until the shock twist at the end which I didn't see (but maybe should have seen) coming. I think the thing I like about Black Science is McKay himself because, while he's an absolute dick, I can't help but cheer for him as he goes from one mistake to another. Actually, the other thing I like is the art and here is no exception, especially when I read that Matteo Scalara had a broken arm when he drew this. I'm stunned that it's this good and it gives me a whole new level of respect for this guy. All in all, I love Black Science and up until this point has got to be my favourite book of the monthings, as well as the best on my pull list. As always, bring on the next issue.
 

And finally (because the Lazarus sourcebook got delayed for a week, i hope) was Daredevil #19, which saw the man without fear in an unfamiliar bar with some very familiar patterns as he attempted to escape the thrall of the Purple Man. Once again, this series went from strength to strength in this issue after i was originally unimpressed enough to drop it. This arc in particular is fantastic and Charles Soule is putting together quite a captivating story. I thought this issue felt a little like filler compared to others but much like issue 10 of the volume 4 (Waid/Samnee's second run), I really loved how it gave a look at the inner workings of Matt's mind. Meanwhile the art, this issue by Marc Laming, was beautiful and I love it's clean and more colourful look. I have to admit it was a little jarring to see a contrast to prior issues but it didn't put me off any and seeing all the different Daredevils was a real highlight. I can see how this story is going to end (and not because it's a flashback) but I'm loving this as a read. It's just a shame that Marvel have to go a make it a two issue a month book in the near future but, for now, this is definitely a highlight read each month.

And that's April comics done. I've got to admit that April had a nice varied array of quality; from the brilliant to the not so good. However, May is next up and along new installments of the better books on my pull list, I'm expecting good things from the Lazarus Contract.

Hopefully, it'll live up to my expectations.