ink+PAPER

Summer may seem like a long way off but the work for the second issue of ink+PAPER is already under way. This issue’s lineup is almost completely different from #1, a deliberate decision in order to ensure the breadth of available talent gets its time in the spotlight. I’m particularly delighted by the artists who’ve agreed to contribute and am really looking forward to seeing this bumper edition!

Barring any last-minute stuff, there will be comics from Fred Blunt, Francesca Cassavetti, Rick Eades, Sarah Gordon, Paul Harrison-Davies, Sally-Anne Hickman, Kripa Joti, Sarah McIntyre, Will Morris, Paul Peart-Smith, Andy Poyiadgi, John Riordan, Kim Roberts, Carl Thompson, Andrew Waugh and Seán Michael Wilson. There’ll also be contributions from Esther McManus, Jenni Scott, Selina Lock and Jay Eales.

So if you’re planning a summer escape and are in need of a bit of reading material, whether in paperback or digital form, then look no further.

ink+PAPER #2 is due out in June 2012.

I expect Neil Gaiman signs hundreds of these every day, but it’s a nice touch nonetheless.

Thanks to the good folks at Graphicly.com ink+PAPER is now available to read on your desktop, fancy phone or trendy tablet. All you need is the app (for iPad/iPhone, Android and PC/Mac/Linux).

We love dead tree comics but we love digital too, with its clarity, bright colours and convenience. And issue #1 only costs US$5.00 (about £3.20) – less than half price for 96 full-colour pages. Plus none of those annoying postal charges, especially great for international readers.

Graphicly is home to whole host of independent comics from the likes of Top Shelf, Image and many others, so there’s plenty of other stuff to choose from too.

Of course, there are still ink and paper versions of ink+PAPER around, direct from us or at these lovely stockists.

As the end of the year approaches, a final big thank you to everyone who has made the first issue of ink+PAPER a success. I’m very pleased with the way i+P has been received and I’m very grateful for the all-important word-of-mouth that has helped things on their way.

I’ve still a few more stockists to sort out but aside from that I’m down to a handful of copies – so if you’re looking for a last-minute Xmas present there’s probably just enough time to grab one. Also, I’m happy to say I should have some news on a digital version of i+P in the new year.

A couple of reviews have come in – one from the Forbidden Planet blog and another from the good folks at Broken Frontier. Do take a look to see what they think.

Finally – a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year to all readers.

This weekend is the Thought Bubble Festival in Leeds – come along and grab some of our lovely merchandise: there’s a free screen-print by Esther McManus with every copy of ink+PAPER issue #1 (while stocks last) and some smart badges too.

ink+PAPER is very pleased to be sharing a table with The Strumpet comic, also launching their inaugural issue. I’ve had a preview and it looks amazing! We can be found at table 123 in the Saviles Hall:

See you there!

An official non-Twitter, non-Facebook thank you to everyone who came along to the launch party at Orbital Comics last Friday night. It was a great night and the response to the mag was very positive – lots were sold! There are some pics from the night on Facebook (can be viewed without logging in).

The Comiket on the following day was a brilliant, much-improved event. There was a real buzz to the day and very encouraging sales again. We’re now looking forward to Thought Bubble in Leeds – it’s the big one.

In other news, contributor Shug has made available some music to go with his comic Iris. It’s an atmospheric accompaniment to his bittersweet tale. And there were some nice words from Pop Culture Hound in their mention here.

Come one, come all! See you there!

Don’t forget the Comiket tomorrow, too! As well as i+P, there’ll be comics royalty in the form of HRH Posy Simmonds, who’ll be opening the event. Also there’ll be live drawing from other members of the nobility:  Sarah McIntyre, Luke Pearson and Roger Langridge amongst many others (check out Sarah’s travel diary comic – she’ll have a very limited number of copies for sale). And i+P contributors Lizz Lunney, Dan Berry, Timothy Winchester, Joe Decie and Philippa Rice will also be exhibiting along with a host of top quality comics talent. It’s going to be an amazing day!

And if that doesn’t tickle your comics fancy, pop along to the South East London Zine Fest in glittering New Cross, also on Saturday, for cutting edge DIY publishing at its best! Phew! I’ve a feeling Sunday will be a duvet day…

Issue #1 opens with a bang – and this is it: Jeremy Day’s vibrant, funny tale of the Amazing Calabroni sisters, human cannonballs extraordinaire. Jeremy was inspired by the story of the Zacchini family, who invented the human cannonball act in the 1920s.

I love Jeremy’s energetic style: each page is a filled with colourful detail and witty text – it’s every thing a comic should be.

• Website: jeremyday.org.uk/
• Blog: cleanskies.livejournal.com/
• Twitter: twitter.com/#!/cleanskies

This is the last of the sneak peeks – there are plenty more surprises in issue #1 but I don’t want to spoil it for you. I hope you’ve enjoyed the previews and that they’ve inspired you to get a copy for yourself. They’ll be available at the launch party – TOMORROW! Then issue #1 will be available at the Comiket the very next day. Or at the Thought Bubble Festival later in the month. Or you can order from the shop – those who have pre-ordered should be receiving their copies shortly.

Thank you to everyone who has tweeted or helped publicise the launch in any way – it’s been very much appreciated! See you at the party!

A little bit of self-publicity: this is a panel from a comic written by Selina Lock and drawn by me. It’s based on a true story, that of Lady Grace Drummond-Hay‘s journey around the world by air. She was the first woman to do so, courtesy of the Graf Zeppelin airship. A major celebrity in her time, she’s pretty much forgotten now, but Selina has captured her daring spirit using Lady Drummond-Hay’s own writings as source material.

It was great fun to draw, and I’m grateful to Selina for providing such a marvellous script! I’ve also been grateful for Selina’s advice during the evolution of i+P. Both she and partner Jay Eales are experienced comic editors, as founders of Factor Fiction Press, publisher of the Girly Comic and Violent!, and her insight  has proved very useful in keeping things on track.

• Website: factorfictionpress.co.uk/
• Blog: girlycomic.livejournal.com/ (the Girly Comic is currently on hiatus whilst Selina focuses on her writing, but back issues are still for sale)
• Shop: www.factorfictionpress.co.uk/shop.html

Me:

• Website: scribblehound.com/
• Shop: scribblehound.bigcartel.com/

In other news, I’ve finally got issue #1 in my hands after a short delay! I’m thrilled with how it looks, particularly by how well it coordinates with the rug in my living room.

Don’t forget the launch party this Friday: details here.

Then issue #1 will be available at the Comiket the very next day. Or at the Thought Bubble Festival later in the month. Or you can order from the shop.

It’s Launch Party Week! And the last few sneak peeks before the real life ink+PAPER emerges for public viewing. There’ll be some pics of the actual mag soon but meanwhile, on the beach…

Just a hint of the romance to be found in Rick Eades’ story: Bob and The Lighthouse. Rick’s another creator that needs to be seen by more people – inventive, funny, with expressive and colourful characters. This man needs a comic all of his own!

• Website: www.rickeades.co.uk/
• Blog: eadesmust.livejournal.com/
• Twitter: twitter.com/#!/RickEadesComics

Don’t forget the launch party this Friday: details here.

Then issue #1 will be available at the Comiket the very next day. Or at the Thought Bubble Festival later in the month. Or you can order from the shop.