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There are going to be some surprises and exciting things for The Beano this year. I can just feel it!
Who's with me?!

Rejected Again

This year, Dennis's 65th anniversary was going to be celebrated with a wraparound cover on that week's Beano. As it turned out, that idea (not one of mine, the whole scenario was handed to me from the office) couldn't be used. But this rough (more advanced than the last one, colour has even been crudely added) seemed so forlorn  I thought you'd like to see it anyway.

More Rejects

From time to time I'm asked to come up with a few different ideas, one of which will hopefully be selected to follow through to a finished item. Back in 2013 when The Beano was approaching it's 75 year, I did a few cover designs for the landmark birthday issue. This was one that wasn't used. As you can see it's VERY rough, just a doodle. Interesting idea, ALL the many Beano characters over the years were supposed to be bursting out of a Birthday present package with '75' wrapping paper. There's the Iron Fish even! Anyway, it wasn't selected, but here it is, another casualty from the reject pile.



Sixty five years ago this week Dennis The Menace arrived. To be more precise, Dennis The Menaces arrived. Because, in one of those odd little moments of coincidence, there were two of them. One in America and one in Britain.

The British one of course, is the one I have some knowledge of (I know what he gets up to in next week's Beano folks, you won't want to miss it!) And he appeared in this eye catching window display at the DC Thomson offices in Fleet Street London in a homage to the rebellious Jamie Reid and 1976.

Note to DCT: What's with the stairs?!

Latest Tour News!

We did Cardiff! Met some great people, Nika practiced her sharp-shooting (long story, see pic), met up with fellow Beano cartoonist Lew Stringer (see pic) and enjoyed another Showmasters weekend, thanks Cassandra!

Apologies to anyone expecting us to be at the MCM show in Liverpool last weekend (I know some were). We asked to be there, we offered our services free (no transport, no accommodation, we only live half a mile from the venue) but we never got an answer. Our experience at MCM and other shows in the past tell us that even when people attending don't know in advance we'll be there, we always end up with a long queue of excited happy Beano readers of all ages who are thrilled to see us.

Next on our tour is Exeter in June, (though we're negotiating for something in April and May, stay tuned) Glasgow in July, Southport in September, York in October and again we're negotiating for something in November- maybe two events, one in Britain, one in Greece! And we still hope to do a London show this year. We've been asked to do London a lot and I think I've convinced Nika by taking her to a splendid quiet pub there a few weeks ago. Of course, I'm not telling you which one (but it has Quiz Night Tuesdays if you want to filter results. No, not the King's Head, Crouch End. No, not The Plough in Bloomsbury. No, not The George, look, stop guessing, I'm not saying.)

Dennis The Menace at 65

It's 65 years this week since Dennis The Menace first appeared in The Beano!

To celebrate, I was asked to create (and recreate and create again after which they did some of their own creating- it was a long job!) seven images of the little stripey rebel through the past seven decades, as they may have been drawn by the Dennis Artist of the era- 1950s, Elvis in the style of Davy Law, 1960s, Moon Landing by Davy Law, 1970s, Punk by David Sutherland, 1980s, Berlin Wall by David Sutherland, 1990s, Harry Potter by David Parkins, 2000s Banksy by me and 2010s Olympics also by me.

There's an opportunity to win signed (by me, again) prints of the full set here:

http://www.shortlist.com/entertainment/exclusive-proof-from-the-beano-that-dennis-is-still-menacing-after-65-years#gallery-1

And here's my original rough sketch of the 'Banksy' one. I don't often (ie never) do rough sketches, but this time, as there were a lot of people involved for this special occasion, there were so many things I had to get right it was essential.

Bolton, First Stop! And Then...

2016 is already shaping up to be a vintage year.

In case you've forgotten, Dennis The Menace first appeared in The Beano 65 years ago next month! That may well be noted in the usual places, I suspect. (Gnasher didn't make his debut until August 1968!)

And myself and Nika will be doing you sketches of The Beano stars as well as giving away badges and comics and all kinds of stuff at various events this year:

Saturday Feb 13th Bolton (we'll be giving a little talk and demonstration here too!)

Saturday/Sunday March 5/6 Cardiff- our first time in Wales (and my first time in Cardiff, though not Nika's strangely enough, she made a school visit from Greece in 1995!)

Saturday/Sunday June 25/26 Exeter

July 2/3 Glasgow where I'll also be presenting this year's award for Outstanding Contribution to Comics!

We'll also be at one London show at least this year, one in Liverpool, another in Birmingham, most probably Bournemouth in August too, and excitingly, shows are being finalized in France, Spain and Greece!

Sunrise And Sunset

It's been sunny!
And warm.

And, working on the 2017 annuals as I am this week, I was up at sunrise the shortest day and took my brother Dave and his family for a quick tour of our home town. Looks good at either end of the day!

2016 Is Going To Be Interesting...

2016 is looking like it's going to be a bit of a milestone year; In March, we should have a really good idea of just how interesting it will be. But for now, all I can suggest is that, if you're interested, keep an eye on The Beano. I know I will.

New! Newcastle this weekend!

On Saturday and again on Sunday, me and Nika will be doing our best to celebrate The Beano in the mighty city of Newcastle, so come and join us and see how we draw Dennis The Menace, Minnie The Minx, a Bash Street Kid or two...even Dangerous Dan!

It's our last convention appearance this year, having done Sunderland, Glasgow, Dublin, Birmingham, Kendal, Liverpool, Belfast up to now. We have four or five dates for 2016 lined up already, and if we can arrange it, two especially interesting ones in places The Beano usually doesn't reach. Until now. We'll see.

Buy tickets here