Mapping Our Progress

In the last 22 months, me and Nika have done 22 Comic Cons or other events where our company

Red&Black Comics Ltd has sent us to draw, talk, give away free stuff and meet Beano fans. We've done Sunderland, Newcastle, Glasgow (twice), Kendal, York, Bolton, Southport, Liverpool, Manchester (City Centre and Trafford Park),  Birmingham, Belfast, Dublin, Cardiff, Reading, Exeter, Brighton, Bournemouth, London (Baker Street and Docklands) and Thessaloniki. And come to think of it I did a solo in Edinburgh in June too. Dunno where Nika was. Down the shops I expect.


In 2017 we're doing Birmingham and Enniskillen for sure, others to be announced or when and if we get invited. So if you've ever wanted to see us draw The Beano characters, and we haven't been to anywhere local to you, why not ask your neighbourhood Comic Con to ask us if we'll do it.   We probably will!

Dennis in Greece

 Phew! What an experience!

We knew we would like the people, the food, even the weather, after all, Nika lived there more than 15 years and I've visited there more than a dozen times, but we had no idea that one of our most exciting, friendly and enthusiastic Comic Cons of the past 22 months would be in the cool city of Thessaloniki, Greece!

Normally at Comic Cons we spend most of the day heads down, drawing, meeting Con-goers and sometimes doing presentations, interviews and masterclasses in drawing. Here, we did all that and more! The cartoon class was a spectacular success, everyone there did a great job and intently followed what I demonstrated, going on to create new drawings of their own! I must admit our two shows were both great, and I, modestly, was very entertaining in my way, as was Nika in her way. You can see our different ways above.

It was an excellent weekend of events and fascinating new comics and graphic novels, from Greece and France (the events were in the French Institute) most of which we don't see in Britain but are of world class standard and deserve to be seen more widely. Thanks Nick Roxx Ztar Dalampiras and all the guys, it was a very good event and we were pleased to be invited!  And thanks to my Thessaloniki pals for their help, great company and fantastic hair.

 

Spilling The Beans

I have decided to go ahead and spill some beans after years of being considerate and generous. I'm going to get a bit real on here. Soon!

From Reading to Manchester

We went to Reading last weekend - very chilly spot!- and spent two days sitting next to and chatting with Living Legend Simon Donald, (him off the Viz magazine) There's one hard working fellow! This Saturday and Sunday we zoom over to Manchester, to the Sci Fi Con at Bowlers Trafford Park. where not only me and Nika but John Wagner and Carlos Esquerra will be saying hello to comic fans!

Salonica! December!

Another overseas Comic Con for me and Nika on December 17/18! Thessaloniki, in Greece! Come along, even if you're not Greek!

 

Further Events!

 

Me and Nika will be appearing at the big MCM London Comic Con at Excel in docklands Friday afternoon 28 October, Saturday 29 October all day, Sunday 30 October up till about 4, and I'll be doing a big Beano Talk on the Friday at 2.30.
Then we have Reading Comic Con November 26/27.
We're doing For the Love of Sci-Fi con on 3/4 December in Manchester, believe it or not!

And, for our last Con of the year, an overseas con  for the first time on 17 and 18 December!

We'll be announcing some 2017 shows before long, so keep checking in!

Come on and see us, don't say we never came round your way!

 

Menacing in 3D!

After many months of planning, discussing, drawing, brainstorming, tweaking and plotting, now it can be revealed!! The new Dennis and Gnasher TV series will be a bit different!
This isn't even definitely the way he'll look, there have been a lot of adjustments over the past 21 months and there will be more still over the next six months before the first of the new 11 minute shows will be ready!
So, stand by for action, and mark December 2017 in your diary!

New Beano, So Beano

The revamped Beano hits the shops right about now. We feel we've got it just about right. It won't shock old readers. It won't annoy newer readers. It will attract brand new readers. All the favourites will be there at some time or another, and right from the start there's Dennis The Menace and Gnasher, Minnie The Minx, Roger The Dodger, The Bash Street Kids, Billy Whizz, Calamity James, Tricky Dicky, etc etc. There will be a long 4 page story every week featuring a different character or characters. First up, of course, is Dennis The Menace.

And here's a bit of a sneaky look at a rough attempt at a new logo I did back in March. Not bad. Might work!

And here (right) is my initial design for this year's annual cover.
These roughs are quite detailed, as now that The Beano is just the core of a much bigger organization that includes unique digital media and will eventually include new TV shows (and more!!!) a lot more people have to have a say in how The Beano will look than just the editor. It's a slower process, but it always ends up with me drawing fast to meet the deadline!

On Sunday 25th September trusty Colourist Nika and Top Beano scribe and Numskulls curator Nigel Auchterlounie made a public appearance delighting Beano fans of all ages at a Top Secret So Beano Experience in a deep, deep basement in central London.

Here is a short look at the mad Beano mayhem that ensued and even a glimpse of the two Nigels (and Nika, but only the top of her head is visible behind me!) as we all steamed through endless requests of sketches of Beano characters much to the excitement of all those present!
Watch a brief video here

 

 

Hear me speaking live about the relaunch on Radio Merseyside.

Sheffield cancelled

Sorry to announce that Nika and I have been uninvited to Showmasters Film and Comic Con this weekend, and won't be appearing, due to space restrictions. I know this will disappoint some but it's not our decision. If you've bought tickets expressly to see us, contact the organisers for a refund.

Interview in Manchester

If you'd like to, you can see part of one of my interviews at MCM Comic Con Manchester on You Tube by clicking HERE