Topical Beano

From time to time we at The Beano do a quick topical gag for Facebook or Twitter. And the sudden (though far from unexpected) departures from their respective jobs of Jeremy Clarkson and Zayn Malik on the same day surely required some comment.

The Beano heard Zayn was a bit of an artist and wanted him to 'guest edit' a Beano recently but we couldn't arrange it. Now we can guess why.

Guardian interview

I did an interview for The Guardian a few weeks ago, and here it is.

I read it but I didn't learn anything new. But you may still find something interesting. By the way, it's all about me.

Sorry about that!

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2015/mar/26/how-do-i-become-a-cartoonist

The middle of a Busy Week

It's a busy week. No, I mean really busy. No, busier than that, really. There's six projects, and another six projects, and they're all needed about tomorrow. So I'm going to get drawing again. This is the sort of thing I'll be drawing:


Although I've already drawn that, so it won't be exactly like it.

But it is busy.

Lady Madonna, Don't Fall Backwards

Another Thursday morning, another topical gag.

She ought to have read this:

 Click here to watch part of 'The Missing page' from Hancock's Half Hour written by Ray Galton and |Alan Simpson, starring Tony Hancock.

Nika in Sunderland

Sunderland Comic con, at the weekend; famous Beano colourist Nika does some famous Beano colouring for fans.
A great first con for this region put on by a friendly and hard working team from BHP. Look out for Nika's next appearance, in Glasgow in July, folks!

Competition Time!!

Tell all your friends! There's going to be a competition soon- free to enter- right here on this blog! And the prizes are unbelievably brilliant!! And not available anywhere else- and you will definitely want one! So, keep looking- about 3 weeks I'd say, and then you'll have all the information- see you back here!

Dennis goes to Sunderland- a rare opportunity

Two weeks from now, over the weekend of February 21 and 22, Sunderland hosts a Comic Convention that, amongst many no doubt delightful attractions, features the current main architects of The Beano's Dennis The Menace, namely writer, Nigel Auchterlounie, Colourist Nika and me, who draws it. It's the first time all three will have attended the same con together, so any Dennis fans should zoom straight up there and get your fill. Also there will be the Living legend that is Hunt Emerson, mine and everyone else's favourite, and amongst all his many accomplishments, a fellow Beano cartoonist.
Find out more HERE

In my nearly 35 years of comics cartooning his is only the 3rd Convention I've ever attended as a guest, and I think the 6th or 7th I've ever been to, so it's a pretty rare event, but come and say hello and meet the team, it could be the only opportunity! I'm going to be demonstrating drawing or something, and speaking about something or other, so let's find out what I draw and what I say together!

DITKO- a new book

I sometimes get weird looks from people when they find out I admire Jack Kirby or Frank Bellamy or someone. "But... you do funnies and they didn't..." their puzzled eyes seem to plead. Not true. I've done action, they've done funnies. Cartooning is cartooning whether one is going for a laugh or for a creep-out slug fest sci fi romance.

I like Steve Ditko. His work. I've never met him, and, even though he is still very much alive and well and even drawing, probably at this exact moment, I doubt I ever will meet him. But I know him, from his work. And what work. Original, daring, dynamic, and what a masterful storyteller.

Another great Yoe book, Ditko's Shorts has (finally) been published.
What more can you say about Craig Yoe's dedicated thoroughness and fan's-eye view of what to include (great design as usual- the tactile cover is a lovely weird treat by itself)?
Nothing.

OK, moving on to the stories and Steve's artwork. What more can you say about Ditko's surreal and disturbing world of dark shadows, angular victims, gross perpetrators and above all, beaded-sweating men on the run?
Nothing.

OK, then buy it.

the Beano

The Beano is on sale on Wednesday, and it's the continuation of the story begun in the special Trinity Mirror edition of The Beano given away free on Saturday. Tell all your friends. It's the comic worth the money.