HURKULANEUM

Ventriloquist Crime No.1

2012-01-24T15:26:00.001Z

So as not to fill up this blog with these fake book-covers that i have become mildly obsessed with creating, i have set up a tumblr thing and will shelve all of these kind of images over there in my 'Miraculous Bookcase'!

English Grub

2012-01-12T11:59:00.000Z

Happy New year!
Here's a few images of food packaging for some nice English-style fare that i did for the now-imaginary 'Grotty Food Co.' I was influenced by a book i pulled out my loft called 'Krazy Kids Food' or something like that, you know it? Yeah that's the one.

Fancy Butchers in COMIKET Carve-Up!

2011-11-09T13:25:00.001Z

It might be a bit quiet in Hurkulaneum for a little while as i has embarked upon a course of study (this will give the beginerds a bit more time to finish their strips for the next cartoonin' lesson! Click the finished BAD BIRD left) and what time i have will be invested in Static REVOLTer... which will be on sale at Saturday's Comica COMIKET.
I'll be alongside fellow butcher and east-end prince of the Ottawan empire, Kevin Ward and the Thor of theatrical fiction- Tobias Tak who will have his excellent new book for sale. We will also be the official comiket vendors of The Comix Reader. Remember- All day Saturday.
Until then, stay safe!

Grotty The Clown

2011-10-24T11:17:00.000Z

I thought I'd spend a bit of time playing round with colour and shading in photoshop. (What an ingenious guy!) I usually just 'plop' the solid colours in and on occasions that's what it looks like- plop! This might do too, maybe it is awful... but i like it!

Cartoonin' For Beginerds- Lesson 3

2011-10-21T10:20:00.001Z

Welcome to lesson 3, beginerds! Got your music on? Pen and pencil at the ready?
Good, let us make merry upon this barren parchment and cartoon! We start with the fun bit- the title panel. You should aim to spend about 80-90% of the overall time spent on the comic, drawing the title. If you're using more than a quarter of your time drawing the story, you are doing something wrong. With practice you will one day be drawing maybe 12 different title pages/panels that you will never use, for every 1 comic/strip that you actually finish- a fine ratio!
After some time (usually from 1 hour to a day or 2) you should have a dazzling title panel that you are happy with. Remember- the title is the attention-grabber, it's what makes the dumb reader wanna read your strip and that is why we spend so much time on it. See above, my title panel for 'Bad Bird'. I've packed it with all the luxurious, heavily inked detail that i could- what a comics maverick i am...and so too will you be!
Right, yours look great! Now just another quarter to a fifth of the comic-strip left to do. You're over the hump and heading down the home straight and if you followed my recommendation for aural accompaniment- you'll be in the fast lane too!
Let's pause for a moment. How many times did you have to screw up your half-inked title panels and start again? 3 times? Oh well- not too bad. 10 times? That's heavy-going. No times? Hmm, either-

You are a natural cartoonin' genius.
Your title is not at all cool- start again.
You figured out something i neglected to tell you beforehand- you used the pencil!

One afternoon some laymen spied me laying down some rather hot pencilling- knocking out stylish roughs in the grid and suchlike. With eyes narrowed, one turned to the other and coldly murmured "So that's how they do it- pencils first".
Well done to those who did 'swing the lead' and to the rest...sometimes you gotta learn the hard way in cartoonin'- so from now on, pencil first unless you're some kinda comickaze pilot!
Right let's knock up a grid- 6 panels (3x2), 8 panels (4x2) or 12 panels (4x3) are all about right for a single page- you decide how many you need to tell your story.
Done it? Now i'll show you how to get going with these stories of ours:

Panel 1: An establishing shot, set the scene for your character. I've got my synopsis here and think i'll start in the thick of it so i commence mid-robbery.
Panel 2: Remember this is a 1 page story so don't hang about. I get the hell out of the bank for my 2nd panel and reveal 'Bad Bird'. Your character's got to do something here.
Panel 3 and so on: Depending how many panels in your grid, you will need to make some decisions now on pace. Use your synopsis and panels 1 and 2 to inform your crazy caper and continue cleverly crafting that cool comic, cartoonin' comrade!

This will be your homework assignment this week. I've seen what you can do and trust you to pencil the rest of the strip alone- just keep that music on! Stuck for an ending?
This cartoonin' game ain't just about hilarious punchlines- The shock twist and melancholic silent panel are but one more pair of cliche-skin boots that the experienced comics impresario can pull on and zip up when there is nothing else to wear! But you can't just go out with your boots on and nothin' else, remember- beginning, middle and end, Beginerds!

Cartoonin' For Beginerds- Lesson 2

2011-10-11T10:45:00.000Z

Welcome back students, OK we have our new comic character and synopsis for the strip so lets get cartoonin'!
Wait. First things first- the tools of the trade.

"With a few graceful movements of the wrist i will spill the ninth art upon this page and set about warming the hearts of children, women and men...with my pen."

The famous quote handed down from generation to generation of comics creators since time immemorial. Yes the good ol' pen and pencil are our weapons of choice and do remember- tablets and computers are merely the favoured combo of stoned surfers.
Any pen will do. I use the Ballsy's 'Pigment-scribe 32' (with Musketeer Grip) but they are a little on the expensive side, can only be purchased from a single country in the world and... I'm not going to tell you which one! No, something like an Edding Fineliner is perfectly satisfactory for beginerds. NEVER use a brush and ink- they are for show-offs of the highest order!
Got your pen? Good. Pencil? Excellent. You will also need a ruler for drawing panels and to help with the task of lettering. There are 'lettering aids' on the market but those such as 'The BrainGames Guide' will at first seem indecipherable because in fact, they are! A practical joke played upon us humble comixers no less. A stationery supplies company produced these 'guides' to have a laugh on you and i- those dots actually mean nothing. Useless, and a real poke in the belly when ya just trying to line your words up right!
Okay, now grab some paper. The clotted cream of paper is 'Bristol board' but for now a slice of copier paper will suffice.
Now to get in the mood- music!
"The shapes we draw are the jazz of comics to come"
(Ornette Coleman in conversation with Rolf Harris, 1960)
Yes, for basic cartoonin' Jazz is the default background accompaniment- any amateur doodler will tell you that. But even as novices, you should want to push the envelope- through the letterbox-arse of conformity and blur the boundaries of comics, so skip the Trad stuff and select something cool but mind blowing. Bebop is fine but if you prefer more of a fusion, go for it. Please note if you are going 'off-genre' though, that listening to 'Heavy Metal' whilst 'toonin' will only produce twisted shit. So that is the final part of our preparation and your homework for this lesson- select an audio cassette to play as your background inspiration for the following lesson.
That's it for now, beginerds- Next week...we draw!

Cartoonin' for beginerds- Lesson 1.

2011-10-04T11:12:00.000Z

The cops are on his trail, his feathered tail they're tryin to nail, but everyone will say "oh wow!", when they met their newest criminal pal-
B-A-D, who is he?
B-I-R-D, what THE?
B-A-D-B-I-R-D
it's Bad Bird, silly!
The banks are weeping at the loss, that bird robbin' their tryin' to stop, but unbeknownst to the cops, the queen is Bad Bird's boss!
(Repeat Chorus)
who's the sneeky geek in the room, with the beak leaking cigarette fumes, not to mention all them 4-letter curses?
Bad Bird, silly!!!! ....Hide your purses!

Always start off by thinking of a new cartoon character name and then quickly draw him. Or some people find it easier to do a quick drawing and let the character name come to them afterwards. That's it. Next make up a theme song. You don't have to be no Dick Shakespeare or Charles Darwin- Poetry and songwriting is not as hard as you think. A tit could do it. Think of your new comic strip as if it were, for example 'Captain Caveman' off the telly and write a song about it. This will encourage your subconcious to leak out ideas about your character's own personality, traits, occupation etc. This will lead to you starting to form situations which in turn will develop into stories for your new comic strip. I will expand upon this in lesson 2.
I will now just recap by going through my stage 1 design process for 'Bad Bird':
1: Drew a picture. He looks a bit greasy, has a tattoo on his neck and is supping human blood from a take-away soft drinks cup. so i...
2: ...named him 'Bad Bird' cos he looks like a bad egg and no mistake.
3: Wrote his theme song, straight off the dome- freestyle is best.
4: Started to make notes from 1,2 and 3.
5 Formed basic synopsis of 'Bad Bird'.
"The police department are always after the criminal vampire* bank robber bird but he is always too clever and alludes them every time. 'Bad Bird' as they call him is in reality a really nice avian, who is only stealing the money on the orders of the elderly queen so that she may continue to live in super-luxury. The 'blood drinking' is just a front to convey a 'hard as nails' persona to the public and police.
*If you aim to make your comic a successful 'webcomic', always include a vampire, a zombie or at the very least- a goth.

That is all for Lesson 1, Beginerds!

Last One

2011-09-30T08:39:00.000Z

Brief grafinterlude continues

2011-09-29T09:05:00.000Z

Zippin' up my boots...

2011-09-28T09:55:00.000Z

Elderly B-boy handstyles- Juz fer laffs!

Look Out!

2011-09-23T11:08:00.000Z

It won't be too long until 'Look Out!' is complete. Paul O'Connell and I have been putting it together and basically it's gonna be your new favourite telly comic! For now, see some sample pages over HERE!
And talking of Favourite Comics...My favourite stand-up(not lay-flat) comic and pal- Nathaniel Metcalfe, has lovingly recreated the opening scene from 'A Matter of life and death' (which if i did lists would definately be in my top 3 films) and is recommended viewing- SEE HERE and a bit of KES! if you don't love 'em- ya don't love nuthin'!

Favourite Dunkle

2011-09-21T13:08:00.000Z

'Favourite Dunkle' Album by Celsius Van Dunkle and his orchestra. Unperturbing Sounds 1972.

Puck Comics Party

2011-09-13T09:39:00.000Z

A while back i contributed my 3 panels to this fresh-sounding book put together by Italia's underground comix-king Hurricane Ivan- 'Puck Comics Party'

the long-awaited special issue of "PUCK!", a surrealist delirium written and illustrated by OVER 170 CARTOONISTS from around the world.

I also drew the italian translation to my text (excerpt left) so i think there will be 2 versions- i dunno. Anyway, everyday HERE they announce a few more artists who have contributed, here's the list so far:
ALFREDO CASTELLI, BRENT ENGSTROM, DAVIDE TOFFOLO, DENIS KITCHEN, EVERETT PECK, FRANCESCO NATALI, GINO GAVIOLI, JACOPO FO, JAY LYNCH, JOSHUA HELD, LORD HURK, MACK WHITE, MARCO NIZZOLI, MORT TODD, NIK GUERRA, ROCCO LOMBARDI,SIMONE LUCCIOLA, SQUAZ, TIZIANO ANGRI, VINCENZO JANNUZZI
I can't wait to se the thing- and see if it makes sense!

Make My Trumpet Funky

2011-09-09T09:13:00.000Z

Not as funky as you might think (note: '& his orchestra') but neverless, Trumpet virtuoso Celsius Van Dunkle tries his hardest to show that funky side just as everyone has turned to disco. This album from 1976 on the easy listening label 'Unperturbing Sounds'.
I just wanted to draw something non-comics, without it being for anything, you know- for fun! To get back in the inky-flow and all that. But i like this Celsius character- maybe we'll get to see the whole Van Dunkle (hat-tip to Tomi) discography or maybe even a few records from Unperturbing label-mates like the piano genius Alan Charge?? Don't bother?
I might.

In Progress- 'King for a night'

2011-08-24T15:13:00.000Z

This is a mock-up cover (click upon it to grow it large as usual) for one of my books i'm working on. There's way too much going on in this for it to work so i'll have to change it but i like it! I've got a lot still to do- it'll be between 50 and 75 pages long and i'll post some more up later as and when and all that. Ta ta!

Hurk Flypaper

2011-08-19T14:29:00.001Z

Birds in Progress 2

2011-08-05T09:10:00.001Z

Colour tests- see what works best

Your Stinkin' Boss

2011-07-19T15:32:00.000Z

D'ya think this poster idea might appeal to anyone who has a crappy fatcat type boss? Or maybe a shitty fatcat boss who knows he's a shit and likes being a shitty fatcat boss type and wants to shout about it?! Probably, if i actually made this screen-print it would'nt have what it takes to sell that well, huh?

Birds in progress

2011-07-11T10:39:00.000Z

I've got minimal access to computer and scanner and not many minutes on my hands at the moment so Hurkulaneum is and will be a bit quite for a spell. Here's a low quality photo of a drawing for a screen print i'm working on- 'Association of Avian Aviation Aces'.

The Static Revolter 2- Launch!

2011-06-15T14:35:00.000Z

The Static Revolter #2 is going to be part of the Comix Reader Mega Launch along with Gareth Brookes' 'The Black Project' and of course The Comix Reader #2! Precise detailings here.
I thought, with the utmost respect, that i'd 'do a Covered' on Ellen Lindner's superb original flyer for the event.

Quality Vibrators Cheap

2011-06-07T09:11:00.000Z

We completed the mural but i've no photos to hand yet. Here's my strip from the mini-newspaper that the Sassoon Gallery produced for the show.
Praise be to Mary 'Ace' Gurnoid ...our messiah.

The Comix Reader Issue 2 has landed!

2011-06-03T09:29:00.001Z

Underground comics fans behold the NEW issue of Britain's favourite cartoon newspaper 'The Comix Reader' and if you can believe it, i put it to you that this one is even better than the last. Think that's impossible? Buy it for just 1 solitary nugget and think again! Plus it has a front cover by me himself- i even rubbed charcoal up against the paper like a real artist.
More info here.

Holy Sh!t In Progress

2011-06-02T12:56:00.000Z

Peckham Progress Report: 3 quarters finished my part of the mural, K-Ward too, and The Krah finished his in 1 day. Should all be finished before the workshops and zine fair outside on Sunday.

International Alternative Press Fair

2011-05-27T10:47:00.000Z

Hey don't forget i'll be at the International Alternative Press FAIR at Conway Hall tomorrow. Sat/stood/stooped behind the all-new professional-looking Fancy Butcher table with K.Ward, where we will have the brand-new Static RevolTer #2! We'll only be there on Saturday although the fair is on Sunday too and is part of the International Alternative Press FESTIVAL which will be all-fresh!

Holy Sh!t

2011-05-18T13:17:00.000Z

I'll be collaborating on a week long mural project at the Sassoon Gallery in Peckham as part of The International Alternative Press Festival. It's on from 30th May until the 5th June, all the details are here. It'll be good!

Chips

2011-04-27T10:30:00.000Z

This 'razor-sharp portrait of life in 1950's Britain' is for sale in the Fancy Butcher shop now for only £1 a portion!
Meanwhile, i'm wasting good drawing-time watching CLASSIC hip hop videos on youtube, which is not really a waste of time when you think about it!

Fair's Fair

2011-04-15T15:54:00.000Z

I will be 'behind the books' on the good ol' Fancy Butcher table with Kevin at this Sunday's (7th Annual!)LONDON ZINE SYMPOSIUM which 'will be a day celebrating zines, small press, comix, radicals and DIY culture'. Yeah!
And an early warning that next Month we'll have a table at the International Alternative Press Fair, part of the INTERNATIONAL ALTERNATIVE PRESS FESTIVAL which will be FRESH! A whole week of events, fairs, workshops, exhibitions and more.

It IS true- Meat Hill 2!

2011-04-06T14:35:00.000Z

Yeah i finally finished and printed Part 2 of Meat Hill- Only 1 final bumper issue to go. It's in the Fancy Butcher SHOP

Royal Wedding Commemorative Plate

2011-04-01T10:07:00.000Z

You! Grab one of these beautiful Royal wedding Commemorative Plates specially designed with a message from those that heartily dislike the idea of a monarchy (is'nt that illegal yet?).
In keeping with this type of memorabilia it is gloriously emblazoned with a gaudy and hardly even 3rd-rate 'caricature' of the lovely couple rendered in fine enamel and blue blood on highest quality porcelein by reknowned watercolourist and friend of the royals, Kennington steaqhuart.
Yours for just three hundred of your peasanty pounds. Order today to get yours in time for that big street party!

Lazer Artzine No.15

2011-03-23T14:04:00.000Z

Behold my short, silent strip 'The Sculptor' in Belgium's 'LAZER artzine' #15. Buy it over here. Front cover (and put together) by Chanic.

Can it be true?

2011-03-02T14:30:00.000Z

Pre-Order Hive with Hurk in.

2011-03-01T10:53:00.001Z

Lovingly produced US anthology 'Hive Five' from Grimalkin Press is now available to pre-order!
It's got a 13 page strip of mine inside. Excerpt on left gets bigger- plus it's the one i mentioned before ...and see Infomoton's first incarnation in sketchform here.
But better than that, it's got some proper top-notch cartoonin' business by these amazing folk too: Cole Closser, Chris Mostyn, Joe Decie, Reynold Kissling, Sam Sharpe, Box Brown, Andrew Waugh, Daniel Locke, Dax Delap, Jess Smart Smiley, Hawk Krall, Noah Van Sciver, Lilli Loge, Gary Fields, John Kinhart, Jonathan Baylis, T.J Kirsch, Thomas A. Boatwright, Danny Hellman, David Ziggy Greene, Curt Sibling, Blackdahlia, Lauren Barnett, Josh Blair, Nicholas Labarre, Dave O'Shell, Paola Gavira, Paul O'Connell, Laurence Elwick, Ed Choy Moorman, Eric Scrivner, J.B. Winter, Craig Collins, Iain Laurie, Gregory Benton. Just ten dollar!? VAI, COMPRA!!

Kaleidoscope Exhibition

2011-02-16T10:49:00.000Z

I'm pleased to be part of this exhibition at London's Orbital Comics next month, alongside Bethan Mure, Joe Kessler, Joe List, Lando and Will Morris.
All details here.
I did this flyer by hand (how else?) but bloody hell- don't my 'S's need some work!!

Sketchbook Squint 2011.1

2011-02-15T09:29:00.001Z

A spread from mini sketchbook S6, possibly covers for Pork Scratchings of the future.
(As usual, click and it's bigger but my scanner is on it's last legs and those yellowy moleskine pages scan something awful, no?)

I was illin' when i shoulda been chillin'

2011-02-07T11:48:00.002Z

Just a quick one to say how gutted i was at missing the unmissable Comix Reader launch- i got some bad 'vomity flu-bug'TM (That's not custard in the pic) so i ended up missing out on meeting up with homies old and new, aswell as a bunch of solid folks i might not have met before. Sorry about that and when i say i'll catch you next time- you have my word and that's a no-vomit promise!

The Butcher

2011-01-28T16:54:00.001Z

This is the first page of a a quite long story (60ish pages?) i wrote ages ago about a cyborg butcher. I will upload the pages as and when i do them which will be not the most regular of occurences but i will stick them up here and on my Grandpapier page when i do.
I actually bought some charcoal especially- just to add a bit of texture to this. Had'nt used charcoal since school and it shows don't it.

The Comix Reader Launch

2011-01-18T17:42:00.000Z

Hello 2011... it's me!

Londonites/ludites and those that don't mind visiting- come along to the proper launch of The COMIX READER at the Crown, you know- the nice cheap pub 'round the corner from Gosh! Have a drink, read some comix-paper, discuss underground comics of the past, present, future. Get there on the bus, by tube, if you're not drinking- drive there, get the bus there and get the tube home, get the tube there and catch the bus home, walk there, enjoy yourself while your there.
See you there!

The Pocket Onager #1

2010-12-10T13:16:00.000Z

What with all the local antarctivity and the load o' drawing i been done doing, i haven't had much internetage going on lately but here's my new little book 'The Pocket Onager', which can be got from the fancy butcher shop, more pics and info HERE. There is a copy in The Zine Collection at the London College of Communication Library too. There was something else but i can't remember what- more later!

New! The Comix Reader! Buy!

2010-11-24T12:14:00.003Z

There's a brand new rag on the stands...
Richard Cowdry, the man behind it explainates thus:

"The first issue of THE COMIX READER, Britain's new Underground, Alternative, Independent, Satirical, Carnivalesque, ComixStrip Compendium!

The Comix Reader is a 24 page tabloid-sized (approximately A3) anthology of mainly full colour comic strips that strives to recapture some of the fun and free spirit of the 60's underground press. Printed on newsprint with a cover price of just £1, it's the opposite of the expensive limited edition; accessible to all who are interested. It's also an experiment in distribution and publishing : 9,000 copies paid for and distributed by the artists - a first, small attempt in taking "alternative" comics to a wider audience. People love comics!

It features work by 22 artists : Tobias Tak, Steve Tillotson, Ralph Kidson, Ellen Lindner, Paul O'Connell, Saban Kazim, Bird, Tim & Alex Levin, Gareth Brookes, Paul Ashley Brown, Lord Hurk, Kat Kon, Daniel Locke, Julia Homersham, Lawrence Elwick, Alex Potts, Jimi Gherkin, Scott Smith, Peter Lally, Sina Evil, and Richard Cowdry."

See www.thecomixreader.com for the latest news, stockists and ordering details.

Alternative Press Fair 2010

2010-11-09T11:37:00.000Z

Attention Sports Fans!

2010-10-27T13:25:00.001Z

Here presented in blazing colour, is a discarded sports page that was going to be in The Static Revolter #1 until i realised it was completely pointless.
So if you've been waiting to catch up with the results from all your favourites like Silly Cricket, Equestrian Blow-Football, Invisible Chess, Grimice and Pro-League 40-40 Scat...click to visualise at a grander scale.

Machine-Gun Killer!

2010-09-24T15:29:00.000Z

Here's another crime thing- my version of the cover of 50's comic 'Famous Gangsters' (#2- Dillinger, Public enemy no.1). See it alongside the original over at the covered blog here.
P.S: I've given my proper website a right going-over too- check it out.

Work In Progress: Crime No Pay!

2010-09-23T12:00:00.001Z

Scanner not working...picture taken on phone...not good quality etc.
This is 1 of the 5 things i be drawing at the moment.

Unlucky Dip #1

2010-09-17T15:26:00.001Z

From Sketchbook S6:
The piggy-faced lovers of yesteryear.

My Influence Map

2010-09-15T11:07:00.001Z

This is a good idea. A helpful thing to stick up on your wall where you work. Everybody’s doing it (including friends and people that i admire), and i’m not dissing anyone it’s just i don’t understand it. When you start swapping them with others and posting them on the internet does’nt it just become a tool by which you can define yourself as an individual? Demonstrating how cool you are by associating yourself with other cool things. (what the internet was made for!)
Like those end of year book lists, where if i was writing one i’d do the same- a few books i like, a few i have to mention, something retro, something i’m not mad about but everyone is talking about and then something that nobody is talking about- just to be different. I reckon i’d do that- shit aye? It must come natural to 21st century humans- that’s why the internet loves lists- and personal ones with pictures too? that’s got to be the best ever- well maybe second best, i’m not sure- i’ll write my favourites down and keep you posted!

The Invincible Iron Manager Vs Mr Mega

2010-09-08T09:40:00.001Z

Here's a couple of test pages from my new mini-zine 'The Pocket Onager' which i mentioned briefly in the previous post. I'm using my long-winded, seperate layered, 1-colour-at-a-time, photocopier technique on the whole thing. It's not all red, yellow and black, it's pink and green too, sometimes all at the same time... wild-ass!
I'm trying out doing 5 different strips/projects at the same time on rotation. I spend what time i have of the day on 1 strip then no matter how much or little i've done, the next day i work on the next strip and so on. It's stopping me from getting bored and bogged down, if you have'nt got deadlines try it. (I won't have anything finished until 2015!!!)

Back to Skoolin'

2010-09-01T10:10:00.000Z

I have returned from holiday- check out my amazing wildlife photography, left.
So the exhibition mentioned below is cancelled due to a royal fuck-up beyond the Fancy Butcher's control but harm yourself not- it will happen one day.
Meanwhile i'm working on: a 'handheld' zine/comic/book thing that will feature the incredible Prince Tarzan de la jungle, more poetry of Digby Vesuvius, assorted words, pictures, stories and graphics- shit like that. And something else, other and also drawing part 2 of Black Ink Lagoon for Static Revolter #2. CLAP!

Future Fancies

2010-08-09T13:08:00.000Z

A right carve-up...The Fancy Butchers' Mini-exhibition is happening at the beginning of September, a little bit more info Here!

Monstrous Burlesque #1

2010-08-06T10:41:00.000Z

New Thrills!

2010-08-02T10:37:00.001Z

More messing about with the colour copier for a fake old-skool look. I know it's not quite doing it is it but it looks better bigger- (as always) click it to Chubb-Rock it.
By the way- The Fancy Butcher now has a new-improved website HERE

Chip-Shop Horrors #4

2010-07-27T08:28:00.000Z

Imagine a real cake- you know like a victoria sponge or something but with fishpaste instead of jam...

Rarest Of Stakes

2010-07-22T12:01:00.000Z

This is from a 13 page strip called 'The Rarest Of Stakes' which i been trying to finish since virtually the middle ages and last week i finally done-did it! Rah!

Million Mile Man

2010-07-07T10:40:00.000Z

Mucking about with the single colour settings on a colour photocopier to mimmick the offset/screen-printed look:
I did this that long uncomputerised way, you know- like this:
Get a page out of sketchbook, then get 2 seperate acetates (so i can trace around the image) and block the other 2 colours in with a marker. Copy the 'background acetate' several times in different colours. Feed these copies into the stack bypass tray of the machine and print the next acetate in a different colour onto them. Then do the same and copy the original linework drawing onto those in black (or another colour.) It'll never line up perfectly by doing this all by hand and that's the idea. I could just do it in photoshop but this, to me was a fun way of spending half an hour!! Note: This is not meant to be one those tutorials ya know, next i'll be sharing photos of my workspace and doing time-lapse videos of my 'process'!

Chip-Shop Horrors #3

2010-07-01T08:59:00.001Z

"Oi Oi!"

Chip-Shop Horrors #2

2010-06-07T11:49:00.003Z

The fish, not the footwear for ice-rinks and roller-discos.

Hive #4

2010-06-02T09:59:00.002Z

Here's an excerpt from a 3 page strip of mine that's in the new issue of the excellent U.S comics anthology 'HIVE'.

Symposeurs!

2010-05-28T16:27:00.003Z

The only 20 copies in existence of me new picture-book 'BEEFAX' , on sale tomorrow at the London Zine Symposium from The FANCY BUTCHER table- Kevin advises...

Chip-Shop Horrors #1

2010-05-25T09:05:00.001Z

The fish not the music.

High-brow political satire!

2010-05-12T10:12:00.006Z

The new boss enjoying a victory ice-cream (Clegg made it by hand in under 3 minutes with the help of some magazines).
Funny, in the old days it was nigh-on compulsory for a chap to head off to Eton and Oxford before he could become prime minister. In the old days.
And the 'Bullshitingdon Club'?! Why is it IMPOSSIBLE to love THIS picture?

Beefax Endpaper

2010-05-07T09:56:00.002Z

(Lets not mention last night 'til we know what's what.)Here's the inside cover for my long overdue 'Beefax' picture book. There's only 20 in this initial run and each has a unique front cover. It will be possible to grip this in your greasy digits from the FancyButcher table at the upcoming London Zine Symposium.
Regarding other folk's books: Paul O'Connell & Lawrence Elwick's hopefully forthcoming 'Lil' books has got one of them Kickstarter things going on- everbody's doing it (though i don't know why this: "A US bank account and address are currently required to start a project and receive funds – although anyone, anywhere can pledge money." should be the case.) but anyway- this one is really worth backing, the books look sweet, perfect even! Donate here. And also Sean 'Paper Tiger' Duffield's anti-war book is well worth backing too. Donate here. Peace out!

Planet of the Apes Versus The Triffids!

2010-04-19T10:36:00.002Z

Friend and Funnyman Nathaniel Metcalfe had this wicked vision in a dream. I really wanted to draw it (and have done- see left!!!)and now 'Auntie'- you gotta make the series... it was meant to be.

Sub-Mariner Knocks One Out

2010-04-15T09:47:00.002Z

Recently turned 40 comics-fan Tony asked his pals as a birthday favour, for drawings of "Superheroes enjoying themselves in their favourite way"- so here's Prince Namor watching Daryl hannah in 'Splash' with his hands down his trunks. It's in the post!

spilt soul all down your shirt!

2010-03-22T11:44:00.003Z

I did this tee-shirt design for the Flashback recordstore up north London way. It features mine and your favourite soul superstar- Saint Curtis mayfield! Buy one, wear it- make a good impression.

The Horrors of Sketchbook S5

2010-03-19T09:49:00.005Z

They fry our flesh
To free the fat
To fire their furnace
A frightening fact

When our blood bubbles they syphon to bottles
While they bust our bones to fine dust
Intestines and spleens are wasted by no means
Like beans, they eat them on toast to stop rust

Favourite Film Strip

2010-03-02T14:19:00.003Z

The Magazine 'Little white Lies' ran a competition recently to sum up your favourite film using only the 6 panels of their oddly designed template. This is'nt my favourite film but it is a smashing one and i thought the strip came out okey dokey. Check out the victor and some choice others at the Creative Review blog.

Happy Pancake Day!

2010-02-16T12:03:00.002Z

Religious stuff aside (lent and all that!), i like the way we still eat pancakes on shrove tuesday. It's a nice tradition and it's good to think that it can't really be cashed-in on, except by 'Jif' lemon but then it ain't exactly hard to find REAL lemons, stoopid!
The alternative press zine fair was a great success all round. Jimi & Peter manage to organise UK small press events that are... enjoyable! What with loads of excellent books, comics and zines on show and above all a really friendly atmosphere, you can't go wrong.
Thanks and Hello to our table-mate Richard Cowdry and all the other people we met and the people who stopped by like the visitor in the picture enjoying the double pleasure of The Static Revolter AND Guinness!

Alternative Press Fair

2010-02-08T16:09:00.005Z

This Saturday coming, I'll be sharing a table with fellow Fancy Butcher Kevin ward at the APF Small Press Fair at St.Aloysius Social Club Phoenix Road, London NW1 1TA(Up Euston way!)
It's organised by Alternative Press so it should be a crazy day "featuring comix, zines, poetry, book arts and print making...". The Fair starts at midday and ends at 6pm but afterwards there's open dj spots, real singing, an open mic and open stage!
It's FREE to get in so come down and give us a high five or a bunch 'o fives- whichever way you're inclined (Actually, no punching!) and check out the new Fancy Butcher Book, details of which are HERE.

Shemon!

2010-02-01T09:15:00.003Z

Did this not long ago- wanted to cut me a slice o' that 'ol watercolour action, which i dig so much in other people's work. I've been concentrating all of my drawing time into actual comics and strips lately so the post-rate has dropped a bit here but a new Fancy Butcher Book has been completed and is coming soon. The 'Beefax' book i did, i've planned to hold off printing until March but i have uploaded the 22 different covers on my Flickr HERE.

Junkyard Raid: January... 2010!

2010-01-19T09:47:00.002Z

An early 'Happy (Chinese) New Year' from Hurkulaneum! This drawing from current sketchbook S4 which i am sick of. Just seeing the same stuff everytime i go to draw in it is putting me off my stride. Plus the cheapo-book's corners are fraying now and seeing as there's only about 10 pages left in it, i'm gonna start a fresh one- woo!

Junkyard Raid: December

2009-12-14T17:15:00.000Z

Imaginary TV series from sketchbook S4.

Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)

2009-12-02T10:36:00.002Z

So i had this idea, what about LOOK-IN, remember that? what a great/shit mag that was ay! Maybe someone's done it already(?) but i thought it'd be fun to do a comic called 'Look out!' or something like that and do a load of 1-page strips of (un)classic British (and American)telly programmes, ay? Nah, i would'nt be too bothered about decent likenessses and all that- make the whole thing a bit abstract, you know.
So i did this- used my memory instead of photo-reference to get the likenesses, bad ay? Also a bit of a cheat as i think Randall & Hopkirk's too cool and a bit early for look in, but pencilled in for this amazing book were also:
Never the Twain, Carry On Laughing, Steptoe and Son, Hawaii 5-0, The New Avengers, The High Chaparall, Metal Mickey, The Good Life, Manimal, Airwolf, 'Allo 'Allo, Catweazle, The Champions, Please Sir!, On the Buses, Bergerac, Dempsey and Makepeace, Starsky and Hutch, The Cosby Show, Mork and Mindy, and Emu's Pink Windmill Club.
It was one of those ideas where for about a week i was 100% positively convinced that i was going to complete a whole book of TV strips, but like the lady off Coronation Street says..."will ee 'eck as like!"

Challengers Of The Unknown #32

2009-11-20T21:29:00.002Z

Another cover of a classic for Robert Goodin's 'Covered' blog. Ink, watercolour and a bit of posca pen on a manilla envelope, See it alongside the original HERE.

Steam-Powered Sidney Tee

2009-11-15T23:28:00.003Z

Thought i'd give this MySoti site a bash so now you can buy this tee-shirt in man version: Sidney (my newest robot) in ginger wig on grey, or woman version: Sidney in blonde wig on red. Fly attire!

Junkyard Raid: November

2009-11-09T11:17:00.002Z

Cockney Adventures featuring clockwise from 12 o clock: violent vagabond, lady of the night, the old bill, plastic fork and bowl of unsavoury, jellied-eel vomit and knife in tattooed fist. (from current sketchbook S4)

Black Robots

2009-10-30T11:41:00.003Z

More info from The Fancy Butcher!

Junkyard Raid: October

2009-10-29T12:16:00.003Z

Practice with real and digital brushes on my version of 'Mr Crime' from the 'Crime does not pay' comics.

Industro

2009-10-06T08:45:00.002Z

This is quite old now, i drew it maybe 5 or 7 years ago and it's part of a longer unfinished strip that i never did anything with... and probably won't now seeing how time flies like it does and things built up like they do. It's set in Factoria which you can find on the New Hurkulaneum Below Floor Train System map (in 'Meat Hill').

Bedeteca De Lisboa

2009-09-30T15:07:00.011Z

If you're ever in Lisbon, which you should be, you can now stop by and read 'Meat Hill' HERE.
They have shelves and shelves full of mainstream, alternative and small press comics from Portugal and the rest of the world that you can just sit about and read. I looked at some extra nice Portuguese and French stuff that i'd never seen in the paper-flesh before and the people in there are really nice 'n friendly.
Why don't we have a Bedeteca/comics library in London? We don't do we???? Do we!?
Obviously a library differs from a cartoon museum or comic shop in that you cannot buy the books but are welcome to read or even borrow them, which is really nice aint it.

InterChops

2009-09-22T14:05:00.003Z

Were you unable to get your sequential-art-primed mittens on one of those 50 copies of Urgent Telex back in Feb/March? Aware that you never got to read the 'Glass Chops' story contained within that limited edition? Situation Rectified!! The internet has come to your aid and will suck out your woe like snake poison if you set your comics-specific goggles to their 'online' setting and go to the Grandpapier website. More precisely, Here.
So raise your beakers of dandelion & burdock in a toast to ORAC, inventor of the internet!

Junkyard Raid: September

2009-09-15T08:01:00.001Z

Back from holiday and ready to fix my shit up. This from my current sketchbook- a mish-mash of macabre mobsters.

Dear Reader...

2009-08-28T08:24:00.005Z

... just a quick note to let (both of) you know that despite, no- the reason, for me not posting for exactly a month is that i've been extra busy drawing 3 comics at the (not literally)same time- with Meat Hill part two 3/4 finished and about to come off the back burner.
Looking back to January 08, i was predicting Meat Hill 2 would be finished by March 08!! HA HA! Chuckle!(i'm Trying to counteract this LOL and LMAO bullshit by bringing back expressions of laughter like 'titter', tee-hee', 'gufaw','Ho Ho' and maybe even 'Hoot!')
I've also got 2 picture books finished and available soon at the Fancy Butcher(more about them when they're out).
So apart from no Junkyard Raid this month, it's all gravy boats on a sea of mash and i'll be back with a post later in September.

Poster design : Fun Dryer

2009-07-28T09:59:00.002Z

If you're going to the Edinburgh Festival next month, i suggest you check out Jake Moore & Nathaniel Metcalfe's show 'Fun Dryer'.

Junkyard Raid: July

2009-07-20T08:55:00.002Z

Once i was gonna do a 'Monsters of the British Isles' thing and this was one of them. Of course Neon Tetra are not native to our cold waters, they are a tropical fish and they certainly do not grow to that size, and so deeply embarrassed- i gave up on the idea. (fish pinched from an old Daily Mail childrens annual)

How I Roll

2009-07-13T08:34:00.000Z

GOOM!!!

2009-06-25T08:37:00.005Z

I did this for the very enjoyable 'Covered' blog. Check it out next to the brilliant original version HERE.
Meanwhile...Lordhurk.com has had a spruce-up. If you look in the brand new Handography section, you can find a few pages of the now completed (yet to be released)picture book 'BEEFAX', in which i illustrated a 'poem' by my amigo Digby Vesuvius (street)'poet'.

Junkyard Raid: June

2009-06-16T08:49:00.004Z

Letters page from the cancelled Odd Hour #7.
There's an Urgent Telex review over at Size Matters... Gosh! still has some in stock but The Fancy Butcher has none left!

'The Odd Hour Presents' Part 5

2009-06-05T07:29:00.001Z

'The Odd Hour Presents' Part 4

2009-06-04T08:38:00.002Z

'The Odd Hour Presents' Part 3

2009-06-03T07:58:00.002Z

'The Odd Hour Presents' Part 2

2009-06-02T08:12:00.002Z

'The Odd Hour Presents' Part 1

2009-06-01T08:46:00.001Z

Odd Hour Over!

2009-05-27T08:57:00.003Z

I've quit trying to finish my 'Odd Hour' book as per my new rules (Section 5, regarding ironing out wackness), it's cover (as i predicted) now resides in 'Comics wot never Was'. The time i'm saving from this is being put to good use on better projects. The part that i think was alright is the story 'Lay a little egg for me' which i am going to put up here in 5 daily 2-page instalments starting on Monday 1st of June.

Junkyard Raid -May

2009-05-11T08:23:00.002Z

Sir Splendid +Guest(in Prince Namor's Best panties)

Son-Of-Hurk is 1

2009-04-23T21:38:00.000Z

Happy Birthday!

More Flower-Rangers

2009-04-22T08:47:00.001Z

Rose- what she says...GROWS!

Junkyard Raid: April

2009-04-21T09:13:00.003Z

From last year's sketchbook(S2)...on a monstrous burlesque tip. Top figure sort of nicked from THIS Phantom cover.

Flower-Rangers Prototype

2009-04-16T08:52:00.003Z

Hello no-one, i've just been using some sketchbook junk to put together a picture book called 'Flower-Rangers'(i don't know why, i've got better things to take care of), who knows what they do...they're sort of mighty morphin flower arrangers.
Are they Eco-Warriors? All i can say is Dafodil has a bad attitude and Tulip (the Chief) is bang into drawing nude lady vampires when he shoud be chiefing!
And who has'nt got a Special Magic Nana???

Tombola of fun

2009-04-02T09:34:00.002Z

A new poster design for my friend Nathaniel's Comedy & Entertainment Spectacular, more details HERE.
Also Magoo-type bods look closer- Yes, i got bored with how this 'blog' looks again and added another new banner, which like the poster* is all hand-ographied by my own hand.
*Artificial colourings added digitally

Works In Progress

2009-03-31T09:05:00.002Z

This i wrote in my sketchbook a while ago: To become a 'great cartoonist': score 100 points. How? For each piece of work produced*, mark it 1 point for each of these: Art, Writing, Lettering & Graphic Design, if a marked improvement is shown in that area from the previous piece of work. Then 1 month later+, A: If you are still VERY pleased with it overall, then give it 1 bonus point. Or, B: If there is something that particularly jars, ie: some really crap lettering that was originally awarded a point, then that point may be revoked.
So for each piece of work a maximum of 5 points can be scored and a minimum of 0 (Though in extreme cases when something produced is really bad in some area, then points could be deducted. This should never happen though as wackness should be ironed out in the production process or the project scrapped before completion).
*A 'piece of work produced' is either a self-published book or a comic strip put online, no illustrations.
+Usually my self-satisfaction with a published book rapidly declines from 'pleased' on day it's completed, to 'disinterested' a few weeks later. So 1 month after is a good gauge.

I gave myself an average mark of 50 to start, which i still think is fair. So i could be up there with the comic book greats (talked of by people involved in the 'arts' and minutely mentioned in such lofty literary leaflets as the Sunday papers!) in just 10 books time if i give it 100%.
This all means NOTHING of course but i sort of like the idea of the whole game.
This picture is from my new book which is almost completed, more on it later but i reckon it could get me up to 53 at least!

Junkyard Raid: March

2009-03-06T10:41:00.002Z

She-Hulk eats carrots- sees in dark, also eats too many doughnuts- loses her figure. First of a monthly look into my pictorial junkyard and sketchbooks.