06/07/2011
Cy Twombley. April 25th 1928 - July 5th 2011. American painter.

04/07/2911
The British Library has acquired the archive of English novelist, illustrator, poet and artist, Mervyn Laurence Peake (b. July 9, 1911, d. Nov. 17, 1968). Peake is best known for his ‘gothic fantasy’ trilogy  Titus Groan, Gormenghast, and Titus Alone

01/07/2011
Gene Colan 1st September 1926 - 23rd June 2011

21/06/2011
It seemed an idea to bring these together. Some are new, most or parts thereof appear elsewhere on the site.

22/05/2011
Li'l ol' Guardian reader me blogged (  Words and Pictures March 1st) a complaint about the paper’s Saturday Review failure to credit artists when reviewing graphic novels.

21/05/2011
Out of this World - Science Fiction but not as you know it.Exhibition at PACCAR Gallery, British Library 96, Euston Road, London, England, NW1 2DB

15/04/2011
Comic book artists as film fans.
Identification list.

08/04/2011T
he death has been announced of publisher and editor Anant Pia (1929 - 2011). Born in Karkala, Karnataka, India he worked for the Times of India managing Indrajal comics which reprinted US titles such as Mandrake and Phantom.

21/03/2011
In the intro to the X-File page there is mention of doubts over a particular form of computer colouring, a question over the aesthetics of one approach to colouring comics. There is the suggestion that the reservations will be reappraised. Well I have done that and decided I was right first time - or at least I am now prepared to state a clear preference and try to explain why.

07/03/2011
Painter John Martin (1789-1854)  whose dramatic and biblical apocalyptic works were so popular throughout the 19th century - five thousand people paid to see his ‘Belshazzar’s Feast’ - but fell into disregard in his later years is now being re-assessed . . .

01/03/2011
The Guardian Guide section recently ran an article about a writer of comic books with illustrations from his latest  project BUT DID NOT GIVE THE NAME OF THE ARTIST! They were nice drawings too. I was offended. The Guardian judging from its Guide and Weekend section is not staffed by folk who are good in the what-things-look-like department but, their bias to the words-are-king apart, this lapse demonstrates a  lack of understanding of the appeal of comics and how they work.

22/02.2011
I came across a list of The Greatest 50 Comic-book Characters.  It was wrong. Here is my list. Not ‘Greatest’ which is a little too butch for me, but ones I happen to like ‘Best’. It is sooo subjective, and no doubt influenced by nostalgia. In alphabetical order ( sort of ) rather than ranking. I make no excuse for including some I just happened to draw.

01/02/2011
On 20th October 2010 the UN assembly passed an unanimous resolution that the first full week each February would be World Interfaith Harmony Week.

26/01/2011
An occasional series.The comic with the longest continuous run is The Dandy. Published by Scotland’s D.C.Thompson it has been going since December 4th 1937.

09/01.2011
Alfred Bestall (1892-1986)  trained at London  Central School of Art before the first world war.

15/12/200
Norman Rockwell (1894-19780) was and probably still is the United States of America’s best known illustrator. Dulwich Picture Gallery are presenting the first exhibition in the UK of his original works from 1916 into the 60s.

02/12.2010
An occasional series.The first comic strip.Comic strip definition - graphic medium in which sequential images convey a narrative. Often accompanied by text in either captions or speech balloons.

14/12/2010
An occasional series.Burglars in cartoons always wear horizontally striped jumpers because . . .

26/10/2010
This week I had my first contact  from a female fan. There are a couple of comments from women on the site but they are all friends who left a message more from affection for me than an interest in comics. For Andrea, who used the email connection, I am the man who drew Danger Mouse of whom she is a devotee.

16/10/2010
On the biography page a picture from 1979 of the Society of Strip Illustration and the Cartoonist Club trip to New York. It is also clear the names of four of the happy crowd are missing. If you recognise any of them it would be nice if you were to let me know who they are. They are (were?) all cartoonists. I am also pursuing other means of enquiry but it was quite a while ago.

04/08/2010
Victor de la Fuente 12th April 1927 - 2nd July 2010

26/07/2010
One of the perks of writing or drawing comics is that you get free issues whenever your work appears. By fortunate coincidence , , ,

12/07/2010
Harvey Pekar October 8th 1939 - July 12th 2010
Writer of comic books he was at the forefront of a new treatment of comics when in 1976 he started 'American Splendor'

17/06/2010
Al Williamson. March 21st 1931 - June 12th 2010.Biographys and tributes to the highly respected Al Williamson are on many websites since his recent death. There are places to find details of the many titles he drew for, his industry awards and great images from his long career. This is just to give my personal appreciation.  

14/05/2010
News this week of the death of Frank Frazetta. There can be few illustrators or comic-book artists who have not been aware, influenced or envious of his imagination, drawing and technical skill.