2013 Highlights

It's that time again! I thought I'd put together another collection of the work I'm most proud of from the past year. In chronological order (I think):

The Mystery of the Roofrunner, this year's free Patience mini-comic. I thought the story was a little weaker than The Mystery of the Night Boy (2012), but I really tried my hardest on the environments, and I think they're miles better than my backgrounds had been before.

Children of the Night, the goth anthology I made with my bestie Sammy Borras this Summer. This was by far the biggest project I've ever cranked out, we did about 30 pages each! It was divided into shorter stories, but it really gave my a feel of how much work a long comic project would be. I'm also really pleased with my writing on all three of my comics!

A couple of pictures to represent Inktober as a whole. Last year I had no time to do Inktober, so I was really proud of myself for not only finishing it, but actually getting some good work out of it. Also I learned to do ink wash.

Finally, right at the end of the year, the twelve Christmas cards I made for my friends and family this year. I had the idea for these last year, but had no time to get them done for Christmas. I'm so pleased to have managed it this year.

I confess, it was... much harder to find things I was proud of this year. (Only Children of the Night leapt to mind.) Mostly because I didn't finish most of the things I'd planned to do by 2014. I had a portfolio review in... February? and got some excellent advice, but I did the same thing I did last year and got caught up in a lot of smaller projects and didn't manage implement any of that advice. I feel very foolish for allowing that to happen even when I'd identified it as a problem at the end of last year.

Obviously I fall into this trap very easily when I don't have some sort of structure in place, so this time I've made a to-do list for the WHOLE OF 2014. Complete with month-by-month breakdowns of which projects need to be started when. If I can't get the stuff on that list done by 2015 (barring major life problems) then it will only be because I lack discipline!

Bring on 2014! I can do better this year!

Goth Anthology - Cover and Previews

Here we are, a full preview of my comics and the cover for the Goth Anthology, now with title! Sammy asked me to do the cover, and it seemed appropriate to go with something funny, since I realised reading a PDF of the whole thing that we hadn't done a single non-comedy story between us. A serious cover might have been... misleading.

We debuted this anthology at London MCM last month, and we were very pleased with the reactions we got! We'll also have it at Thought Bubble this coming weekend. In the meantime, please head over to Sammy's blog to see previews of her three comics! Children of the Night is also in Sammy's online shop.

Goth Anthology - On Behalf Of The Moon, Or Whatever

And the final Goth Anthology preview, my third comic, On Behalf Of The Moon, Or Whatever. I was so excited to draw this one, there was something about the idea of really apathetic goth magical girls that seemed inescapably hilarious. I tried to make both the character designs and panelling as manga-styled as possible, as it seemed appropriate for the subject matter.

Now there's only the cover left to do!

Goth Anthology - Life Is Suffering

Here's another two-page preview, this time my second comic for the Goth Anthology - Life Is Suffering. This is an updated version of some gag strips I used to make in 6th Form called The Adventures of Bookworm and Gothgirl, it's nice to go back to an old idea and realise you can do something decent with it!

Goth Anthology - After School

Have a 2-page preview of one of my Goth Anthology comics! After School, a chilling tale of seances and tea parties.

I finally got on top of these comics again, having lost last week to a cold, so hopefully I’ll be able to show you more soon. I cannot explain in words how much better I feel now that Autumn has abruptly begun here in England. I feel so much more… at home.

Goth Anthology - bonus design

While I frantically attempt to get all these goth comics done in… let’s see… 19 days, have a bonus character design! This is the support character for the magical goths. She changes her bow to match their outfits, in deference to their darker fashion sense.

Goth Anthology - Magical Goths

Character designs for my third comic in the Goth Anthology! This one took me forever to get right, I almost gave up and scripted a new one, but it’s thumbnailed now and I can’t wait to show everyone when it’s done!
It’s about goths, who are also magical girls. Their gothic magical girl outfits aren’t final yet, but I added them in for comparison with the monstrosities that are their default outfits.

Magical goths. I’ve never been so excited to draw something!

Goth Anthology - Bookworm and Gothgirl

More character designs for the Goth Anthology! These two are for a slice-of-life strip about the trials of being a goth. They’re an updated version of some characters I drew in 6th form for a comic called ‘The Adventures of Bookworm and Gothgirl’.

Gothgirl is called Lillith Robinson and Bookworm’s surname is Wheeler, but I haven’t worked out a first name yet. 

Wheeler was too busy reading to shave her legs.

Goth Anthology - Occultist Schoolgirls

Character designs for one of the goth-themed comics I’m making with Sammy! We’re putting them in a Goth Anthology which we hope will be ready for London MCM. (Is it still an anthology if it’s only two people?) One of my comics is about some occultist schoolgirls, who summon the ghost of former pupil who was murdered there.

These are Nastasya Nikolaiovna Zossimova, Angela Deborah Deacon, and the ghost of Charlotte Lawrence. Their school uniform is surprisingly goth-friendly…