#mark penman

GHOSTS set to haunt London’s Orbital Comics in April

A new British arts collective called GHOSTS has revealed  plans to take over London this April, for a week-long underground comics exhibition. Featuring the work of seven writers and artists, the exhibition, called CULT, will be based on Orbital Comics and promises to fuse comics and music together for an occult-inspired comics showcase.

Comprised of creators Nich Angell, PM Buchan, Owen Michael…

Awesome Hotline Miami art by illustrator and comic artist Mark Penman.

If you're reading this to find out what panels I went to, what Comic Con exclusive action figures I picked up, whether I saw any new Supernatural footage... stop. That's not me, that's not why I go and if that's what you're into there are plenty of other blogs for you to read.  If I met any hot cosplayers I sure as shit spent my time talking to them and not letching over them with a camera-phone.

After going to SDCC 6 times in a row now I am convinced there are three convention experiences; the one the fans have, the one the pros have and the one everybody else has who doesn't attend. The only way to see all the news that comes out of SDCC is to stay at home and watch it on the internet. I'm serious. And none of that coverage is ever going to represent for me what actually happens there when I go.

It was chill for me this year. I went with GIRL&BOY out in the world getting reviews and two issues of PEABODY & D'GORATH coloured and in the can so there was no stress and nothing to pitch. I'd already done all the work, now I could just hang out in the sun with Jamba Juice and do what I like to do there. 

I like to go for food with my pro-wrestler friends. I like to pick up rare art books. I like to get drunk in front of hotel lobbies at 3am. I like to eat crazy burritos. I like to catch up with my buddies like Josh Williamson, Dan Ciurczak and Justin Eisenger who are more and more successful every time I go back. I also quite enjoy watching exclusive Dethclock/Girl Talk gigs on battleships with my friends from Adult Swim. That's what nobody tells you about in the media... Comic Con has mad parties son.

My knees and ankles are pretty ruined. I woke up at about 7:30am every day and didn't get back to bed till the early hours. There's not another place or time I would consider doing that but for Comic Con there's no real option. I'm just glad I did the Walking Dead Zombie Escape on the first day (I can't find video of the wave we were in) otherwise I would not have survived the course. Srsly, that was way more strenuous than I expected but my blader reflexes saved me from infection. Mark Penman was not so lucky and had to be put down for The Good Of Mankind.

Does it annoy me that the balance of comics-to-media hype has been thrown severely off by the major studio marketing machine? Sure. Does it annoy me that Deviant Art sponsored Artist Alley but all they seem to want to promote is cosplay*? Yes. Does it annoy me that I just went ten pages deep into an SDCC Google image search before I found any actual comic art or artists? Deeply.

Quick shout-out goes to the Marvel booth for being a gigantic, impersonal video-game and movie billboard. A legendary, bellowing war-cry goes out to the Image booth for being a hub of every artist and writer you could ever want to meet being RIGHT THERE ready to talk to you.

That's the difference between a ComicCon and a COMIC Con right there. 

But SDCC is a gargantuan, cluster-screwey beast of parties, friends, food and visual overload. I'm very lucky that I have an international network of badass brothers and sisters that I get to hang out with in the California sunshine and that's mostly what SDCC is to me. I wish more people had the opportunity to experience that too.

For five days a year all (or most, because Moebius died and Otomo couldn't come) the best artists and writers in the world get squashed into a room with Hollywood, the TV studios, the fleamarkets, the anime importers and 150 thousand adoring fans and somehow everybody has an unforgettable time. That's why I keep going.

*Cosplayers... I love you guys. But the press/media should show some respect to where those ideas and designs come from. The roots need love too, as well as the pretty leaves.

Here comes the shitty photos...

"We've upgraded you to a King Suite, Sir. Is the sixteenth floor ok for you?"

Survival Gear.

On board the battleship USS Midway, waiting for the metal to start.

Here comes Dethklock

William Murderface, Skwisgaar Skwigelf, Nathan Explosion, Pickles, and Toki Wartooth

Girl Talk deep in the bowels of the USS Midway. And women and women and women.

Artist/Writer/Bro/Friend/Homey Mark Penman pulling rank on his colourist at the Dethklock gig. Notice our contextually sensitive Navy outfits and accessories.

Late Christmas/Birthday presents from the guys at Adult Swim. Why yes, those ARE Murderface drinks coasters.

Outside the Hilton were all 12 working Batmobiles. Inside the Hilton was the voice of Master Shake buying me cocktails. Also inside the same bar was George R R Martin.

Vibe prints from the hands of Soul Karl. IDW's stunning "Daredevil; Born Again - Artist Edition"

Otomo's "Genga", Yusuke Kozake's "KYMG:2", The Walking Dead SUPER Limited Edition #100, Becky Cloonan's "The Mire". Thanks for the drinks Becky, looking forward to you and Andy rocking Thought Bubble with us this year.

Phew.