Watchmen. Trailer. Bloody amazing. Nuff said!

Creative, yes. Comics, no.

For so long I really wasn’t bothered about being in a band again. In fact i almost sold my main guitar as well as my amp and other equipment. I’m so glad I didn’t. Getting back in a band has been the best thing I’ve done in a long time. It’s taken me a few weeks to get the feel of it all again after the initial excitement, but the riffs are starting to flow finally and so are the lyrics. Positive hardcore lyrics, not cynical metal lyrics like I used to write. These are the kind of lyrics I can hear in my head being shouted out by (hopefully) loads of hardcore kids at gigs. Can’t wait to get out gigging.

Of course, all this just gives me another reason/excuse for not doing any of the comics I promised myself long ago I would do. I hadn’t realised how long ago it was that I’d started scribbling down these ideas, until I remembered that I’m 29 this weekend. Next year I stop counting, eternally 30. So I must promise myself to finish and produce at least one of these damn comics before I hit 30.

With Doctor Who finishing on the BBC until Christmas I’ve had to start buying up old episodes on DVD to fill the void. Maybe I should just go out on a Saturday night and actually meet people instead. I spent almost 2 years hardly going out, locking myself in a relationship, then spent the next few years going out far too much, wasting so much money, now I seem to stay in and manage to blow the money on books, comics and DVDs instead.

I think people scare me.

Been almost a month since I last posted anything, and I still haven’t got any comic stuff to post up! Been so busy with work, never had this much work on in one go. Working on about 10 websites all at the same time, starting to get a bit confusing!

Saw The Incredible Hulk the other day, never been a big fan of the comics but I liked Ang Lee’s films and enjoyed the TV series as a kid, but wow I was blown away by this film, so much better than I expected. Ed Norton was awesome, as expected, and Louis Leterrier’s direction was spot on. The action scenes were amazing, even though some of the CGI was a bit ropey. While not as interesting as Iron Man, I’d say this film was almost as good. All the easter eggs for the fanboys and hints at future films were brilliant, as were all the homages to the TV series. Something good is in the water at Marvel Studios, I just hope it carries on this way with Captain America and the Avengers films.

Something else has cropped up in life that will also slow down my comic creating. A new band. I was wanting to do something different to hardcore and metal but some friends convinced me to practice with them and tonight was the first time. And it was awesome. I think we can get away with calling ourselves NYHC, since our vocalist is from New York. Got one song written tonight, which isn’t bad going for a first practice, I’d say it mixes the speed and brutality of Terror with the experimentation of Most Precious Blood. Whatever it sounds like, it sounded good to me. I forgot what a kick I get from playing guitar, and the fact it was all with such close friends made it all the better. Can’t wait for next practice!

Yes, I’ve been lazy. Or busy. I’ll go with busy, cos it’s partly true.

Been on holiday to Paris (awesome time: Amelie pics here, street art pics here, holiday pics here, here, here, here and here. Yes i’m snap happy!). Weather was brilliant (apart from one day where it rained, hailstoned and then decided to thunder and lightning!!). Visited a few new places but spent half the time wandering round familiar places just taking in the atmosphere. Also spent a fair bit of time around Pere Lachaise taking LOTS of photos as research for one of my comics. Maybe one day I’ll actually finish writing it and draw the damn thing!

Went to see Iron Man. Bloody brilliant film! I can’t praise it enough. I was never a massive Iron Man fan (Spider-Man and Batman being my favourite comic characters), but this film was possibly the best comic adaptation I have seen. The casting was perfect, the special effects were spot on, the tone, pace and direction all brilliant. An all round brilliant film. Can’t wait for the next one! And it’s great to see Marvel setting up a line of continuity within their films, with Robert Downey Jr making a cameo in the new Hulk film. Oh, and the after credits scene in Iron Man? One of the best scenes in a film ever if you are a comic fan

Saw Amy MacDonald in Leeds (Photos here) last weekend, and she was amazing! Live she is just as good, if not better than she is on record. I love music and like to go to as many gigs as I can afford, but this was only the second time live music has ever made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. She’s wonderful. Marry me Amy! She also influenced me to get back into music and so I’ve advertised for a female singer/guitarist to write some songs with and see what we can come up with, will make a change from playing metal and hardcore.

One thing that has been taking up a lot of my time is my bike. Having moved close to the river in York I’ve discovered more and more bike paths leading out of the city and into the countryside. Not only is it fun but it has helped me lose weight (finally!), and I try to do 10 miles every night plus have been biking back to my parents house to visit (which is nearly 20 miles either way). Cycling gives a great sense of freedom.

I still love walking though, and spent last Sunday walking round the East Coast, going from Bridlington to Sewerby and Danes Dyke and then back, then driving out to Flamborough Head and having the cove to myself, listening to the sea, I didn’t want to leave. I then ventured on to Humnanby Gap as the sun was setting to see the old WW2 bunkers on the beach. It was a relaxing and peaceful day and sitting on the beach at Flamborough Head was an amazing moment, but the whole day also made me realise how lonely I am sometimes and that I really do need to get out and meet people and find a nice young lady who enjoys trips into the countryside and knows there is more to life than just drinking and going to crappy clubs (although sometimes that can be fun too!). Anyway, less of my whining, there’s some pics here, here, here, here and here.

Maybe soon I’ll post up some actual comic work, when I get the time between working and procrastinating.

Oh, and my cat had her 19th birthday! That’s 92 in cat years. Not only has she outlived her daughter (who would have been 18 earlier this month), but she’s lived for 3 or 4 winters longer than I thought she would, I fear this will be her last summer, although she may surprise me again!

Bonus points if you get the reference in the title of this post!

Sadly no comic stuff to post about (other than that Captain America, Rex Mundi and Iron Fist should be read by one and all!), but I would like to give a “big up” to O2, as true to their word they connected me in record time for any Broadband provider I have ever used (in fact they connected me the night before they said they would!). So far so good!

Moving house has put me behind with work, so most of this week will be spent working. Then next Tuesday I jet off to France for a trip to Paris and probably a day or two in Rouen. I shall be doing some photo research for one of my comics and then as soon as I get back I shall be getting on with the bloody thing finally (providing I finish setting up my “office” by then!!).

Oh, and if you have never watched new Battlestar Galactica in your life, then you really should! Start with the mini-series and then work through series 1-3 plus the Razor special episode, then get watching Series 4 which has just started as it is bloody amazing!! New Doctor Who is pretty damn good so far too (other than the terrible opening episode!).

Well, last night with internet access until Tuesday anyway! Ordered Broadband from O2 yesterday, will all be ready by Tuesday. I’ve never known a company to connect so fast, it’s nice to know in this day and age that not everyone takes forever to do something.

Little bit strange sat here in my room with nothing but my computer, everything else being at the new house. Gonna take it easy for the weekend (Sick Of It All on Saturday night and then a day at the coast on Sunday), Monday I will unpack and then Tuesday I’ll be working again. Hopefully the new house will mean better sleep patterns as there will be less disturbance, this means getting a bit of a routine that involves more exercise and also getting my comics sorted. I have a route set out for when I go to Paris at the end of the month so that I can get the photo reference I need for Le Metro. Le Metro will involve 4 different sets of characters that never meet but who pass each other in life as they use the Metro station at Pere Lachaise, but all 4 stories will share the same theme. And there is an apple. That’s all I’m saying until I have actually started drawing it.

Listening To: No Turning Back - Calyx
Reading: Queen And Country Volume 7

Life! Gets in the way, doesn’t it? I’ve been so busy working and sorting out moving house that I haven’t done any work on any of my comic ideas for almost a month now! And as I actually move house next week and then go to Paris for a weeks holiday at the end of the month, I don’t see myself getting anything done until May. I was hoping to be a lot further ahead than I am, so I shall have to get my arse kicked into gear!

A guilty pleasure of mine is 90’s Marvel UK comics, and I’ve just been re-reading the Digitek series, which prompted me to search the net for sites about the good old days of Marvel UK and Overkill, I didn’t find much but I did find this site which is full of great info on those old MUK books, and I shall certainly be wasting some precious time over the next few days by reading the whole thing.

Next up I think I’ll delve into the old Knights Of Pendragon comics. I’m far from the most patriotic of people, but I have an interest in this country’s mythological past and I love all the old Arthurian legends, so KOP was always right up my street. And like the recent Union Jack mini-series, I’m just as excited for the upcoming new Captain Britain series written by Paul Cornell, probably most famous for his Doctor Who work. His Wisdom mini-series was brilliant, so I know Captain Britian and the others are in great hands.

Now if only he would bring back some of the old Marvel UK characters….

It’s no secret to my friends (or anyone else willing to listen) that I hated the recent live action Transformers film. I didn’t hate it because I’m such a hardcore Transformers fan that I hate ANY change, I hated it because it was a bad film. Badly directed, bad robot designs, badly placed “humour”, bad plot choices, BIG plot holes, bad characterisation, bad inconsistent in-film science… the list goes on. It was a terrible film.

I’ve stayed of Transformers message boards of any description for a few years now, as it was getting boring watching fans argue amongst themselves about everything from Beast Wars to the colour of Optimus Prime’s wall paper. (for the record I love Beast Wars, intelligent plot and great characters, who cars if Prime is a monkey and not a truck? It’s heads above the old cartoon). Recently though I decided to sign up to the IDW boards, the publisher of the current TF comics. I’ve lurked on the site since they got the licence, and I’ve bought (and loved) all the comics that they have build into their own little universe. But I didn’t sign up to their boards until rumours started that they have got the GI Joe comic licence.

So, I’ve been posting a bit on there, chatting with other fans about the comic, and inevitably the movie. It’s probably the most sane TF board I have ever been on, although there are still some posters who act cocky or take it as a personal insult that you don’t like their favourite character.

Anyway, someone asked how those of us that hated the live action film would have done it differently, and I came up with a very rough, quick plot that I believe sticks to the core of what Transformers is about: 2 factions of warring robots who then crash on earth and become “Robots In Disguise”.

So, for no reason other than I can, I am posting up my quick, rough, Michael Bay beating idea for a TF movie:

I’d start out with the basic concept: two warring factions of alien beings. The film would start mid-civil war on Cybertron, a voice over explaining how it came to war (or even the easy way out: the war has been going that long no one can remember why it started). Some Autobots would then leave the planet for whatever reason (searching for energon perhaps) and would be followed by a bunch of Decepticons. Prime would be sent with the Autobots, he would be high ranking but not the highest (Xaaron being the highest). Megatron would stubbornly lead his troops after the Autobots, much against the wishes of his second in command, Shockwave, purely for the fact he wants Prime for himself (some personal history between the two).

A battle ensues in deep space, both ships get knocked off course and crash land on earth, far in the past.

Skip to present day and the Decepticons are already hidden amongst human society. They are covertly gathering resources to re-build their ship and to re-power those that are still deactivated. Elsewhere on the planet the Autobots are revived, but they too don’t have the power to rebuild their ship or re-power everyone on board.

The military (be it US, combined forces, whatever) get reports of shape changing robots and keep it covered up, but over the years reports of shape changing robots have been seen as urban-legends. The Autobots intercept transmissions about this and realise it must be the Decepticons. Prime naively decides to reveal the Autobots presence to the Military, who then attack the Autobots thinking they are a threat. The Autobots retreat, not wanting to harm the humans, somehow along the way Bumblebee gets lost from the rest and ends up meeting Spike and his dad, a mechanic.

The Decepticons, having seen the extent of the military’s fire power, now launch a full attack to take what they need to leave the planet. This will be the big reveal moment when vehicles already seen in the film will turn out to be Decepticons (such as jets the military already used against the Autobots, tanks, presidential vehicles, tanker trucks etc anything where the Decepticons could have hidden and gathered knowledge to their advantage). All over the world Decepticon cells reveal themselves, destroying military installations and taking what resources they need, re-powering their deactivated comrades. Outnumbered, the Autobots fight back, alongside the human military, and eventually defeat the Decepticons.

Leaving the war raging back on Cybertron would set up the next film to either have more Transformers reach earth, or to have Prime and crew return to find the war still raging worse than ever. Possibly even have Shockwave ruling Cybertron and the Autobots being a resistance.

That’s what I’d do anyway! Now I shall go do something more important like solve world hunger, bring about world peace, and open a donkey sanctuary!

Nothing to do with comics!

Had a lovely Mother’s Day today, took my mum to Scarborough as the weather was good and we both love the coast. Had a wander around the shops, went for a meal and then wandered down the sea front for Waffles and Ice Cream. Then had a drive round to the North bay, driving along the seafront watching the crashing waves and the surfers.

Such a nice day and although it made me happy it also made me a bit sad.  It made me realise how lonely I am. I love my mum to bits and love spending time with her, she’s funny and laid back and we can have a great laugh (usually at other people’s expense!). But I wish I had someone to share those same moments with in a more intimate way. Someone to sit and cuddle while watching the tide come in. Someone to walk hand in hand with down the sea front. I’ve been single for just over 3 years and thought I was ok with it, but I think I really need to get out and find someone to share life with.

Wandering round Scarborough always brings back a lot of memories of the good old days when my old band used to gig and practice in Scarborough. Without wanting to sound big headed we really were the big fish in a little pond. People asking us to sign CDs, kids staring and pointing at us in shops. Packing out venues and turning people away from gigs. It was all such a brilliant feeling and one of the best periods of my life. Sadly the music scene started to die and for other reasons the band then split up. I’ve already made scribbles in my ideas book about doing a comic based on those times, and today made me think about all that again. Ok, so I lied, this post has a little bit to do with comics!

So yeah, I’m thinking it would be nice to share my life with someone, no rush though. Just as long as it doesn’t take too long!

Didn’t realise it had been a week or so since I posted on here. The most exciting thing to happen in that time was the earthquake that shook the UK, something we aren’t used to. Scared the life out of me, I was happily sat watching Stargate SG-1 and all of a sudden the walls began to shake and all my shelves started moving. As we have a problem with the main support wall downstairs I presumed it was that which had fallen down, so in a way I’m glad it was an earthquake and not that!

On the art front I’ve been working on a skill building exercise which I have named “The Book of Jim”. Basically, every week night for the past week and a half I have spent 10-15 minutes doing a sketch of Jim Morrison. I plan on doing about a months worth and then uploading them to see how I have progressed from the first (truly terrible) sketch to the (hopefully much better) last one. Each time I pick up a pencil after a while not drawing I quickly give up as I get frustrated that I can’t draw, but this time around I’ve realised that I need to give myself a refresher course rather than diving back into the deep end. So, this is kind of like my own little art course. Once I’m happy with the way the Jim’s are going I shall start to copy other photos/drawings and get used to using a pencil again (it’s amazing how much using a mouse for years really effects drawing skills).

I picked the classic shot of Jim Morrison to draw as I wanted something iconic and easily recognisable so that I could get people to easily compare it to the original, but also see how well my friends recognise it on it’s own. The first few sketches were terrible, but I’m getting happy now around the 8th sketch. Still a few things I can’t get right, but that’s OK as it helps me practice over and over.

Listening To: Random tracks - earthtone9
Reading: Akira - Katsuhiro Otomo