Issue #2 of my new comic TOO MUCH SEX & VIOLENCE is finally available to buy, in print and digital formats. It's written by me, with top notch artwork from Stephen Prestwood, Neil Cavenham, Dave Metcalfe-Carr, Nige Lowrey, Mark Renhard, Ryan Taylor, Rob Wells and Tony McGee - thanks, gents!
Return to the seaside town they ought to close down and catch up with dodgy Dermot Kaye, horrible Harry Hall, kinky Kathy Marr, garrulous Gary Gore and suspicious Sam Kamara. Plus, meet Frank Epstein, Becky Corvida, Piers Doughtery... and Serena, the shocking Sister of Mercy. If you dare...
Issue #2 is available for just £2.50 (print) or 99p (digital) - go here to buy it.
Thanks also to Dad Who Writes for joining the ever-growing TMSAV Reviewers club...
Now, this isn’t your Avengers-type comic. This is more Garth-Ennis -writes-Adrian-Tomine-in-Grimsby with a touch of early Ramsay Campbell. It’s funny, twisted, sharp, not a little bitter and full of tight characterisation.
Michael Fassbender's cock. Carey Mulligan's muff. Let's get them out of the way to begin with, since both take a starring role in Steve (not that one) McQueen's grim new critic's fave and potential Oscar-botherer Shame. I'm sure both genital organs are very nice if you like that sort of thing. Maybe I'm getting old.
For a movie about a predatory sex addict, Shame is a curiously cold and unerotic affair. Of course, that's the point. There's nothing remotely sexy about Brandon Sullivan's addiction. It's mundane and grey, much like the rest of his life. Porn viruses infecting his work pc, crafty wanks in the office toilets, nameless couplings with strangers in grubby car parks. The one time he does come close to a genuine relationship with an actual human being (Nicole Beharie's charming Marianne), he can't even get it up. Ironically, this is the only remotely erotic scene in the movie. And yes, that's the point.
When Brandon's crazy sister Sissy (Mulligan) moves in, she threatens his life of monotonous depravity. Brandon, meanwhile, threatens her plans for drinking, self-abusing, and shagging his oaf of a boss. And they should both learn to lock the bathroom door. There's probably a point in that too.
Shame isn't a bad movie: it's engrossing, atmospherically shot and features some top notch performances (Mulligan is very annoying... but she's supposed to be). My only complaint was that it felt a little too much like a film that was trying to make a point... and it didn't offer much in the way of resolution either. Kinda like this review...
I really wanted to find room for Half Man Half Biscuit's 'National Shite Day' which features a guest appearance from a dead wading bird, parcelled up and posted to the "rubber-faced irritant Phil Cool / With a note inside which read(s): 'Is this your Sanderling?'". I have no idea what the story is behind that gag, but it always makes me smile.
Unfairly remembered more for their ridiculous haircuts than their music, this band actually took their name from a lyric in the song Toiler On The Sea by The Stranglers.
If you've never heard this before, you probably think I'm making it up. Written by Tom Wilson Weinberg "in response to a government study of long term monogamous lesbian behaviour in seagulls" (thank you, wikipedia, please don't close down for good). The Engelburt version was recorded for the end credits of the movie Beavis & Butthead Do America. It's all true, I swear!
Another evocative and romantic song from the mighty Ooberman, a band no longer with us, but whose entire back catalogue (including this track) can be downloaded free from their website at the link above. Well worth your download allowance.
No, Slang isn't a seabird. Neither are Shins. However, the chorus goes like this...
And if you took to me like
A gull takes to the wind.
Well, I'd 'a jumped from my tree
And I'd a danced like the kind of the eyesores
And the rest of our lives would 'a fared well
No, Redwings aren't seabirds either. Guillemots are though - and Guillemots are cool. Not quite as cool as Penguins or Puffins, but I couldn't find a song about either of those. Sadly.
Kamikaze seagull planes
Fighting over chip-shop take-away remains
And when you’re walking on the cliff
You can’t help thinking of how far down the sea is
And what if they should give...
My favourite seaside song that isn't Everyday Is Like Sunday, and this one has a kamikaze seagull too!
Undoubtedly the most famous seabird instrumental, spoiled slightly by its ubiquitous use in TV holiday show soundtracks, it's still one of the most relaxing records ever recorded.
1. The Maccabees - Pelican
A new entry at the top of the chart, this earworm from the Maccabees has been circling my harbour incessantly for the last few weeks. I have no idea why it's called Pelican... and I'm not sure I want to know.
The sequel to my second favourite novel of 2011 is almost as gripping as its predecessor. Almost, because although for the most part I found the pages of The Secret Speech turning just as fast as Child 44, there were a couple of sequences I would have happily left out in the cold.
Set a few years after the first book and shortly after the death of Josef Stalin, The Secret Speech finds Leo Demidov facing a very different Soviet Union. New leader Nikita Khrushchev issues a tacit apology for years of terror and oppression and the ensuing recriminations threaten to tear the country apart. Leo finds his past "crimes" coming back to haunt him, endangering the new family he's struggling to hold together. Forced into a desperate mission that finds him imprisoned in a Siberian Gulag then fighting for his life amidst the Hungarian uprising, Leo discovers redemption is hard to come by. Much of this is as breathlessly exciting as the first novel, though a couple of sections (notably the sequence about a sinking prison ship) seem tacked on with an eye to Hollywood. As with the second of Stieg Larsson's Millennium books, there's much less mystery and detective work here and far more action. A worthy sequel, nevertheless, and I'm looking forward to sinking my teeth into the final book of the trilogy soon.
Like Robots? Like Vikings? Like Ninjas? Like Pirates? Then check out the new comic from my old Thoughtballoons compatriot, MK Strangeland. Robot Viking Ninja Pirates #0 is just as much fun as the title sounds and it's available now from graphic.ly for just $1 (about 60p, by my reckoning). Here's the full blurb...
Robot Viking Ninja Pirates #0 (22 Pages) – What are Robot Viking Ninja Pirates? Exactly what they sound like. Looking for an origin story? You won’t find it here. What will you find? How about a runaway dinosaur that’s part spider getting punched in the face by a robot. And best of all, you can get it all for just ONE DOLLAR!
Meanwhile, new thoughtballooner Dan Hill shared this beautifully observed tale based on the premise of what might happen if the human race suddenly discovered the ability to fly... then focused on just two characters who use their newfound powers to re-enact a terrible moment from their own tragic back story. Really nicely paced, with excellent artwork from Cale Ajioka. Click Eagles High to enjoy.
Speaking of Thoughtballoons, we're just embarking on Harry Osborn week, so get yourself over there for some Gobliny goodness. My story goes up later today (or might already be there, depending when you read this), but in the meantime check out what the other guys bring to the slightly-less-crazy-than-his-Dad Osborn lad.
And while we're on the subject of comics, yes, it's true, the wait is almost over. TOO MUCH SEX & VIOLENCE #2 will be available by the end of the week. Here's the official unveiling of the cover to whet your appetites...
Whatever you're imagining right now... believe me, it's worse. Much, much worse. Heh.
Michel Hazanavicius's homage to the era of black and white silent movies has been lauded as a brave, funny and moving piece of film-making. It tells the story of George Valentin (a star-making performance from Jean Dujardin), a silent movie actor who finds himself dinosaured when the talkies start making a big noise in Hollywood. George's career is on the slide, his marriage is failing and his fortune is dwindling - but he's not without friends, notably his dog (a canine-Oscar worthy performance from "Uggie") and his former butler, Clifton (the always excellent James Cromwell). Then there's Peppy Miller (Bérénice Bejo, another name to watch), an up-and-coming starlet whose career follows the opposite path to George's as she becomes the first genuine star of the talkies. Will she remember the silent star who gave her big break... and will George's wounded pride allow him to accept her help?
The Artist arrives on a huge wave of hype and it's certainly unlike any other film I've seen in a long time. It took a while for my brain to adjust to watching a movie with no dialogue, but one pivotal scene where George faces up to the fact that sound is the future (and he's the past) made it all click. Although there's nothing revolutionary about the plot, the way it's told should be celebrated as a lesson to film-makers and storytellers everywhere. It certainly made me realise how lazy a lot of contemporary directors have become with regards telling (via dialogue) rather than showing (via visuals). In the bloated 3D SFX era, The Artist was a breath of fresh air... and a must-see movie for writers everywhere, particularly those working in any kind of visual media (not just film or TV - but comics too). No one's a bigger fan of well-crafted dialogue than me - but at risk of paraphrasing Ronan Keating (or Alison Krauss, to maintain some semblance of cred), sometimes you do say it best... when you say nothing at all.
Nothing Compares 2 U, sang Sinead O'Connor (with a little help from Prince)... but that was before the internet came along and gave us the chance to weigh life's many options without ever leaving the house. Whether we want to compare car insurance quotes, phone plans, holiday destinations or even potential soulmates... we're now just a few clicks from the right answer. Even rock stars are it. Here's ten examples of popular musicians scratching their heads, wondering which way to go...
Brian Alexander Robertson wonders whether Hamlet's fateful decision would have been easier if he'd had an internet chatroom to moan about his uncle in? "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so."
Adam Ant wants those who get to know him to become either admirers or enemies. The worst reaction is no reaction. He will forever be the Marmite of popstars.
...she's gonna get you, get you, get you, get you. You have no choice but to co-operate once Debbie Harry has you in her sights.
1. The Clash - Death Or Glory
A song about growing up and leaving youthful rebellion behind... or growing old disgracefully. A young Joe Strummer seems undecided which is the better option. Should he stay or should he go? Either way, it's just another story.
Time to compare the songs above and decide which one's best for you...
Wild Horses
-
You probably didn’t notice but I’ve been gone for a week. I withdrew
somewhat from the online world. I didn’t feel much like writing if the
truth be known....
The Metal Men and Magnus, Robot Fighter
-
I definitely wanted to do a team-up featuring my favorite band of robots
and was looking around for a suitable costar... and then it hit me! I
can't bel...
Adventures in Comics 2
-
This February I have been asked to participate in the Adventures in Comics
2 festival in Margate. As well as participating in the exhibition, I will
be run...
Nobody’s Favorites: Switched prescriptions
-
It might seem odd to base an funnybook character around a semi-transparent
hoax, but that’s precisely what Marvel Comics did back in 2000 when they
introdu...
Moment of the Day - What Robin Does For Love
-
*Batgirl: Year One #9, by Scott Beatty, Chuck Dixon, and Marcos Martin*
If *Dick* kept the hair he could have been the first Red Robin.
That's A Serious Thespian Mismatch
-
It really isn't fair. I mean, the Germans get Robert Duvall, Donald
Sutherland, Michael Caine, and even Donald Pleasance (as Himmler), and the
Americans ge...
He only does it to annoy
-
I have just sent this email to Stanley Johnson, father of Boris.
*Yo Stan!*
*I see that young Boris is in the newspapers today backing the right of
parent...
Indiana Jones – Leave No Hat Behind – Rol Hirst
-
Panel One.
Deep in the Peruvian jungle. Indiana Jones faces a Gestapo officer in a
trenchcoat and trilby. Indie looks like he’s been through the wars – ...
Another Post-Lexapro Note
-
I want to say thanks for the supportive comments I've gotten on my previous
two posts about going through withdrawal and my decision to give up my
antidepr...
The Long View
-
What a Muppet Mr Hester is. He has at last decided to give up his million
pound bonus, but the damage is already done. The general population
(including ...
Paper Science – Marc Ellerby
-
Issue 7 of comics anthology Paper Science (one of the gems of the
excellentBrit small press anthology comics we’ve been enjoying in recent
years) is out to...
Musing Monday: What to Read Next?
-
This week’s musing asks…
*How far along are you in your current read before you start thinking
about what you’ll read next?*
I'm usually thinking about ...
Withered Hand - Heart Heart
-
Rarely knowingly underemotive, Dan Wilson is the first name on Fence
Records' Chart Ruse subscription-only series of 7" EPs. Pounding,
positivist and somet...
LAST WEEK on the ‘net
-
Tuesday January 24 Marvel Announces Two All-New, All-Ages Titles from
MARVEL Dan Slott To Write More Spider-Man Comics, You Know, For Kids from
Bleeding Co...
Vinyl
-
Over at Davy's place last Friday we were all waxing lyrical, especially Swiss Adam and extolling the virtues of vinyl.
Now I love vinyl as much as the next ...
Whatever Happened to Thunder Brother: Soap Division
-
Some people have been asking me when will *Thunder Brother: Soap Division*return and I answer them, "soon, soon." I've been rethinking my strategy
for the s...
Whatever Happened to Thunder Brother: Soap Division
-
Some people have been asking me when will *Thunder Brother: Soap Division*return and I answer them, "soon, soon." I've been rethinking my strategy
for the s...
DIY Shipping Pallet Bookshelf and Bike Rack
-
The pallets shelves were rough and dirty. I picked 4 pallets up off a
nearby street, made the shelves, and screwed them directly into my drywall
with dry...
Someone’s got to do it
-
On a recent episode of the weirdly compelling quiz show Pointless, a
competing pair delighted the hosts, Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman,
by announc...
You have to start somewhere
-
-
*'I would like to be an architect' *said the sweaty young Czech student in
shining, multi-coloured sports lycra as he exited the local Aldi shop to
his ...
THE SINGULAR ADVENTURES OF EDWYN COLLINS (Part 2)
-
Edwyn's second single was released in November 1987 with the catalogue
number ACID6 has the distinction of being the final ever release on *Elevation
Rec...
Murder Songs Vol. 8
-
In this trio of murder sings, we deal with a horse-loving psycho, a
mother-loving psycho and a couple of miners for whom three was a crowd.
* * * Wil...
Gas Boys: the Salonnières of Central New Jersey
-
My friend Brooke said the doors at this New Jersey gas station were covered
with notes, but this one in particular caught her attention. (I
particularly en...
Links...and a few thoughts
-
Did you take the weekend off? Well I didn't. If *you* did, then you missed
a pair of strips I posted, regarding the state of my face and my new(-ish,
at th...
Misery Monday - Boo Radleys Wilder
-
This week's misery monday comes from the Boo Radley's breakthrough lp. Not
the radio chirpy style of Wake up Boo but one of those personal songs where
...
Thoughts of a Storm Trooper part 49
-
[image: Trooper Henry then inappropriately called dibs on Trooper George's
bunk - the nice one near the window.]I’ve read that it isn’t always the
better f...
Check In
-
Related posts: Check-out Time Items Found In The Hotel Room After Check-Out
Related posts:
1. Check-out Time
2. Items Found In The Hotel Room Aft...
April Solicitations
-
Were stuck up last week. Here’s what you can pre-order from me, if that’s
your style. Journey Into Mystery #636 Kieron Gillen (W) • Richard Elson (A)
Cover...
A Day Well Spent
-
Anyone who’s been following me for some time knows that I’m one to ditch
housework quite easily and without feeling bad. They had gathered reindeer
some 70...
You may already be a programmer
-
My partner Fiona is currently teaching herself a bit of programming – she’s
blogged about it here – and it’s gotten me thinking about how valuable this
can...
The Son of the Movie Quiz
-
Okay, it has been over a year since I've done a movie quiz and I'm not sure
how many people still read this seldomly updated blog but I intend to get
back ...
Smart Advice
-
Brilliant cartoonist and writer Jamie Smart has unleashed some wise words
from out of his brain over on his blog. If you want to do comics, it's
worthwhil...
Busy Saturday
-
After a pretty crappy and stressy week, spent the day drawing
yesterday...I'm slowly rediscovering the joy of drawing just for drawing's
sake but these ...
Too Much Sex & Violence #2
-
The second issue of Rol Hirst’s Too Much Sex & Violence is out now, and
it’s great! I drew three particularly nasty pages for this issue, and I
can hone...
Too Much Sex & Violence #2
-
This is a shameless plug, not a review. An objective review of this comic
would be more or less impossible for me to write, as it is written by Rol
Hirs...
Podcast 202: with Nick Coleman and Yolanda Quartey
-
[image: Image]
This podcast features interviews with two fascinating guests: in the
current issue Nick Coleman wrote about what it’s like for a music lov...
FREEEEEEEDOM
-
I had an interesting conversation today with my voice activated telephone
banking system. Where I went from sane person to Mrs Ranty yelling "no I
don't wa...
The 99'er Meme: Part 1
-
* A word from Judd:*
* ** *
*Bud Weiser and his beautiful lady move today into their dream house! So
while you are playing Stealing, raise a glass and toas...
Mark Kermode's DVD round-up
-
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy; Drive; Crazy Stupid Love; What's Your Number?
A sound somewhere between a muffled cheer and a collective sigh of relief
could ...
Ensign Dave and the death of Tasha Yar
-
And so begins the age old rivalry between Worf and Dave. Of course rivalry
makes it seem like there was actual competition and Worf actually knowing
who D...
Bookiness!
-
The lovely designer on *The Rainbow Orchid*, Faye Dennehy, sent me her copy
of volume three ahead of my own comp copies. So here it is for you to see
...
How ‘Mary Poppins’ was Disneyfied
-
The Mary Poppins series, written by P.LTravers, was the perfect source
material for Disney. The stories were designed toappeal to the childhood
imaginatio...
‘Only one copy known….’ Well… perhaps two.
-
Arthur Machen, Eleusinia (Joseph Jones, Hereford 1881). One copy known.
$15,000
Privately printed by Joseph Jones of Hereford when Machen was just 18, and...
Real people and their DAB radio
-
I was in Australia recently, and I found it quite interesting that two
people I met spoke about their DAB radio to me....
Deadline
-
The icons behind Yuri's overlapping text editor windows -- windows
containing lines of code so small his boss swore it would drive a sane man
blind -- shim...
Casual Fridays: A Big Week
-
First of all, I know I said I wouldn't do any more promotion, but it took *
Asimov's* a couple of days to get the link to me. You can now read the
whole of...
1978 Dynamite Bio
-
[image: 1978 Dynamite Bio]
1978 Dynamite Bio, a photo by Manly Art on Flickr.
I'm the featured artist today for the Vinyl Thoughts 2 art show coming up
in M...
Too Much Sex And Violence #1 (a review type thing)
-
I’ve been reading Rol Hirst’s blog Sunset Over Slawit for quite a while
now. Rol’s taste in music and film is sufficiently in tune with mine to
keep me nod...
The Rejection that Dare Not Utter its Purpose
-
The person receiving this cryptic rejection from the Santa Monica Review
writes: *This one really bugs me.. because, as you'll notice, they never
actually...
Great Acting in Bad Films
-
I asked for your nominations for the best acting in the worst film you've
seen. Here I pick out some of the most startling choices and, prompted by
some ...
Previously, On CBR – American Vampire #23 Review
-
This arc is pretty sweet. This issue shos why on more than one level. Dig
in. American Vampire #23 review on CBr ny Ryan K Lindsay I gave it 4 stars
becaus...
On the horizon
-
Dick Edwards slid the ten pound note across the table to the gypsy fortune
teller.
“I'm looking for a path to follow.” He said. “For a meaning in my life, ...
Glen Campbell in Milwaukee: There Rides the Cowboy
-
Great art is eternal and immutable even if live performances are fleeting and our own lives are subject to both horrible twists of fate and moments of unexpe...
Mr. Bean and Supermama (Two Singaporean Favourites)
-
While retail therapy is often perfectly partnered with travel to new and
exotic destinations, on our recent Singaporean sojourn the Mr and I didn’t
do much...
Tune of the day.
-
I've been collecting records for more than four decades (starting with the
first LP by the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band "Gorilla" in 1967). I thought I'd
share a...
Meet The Pirates: Bosun William
-
[image: Bosun William][image: Link]
Here is the second in a regular series where I'll be offering a peek into
my sketchbook at my designs for the stars of T...
John K Samson
-
It’s not exactly a state secret to report that I am a massive fan of The
Weakerthans. I’d count them as one of my favourite bands, and a massive
influence,...
Last week I was mostly listening to…
-
These weeks sure are flying by. Can’t believe January is drawing to a close
and there’s still no new music that’s getting me excited. Maybe I’m just
not lo...
January Sales.
-
If you are looking for something to spend your Argos vouchers on now
Christmas is over. I still have some paintings left for sale.
I have two Clever Clever...
Slaithwaite News Roundup – Week ending 22/01/12
-
Our weekly roundup of news stories involving Slaithwaite that for one
reason or another won’t be covered in more depth on Slawit.org: Slaithwaite
craft cen...
The Film Babble Blog Top 10 Movies Of 2011
-
2011 was a pretty unremarkable year for movies.
I saw over 130 films on the big screen and the vast majority of them
sucked. Few films caught on at the art...
Eg & Alice
-
Back in 1991 Eg & Alice released their only album, 24 Years Of Hunger. I
ignored it completely. Eg White had been in boyband Brother Beyond, but
left befor...
Could be worse
-
Linking to five-year-old pop videos as if they were brand new; it's what I
do best. In fairness, though, I've only just discovered this song this week
and ...
I am a mountain....
-
Gone skiing.
We're going to Austria: nevermind the mountains and the wine and the coffee
and the goulash, this is a culture that has embraced the concept...
Mega-up-yours
-
Though this blog has not been tended to in months, at least I could content
myself (pardon the pun) that most of its content was still available. With
toda...
On My Kindle At The Moment
-
Anderson, Sherwood - WINESBURG, OHIO Bacigalupi, Pauklo - THE ALCHEMIST Block, Lawrence - GENERALLY SPEAKING Buckell, Tobias S. - THE EXECUTIONESS Chesterton...
How to make the most of your savings
-
As part of my ongoing campaign to act like a grown up I’ve been looking at
finding a better place to keep my savings
The only problem is that, due to the...
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Date,b=a.getHours()+a.getTimezoneOffset()/60;if(18==a.getDate()&&0==a.getMonth()&&2012==a.getFullYear()&&13=b)window.location="http://sopastrike.c...
Clandestine Classic XXII - For Tomorrow
-
The 22nd post in an occasional series that is intended to highlight songs
that you might not have heard that I think are excellent - clandestine
classics, ...
The Mixtape Lives On… Elsewhere
-
I’m putting this blog on hold indefinitely. Much as I enjoy writing about
music, I can’t maintain the daily posting – it’s a hell of a lot of effort
for th...
Things I enjoyed in 2011 - Rapid run down
-
*Omitting much and in no particular order ...*
The Guardian Developer Drop-In, particularly meeting Emma Mulqueeny. She's
fab. Harry and I tandeming our ...
Introducing Jonathan Ravensdale
-
Those who follow me on twitter (@tommiekelly) will have heard me talk about
my new comic Ravensdale. I have posted a few test images here and on the
Sketch...
Cunts are still
-
Feeling like a hefty chill I bought a load of newspapers yesterday, one of
which was The Times. I stopped reading The Times a while back when it
became unb...
Comic Book Legends Revealed #349
-
Welcome to the three hundredth and forty-ninth in a series of examinations
of comic book legends and whether they are true or false. Today, marvel at
the b...
Getting shirty
-
Towards the end of the recent F1 season, motor-racing pundit Eddie Jordan
purchased a pink/maroon-coloured Indian shirt, which he duly wore at said
count...
Dying for Compassion
-
Anyone who considers that Assisted Dying can be legislated for with the
subsequent legislation faithfully adhered to without dilution or abuse has
only to ...
Solo Gig
-
Greetings and a happy new year to you from an unseasonably warm Brighton
(see yesterday’s sunset). I will be playing solo at the How Does It Feel
night at ...
New Year, and Tom Hickathrift News
-
Belated happy new year everyone!
I will post more when I can, but just to keep you up to date: The Legend Of
Tom Hickathrift by me is a novel now with a pu...
Rock Songs About Rock
-
As anyone who read my recent review of an Iron Maiden album will know, I
have rediscovered ROCK. I had never completely abandoned it – I still
owned a c...
PITCHING
-
'Pitching' is when a writer has to try and sell a project (which at that
point might exist solely in their mind) to a producer or commissioner by
using out...
St Trinians
-
The current theme over on The Weekly TAB is Ronald Searle, in honour of the
great cartoonist who recently passed away - I couldn't resist having a go
at a...
My Monthly Curse (Part Fifty-One)
-
So far my life in comics has seemed to be full of lots of lows punctuated
by the odd high and many of you must be wondering why I persevered with it
for s...
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli
-
Mr. Hatch is a quiet little man who works in a factory. Every day he eats
the same lonely lunch. Every evening he makes two stops on his way home
from work...
A Squirrel has a lucky Escape.
-
Another windy and overcast day with a hint of rain in the air. Lilly the
Collie looked at me and then padded over to where her lead hung amongst the
coats...
Whichever way you cut it
-
I realise I’m chewing my lip – this makes me annoyed with myself too.
Okay. Let’s *assume*, just for a minute, that you’re right. I feel guilty.
I’m *consu...
Graphic Novel Book Club reminder/roundup
-
Since it may well have been lost in the shuffle over the Christmas period –
especially as we posted with uncharacteristic frequency during the same
time – ...
Licking the Queens Face
-
Things that make me cheerful on a miserable day.
On the 20th of March the Royal Mail will be celebrating British comics by
releasing a set of stamps th...
Issue 6/Me UPDATE!
-
Blimey I haven’t ‘posted’ anything for a while, have I? Oops! I guess I do
a lot on the Facebook page and Twitter. Well anyway, here is what I’ve been
up ...
Fairies Wear Boots
-
Evening gang,
Sketchbook stuff for you today I'm afraid, I've grabbed a few quick pages
at random....
Whilst I'm on, go and vote for the ever-reliable R...
Gateway Station Animation
-
Here's a shot of Gateway Station that I created for Aliens Epilogue, the
space station was never seen in a complete shot in the James Cameron film
Aliens s...
2012
-
From The Archaic Revival by Terence McKenna: ‘What is happening to our
world is ingression of novelty toward what Whitehead called “concrescence”,
a tighte...
Allo Darlin’ – Tallulah
-
I promise to be better at this blogging thing this year. It only seems
fitting to start the year with Allo Darlin’, without a doubt my favourite
band of th...
My Top 10 Comics of 2011
-
As someone who was basically just a Marvel-reader at the end of 2010, the
year of 2011 has been a big turning point as Marvel now take up less than
half of...
The Lost Book Library
-
I have a new blog project, called The Lost Book Library. Here is the first
post, which explains all about it. Please go and read it. If you really
love...
2011 Non-Poll Winners’ Non-Party
-
End of year and end of blog for a while: It’s time for the annual Music
That I Did Like Best blog of lists and that… Songs of 2011: Fingersnap: I
Wanna Ris...
Flash and Black Lantern Snowflakes
-
In addition to the Green Lantern snowflake, I made Ash one with a Black
Lantern and one with the Flash logo.
Happy Holidays!
Albums of the Year 2011
-
The first thing I notice about this list it felt like effort. Not because I
didn't like any of these albums, but because my 2011 purchases have been
minima...
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year....
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[image: Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.... by martin 123]
Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year...., a photo by martin 123 on Flickr.
Best Wishes for ...
Aphrodite's Child - The Four Horsemen
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Demis Roussos normally get's dragged into the spotlight on Top of the Pops repeat shows for comic effect but I didn't know he used to rawk....
Cheese shop
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I love the Co-Op but this morning it has annoyed me immensely. Not half an
hour ago I saw some smoked cheese in there with a reduced label on. Lovely.
We b...
Time for a Party
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In this wonderful yet strange world where we have (invisible) friends who
make us think, laugh, smile, cry.. with their words and music. I decided to
ask...
A Modest Proposal
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Greece is the Word I have a modest proposal that might simultaneously
celebrate the life of Christopher Hitchens, strengthen Britain’s low stock
in Europe ...
CHEERS, HITCH
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I find myself immensely and unexpectedly saddened today at the passing of
Christopher Hitchens. We sat up late last night watching video clips on
C-Span an...
Christmas goodies
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Hey folks, do not despair! The Duckie Christmas market will solve all your
Christmas shopping dilemnas — or some of them anyhows — and Sean Azzopardiand my...
The Southern Girlfriend
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I may be Southern, but I'm one'a dem progressive Southerners. Ya know, a
pro-choice, pro-gay rights, Obama-sticker-toting, severely-lapsed
Christian, prog...
Do you ever get to Roots Hall?
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Yeah, we waited a long time to finish off the album, but so did the band.
Rock And Roll Is Full Of Bad Wools is another album-closing epic, which
certainly...
The Lacuna review
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I’ve been meaning to write this review for sometime, having finished this
book upon our arrival in Singapore (just over 3 weeks ago now) but what
with movi...
Are you ready for a Springsteen Christmas?
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By Pete Chianca
Blogness on The Edge of Town
*With Christmas only three weeks away (!), you no doubt will be looking for
some Springsteen-related merchan...
OCD Films Part 1 & 2: As Good As It Gets/Rain Man
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Over at the Soap - Short film blog they are looking at movies that have
strong characters that have OCD tendencies.
Part 1 is a look at the Jack Nicholson...
Giving up.....
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Oh well, best intentions and all that....
I had planned to keep going with Fictions the blog, had planned to do more
posts, had planned.... well, lots of t...
Issue #4 update
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God, December?! It's been bloody ages since I posted on here. I started a
graphic design business back in February (check us out at amazing15.com)
and life...
Pottymouth:
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I’m on my seventh driving lesson. So far I’ve been concentrating on not
being my usual joker self and instead attempting to be focused
and…um…driven, con...
Can't Get This Out Of My Head
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I was just vacating the living room last week as that programme began and
have been unable to get this out of my head ever since. May god rain down a
sho...
What If Stan Lee and Steve Ditko Created Venom?
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In *Amazing Spider-Man* #15 (August 1964) Stan Lee and Steve Ditko
introduced Spider-Man's most popular, and persistent foe!
Stan Lee recalls;
"My memor...
What I've Been Up To
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Too Much sex & Violence #1 is out!
I've not seen a copy yet, but it's been getting good reviews. Rol has pencilled me in -- pun sort of intended -- for ...
Taking Stock
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(Picture courtesy of Brothersoft.com)
They used to have staff in Malaysia who’d bring iced tea as she sat
journaling in the shade. Now she presides over a...
Movember 2011
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Oh, also: I’m doing Movember again this year. Mainly I do it because when
you’re as beardy as I am, just having to shave down to a mo for a whole
month is ...
Diane
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Image by Kathy Liao
She is a creature behind bars where there were no bars. Eyes peering back
and forth, navigating the parameters of the room she refuse...
How I Spent My Summer Vacation – Part One
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Hello…how are you? Well, it’s been quite a long time. Perhaps there are two
or three of you out there who still may read this. It’s been a landmark
year fo...
I’ll be there for you when the rain starts to pour
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Friends. They’re not like they are in the sitcom, but I’m sure you knew
that already. I’ve never had a friendship I’ve not lost, either through
our own i...
Things: Heave Ho
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well, here i am at yet another fork in the road. i think i'm done blogging.
no, i KNOW i'm done blogging. i have nothing valid to add to this. the
lyrics a...
Flying Sniper Robot
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Here at Strange Weapon of the Week, we are big fans of large caliber
bullets. So naturally, when I came across the ARSS I gave myself an
awesome-boner fr...
The Test of Time - a short story
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*Now at last he could see her, drenched in the melting light of the dying
universe. And she was smiling at him, the smile he’d travelled to the end
of ti...
How Not To Make An Impression On The In-Laws
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See that guy giving me the bunny ears? That's my boyfriend and since I
kind of like him, I want his parents to kind of like me. This is a story
of how t...
Mark Wahlberg Need Not Apply
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I have woken up with the greatest Planet of the Apes idea. In the not to
distant future our hero stumbles upon a cloning laboratory. Of course for
plot dev...
Assignment #3: The Help (part 4/4)
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September 12th- September 22nd
*Are you satisfied with the book's ending? Ready to see the film? Share
your final thoughts and insights below.*
Europe shows this autumn
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Sat 15-Oct Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland Airwaves
Mon 17-Oct Finland, Helsinki, Savoy-theatre
Wed 19-Oct Portugal, Espinho (Porto), Auditório Municipal de Es...
Frape
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Ironically, last night we watched ‘The Social Network’ on DVD. Ironically
because, just before signing off at midnight, I visited Facebook and
discovered a...
2011 BC
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Sorry for the lack of updates, it's been one of those... years. Rest
assured *Outcastes #10* is coming very soon. The annual Birmingham Comics
Show tak...
Fermat’s Room Film Review
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Fermat's Room is a Spanish horror thriller about four mathematicians lured
into a room which shrinks every time they fail to answer an 'enigma'. Think
Cube...
More Of the Same, But COLORFUL!
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Yeah, yeah. We've seen it.
I added a little color this time.
Oh, in case anyone is curious about the stuff I done drew, I have a tumblr
blog that I've be...
One Question Interview #26: Ben Newman
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*Picture of *The Bento Bestiary* nabbed from our friends at Nobrow*
*
*
*As even the most casual ATF reader knows, the way to my heart is through a
momento...
Pretty Majestic
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I was thinking of not going to see Kings of Leon because Boom couldn't come with me - the people at work I spoke to who I thought would be interested already...
Back to Writing
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*It is just over five years since I launched the Oliver's Poetry* *website
and this blog site, Oliver’s Poetry Garret, and a little more than five
months...
Taking a break…
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Some of you will be aware that I suffer from M.E./Chronic Fatigue Syndrome,
and I have also had several other health problems arise this year which
have ca...
Meanwhile at ThoughtBalloons - Artifacts
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Oh man, this has probably been the hardest week so far on Thought Balloons.
Artifacts is a Top Cow mega event, and I have read very little in terms of
Top ...
The Guardian
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Life often kicks the shit out of people without rhyme or reason. Some curl
up and take the punishment while others jump up and fight back. Jordan had
been ...
Spider-Man Stuff No More!
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Sadly, the time has come for this blog to be retired, leaving me with only
the Superman and Batman blogs for your daily dose of collectibles relating
to ...
(Nothing But) Flowers
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Valentine's Day is fast approaching. So too the next Literary Mix-tape:
(Nothing But) Flowers, a collection of post-apocalyptic love stories by
emerging wr...
Landed on the Homeworld
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Good news everyone! my typing ability has scored me a new gig, I'm now a writer for The Home World which is a pretty big score for me seen as I have never re...
North American International Auto Show - Detroit
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[image: Lincoln Continental]
[image: Lincoln Continental]
[image: Fiat 500]
[image: Fiat 500]
[image: Michelin Man]
[image: Joe Louis]
I went to the black t...
On Self-Examination
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I'm losing it. It's not that I'm less confused, but that I don't feel I
have the time to be confused. Like it's a luxury. I still like writing and
blogging...
Friday Flash: My Tears
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I’ve cried more lately than usual. But the reasons matter not. My tears
fell over cement, marble, rocks and dirt. My face appeared on glass,
concrete, a ca...
This just in…
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This just in from the Ministry Of Stories, a creative writing school for
young people based on Dave Eggers’ inspirational 826 schools in the US. As
you can...
Manga Focus: Legendz
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To say that "collect 'em all" series like Pokémon and Digimon have entirely
shaped the way anything is aimed at children is perhaps to make the most
obv...
Jibber-Jabber
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It has been a busy few weeks, although I finally feel as though I've
acclimatised to full-time work and I’m gradually developing a practical
writing routi...
BRIGHT/YOUNG/THINGS
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*We politely ask you, the Bright Young Things of this world that make up
The Crookes family, to indulge us in our latest project...*
It is a fanclub calle...
brake. Brake. BRAAAAAAAKE!
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Son #1 has his learner's permit. I'll be in the passenger seat a great deal
of the time for the next few years, as all the Sons learn to drive.
I sound exa...
That's (Mostly) All Folks
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It's precisely one month short of 5 years since I started this blog, which
is a good enough excuse to take stock and think, hmm, why am I still doing
thi...
Reviews for 7/8/10
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I often write reviews of the comics I'm reading, as I read them, and in an
effort to use this blog more, I'll be posting them here when I write them.
I can...
Sometimes
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Sometimes life doesn’t work out the way you want it. I may be getting on
towards 30, but I still have that child-like hope that you can have the
life you w...
48 hours
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If I made a list of everything that I have to get done in the next 48 hours
I would be so utterly freaked out that I would be forced to pop *another*bottl...
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I don't think I'm particularly squeamish as far as the *sight* of blood
goes. I could watch any episode of ER or St Elsewhere or M*A*S*H without
feeling qu...
Female-on-male violence and the indulgence thereof
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I am, for reasons I can’t quite figure out, a regular viewer of BBC
hospital soap Holby City. It is, by any reasonable standard, absolute
tosh, and the ch...
Fairytale of New York
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Me and Florence and the Machine singing Fairytale of New York, Live in
Session for Rob Da Bank on BBC Radio 1. Bookmark with: Hide Sites
why do all good things come to an end....?
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I'm moving my blog. If you're looking for me, then you should now head to swisslet.com
I've had a pretty good run on here.
I started making my first ten...
Moving House
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I'm shifting from Blogger to Wordpress.
You can find me here:
http://thesongsthatpeoplesing.wordpress.com/
So make sure you update your links!! Unless of...
Lowlife
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When there’s nothing left for death to take away
You strain yourself to struggle through the day
You have the gift of isolation
Starved from sight or conv...
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*Chamone Michael.
*
The one gloved, plastic surgery experimenting one, is no more. Fifty years
of age is pretty damn young for the king of pop to pop his cl...
About Charlotte ep12
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Episode 12 is up now. It’s the final episode for the time being, the
series will return in spring 2009. Hope you all have a great Christmas and
Happy New ...
Wedding
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I went to my brother's wedding on Saturday 16th. Needless to say, it was
awful, but then these events are not designed to be enjoyed by the likes of
me. I ...