28 DAYS LATER #7 FINISHED +HAPPY NEW YEAR









Here's a sneak peek of 28 Days Later #7. Pretty much the only panel i could use that didn't suggest anything about the story!

Hope all had a Merry Christmas. With the end of the year fast approaching i thought i might take stock of my productivity for this year. At best count, in 2009 i pencilled and inked 213 sequential comic pages, 4 covers and produced over 40 original sketches for the Eclectic Micks blog. That's not too bad, but it's really bothering me that in the first half of the year i wasn't nearly as productive as i was in the latter part. I would like to think that i spent the early months of the year raising my skill-set and was then able to be more productive while working on that higher level. Whether that's true or not, who knows, but it'd be nice if it were. In any case; must be more productive in 2010. Should be a good year; Sweeney Todd should be out, the first hardback of 28 Days Later should be too, hell, maybe there'll even be another Micks collection. The most important thing is.... 2010 is a cool set of numbers and makes it sound like we're living in the future. Which i guess we are. I have an iPhone to prove it.

Happy New Year folks.

Dec.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!




















Yes, he may be infected with the Rage virus, but good old Santa wishes still wishes you all a Merry X-mas.....

....IN BLOOOOOOOOD!

Dec.

COMIC RELATED INTERVIEW (ISSUE 4)





















My monthly '28 Words Later' interviews with David O' Leary from Comic Related continue, this month talking about 28 Days Later #4 . Check it out here.

Dec.

ASYLUM












Another panel from Sweeney Todd, which i'm slowly chipping away at.

Dec.

GHOST RIDER




















The last of the Birmingham sketches from a couple of months back. Even I have to admit i did some good ones that weekend. Some bad ones too, mind. Really like how this one came out. Wish i'd kept it.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #4 OUT THIS WEEK




















As per usual, out on Wednesday in the US, Thursday in the EU. This is the last part of the opening story arc 'London Calling'. You can see more preview page here on Comic Book Resources. I take a break for the next issue (which is a cracking one-shot story) and return for the next arc, starting with #6 (which i've just finished).

Hope ye like it.

Dec.

JUST WHAT I ALWAYS WANTED




















Hello all. The good lads at the Comic Cast are organizing an exhibition for next week with a host of Irish artists, including myself. All pieces will auctioned off on Ebay, with ALL proceeds going towards Crumlin & Temple St Children's hospital.

The exhibition, 'Just What I Always Wanted' will be on display in Twisted Pepper from Dec 1st-Dec12th. More about the event here.

Plus, kudos to Phil Barrett for a lovely looking poster.

Dec.

PUNISHER SKETCH





















Another Monday, another week. Here's a Punisher sketch i did during BICS a month or so back.

Dec.

PHILLIPS' #6 COVER PROCESS




















Sean Phillips just put up a post on his blog showing the process of a 28 Days Later cover. See it here.

Dec.

MORE SWEENEY TODD










Yikes! I've really been slacking at the blogging of late. Sorry. My bad. Been busy, etc.

Here's a panel from the newest set of Sweeney Todd pages.

Dec.

(PLANNED) DUBLIN COMIC CON POSTER




















Howdy. Just put up the original layout for this piece on the Micks blog, but sure i might as well put the finished version up here while i'm at it. I made the main character a bit bigger than planned in the layout; a suggestion of Thompson's if i recall correctly. The two characters are from a planned graphic novel by a mate o' mine, so it's ultimately a bit of a fan pic, really. The Dublin Con was supposed to be on this month but was rescheduled. Instead, us Micks are doing this.

Dec.

INFECTED SKETCH




















A sketch i did during my few days off in London.

Dec.

COMIC RELATED INTERVIEW (ISSUE 3)





















My monthly '28 Words Later' interviews with David O' Leary from Comic Related continue, this month talking about 28 Days Later #3 . Check it out here. (Here's the page you wanted to see Jamie).

Off to London for a few days. Catch youze alls laters.

Dec.

SWEENEY TODD PANELS
















Some of you may remember I've been working on a Sweeney Todd graphic novel adaptation for quite a while. Well, I've made some headway on the book in the last couple of weeks. About bloody time. Here's some panels from a recent page.

Dec.

28 Days Later #2 Page 12





















Here's a page (pencils and inks) from #2 of 28 Days Later. I'll show some stuff from #3 soon, but i just wanted to show one more page from the previous issue first.

I remember finding the layouts for this page pretty tricky but was pretty pleased with the end result.

I heard #3 has sold out already. What a crazy, crazy world we all live in.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #3 OUT TODAY

In the states that is. Tomorrow in the UK/ Ireland.




















Above covers by Tim Bradstreet and Sean Phillips.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #3 PREVIEW ONLINE

Greetings to all. The first few pages of #3 of 28 Days Later went online this weekend on CBR. First 3 pages below, but see more and the spiffy covers here







































Dec.

BICS IRON FISTS

Strangely enough, the most requested sketch of my weekend at BICS was not Infected/ zombie-like characters, but was in fact Iron Fist. I had a folder of Eclectic Micks sketches, one of which being this Iron Fist that everyone likes, so i reckon that's why i got so many requests for auld Danny Rand.

This is probably my favourite one.





















I made a stupid, stupid mistake with this one and drew him with two flowing hands instead of one.
He's not Iron Fists Dec ....you idiot!
















A very noir-y sketch.




















And finally a really loose and rough sketch.
This was the very last one of the weekend, so was a little more rushed, and i was at my most tired.
Sue me.





















Dec.

BICS SKETCHES PART 2

Here's more sketches from BICS.

Poison Ivy.
















An Infected. The only one i drew all weekend, which was surprising.




















And an old reliable; Batman.





















Dec.

BICS 2009

Back today from the British International Comics Show (BICS) and have to say, i had a brilliant time. So very, very tired now though. Sold a good few Eclectic Micks sketchbooks and did a lot of sketches. I charged for the first time ever, but i'm kinda glad i did, as i put a lot of work into the sketches and was so tired by the end of the day. Having a bit money in my pocket by the end eased the pain.















So, i would just like to say thanks to all who stopped by the Eclectic Micks table, got a sketch, bought a book, and to everyone who came up to me and said nice things about my work on 28 Days Later. It was very surprising and even more so appreciated.

Above is a photo from the launch party (borrowed from Martin Tierney's Facebook album) with the following Vogue-ing it all up; IDW's ANGEL; After The Fall artist Stephen Mooney, his lovely wife Jacintha, Image Comics' CHOKER writer Ben McCool, myself, DC editor Michael Wright and artist of Boom's FARSCAPE ongoing series Will Sliney

I took photos of nearly all the sketches i did. I'll post some in the next few days. First; here's some bunny-themed ones. Strange i ended up doing 3 bunny-type drawings. First, a sketch of Paul Grist's Mr. Floppsie Woppsie.





















Next; Usagi Yojimbo





















And finally; Zatanna

OFF TO BIRMINGHAM

















Just getting ready for this year's British International Comics Show (BICS) in Brimingham. Off to Brum tomorrow. I'll be at the Eclectic Micks table with PJ Holden, Stephen Mooney and Will Sliney. I'll have original art from 28 Days Later, copies of #1 and the above Eclectic Micks sketchbook (which looks lov-er-ly as you can see above) all for sale. I'll most likely be at the Classical Comic table at some stage too.

Really looking forward to the con. I always have a blast at Brum.

Dec.

PS. I think i'll be charging (a little) for sketches this year, but if ye buy any of the above, i'll do one for free.

ECLECTIC MICKS SKETCHBOOK VOL. 1

















Arrived in time for BICS (British International Comics Show) this comiing weekend. Looks bloody great. Delighted with it.

Dec.

COMIC RELATED INTERVIEW (ISSUE 2)





















The second of my monthly interviews with David O' Leary from Comic Related has just gone online; this one about 28 Days Later #2 . Check it out here.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #2 SELLS OUT





















Nice one.

The above is the second printing variant by Brett Weldele (THE SURROGATES). Keep an eye out.

Dec.

ECLECTIC MICKS SKETCHBOOK


















Don't that look nice?

I'm happy to report the Eclectic Micks sketchbook is on it's way.

Ages back at one of the Dublin cons, the idea was suggested that all us Irish lads working in comics should organize and put together a group sketchbook, since there was a decent group of us. Plans were made and of course, they fell by the wayside. Everyone was busy, and yet-another-project was a tough thing to add to an already busy plate for all. However, a few months ago we managed to organize ourselves into running a group blog, the Eclectic Micks blog, where we all contributed a sketch a week. Because of that output, we now have the material for the sketchbook we were originally planning on.

So, i'm delighted to say we've now compiled a 120 page sketchbook to be released in time for the British International Comics Show in October. Hopefully, then we'll organize an Irish launch soon after. Then, maybe be able to sell it online. I personally would love it if we had such a sketchbook every year, compiling the best of the material from the blog.

So, keep checking in here and on the Micks blog for news on the sketchbook. I personally can't wait to get my hands on a copy.

Dec.

COMIC RELATED INTERVIEW






















An interview i did with David O' Leary from Comic Related about 28 Days Later #1 has just gone online. It's the first of a series of interviews; the plan being to do one for each issue of the series. Check it out here.

28 DAYS LATER #2 PREVIEW ONLINE

Just saw a big preview for 28 Days Later #2 just went online on Comic Book Resources. The issue is out next week. Didn't realize it would be out so soon. Check it out. First 3 pages below...

28 DAYS LATER #1 Page 9





















I haven't been regularly posting of late. Apologies. Felt like the blog could do with a bit of a re-vamp so i changed the layout. Had been using the same one for about 3 years, so it was due a change.

Anyway, since #1 of 28 Days Later is out, i guess i can show any pages i want now, so here's page 9. I'm still pretty happy with this one. There was no dialogue of any kind in this page so there was more pressure on me to tell the story in pictures alone. That's always the aim mind; that you can follow the story by just looking at the art, but it's fairly uncommon for a writer to leave the storytelling of a page to an artist and not feel like dialogue is needed to support it. Since there was more attention to the art, i tried to make the panel layout a bit more interesting.

Also, my good friend (and fellow Eclectic Mick) Will Sliney has a comic written by Dave Hendrick in the Zuda Comics competition this month called The Symptoms. Check it out and give it your vote won't ya?
Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #1 2nd Printing



















Thought I should show the cover to the second printing of #1. It's a "Blood Red" version of Sean Phillips' wraparound cover. Me likey. Should be out in early October.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #1; UPDATE














Yep, 28 Days Later is finally out, so do go pick it up. While you can actually, as it's apparently sold out at Diamond Distribution. Which is nice to hear.

It's been quite a week; in fairness to Boom Studios, they've promoted the hell outta this book.

Well, aside from the selling-out thing, some other 28 Days Later related news;

I updated the Micks blog with a sketch of Selena as she appears in the book. Above is a detail of the black and white version. See it here.

The writer of the book, Michael Alan Nelson has a Newsarama interview and a video interview with Mark Waid on Comic book Resources.

Also, there's an interview with this guy *points to self* on Newsarama, where they hilariously interview the artist of the book, illustrate it with three seperate pieces of art... none of which by the actual artist interviewed. Whatta world.

Now that the book is out and all the promotion is done, i promise i'll stop harping on about it every two minutes. It's just been great to get a reaction (really positive one too) after a few months of not showing anybody anything.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER ADVANCE REVIEWS














I had a day or so off last weekend after wrapping up #3 of 28 Days Later, so i did this sketch and made it up as a banner for the blog, as the previous image was from Tim Skinner, which i drew before i started Sweeney Todd even. So, new book; new banner.

Anyhoo, advance reviews of 28 Days Later #1 went online over the last few days. If you like, see what people think on Newsarama, Bleeding Cool, Comics Bulletin and From The Tomb Magazine. Overall they're really positive, which is pretty encouraging as I slog away on #4.

[UPDATE] Two new reviews went up today too. Guess this makes it Super-Ultimate-Review-Day. The new reviews are at Comic Related and The Outhouse.

Dec.

HOLIDAY SPECIALS; PAGE THREE





















Here's another page from the abandoned pitch. I thought i'd have them all up by now, but there was a lot of 28 Days Later news there for the last week.

Dec.

28 DAYS LATER #1 TORONTO VARIANT












There's a 28 Days Later #1 limited variant cover for the Toronto FanExpo. See the full image on Newsarama

Dec.