TIM SKINNER: TOTAL SCUMBAG... DOWNLOAD FOR FREE






















Good news everyone! Tim Skinner: Total Scumbag, the one-shot story by the Eagle Award winning team of Andy Winter and myself is available to download for free. I'm delighted about this; the one shot went down a storm at the last Dublin con in 2008 and Andy quickly sold out of his limited-print run. Then, unfortunately Diamond wouldn't take it so we had no way to get it into comic shops, meaning nobody else could read it. Now you, yes YOU can read the whole story for free.

From Andy's website...

"Soon after Tim Skinner inherited his grandfather's old comic-book collection he discovered something extraordinary - it was magic, and by making a simple wish he could step into the pages of any of the fabulous four-colour fantasies his heart desired. He could hang out with cowboys, futuristic robots or whiny adolescent mutants.

Unfortunately, Tim is a loathsome piece of garbage and instead of enjoying fun and frolics in a universe of action and adventure, he brutalizes and exploits his comic-book chums for his own nefarious ends. Truly, Tim Skinner is a total scumbag!"

Praise for Tim Skinner...

"Fucking hilarious!" - Jonathan Hickman, writer, Fantastic Four

"Delightfully, incredibly, enjoyably sick. Oh, I liked it." - Joe Gordon, Forbidden Planet blog

“Tim Skinner [is] a very self-referential, up-its-own-arse comic that I was destined to love. Even The Boys gets a good shoeing over with hilarious consequences.” - Rich Johnston, bleedingcool.com

"I don’t laugh out loud often, but I laughed out loud at this." - Regie Rigby, comicsbulletin.com

Tim Skinner holds a very special place in my heart. I'd been doing comics as a paying job for about a year and when Andy sent me the script I knew i HAD to draw it, even though it was a non-paying gig. It was also an opportunity to colour my own book; something that i really wanted to try. I truly did it for the art, and not the money.

PLEASE download it here. If you like comics and you have a sense of humour, you will enjoy it. Eh... or your money back.

The drawing holds up for the most part (i drew it nearly 2 years ago), but the best thing by far is the bloody hilarious script by Andy Winter. It should be read by as many people as possible. Thank you Mr. Internet!

So download it. Be sure to let me or Andy know what you thought of it.

Dec.

GRUDGE!
























Hey all. I did this image for Andy Winter to have as a T-shirt for the Bristol con next month to promote Tim Skinner. Andy originally thought it might be a bit too cheeky to directly riff off the classic Judge Dredd line (who Magistrate Grudge is obviously a parody of). However when i sent him this image he reckoned we'd DEFINITELY get sued by Rebellion. So the t-shirt idea was abandoned. Ah well, it was a laugh to draw; hopefully ye'll get a laugh out of it.

Also, on the topic of Tim Skinner, the book got another glowing review and another honourable mention.

Surely you must all own this book by now!

No posts 'til next week, as i'll be off-line for a few days. Hell, i've been updating this blog every 2 days for over a month now, so you can hardly complain!

Later,

Dec.

TIM SKINNER REVIEWED












A really in-depth review of Tim Skinner went up on the Forbidden Planet Blog this morning; i'd urge you all to read it. Probably the best review any book i've worked on has ever gotten. I'd especially urge you to read the review if you haven't read the book; none of the jokes are ruined and it 'sells' the book better than i ever could.

For those who don't know, Tim Skinner is a full-colour one-shot comic i drew and coloured written by Andy Winter. It was a follow-up of sorts to Hero Killers, our last collaboration which won an Eagle Award. We thought it would be great to work together again, considering how much we've both improved since Hero Killers. I'm delighted with how it came out and it was an absolute blast to draw. Unfortunately, because of Diamond Distributor's new benchmark policy, Tim won't be distrubuted through them, which means the only way to read it is through Andy's Moonface Press shop. It's really disappointing, as it's definitely the most commercial project i've done. Anyway, read the review to get a better idea of what it's like, along with preview of the interior pages.


Dec.

SKINNER REVIEWED

A couple of great reviews of Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag went online over the last day or so. Over on Comic Book Resources, in Rich Johnson's "Lying In The Gutters" column, he reviews Tim (along with some great other Irish comics that were to be found at the Dublin Con). He also manages to spell my name wrong. Again.

Meanwhile, over at Comic Related, Dave O'Leary gives Tim quite an endorsement. Thanks Dave!

And so it's all not just reviews,this being an Art-Blog and all, here's yesterday's Hi-Ex poster, complete with all necessary info.
























Dec.

ANDY WINTER INTERVIEW













Hey all. There's an interview with Andy Winter (Hero Killers, Blood Psi) over on Comicrelated.com. He talks about our new book, Tim Skinner: Total Scumbag as well as his latest graphic novella, Septic Isle. Should also mention that Septic Isle (art by Mick Trimble, cover by myself) has just come out in the States. Find out more at www.britainisbroken.com. You can read said interview here.

Dec.

TIM SKINNER PREVIEW

Seeing as myself and Andy showed preview pages at the Dublin Con, i thought i'd show a couple of them here.

The following is 2 pages where Tim has landed in a very familiar part of the Comicverse ......if you're a 2000AD reader....
















































I packed the first page with as many gags and references as i possibly could. Hell, i've had work published in the Judge Dredd Megazine but i'll probably never get a go at actual 2000AD characters, so these few pages are probably the closest i'll ever get.

Enjoy......

Dec.

DUBLIN COMIC CON REPORT

So very tired....

Last weekend was the afore mentioned Dublin City Comic Con and i had a bloody great time. It was great to see all the irish lads (except for Will of course), catch up with old mates and make some mates anew....



















Myself and Andy Winter at our table during a quiet moment.

Great news was that we sold all the copies of Tim Skinner we had. Sold a few copies of Frankenstein too, but i was especially delighted with how many Tim Skinner copies went. Got some great feedback too, and a lot of people had seemed to have heard of it beforehand. We attended the 'Launch Pad' panel where we got to showcase the book a little which was a great opportunity so i'd like to thank the organisers John and Dave Hendrick for helping us push promote the book a little more, along with having me as a guest this year. Thanks also to everyone who came by and picked up a book, be it Frankenstein, Tim Skinner or even Blood Psi and Hero Killers, both of which sold out also.





















Myself, Nick Roche and Stephen Thompson practicing our inevitable group model shoot for Playgirl magazine.

Fellow Eclectic Micks did well, Nick Roche seemed to never stop sketching and both Stephen Mooney and Thompson were banging out top-notch sketches. A Marvel panel also revealed an upcoming Fantastic Four short story featuring work from Thompson, so congratulations to him. The bastard.
























I did a sketch or two over the weekend..... well ....actually i did much more than two in fact, but here's two examples of them. A Bizarro above, and a Bullseye below....

























Must go. Need sleep and have lots of work to do....

Dec.

DUBLIN CITY COMIC CON
























As i've mentioned before, this weekend is the Dublin City Comic Con. Featured guests this year include overseas talent like Adi Granov, Olivier Copiel, Jonathan Hickman, Matt Hollingsworth and Esad Ribic as well as two of my favourite artists, Tommy Lee Edwards and Michael Lark. Lets also not forget all the talented Eclectic Micks; Stephen Mooney, Stephen Thompson and Nick Roche.
Also recently added to the bill is new Marvel sensation David Lafuente and ....uh ...me.

I'll be at a couple of panels over the weekend:

On Saturday....

Independent Comics Panel Hosted By Liam Sharp.
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM

Featuring Stephen Mooney, Stephen Thompson, Nick Roche and Declan Shalvey talking about all aspects of working in the world of Independent comics. This panel is hosted by Mam Tor Editor in Chief Liam Sharp. Who recently published his first novel God killers and is the artist on 2008’s highest selling comic book, Gears of War from Wildstorm Productions.

And on Sunday myself and Andy Winter will be discussing and showing previews of new book Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag in the following panel...

Launch Pad Hosted by Johnathan Hickman.
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM

This presentation is a spotlight on up and coming independent Irish Comic Books launching exclusively at this year’s Dublin City Comic Con. There’ll be a range of titles and creators talking about their respective releases. Hosted by Jonathan Hickman, writer and artist of the Nightly News, Pax Romana and architect of the new Marvel Universe Cross Over Event Secret Warriors. This is definitely one not to be missed.

There's a full list of all the panels here

I'll be at Andy's Moonface Press table as much as possible, come by to pick up a copy of Tim Skinner, Frankenstein or any of Andy's previous books, including some of the last remaining Hero Killers. Free sketch with every purchase.

Also, thanks to Joe at the Forbidden Planet International Blog for mentioning the con and Tim Skinner.

Dec.

TIM SKINNERED!
























Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag cover

Just heard from Andy Winter that copies of our new collaboration Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag has come back from the printers so we're all set for the Dublin City Comic Con this weekend. Of course, i'll have copies of Frankenstein on hand and i hope everyone gets one, but i'm really looking forward to seeing the reaction to Tim Skinner. Myself and Andy really wanted to do something together again, especially after the success of Hero Killers and i honestly think this is one of the best things either of us have done. From the back cover blurb:

"Soon after Tim Skinner inherited his grandfather's old comic book collection he discovered something extraordinary - it was magic and by making a simple wish he could step into the pages of any of the fabulous four-colour fantasies his heart desired. He could hang out with cowboys, futuristic robots or whingeing adolescent mutants.

Unfortunately, Tim is a loathsome piece of garbage and instead of enjoying fun and frolics in a universe of action and adventure he brutalises and exploits his comic-book chums for his own nefarious ends.

Truly, Tim Skinner is a total scumbag!"
























Page one of Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag

I don't mind showing the first lettered page of the book, as i posted the inks about a year ago! I've said this elsewhere, but when i read Andy's script i was blown away with how sharp and funny it was. Plus, it was a nice change of pace from classical adaptations. Another big reason for doing it was that Andy was keen on doing a book in full-colour; that would mean i could finally have a go at colouring my own work. Obviously, Frankenstein is my first work that has been published in colour but i'm sure you'll notice a dramatic difference in how that was coloured and how this book has been coloured. I finally had a chance to do my own work in flat colour. Who's to say i'll ever get that chance again? Anyway, from all my rantings i'm sure you can tell how happy i am with this project and how i hope all who read this blog pick up a copy at the Dublin con, or order in through Diamond in a month or so.

Dec.

PUBLICITY TIME!

Not a lot of drawing done of late, but a lot of publicity. As i mentioned in the last post i had a signing in my home town over the weekend and it went really well. Sold about 60 copies of Frankenstein, It was a great turnout and a great day. Big thanks to everyone who turned up and an extra-big thanks to all the friends and family who showed up too. The radio interview seemed to go well and i got a mention (and photo) in the local paper, The Clare Champion.























Gaze upon the face of beauty!

Also, my interview with Liam and Craig of The Comic Cast went up today. Have a listen. I say 'eh' and 'y'know' a lot. Other than that, it's quite funny (and hopefully a little insightful).

Dec.

P.S. Do yourself a favour and listen to the track at the end of the interview. It's a band called Fugazi. Consider it part of your punk education kids!

TIM MEETS 'THE CHAPS'
























I've been inking Sweeney Todd all week with nothing scanned, so i thought i'd post an image from Tim Skinner that i've shown elsewhere. Writer Andy Winter has been steadily sending me the lettered pages and while i'm pretty happy with the art, the full impact doesn't hit without the letters. Andy's written some great jokes for this book. Can't wait for it to be out. I have to finish 3 pages next week in order for the book to be out in time for the Dublin City Comic Con in a few weeks.

Update: Should mention i'm doing a signing this Saturday in Sub-City comic shop on Exchequer Street in Dublin. I'll be there from 12 onwards. See ya there.... maybe.

Dec.

BLAMMO!



Another old panel from when i was getting started on Tim Skinner. I can't believe it's taken me a year to get back into it. Anyhoo, i left this panel as is except for a nice dramatic red. The first page I posted seemed to get a good response, even though it had no fancy rendering. Once i had a few pages done i decided i was going to leave the colours as flats. I love flat colour, and i'm colouring this book myself. When will i get another chance to have my work coloured like that? Probably never, so flat colour it is!

Dec.

WHAT COMICS IS TIM SKINNER READING....?























Answer; a few of my favourites, a story point, and a couple of obvious plugs. I posted the inks to this in August of two thousand and diggity seven here. Over a year ago! Jeez. Well, now since i'm trucking along well with Tim Skinner, i went back and coloured it, changing the cover of the front comic on photoshop. Added (and subtracted) some drybrush too.

Dec.

THIS WEEK, I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN....
























..........Colouring Tim Skinner.

Suits you sir....?

Bet you kids can't even tell a Fast Show reference. Anyway, i should mention that the above are not the final colours. Also i can soon announce my next big project. Check back in a few days faithful readers....

....all 4 of ye.

Dec.

BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL COMICS SHOW OCT 4TH-5TH



Hello all, the Birmingham International Comics Show is fast approaching and i've yet to organize myself in any way! Just saw John Cassaday has been added to the already stellar guestlist. Should be some show, but to be fair, i've always had a great time at the Birmingham con. This year's will be a pretty important for myself, as Frankenstein will be unveiled (as long as everything stays on track) and i'm really looking forward to getting the book out there and seeing what people think. I was hoping to have Tim Skinner done for the Brum show too, but it's not very likely. Most likely it'll be done for the Dublin show later in the year.

Dec.

TIM SKINNER PAGE
























Sorry for the low quality; still haven't gotten my computer, scanner, etc from Scotland, so a photo will have to do in the meantime. It's a page from Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag that i'd doing with Septic Isle and Hero Killers writer Andy Winter. You may have heard me sing its praises in the interview in the last post. I'm really enjoying it; it's a real change of pace from Frankenstein. Can't wait to get it all done.

Dec.

TIM SKINNER: IN COLOUR
























Here's the colours for the Tim Skinner promo image. Pretty happy with it actually.

I'm off to New York in the morning, so don't expect any posts from me in the next week or so.

Feel free to bicker amongst yourselves.

Dec.

TIM SKINNER
























Just did some artwork for Tim Skinner, my next project with Hero Killers writer Andy Winter. He was looking for an image to be used to advertise the book at the upcoming Bristol Comic Expo. Since the book is a send up of loads of different comics, the flyer is in the very same vein. Does it look familiar? Remember this....?

























Hope ye like. Incidentally, the interview today on Newstalk Radio went pretty smoothly even though there was no Bob Byrne to be seen or heard. The highpoint being the abusive text messages i was getting while on air. Thanks to Lorcan for getting them in touch with me.

Dec.

BACK TO WORK

All quiet on the blogger front of late. Fell behind cuz I had a throat infection for a week, since then I've been tryin' to catch up on Frankenstein. Here's a Hellboy sketch to keep ye happy.....



















Also, check out Indie Review for and interview with Hero Killers writer Andy Winter. He discusses all his previous books, including Hero Killers along with his upcoming work, which includes our Tim Skinner one-shot, (which i'm slowly plodding along on)

Dec.

LAYOUTS

Due to popular demand (well, at least from Mooney), here's a layout page for something else i'm tipping away on. Bad language censored, for you impressionable kids. I'm looking out you Luke and Tyler.





















In other news, i got the rest of the Tim Skinner script off my Hero Killers partner-in-crime, Andy Winter and i gotta say; i love it. I have 3 pages of it done, but i'm not sure when i can get back started on it. I really want to wrap up Book 2 of Freak Show, and there's some other stuff i wanna get out of the way. I'm gonna colour Tim Skinner too, so the sooner it's drawn the better. There's a LOT going on it though, it's gonna be quite a challenge to draw, never mind colour.

Dec