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.

THE DIRECTOR

























Did this sketch of the Director from Freak Show at the Sub-City comic shop a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to David for sending the scan.

Dec.

RÍ-RÁ

I forgot to mention that when i got to the signing back in Ennis, there were copies of the new Irish-language comic that i did a page for ages ago called Rí-Rá
























Cover to Rí-Rá by Aidan Courtney

The comic in question is a free #0 sample and it turned out great. Aidan Courtney, the editor, has compiled the comic in an effort to establish an ongoing anthology Irish language comic much in the same vein as European comics in France, Belgium, etc. The sample has work from top European cartoonist Dab, along with Irish creators like Bob Byrne, Alan Nolan, Ian Whealan and myself.
























"Níl," the one-page strip i did for Rí-Rá.

Special mention must go to fello Ennis creators, writer Mike Lynch and artist John Cullen who also contributed a story. Here's a little known fact; i used to deliver gas and briquettes to Mike in my days as a coalman and i used to be in art class with John back in my days in the CBS (Christian Brothers School)....... good times....

Rí-Rá will be available at the Dublin City Comic Con in just over a weeks time. Be sure to pick up a copy.

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!

SWEENEY TODD; PAGE 3 INKS
























Here's the 3rd page of Sweeney Todd. I don't mind showing these pages as they're a good set of intro pages, without giving any of the story away. I think that's all the Todd i'll be showing for a while.

In other news, i'm doing a signing in my home town this Saturday from 3pm, in the Ennis Book Shop. Really looking forward to it. It'll be nice to show folks from home i've done something with my life, or, alternatively prove that i actually haven't. I'll be discussing the book tomorrow morning sometime between 10 and 11am on Clare FM (95.9 & 96.6 FM if you live in the Banner County). You can listen online off their website.

Dec.

SWEENEY TODD; PAGE 2

























Thought i'd show the second page of Sweeney Todd, so you can get a better look at the man.

Dec.

SWEENEY TODD PAGE ONE; INKS
























I've already posted the layouts and pencils to this page, so i thought i'd post the finished inks too.

Also, there's a new review of Frankenstein online. Check it out here.

Dec.

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.

PLAIN SIGHT POSTER
























Recently finished a new poster for the Plain Sight video game. The crowd at Beatnik Games were looking for a poster to promote the game at this weeks Eurogamer Expo.
























Here's the inks too. I moved away from the black/white/red colour scheme i had been using for this piece, as i saw some new footage of the game online (It looks great, take a look here) and thought it would be a shame to ignore the great look the game has. So in incorporated more of the game's landscape and varying colours, without actually duplicating it.

Hope it works!

Dec.

MORE BANNERS













Here are the banners i did that didn't end up being used. I like the red one.

Dec.

PLAIN SIGHT BANNERS























Did some more work for the good folks at Beatnik Games. This time i did some banners for their Plain Sight website. The banners change each day, so here's all the ones the website features. I'll post the couple they didn't use later in the week.

Dec.

FRANKENSTEIN NOMINATED FOR AWARD













Good news everyone (said in Professor Farnsworth voice); it seems FRANKENSTEIN has been nominated for a CYBILS award.
CYBILS (Children’s and Young Adult Bloggers’) are Web awards for children's literature judged by a panel of 100 bloggers.
The 2008 Nominations for Graphic Novels (Young Adult) include the newly released Frankenstein. It's got some pretty stiff competition. In the same category are Classical Comics' A Christmas Carol, Jayne Eyre and Macbeth. Not only that, but the fantastic Y The Last Man, Cameron Stewart's The Apocalipstix and the absolutely stunning Three Shadows by Cyril Pedrosa are all up against old Frankie. Poor Frankie doesn't stand a chance!
A full list of nominations are available here.

Dec.

300TH POST: BATMAN!
























Was just about to post this Batman sketch i did a couple of days ago when i realised this is my 300th post on this blog.
Wow.
300.
I remember when i thought i'd be doing well if i made 30 posts.

Dec.

MADMAN
























Here's another sketch i did last week. I'd never drawn Madman before. Not bad for a first try, i suppose.

Also, Ruth Crean, an old friend of mine from my Art College days just posted an interview we did on her blog. Check it out, there's a page from Frankenstein on it that i haven't posted anywhere else. When you're done reading that, make sure to look through Ruth's great online clothes shop. If only she made clothes for hunky guys like me....

That's right, you heard me. I said 'hunky'.

Dec.

SWEENEY TODD: PAGE 1 PENCILS
























Here's the pencils to yesterday's post. Really worked hard on this page. Hopefully it shows.....

Gonna check out the Irish 24 Hour Comic and Free Irish Comic Book Day events in Dublin tomorrow. If ye see me, do say hi.

Dec.

SWEENEY TODD: PAGE 1 LAYOUT

























Sleeves are well rolled up and getting my hands dirty with Sweeney Todd now. Here's the layout i did for the very first page. One down, 139 to go.....

Also, the first review of Frankenstein is up at ComicBitsOnline.com. They've reviewed all the new Classical Comics titles and says some very nice things about all of them, Frankenstein included.

Dec.

BATMAN SKETCH
























Did this sketch a few days ago. Everyone seems to like the Batman sketches i do, so i thought i'd post it.

Dec.

BIRMINGHAM INTERNATIONAL COMICS SHOW 2008!

Well, what can i say? I, as usual at Brum had an absolutely brilliant time. The highlight absolutely being seeing copies of FRANKENSTEIN in print.



















Both the Original and Quick text versions of FRANKENSTEIN

Not only was Frankenstein out for Birmingham, but so was A Christmas Carol with wonderful artwork by Mike Collins, and Jane Eyre with amazing painted artwork by John M Burns. I'm pleased to say that Frankenstein sold a little more than the other titles at Birmingham, so i hope that means it holds up a little to the other two fantastic books.

























Thanks to Mick for scanning this Frankenstein sketch i did for him at Birmingham.


Birmingham is always great as i get to meet up with old mates, like David Baillie. I finally managed to get a copy of his brilliant Tongue Of The Dead hardcover collection. I also picked up some great books from Andi Watson, and Sean Phillips' Blow Up hardcover sketchbook.

























Thanks to Wade for the Daredevil scan.

Strangely enough, i didn't do that many sketches at Brum, not like i'm used to. Then again, i arrived late on Saturday due to the debauchery that occurred on the Friday night launch party. Still, i did some nice sketches, posted here by those who were kind enough to scan and e-mail them. It was great to catch up with mates, and have some decent conversations too, rather than the meet-and-greet that happens at a lot of cons. Seeing Leah Moore, John Reppion, Rufus Dayglo, Si Spurrier, Frazer Irving, Lee O' Connor and the like was, as always, a great pleasure.
























Thanks to Dave and Dan for the scan of this Joker sketch.

I'm also delighted that i managed to grab Andy Winter for dinner and talk all things Hero Killers and more importantly, Tim Skinner. Andy told me that he has nearly sold all existing copies of Hero Killers, and has no plans to reprint it. Rob Curley was also at the show. He told me he sold all of the copies of the new Freak Show that he brought.























Thanks to Luke for the Director sketch.

The unfortunate thing about doing a 'con report' is that i forget to mention half the people i talked to/ spent time with. Safe to say i had a great time, and an absolute highlight of my career so far was sitting at the Classical Comics table with all the team, including Kat Nicholson, Jason Cardy and Jason Cobley, signing many, many copies of a project we've all spent a hell of a lot of time on. I've looked at both text versions of the book, and they both turned out great. I was originally fearful that the more text-heavy version would be clunky as regards storytelling, but it reads really well. I'm delighted that certain story beats and pauses translated just the way i wanted them too. Without sounding full of myself, i think the finished Frankenstein book turned out great. I hope ye all check it out.

Huge thanks to James Hodgkins, Shane Chebsey and Andy Baker for organising such a brilliant show. Yet again.

Right, that's enough ranting. Back to work.

Dec.

BATMAN COMMISSION
























Hey all. I usually do a big long post about the convention i've just returned from, but i didn't really take any photos, so i'll spare any BICS talk til i get some convention sketches sent to me to illustrate the post. In the meantime, here's a 'Batman-and-Villains' Commission i just completed. Man, i love Batman. This was great fun to draw. Tough though.

Dec.

ENOUGH WITH THE NIGHTWING AND CATWOMAN ALREADY

























Yeah, yet another sample page. Enjoy.

Right, that's it from me for a few days. I'm off to the Birmingham International Comics Show in the morning for what looks to be a bloody great weekend for all involved.

Also, there's this Frankenstein book that'll be out at the con. You may have heard me mention it before.

See ya there ....or not.

Dec.

MORE NIGHTWING/ CATWOMAN
























Here's another page from the Nightwing/ Catwoman sample i've been tinkering with in my spare time.

Dec.

FORBIDDEN FRANKIE





















Posted today on the Forbidden Planet International Blog Log is an interview with myself, along with some preview pages of Frankenstein. Be sure to check it out, as i go into the whole process of creating a page, showing the preview pages in layout, pencil, ink and coloured stages.

What are you all still doing here? Go on, check it out now!

Dec.

FRANKENSTEIN (AND FRIENDS) SIGNING SCHEDULE

Hey kids, with Frankenstein out in two very short weeks (!) i thought it prudent to post a list of where i'm gonna be in the next couple of months in an effort to promote Frankenstein and some other books that are out or coming out over the next couple of months. They include....

FRANKENSTEIN from Classical Comics

























FREAK SHOW from Atomic Diner























TRIPWIRE ANNUAL























I'll be at the following;

October 4th-5th; Birmingham International Comics Show (launch of Frankenstein).
November 1st; Sub City Comics, Dublin (launch of the new Freak Show).
November 8th; Ennis Book Shop, Co. Clare.
November 15th; Though Bubble Festival, Leeds
November 22nd; Dublin City Comic Con (launch of Tim Skinner; Total Scumbag).

That's a busy end of year for the Decster.

I also just noticed a review for this year's Tripwire annual on the Down The Tubes Blog. It quite rightly paises the book and it's editor Joel Meadows for such a great publication. I was personally chuffed when my strip was mentioed specifically... "Declan Shalvey, whose No Witnesses is "silent strip" perfection in terms of storytelling."

Eat THAT Bob Byrne!

Dec.

SNEEK PEEK
























A little sketch of something i'm working on. Wanted to try it out on some coloured parer and white pencil that Will Sliney got me for my birthday, ages ago.

Dec.

NIGHTWING/ CATWOMAN SAMPLE
























Yo-yo yo-yo yo-yo-yo.... Where's my yo-yo?

Fell sick this week the very day after i moved up to Dublin so not much on the work front i'm afraid, so thought i'd show this; a page from a Nightwing sample featuring Catwoman. I'll eventually post more pages.... eventually....

Dec.

GOOD TIMES
























Ah childhood... bless....

This is the cover to the upcoming Irish Comics Anthology. Freak Show creator Rob Curley asked if i could contribute a story. I didn't have the time so he offered me the cover, which was nice of him. Didn't want to do a really 'twee' image, but wanted something 'irish.' Went for something kinda sentimental like this fella.

I really like it. I may be alone on this though.

Dec.

PLAIN SIGHT



Here's a recent piece i did for Beatnik Games that i'm quite happy with. It's for their debut video game, PLAIN SIGHT. Check out both the updated Beatnik Games website and the Plain Sight website. Hell, while yer at it, check out an early article by fellow comic book pro, PHONOGRAM scribe Kieron Gillen along with the trailer for the new game along with . It looks really spiffy, i must say!

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.

ANGEL

I'm a very petty fella. For those who don't know, my good friend, my amigo if you will, Stephen Mooney has been kicking arse on his variant ANGEL covers for IDW. I was delighted for him, but also very jealous. Now he's drawing issues of the actual book, so imagine how happy for him/jealous of him i am! Having seen some of his great pages i've seen how he's been nailing likenesses, which are very, very hard to do. So i recently thought i'd see if i could do a decent enough job at ANGEL likenesses, just to test myself. Here are the varied results. First, the big man himself...



My very first try. Hmmm. Not bad, but not good enough really.

























My second try. Kinda there; getting closer. Still not good enough though...



My third try. THAT'S more like it. Really happy with this one.
























My fourth try. Yeah, i really like this one. I like the mood; the demon and soul of a vampire. Definitely the best of the bunch. Took me long enough!

ANGEL CHARACTERS

Here's the other ANGEL characters i had a try at. Really happy with the Skip one, the Wesley one and the Lorne one. Cordie didn't come out too great, but Fred looks okay I think. In the end, i think it's safe to say Mooney deserves the job way more than i do...