Friday 8 July 2016

A Chronicle of Doom....


A (safe) cracking - if somewhat very last-minute - expedition to Ice Station on Wodin'sday to see Agent Johnny. When Agent Rob pitched up at 'high noon' 'Our Man in Pester Wails' was already settlin' doon to the day's episode of The Avengers (an interestin' tale, 'Homicide and Old Lace', penned by Dr. Who stalwarts Malcolm Hulke and Terrance Dicks and overseen by Terry Nation). The swill was duly 'cranked' open and, before things got too 'bonga bonga', a new stylus wiz fitted to the (currently defunct) 'rekkid playa'. Amazing what ye can do with a bit of Blu-Tack when all else fails....


And so it fell to the 'music box' to keep things swingin' as our Agents chuntered contentedly about the recent Glasgow Comic Con as well as the proposed Unearthly Science Fiction and Agent of SMERSH projects (neither of which is any nearer to actual completion - maybe they'll be ready for next year?). Then, just as the batteries went 'dud', it was suddenly time fer Agent Rob to head on into Deadhead Comics to see Agent Austin - admittedly in no' bad shape for a man who's evidently been 'giving his all' to support Wales in their epic Euro 2016 run. Hard to imagine the state he must have found himself in on Thor'sday morning tho....

Sights: The Avengers, 'Homicide and Old Lace'

Sounds: Memory Span by The Lines: Two From The Vault by Grateful Dead....


The Lines - Barbican

Thursday 7 July 2016

Happy Bacchus-day....


Huzzah! Today* sees Top Shelf release their second Bacchus (Omnibus Edition): Volume 2, collecting together the concluding volumes 6-10 of this herculean saga, comprising the 1001 Nights of Bacchus, The Eyeball Kid Double Bill, King Bacchus and Banged Up trades into another 550 page whopper of a doorstopper....


The excellent (and highly recommended) bookplate edition of Volume 1 is still available from Gosh! and Top Shelf are punting the last few copies of their signed hardcover too. Those yet to dip a toe into these (un)holy waters may wish - providing one's pockets are suitably awash with gold - to head straight for the oh-so tempting Omnibox, which adds the similarly beefy Alec: The Years Have Pants (640 pages for anyone who dares keep count!) into the already overflowing (and no doubt postman-crippling) mix.... Those not entirely convinced might want to check out Agent Rob's glowing review on Amazon (gushing enough to warrant a welcome comment from contributing artist Ed 'Ilya' Hillyer).... Cheers!

*um, yet again it seems the release date has been pushed back, er....

Tuesday 5 July 2016

Comic Con Comedown....


All for one (sale)! Just kidding, it was in fact a beautiful thing as the Glasgow Comic Con embraced its brand spanking new venue, the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, at the weekend. Indeed, if you could get past the fools behind the Braw Books table there was plenty gold to be found out front - where, at the very least, even our oldest rope was pretty new! A punter would have to be made of stone to resist, but we're not begging you to agree.... okay, we'll stop right there with the lame Stone Ro$£$ references. (Then again, who would pay 10 quid for a single sided 7" with laughable lyrics and a krenko guitar solo when for a penny cheaper they could invest in The Collected Evil Wee Comics, something genuinely touched by the bright spark of Agent Johnny's relentless creativity and ceaseless commitment to his craft....). Still, it was nice to see our sales exceed our (very) modest expectations on the Saturday and Sunday, with all our books shifting a few copies to what turned out to be an inquisitive and patient crowd....


In fact, the whole weekend seemed a more grown-up affair across the board, with a similarly varied spread of creators from far and wide, all helping the Con to 'transcend its origins', elevating the mood from the (occasional) Glasgow Mart-gone-large feel of past years to something decidedly fresh, distinctly forward thinking and definitely conventionally convention-like, um.... "D'you take cards?" - that's when you know you've made it (even if it potentially scuppers the accompanying purchase.... it didn't though and the necessary cash was duly splashed on 2 hard earned (but suitably discounted) sales). With a few tweaks here and there the GRCH could easily become the perfect venue for years to come....


After Saturday's action wrapped it was time to head along to the CCA for the SICBA awards where a typically humble Frank Quitely accepted the award for his 'Outstanding Contribution to Comics' - a page in the Khollected Khaki Shorts surely 'swang' it - and Sha Nazir - the BHP mainstay and modest mastermind of the past 6 years events - announced he was stepping down as chief organiser/overseer. #Shaxit....


Sunday saw 'supersub' A.J.Smith make a start from the bench to help out at the table, gamely assisting and keepin' things real through those inevitable sabbath slumps, allowing Rob Miller to scout out and about, chat with some familiar faces and pick up some books - Sleeping Dogs, Moth to a Flame, Beast Wagon and the SICBA sweeping Never Ever After being particular prize catches....



As per last year it was Kounter Kultyur Kevn's job to thoroughly mystify at least one punter - a cheery youngster was attracted by the 'leafy' cover only to be put off the final purchase thanks to Rob Miller's attempt to explain the 'highbrow' concept, evidently stretching things a plot point too far in the world of lazy and obvious dope comics....


Of course it was all over too soon, time for the GCC redshirts to gamely pack it all up for next year(?) before heading along to Slouch for the wrap party (and a welcome chance to chat with David Aja, Goran Parlov and Cameron Stewart about the ups of the Con and the lows of 'the biz') As ever big shout outs to the organisers at BHP, their happy and helpful team of volunteers, the venue, the punters, fellow puntees and friendly pundits.... Time to get your feet a seat. We'll leave you with Manchester's finest....