Hi gang I've started work a ten page story for BOOM Studios' CTHULU TALES. It's a great tale set in Cornwall 1910, superbly scribed by Shane Oakley (artist on the Wildstorm ALBION limited series). Thanks to Shane for putting my name forward for this. Here's a page to be going on with.... also, below are a few sketches I did recently, contact me for availabilty.

cheers for now
Dave

This is for direct purchase of one copy of GOTHIC UK only please. This includes postage.

Not long to go now, this time next week I'll be at The ThoughtBubble show in Leeds http://www.thoughtbubblefestival.com/08guests.asp

I'm going to be bringing along some original sketches, which I'll be numbering and selling on the day (along with GOTHIC) to any interested parties. The sketches will feature various characters that are in the stories in the tabloid newsprint comic. Although it's a 48 page paper, don't let that fool you, as I've crammed as much as possible into it. With the earlier material reduced down in size to fit two pages to a page. That's all for now folks.

G'day all. As it was halloween a few days back I thought I'd do a pic of Hellboy getting dragged in the abyss by a bunch of reanimated bones. This is only the third Hellboy illo I've ever done (the other two were sold in auctions for charity some years ago). I'll be at the Leeds ThoughtBubble show in a few weeks time, get over to my table early as I'm planning on doing a few small painted sketches to sell (along with copies of Gothic) to go some way towards paying for the day.

Hope to see some of you there....

cheers

Dave

SNIKT! Here's a pic I did just for the heck of it. If you look closely, you can see how the brawl started. It ain't pretty....

By the hairy hosts of Hoggarth :)

Here's a little magic in the shape of everyone's favourite Doctor (if you suffer from temporal dimensional lapses, that is). Really enjoyed doing something a bit different with this drawing. Hope you guys like it. I'm currently reading through a script for an unusual 'samurai warrior' project, bloody good it is too (pardon the pun). If I take it on, and all goes well, it's liable to take out a good year or so, just tackling pages each weekend as I have to do. It's pretty good so far, and I'm really pleased to have been asked to illustrate it, so it's fingers crossed time again. This will also mean my own stuff will have to take a back seat again, so I apologise in advance to anyone who may have been looking forward to anymore SHJ.

With regards to purchasing a copy of GOTHIC by mail order, it will be £5.00 (the 'indestructible' envelope costs £1) via Paypal to black_boar1@yahoo.com ----UK ONLY. I can post to the US, however, a copy will cost $12.00 and (for some insane reason) will take THREE weeks to get there. I have sent two out to the US so far, and one of those was to Mr Mignola (as a thanks for his gracious cover quote)

Bye for now folks.

Ayeup gang
Here's a different one, I've not really done that many superhero things, teams even less, but here's a JSA pic I've started. Want to try and be fancy with lighting on this one---I'll post the finished thing later....

cheers
Dave

Okay, I'm a bit late again, but I've got an excuse of sorts, been laid up with a cold since coming back from BICS last week. heven't really done much of anything. But I can report what a great time I had at the Birmingham Internationsl Comics Show. I met up with loads of good folk again, Shane Oakley, Gary Crutchley, Colin and Dave from Accent UK, Andy Bloor, John Reppion, Leah Moore, Dez Skinn, Lew Stringer, a really nice chap called Patrick who comes from France (every time there's a comic show over here in the UK) how's that for devotion?. Met a couple of nice folk who work in films, who asked if I fancied doing a GN for them (which they would then put forward to film studios) more on that if it happens. Met a guy who makes really cool retro rayguns, he also asked about a GN possiblity. With the stuff that happened last year I know not to shout about things until something actually happens, so I won't mention them again until something more solid arises. GOTHIC seemed to go down very well, which I'm jazzed about as I was a bit sceptical about putting the print cost on my already overloaded credit card;) Turns out I shouldn't have worried, lots of folk went away with (relatively) cheap original art too. Thanks to everyone who purchased a page of art, and indeed everyone who stopped at my table. Thanks also to the chaps who have commented on this very blog. Just got a pic of the stand this time around, be back next week with some sort of drawing...

cheers all

Hello all----here's a big one!

It's been a busy week here, well I've been away in Lisbon actually, which was very nice indeed. Just two days before that GOTHIC rolled off the press. I'm very pleased with the look of it too. I attended FantasyCon in Notts, mainly to see Dave mcKean who kindly posed for this pic. How cool is that? I think he liked the paper too, which is a bonus. Other stuff happened there as well...but more on that IF anything comes of it;) I'm doing a few bits and bobs to take to BICS next week...here's a sneak peek. Back soon....

Hello you.

I know there's someone out there... isn't there? Here's a picture to look at anyway. This batman original will be for sale at the BICS show, it won't be part of the '£30 a page' promotion I'm doing for GOTHIC though I'm afraid. Anbody interested in advance, just make me an offer. I'm only selling art in an effort to try and get some cash fast so that I can start paying of the cost of the GOTHIC printrun (as I don't really want it hanging on my credit card for too long) ;)

More from me soon....

Goin' bats!
I'm having a bash at another Batman peice. A collector on Comic Art Fans.com asked if I fancied doing a commission for him... a suitably gothic looking Batman. It occurred to me that one of the gargoyles looked a bit like the Joker, so I was going to call it 'Familarity'... not sure though, what do you think?

I'll post the finished pic in a few days, when I can get access to a scanner.

Hello everyone.

Well, as promised, here's the list of stuff in GOTHIC. First of all we have a short Witch Hunt tale, which (ha) was originally going to be a 'times past' story in Gary Spencer Millidge's 10th Anniversary of Strangehaven, I was proud to be asked to be part of that. Then a small wordless tale called 'Treasure' which was one of my first published stories... ever. Then a brand new 'sepia toned' Springheeled Jack story. Up next is LUSCA, written by Leah Moore and John Reppion. A salty sea-monster tale (or should that be 'tentacle') our first collaboration for Accent UK. Then 'IMMORTAL', a tale of a very, very old vampire (originally a 100 edition s/n mini comic)..whew... is it time for a break yet?

Then it's time for a great zombie story, written by John and Leah, again for Accent UK, used with permission of the chaps at said establishment. If I was doing a collection of stuff that I'm proud of, which I hope GOTHIC is, I could not leave out THE BRIDGE. Again, a wordless tale, based on the brilliant AMBROSE BIERCE story 'An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge'. I did this as a 100 issue mini comic, wayback in 2002. And to finish off, there's a gallery of commissions and unpublished bits and bobs. All in all a fairly extensive collection. Here's another version of the cover to be getting on with (but I'm not happy with it yet);).

For those of you who were interested in getting some original art, I've put a BATMAN victoriana peice on ebay co.uk....click here.

Just a quickie here chaps (and chapesses). First draft of what the GOTHIC cover (might) look like. A rundown of contents to follow soon....

WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF?
Hello all, I've been doing some bank holiday sketching. This spread will (hopefully) be finished tomorrow and I plan to include it in the GOTHIC newspaper/comic. It will be a 48-page one shot including some short stories, some of you may have seen them printed in Accent UK's anthologies BUT you wouldn't have seen them presented in sepia tones and various other shades.

FOR THE LTD EDITION COLLECTOR
I'm selling a selection of original art pages from GOTHIC----(1 page per copy) at £30each. I'll put a few on ebay (as pre-order) soon. Let me know if you may be interested in this, and I can give you first dibs on the pages.

all the best,
Dave

Here it is, finished yesterday, but only just got to posting.

Dave

IT'S A MIRACLE!

1.I have a day off work. 2.I'm drawing and 3.Miracle Man.

Collectors have asked (on numerous occasions) if I would draw Miracle Man, in the past I've always steered clear of trying to draw 'super-types' for some reason I seem to have trouble with them. Sitting here today, I suddenly thought 'I'll have a go at Marvel Man'. I'm in awe of folk like Alan Davis, Bryan Hitch and many others who always seem to make ACTION look effortless. It's only when you have a crack yourself you realise just how talented those chaps are. I'll update the pic soon.

cheers

Dave

Here's the finished thing guys. I thought the boots could be from his Antarctic exploration days ;)

FROM THE DRAWING DESK

I've decided to make these blogs a little more 'hands on', a 'work in progress' type of thing I guess. Here's what I've been up to this afternoon, yes I should have been mowing the evergrowing grass, but I opted for doing this instead. A few years ago I drew a Victorian version of Batman, which I was going to submit to DC, I saw one of their editors at a show here in the UK, and they said they already had too many elseworlds tales. So that was that. I ended up selling the original in the charity auction, and I was surprised that it raised about 200 quid.

For some strange reason it popped into my head today, this is all I've done so far, but I'll probably sell it after, the only difference being that this time the 'charity' will be my own ;)

bye for now, but I'll be back with the finished version soon.

SHOOT 'EM UP!

Howdy pards, just finished a short western, scribed by Messrs Moore and Reppion. It's a great tale with lots of clever stuff packed into the six pages. MRS HENRY will be in the upcoming WESTERN anthology from AccentUK, out in May 2009. I missed the ROBOTS book due to the Bloomsbury thing I was slaving over at the time. Here's a sneak peek...

Hello chaps
Just a small update for now. The old website has become defunct, so from now on I'll be just posting new bits on this 'ere blog. I'll be advertising my next project through PREVIEWS soon. Here's the advert for your perusal, let me know what you think. Your feedback is important, it let's me know if I'm on the right track with stuff you'd like to see. More info soon.

Hello all

Is it my imagination, or are these blogs getting a little more regular? A little good news came my way recently, as that book publisher contacted me with a small compensation package for work carried out. I was delighted to hear that news as I really thought there'd be no chance of getting anything for the wasted months. It's a long road yet, but the gesture has been made. Nothing else of interest to report except that I've done a few 'try-outs' of late (can't say anymore than that at present, as it seems I have a tendency to jinx)

Here's a pic from one of the projects....

Hello you pair. It's been a bit busy just lately at Black Boar HQ. There was recently a great article on British Small Press in the latest issue of Imagine FX (Adi Granov Iron Man cover) writer Kieron Gillen very kindly asked if I fancied being part of it, I couldn't refuse could I? Also a book called 'Comic Art NOW' by Dez Skinn is due to hit the bookshops anytime now. It's a collection of artists showcasing their various styles, the idea being that bigwig businesses can tap up their creative types directly. Once again, I'm in that too, with my own little 'victorian corner'. Thanks go to Dez for deeming me worthy to be part of it. I've just done a commission for a chap in the states..Daredevil v. Werewolf, he specifically asked for a Wrightson werewolf (as opposed to a Lon Chaney).

I'm contemplating getting another newsprint collection together, who would say 'yea' to a colour (perhaps sepia tone) and black and white comic/paper reprinting a few of my earlier short stories, plus new material - probably about 48 pages in length?. Maybe, I could use part of it to show unseen sketchwork etc? let me know if you would like to see anything in particular. Working title...GOTHIC - A (kind of) retrospective.

Hello one and all

Here's one of my highly irregular posts, must get a little more frequent with them;)

I've not done that much in the way of drawing lately. The book I was supposed to be illustrating was dogged with problems from the beginning, from the changing editorship to lack of communication (from their end) and after me doing so much stuff for them without any sign of payment I decided enough was enough. I was surprised that a big company such as Bloomsbury(US) could be so bad to work for, this was a harsh lesson to learn, and just goes to show that there is so much 'red tape' to these things---I still don't know what the heck happened, as they were 'loving' the stuff I did for them. Oh well.

A few weeks back I suddenly felt like drawing a victorian X-Men scene (you know how you do) here it is for your perusal. I'll talk again soon....promise.

all the best

Dave (PS - the city scene was one of the coloured pages from the book)

Hello one and all

A few things have happened lately which may deserve a small blogette. Firstly, a few weeks ago I got a great surprise when I was sent a hefty tome in the post from Peter Normanton, editor of 'From The Tomb' a superb British Horror magazine--it was a great 500+ page book showcasing 50 of the best horror tales over the past 50 years. He was kind enough to deem one of my short stories in that category, and when you consider some of the other creators in there (Steve Niles, Mike Kaluta, Pete Von Sholly, Frank Brunner, Vince Locke, Bruce Jones, Michael T Gilbert et al) it's no mean feat. It's a very well produced book, with high production values (except I have a small gripe--the printer transposed the LAST page of my tale, it's now page 2) I'm not sure how someone can get numbered jpgs in th wrong order, but there you go. Nevertheless my friends, buy this book, you can't go wrong.

Secondly, I've been busy doing 3 pages a week, as well as the day job, for the past 6 weeks---for that book I mentioned in previous posts---for want of a better name, I have called the YO-YO book. Why, I hear you all ask? Well, namely because as of this writing, it's been halted again. Apparently the powers-that-be have changed their minds with regards to the black and white decision, they now insist on COLOUR again, which I can't provide. I have attempted to split the sum they were paying me with a pro colourist, however his fee is the same as that they were offering for me to draw all 132 pages!!! A predicament for sure, and one that I'm pretty naffed off about as I stupidly did them 132 pages of A4 roughs for the whole book, 20 finished pages and numerous character drawings (all of which they allegedly loved) all before signing on the dotted line. Something I won't be doing again.

The coloured page sample above is one of the pages Andy Elder did as a test peice. I would be okay about splitting the money for the book (ahem) but I don't think it would be enough for either of our time and efforts. I'm awaiting to here from them...ahhhh another familiar story

Hello all, and thanks for stopping by this blog and indeed the website.

I'm expecting there may be a few new additions browsing the site due to the fact that my SPRINGHEELED JACK collected hardback has hit the comic racks in the US and the rest of the globe just now. I hope you all enjoy it, and thanks very much for shelling out your hard-earned notes to get the book, and if you ordered it via PREVIEWS then all the more kudos to you sir (or madam). SHJ has garnered interest from the likes of Don Murphy (maverick film producer, Transformers and Shoot Em Up) and a few other big names in the comic industry. I am currently in the process of getting a animated sequence put together to generate a little more interest in a possible film version of the tale. A digital animation company have expressed an interest, and all being well we'll decide which direction to take it early in the new year.

At a comic show, here in the UK recently I met a chap who was keen on buying the rights to SHJ, so hopefully somewhere along the line a little magic might happen. At the same show a certain Mike Mignola came by my table, flicked through the book and said 'This stuff is awesome...no it's FUCKING awesome' he then said 'and you can quote me on that'.... so there you are Mike I've used it;) thanks very much. I've only just recovered from that one I can tell you, he's been one of my favourite artists since he came on the scene.

Well I don't want to bore you to death with other stuff, so I'll sign off for now. Once again, thanks to everyone for your support.

all the best - Dave PS: The above Sandman commission was completed recently.

Hello All

Just a little update on nothing really as I'm still awaiting any character detail/descriptions from the 'biggie' project from Bloomsbury, I've told them if they don't get their finger out I won't have time to do it (three months have passed since they asked me, and the deadline remains the same as it was then) times a tickin' away and I don't want to be in a situation where all I'm doing is their book when I get home from the day job.

Had a bit of a tinker on Quake 4 over the weekend, and I got past a really hard bit which has been bugging me since I bought it...or it would have been bugging me if I could be bothered to waste time on it--lol-- I'd not touched it for about 9 months or more---don't know about you, but it doesn't take much to put me off pc games;)

I've got a few sketchbooks from Bristol (the first lot have painted sketches on them) available at Five pounds each + one pound postage. 32 a5 pages of sketches from stuff that I've been doing this year, odds and sods, and a bit from that Zombie tale (hence the zombie pics on this picture).

That's about it, signing off for now

- Dave

Hello you three (well, I'm assuming I may have got another fan at Bristol 2007;)

The show was absolutely heaving with people, and Saturday was very good again, special thanks to the folk who bought my sketchbooks, and even more thanks to a couple of fans who purchased original art pages (as they kind of paid my way for the weekend). Apart from selling the hardback SHJ, the only new material I had was a short Zombie tale (written by Leah Moore and John Reppion) in ACCENT UKs 'ZOMBIES' (which i believe is a great seller for them. The short story I did for Gary Millidge is set to see print in an Italian Strangehaven collection this year sometime, and apart from that I've also done work on an adaptation of the Green Knight and a slew of draft pages for a 'BIG' US book publisher (again though, as of this writing I'm just hanging around waiting for decisions to be made).

Talking of decisions - On the Saturday a representative from a company called Classical Comics asked if I would like to illustrate their adaptation of Frankenstein...Well, I just about bit their hands off, and was quite excited about it all weekend, when I got back from the show I knocked together the attached pic for them, and I got a letter back saying they had gotten someone else for the task! Bugger!

Sharing my table at the show was my good friend Graeme, who came all the way from Edinburgh, we had a good laugh and at the end of the show he very kindly gave me the attached SANDMAN peice he had painted a while ago. He is a regular contributor to the US anthology NEGATIVE BURN, and he's also self published a collection of his own short stories called ONE LAST TIME, nip over to his website ( http://www.harddisk.fsnet.co.uk/ ) and see all the stuff he's done... you won't be sorry.

Well, I think that's about all for now, I'll return again soon.

all the best,

David

Hello you two

Well, there goes another Christmas and we're about to head into 2007. The past few weeks have been pretty exciting, first of all I managed to finally get hold of a copy of Paul Gravett + Peter Stansbury's GREAT BRITISH COMICS. I was told that I managed to get in there a while back, I'm well chuffed. Nearly as good as winning the Eagle Award is that;) I reckon Christmas time is when folk suddenly sit down and try and get unsuspecting artists to draw their stuff, last year I got a proposal to do a Zombie Houdini thing, for some supposed 'entertainment company', anyway I did 3 pages and they decided my style, was not what they were after. This Christmas I also got an offer, this time from someone who has a far better track record, with a better pedigree, hopefully this time I'll make it past three pages:)

Hope you all had a great Christmas, and I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2007.

Signing off, til next year

Dave

Season's Greetings one and all

This is a slightly belated ramble about the International Comic Show in Brum a few weeks ago. I thought that Shane did a great job with the venue and organisation myself, with only the odd problemo here and there (and let's face it, pretty much EVERY con suffers with folk not turning up at the last minute don't they?). The venue itself was nice and snazzy, every bit the type of place a comic con should be held at, with it's own 'lake' in the middle of the event, and various comic related units, a bar, cafe and theatre positioned around it, there was something for everyone. The two main areas were a tad small, but I did tremendously well with the hardcover. I only took 40 copies with me, as I travel by train, well I WOULD have done if Central Trains were not doing their engineering work! Instead they laid a bus on...great:( I contemplated going back home on Saturday night to get more books, but luckily I didn't (as quite tyically again) Sunday was just a chat day,
all in all it was a good weekend. And if next year's guests are concrete..then that should be fantastic! I'll defintely be attending the next show, rumoured to be earlier in the year (another smart move Shane)
Anyway, I'm signing off for now, I hope you all have a great Christmas, and a propserous New Year. -The Boar

Hello one and all

Anyone going to the Birmingham International Comic Show this coming weekend? I will be there helping the ACCENT UK guys promote their new Zombies Anthology, and also touting sales of the SHJ hardcover;) Sounds like it could be a good show, I only hope everyone turns up!

I heard that a copy of my first, long sold out book, Spirit of the Highwayman cropped up on ebay recently, and it went for a staggering £56!!!! What I want to know is, where are all these bidders when I actually list anything for sale???? Sheesh, I'm normally lucky to get about two freakin hits!!!! Earlier this year the same thing happened with SHJ issue 1....that went to £40 or something daft. Needless to say, I wasn't the seller:(

talk later ---Dave

Hello all

Anyone wishing to order the book (UK only) can send £10 via PAYPAL to
black_boar1@yahoo.com .This includes p+p, and I will send out the book asap. I recently sent out a book to IRELAND and I was shocked to learn that the cost (for the same weight/packed parcel) was £6.80. On this basis I reckon that cost to the US would be roughly £12.00 could anyone ordering from the US pay my Paypal account using POUNDS STERLING- thanks.

I also have some signed and numbered copies (80) with a tipped in sepia print of Springheeled Jack----these are £13 (UK)

Why not pop over to www.DonMurphy.net to see the banter on SHJ. The more folk ask about the film, the higher the possibility of it emerging-----thanks- Dave

Greetings one and all!
The books finally arrived, and apart from a few minor 'artistic niggles' from me they look pretty nice, and the general opinion is good. On the same day however, my phoneline went down, and I live in the sticks, apparently BT say that major cable work needs to be done, and the council need to 'approve' them working on a main road..this could take a MONTH!!! Ironically enough, the week before all this happened I had switched to broadband, so now, not only am I paying for broadband I can't access, but I can't sell any books via the net either :(

Some good news of late, I've just heard that I've been included in PAUL GRAVETT + PETER STANSBURYs book GREAT BRITISH COMICS (www.greatbritishcomics.com) which I'm really chuffed about considering the amount of comicstrip pages I've produced over the years, which probably only reaches about 3 or 400 pages pages tops. That's a really great accolade (and could concievably force me to produce at least two or three more pages before I give up the ghost;) )

Anyway, the SHJ HARDBACK is finally available (I can get limited access to the net at work) £10 standard edition, £13 signed and numbered, both include postage in the UK, I prefer PAYPAL if poss at black_boar1@yahoo.com

Thanks to everyone who has ordered so far.
cheers
Dave

Good day all (or NOt as the case maybe)

Had the day off work waiting for the books to arrive again...still nothing and it's 6 oclock now. I'm getting very impatient as the print company first stated last Friday as the big day! This had better be worth it when they DO come.......

Other news, I've now finished the six page Zombie story penned by Moore and reppion jolly pleased with it too if I may say so myself. It should be out early 2007 from AccentUK.

I'm off for some tea now...

Hello Everyone
No doubt there will be some new faces to the site this week (due to the advert for my hardback in Comics International)----If you have only just joined, this is the 'once-every-blue-moon-blog-of-david-hitchcock';)

I was a bit miffed that I couldn't make the LANCASTER COMIC SHOW over the weekend, especially as I was offered a lift there and back (thanks again Jay and Selina (of Girly Comic, Violence and more)...all the B+Bs were full, so I took that as being a good sign for the show!

Two folk that did go to the show are...my mate, and allround techno genius GRAEME NEIL REID who was flogging his fine anthology ONE LAST TIME (well worth checking out, if you don't already have it....and even if you do GET ANOTHER).....he's also featured in NEGATIVE BURN 6 due out soon. And the other being BEN DICKSON, a great chap, who has self published a very clever graphic novel called FALLING SKY.


Anyway, while everyone was having a good time at the show I did some drawing, and finished Page 5 of the next short story for Leah Moore and John Reppion, this will appear soon in the ZOMBIES anthology by AccentUK.

I am supposed to be getting the SHJ hardbacks at the end of this week, however the printers have not given me a great deal of confidence, I've got my fingers crossed anyhow. I'll let you all know as soon as I can send them out. PLEASE NOTE: there will be a short delay for the first 20 copies, as I will need to do the drawings in each copy. If you wanted one of these copies, get your order in quick as 12 have gone already.

Thanks to everyone who has shown interest in the book so far.

That's me done for now.
cheers
Dave

Hello All, and no doubt a few new faces too (due to the advert in the latest C.I.)

I'm still waiting for the books to be delivered from the printers, all being well I should get them at the end of this next week. I'm a bit miffed this week as I missed out on going to the new comic show in Lancaster, I decided to go at the last minute, and despite the offer of a lift there and back (a biiig thanks to Jay and Selina for that) I couldn't get any overnight accomodation. All fully booked up, let's hope that is a good sign for those who travelled all the way to the show. I've not heard any reports yet, but i know a few folk who were going. Namely Graeme Neil Reid who has his anthology comic ONE LAST TIME for sale, it's a great compilation of classic Brit comic style stories with a twist- not to be missed.

Also Ben Dickson's FALLING SKY is making its debut there. Ben gave me a prototype copy some time ago, it really is a clever tale and deserves a good distribution.

Other stuff this weekend..... just completed page 5 of the zombie story I'm doing with Leah Moore and John Reppion, its looking great (but I would say that wouldn't I;)

I've just bought a second-hand copy of Dawn of War (the Warhammer game for the PC)...looked really sweet on the box, but can anyone out there TELL ME HOW TO DECIPHER WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!!!!!!??????? I'm not a great gamer at best, but I just hate it when the screen is so full of icons you just can't see what's happening.

That's me done for this week.

seeya

Dave

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

Still waiting for proofs from the printers! It was all supposed to be 'touch of a button' stuff, BUT (as usual with technology) when I go to download the pdfs, I get error messages, but not until I've already waited 40mins for the 620meg file to download! Ahhh, anyway, hopefully it will be sorted soon-- so they tell me.

The colour SHJ issue 2 is now out (Full Circle Publications), it looks pretty too;) You might be able to pick it up at your local comic shop, and then again you might not. The local FP which I'm forced to frequent, had one solitary copy---which I purchased myself. How sad is that;)

Last weekend I did a page for the next Moore and Reppion short, a 19th century zombie tale, which will be coming out through ACCENT UK early in 2007.

Also I just recently joined the DON MURPHY Message Board at www.donmurphy.net as I want to try and start some buzz about a possible SPRINGHEELED JACK film... the thread is in the 'Talkin about general stuff' section, if you want to join you COULD be in for a free copy of the hardback!!!

Get yourself over there now:)

Later,
Dave

Hello All

Big news this week is that I have gone ahead with getting a hardback produced!!! Yup, I know I mentioned it sometime back, but I finally bit the bullet and decided to do it after I got a great quote from ALAN MOORE--thanks Alan!;)

Also been thinking about how to jog along this movie idea, or moreover WHO to tout it to. I know that Don Murphy is interested but I know how long these things take in LA LA land. Who reckons KASABIAN would make great Victorian intrumental tunes?? I contacted them via Myspace, still to hear back of course, but it would be great to have them involved----what say you??

If you know anyone who would like to be on my mailing list tell them to drop me a mail and I can build up my address book again. My new mail is black_boar1@yahoo.com

cheers for now

Dave

Hello again everyone----what TWICE in one week??? This post is just to let everyone know my NEW E-MAIL address. Since September 9, 2006 I have not been able to access my old faithful 'Hitchcock_99@yahoo.com' as yahoo messed about with a load of new settings, supposedly to do with security...well, they were so fookin good even I couldn't get access to MY OWN ACCOUNT!!!! I'm real pissed as it has obviously taken my address book and archived mail with it-- can you tell I'm angry yet? I didn't write any of it down on paper, so EVERY CONTACT has gone.

Anyway, a week of desperately updating Windows/browsers etc, I finally gave up and set up a new account, which is: black_boar1@yahoo.com

Could you pass this onto anyone who might need it, and I look forward to hearing from you soon. G'night!

-Dave PS. ZAP ME A MAIL ANYWAY, AND I WILL ADD YOU TO MY NEW MAILING LIST!

Hello again folks, here I am for your yearly update;) I've not been doing that much artwise just lately, there's always something else to take up time nowadays. Apart from the odd commission here and there I've only done a short six-page tale for the Accent UK anthology MONSTERS. It's called LUSCA written by none other than MOORE & REPPION. Original art for that is for sale if any of you have seen the comic.

I've just finished a ten page 'times past' STRANGEHAVEN story, yes Gary asked me if I'd be interested in doing a story for him some time ago now, it's tentatively scheduled to see print in an Italian version of a SH collection.

I'm thinking of doing a hardback collection of SHJ, mainly to celebrate the EAGLE AWARD WIN for the 3-issue series. The collection will be 120 pages B+W, with the inclusion of the short story 'LAST CHAPTER' (I only did 50 mini-comics of this so chances are you may not have seen it) and a new 6-page INTRO plus an extensive sketch book section. The dilemma I have is that I can't decide to do it myself (with no distribution channels OR go the POD route. Print On Demand apparently allows a book to be listed on Amazon etc, the downside it that I don't have a clue if this approach actually WORKS. Does anyone out there know?

If you reply to this post could you send it to my workd email

dhitchcock@derbytelegraph.co.uk

as I am having problems with my yahoo account.

Adios!

flyFINI

flyFINI, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

CHIMNEY

CHIMNEY, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

coverTHREE

coverTHREE, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

The final 32-page issue. It's even got a quote by Dave Gibbons! No, its not an April Fool joke...

RE4

RE4, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

Redeye 4, the alarm clock for UK smallpress, packed full of great features --check it out at the AccentUK stand at the expo! The original cover art from this (sans the Union Jack) will be for sale, along with loads more peices of my original art.

OneLastTime Cover

OneLastTime Cover, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

This is the cover to Graeme's collection of short stories, do yourself a favour and check it out!

dracula

dracula, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

Here's a recent Dracula v Helsing commission, I was very pleased with the finished result, although it did take some considerable time to get likenesses that I was pleased with.

zeroCOVERbit

zeroCOVERbit, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

j1p hulk

j1p hulk, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

Hulk v Thing Just 1 Page charity peice

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

shjbook

shjbook, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

triptychFINISH

triptychFINISH, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

Hello everyone

Just a quick reminder that the sketchbbooks are just about running out. 32 pages of sketchpages, drawings and stuff with an original Springheeled Jack sketch on the cover of each one, with a preview of SHJ 3--- signed and numbered to 50 only. These are £8 including UK postage.

Just completed a Constantine triptych statue drawing,image will be posted soon. I've just started work on a kind of epilogue SHJ story, which I am hoping will also be available at Bristol--its rapidily approaching again innit?.

anyhow I think that's me done

-D

holmes

holmes, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

A Sherlock Holmes fan from the US commissioned me to produce a Holmes V Dracula illustration, after many compositions I finally decided it looked better to indicate Drac's presence---just about to snuff out all available light.

Hellboy Bones of Giants

Bones of Giants, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

After reading the Chris Golden HELLBOY novel Bones of Giants I just had to do an illustration, this is my second Hellboy illustration in the whole wide world, apart from a few sketches at cons.

This is for sale - just email at hitchcock_99@yahoo.com for details.

Batman Commission

batman, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

This gothic-looking Batman was produced as a commision recently. I'm particuarly pleased with the detail on the building, and the moon in this peice.

Blackboar Montage

blackBOARmontage, originally uploaded by agentORANGE.

Festive greetings once again!

Hope you all had a great christmas break...just letting you all know that I've posted a few items on ebay. An HELLBOY original pin-up (which Mike Conroy saw at Bristol and has since passed on to Mike Mignola himself--fingers crossed it may appear in a future Hellboy/BPRD comic. I have a Springheeled Jack cover which will be used on an upcoming issue of REDEYE (which will have an interview with myself in it too). The sketchbooks are £8 plus P+P if purchased directly from me (if you reside in the UK).

So if any of you have got 'Christmas money' burning a hole in your pocket you know where to spend it;) Anyway that's all for now and I'd like to wish you all a very Happy New Year, all the best for 2005!

The ol' boar

Ho Ho Ho and all that stuff

Hello again everyone, here's one of my irregular missives for you. Although I've not been productive for the past few months I've still had a few irons in the fire. I did a Demon drawing in Jack Kirby stylee for an Italian KIRBY TRIBUTE book which was released recently, unfortunately I only have the one copy---I can't read Italian of course, but its great to be in the company of folk like Jose Ladronn, Steve Rude, Mike Allred and Gary Spencer Millidge. Speaking of which I am scheduled to do a short story for an upcoming Strangehaven special, currently in the rough stages. Hopefully more on that next time.

The sketchbooks I mentioned last time are going well, it has an original sketch and 6 page preview of SHJ issue 3 (which I am halfway through lettering) hopefully it will be printed before the Bristol show. I did a HELLBOY pin-up which Mike Conroy has passed onto Mike Mignola, hopefully it may show up in an upcoming Hellboy/BPRD comic (this original is for sale at £80) I can send a scan to anyone interested. In between I'm doing some commission work, again all this stuff can be seen in the sketchbook.

All that remains now is for me to wish everyone a happy christmas and a great new year, and thanks for the support.

all the best

Dave

Hi there one and all

Last week I attended the ComicExpo at Bristol, and although the punters seemed thin on the ground I had a great time. Signing the prestige format Whitechapel Freak along with Simon Bisley who was signing Full Cirkle and WF. There were some great artists there including Mike Noble, John Burns and legend who is Mike Ploog (his sketchbook work was superb), a great time was had by all.

Talking of sketchbooks...I spent days beforehand producing individually painted drawings to stick on the cover of each SKETCHBOOK (which include a six page sneak preview of SHJ3!! no less). This time there are only 50 copies, signed and numbered (with a Springheeled Jack sketch). The A5 book features SHJ pages, sketches from limited SHJ comics and other stuff, including commissions---the third sketchbook is available on a first come, first served basis @£8 each including p+p (UK). Email me for any more details.

all the best

Dave

Check out the Full Circle Publications link on the left, you can order the new 'Whitechapel Freak' colour edition and see previews of the colour edition 'Springheeled Jack'.

Hiya Gang

I've been prompted to blog by my old buddy Graeme Reid, every now and again I get prodded with a big stick and here I am! I've been a bit slack just lately, after finishing SHJ3 last month, artwork only, I thought I'd give myself a break for a few weeks. I've done a few commisions and other odds and sods, hopefully I'll get some kind of 'zero' issue done as a preview to SHJ3. Coming up in the next few weeks is the London Comic Show, which I'll be attending with Carl Critchlow, so look out for the Critch'n Hitch stand;) It should be a good show, and then there's the Jonathan Ross/Grant Morrison interview which I'm looking forward to..hope they turn up!

And a week or so after that there's the ComicExpo in Bristol, where I'll be signing the new version of Whitechapel Freak on Reed Comics's table, alongside Simon Bisley----how cool???

anyhow snuff from me, time for bed

the ol' boar

Hello everyone, the Ol'Boar here for another little missive...

It was a full week last week, SHJ2 had just reached the US shores, even though it was shipped to Diamond's warehouse here in the UK about two months ago. I had loads of mails from readers in the US, so thanks for that (its always great to get feedback), and I guess it must be going down quite well over there. I had loads of requests for re-stocks of issue one too. Sadly the first issue sold out some time ago, but I do have a three LIMITED (1 t0 10) original painted sketch editions available. These are $40(via paypal) and available on a first come, first served basis. I can send a jpg of the comic and original art (as an idea of what to expect) to any interested parties.

I did a further two pages of SHJ3 at the weekend --yay. It's tough getting back to drawing after having time out.

STOP PRESS++++If you want to pick up some original art, and have the money go to charity---check out my victorian Hellblazer on ebay NOW. Adrian Brown's Just1Page project is self published with ALL the proceeds going to a very worthy cause, and all art auctioned is printed in a special magazine (which you also get FREE, worth $9) with your booty! Get on there and BID now;) ++++++++

Well that's about it for this week, apart from this little gem---I've been asked to attend the Bristol show in November on Simon Reed's stand----to promote the newly colourised WHITECHAPEL FREAK, alongside Simon Bisley! How could I refuse!

cheers

Dave

Greetings one and all

I've been away from the drawing board for a week or so, and its liable to be a few more before I get back in the swing of things. I'm stuck with the last seven of so pages of SHJ 3 and I really want it to end with a bang, just can't make my mind up how it should go. After its all done I may even reprint as a smaller format gn. Not sure whether you are all aware but it will be reprinted in glorious colour next year, by the same publishing company that has already printed WHITECHAPEL FREAK (www.reedcomics.com). The aforementioned comic is a one shot prestige format reprinting of the original tabloid edition, from a few years ago. Featuring superb atmospheric computer colour by Phillipe Gaulier (who is currently working on texture designs for the Captain Scarlet CGI film) and a great cover by painting supremo SIMON BISLEY.

If you head on over to Reed Comics tell 'em I sent ya ;)

That's it for now kids

signing off for now---O'l Boar

Good day everyone... here's another one of my somewhat irregular postings. This time to let everyone know that the commissons section has been updated with a few recent pics, so if you did'nt catch it on your browse check it out before you leave the site;)

Also I've just produced an illustration for an Italian-produced JACK KIRBY tribute book, which will hopefully be out by the end of the year.  I'm in good company, as there are many great industry pros featured, so I feel honoured to be amongst them.

Done a few more pages for SHJ issue 3, on page 22 now.

That's me done, blogging off now---thanks for looking!

The Old Boar

 

Black Boar Greetings one and all!

Just a fairly short one to let you know what's been on my drawing board recently...I've just finished a five page Hercules story for AccentUKs TWELVE (a great anthology title based on the 12 labours of Hercules). Also I have just completed a 'Victorian Terminator' commission, and what fun that was to do!:).

I'm about to start selling the odd thing on ebay. I have an original cover painting for SHJ#3 which I may put up soon. If you want original art, or even a commission PLEASE EM-MAIL and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

If you are a retailer I am thinking of selling BULK order (80 numbered SHJ~2 editions per box) box. Please email me for further details. Diamond could not fill their orders on Issue One, so jump the shipping order list NOW!!!!

Speaking of the sold-out SPRINGHEELED JACK #1 I have a few copies left, which I am selling along with an original painted sketch @£15 each. Signed and Numbered One to Ten only--- and then they are well and truly gone (in fact I purchased those issues back from a local comic shop who racked them in an obscure position)

anyway, that's about it for now,

talk again soon.

--Dave

Hello again everyone!

Well, its been a while since I posted last, and what a time I've had! Lets begin with the Bristol Comic Festival, which was just about as busy as you can get. I was rushed off my feet, even with the extra help of my friend Graeme Neil Reid who hobbled all the way down to Bristol from Edinburgh, especially for the event! I spent virtually the whole two day event sketching SHJ, and various Marvel characters in victorian dress! Sold about 200 issues of SHJ#2 which was great news too. Things that had been on the cards for months all came to fruition at Bristol, I had two charity peices on sale--a Hellboy painting which sold for a healthy £145, this was also used in the 'Top Trumps' card pack, a Victorian stylee 'Constantine' for Ade Brown's 'Just1Page' charity magazine (he's just had an article on Newsarama.com).

Also out was the vampire mini 'Immortal' which sold out, and the second sketchbook (few left @£4.00 each), Whitechapel Freak COLOUR version with Bisley cover was out too---and it looked the dogs doo daas too, get your comic shop to order one when its listed in Previews later in the year;). Also had a little pirate story (no, this one was not about a midget seadog), merely it was 'little' as far as the page count--this appeared in PIRATES a great UK anthology title from AccentUK. I'm currently doing a short story for their next project '12'--about the twelve labours of Hercules.

Thanks to everyone who came to the Bristol show, and of course everyone who buys my comics, for their patience and understanding about the strange beast called 'self publishing'. I'm really pleased that my stuff is going down so well. Now all I've got to do is carry on doing it! Gotta get back and start that 'hand numbering' again--it was good idea at the time, but 420 into it I'm not so sure....;)

Signing off for now,

Dave

Hi Guys and gals, not long now until the end of May, and the great Bristol Comic Festival over here in the UK.

I've just been getting my head down recently trying to finish off some last minute bits and peices. Last weekend, I was collating, stapling, signing and numbering the 2nd SKETCHBOOK, and a Vampire mini comic called IMMORTAL---these are both very limited in numbers. IMMORTAL is 70 s/n copies (small sketch with the first 25) pages are printed in sepia tones.

The second sketchbook is limited to 50 copies only (the first 10 have 'tipped-in' sketches done in brown pencil).

The long awaited SHJ 2 is due to come from the printers this Friday (7 May), there's four extra pages of story and a colour cover and inside cover too-- all at no extra cost to you gentle readers (take it as my apolgy for the wait). I have an Hellboy painting in the charity auction (www.britcomicart.com) and I also have a victorian John Constantine peice in the Just1page charity art auction too. Hopefully there will also be a couple of suprises at the show too...

Well, I'd better start packing my bags and make sure I've got a decent pair of shoes on-----Bristol's a long way to walk ya know;)

Hope to see you all there.

David