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!