The Comedy of Anxiety
I arrived at the Lakes comic art festival on Friday and had nothing scribbled in my not so hectic schedule. On a whim I took the ferry to Ambleside and was glad I did. It's a beautiful part of the world and looks even more gorgeous when seen by boat. After disembarking I did a speed run of Ambleside. It's a lovely spot, but I had a boat to catch so didn't have time to buy surplus waterproofs or truly do it justice. I am determined to come back so I can explore at my leisure and enjoy a cheese scone.
Back on dry(ish) land I considered my dining options. I was contemplating sampling the gastronomic delights of Tesco Express when my head was turned by Vinegar Jones. I am glad it was. While waiting for my fish and chips I spotted John Allison. I introduced myself and we ate our fish supper and discussed our plans for the Marvel Universe. John has a lot of incredible ideas. Sack Kevin Feige immediately and get Allison in. He'll blow the dust off the Cosmic Shelf.
We ran into Darryl Cunningham, recently returned from the Big Apple and, like the Three Musketeers of yore, plonked ourselves in the local tavern to start our own Beer Con. As well as knowing more than is sensible about the Cosmic Shelf (I am assured it's canon and Fantastic Four are regularly trapped there) John also knows beer and ordered a suitably feeble brew for a faint heart like myself. John drank proper beer. Darryl sank Guinness. Beer Con ended, not in a drunken riot and puking in the bushes, but with sober farewells and steady walks to our respectable residences.
My hotel was lovely, the views across Lake Windermere over breakfast gorgeous. There's no better place to eat your scrambled eggs and smoked salmon while observing the clouds scudding across the sky.
On Saturday I was delighted to meet up with Jonathan Edwards, Louise Evans (Felt Mistress, creator of the incredible Festival creatures scattered around the town) and Dan Berry. It's years since I have seen any of them and had a blast catching up and laughing my head off. They are not only incredibly talented, but kind, generous, funny people too. We took to the streets and marched to the Jetty Museum to hear Bill Morrison discuss his Yellow Submarine graphic novel.
I got to catch up with one of my oldest friends in comics, Ed Hillyer. As well as amazing cartoonists Joe Latham and Una, who I hadn't seen since an amazing trip to Arras some years prior.
After a long day of mirth, discourse and quibbling over the precise definition of 'edgelord' my social battery was teetering around 4%. Time to head back to the hotel for an early night so I would be sharp as a tack for my talk on Sunday.
Several hours later I was still wide awake staring at the ceiling. My brain was having a whale of a time and refused go to sleep. Thanks, brain.
I awoke on Sunday with the muddled head of a sleepless night, but I had catastrophized all the ways the talk could go wrong and had plans to mitigate every embarrassing eventuality. All I had to do was carry two pens with me in case one ran out of ink.
I ate breakfast with Stephen Holland from Page 45 and we got to catch up on several years of news and the successful refurb of the Nottingham store.
The upside of this was I was there early to join the line for the Jaime Hernandez talk. Love and Rockets is probably the comic most responsible for my falling in love with the medium. Jaime was waiting outside the venue with the rest of us. I asked if he would sign my book. I explained I couldn't attend his signing because I was doing a talk straight after his. He graciously signed my book as I mumbled something embarrassingly earnest about his work changing my life. It was a very cool moment to have the copy that I bought in Odyssey 7 in Leeds in 1989 signed by one of the best cartoonists to ever do it.
Jaime's interview (conducted by Alex Fitch) was fascinating, but he didn't reveal what magic pen he uses to get such incredible results on the page. I will cling to the illusion of the magic pen. That seems the only rational solution. Across the theatre I saw John Allison shoot up his hand to ask a question. It was a very insightful question and I admit I was a bit disappointed it wasn't about the Cosmic Shelf.
Now it was time for my talk and draw with old friend Paul Gravett and Matthew Dooley, author of Flake . The title of the event was the Comedy of Anxiety. I laughed in the face of anxiety. I had planned for every eventuality. I even had two pens in case one ran out. Matthew and I had never met before and we had barely exchanged pleasantries before it was due to start.
Paul took the theme, tore it up and ran with it. He wanted Matthew and I to each draw a six panel story on the spot with prompts from the audience. The set up meant I would use a Cintiq. A machine whose mysterious workings were foreign to me.
I had not planned for any of this while wide awake at 3am. Two pens were useless to me now. Matthew and I, consummate professionals that we are, managed to succeed against all odds. Matthew did, anyway. I generously/cowardly invited comic superstars Lucie Arnoux and John Allison to draw the last two panels.
I kindly handed the tricky task of coming up with a punchline to John. Of course, his was much funnier than the one I had in mind. I will understand if he never wants to speak to me again.
And I owe him a pint.
Shameless capitalism
Paris, the fairy tale romance beautifully drawn by Simon Gane and written by me is out now from Image comics The handsome hardcover features twenty new pages of art and extras from Simon. If you enjoyed the book please leave a positive review online. That really helps us.
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Books signed by us both can be bought directly from Simon and from me.
Sunburn is the next book from Simon and me. Due out at the end of November. I have received a copy and it is a gorgeous book. Simon's colours are amazing as is his design work. It's a beautiful object to hold in your hand. And it even smells fabulous!
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Patreon
I have a patreon which I update regularly. Tuesdays and Saturdays I post sketches and behind the scenes stuff such as Punycorn colour pages. Thursdays I post a one page comic story. And this year I am posting a review of the book I have read that week every Sunday.
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I still have books out in the world, Kerry and the Knight of the Forest & the awards nominated The Book Tour. Support my efforts through my store – digital comics – patreon or by leaving a positive review online