29 Jun
2011

Posted in: Blog, Pictures, Words
By Fanton    8 Comments

Oooooooo-weeeeee-ooooooo

DOCTOR WHO may be on it’s summer hiatus right now, but never fear! This week’s Dandy can supply your Who-based fix, as Harry and his Hippo go a bit Timelord-y in their latest adventure!

Will Doctor Harry defeat the dreaded Cyber-Hippo? And look out for one of the biggest (and oddest) cameos from Dave the Squirrel!

Meanwhile, in George vs Dragon, George meets the Lady of the Lake, in the hope of getting hold of the mighty Excalibur:

Does she give George the legendary blade, or is he left feeling a bit WET? You’ll have to pick up the latest Dandy to find out, chums – I’m not telling you here. That would be MADNESS.

PLUS! More Pre-Skool Prime Minister by Jamie Smart, Korky the Cat by Phil Corbett and a new mini-strip from Stu Munro, Bear Behind.

The Dandy no.3541, out right this very instant, for only £1.50.

Buy it or be DELETED!

- Fanton.

28 Jun
2011

Posted in: Blog, Pictures, Words
By Fanton    10 Comments

Going Nuts For Dave

EXCITING NEWS, chums!

Everyone’s favourite ill-tempered squirrel, Dave, is to take the leap from cameo king to the star of his very own series of mini-strips for The Dandy! HOORAY!

Ever since he first appeared in the Christmas episode of George vs Dragon last year, the scowling squirrel has swiftly become quite popular with readers, helped along by his numerous other appearances in some of my other comics:

Dave's first appearance, the first of many.

Space and time were no barrier for Dave, here he is popping up in Harry and his Hippo.

One of Dave's more recent appearances, being disturbed by the nitwit knight, George.

Then, last month, Dandy fan George Shiers set up a Facebook group dedicated to Dave, which has already got nearly 50 members! (If you haven’t joined, join NOW, chums!)

And so here we are now, with the fuzzy-faced funball all ready to take the lead in his own 3-panel strip, every week in The Dandy! What a journey it’s been!

I’m not sure when they’ll start running, but when I do I’ll let you know – YOU’D BE NUTS TO MISS IT! Hahahahahahaha!

Ahem.

- Fanton.

24 Jun
2011

Posted in: Blog, Pictures, Words
By Fanton    4 Comments

Mouse Over

PITCHING ideas to comics is a nerve-shredding experience, as you spend your time polishing up that idea you love in the hope that an editor will love it too. Sometimes, they do and the sun breaks out from behind the clouds, people whoop and cheer in the street, slapping you merrily on the back and congratulating you heartily, and all seems right with the world.

Other times, of course, they pass on your idea, and then the clouds open, rain falls, and passers-by spit at you in the street like the WORTHLESS STUPID SCUM THAT YOU ARE.

Luckily, I’ve been quite fortuitous with my pitches to The Dandy comic so far, and picked up a few commissions as a result. However, there have also been times where an idea of mine has been passed on, and I thought I’d share these with you here and there so you can see some of my more pitiful creations, and point and laugh at them for a bit.

Here’s the latest of the rejections, then – meet Ristomouse.

I pitched this as a sort of spoof on the children’s TV juggernaut that is Rastamouse, but this version follows the exploits of an aristocratic mouse (and his servant Pip-Squeak). See what I did there? SEE? ‘Risto! ‘Rasta’! Hahahahaha! CLEVER. Or not.

I think maybe Rastamouse is just TOO excellent to parody, or maybe it was just a terrible idea…but whatever the reason, the strip wasn’t picked up.

However, you can’t afford to be too down-hearted when pitches don’t work out in this business, just put your thinking hat on and try, try again! So that’s what I aim to do!

Wish me luck! Or just point and laugh. Whichever you prefer!

- Fanton.