28 Mar
2012

Posted in: Blog, Comics, Video, Words
By Fanton    5 Comments

Grab A Grandad

This week’s issue sees one of my personal favourites in the current run of Bad Grandad, as I not only really liked the script but was really pleased how it came out. I had slightly changed my drawing technique with this strip, switching to thinner pens to allow for a slightly finer line and a bit more detail – not a huge shift, but something very eagle-eyed readers might notice!

Talking of Bad Grandad, I sat down and recorded myself drawing the geriatric japester for The Dandy’s YouTube channel last week. So if you want to learn how to draw him, enjoy the eight excellent minutes of video below! (WARNING: contains traces of my FACE).

Elsewhere in this week’s comic, there’s another episode in the life of the world’s worst ninja, Iykan Si-Yu, plus Mega-Lo Maniacs, a new series from everyone’s second-favourite Jamie (after the Jamie out of Jamie and his Magic Torch), Jamie Smart. And then there’s Not So Wise Owl, a new mini-strip by the fabulous Laura Howell. WHAT A FUN-PACKED ISSUUUUUUE!

The next issue of The Dandy won’t be out until Wednesday 18th April, so I’ll meet you back here in thre weeks. Deal? Deal.

- Fanton.

7 Mar
2012

Posted in: Blog, Comics, Pictures, Words
By Fanton    No Comments

Once, Twice, Three Times A Dandy

THE LATEST issue of The Dandy is out in the shops now, and inside you’ll find not one, not two, but THREE strips by me! Wooo-hooooooooo!

As well as getting the honour of hosting the contents page (see left) Bad Grandad also appears in the third strip of his current run, which sees him trying to take over the play park, much to the kids’ annoyance. As a bit of bonus fun, there’s also a completely unrelated cameo from a classic Dandy character – can YOU spot him?

I’ve also got two mini-strips in this issue, the first of which is Stupid Barrio Brothers, in which Barry Barrio becomes INVINCIBLE! Surely nothing can stop him now?

And starting this week is Iykan Si-Yu, about the world’s worst ninja. In his Dandy debut, Iykan fails to blend into the shadows…

I’m also pleased to see a couple of ace George vs Dragon fan drawings in this week’s mailbag – always lovely to see! So thank you, George Halliday and Joshua Keeton (if you happen to be reading this!)

Even if I wasn’t fortunate enough to have a bunch of strips running in this issue, I’d still be urging you all to go and pick up an issue. I genuinely believe that the comic is in excellent shape at the moment, featuring a slew of comic talent producing some truly brilliant and funny stuff in it. Stuff like:

• Jamie Smart’s ever-demented take on Desperate Dan, which this week sees Dan taking up gardening!
• Wayne Thompson’s brilliantly barmy Bananaman, in which the big blue blunder must save the town from a leaking dam!
• Alex Matthews’ fantastically nutty Nuke Noodle sees our hero pitted against Merlin the Wizard!
• Wilbur Dawbarn’s marvellously madcap Mr. Meecher, the Uncool Teacher finds Meecher (you can call him Trevor) taking up Acebook!
• Lew Stringer’s crazy Kid Cops put a suspect under intense interrogation!

And then there’s… oooooh, lots more besides! Considering it’s nearing it’s 75th birthday, I think The Dandy feels as fresh and as fun as a comic half its age! So don’t just sit there, hasten to your local newsagent and grab a copy, or subscribe or download it to your iPad/ iPhone/ iBalls right NOW!

The Dandy, issue 3574, is out NOW, priced £1.99. Go buy it, your funnybone will thank you for it.

- Fanton.

3 Mar
2012

Posted in: Blog, Comics, Words
By Fanton    No Comments

Wizzo and Chips

THE PAST few months have been rather exciting for UK comics, with the launch of no less than two new titles upon the market, a cause for much celebration in these dark days where a new comic is a rare thing indeed, and the number of comics on the news-stands has dwindled dramatically.

These titles were, of course, STRIP Magazine, and The Phoenix, and now we can The Wizzo to the list, a comic created by a highly talented group of teenagers with a passion for comics and cartooning.

The Wizzo is already on issue 3, but this was the first one available to buy online so I thought I’d support upcoming talent by purchasing a copy and having a bit of a read. Then, after thinking that, I actually did it, as that’s the kinda guy I am.

The first thing that strikes you about the comic is how professionally presented it is, it’s ridiculously well done for a bunch of bloomin’ kids. The cover is bold and eye-catching, with a well-designed logo and a fun and frantic cartoon by Harry Rickard. The quality is maintained throughout, with (for the most part) the strips looking bright and colourful, and the layout being very pleasing to the eyeballs, and clearly influenced by the revamped Dandy – a very good thing, in my book (though I may be biased).

The strips themselves offer a great variety, and are well-drawn and, crucially, funny. I loved i-Wish by Harry Rickard, a clever twist on the genie-in-the-lamp story involving a mobile phone; Robert Robot and Blong gave me guffaws (also by Harry); Tornado Tommy by Jonathan Barham (about a boy able to control wind – no, not like THAT, you dirty-minded fools) was a great idea; I laughed out loud at Crazy Cartoons by Kieren Gillespie; I really liked The Wee Musketeer by Max Champion (ace artwork!), and I thoroughly enjoyed Jumbo Jet, Tall and Small and Chav and Jim (all by Hannes Smit – I especially loved the design of Chav, very funny!)

Basically, ALL the writers and artists on the title should be well chuffed, they all draw superbly, all know how to tell a joke or two and all had something fun to bring to the comic. They should all give themselves a great big pat on the back. (No, not a cow-pat).

If there were any negatives, they were minimal, really…some of the strips came out a bit pixellated, and some of the older comics looked a bit faint compared to the much bolder newer strips. Also, some of the characters were awfully similar to some characters in other comics…no bad thing really (it’s always nice to pay tribute to what’s gone before, or offer your own spin on things), but I hope future issues have more completely original characters rather than variations on the tried-and-tested formulas (a footballing kid, mischievous baby, and boy inventor, for example).  But speaking as someone who spent his youth drawing strips about a naughty boy, I’m a fine one to talk!

They’re genuinely my only (very minor) quibbles and suggestions for The Wizzo. Overall, I was blown away by how good the comic looked, how well-drawn the strips were, the excellent layout and I thought that the quality of the strips was very high throughout.

This is precisely the sort of thing I’d have done as a lad, had the internet been around then (‘ee, in my day it were all fields) and I firmly salute everyone involved for working hard on the comic, and then getting it printed and put up for sale. For anyone who moans about the nation’s youth, I’d point to The Wizzo and say there are still plenty of youngsters out there with great ideas, obvious talent and a brilliant, entrepreneurial spirit. Furthermore, given the skill of everyone involved, I’d say these guys (and gals!) should reassure anyone that the future of British comics will be in safe hands.

The Wizzo can be ordered online through their wonderful website (much better than even The Dandy’s current site, and will be even better when everything is up there). Go pick up a copy, and support young talent. Half of the money raised will go to various charities too, so you’ll also be doing some good in exchange for your funnies. SO DO IT.

I’ll certainly be buying The Wizzo again. Roll on issue 4!

- Fanton.