New UK comic: Meanwhile...

I bought this comic at the Lakes International Comic Festival back in October but I've only just gotten around to plugging it here. The debut of a new British comic is always something to welcome and Meanwhile... No.1 is an interesting package. Published by Soaring Penguin Press, the 56 page anthology for mature readers contains a variety of stories and styles. The first thing that's notable about it is that it features a brand new Strangehaven chapter by Gary Spencer Millidge. 

As many of you will know, Strangehaven was a independently published comic by Gary that was centred around a seemingly ordinary English village that contained dark secrets. It was favourably compared in certain ways to TV's Twin Peaks but Strangehaven had its own unique character. If you were a fan of the comic you'll be pleased to know that Meanwhile... features an excellent new 16 page chapter in full colour, recapping the events so far and moving things forward. (And if you've never read Strangehaven, treat yourself for Christmas to Volume 1 - or all three volumes, today!)  

The other strips in Meanwhile... include a selection of complete strips and the first part of the serials 10 Minutes by Yuko Rabbit, and The Bad, Bad Place by David Hine and Mark Stafford. It's Hine and Stafford's ten pager that's another highlight of the issue I think, with an intriguing script and fantastic artwork.

The one-off strips are a mixed bag but all worth a read with some distinctive artwork. They include the three Comics Unmasked Competition winners and my particular favourite was the amusing Peas in our Time by Sean Bright.

The intention is for Meanwhile... to be published every two months. Issue 1 is still available from the publisher at a very reasonable £4.95 and subscriptions are available. To find out more go to the Soaring Penguin website here:
http://www.soaringpenguinpress.com/

Alan Moore's life story on screen

A biography of Alan Moore's life is now at a screen near you. An iPad screen that is, as comic creator Gary Spencer Millidge has unleashed Alan Moore: An Extraordinary Gentleman as a full colour 16 page comic exclusively on the iPad and the iPad mini. And it's free!

A version of the strip appeared ten years ago in the book Alan Moore: Portrait of an Extraordinary Gentleman, along with contributions from many other comic creators (including myself). That book was published to commemorate Alan's 50th birthday, so Gary decided to update his story for the writer's 60th (which is on November 18th) with four extra pages.

Gary appreciates that not everyone has an iPad so won't be able to access the comic. (He doesn't own one himself either.) However, having downloaded the comic earlier I can thoroughly recommend it for any of you who do have the device. Gary has cleverly used images from comics that are relevant to Alan Moore's life story and it makes for an engrossing read. If only all biographies were as entertaining as this!

You can read much more about the background to this digital comic at Gary's blog: http://millidge.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/electronic-al.html

To download the comic Alan Moore: An Extraordinary Gentleman you need the free SEQUENTIAL app for the iPad which can be found here:https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/id629759394?ls=1&mt=8

Gosh! Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill in London today

I was hoping to attend this myself but have to work this weekend. Anyway, those two comic gods Alan Moore and Kevin O'Neill will be signing their latest League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book, Century:1969 at the brilliant Gosh! comic shop in London today. (The shop is situated opposite the British Museum.)

Alan and Kev will be signing from 2pm to 6pm, but before that, Gary Spencer Millidge will be at the shop for a signing of his new book Alan Moore: Storyteller (an excellent biography of Alan, which I'll be reviewing here as soon as time allows).


More details on the signing here:
http://www.goshlondon.com/events/