Prague and all the Jazz

Well as some of you know i have recently been to prague, for those that know me I don’t tend to do a lot of sight seeing but I do tend to drink a lot of beer. I was looking forward to going to the marquis de sade but when i got there i found that it had closed and been replaced by the buddha bar. Feeling quite let down I came across o’che’s a cracking little slice of pure drinkers heaven. This bar is just of karlova and has both the best staff and quite probably the best craic that I have ever experienced. From the owner Gordon who is a very funny bloke and a generous host down to the regulars in particular Manuel El Grande Cassino. These are people that make you feel welcome and probably made my trip a very memorable one indeed

T Minus 7 days

The party and convention we all wait for all year is literally just around the corner. Mike should be congratulated in lean times like this for being able to put on a show full stop. The Cardiff Crew will be holding a party on friday feel free to drop by.

Bristol International Comic Expo 2009-Friday Night

For those that are there early, we will probably be having a quiet( yeah right ) drink or two in the mercure. If last year is anything to go by we’ll start at the Ramada then head down to the mercure. If you want to join up with us let us know and we’ll all have a party

Monkeys with Machineguns Press release for Bristol International Comics Expo 2009

PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release

MONKEYS WITH MACHINEGUNS OFFER A VISION OF THE FUTURE AT BRISTOL COMIC CON

Monkeys with Machineguns are producing an extremely limited number of promotional comic books to accompany the Monkeys with Machineguns Live event at the Small Press Expo in Bristol on May 9th.

While stocks last anyone buying a unique, one off illustrated short story from Chris and Stu will receive it mounted inside a copy of the limited edition twenty page book. Featuring not only an eight page preview of their upcoming book “The Magpye”, being published by Markosia, but also a full colour eight page preview of a brand new secret project, this is an opportunity for those taking part in Monkeys with Machineguns Live to own a small part of the future of comic book history.

For those not in the know, the Magpye is a “supernatural superhero psychological horror story”, a genre-bending tale of an amnesiac vigilante charged with defending mankind from monsters, creatures, and things that lurk in the dark whilst being haunted, and sometimes hounded, by the ghosts of his fallen predecessors. When the Magpye’s identity is finally revealed however, he may have to face the worst monster of all … himself.

As for the secret project … the details of that will be revealed at the show!

And keep a close eye on the day as the Butcher may well be appearing in comic format

Machette given green light

The mock trailer from Grindhouse has finally been given the green light. Robert Rodriguez has finally agreed to do it. Also he has been lined up to do the re-boot of Predator.

Labour the party of broken promises

Despite numerous promises and prominent European leaders stating that the treaty that Gormless Gordon and his chums have signed us up to being essentially the same as what Gormless promised us a referendum on I thought I would contact my MP. Mr Chris Bryant, below is my letter and below that his reply. The sooner this morally inept bunch are out of power the better.

Dear Chris Bryant,

As My Mp I would like to know your stance on the failed promise of the
Labour Government to give the people of the United Kingdom a referendum
on Europe. I wonder on your stance when Labour MP Alice Mahon stated
that part of the reason for her resignation was the governments failure
to live up to it’s promise under the election manifesto.

As I remember all major parties agreed that they would hold a
referendum on something so momentous for everyone in Britain yet we are
refused access to this.

I would also like to point out that as people are getting more and more
frustrated by the Labour establishments failure to deliver on it’s
promises that this may well be a deciding factor in upcoming elections.

The Government keeps telling us that this is nothing like the EU
constitution but other European Leaders have said that this is so. Why
is the Labour party so afraid of giving it’s electorate the chance to
make it’s own mind up

I eagerly await your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Richard Griffiths.

Dear Richard
I’m afraid I disagree with you – and I do not believe we should be
having a referendum, a point I have made for several years now.  I do
not believe that referendums are a proper way of consulting the public
as they undermine the democratic parliamentary process. I know it seems
like nit-picking but our commitment was to a referendum on the
Constitutional Treaty.  This was rejected by two countries and is
therefore no longer being considered.  The rather different Lisbon
Treaty is now before us and I think it is a good deal for Britain.  We
never held referendums on the Maastricht, Amsterdam or Nice Treaties and
I think one would be inappropriate now.
I am sorry to disappoint you yet further.
Yours truly, Chris

Britains Shame

Speak to any either serving or former soldier and ask what a Gurkha is.

“They are the epitiome of honour and courage, men who are willing to lay down their lives for their comrades and too often for a country not their own”

Well the Labour government brought shame once again to Britain yesterday with the despicable ruling on the Gurkha’s. At a time when so many migrants that come here come here just for the benefits that they get so easily, we turn our back on men that have fought and been wounded in service to this country.

Any man who pulls on this countrys uniform should be entitled if they so wish to call themselves British. I have always been proud of my country until now.

Cymru Con

As I am sure most of you have heard Cymru Con Had to be cancelled this year. It was a combination of many factors, I’d like to just blame the economic crisis but that was the tip of the iceberg. My family is also under a lot of stress with my mother undergoing her radiotherapy. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Iz and Dan for their tireless support and unmatched enthusiasm. I’d also like to thank those people who had committed the artists and writers that make all us comic fans turn up at conventions and lastly and by no means least I’d like to thank all the fans that were going to turn up

Cla$$war Volume One

I’ve heard so much about Classwar, and it’s written by someone who used to shop in the same comic store I do. So when I heard that it was being collected, I placed an order. I have to say if you haven’t read Cla$$war then order it quick. Do you remember how good the Ultimates volume one was. Yeah you heard me before they tumbled down the track and it became the car crash that ended with Mr Loeb. Well Cla$$war is as good if not better than that. It had me engrossed from cover to cover and I can’t wait for volume two. Keep up the good work Rob

Jericho picked up by Devils Due Publishing

Surfing the net and was amazed and secretly please by the news on newsarama

http://www.newsarama.com/comics/090310-devils-due-jericho.html

Now I am excited about this and i hope that the loyal fans of Jericho will pick this up, it will pick up right from the end of series 2

Watching the Watchman

Well I’m probably gonna get lots of flack for this but I was so excited waiting for this to come out. Then reality set in and I watched it expecting the mother of all movies. I am so sorry that i went back on my word to wait for the DVD. I have to say thank you to my friend Dan for getting me tickets to go and watch it in London yesterday, it did add something I suppose to sit in a cinema drinking champagne but that was really the highlight of the film.

Well perhaps i should have tried harder to understand the graphic novel as i left the cinema feeling distinctly underwhelmed. Highlights Jackie Earle Hadley as Rorschach, fantastic portrayal. Jeffrey Dean Morgan as the Comedian was also inspired casting.

Downsides too many to mention, the most laughable sex scene since Sharon Stone graced our screens.  Ozymandias was dire and  Billy Crudrup as Doctor Manhattan should now get a job advertising jumbo sized Trojans if that wasn’t a prosthetic. If you’ve read the graphic novel he looks like a greek statue (and if you’ve seen the nude greek statues you know what I mean)

I have to be fair though I will watch it and buy it on DVD but really not impressed. It’s almost like it tries too hard then fails on most counts

Sad time for the Camerons

David Cameron leader of the Conservative party today had the most tragic news that any father hopes never to hear. His son Ivan passed away at the age of 6. No parent should or could forsee outliving their progeny and as someone who has lost a child during a girlfriends pregnancy I can only imagine what the Camerons are going through.

The Butchers thoughts are with the Camerons and their Children

My Latest Commision

The good thing about knowing so many talented people is the opportunity to get some really great commisions done. I had the pleasure of speaking to a talented artist Jimmy Bott and he created the following for me.

http://jimmybott.deviantart.com/art/Guy-Gardner-Inked-111799201

Jimmy is very approachable and if you can fire his creative cells up then he will produce work like the above for you

Tribute to Canadian Forces

watch the video it’s amazing then read below http://www.facebook.com/pages/British-Army/32354397641?ref=nf#/video/video.php?v=130308945857&oid=32354397641

Canada joined a U.S.-led coalition in the 2001 Attack on Afghanistan working side by side with the American 101st Airborne Division and U.S Special Operations. The war was a response to the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks in the United States which left 3000 killed including 28 Canadians, with the goal to defeat the Taliban government and rout Al-Qaeda. Canada sent Joint Task Force-2 the Canadian Forces elite secretive Special Operations Force and more than 1000 combat arms ground troops to the conflict. In this war, a Canadian sniper set the world record for longest distance kill 2,430 meters (2,657 yd, or 1.51 miles while saving US Ground forces being ambushed. Doing so immortalized the Canadian sniper team as the world’s best and the U.S Government awarded the team the US Armed Forces Bronze Star. On April 18, 2002, a friendly fire incident caused Canadian casualties when an American F-16 jet dropped a laser-guided 227-kilogram (500 lb) bomb on the Canadians who were conducting a night firing exercise at Tarnak Farms, near Kandahar, Afghanistan.. The PPCLI soldiers were conducting night-time training on a designated live-fire range, and the American U.S. Air National Guard pilots claim they mistook their gunfire for a Taliban insurgent attack after returning at night from a 10-hour patrol, at 23,000 feet (7,000 m). Four Canadians were killed and eight were wounded in the bombing. The radio logs show that the American pilot requested permission from flight control (AWACS) to fire his 20 mm cannons at what he believed to be an anti-aircraft or Multiple Launch Rocket System below. He received the response: “hold fire.” Four seconds later, the pilot said he was “rolling in, in self defense.” He dropped a laser-guided bomb thirty-five seconds later. The pilot then said “I hope I did the right thing.” Minutes later, the AWACS responded with “Friendlies, Kandahar.” In early 2003 Canadian JTF2 Special Operations Soldiers were photographed taking Afghan prisoners which was the first time most Canadians and many in Canadian Government had heard or seen of them. After the war, Canada formed an important part of the NATO-led stabilization force, ISAF. In November 2005, Canadian military participation shifted from ISAF in Kabul to Operation Archer, a part of Operation Enduring Freedom in and around Kandahar Southern Afghanistan which has seen some of the hardest battles to date. Canada rotates a force of 2500 to 3000 soldiers every 6 months and as of January, 31 2009, 108 Canadian soldiers, 1 Canadian diplomat and 3 Canadian Female Aid Workers, have been killed in Afghanistan. On May 17, 2006, Captain Nichola Goddard of the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery became Canada’s first female combat arms casualty. Canada has suffered the third highest absolute number of loss of life of any nation among the foreign military participants. In 2006, the Canadian government committed a squadron of Leopard tanks and an additional 200 to 500 troops to Afghanistan. Canada was the first nation to deploy armour to Afghanistan. One of the most notable battles that the Canadian Forces have fought in Afghanistan thus far is the Canadian-led Operation Medusa in which the second battle of Panjwaii was fought involving The Royal Canadian Regiment and Royal Canadian Dragoons which saw the most severe fighting of the two battles of the Panjwaii, 12 Canadian soldiers died in combat in the campaign, five during the major combat operations, five in bombings and two in a mortar/rpg attack during the reconstruction phase of the operation. 14 British military personnel were also killed when their plane crashed. In addition an American Army adviser for the Afghan National Army was killed during the major combat operations; Canadian and other forces killed 512 Taliban fighters and captured 136. Canada was also the main allied combatant in the first battle of Panjwaii where Taliban forces decided to dig in and fight for control of this area in the mud wall complexes, this battle was with the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry which saw a Canadian soldier killed in action. Canadian troops have taken on an extended role in combat operations in southern Afghanistan, meeting Taliban forces in open conflict. The Canadian mission to Afghanistan is scheduled to end in February 2011, but there is divisive debate in Canada as to whether the mission should and could be extended much longer.

News for Bristol International Comic expo 2009

Kevin O’Neill has confirmed that he will come to Bristol to sign the first volume of The League of Extraordinarty Gentlemen: Century.

with Expo thanks to TOP SHELF & KNOCKABOUT.

This is the first convention he has been to for years, this century in fact ( bad pun sorry! )

Valkyrie

Now without wishing to cloud any ones feelings on the film. I have to say I preferred Night of the Generals. Ever Since Cruises Manic performance and his over eager preaching about Scientology his stock has gone down for me. How a religious fanatic can be lined up to portray one of the few true hero’s that Germany had during world war 2 is beyond me. How Tom “I am the Messiah after obamamessiah” Cruise can be taken with any credibility is beyond any stretch of credibility. That saying It’s a nice film, if only it didn’t have a Tom in it

Bristol International Comic Expo 2009

Breaking News

Britain’s favourite Comic Event just got BIGGER!

Yes the Bristol International Comic Expo is being complimented by a 2^nd venue for May.

FALLEN ANGEL MEDIA are pleased to announce they are hosting a special SMALL PRESS EXPO for the Saturday only at the Mercure hotel.

Mal Smith of Fallen Angel is hosting a sister event as part of the Expo weekend where the Spotlight is firmly on Small Press.

With the main Expo in this credit crunching year downsizing the chances for the small press were limited but a guardian ( Fallen ) Angel has swooped to ensure that the UK’s small press will once again be the heartbeat of the show!

Contact mal@thefallenangel.co.uk for full details.

Jericho

Well thanks to Stu.Art I am now addicted to another series, and guess what number crunchers cancelled yet another great show. Yep, I’m talking about Jericho. A good series has good characters and good plots. A great series has great character centric plots. Why can’t more writers churn this stuff out and why is it that when they do some idiot in an office decides lets cancel it. If you haven’t seen it i totally recommend it.

Bristol International Comic Expo 2009

I spoke with mike and asked him for an update for all you BICE fans and here it is

The BRISTOL INTERNATIONAL COMIC EXPO is back

MAY 9^TH – 10^TH ONLY at the RAMADA PLAZA HOTEL.

We are hosting a special COMIC EXPO this year with all the usual features, Guests, Panels, International Publishers, Artists Alley, Indie Press, Manga Showcase and EXpo EXclusives!

DON’T MISS

THE COMIC EVENT this summer by buying tickets early. Ticket numbers will be limited this year so do not miss out and to make it a little easier on the pocket in these credit crunching days we have teamed up with 2 publishers.

Every Adult pre-purchase ticket holder will receive

FREE OF CHARGE the Comic Expo edition of

FULL CIRCLE Publications 20 page preview issue of Mike Ploog’s Thicker than Blood & Simon Bisley’s Full Circle 2 to celebrate the EXpo EXclusive launch of both books Absolute Editions at the show!

Plus pre ticket buyers will receive a FREE sample copy of the latest Comic book to sweep the nation from the critically acclaimed DFC!

Booking goes LIVE feb 6^th details will be on the website.

Bristol International Comic Expo 2009

It’s countdown time again for my Favourite Con in the UK. For one year only due to work at the Hall the con has been moved to the hotel. Mike has released the line up so far as The Butcher is a Friend of the Con

For 2009 we have lined up some very special

EXpo EXclusives!

The RETURN of DR & QUINCH!

Comics legend ALAN DAVIS will be producing a

VERY LIMITED FULL COLOUR A3 Print of the iconic pair ONLY available at COMIC EXPO.

The HOUND of the BASKERVILLES to be UNLEASHED

@ COMIC EXPO!

Award winning publishers

SELF MADE HERO are launching their take on this classic tale with the creative team of Ian Edginton & Ian Culbard.

BLOOD BROTHERS?

Full Circle Publications unleash Full Cirkle and Thicker Than Blood Absolute edition Hardcovers Exclusively at the Bristol Comic Expo!

Full Cirkle Oversized Hardcover - For the first time Simon Bisley’s artwork will be in the large absolute edition format containing a mammoth 168 pages of art.

Thicker Than Blood Oversized Hardcover - For the first time the legendary Mike Ploog’s artwork will be in the large absolute edition format containing 80 pages of art painted by the illustrious Simon Bisley.

The Convention Book will have a specially commissioned

15 YEARS OF VERTIGO cover from

Eisner Award Winner MARK BUCKINGHAM!

The Guest list :  so far!

GARY FRANK   ALAN DAVIS

DAVE GIBBONS      DAVID HINE

MARK BUCKINGHAM LEE GARBETT

MIKE CAREY   JOHN M. BURNS

MIKE COLLINS   ANDREW WILDMAN

ANDIE TONG    JOHN WATSON

EMMA VIECELI    IAN CULBARD

IAN EDGINTON PHIL WINSLADE

JAMES A. HODGKINS CHARLES ADLARD

DUNCAN FREGADO   SEAN PHILLIPS

ROB WILLIAMS    NEIL EDWARDS

PAUL GRIST    GARY SPENCER MILLIDGE

GRAHAM BLEATHMAN

SIMON BISLEY & MIKE PLOOG

in association with REED COMICS

EUGENE BYRNE & SIMON GURR ( Sat only )

The DARWIN STORY - The Great Reading Adventure graphic novel

300 COPIES TO BE GIVEN AWAY @ Comic Expo.