Should I or Shouldn't I -and What Should or Shouldn't I??

I was about to do one of those posts looking at which British artists I would love to have work on Black Tower Comics characters.

Obviously, as I do not have the money to pay such people it is a "for fun" post.  I thought I would remind myself about previous reactions to these posts.

ahem. Well, on checking the past posts I saw the rather negative comments. WHY is it that the only time people feel like commenting on the blog it's 90% negative?

I asked myself if I really wanted to spend all the time, gather the artwork from the artists and put together another post. I decided against.

I know that the internet is usually considered a bed of negativity but bloody hell do people get angry (angry!) over a simple post.  A point; I asked in several posts which old British comic characters readers would like to see in a hero team. Only one response and that was "Well you know all of them!" Damn it I was trying to get some good old fashion comics chat going not start a flame war (anyone old enough to remember those?).

I am hmming and ahhing about whether to do an October long Horror or horror-sci fi series of posts. I may but really it depends on how much I have to do and, if anyone recalls the old October posts from years back they involved a lot of work and were popular -as in high views but absolutely no comments....I think, after three decades of CBO that I see a pattern here😂

We'll see.

Marvel Comics Battle World 1..... Oh Dear.

 I got recommended Battle World (2025) from Marvel Comics. I was told that it was heroes from different periods of time coming together and it should be a great read.  

oh

I really REALLY hate complaining about Marvel as I had followed the company since the 1960s.  But I have to say that this is yet another Trash Comic from them.  The art is passable but nothing special.  The story/script is just....bad.

We have seen similar in Contest of Champions, Last Hero Standing/Last Planet Standing, Secret Wars and I could go on and on. Rather like Hollywood the "House that used to have Ideas" is constantly churning over the same old story. 

To put it into perspective I had just finished volume 6 (the last) of the Ultimate Exiles Collection.  I frigging love The Exiles (but never checked out New Exiles -yet) and this new Marvel title doesn't even compare to what might be the latter's worst issue (I don't think there was one).  

The Alan Davis drawn Avengers: Ultron Forever was far superior and, of course, the ultimate gathering of heroes from various times was Avengers Forever so this Battle World is a very pale imitation and having spent my money on issue 1 I can tell you that I will not be buying the rest of the series.  

I would recommend spending your money on Avengers Forever, Ultron Forever  or even The Exiles.

The Pretty Reckless - For I Am Death // Life Evermore Pt.2 (Official Spa...

HUNTING MANGA IN KICHIJOJI JAPAN

SGG -Rough Pencils and Story done

 

Today I finished the last rough pencilled panel for Earth Beat which means as soon as I get the projects that require lettering done I can get to work and finish the story that started in...1987.  

I had a very clear storyline in mind with clear twists and  conclusions. Along the way that changed drastically as a new story came to mind and even though on these rough pencils I knew the way the story was supposed to end...it has not. 

Yep, making the story up as you draw from panel-to-panel can be fun....it can also leave you with FOUR good plot twists that will not be used.  

It all means that I hope to get the two books that need lettering finished well before Christmas (look at me "Mr Planning Man" !!) and I'll work on the Earth Beat over Christmas. Now if only people were as determined to buy the books as I am to finish and publish them!

Black Tower: Streamline 2 The Dr Rose Agenda

 

Ben R Dilworth writer/artist

24 pages

A4

Black and white

£8.00 UK

https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/streamline-2/paperback/product-yvyd549.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Keenan King aka Streamline of Earth Parallel 669 meets agent Grimes of MI5 in Westminster Abbey for a briefing. A briefing that seems to indicate that the man who helped King and gave him his powers, Dr. Rose, has mass produced the formula used on him.

If the man who helped give him the powers of Streamline has turned rogue for money or other reasons he has to be stopped.

An army of Streamlines would be unstoppable and a threat to not just the UK but the world.

Johnny Neg 2: Down In The Burn Pitts

 

Ben Dilworth & Co.

A4 (8.27 x 11.69 in / 210 x 297 m

25 Pages

Interior Color: Premium Black & White

Binding Type: Paperback Saddle Stitch

Cover Finish: Glossy

£8.00 UK 

https://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper/johnny-neg-2/paperback/product-dydyrq7.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Johnny Neg -future detective in a dystopian Nu London where double speek, fist, gun and corruption are every day things Neg has to deal with. Join him Down in the Burn Pitts. Along for this journey are stories involving Wilberforce of the Yard, Corporal Religion Horror Tales and...a cat.

Neil Gaiman: Comics, Court Cases, Cults & Conspiracies

The Return of the Gods and Green Skies Invasion Earth Series

  "I read the original quote from that German blogger and thought it was a lot of hot air. When Return of the Gods: Twilight of the Super Heroes arrived I thought "thick book" and knew you'd taken it from 96 pages to 360+...it looked impressive. I read through it in two days and -robots, aliens, "gods", super heroes, sorcerers, alien invasions and more and world-wide. And you tell me this was done without a script?! It's the only one I can think of so, yeah, the greatest British super hero graphic novel fits as a description." Pete Clark

"You say this is your final big story? The Green Skies was fantastic and everything laid out into chapters was a great touch!"

David Stephens, Comic Reviews

" 'Holy ******* ****!' was all I could say. I even tried counting the number of characters and how the **** you produced all of this without a script beats me. Return of the Gods: Twilight of the Super Heroes and The Green Skies could only have been better if George Perez had drawn it!"

Dan's Comics

"I have no idea why you are not pushing this even harder. The books Return of the Gods: Twilight of the Super Heroes and The Green Skies I would love to see in German or at least get German fans to read since it has a good number of German heroes in it. Next big comic event over here send me copies and I'll sell them on my table!"

Gerd Hammer, German comics historian and trader

Selected comic readers were also chosen to review copies and, obviously, two of these were people from Hong Kong who I corresponded with on Manhua over the years.

"I just wish someone like Tong Li would publish this in Chinese -I mean there are Chinese heroes in this so why not?"

Wang Xiuying

"There HAS to have been a script and more than one person working on this! Brilliant!"

Mike Wayne, Australian comic dealer

Generally, these comments were all similar and I only quote these as any more would be very egotistical. The books should speak for themselves.

Paperback

A4

Black & White

331 Pages

Price: Reduced to £21.89 

Prints in 3-5 business days

http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/the-return-of-the-godstwilight-of-the-super-heroes/paperback/product-22076337.html

It begins slowly.  It always does. It's a deception that everything in the world is as it should be and that never changes.

Earth’s heroes and crime-fighters are going about their daily tasks –fighting a giant robot controlled by a mad scientist’s brain, attackers both human and mystical -even alien high priests of some mysterious cult and their zombie followers and, of course, a ghost and a young genius lost in time. 

Pretty mundane. 

But psychics around the world have been sensing something.  A "something" that sends feelings of sheer terror through their psyches.

There is a huge alien Mother-ship near the Moon. Undetected by deep-space radar and other instruments, only a few on Earth have sensed it and they cannot penetrate the hull but only feel psychic screams and....worse.

And then it begins: strange orange spheres isolate and chase some of Earth’s heroes who then vanish into thin air –are they dead?  An attack by an old foe or foes -?

Black, impenetrable domes cover cities world-wide. 

Then it becomes clear to those within the domes what is going on: Alien invasion of Earth! 

A war between the Dark Old Gods and the pantheons that followed! 

Warriors from Earth’s past having to battle each day and whether they die or not they are back the next day! 

No one suspects the driving force behind the events.  One single evil guiding events.  Events that could cause destruction and chaos throughout the multiverse.

Assaulted on all fronts can Earth’s defenders succeed or will they fail...is this truly the end? 

The Cross-Earths Caper: Part II of the Invasion Earth Trilogy

Paperback, 

A4

Black & White

107 Pages

Price: £12.00

Prints in 3-5 business days

 http://www.lulu.com/shop/terry-hooper-scharf/the-cross-earths-caper/paperback/product-22076318.html

Following the events on Neo Olympus and the Boarman invasion of Earth, many heroes and crime-fighters have withdrawn from activity. Some are trying to recover from injuries while others are fighting the mental scars left by the events.

But things have to go on.  As heroes from other parallels who helped during the recent events return home, members of the Special Globe Guard are shocked at the sudden appearance of Zom of the Zodiac. Never a sign of good things a-coming!

Very soon, a group of heroes mount a rescue mission and find that a quick rescue mission can turn sour equally quickly. As they overcome one challenge the the heroes become lost between parallel Earths and face new threats.

 Sometimes one Earth just is not enough. The complete story published in issues 7-10 of Black Tower Adventure now in...one handy dandy book!

A4

B&W

124pp

£15.00

https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/the-green-skies-vol-3-part-1/paperback/product-5j4y7e.html?page=1&pageSize=4

It all began in 1987 and the Black Tower Universe has seen alien attacks, heroes kidnapped to be put into the middle of a war of the gods. 

Despite the deaths and losses the heroes -crime fighters, super powered and members of the magical union have come back but now unaware that alien races are escaping through the Sol system and that a mysterious space fleet is heading towards the inner planets, they find themselves trapped or distracted. 

The Many Eyed One is finally coming. 

The Multiversal Council has quarantined Earth and forbidden any to help. 

The evil has spread and there is treachery striking at the very core of Earth's defenders

A4

B&W

126pp

£15.00

https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/the-green-skies-vol-3-part-ii/paperback/product-nj7wqr.html?page=1&pageSize=4

Following on from events in Green Skies V. 3 Part I the Clone Zone Boyz are increasing in number while those who created them, the Vampirons, continue to plot and await the arrival of their 'God' -The Many Eyed One. 

The Druid finds that his physical and mental state are deteriorating and even the Rev. Merriwether cannot help him. 

Shockingly, the Clone Zone Boyz claims someone close to Merriwether and this leads him to team up with two 'unsavoury' characters. 

In space Krii and Tyn hrrn face a seemingly unstoppable enemy. 

On The Moon the Selenites and representatives of other worlds meet and decide that Johnny Apollo, the Z-Man, is the only one who can lead the counter invasion fleet. 

With the enemy striking Mars and then the Moon things look grim

 A4

B&W

208pp

£16.00

https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/the-green-skies-vol-3-part-iii/paperback/product-kj6r7r.html?page=1&pageSize=4

The gathered Sol Defence fleet is prepared to make its final stand led by Johnny Apollo the Z Man. If it fails to halt the invaders then the doomsday weapon will be detonated and destroy the entire Sol System. 

Meanwhile, unaware of the threat in space, Jack Flash, the Avenger and others prepare for a final show down with the Many Eyed One; a final confrontation they know they do not have the power to win. 

Is this Humanity...the Earths...final day?

woven into The Green Skies is the story of the harbinger of destruction: the story of Varik Dann -The Man Who Walked Through a Door and Into Another World

THE OWL -MASTER OF THE NIGHT

 

A4
B&W
80pp
£8.00
https://www.lulu.com/en/en/shop/terry-hooper/the-owl-master-of-the-night/paperback/product-1vk5e79w.html

A Fan Project. 

The Owl. Created by Frank Thomas in 1940 for Crackajack Funnies:this book contains three Golden Age stories including the rare first appearance of Owl Girl plus the rare 1967 Owl Man and Owl Girl in their own comic. 

Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman & Julius Schwartz Walk Into A Bar

"Open secret" -absolutely and there are still people who were once big in UK comics who still break out in a cold sweat just in case they get named.

This Superhero Crisis Was A JOKE | Crisis Between Earth One And Earth Two

CBO Chats With Bill Galvan

 

(c) 2025 respective copyright owner

Comic Bits Online:What is Freshman Year about?

Bill Galvan: Archie: Freshman Year is about Archie and the gang’s first year in high school, how he meets some of his teachers and friends for the first time and adjusts to high school life.

Comic Bits Online:How did you and Batton Lash get involved with Freshman Year?

Bill Galvan: I wanted to draw a story about Archie’s first year in high school, and I pitched it to Batton, who is really good at being able to blend humor and drama into a script. He also understands the characters really well, and had written one of my favorite books, “<b>Archie meets the Punisher</b>” back in the ‘90s. We then took our idea and pitched it to Archie Comics last year at the San Diego Comic Con, and they really liked the idea. I did some sketches of the characters with a “freshman year” look, and we were on our way.

Comic Bits Online How much of Freshman Year was your idea and how much was editorial?

Bill Galvan: I came up with the concept of chronicling their first year of high school, and Batton came up with the 5 issue outline and scripts for the story. The editors at Archie were really enthusiastic about our ideas, and conferred with Batton and I about the story format and the look and feel.

Comic Bits Online: Pureheart and The Man from R.I.V.E.R.D.A.L.E.  appear in the first issue, what other surprises do you have for the fans?

Bill Galvan: We’ve got some new characters coming in, that fans are really going to like. We’ve also got some more special cameos by other characters and old favorites as well.

Comic Bits Online: In real life aren't the girls taller then the boys in the freshman year of High School?

Bill Galvan: Sometimes- certainly in Big Ethel’s case!

Comic Bits Online: What was the reason for replacing Jughead with Pencilneck G?

Bill Galvan: Pencilneck G is one of the new characters that Batton has created but certainly is not meant as a replacement for Jug (as if anyone could replace him!). Jughead’s presence is very important to the “Archie-verse” and Pencilneck G is a great way of pointing that out, as readers will see!

Comic Bits Online: There is a bully at Riverdale High, Jared McGerk, how does that play into the story?

Bill Galvan:Archie runs afoul of Jared McGerk on his first day of school, among other mishaps of the day. The first day of high school for Archie is definitely full of surprises for poor ol’ carrot-top!

Comic Bits Online What supporting characters will we be seeing in Freshman Year?

Bill Galvan: We’ll see the usual gang, Betty, Jughead, Veronica and Reggie will all be looking ahead to starting the new school year. It’s a big step for them, they’ll be in high school forever! We’ll also be introducing the usual cast, but showing how they met and came to be Archie’s friend.

Comic Bits Online: Will the Freshman Year story impact the continuity of the ongoing series set in the Junior Year?

Bill Galvan:The Freshman Year stories complement the ongoing series of Archie books. All the stories fans love are still happening, we’re really just chronicling their first year in high school. Batton did a great job of keeping the characters true to their original incarnations. The biggest difference is that the storylines feature more drama mixed with the comedy, but the characters are still drawn in the same traditional style.

Comic Bits Online: What's next after Freshman Year?

Bill Galvan: Hopefully something just as fun! Freshman Year has been a blast!

Comic Bits Chats to Dan Parent

 Another long forgotten interview with Dan Parent. I did interview Holly Golightly and Tanya Del Rio also (those are in the book)

Dan Parent speaking at the 2018 Phoenix Comic Fest in Phoenix, Arizona. (c)2025Gage Skidmore

Comic Bits Online: Let’s start with the biggest question. Comics are a celebrative effort. The editor approves the story; they are written and drawn, go to the colorist, letterer, and printer before they get to the customer. How is there time for fans to read Betty & Veronica Double Digest #164 and vote before you write the story and draw Betty & Veronica Double Digest #165?

Dan Parent: The whole story is complete, except for the last page which reveals the winner.  We'll have time to rush that page into production without any problems.

Comic Bits Online: Cheryl has been out of the limelight for a while, how did her big resurgence come about?

Dan Parent: She's always been a fan favorite.  She was hugely popular when she returned during the love showdown storyline in the 90's.  Even when her popularity wanes a bit and she goes away, she always comes back with a vengeance!

Comic Bits Online: Has Cheryl found a permanent home in the Betty & Veronica Digest comics?

Dan Parent: For the next year or so, there will be a lot of Cheryl in B&V Double Digest.  It's a good place to do a continuing storyline since the book comes out so frequently.  But you never know where she'll appear next.

Comic Bits Online: Why were some of the Cheryl Blossom stories reprinted as Ginger Lopez stories?

Dan Parent: There was a period where we didn't know what to do with Cheryl, so Cheryl stories were altered to fit in Ginger, who we introduced earlier this decade.  It wasn't a very good idea, since the fans (myself included) didn't like the altering of classic stories. Plus, Ginger and Cheryl have totally different personalities, so the stories didn't make much sense.

Comic Bits Online: What does Cheryl add to the cast that makes her a unique addition to the cast?

Dan Parent: Everybody loves a good villain. And veronica is too complex to be a totally bad girl, so Cheryl fits that bill.

Comic Bits Online: Getting back to the Game Show, who are each of the dates and what makes them unique?

Dan Parent: Austin is an eco-friendly jock, but shows Cheryl a side of life she's not used to.  Brandon is a techno-geek who is Cheryl’s total opposite, but is intrigued by him.  George is a no-nonsense chef, who speaks his mind and won't put up with Cheryl’s antics.  She's attracted to him because he's one guy who stands up to her.

Comic Bits Online: Will the winner be featured prominently as a supporting character in the Cheryl Blossom stories going forward?

Dan Parent: That's the idea!

Comic Bits Online: With the stories focusing more on Pembrooke, will we be seeing less of the Riverdale characters in up coming Cheryl stories?

Dan Parent: I like the classic Riverdale vs. Pembrooke battles.  So I don't think we'll be seeing less of the characters, just in different settings.

Comic Bits Online: After the "You Pick Cheryl's Date" storyline what is planned next?

Dan Parent: We want to use that character, plus continue with the storyline planned for Cheryl in 2009.  But we don't want to give away that scoop just yet!

Comic Bits Online: Is there any chance for Cheryl to get her own comic back?

Dan Parent: That would be great.  It all depends on response to these current books.  She did support her own books for awhile back in the nineties, so you never know.

Play Day! Custom Marvel Legends! 3D Prints and Paints for a 6-Inch Displ...

Comic Bits Online Q&A Paul Kupperberg:

 I was checking old documents in my email folders and came across some from Archie Comics that I did in the early 200s. They were posted on the old site that vanished in 2011 so I thought why lose them forever!

To be honest I have done so many interviews that a few I found I could not even remember!!

This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.Attribution: Luigi Novi

Paul Kupperberg, a long time DC editor, has put on his freelancer hat and headed to Riverdale to spend time with Archie & Friends. In between assignments Paul had time for an international chat with his UK fans at Comic Bits Online.

Comic Bits Online: I have to ask, do you prefer Betty or Veronica?

Paul Kupperberg: Betty. Veronica reminds me too much of my first wife.

Comic Bits Online: What's it like helping Archie live with that choice?

Paul Kupperberg: It’s great! It’s been a long time since I wrote an extended melodrama like this... really, the last time I had this much emotional intensity writing a character was during my run on Vigilante for DC in the mid-1980s... I have gotten choked up writing certain scenes. Being involved with these guys at this level—especially seeing as I’ve been reading them for almost half a century—there’s a real emotional involvement that develops. Vigilante was a lot more intense for different reasons, obviously. I mean, there’s hardly any gunfire in the LIFE WITH ARCHIE series. Anyway, I really enjoy getting this deep into the characters and their lives.

Comic Bits Online: Ultimately, do you think this series shows that either Betty or Veronica would have been a good choice for Archie, or does it show that either way Archie would face struggles and challenges?

Paul Kupperberg: It shows both, really. Ultimately, they really ARE a love triangle because the feelings are genuine all around. Archie does love both of them, depending on which one he happens to be with, and Betty and Veronica are able to stay friends in spite of the competition over Archie because they truly are BFFs. And every couple faces challenges and struggles, even the ones who are perfectly matched. Relationships are complicated and I’m trying to show that, but the very loose themes I’ve been keeping in mind writing these series are, for the Veronica story line, “Money can’t buy happiness,” and for Betty’s, “Love conquers all.” I guess they’re really the same thing, when you get right down to it, just approached from different directions.

Comic Bits Online: You are following Michael Uslan on the series; what were you told you had to do with the characters?

Paul Kupperberg: Only in a broad-strokes kind of way, in that Michael laid out the overall stories of Archie’s marriages in the miniseries. He also wrote an overview for the first six-issue story arcs, which he launched in the first issue of LIFE WITH ARCHIE. But it was left to me to break down the overview and work out the HOW and WHY of the actions. Michael left me a remarkably rich source of ideas to springboard off of, and I hope I’ve been able to keep faithful to those ideas while running with them in my own way.

Comic Bits Online: What were you told you couldn't do?

Paul Kupperberg: There were no restrictions placed on me. So far, Victor and everyone have been pretty pleased with everything I’ve thrown their way.

Comic Bits Online: What do you think it is that has made Archie so popular for 70 years?

Paul Kupperberg: Because for all the goofiness, Archie and the gang are based in reality. For all the outlandishness, readers have always been able to relate to them—I was 13 or so in the 1960s when I went through a really intense period of reading and collecting Archie comics. Aside from them always being well written and drawn, I think I read Archie because he was an inspirational character...just a few years older than me, but a cool kid among the cool kids in high school, where I was soon going to be. Girls read Archie because they wanted to be Veronica or Betty. Not that we’re conscious of any of this at the time, but Archie always stayed true to that point of view.

Comic Bits Online: How do you capture that magic and make it fresh and exciting for a new audience?

Paul Kupperberg: Fortunately, I’m working on a project that’s a fresh take on the old magic, so it starts off exciting. I mean, just the idea that THE QUESTION you asked me right at the top of the interview, “Betty or Veronica?”, is finally answered, even if the answer is “Both!” You actually get to see what life WILL be like for them when they get married...whichever one he marries! And, unless I’m mistaken, this is also the first time in Archie’s history that a title has ever been continuity driven. Plus, there’s the magazine format... and Norm Breyfogle’s art! Look, you know his straight superhero stuff, but he has so nailed the Archie look without losing his own very distinctive style. He’s a superhero artist! He’s cartoonish! Fortunately, he’s both. Yeah, the more I think about it, the more there is to be excited about!

Comic Bits Online: LIFE WITH ARCHIE is in Magazine format instead of comic size; does this attract a different age group?

Paul Kupperberg: Man, I hope so! I understand LIFE WITH ARCHIE is going to be available in a lot of different outlets, over and above the usual comic shops... places like Toys R Us and Walmart, where they’ll be accessible to readers who don’t frequent comic shops.

Comic Bits Online: As a result, do you adjust your storytelling?

Paul Kupperberg: No, not too much. On the one hand, I try to keep the vocabulary relatively simple, but on the other, I’m telling the stories I’m telling. I think there’s plenty enough depth there to keep the older readers interested, but nothing that interferes with an adolescent’s understanding of the story.

Comic Bits Online: Archie has been the perennial teenager, giving generations a look at what the perfect High School experience would look like. What does the twenty-something Archie show his readers?

Paul Kupperberg: Twenty-something Archie shows his readers that everybody has to grow up sooner or later, but it’s all going to be okay with a little help from your friends.

Cinebook Newsletter 213 - September 2025

 To display this email in a browser, please click here

Dear Reader, This month, we’re delighted to see some old friends return, each with their dash of novelty added to absolute classics. Take the latest Blake & Mortimer, for example. A classic series, and a plot that’s anchored in one of the most timeless classics of all – Arthurian legends! Don’t worry, though. There’s nothing hackneyed about this adventure, and the authors find a way to deliver something that feels comfortably familiar AND fresh and original at the same time. Not an easy task! This is also your chance to enjoy the wonderful art of the late, lamented André Juillard, as this was his last book before he passed last year. Our other offering is a new edition of Volume 4 of the Lucky Luke Complete Collection. You’ll find it augmented with 48 pages – a whole comic’s worth! – of bonus material: interviews, essays, illustrations, historical and biographical notes … Everything a true fan needs to improve their knowledge of one of the most seminal comic series in the world. Plus, of course, three titles collected in one hardback volume – two of them penned by the legendary René Goscinny himself! September with Cinebook – the Classical Age! Blake & Mortimer 30 André Juillard & Yves Sente Signed: Olrik A group demanding the independence of Cornwall has committed several attacks in Britain. Captain Blake, tasked with securing the site of an official visit by Prince Charles in Cornwall, must contend with the locals’ sympathies towards the secessionists and their leader, a mysterious High Druid … Read more Lucky Luke Morris & René Goscinny The Complete Collection 4 – New Edition This new edition of the fourth volume of the ‘Complete Collection’ now includes 48 pages of extra material – articles, interviews and illustrations – as well as 12 pages of short stories. A true gold mine for fans of the Lonesome Cowboy! … Read more No new titles available in Previews in October. North-American readers, to locate a comic book shop near you that stocks or can order these titles and many more, use this handy Read more   Or, if you're a retailer yourself, please go to: Read more Blake & Mortimer 30 Signed: Olrik Lucky Luke The Complete Collection 4 – New Edition Saturday and Sunday, 27 & 28 September, 2025: Cinebook will exhibit at the Lakes International Comic Arts Festival in Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria; table 1 of the Lakeside Comics Marketplace. Lakeside Comics Marketplace 2025 | Lakes International Comic Art Festival

How Comic Books Went From Cheap To Insanely Expensive

How Many Panels? How Many Pages?

 

 In the last post I showed how I draw panels "off page" so to speak.

14 panels for the start of the story make up 4 pages -though I may add an extra panel or two.  The end sequence consists of 10 panels and make 4 pages. Again an extra one or two panels may be added but there was a reason for drawing this end sequence quickly.

The story I had set out in my head to end this Earth Strike story (published in 1987) was a simple out-and-out fight against the villains and their hordes. However, I then realised I had a change to make to add a twist to that. 

Whoa! Not done yet.  You see at about 0400hrs one morning this week I was trying to numb my brain with You Tube when a whole new ending/explanation came into my head (as usual a fully drawn concept in my head). Now there are a couple twists and turns but this new ending added a slightly darker and more complicated slant.

I pencilled the panels roughly and added in the unedited dialogue because if I did not this supposed 20 pager might end up like The Green Skies where there was a mapped out but unwritten story that went into notes that eventually fell aside as I realised that changes to changes were a waste of time as when I started drawing things changed from panel to panel and page to page so that even the end was not one of the original three endings I had mapped out -in fact I did not really want the ending that happened because of what it meant for a character I really grew attached to.

At least with the end sequence of the SGG story roughly laid out I can try to make it the real final ending so it isn't just another super villain versus super hero end. 

I ought to add that this is the page count IF I work on A3 sheets. If I work (paste up) on A4 you can double the page count.

Draw, Cut, Paste

 

If people have seen past posts on how I work they will know that, due to the eye problem, I moved to drawing from A3 paper to A4.  I also like drawing panels and then then cutting and pasting them onto A3 which gives you a lot of opportunity to design a page.  

Sales being what they are my cranky old Mustek A3 scanner cannot be replaced but that does not mean I cannot draw, cut and paste to A4 instead. Currently drawing panels on A4 copier paper to cut and paste onto A4 (unless I can repair the A3 scanner).  

My intention is to paste the panels on a page with background of some type and these unfinished SGG Earth Strike part 2 panels should work well with that and, no, I do not use a computer for art and so, especially as I do not have Adobe, I do not scan and paste to a page on that.

 I like the feel and look of the ink on paper and how the mind (I still about have one) can design a page "as you go along" and as an Independent publisher you can experiment. It is what I miss about the seat-of-your-pants 1980s where people like Myra Hancock produced lino cut art zines or Ben Dilworth experimenting with different paper types, printing on acetate or even using templates and auto car spray paint to put covers together.  I'm getting old and I have a HUGE box of 1980s zines that can still inspire since the 1980s were the Small Press Golden Age.