My Excess Of David Gordon For Tuesday!

I posted the piece about David Gordon's Chang3lings dolls the other day and here are some others I like!

But the man (and his team because if I keep forgetting to mention Lesley things might get...."messy") is not just skilled at producing these one off dolls or ones made-to-order, he is, as I've written before, a fantastic artist so how about a couple of reminders?

 My Excess: David Gordon's Groove Tube Memories 2

By Dave Gordon

Preview

A4

Paperback, 

114 Pages 

B&W

Price: £9.99 (excl. VAT)

Ships in 3-5 business days.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/myexcess 

 

 CHECK OUT PREVIEW ART PAGES ON THE WEBSITE!

 

Volume 2 of Dave Gordon's movie and tv related sketchbook. Bringing to life characters from everything from The Wizard of Oz to Guardians of the Galaxy

I'll say this, David Gordon can certainly draw hair!  No joke.  Getting hair to actually look like hair is something even  some of the best comic artists fell short on.  Farrah Fawcett, Cheryl Ladd, Traci Lords (if you have no idea who Traci Lords is...you are very innocent!), Toni Basil -now THERE is a memory! Summer Glau, Carrie Fisher -there are some hair styles and wonderfully rendered.

Everyone knows I'm crap at remembering names, right?  That made it slightly worse for me because I recognised every image on the pages barring one (I have no idea who Traci Lords is) and those whose names are embedded no problem.  But others my head flashed up images from TV and movies and I sat like a dope thinking "Awww, what is her name? She was in--?" ahem.  I didn't notice all the images are identified at the bottom of the page.

I'm old -right!

I think you have images in here for horror, comedy, Sci fi and other genre fans (I really have no idea where to put Traci Lords...): Conan, Alien, Farscape (a great gallery!!) , Blade Runner, Blake 7, Space 1999, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Videodrome, Chucky, Star Wars -quite a gallery- Giger, DeVito (Penguin) and Pfeiffer (Catwoman), Mad Max (the original of course), Big Trouble In Little China, Charlie's Angels, Superman (christopher Reeves of course) and Zod (Stamp), Super Girl (Helen -sigh-Slater), Terminator, Ghost-Busters, a nice Dr Who gallery, Yul Brynner (West World), Jeff Bridges, Divine (Harris Glenn Milstead), David Bowie, John Lennon, Toyah Wilcox, Kate Bush, Betty Grable, Heddy Lamarr, Judy Garland, Greta Garbo (oooh), Cary Grant, Kenny Everett, Joan Rivers, Benny Hill and more.

This really is an incredible "Memory" book.  And, if you don't want to commission an illo, then scan and print the one you want from here and put it on a black border...instant art that people WILL comment on. But they'll comment more if it's a commission piece....

I've gone through this book FIVE times and I only got it yesterday!  It has put a few smiles on my face which is a rarity these days.

David Gordon is just so ****** talented.  There are other books on his store front and the powerful Cosmic Oddity I will NEVER stop pushing at people -a review....

 I've Highly Recommended This On Amazon And I Do The Same Here: Dave -A Cosmic Oddity

David Gordon

MyExcess

A4
Black & White
Paperback, 

106 Pages

Preview

Price: £12.99

Ships in 3–5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dave-gordon/dave-cosmic-oddity/paperback/product-21852269.html

and Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Dave-Cosmic-Oddity-Gordon/dp/1326048422/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1428595842&sr=1-1&keywords=Dave+-A+cosmic+oddity

The biography of Dave Gordon, often called "the UK's Manara". Detailing Dave's origins and relationships, this is an insight into one of UK comicdoms best and most under-rated creators.

I got this book handed to me by the postman (mailman if you are American) at 1300 hrs and by 1500 hrs I had read it through.

This is David Gordon -the UKs very own Milo Manara- telling his story.  From his birth and adoption, three days later , through family life, school, university, work and later trying to contact his birth mother.

Dave takes us through his life and troubled relationships with himself (2014) narrating and flashback images and sequences of events.  The style he uses in this book, being honest here, I saw at a glance and thought "not sure about this".  However, I realised the clever way the art had been designed and drawn -photos, etc.- actually worked. Even the cartoony flashback-to-situation pages (see below).

What can I write about this?  Gritty -yes.  Factual and being brutally honest and to be equally honest here I do not think I'd have the guts to quite literally open up my chest and let some of these experiences out.  Being pushed away by his adopted family is bad enough but then having to go through his (adoption) father dying of cancer -bad enough.  But we then learn about the abusive relationships (physical and emotional).

There is still the matter of his birth mother and how that might end.  However, Dave is now happily in a relationship with Lesley (I've met her and she seems quite nice for a prison officer -not even a moustache!) and that gives us a sort of happy ending.  But, oh boy, what happened before.

Let me tell you something.  For years I was also an agent for comic creators.  You see good art, you know the writers or artists are reliable so, as an agent you put a spin on things to sell the work.  I've read and reviewed comics and graphic novels for publications and online now for over 30 years.  I see a couple hundred books of one sort or another a year -the crammed bookshelves and floors attest to that.

I cannot think of one book where a creator has taken us through his personal life and things have been so dark and gut-wrenching -even preparing for suicide- that I have said out loud "F***!" so many times. My sister even said "What are you swearing at?"

If this were an independent film it would be getting some award.  A publisher should be paying Gordon to allow them to publish this!  This is superbly written -and it must have taken a lot of thought to put this together without going over the top or exaggerating.  To make it a sequential story interspersed with illustrated text pieces....this is truly what Will Eisner described what graphic novels should be: telling a true and honest story that grabs the reader and pulls them in.

You people out there deciding who gets nominated for an Eagle Award should read this book.

This book should NOT be ignored. If you think "I'll buy just one Independent book...." then PLEASE make it this.

The book has surprised and shocked me - I have heard some snippets over the years but never the whole story.  In fact, you really need to read it yourself because nothing I write here can even adequately do it justice.

 
And just in case I did not make it clear: I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND YOU REALLY OUGHT TO BUY A COPY!!!

And check out Book 1 of Groove Tube Memories. Plain lovely!

Oh, and if you miss out on these books you may well need to see a psychiatrist.

You Are About To Hear An Explosion In A Tiny Part Of The Comic World

 
And I am NOT kidding.

This is the booki I am talking about and its cheaper than Fantagraphics will be offering it, I hear.

http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/hoopercomicsuk?searchTerms=maeve

Now, I am not overly proud that I wrote a best-selling porn erotic comic and graphic novel. But, as a jobbing writer I had to eat and pay bills and I was young and innocent.

Fantagraphic Books/Eros Comix told myself, the later Art Wetherell and David Gordon that our books, Two Hot Girls On A Hot Summer's Night and my collaboration with David Gordon, Maeve, had "had their day" some years back and I've not heard from them in years.

Now, after Dave and I have privately republished the book (ALL RIGHTS are OURS and Fantagraphics were told) I get this message from someone:

"Hi, Tel. Just thought you might like to know (If you didn't already) that according to the latest issue of "Previews" Fantagraphics are putting out "Maeve" (Again?). How much would they owe you for this?" 

Let me make this VERY clear, we are no longer in the pre-computer age when Fantagraphics could do things without us knowing. Fantagraphics HAS NOT been in touch with myself or David Gordon and have NOT re-negotiated any new contract for a one off reprint or royalties deal and we are NOT going to go with the extremely poor1990s deal. In 2005 Kim Thomson, co-publisher, made it very clear to me in an email that the books had "had their day"

So if -IF- this is true Fantagraphics had best get their asses in touch with us because they re-publish we sue and I am going to ask for a tax audit on all the sales that were "poor" and we got little money for.

And let me put this as clearly as I can: both myself and Dave would ONLY grant permission for a one-off reprint and anything after that would require re-negotiation again based on audited sales figures.

You simply cannot do this in this day and age. Just decide to publish someones work without asking them or negotiating.  European, UK and even US law makes that very VERY clear.

As you'll see below, it appears that Fantagraphics as Eros, NEVER stopped publishing the book. They just never paid David Gordon or myself. This is now going legal.

 They've even touched up the cover.
........................................................................................................................................................ 

   

Writer: Terry Hooper   Artist: David Gordon

Paperback, 

black and white

87 Pages

Price: £8.00

Ships in 3–5 business days

Maeve longs for the exciting, fast-paced life of the big city. However, she has a greater destiny ahead of her (see The Darke Child). While travelling on a train, Maeve is attacked by a servant of The Dark Disciple but is rescued in time by none other than M and J (Two Hot Girls On A Hot Summers Night). 

 The duo have been guided there by the goddess and Maeve takes refuge with them. “Communing” with a pagan witch wasn’t enough and, under M and Js tutelage, Maeve finds herself in Otherworld and becoming lover of the goddess herself. Drawn by “The British Manara”, David Gordon, this book abounds in adult adventures in bondage and much much more. STRICTLY ADULTS ONLY

Major Feature -CHANG3LINGS At The Edinburgh Comic Con

Above: A little over 2 feet (60cms) tall with resin wings.  EVERYTHING hand-crafted by Chang3lings.

Yes, the Edinburgh con is this weekend and Dave Gordon of Chang3lings says:

"Check out page 8 Chang31ings will be tables R23 R24 R25...soooooo exciting!"

 Above the cover to the Chang3lings catalogue.  As you can see, they do not just make one off exclusive dolls but also sell quality vintage action figures -Cyborg, Muton, Android and my favourites -Micronauts!

Check out the unique figure below. It'll be at the ECC this weekend.

 Chang3lings is one of the most under-rated UK pop culture businesses and you can meet up with David Gordon, who is also a very talented graphic novelist (check out Cosmic Oddity).

I love Winged Greenie below -over 2 feet tall which has an option for bird-like feet/claws.



When you talk about investment potential it usually involves comics.  Comics produced in their thousands and 99.1% of all those copies of a book will need to be destroyed before yours is worth anything.  But the action figure and doll market is strong.  Guess what? all of Chang3lings dolls are unique.  Just one of each. One of each.

In case that did not sink in let me explain it.  Chang3lings will make a custom made figure or sell a figure of which there will only ever be one.  Not duplicatable.

You would own the only one of its kind.  Hopefully treasure and love it but, if you ever had to sell then that figure is unique.  No "Oh, well I think I saw one cheaper at---" because there are no other copies/duplicates.

But look at it another way, and I've seen some of these first hand and no photo really does them justice.  There are different scale sizes and you can see the much chunkier me of a few years back at the Bristol Comic Expo at David Gordon's table with a display of dolls.

And below: same event but with the legend that is David Gordon (who has added considerable locks to his hair since this photo....oh, and someone eating a bacon butty -in front of a vegetarian. I ask you!

So here's the pdf ECC brochure link.

***ECC 2016 CON BOOKLET with floor plan***

Although we will have printed versions at the event, here is a .pdf of our 2016 booklet* for those who would prefer a digital copy for their phone/tablet.

*All details were correct at time of going to print.

http://www.herocomicshop.com/HEROCON/SBA/ECC2016FINALWEB.pdf

Remember that there is a link to the right of page for Chang3lings and they have now been named "The UKs Premier Exclusive Figure" company!

Below: Dave (see -more hair!) and Lynsey at the 2015 ECC with a Chang3lings display -or part of it.

Now, back to the real delights!

When I met Dave, Lesley and Lynsey at the Bristol Expo I got to see how carefully the dolls were put together -everything from eyes (different colours), hair and right down to the clothing and extras that were amazing to see.  Things have moved on since the day of Action Man (GI Joe) outfits and weapons!

The display piece below (NOT completed in this photo) has raised a few comments and interest so go see Chang3lings and the display and buy something...unless you are too stunned by what is on offer!

or how about this......

Yes, the fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith and some bald crook off the TV...but I think the Doctor is far more interested in someone else!  Now come on you Star Wars fans what do you think?

Below: more classic figures. If there is one place you need to go if you are into any scale figures/dolls this weekend it HAS to be Chang3lings at the Edinburgh Comic Con!

And I did say that Dave was an incredible graphic novelist. His Cosmic Oddity was such a revellation to me that I just sat there after finishing reading it.  So, you see a copy grab it because, as I wrote earlier this month, the book deserves an award.

In case you missed that item:

My Excess: Dave -A Cosmic Oddity

A4
Black & White
Paperback, 

106 Pages

Preview

Price: £12.99

Ships in 3–5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dave-gordon/dave-cosmic-oddity/paperback/product-21852269.html

The biography of Dave Gordon, often called the Uk's Manara. Detailing Dave's origins and relationships, this is an insight into one of UK comicdoms creators.

I got this book handed to me by the postman (mailman if you are American) at 1300 hrs and by 1500 hrs I had read it through.

This is David Gordon -the UKs very own Milo Manara- telling his story.  From his birth and adoption three days later through family life, school, university, work and later trying to contact his birth mother -the outcome of which is still currently open.

Dave takes us through his life and troubled relationships with himself (2014) narrating and flashback images and sequences of events.  The style he uses in this book, being honest here, I saw at a glance and thought "not sure about this".  However, I realised the clever way the art had been designed and drawn -photos, etc.- actually worked. Even the cartoony flashback-to-situation pages (see below).

What can I write about this?  Gritty -yes.  Factual and being brutally honest and to be equally honest here I do not think I'd have the guts to quite literally open up my chest and let some of these experiences out.  Being pushed away by his adopted family is bad enough but then having to go through his (adoption) father dying of cancer -bad enough.  But we then learn about the abusive relationships (physical and emotional).

There is still the matter of his birth mother and how that might end.  However, Dave is now happily in a relationship with Lesley (I've met her and she seems quite nice for a prison officer -not even a moustache!) and that gives us a sort of happy ending.  But, oh boy, what happened before.

Let me tell you something.  For years I was also an agent for comic creators.  You see good art, you know the writers or artists are reliable so, as an agent you put a spin on things to sell the work.  I've read and reviewed comics and graphic novels for publications and online now for over 30 years.  I see a couple hundred books of one sort or another a year -the crammed bookshelves and floors attest to that.

I cannot think of one book where a creator has taken us through his personal life and things have been so dark and gut-wrenching -even preparing for suicide- that I have said out loud "F***!" so many times. My sister even said "What are you swearing at?"

If this were an independent film it would be getting some award.  A publisher should be paying Gordon to allow them to publish this!  This is superbly written -and it must have taken a lot of thought to put this together without going over the top or exaggerating.  To make it a sequential story interspersed with illustrated text pieces....this is truly what Will Eisner described what graphic novels should be: telling a true and honest story that grabs the reader and pulls them in.

You people out there deciding who gets nominated for an Eagle Award should read this book.

This book should NOT be ignored. If you think "I'll buy just one Independent book...." then PLEASE make it this.

The book has surprised and shocked me - I have heard some snippets over the years but never the whole story.  In fact, you really need to read it yourself because nothing I write here can even adequately do it justice.

CHANG3LINGS

It was good to hear that Dave Gordon and Chang3lings made some good sales at the Edinburgh comic Con.  

 

It also seems that the UK may be a bit later in catching on but more events seem to be organised around vintage toys of the 1970s and 1980s.  Unfortunately for the Ebay sharks, the aficionados are not gullible and are ignoring the excessive prices asked for common and CHEAP figures and toys. Sadly, I can't get to Warp Zone in London this month. Might be a good thing as an old man rolling about the floor clutching his wallet and screaming "I have no more money!" is a very, uh, embarassing sight.

 

Remember that there is a link to Chang3lings on the right.

I love Winged Greenie below -over 2 feet tall which has an option for bird-like feet/claws.

Above: A little over 2 feet (60cms) tall with resin wings.  EVERYTHING hand-crafted by Chang3lings.

 Above the cover to the Chang3lings catalogue.  As you can see, they do not just make one off exclusive dolls but also sell quality vintage action figures -Cyborg, Muton, Android and my favourites -Micronauts!

Check out the unique figure below.

 Chang3lings is one of the most under-rated UK pop culture businesses and you can meet up with David Gordon, who is also a very talented graphic novelist (check out Cosmic Oddity).

When you talk about investment potential it usually involves comics.  Comics produced in their thousands and 99.1% of all those copies of a book will need to be destroyed before yours is worth anything.  But the action figure and doll market is strong.  

 

Guess what? all of Chang3lings dolls are unique.  Just one of each. One of each.

In case that did not sink in let me explain it.  Chang3lings will make a custom made figure or sell a figure of which there will only ever be one.  Not replicable..

You would own the only one of its kind.  Hopefully treasure and love it but, if you ever had to sell then that figure is unique.  No "Oh, well I think I saw one cheaper at---" because there are no other copies/duplicates.

But look at it another way, and I've seen some of these first hand and no photo really does them justice.  There are different scale sizes and you can see the much chunkier me of a few years back at the Bristol Comic Expo at David Gordon's table with a display of dolls.

Remember that there is a link to the right of page for Chang3lings and they have now been named "The UKs Premier Exclusive Figure" company!

Now, back to the real delights!

When I met Dave, Lesley and Lynsey at the Bristol Expo I got to see how carefully the dolls were put together -everything from eyes (different colours), hair and right down to the clothing and extras that were amazing to see.  Things have moved on since the day of Action Man (GI Joe) outfits and weapons!

The display piece below (NOT completed in this photo) has raised a few comments and interest and resulting in some good sales so it just goes to show what a bit of creative display work can achieve.

or how about this......

Yes, the fourth Doctor and Sarah Jane Smith and some bald crook off the TV...but I think the Doctor is far more interested in someone else!  Now come on you Star Wars fans what do you think?

Below: more classic figures. If there is one place you need to go if you are into any scale figures/dolls this weekend it HAS to be Chang3lings at the Edinburgh Comic Con!

And I did say that Dave was an incredible graphic novelist. His Cosmic Oddity was such a revelation to me that I just sat there after finishing reading it.  So, you see a copy grab it because, as I wrote earlier this month, the book deserves an award.

In case you missed that item:

My Excess: Dave -A Cosmic Oddity

A4
Black & White
Paperback, 

106 Pages

Preview

Price: £12.99

Ships in 3–5 business days
http://www.lulu.com/shop/dave-gordon/dave-cosmic-oddity/paperback/product-21852269.html

The biography of Dave Gordon, often called the Uk's Manara. Detailing Dave's origins and relationships, this is an insight into one of UK comicdoms creators.

I got this book handed to me by the postman (mailman if you are American) at 1300 hrs and by 1500 hrs I had read it through.

This is David Gordon -the UKs very own Milo Manara- telling his story.  From his birth and adoption three days later through family life, school, university, work and later trying to contact his birth mother -the outcome of which is still currently open.

Dave takes us through his life and troubled relationships with himself (2014) narrating and flashback images and sequences of events.  The style he uses in this book, being honest here, I saw at a glance and thought "not sure about this".  However, I realised the clever way the art had been designed and drawn -photos, etc.- actually worked. Even the cartoony flashback-to-situation pages (see below).

What can I write about this?  Gritty -yes.  Factual and being brutally honest and to be equally honest here I do not think I'd have the guts to quite literally open up my chest and let some of these experiences out.  Being pushed away by his adopted family is bad enough but then having to go through his (adoption) father dying of cancer -bad enough.  But we then learn about the abusive relationships (physical and emotional).

There is still the matter of his birth mother and how that might end.  However, Dave is now happily in a relationship with Lesley (I've met her and she seems quite nice for a prison officer -not even a moustache!) and that gives us a sort of happy ending.  But, oh boy, what happened before.

Let me tell you something.  For years I was also an agent for comic creators.  You see good art, you know the writers or artists are reliable so, as an agent you put a spin on things to sell the work.  I've read and reviewed comics and graphic novels for publications and online now for over 30 years.  I see a couple hundred books of one sort or another a year -the crammed bookshelves and floors attest to that.

I cannot think of one book where a creator has taken us through his personal life and things have been so dark and gut-wrenching -even preparing for suicide- that I have said out loud "F***!" so many times. My sister even said "What are you swearing at?"

If this were an independent film it would be getting some award.  A publisher should be paying Gordon to allow them to publish this!  This is superbly written -and it must have taken a lot of thought to put this together without going over the top or exaggerating.  To make it a sequential story interspersed with illustrated text pieces....this is truly what Will Eisner described what graphic novels should be: telling a true and honest story that grabs the reader and pulls them in.

You people out there deciding who gets nominated for an Eagle Award should read this book.

This book should NOT be ignored. If you think "I'll buy just one Independent book...." then PLEASE make it this.

The book has surprised and shocked me - I have heard some snippets over the years but never the whole story.  In fact, you really need to read it yourself because nothing I write here can even adequately do it justice.