Judge-Tutor Semple Blog

[Bat King]

A few changes are happening on my Blog.

For one thing I'll be recommencing reviewing the Prog, though my subscription copy didn't arrive this weekend . I'll start though with a few articles about the ongoing stories - starting with Judge Dredd: Titan and then Strontium Dog: Dogs of War (yes I know that isn't the full title, I usually use the full titles).

Another change is that there will be an increase in reviews of IDW books as I'm now on their media list. You can see my latest review of one of their titles Gateway on my blog now.

So you'll see Previews and News about some of their books too.

I'll be continuing to review some of books that 2000AD creators work on outside 2000AD & the Megazine. That obviously includes my ongoing reviews of Death Sentence.

I'm not on Image or Boom! media lists yet but it seems most the comics I buy these days are theirs. So you may see more reviews of their books.

I have a review in the works for Paragon from Davey Candlish. I want to continue to review small press books so if you want a review let me know.

I'm also looking at doing more interviews. I'll be working on one I've lined up recently on Sunday Afternoon. Interviews take quite a lot of time putting together so not sure when it will be up. I'm not saying who it is yet either - but it is regarding a 2000AD story.

If anyone wants to be interviewed let me know and I'll look in to it...

I also hope to do a few more Nature articles and some more History ones. Hopefully some Jousting reports too... though likely only from Royal Armouries Leeds. If you missed it I recently interviewed Rebellion CEO Jason Kingsley about his Jousting career - read that here.

[TordelBack]

Looks like the reviewing game is really taking off for you, Bat King - well done.

[Mabs]

I'm such a lazy arse I really must start getting my blog out there. Seeing as I do a lot of reviews for trades and comics I think I should start getting some publishers to add me to their list.

Any advice on the following would be appreciated:

A) How to get more hits - would Twitter be a good route?

B) How to get publishers to add me to their reviewer list - how do I go about doing that? Just drop them an e-mail? What is your best method, Bat King?

Cheers.

[Bat King]

Twitter certainly helps. I also set up a Facebook Page but it has less folk on than my Twitter.

Yes I e-mail the Publishers direct. A quick polite e-mail is usually enough. A link to the Blog so they can look to see you aren't fibbing that you write reviews.

Add the Publishers to your Twitter. Mention them in your Tweets and mention Creators. I don't follow all Creators I've reviewed. that gets BUSY. I follow some of my faves.

For books I often go direct to the Author if I want details. Though I do less book reviews.

Videos such as Judge Minty and Daemonium - yes I know they are the only ones I've really done - I go direct to the makers. Minty was one of the main things that enthused me to get involved in this. Daemonium is amazing fun due to the language difference, their English beats my Spanish.

My nature reviews I have gone direct to Producers. Lovely folk. A Russian charity send people my way to read about Siberian (or Amur) Tigers.

People I review are great. They like the fact someone is showing interest. They re-tweet your links. They put links on their website.

Interviews vary. Some people I have approached directly, such as Steve Sterlacchini, Steve Green and Integra. Integra I interviewed as soon as I heard the film was going online, Steve Green I interviewed while he was actually encoding & uploading it to You Tube (he was mostly watching the ptogress bar) and Edmind Dehn I interviewed on the Bank Holiday Monday it was released in. Those three interviews were all arranged and done in a day (the first two in a few hours).

The Jousting I am happy to say Royal Armouries liked what they saw and ended up asking me to do things. They invited me to go Behind the Scenes, I didn't ask. That was huge fun, I was amazed when they asked me to give out the main prize. I love Jousting, which is why I interviewed Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion about Jousting & not 2000AD or Video Games etc.

The Jousting put me in touch with Atkinson Action Horses and I've done a few reviews of them. They supply the horses to Royal Armouries and other events. They also do films & tv. One of them was stunt double for Merlin in the Merlin TV series for example. That's fun and some details in what I write about them are gathered in the stable-yard at the Armouries. I always chat to them after the show.

So yeah. It is a lot of plugging away. A lot of writing e-mails that don't always get replies - Marvel!!.

But it also gets you some fun online friends too! Jousters, Actors, Comic creators, Authors. OK we don't 'do lunch'... well not yet

Oh the band King Nothing. I do go boozing with them - my Nephew is the Bassist.

[Bat King]

Oh I only mentioned some of the comic Interviews... Others I've done after Publishers have asked me if I'd like to do. So far only Rebellion, interviews fit that. There are a couple of interviews in Publisher's hands for print though that I was asked to do by said Publisher - that was huge fun too.

[Mabs]

Thanks for the helpful tips, Bat King. I shall certainly take them on board! 

[Bat King]

No worries Mabs!

Though do I want the competition??? You don't intend to review Jousting do you?

[Mabs]

No worries Mabs!

Though do I want the competition??? You don't intend to review Jousting do you?

Lol. No! I don't know much about Jousting sadly!

I love the diversity in your blog, it's not just about comics but games, interviews, Jousting! I think that's really cool. I've also tried to include some other stuff in my blogs too, one or two film reviews, some art etc.

[Bat King]

I write on another blog too Mabs, mostly rewrites of articles from my blog.

They are mostly Music and Art. If you are interested in reposting on there I can give you more details and put you in touch with the head guy.

DM me on Twitter if interested.