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Hi,
hoping somebody here can give me a couple of pointers:

I remember being told that line weights should vary according to whether a figure is in the foreground or background - the suggestion being that a foreground figure being inked with a 3 brush and a background figure being inked with a 1 brush.

So, I was wondering how this changes with the size of the panel eg). would a foreground figure in a quarter page panel have the same line weight as the foreground figure in a full page panel.

Any advice gratefully received.

Cheers

Like all of us on the board, I was gutted to hear about the loss of Alan Grant.

Through his writing, he's been a part of my life for as long as I can remember; I've "known" him longer than any of my friends and most of my family.

As a writer and sub-editor, he was key in shaping the voice of 2000AD. As a writer, in collaboration and individually, the quality of his work ensured that 2000AD had a fanbase and that it survives to this day.

The tributes to passed creators has been an all too common feature in the Meg over the past few years. They're always well written and respectful. I also understand that as a business 2000AD can't always spend all of its time looking back at the hits of yesterday.

However, I hope that it's recognised that Alan's contribution to 2000Ad, to the Megazine (Particularly in the early days) and to British comics in general deserves a greater tribute than general. A couple of years ago, Carlos' contributions were celebrated by a special as well as a Meg floppy of a small selection of his work.

I'd like to respectfully request that Alan's work is celebrated in a similar fashion.

With the loss of Alan Grant recently, I thought it'd be a nice idea to share some of our favourite stories from one of comics' greatest writers.

Solo:

* Alec Trench - ( I know that's not the correct title ) - forty plus years later, this is still one of the very best Future Shocks. All the better for telling a story rather than using the pages to set up a twist/ punch-line.

* BlackHawk - Zog and Ursa are two of the best supporting characters the prog has ever seen.

* Strontium Dog: The Final Solution - it's a greatest hits of Strontium Dog before Alpha bows out and yet it never feels that calculated. It's a great story effortlessly moving between comedy (the phrenologist scene being a favourite), action and allegory. I liked Alpha's death too - neither Grant nor Wagner would ever have  a character go out in a blaze of glory saving the universe but he does get a hero's death of sorts, saving a handful of kids. Feral gets a decent introduction too - it's perhaps a shame that Harrison leaned too hard into making him seem cool.

* Judge Dredd - John Cassavetes is Dead. Just a great one-off.

* Anderson - the Jesus Syndrome - a great tale.

* Young Middenface -  Parcel of Rogues - Whilst Strontium Dog tales of the time were flashbacks due to the necessity of Alpha being dead, the Middenface tales were flashbacks because they had a tale worth telling. It's a shame they stopped as they were building up to something. Another great showcase for what Grant could do so well, skipping from the absurd to the poignant in a moment.

* Samantha Slade - the one with the playing cards - I really liked the revival of Robo-Hunter. It was a lot of fun and was genuinely funny. Brought a lot of balance to the prog.

With others:
* Ace Trucking - Strike. A great character led tale.

* Strontium Dog - Rage

* Judge Dredd - Democracy Now - At the time, a couple of recent Dredds had given the idea that perhaps the writers were running out of ideas for the character. Democracy Now came crashing out of nowhere, fully dispelling those ideas. Dredd had always been a bit of a bastard but there was always some justification for his actions. Not so here, all pretence is dropped and Dredd goes full-on villain. 

* Middenface McNulty - the John McCrea one - just great stuff.

* Outcasts - an unjustly underappreciated classic - one of the best things that Grant and Wagner have written. It also showcases what comics can do that other mediums can't - this would be far too bleak in prose or film but as a comic it's hilarious when it wants to be.

* The Bogie Man - They're all great but I reckon Chinatoon is the best of the bunch.

A pretty good prog - probably my favourite of the year so far.

Having said that, there's a narrowness in the range of styles to both the writing and art which I think is a shame and doesn't play to 2000AD's strength as an anthology. This is probably more noticeable in the art. What excited me as a young reader was that you could have "realistic" artists like Smith or Bolland rubbing shoulders with more "cartoony" artists like Gibson or even highly stylised artists such as O'Neill or Belardinelli. With the writers also seeming to be be making more of the visual potential of comics than I think the prog has done recently, there are some scenes which seem to be crying out for a Weston or a Flint to really bring their full imagination to. That said, all the artists are fine.

Cover: Fine but, as all the regened covers seem to have Cadet Dredd beating up something non-human, nothing special. Would like to see one of the other characters on the cover for a change.

Cadet Dredd. I'm not a fan of the cadet version of Dredd. It's kind of patronising to the regened readers in suggesting that they couldn't handle an adult version of Dredd. Having said that, this is one of the better tales, some neat ideas and a lot of fun.

Lowborn High. There's an odd opening page which I guess serves to connect this episode to others in an arc but which has no connection to anything else. Once that's gone, the story itself is well told and avoids the cliche ending. I do wonder why I'm supposed to root for the main guy though. It's an odd thing to go from watching the news and finding new ways to hate the current P.M. to reading a story where a character who shares so many of his traits is the hero.

Future Shock - there's a neat little universe here which would make a neat series.

Scooter and Jinx - I couldn't recall the set-up for this series? What do the characters do? What kind of creatures are they? Made it difficult to get into the story at first without knowing/recalling these things.

Pandora Perfect - Definite highlight. There's a real craft here in that any of the Pandora stories could have been the pilot episode with everything a new reader needs to know being effortlessly introduced whilst also telling a fast-paced, inventive and humorous story. The characters are very likeable and, in the classic 2000ad way, are not traditional heroes but will do the right thing if need be. Would love to see this take up a semi-permanent residency made up of short tales just Robo-Hunter or Ace Trucking used to.

Original page of artwork by Kevin O'Neill.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194378997082?hash=item2d41e41d5a:g:2nsAAOSw0lNhSQD8

Original page of Robo-Hunter artwork from "Farewell my billions"

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194378992997?hash=item2d41e40d65:g:SLIAAOSwENlhSP7D

A page of Colin MacNeil's painted artwork from "Judge Dredd - In the Chief Judge's Service".

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/194378856232?hash=item2d41e1f728:g:qhsAAOSwutphR6IT

Hi all,
I was wondering if any of you could offer some advice on the best way to post comic artwork so that it doesn't get damaged. Any help would be much appreciated.

Hi,
I'm looking to sell some original art from 2000ad. 1 Metalzoic page by Kev O'Neil, a Gibson Robo-Hunter and a MacNeil colour Dredd.
I've not sold original art before so was hoping one of you guys would be able to give me a couple of pointers about where to go, reasonable prices to expect etc...
Any help much appreciated.

[All proceeds go to fund research by the transplant team at Great ormond Street Hospital.]

Hi all,
the 2011 "Art for Hearts" auction has now started. This summer's auction is of Doctor Who themed original artwork, signed prints and signed caricatures. All proceeds go to fund research by the transplant team at Great ormond Street Hospital.

A different item will be auctioned each week. To kick-start the auction we have a stunning A3 signed print by concept artist Peter McKinstry.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=190554015554

Further deatails are available via the blog:
http://art-for-hearts.blogspot.com/

Many thanks,

Ian

Starting at the end of National Transplant Week ( 11th of July) will be an auction of Doctor Who themed original artwork and signed prints. Artwork has already been donated by artists such as the Megazine's Adrian Salmon as well as Lee Binding, Anthony Dry, Colin Howard, Peter McKinstry, Alister Pearson and  John Ross. Also featuring will be caricatures signed by Stephen Moffatt, David Tennant and Donald Tosh. Further artwork has also been promised.

Prior to the auction the art is currently being exhibited at Orbital Comics in Central London.

All proceeds from this auction will go towards funding research by the transplant team at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Further details are available via the "Art for Hearts" blog: http://art-for-hearts.blogspot.com

and via the Orbital comics website: http://www.orbitalcomics.co.uk

Many thanks,

Ian

The latest Art for Hearts auction starts next Sunday. All proceeds go to fund research done by the organ transplant team at Great Ormond Street Hospital.

This auction's theme is the worlds of DSoctor Who. The first piece auctioned will be an original commission by artist Pete Wallbank - your choice of Doctor, story, monsters...

Further details are available on the blog and facebook group.
http://art-for-hearts.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=130729766955337

Cheers,
Ian

Hi all,
Last year I organised an auction of artwork by children's illustrators to fund research done by the transplant team at Great Ormond Street Hospital. Thanks to any of you who made a bid and to anybody reading who helped promote the auction.

This year I'm changing the themes. There will still be an auction of artwork by children's illustrators but the first auction will be themed on Doctor Who. I've already recieved artwork from comic artist Adrian Salmon, from cover artist Colin Howard, from digital artist Lee Binding and from concept artist Peter McKinstry. More has been promised.

Later on I hope to run an auction of comic artwork. There's already a piece by Barry Kitson on the site. There should also be an auction of cartoons and caricatures. A signed caricature of comedian Richard Herring is up there too.

The blog to promote the auction is found at : http://art-for-hearts.blogspot.com/

Please drop by and take a look.
And of course, if any of you out there are professional artists and would like to donate something please do get in touch.

Many thanks,

Ian

Hi folks.
Long time lurker on this site and did post occasionally a while ago.
Haven't really had the chance to post since my son was born last year and contracted a virus which led to him having a heart transplant at four weeks.

To raise funds for research done by the transplant team at Great Ormond Street Hospital I've organised an auction of original artwork on Ebay for the start of November.
I hope you'll forgive me posting here as the art isn't comic related but is by children's book illustrators including Korky Paul, Lynne Chapman and An Vrombaut. However, I do know that there is an interest in original artwork and the auction is for a worthwhile cause.

For all the information please visit the blog publicising the auction at:

http://art-for-hearts.blogspot.com

Many thanks,

Ian

Hi folks,

Occasional poster here and wondering if I could pimp my new collection of cartoons, "Wet Paint". It's selling for only £2 and all proceeds are going to the Big Issue Foundation.
If you want to take a look at some of the cartoons in it please visit my website at www.ianstacey.net. and look in the "cartoon" section. details on how to get a copy are on the "shop" section.
If you're in London you could also pick up a copy at Orbital comics, Mighty world of comicana or Gosh.

Cheers,

Ian

Am I the first to bag the new issue thread? Wasn't expecting to see this one in the shops yet.
Stront and Stickleback continue to do the biz with a nice Dredd tale by Grant and Roach. Would be nice to have a little less exposition in Shakara - though the art is fab. Kingdom's okay, though I feel this episode could have easily been squeezed into the last.

- huey

Ever since I've lurked on the board there's been a lot of debate about the writers that don't "get" Dredd. Thought it'd be interesting to see what folks thought werethe non- Wagner Dredds that "worked". Here's a few of my favs in no particular order with reasons why.

- Anything by Alan Grant. I know a lot of his recent stuff hasn't gone down well with some folks. Not me. But since the split I think he's done some fantastic Dredd work. Round about the early 600s it was interesting to see him and Wagner alternate pretty much 50/50.
- " Monkey on my back" (Garth Ennis).
- " Midnight kiss" ( Garth Ennis. Garth seemed to get a lot of stick for following the Wagner/Dredd template with his early stuff. Ths is interesting as nowadays you get stick if you stray away from it. I think these two managed to be faithful to the story whilst casting Dreddin the role of hero.
- "Judgment day" ( Garth Ennis) Only crossover strip which didn't feel forced or twisted out of shape.
- that one with the flyng car (John Smith). A great villain and faithful to the caracter whilst maintaining John Smith's prety bleak outlook.
- The first Dredd/devlin cross-over. The only Dredd cross-over which didn't fllow the obligatory " I hate you" followed by grudging respect path.
- The first Dredd/ Koburn story. A Rennie script with no loose ends!
- The time fugitive stries (Edginton & D'Israeli). Lots of fun!
- That Millar story where those Judges start to ac out their fantasies including projecting rude messages onto the moon. Stupid that Dredd kills them rather than tries to capture them for future re-habilitation, but there were some fun moments.
- All the early Mills ones.

Anyroad, there's some of my faves. What are yours?

- Huey

I know a lot of you on the messageboard won't be upset about this, but in an interview in a Sunday paper RTD hints that he may be moving on from Doctor who shortly.

-Huey