Sketches IV

SPX

I'm back from SPX, although my luggage isn't yet; hoping that arrives before I'm old and grey(er). As usual, I had a fantastic time, made some friends, caught up with some old ones, and (for once) made some money! This is not always a fait accompli when I attend shows in the US (or here in the UK, come to that), but this year I had a new book, which I'm sure helped enormously.

Huge thanks to everyone who helps make SPX the invigorating, fabulous show it is – organisers, volunteers, guests, exhibitors and attendees, and the hotel staff for putting up with us all. Particular thanks to Warren Bernard for his hospitality. I'd love to give shout-outs to everyone I encountered who made the weekend memorable for me, but I'd just sound like the most appalling name-dropper. You all know who you are. If a meteor landed on that hotel that weekend, comics would lose a couple of generations of its finest talents.

Here's one of the sketches I did at the show. I'll leak out some more over the next few days.

Buster Keaton Forever

Buster

Happy Daddy

I'm a very proud daddy this week. My seven-year-old daughter asked if she could watch a DVD "for grownups". Once my heart had started again, I showed her Buster Keaton's Steamboat Bill Jr -- and she loved it. And my four-year-old son has been getting me to make pencil sketches for him to trace over for the past few days, essentially so he can practise inking; he calls it "tracing", but that's effectively what he's doing. So, yay kids! I've posted this picture once before, but I thought it deserved a return engagement.

Frankenstein Junior

A few years ago I was asked to contribute an opening panel for a Halloween comics competition, the idea being that the entrants would spin off their own comic strips from the splash panel I provided. There were some excellent entries, really funny ones. I kind of like this picture in isolation, though.