Into hibernation...

This is pretty much it for the year. It's getting colder, night comes earlier in the evenings, and there's no events going on for a good few months now. It's time to huddle by the fire and get comfy for the winter.

As it's a long stretch of time I'm going to try and use it to make something epic. As such, Beholder of the Eye 2 is now deeply in the works. I actually started pencilling in the summer, but only recenrly has it started to get scanned and inked on computer. Pending launch is The Thing in March, so it's a little (VERY!) early to speak of real details. Also, the pencils still haven't been completed so I can't confirm a final page count, but it's definitely going to bigger than the first one.

I'm really trying to up my game with this one, so while it's a long way off please look forward to it! :-)

Bored waiting between now and then? You can follow me on twitter if you like...

Japanofail 2 available to buy online!

I've just put Japanofail 2 onto my little shop-blog site. The site doesn't look very pretty, but it's sturdy and does the job. ^^ If there's anyone out there interested in buying my comics but can't make it to any events then this is your best bet (you'll need Paypal though):

http://www.ushioshop.blogspot.com/

Additionally, I won't be at any more events until next March, so the extra cost of postage against an otherwise 4-5 month wait might be worth considering.

Also some awesome news. An entry on The Guardian website covers last weekend's Comica Comiket event, and in the last paragraph I get a mention for Japanofail! :3 This makes me really happy - I just need to think of more ideas for issue 3 now!

Comica Comiket 2009 report!

So Comica Comiket went down yesterday - and it was a lot of fun! The room for the venue was compact, but everyone was very nice and some laughs were had. Instead of my usual table photo, I took a picture of something different that I've not experienced anywhere else.

Everyone exhibiting got given a numbered slip of paper with a random quote on it, a stick of charcoal and intructions to go out and fill your assigned spot as you saw fit. The quote I got was: "You think this is our first argument? Dan living with him you don't know what it's like..." Didn't really know what to make of it - what would you have drawn? o_o; All the quotes were from the same graphic novel (I think it was Watchmen) and everyone went out and did their thing.

It was kind of weird having to draw with other people around, but as everyone was doing it it was easier to get in and out ninja style without drawing too much attention. ^^ I came up with an angsty shojo thing for fun. It was cool to see just how varied all the other artists' drawings were, so it's a pretty neat idea which was fun thing to be a part of - will probably go again if there's half a chance. ^^

This is what I came up with:

A couple of things

Just a last minute reminder for anyone in London tomorrow that from between 1pm and 6pm tomorrow afternoon, I'll be selling my comics at the ICA at the Comica Comkiet Small Press and Self-Publisers Fair. This will be my last event this year (the next one being The Thing at Mile End in March). If anyone happens to be there - feel free to come over and say hi! ^^

Also in other news: Japanofail just celebrated hitting 50 pages online! Yay!

Lots of things to share! ^^

Happy Halloween folks! :3 Got three big news things to share today so it's all going on! :D

Firstly - A community event on the sweatdrop forums of a 'Serect Satan' is happening today where everyone puts their names into a hat and does a drawing for another member. The above drawing is my present for fellow member Alpoynter. I also recieved a great picture from Gothich_Madines_ who drew me a zombie-filled party. Rather than rip her work for the blog, you can see it on this thread:
http://www.sweatdrop.com/forum/showt...d=1#post180998

Great stuff all round - woot!

Next - One of my very early comic strips has seen print in the UK Anime Club magazine! They guys over at Anime Connect have been kind enough to be the host of Otaku Bytes - a page of two 4koma strips in a similar vein to Japanofail. I'm hoping to have a page in the new issue as well, so if anyone's a member of the club please look out for it! ^^

Last, but my no means least - I should be attending a new event... next week! 0_0;

I'm a newbie to the self-publishing scene, and so only heard of this event for the first time a few days ago, but the ICA will be holding a comic market next Sunday called Comica Comkiet. The ICA is near Charing Cross station in London, and the doors for the event will be open 1-6p.m. on Sunday 8th November. Only just applied for a spot there at the last minute - but should be good to be there will all my comics amongst a mixture of comickers of varying styles. Should be fun!

October Expo 2009 Report

So I just got back from the Expo a little while ago... and look a bit worse for wear.

I always forget just how much energy the event drains from you. Saturday was really rough and in all honesty I struggled to keep up with all the people coming to my table, the packed aisles of cosplayers and the nearby events stage running karaoke, Taiko drums and Parapara dancing throughout the day. Quite a coincidence that I put a Parapara display on my table which brought a few people over, but the price was hearing a techno version of the Evangelion theme many, many times! (it's still in my head @_@;)

So I went into Sunday a weakened state, but more mentally prepared. From it I somehow caught a second wind come the late afternoon. Sorry Saturday folks, but the shiny, happy Ushio was only around on Sunday! Still having not learned my lesson from last May, I'll have to try even harder to build up my strength for future events in order to talk properly to my awesome readers.

Quite a few people stopped by and I'm glad that so many of you were willing to give my work a go, and am especially happy for those who liked it enough to come back for more! XD Japanofail sold much more than the rest, with the second edition topping the sales by a margin I frankly did not expect.

Was also very cool to hear a couple of people asking after Beholder of the Eye 2 - you're a hardcore little group and will do my best to get it done for the next show. ^_~ It's currently in the pencil stages so it's all under way. I'm trying to make it as badass as possible with all the dramas so please look forward to it!

Overall it was rough, but ultimately rewarding. Just give me a while to recover and will then start getting ready for the next event: The UK Web and Mini Comix Thing in March next year! (I'm on table 32 listed as Japanofail, lol)

Japanofail 2 is here!

Because my printer is awesomely reliable and lenient to me throwing stuff at them at the last minute - the hardcopies of Japanofail 2 landed on my doorstep today and so therefore will definitely be available come the Expo! XD

They've come out really well so I'm extremely happy looking at the finished product!

Everyone bring your £2 coins this Saturday and Sunday. Preare to set sail for fail! ^_^