Sonic The Comic-Con

Sonic the Comic-Con 2014

   This Sunday I made the trip to York in England to attend the first ever Sonic the Comic-Con, a one day event celebrating Sonic the Comic, the UK's Sega comic book which ran from 1993 to 2002 and Sonic the Comic Online, the semi-offical fan continuation that has been running online since 2003.

   I've written about STC before and my feelings on the book should be pretty clear, it's a series that meant a huge deal to me growing up, scenes from the comic continue to be vivid in my memory and it's impressive story telling and beautiful art have heavily influenced my creative work well into my adult life. 

   During the day several of the artists and writers of the series were present, signing issues, offering sketches, getting on stage for Q&A sessions and even running art classes. There was also merch for sale, and entertainment in the form of the quiz show 8 out of 10 Caterkillers and a live edition of Sonic the podcast. 

   It was a really great day and I hope that STCC continues to run into the future. It was an honour too meet so many of the people who helped create a series that means so much to me, I had an amazing time.

   But enough rambling, here's the photos I took during the day, and some pictures of what I got signed. 

First up, the awesome banner that greeted fans as they piled into the building, this art also graced the T-shirt that was handed out to backers. 

Another banner featuring some key moments from throughout the series. 

The Guests

Richard Elson and Nigel Kitching, the duo responsible for many of the series greatest moments, from the Death Egg and Metalix sagas to the pivotal arcs surrounding issue 100 and the Robotnik Reigns storylines, without these two, STC wouldn't have been half as impressive as it went on to become. 

Richard Elson also provided new covers for the series when the book moved onto being full reprints, providing probably the only reason to continue buying the series up to its last issue. 

Nigel Kitching wrote and drew the long running series Decap Attack, a strip based on a little known megadrive game which went on to be far more successful than the game ever was.

Carl Flint, the man responsible for many covers throughout the series as well as many back up stories including impressive runs with Tails and Amy, he also created Shortfuse the Cybernik who was just a normal squirrel until Robotnik trapped him forever inside his invincible Cybernik armour. Shortfuse was able to rebel against his programming however and fought Robotnik alongside Sonic.

Also, Kev Hopgood, the artist behind thecovers for the first two issues way back in 93.

Nigel Dobbyn, the artist behind many of my favourite strips across the series, most notably his work with Captain Plunder and Knuckles' world tour arcs, probalby the greatest Knuckles strips in the whole series. 

Ferran Rodriguez flew all the way from Barcelona to join the con, he's the artist behind many strips and covers from early in the series' run as well as the Badnik pinups which made up the magazines centrefolds throughout the years.

...and finally, Jon Haward, the artist behind the Shinobi and Eternal Champions strips from the early days of the series where the book was more of a Sega comic than one that focused solely on Sonic.

He also tweeted a picture of me.....so that happened.

The Event

During the day there were two Q&A sessions, a quiz show, live edition of Sonic the Podcast and art classes.

In the centre of the hall were several tables covered in some of the amazing artwork from across the series, including this lovely Carl Flint cover which features Shortfuse the Cybernik, who was just a normal squirrel until Robotnik trapped him forever in his invincible Cybernik armour. Shortfuse was able to rebel against his programming however and fought Robotnik alongside Sonic. 

A wonderful Decap Attack canvas by Nigel Kitching.

 Beautiful lineart by Richard Elson that made up the cover of one of the reprint issues.

The original painting that became the cover for issue 100, considered by many to be the greatest issue in the entire series.

A personal favourite, the original cover art for issue 101, the first ever issue I picked up. Seeing this in person was just wonderful and I was tempted to try and sneak out with it....I didn't though...honest...

An awesome sketch done for a fan by Ferran Rodriguez, which brings together his work on STC and the multiple disney comics that he has worked on. 

 

Impressive cosplay of Elson's version of Amy Rose and the swashbuckling Captain Plunder.

 There was also an art contest with the prize of an impressive canvas illustrated by all seven guests. I entered this...I did not win.

My entry in the guestbook.

The Haul

Of course, no trip to a comic convention is complete without stuff to spend your money on...here's everything I picked up on the day. 

First up, the freebies, everyone attending the con was handed a wristband and a copy of the special edition of STC printed for the event. It features new strips, posters and much more, it's a really awesome item and a great tribute the series. I managed to get it signed by all the guests too which was cool. We were also given a free packet of chewits (not pictured...devoured).

 Also, the con t-shirt which was available if you backed the original kickstarter for a certain ammount or higher. The shirt was available in blue or yellow but the yellow really made the design pop out so I opted for that. 

At the merch stall I managed to pick up copies of issues 99 and 100 which was really great for me as they're the only two issues I didn't own heading into the event. So now, I have the entire run.

A sketch of Knuckles by Nigel Dobbyn.

A sketch by Carl Flint of the character he helped create, Shortfuse who was just a normal squirrel until Robotnik trapped him forever in his invincible Cybernik armour. Shortfuse was able to rebel against his programming however and fought Robotnik alongside Sonic.

How cool is this? Joe Musashi drawn by Jon Haward. 

And my final sketch, Dr Eggman by Kev Hopgood. Kev was clearly having a blast drawing all the newer characters and designs that he never got a chance to work on during the series' run. 

Next up, the issues I got signed. I took a good few issues with me, but even then it was really hard to whittle them down to the books I wanted to take. Nonetheless, I think I got a good mix of historically significant issues and issues that were of personal importance to me. 

Here's the first two issues, signed by cover artist Kev Hopgood.

Two great Shinobi covers by Jon Haward

One of my favourite strips and two covers by Ferran Rodriguez

 The 1st anniversary issue

and 50th issue

Three great covers by Carl FLint, two featuring his creation Shortfuse who was just a normal squirrel until Robotnik trapped him forever in his invincible Cybernik armour. Shortfuse was able to rebel against his programming however and fought Robotnik alongside Sonic. 

Nigel Dobbyn's village of the damned storyline which is one of my all time favourite stories.

The Robotnik Reigns arc, my favourite story in the entire series. The first epic sonic story I'd read, having jumped onto the series after the Metalix and issue 100 arcs. I love this story.

A series of issues signed by Kitching and Elson featuring several key moments in the series, from the first appearence of Metalix, Sonic vs Knuckles, Johnny's death and the final issue before the book went fully reprint. 

I just had to get these signed, Elson's original cover for the story where Porker is kicked out of the freedom fighters by Sonic, and the remake of the same cover for when the same story came around in the reprints. 

Two great covers by Nigel Kitching, when I handed him the Sonic/Super Sonic cover Kitching says he really hates the cover and said the art is terrible. Gotta say, I disagree.

Seeing as I got the first issue signed, I had to get the last. This is the final issue of the book before it was abruptly cancelled. It also features one of Elson's greatest covers, this thing is just epic. He had the original lineart of this cover with him too which was a joy too see. 

And last but not least, a Sonic plush because....hey...who doesn't want a Sonic plush?

   And that's everything. I had a fantastic day, meeting all the guests was a dream come true and I had a great time talking to the attendees too, many of whom I've spoke with before online so it was nice to finally meet them in person.

   Whether or not STCC will become an ongoing thing or whether next year will see the return of Summer of Sonic remains to be seen, but whatever happens I look forward to seeing what the organisers put together in the future because this show was awesome.

   Also, after wearing the same outfit to MCM in Glasgow and having nobody recognise  who I was dressed as, it was nice to have folk come up and compliment me on my costume.

   Old Man Owl represent!

For more Sonic related posts, check out the
iDEATH Sonic Portal

My Top 5 matches in the Streak

My Top 5 matches in the Streak

   Earlier this month, Brock Lesnar shocked the world by becoming the only man to win a match against the Undertaker at Wrestlemania, ending his 21 year undefeated streak, putting an end to one of the greatest runs in wrestling history and more than likely signalling the end of the Undertaker’s career.

   The match received a lot of criticism, sparked a wave of rumours that Brock Lesnar changed the script for the match and raised questions about Undertaker’s condition going into the match. However, whether or not you think Wrestlemania XXX was the right time, or Brock Lesnar was the right man to end the streak, I’m sure we can all agree that the streak will stand the test of time as one of the most exciting and entertaining runs in the history of the WWE.

   So rather than mourn its end, let’s celebrate those matches in the streak that had us on the edge of our seats.

   These are my top 5 matches in the Undertaker’s run, it’s all personal opinion so don’t be too bummed if your personal favourite isn’t included and as ever, be sure to let me know your favourite matches in the comments.

Notes on the Subject of False Life...

Notes on the Subject of False Life...

   The following is a piece of artwork I produced as part of my third year at University. We were told to go out, buy a book and re-contextualise it, to change it up,destroy it, remix it, do whatever we wanted with it.

   For my submission, I picked up a copy of Mary Shelly's Frankenstein and transformed it into "Notes on the subject of false life" the confessions of Dr j. Osterman, a biologist inspired by the Frankenstein novel to go forth and attempt to reanimate the dead himself.

   It's a piece of work that I've always been proud of. While I think it could be better, I think I got the idea across well and some parts of the book are suitably creepy. It's something I've wanted to try again ever since and I may well. If I ever do I'll be sure to post it here, but for now I hope you enjoy reading through Dr Osterman's confession. 

    Some pages can be really hard to read so I'll include the text of the story below. 

Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens

Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens (1922)

Dir: F.W. Murnau

   Nosferatu is my favourite film of all time. Since first seeing it on DVD around 2004/5 I’ve become somewhat obsessed with it, gathering seven versions of the film on DVD* (soon to be eight with next month’s Blu-Ray release) as well as remakes, homages, graphic novel adaptations and much more. Just last week I had the pleasure of seeing the film on the big screen for the first time in a limited theatrical run to promote the Blu-Ray.

   So, with that in mind and because, as a blogger I am legally required to do a Halloween post, let’s give it a review.

   Nosferatu, for those who don’t know, is a German silent film, intended to be the first film adaptation of Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula. However, the creators failed to obtain the rights to the novel and decided instead to change elements of the plot as well as the characters names to avoid legal troubles, thus, Jonathan Harker becomes Thomas Hutter, his wife Mina becomes Ellen and Count Dracula becomes Graf Orlok.

   The changes didn’t work though, and shortly after the release Bram Stoker’s widow took the film makers to court and won. As a result of the verdict all copies of the film had to be destroyed, though luckily several copies survived in the hands of private collectors.

    Today, both the film and the original novel have both fallen into the public domain so we are now free to enjoy the film in all its glory.

   I adore this film. Despite its age it still holds up today and the creepy atmosphere and slow pacing still work brilliantly. The main draw is of course, Graf Orlok himself, played to perfection by Max Schreck who moves slowly and stiffly his every gesture laborious. Despite the film being silent you can almost hear the vampire’s joints creak as he stalks his prey. Unlike later incarnations of the Count, who portray him as suave and seductive, Orlok is repulsive, ugly and rat-like. He certainly looks like a centuries old creature risen from the grave and it’s a far more frightening visual to see this decaying beast enter a room than the handsome gent Dracula is so often portrayed as.

   What makes Orlok all the more interesting is how little we see him. Over the ninety minute runtime of the film, he appears on screen for just over ten minutes, yet when finishing the film, it feels as if his presence was stamped onto every frame.

   Interestingly, some elements of the Orlok character intended to differentiate him from his novel counterpart have found their way back into the Dracula mythos. The film casts Orlok as a nocturnal creature and the film’s ending sees him killed by the light of the sun. This is drastically different to the novel which sees Dracula walking around London in the sun perfectly happily, yet the idea of sun killing vampires has seeped into popular culture and today it is seen in almost all vampire media, from Buffy the Vampire Slayer to the Twilight saga. I’ve even seen film adaptations of Dracula that see the vampire killed off by the sun, the weakness of his “knock-off” counterpart.

   The rest of the cast are brilliant too, Gustav Von Wangenheim although prone to overacting (one of the few things that really date the film) portrays Hutter as an innocent fool, more child than man who finds his world turned upside down with his visit to Orlok’s castle.

   Greta Schroder is fantastic as the melancholic Ellen who appears almost as ghost-like as Orlok himself over the course of the film.

   All are backed up be vibrant and memorable performances by the supporting cast, including Alexander Granach’s energetic portrayal of Knock, the film’s version of Renfield.

   Aside from Orlok though, the real star are the visuals that director F.W. Murnau and his cinematographer F.A. Wagner were able to craft. The scenes in Orlok’s castle especially are wonderfully claustrophobic, the audience feels trapped in the small rooms just as Hutter is and the brilliant use of shadows make for some of cinemas most memorable scenes. Who could forget the eerie sight of Orlok’s shadow ascend the staircase and open the door to Ellen’s room?

   While Nosferatu may not frighten modern audiences as much as it did those of the past, the film still maintains a quiet, chilling atmosphere, the scary scenes are few and far between but the tension builds slowly between them. Watching this film alone is the dark is still be a haunting experience that hasn’t been dampened by the passage of time. Watching Nosferatu today is still rich and rewarding and I would encourage you to seek it out this Halloween and take the trip with Hutter, to the land of thieves and ghosts.

  *A note on the various versions of the film for those wishing to seek it out. If possible I would avoid the public domain version (the version usually found on sites like youtube). This version restores the characters names back to their Dracula counterparts, is often ran at the wrong speed (resulting in Benny Hill-a-like movement), isn’t tinted and often has scenes missing. It’s a very poor version of the film and definitely not the one you want to watch if you’re watching for the first time.

   If you want to watch the film properly the best way to do so is with the Masters of Cinema edition on DVD which presents the film as it is meant to be seen,correct tinting/intertitles/speed etc and with the original score. This is by far the best version out there, so if you’re serious about watching the film make sure it’s the one you pick up.

   Alternativly, there’s my personal favourite, the Eureka version with an electronic score by French group Art Zoyd. While the modern soundtrack may put some people off, personally I think it’s the score that best matches the visuals of the film and lends the most horror to the scenes with Orlok.

   Whatever edition you end up watching though (…but seriously, don’t watch the public domain version) I hope you enjoy it. You’re in for a treat.

Comic Con Haul

Comic-Con Haul 07/09/13
This Saturday I Headed to MCM Comic-Con in the Glasgow SECC, I'd planned on taking a bunch of photos and making a massive post about the day but...frankly...I had too much fun to remember to take any pictures.

I had an absolute blast, seen a lot of awesome things and got to chat with some brilliantly talented artists.

While I didn't get any pictures though, one thing I certainly did get...is stuff. So, here it is, my haul from MCM 2013.

Let's start with Edward Ross' Filmish. A series of indie comics dealing with film and film theory, these are great I've read all three and they're absolutely brilliant. Also had a wee chat with Ross himself and he was a genuinely nice guy. I was happy to support him and I'll definitely be buying more from him in the future.

Robots is a collection of short strips by various writers published by Accent UK, not read this yet but it's wonderfully presented and was a bargain.

More from Accent, these are three separate issues sold in a bundle. each issues deals with a seperate theme, Monster, Pirates and Twelve seems to be just a collection of random strips. 

I also picked up the final ever issue of the Dandy. I've never been a massive Dandy fan but I had a lot of respect for the comic and was very sad to learn that it was going to finish. I'd hoped to pick this up when it was released but missed it in stores. Glad to have finally picked it up.

Badges, these were free from Tokyo toys when you spent a certain ammount of money. I got them when I bought...

...this awesome Sonic hat...

...and also Ash's hat.

Also got a blue demon wrestling mask. I've wanted a wrestling mask for ages now but it's hard to find any that aren't based on Rey Mysterio who I'm not much or a fan of. Blue Demon is a wrestling legend so I was more than happy to get one based on his mask.

Finally I got a tiny C3PO as a gift for my fiancee who couldn't make it to the event. She loves C3PO so this was a nice little thing to get her.

When we left the event we took a wander around Glasgow for a little while. Wasn't planning on spending anymore money...but then....I seen this....

there was no way I wasn't buying this.....