tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45701362247741913852024-03-05T12:36:26.802+00:00Neill's blogGiant robots, dinosaurs, the occasional ballerina.Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689901140275643742noreply@blogger.comBlogger442125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570136224774191385.post-21597093136483103742017-02-10T09:06:00.003+00:002017-02-10T09:06:44.726+00:00MEGA ROBO REVENGE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's been a little while but Alex and Freddy are BACK in the brand new series of Mega Robo Bros: MEGA ROBO REVENGE, starting in this week's issue of <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">the Phoenix!</a> (Issue #267, pictured above!)<br />
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I've been looking forward to this one for ages; it's by far the biggest MRB story yet, in terms of scale, in terms of plot, and in terms of SHEER NUMBER OF CRAZY EXPLOSIONS. Lots of stuff here we've been building to for ages, so strap in and enjoy!<br />
<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/stockists/"><br /></a>
<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/stockists/">Available in shops nationwide</a>! Or now would be an excellent time to <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/subscribe/">SUBSCRIBE</a> if you haven't already - and look, if you do so now you can get <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/subscribe/">a FREE copy of How To Make Awesome Comics</a> too! Which I also recommend.<br />
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I have always meant to join in with this as I thought it looked FUN and an INTERESTING CHALLENGE and all that kind of thing, and because lots of great cartoonists I admire and respect do it and somehow make amazing and hilarious and inspring things.<br />
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I am, however, usually too busy making comics. But yesterday I had a rare day away from the drawing board so I thought, the heck with it, let's join in. So here, for your enjoyment, is MY DAY.<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4v3n_RjhDk/V9mbz9zPxoI/AAAAAAAAFQE/TgrQketh4a8vAqwZ8fURN1FpnpZB9Wu9ACLcB/s1600/Alex%2Band%2BFreddy%2BT-Shirt%2BAd%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-K4v3n_RjhDk/V9mbz9zPxoI/AAAAAAAAFQE/TgrQketh4a8vAqwZ8fURN1FpnpZB9Wu9ACLcB/s640/Alex%2Band%2BFreddy%2BT-Shirt%2BAd%2B2.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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Just a note to mention that <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/mega-robo-bro-t-shirts/">Mega Robo Bros t-shirts are now available from the Phoenix Shop!</a> And, honestly, they look pretty great.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8RLnLL4PO98/V9maa-9qhGI/AAAAAAAAFP8/j2a8bWUXTGcXf_hp_PgeqYrma0aFM-lDQCLcB/s1600/MRB_tshirts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8RLnLL4PO98/V9maa-9qhGI/AAAAAAAAFP8/j2a8bWUXTGcXf_hp_PgeqYrma0aFM-lDQCLcB/s640/MRB_tshirts.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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Available in sizes for ages 9-11 and 12-14! A bunch of people have asked if adult sizes and / or younger kids sizes are on the way - not yet, but do go tell the guys at the Phoenix if you'd like some, so they can gauge demand!<br />
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Okay! <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/mega-robo-bro-t-shirts/">Please go buy awesome t-shirts!</a><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOx_avAFWss/V9makJnRg8I/AAAAAAAAFQA/g7l8NPzILCQzC7RXruXpjlvL8eS6xd59wCLcB/s1600/MRB%2BT-Shirt%2BAds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cOx_avAFWss/V9makJnRg8I/AAAAAAAAFQA/g7l8NPzILCQzC7RXruXpjlvL8eS6xd59wCLcB/s640/MRB%2BT-Shirt%2BAds.jpg" width="458" /></a></div>
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(Awesome ad artwork by <a href="https://www.paulduffield.co.uk/">Paul Duffield</a>)<div class="blogger-post-footer"><hr />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAMXUsKl-2g/V9fxlaxbCaI/AAAAAAAAFPg/HcOYqw38zRUiNOrbHb3J_tWjDnZS_3ueQCLcB/s1600/B1A97613-14E0-4D1D-842F-5B3C9A9AAA4D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nAMXUsKl-2g/V9fxlaxbCaI/AAAAAAAAFPg/HcOYqw38zRUiNOrbHb3J_tWjDnZS_3ueQCLcB/s640/B1A97613-14E0-4D1D-842F-5B3C9A9AAA4D.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Hello! I'll be at the brilliant <a href="http://thoughtbubblefestival.com/">Thought Bubble comics festival</a> in Leeds this November, and I've had a few enquiries lately about doing commissions for people in advance of it. So I thought I'd come up with a plan. So I have. And it is as follows: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">I'm going to be offering A4 pen & ink sketches for £10.00 GBP - or less if they're bought as part of a bundle with some of my books (<i>Mega Robo Bros</i>, <i>Tamsin and the Deep</i>, <i>Pirates of Pangaea</i>, and <i>How To Make Awesome Comics</i>). So the planned price list is:</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span><b>Sketch: </b>£10</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>Single book:</b> £10</span><br /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>1 Book + Sketch</b> £18 </span><br /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>2 Books:</b> £18</span><br /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>2 Books + Sketch:</b> £25</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">As to subject matter, you have a few options. I'm very happy to do sketches of my own characters, so if you want Alex, Freddy, Stupid Philosophy Penguin or whoever, that's absolutely fine, and I love you very much for asking, and here are <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/mega-robo-sketchfest.html">150-odd examples of that sort of thing if you like that sort of thing.</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />If you want something else: I don't usually draw other people's characters any more, but I'll make an exception for Thought Bubble, as I appreciate there are people whose thing is getting every artist in the world to draw Batman or whoever. However, I have to make these things fun for myself, too, so I'll happily draw basically anybody - real or fictional, alive or dead - just so long as they are either:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />a) piloting a GIANT ROBOT</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">or b) riding a DINOSAUR.</span><br />
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gjl1I4TSjtA/V9fxukcs-aI/AAAAAAAAFPk/NG67cyDeDhoLzZMLhIQE2FSojH_eyUeNACLcB/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Gjl1I4TSjtA/V9fxukcs-aI/AAAAAAAAFPk/NG67cyDeDhoLzZMLhIQE2FSojH_eyUeNACLcB/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I've used Freddy as an example there but, as I say, if you want a drawing of Moon Girl or Oor Wullie or Queen Elizabeth II or whoever it may be, that's fine. As long as they are on a robot or on a dinosaur.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">If you'd like to order something in advance and pick up at the convention, that's great, as it gives me more time to work on your sketch in advance - just drop a line to <a href="mailto:info@neillcameron.com">info@neillcameron.com</a> letting me know what you want.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Oh hey, I should mention: part of the festival is the ceremony for the <a href="http://britishcomicawards.com/young-peoples-comic-award-nominees-2016/">Young Peoples Comic Award</a>, for which both <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/mega-robo-bros">Mega Robo Bros</a> and <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/3440743-tamsin-and-the-deep">Tamsin and the Deep</a> are shortlisted.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Which is kind of crazy.</span></div>
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See you in Leeds!</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0JnJmvCMBHw/V2PQQE2zP4I/AAAAAAAAFM8/ZW_rH9rTTJodHMP-COAhkBul8Exkc2D5gCLcB/s1600/MRB%2Bsketch%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0JnJmvCMBHw/V2PQQE2zP4I/AAAAAAAAFM8/ZW_rH9rTTJodHMP-COAhkBul8Exkc2D5gCLcB/s640/MRB%2Bsketch%2B1.jpg" width="450" /></a></div>
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Those nice people at <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/mega-robo-bros-book-1/">The Phoenix</a> recently ran a special offer to celebrate the launch of my new book <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/mega-robo-bros">Mega Robo Bros</a>, whereby anyone who bought a book through the website would get a signed copy and a free original sketch by me. I agreed to this, slightly nervously, hoping we might sell a few and bracing myself for it being "around 40".<br />
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Well, anyway, we were only out by a hundred or so.<br />
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I cannot overstate: this was tough! This took a lot. This turned into a real <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNCkWQnd8X0">"Hamilton wrote... the other 51!"</a> moment for me. But I wanted to make each one cool, and different, because it really means a lot to me that these characters seem to have connected with people, and I wanted to do something special to say thank you for the support.<br />
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So, anyway, here are a LOT OF DRAWINGS OF ROBOTS. Enjoy!<br />
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If you missed the offer, the book is of course still <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/3256472-mega-robo-bros-buy">available from all good bookshops</a>. This offer's over for now, but if you'd like a sketch, come find me at any of the various <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/upcoming-events">festivals and events I'm doing this year,</a> and I dare say I could be talked into something.</div>
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<td><a href="http://neillcameron.bigcartel.com"><img src="http://www.neillcameron.com/mobot-high/images/links/neillshop160x96.jpg" width="160" height="96" border="0" /></a></td>
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</table></div>Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689901140275643742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570136224774191385.post-14361959294145997832016-06-03T11:33:00.000+01:002016-06-17T11:27:34.969+01:00MEGA ROBO BROS Vol 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPMgcHbz_L8/V1FYkWyEj9I/AAAAAAAAFKk/yz-UR-hv3g0m1T57LObx9eN25j3K17nswCLcB/s1600/Mega%2BRobo%2BBros%2BBook%2B1%2BCover%2B2D%2BHi%2BRes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WPMgcHbz_L8/V1FYkWyEj9I/AAAAAAAAFKk/yz-UR-hv3g0m1T57LObx9eN25j3K17nswCLcB/s640/Mega%2BRobo%2BBros%2BBook%2B1%2BCover%2B2D%2BHi%2BRes.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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My new book <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/mega-robo-bros">MEGA ROBO BROS</a> is out today from David Fickling books! It collects the first big arc of Alex and Freddy's adventures - for those counting at home, it's edited highlights of Season 1, and then the entirety of Season 2. (Season 3 currently unfolding weekly in the pages of The Phoenix!)</div>
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Anyway, I am super proud of it, and really hope people enjoy it. Early reviews have been <a href="http://readitdaddy.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/readitdaddys-first-book-of-week-week.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed">extremely</a> <a href="http://comicsalliance.com/mega-robo-bros-readers-guide/">encouraging</a>, but you know how these things are, it's always a question of getting the word out. I've updated my website with a new <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/mega-robo-bros">MEGA ROBO BROS</a> page where you can read a preview, check out a bunch of the uncollected strips in their entirety, and more. Please feel free to share, link, tweet, tumbl, or whatever it is you're supposed to do nowadays.</div>
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And hey, if you're in Oxford, come along to <a href="http://www.inkyfingers.net/">Inky Fingers</a> on the Cowley Road TOMORROW (Saturday 4th Jan), where I'll be painting giant robots in the window and signing books and drawing stuff for people, should you want that.</div>
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Also, SPECIAL OFFER: any and all copies of the book ordered this week from the <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/signed-mega-robo-bros/">Phoenix's online shop</a> will get a free, original A5 sketch by me! Every one unique! <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/signed-mega-robo-bros/">Go grab one quick</a> before my hand falls off.</div>
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</table></div>Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689901140275643742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570136224774191385.post-48161760838833370272016-05-11T11:12:00.001+01:002016-05-11T11:12:56.092+01:00Pirates of Pangaea ChecklistI've had quite a few people lately asking about when the next <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/pangaea">Pirates of Pangaea</a> book might be out and, while I don't exactly know (although I could point you to some <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/?s=neill+cameron&post_type=product">excellent books you might enjoy in the meantime</a>), it's worth pointing out that for anyone eager to follow Sophie and Kelsey's further adventures, there are several which are uncollected as yet but can be tracked down in <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product-category/single-issues/">back issues of the Phoenix.</a> To aid in this, and to help you satisfy all your Pirates Riding Dinosaurs needs, I thought I'd put together a little, in-reading-order...<br />
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<b>PIRATES OF PANGAEA CHECKLIST!</b></div>
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<b>Volume 1: The Golden Skull </b></div>
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<i>20 episodes</i></div>
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Collected as Pirates of Pangaea: Book One. </div>
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ISBN: <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">978-1910200087</span></div>
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Available in good bookshops everywhere!</div>
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<b>The Ghosts of Mathrak Chu</b></div>
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<i>4 episodes</i></div>
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Available in <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/shop/">The Phoenix</a>, issues 33-36</div>
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<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/issue-33/">Start here!</a></div>
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<b>Volume 2: Escape From Razorbeak Mountain</b></div>
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<i>20 episodes</i></div>
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Available in <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/shop/">The Phoenix</a>, issues 53-72</div>
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<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/issue-53/">Start here!</a></div>
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<b>Racers of Riverbed Run</b></div>
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<i>4 episodes</i></div>
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Available in <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/shop/">The Phoenix</a>, issues 79-82</div>
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<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/issue-79/">Start here!</a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ6sWQqo6xI/VzMDjF1C29I/AAAAAAAAFJY/CY5r9_XGI587-mQdbn_EJbi8Yfj4cMB5QCLcB/s1600/PoP_RRR%2BCMYK%2Bep2%2Bp4%2Bv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ6sWQqo6xI/VzMDjF1C29I/AAAAAAAAFJY/CY5r9_XGI587-mQdbn_EJbi8Yfj4cMB5QCLcB/s640/PoP_RRR%2BCMYK%2Bep2%2Bp4%2Bv2.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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<b>The Treasure of La Sirena</b></div>
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<i>1 episode</i></div>
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Available in <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/shop/">The Phoenix</a>, issue 100</div>
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<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/?s=issue+100&post_type=product">Start here!</a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zIVCo7pfEqc/VzMDuQYYMrI/AAAAAAAAFJg/Kb9xlRzIeYAs-ted69CCZ8wF138fN5QmwCLcB/s1600/PoP_TLS%2BCMYK%2Bp1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zIVCo7pfEqc/VzMDuQYYMrI/AAAAAAAAFJg/Kb9xlRzIeYAs-ted69CCZ8wF138fN5QmwCLcB/s640/PoP_TLS%2BCMYK%2Bp1.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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<b>The Blue Devil</b></div>
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<i>4 episodes</i></div>
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Available in <a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/shop/">The Phoenix</a>, issues 110-113</div>
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<a href="https://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/?s=issue+110&post_type=product">Start here!</a></div>
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I believe, at time of writing, that all issues are in stock, please address all enquiries to <a href="mailto:orders@thephoenixcomic.co.uk">orders@thephoenixcomic.co.uk</a>!</div>
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<a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/tamsin-sub/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DbYOO7uBBfQ/VwPz5cBduBI/AAAAAAAAFIA/k0YlcPmolt4rYtq1sH--cOE0GuYUkPqgg/s640/tdark-01_01-flat_border.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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The second volume of <a href="http://danse-macabre.nu/autojoy">Kate Brown</a> and I's <i>Tamsin</i> series, <i>Tamsin and the Dark</i> begins soon in <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">The Phoenix</a>, and they are running a couple of pretty great offers to mark the occasion!<br />
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Firstly, they've got a special <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/tamsin-sub/">Tamsin Subscription Deal!</a> If you take out a 6-month subscription now, you'll be on board in time for first episode, and you'll then get to enjoy every single installment as the story plays out over the following 21 weeks. I think this is great, because a huge part of what we try to do with <i>Tamsin</i> is that kind of immersive, cliffhanger-fueled, what-on-Earth-is-going-to-happen-next storytelling that I think is one of the most exciting and unique possibilities offered by the weekly comics format, and particularly for young readers. So jump on now, don't miss a single episode, and to sweeten the deal they'll even throw in a copy of Book 1, <i>Tamsin and the Deep</i> - signed by Kate and me, and everything - to make sure you're fully up to speed on Tamsin and her world.</div>
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<a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/tamsin-sub/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nb78hdzKOjE/VwPyrIiLpZI/AAAAAAAAFH0/Y853hbv-05Er1DAEoLBg8zHsrfPPEdPZw/s640/TatDark%2BSub%2B2.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>
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(Oh, and you also get six months of AMAZING COMICS in the entire rest of the Phoenix, too?) </div>
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Note, this offer only runs THIS WEEK, so that people will be subscribed in time for the story's beginning. <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/tamsin-subscription-pack/">Sign up now</a> and get on (magical flying boogie) board!</div>
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If you're already a subscriber, they're ALSO offering <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/tamsin-and-the-deep/">20% OFF the Tamsin and the Deep book</a>, all this month! Which is also a pretty great deal.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/tamsin-and-the-deep/"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qUr8CXAar1w/VwPzaGSIGNI/AAAAAAAAFH8/bpQdIKsTmisaU7Lc_yucnAevMciHho_tA/s640/TatDeep%2B20OFF%2B1.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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All in all, that should be just about all the creepy exciting all-ages Cornish folklore spookiness your mind can handle.<br />
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Until Book Three, anyway.<br />
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My new book with<a href="http://danse-macabre.nu/autojoy/"> Kate Brown</a>, <i>Tamsin and the Deep</i>, came out a couple of weeks ago from <a href="http://www.davidficklingbooks.com/shop/ItemDetails.php?pubID=137">David Fickling Books</a>. It's a collection of the strip of the same name which appeared in <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">The Phoenix</a>, a 96-page graphic novel in four chapters in which we meet the 10-year-old Tamsin Thomas and see the quite extraordinarily strange direction her life takes after one ill-fated trip to the beach.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLH3tGj4NQ1y_WAxuWEgVQU24hI_iyfsniZdaKbOtG1Gqsff4w5wynuv_RDoy8NuMRhcgcofDjH42TSNSJvm-JrD5So_fMrfG48jtCIE9hDtWDzzg52S8XMfIHfqYtMEkIkU7GrQRy4A/s1600/poster05notext%2528lo%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGLH3tGj4NQ1y_WAxuWEgVQU24hI_iyfsniZdaKbOtG1Gqsff4w5wynuv_RDoy8NuMRhcgcofDjH42TSNSJvm-JrD5So_fMrfG48jtCIE9hDtWDzzg52S8XMfIHfqYtMEkIkU7GrQRy4A/s640/poster05notext%2528lo%2529.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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It's a story that grew over several years of spending time down in Cornwall, visiting family, and becoming slowly more and more obsessed by the fantastically strange folklore that abounds in the place. I was beyond delighted that Kate was up for drawing it, and she's done such an amazing job with it, bringing so much character and life and wonder and, fine, I'll say it, <i>magic</i> to the story.</div>
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People always ask about the target audience / age range for these things - in this case I'd say it's principally aimed at kids about 7-12. I'd be wary of going much younger because there some scary and upsetting things that happen. But on the other hand one reviewer said that their 4-year-old loved it and got to the end and immediately wanted to read it again, so what do I know? Your mileage may vary, and (hopefully) you know your own child best.</div>
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Anyway, I hope you'll check it out; it's my best attempt, basically, at making the kind of comic I'm always saying we need more of. Available from all good bookshops, or get it direct form the Phoenix store! </div>
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Kate's already nearing completion on the sequel, <i>Tamsin and the Dark</i>, and that one... man. That one's just <i>nuts</i>. Starting in the Phoenix soon!</div>
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While I'm here, I thought I'd share some (more) amazing pictures. As I mentioned, the basic idea for Tamsin and the Deep was inspired directly by reading up on lots of Cornish folk tales, but the form the story took was really crystallised in my head after going to see an exhibition called <i>Aquatopia </i>(if I recall correctly) at the Tate in St Ives a few years back - a collection of all kinds of pieces from all over the world, with the general theme of 'the Imaginary Underwater'. It was full of diverse and amazing wonders, from Kuneyoshi to Gustav Dore to Turner, and was honestly one of the most inspiring and exciting things I've ever seen in a gallery. Anyway, I tried to find as many of the works as I could online, and some other stuff along similar lines and put them together in a kind of <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/neillcameron/tamsin-mood-board/">'mood / inspiration board' on Pinterest</a> to share with Kate.<br />
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I've now set it to public, so please feel free to <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/neillcameron/tamsin-mood-board/">go and have a look</a> and see all the weird spooky mind-blowing masterpieces your mind can handle. (Please note, a couple of the images might be considered NSFW / not for kids. I'm thinking mainly here of Hokusai's Octopus. Go check it out, you'll see what I mean.) </div>
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Thank you for your attention! I hope you enjoy meeting Tamsin.<br />
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As I occasionally bang on about here on the blog, I firmly believe that <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/comics-and-literacy-part-3-things-you.html">kids are great at making comics that other children will enjoy reading</a>. However, when you're working with young creators there are occasionally some Basic Legibility Issues that can get in the way. So I put together the following <b>Top Tips for Basic Legibility:</b> </div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8pTdSpc8-4/VtCMh3dnzyI/AAAAAAAAFFI/XhWJ8dMXRkY/s1600/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A8pTdSpc8-4/VtCMh3dnzyI/AAAAAAAAFFI/XhWJ8dMXRkY/s640/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R4_3b6ZcRSY/VtCMqYv8mOI/AAAAAAAAFFM/wwhO6gvpxi0/s1600/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B-%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="334" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R4_3b6ZcRSY/VtCMqYv8mOI/AAAAAAAAFFM/wwhO6gvpxi0/s640/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B-%2B2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Those are the biggies! Here are a few supplemental ones to do with words and balloons and such:</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPK43F3xH-c/VtCNFPgqQwI/AAAAAAAAFFc/KQTxHmoqCqo/s1600/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fPK43F3xH-c/VtCNFPgqQwI/AAAAAAAAFFc/KQTxHmoqCqo/s640/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Crja0_49xyI/VtCM2v02s6I/AAAAAAAAFFQ/FQlDsqiOxkM/s1600/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Crja0_49xyI/VtCM2v02s6I/AAAAAAAAFFQ/FQlDsqiOxkM/s640/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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(I think this one makes the point it's making too well, in that it is confusing.)</div>
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And finally:</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gMBb4Stb44/VtCNFFq_rtI/AAAAAAAAFFY/3FAOCtPVfBo/s1600/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="337" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9gMBb4Stb44/VtCNFFq_rtI/AAAAAAAAFFY/3FAOCtPVfBo/s640/How%2BTo%2BMake%2BLegibile%2BComics%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Please feel free to share with any young cartoonists of your acquaintance! And also please feel free to totally ignore and/or break all these rules because RULES ARE TOTALLY BORING, RIGHT?</div>
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Merry Christmas, all! I've been a bit too beleaguered with things to do any of my usual festive shenanigans this year, but to attempt to atone for it, those nice people at <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">the Phoenix </a>posted last year's Mega Robo Bros Christmas Special for your reading pleasure. Enjoy, and have a marvellous holiday season, and I'll see you in the new year for SO MUCH AWESOME NEW MEGA ROBO BROS YOU CAN'T EVEN BELIEVE IT.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT98_reIECQ/VemStD2T0ZI/AAAAAAAAFBI/leDgqSzgIE4/s1600/MRB%2Bcover%2B6%2BCMYK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eT98_reIECQ/VemStD2T0ZI/AAAAAAAAFBI/leDgqSzgIE4/s640/MRB%2Bcover%2B6%2BCMYK.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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Look who's back in this week's<a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/"> Phoenix Comic</a>! It's only Alex and Freddy, those <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/mega-robo-bros">Mega Robo Bros </a>themselves, back from their summer holidays. We've got a short run of 2-pagers (which, for what it's worth, includes several of my favourite episodes of anything I've ever drawn) and then a big new Epic Action Saga is kicking off soon! <!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
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The Phoenix is available by subscription, or from any of <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/stockists/">these fine vendors</a>.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0j6hePE4kI/VbH_k-vRNDI/AAAAAAAAE-E/fduMiWw3EZg/s1600/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s0j6hePE4kI/VbH_k-vRNDI/AAAAAAAAE-E/fduMiWw3EZg/s640/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B112.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Hands up if you want to make awesome comics.</i></div>
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Regular readers of this blog will know I do a lot of <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/events">comics workshops</a> at schools, libraries, literary festivals and such, all over the place really. However, I almost never manage to get any pictures from such events, due to the fact that I always have my hands full of Sharpies and anyway am generally a bit busy drawing giant mutant Cornish pasties, or whatever it may be that day. Anyway, I recently did a session at Oxford Central Library, to help launch the <a href="http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/">Summer Reading Challenge</a> there, and to celebrate <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/pangaea">The Pirates of Pangaea</a>'s inclusion in said scheme. A great fun time was had, and some of the library's marvellous staff managed to snap a few pics, so I thought I'd share them here!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmIyvBzZbHA/VbH_dpFL34I/AAAAAAAAE9o/54GrHpOQE4I/s1600/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vmIyvBzZbHA/VbH_dpFL34I/AAAAAAAAE9o/54GrHpOQE4I/s640/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B045.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Who wants to learn to draw T-Rexes?</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h8UCrqIKEAo/VbH_dic8baI/AAAAAAAAE9s/irE2UsFRVVM/s1600/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h8UCrqIKEAo/VbH_dic8baI/AAAAAAAAE9s/irE2UsFRVVM/s640/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B046.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqC5GsuR2Yo/VbH_d-lzzqI/AAAAAAAAE9k/-F1IW2C_Aa4/s1600/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HqC5GsuR2Yo/VbH_d-lzzqI/AAAAAAAAE9k/-F1IW2C_Aa4/s640/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B052.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>That is me demonstrating Tyrannosaur's underdeveloped arms? I think?</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRA_XydBnxY/VbH_ke0PBCI/AAAAAAAAE98/4xIgYnVb484/s1600/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kRA_XydBnxY/VbH_ke0PBCI/AAAAAAAAE98/4xIgYnVb484/s640/Guinness%2BWorld%2BRecord%2BPledge%2BEvent%2B055.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Teaching important lessons to the youth.</i></div>
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Dinosaurs were drawn, records broken, and a good time had by all. (I hope?) Many thanks to Joanna Morris and all at the library for having me, and for passing on these photos!</div>
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Lots more events upcoming! Next weekend I'll be at <a href="http://www.campbestival.net/kids/the-phoenix/">Camp Bestival</a> for three solid days of comics workshops with Gary Northfield and the Phoenix comic gang. And tomorrow I'll be spending the day in the <a href="http://t.co/FVWJMIk7tO">Illustrator Zoo</a> at the Story Museum, drawing comics while members of the public come along and watch the process and ask questions and possibly join in? Come along, it should be fun! And keep an eye on my <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</a> page for more! </div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-831oFry2vro/VajGDv-0UhI/AAAAAAAAE78/K9g_K9rFejc/s1600/2015-04-15%2B15.46.22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-831oFry2vro/VajGDv-0UhI/AAAAAAAAE78/K9g_K9rFejc/s400/2015-04-15%2B15.46.22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Summer holidays start today! For families across the land the appalling prospect looms of suddenly having a house filled with children alternately complaining that they don't know what to do, or making you feel guilty by staring at minecraft-filled screens for long, endless hours. What CAN they do? What is a fun, creative activity to keep them occupied, or at least when it's too rainy to go out and kick rocks up and down the street?<br />
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Why COMICS of course!<br />
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(You probably knew I was going to say that.)<br />
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Anyway, I've been meaning to blog these for a while - a fun comics-making activity that everyone can try! For one session of my <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/saturday-morning-comics-club.html">Saturday Morning Comics Club</a> at the Story Museum I thought we'd try mixing things up a bit and making some photo comics using whatever toys and props I had available. I've been alternately calling these 'InstaComics' or 'Semi-Fumetti', the latter being more fun to say. They're pretty simple to make, and are kind of a halfway house between comics and stop-motion animation, the process being:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tsyFkdGcNag/VajHt6x8VxI/AAAAAAAAE8I/jZgUw7mWp6g/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tsyFkdGcNag/VajHt6x8VxI/AAAAAAAAE8I/jZgUw7mWp6g/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sE2ATHjqIY/VajHt1i8ADI/AAAAAAAAE8M/6Ff7YbCsqDQ/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7sE2ATHjqIY/VajHt1i8ADI/AAAAAAAAE8M/6Ff7YbCsqDQ/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eedHOuuEYUeC1WrYdAt9L88GuDnR872YWQsGfxtuQf8XwhNHc2-6ywGnMXj1JBXIVerntm_e3wp7WESXUQjfGdGZoH2Wl8IZvQAGAU1crdTnbmQpKiuGJTt1p9ekzTD22Jv1_xQSf1M/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6eedHOuuEYUeC1WrYdAt9L88GuDnR872YWQsGfxtuQf8XwhNHc2-6ywGnMXj1JBXIVerntm_e3wp7WESXUQjfGdGZoH2Wl8IZvQAGAU1crdTnbmQpKiuGJTt1p9ekzTD22Jv1_xQSf1M/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar0sGAUCCTc/VajHwYrc07I/AAAAAAAAE8g/slvCWa8V21s/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ar0sGAUCCTc/VajHwYrc07I/AAAAAAAAE8g/slvCWa8V21s/s400/4.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's that simple! And if you then quickly upload the pictures to twitter, or as a tumblr photoset or such, you get a really nice instant-completion sense, of making something and putting it out into the real world within minutes. Instant webcomics!<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3TB608TD4s/Vai_qAS-f5I/AAAAAAAAE7A/CzNclm4OaN4/s1600/InstaComic%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S3TB608TD4s/Vai_qAS-f5I/AAAAAAAAE7A/CzNclm4OaN4/s640/InstaComic%2B1.jpg" width="588" /></a></div>
So simple that a child could do it, and indeed they have. Here are some results from my excellent and most talented pupils at comics club; first an amazing multidimensional experiment by Ruari...<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lchi11voQQU/Vai_0Q5F8OI/AAAAAAAAE7I/GCQBKmbZB4A/s1600/InstaComic%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lchi11voQQU/Vai_0Q5F8OI/AAAAAAAAE7I/GCQBKmbZB4A/s640/InstaComic%2B2.jpg" width="536" /></a></div>
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No lego? No problem! Here's an excellent effort by Eliza, using a CORK instead.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ut7VruCkQo/VajAPWStYoI/AAAAAAAAE7Q/QBEcqvIc1QA/s1600/InstaComics%2B3-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="457" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Ut7VruCkQo/VajAPWStYoI/AAAAAAAAE7Q/QBEcqvIc1QA/s640/InstaComics%2B3-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J18Rc34Hxnw/VajAPWx5hoI/AAAAAAAAE7U/YEuvoiuqhEc/s1600/InstaComics%2B3-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J18Rc34Hxnw/VajAPWx5hoI/AAAAAAAAE7U/YEuvoiuqhEc/s640/InstaComics%2B3-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
And one by Hector which is possibly my favourite LUKE CAGE: POWER MAN comic of all time:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEwDuayES4A/VajAqIDMEUI/AAAAAAAAE7g/rCAR4H65H5Y/s1600/InstaComics%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="482" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vEwDuayES4A/VajAqIDMEUI/AAAAAAAAE7g/rCAR4H65H5Y/s640/InstaComics%2B4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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...and you can find lots more examples on the <a href="https://twitter.com/ComicsClubSM/media">@ComicsClubSM</a> twitter feed! I mean, seriously, lots.<br />
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I found it a really fascinating exercise, which both levelled the playing field in terms of drawing ability and also encouraged the kids to think about panel composition and storytelling in completely different ways. I would particularly recommend this as an exercise to anyone with kids who are determined Can't Draw Won't Draw-ers, as it kind of sucks you in to drawing a bit of background here, a few speed lines there, and before you know it, hey, you're making comics so I guess you can draw after all? Also particularly recommended to kids obsessed with Lego, or Minecraft, or Frozen, or Star Wars, because it's a way of playing with your favourite toys and making up stories in those worlds and with those characters even if you haven't quite got the hang of drawing all the webs on spider-man's costume or whatever.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uyKdl830ovY/VajB50ajWZI/AAAAAAAAE7w/JgP-WKK3ZCM/s1600/2015-04-15%2B15.36.54.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uyKdl830ovY/VajB50ajWZI/AAAAAAAAE7w/JgP-WKK3ZCM/s320/2015-04-15%2B15.36.54.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Look, you can even have a go at the CLASSICS:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sGRyq-hcIg/VajLCnCsxCI/AAAAAAAAE88/0eIZjFBS3cE/s1600/Shakespeare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_sGRyq-hcIg/VajLCnCsxCI/AAAAAAAAE88/0eIZjFBS3cE/s640/Shakespeare.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Anyway, have a go! See what you come up with over the summer, and please do feel free to tweet at me on <a href="http://twitter.com/neillcameron">@neillcameron</a> or <a href="http://twitter.com/ComicsClubSM">@ComicsClubSM</a> with any results, I'd love to see them.<br />
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And if the kids need something else to do after that, move them onto the ADVANCED CLASS - make and publish their own comic by the time they go back to school! (With today's ease of access to reprographic technology this is, honestly, a way more achievable goal than it may possibly seem at first glance. Look, here are a few we made earlier!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_4Woq2FKSDM/VajIXbPtv7I/AAAAAAAAE8o/DEMxjKO-PlY/s1600/comics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_4Woq2FKSDM/VajIXbPtv7I/AAAAAAAAE8o/DEMxjKO-PlY/s400/comics.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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For lots of further activities and ideas and pointers on how to make awesome comics, HEY! I actually made a whole book about this stuff?<br />
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<a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/awesome"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ulpWDOrkJuk/VajIibSWUNI/AAAAAAAAE8w/Tftvd9qU4AE/s400/How%2Bto%2BMake%2BAwesome%2BComics%2BCover%2B2D%2B750px.jpg" width="282" /></a></div>
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Available from good bookshops and libraries nationwide! And do check out the <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/awesome">How To Make Awesome Comics page on my website</a> for more info and examples, and lots more activities and <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/resources">resources to use</a> in making your own comics!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aS59wQQ18Tk/VZmOSXwFA1I/AAAAAAAAE6g/ozcl4-YrFYQ/s1600/Summer%2BReading%2BSophie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aS59wQQ18Tk/VZmOSXwFA1I/AAAAAAAAE6g/ozcl4-YrFYQ/s640/Summer%2BReading%2BSophie.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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I'm delighted to report that <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/pangaea">The Pirates of Pangaea</a> has been included in the list of titles for this year's <a href="http://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/">Summer Reading Challenge</a>! Hot-foot it to your local library and spend your summer holiday in a hazy sun-drenched land of bloodthirsty pirates and magnificent prehistoric giants. </div>
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To kick things off I'll be doing a free Piratey Dinosaury Comics Workshop at our local library, specifically:</div>
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<b>Oxford Central Library </b></div>
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<b>Saturday 11th July</b></div>
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<b>2-3pm</b></div>
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More info on the library's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Oxfordshirelibraries?fref=nf">Facebook page.</a></div>
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It's a FREE event, so come along and sign up for the reading challenge, draw some dinosaurs, and help set a new world record for awesomeness!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgCD6kYNBY8/VXqNhKC1YQI/AAAAAAAAE5g/sA-YQJcf2zA/s1600/MRB%2Bpromo%2B2%2BCMYK%2Bno_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgCD6kYNBY8/VXqNhKC1YQI/AAAAAAAAE5g/sA-YQJcf2zA/s640/MRB%2Bpromo%2B2%2BCMYK%2Bno_logo.jpg" width="496" /></a></div>
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Last week's <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">Phoenix </a>saw the last episode in the current run of my series <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/mega-robo-bros">Mega Robo Bros </a>and I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who's said such nice things about the series lately. You know who you are, and it means a lot, and I'm beyond delighted that my little robot dudes seem to have connected with people. Anyway, Alex and Freddy are going to be taking a short holiday now, but they will be BACK SOON. Soon, and often. We've been having some very exciting conversations about these little guys lately, and, basically, they're going to be around for a while, touch wood. I got me some <i>plans</i> for these guys.</div>
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Anyway! By way of something completely different, this week's Phoenix features a thing I'm very excited about; I had a chance to collaborate with one of my favourite cartoonists, <a href="http://www.eruditebaboon.co.uk/">James Turner</a> of Star Cat fame, and I grabbed that chance and drew muscular barbarians all over it.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeIx_6082gg/VXqV0Os7BWI/AAAAAAAAE5w/p67fXY4ZqlM/s1600/Star%2BCat%2BPreview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CeIx_6082gg/VXqV0Os7BWI/AAAAAAAAE5w/p67fXY4ZqlM/s400/Star%2BCat%2BPreview.jpg" width="297" /></a></div>
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What else? Tamsin! <a href="http://danse-macabre.nu/autojoy">Kate</a> is currently putting together the <i>Tamsin and the Deep</i> collection, and oh my word it is looking glorious. So excited for this book, I can't begin to tell you. In the mean time, I'm starting to write the next volume, <i>Tamsin and the Dark, </i>which I'm afraid I really can't tell you anything about yet. Well I could, but then I'd have to push you down an abandoned mineshaft in rural Cornwall. And I don't think either of us want that.</div>
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Comics Club update: I've had a few enquiries asking if we're running the weeklong comics course at the <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/">Story Museum</a> again this summer, and I'm afraid not - it's a huge amount of work, and I'm afraid I just couldn't fit it in with other commitments this year. I am doing a few one-off events here and there in Oxford over the summer - check out my <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</a> page for details. More to be announced there soon!</div>
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Okay, that's pretty much what I'm doing! I had better go and get on with it all.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqq3XYukyBY/VXVIu5P3CoI/AAAAAAAAE5I/APuVD_uTH3o/s1600/Hellboy%2BHellboy%2BRGB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uqq3XYukyBY/VXVIu5P3CoI/AAAAAAAAE5I/APuVD_uTH3o/s640/Hellboy%2BHellboy%2BRGB.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
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I was excited to recently<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/science/2015/jun/04/new-species-of-dinosaur-the-regaliceratops-discovered-in-canada"> read of the discovery of a new dinosaur</a>, <i>Regaliceratops peterhewsi</i>, which has the enjoyable distinction of being a bit like a Triceratops but a bit different, and thus very likely qualifies as the coolest thing to happen in 2015 so far. Also enjoyable is the fact that it's discoverers nicknamed the fossil 'Hellboy' - not in fact for anything to do with the horns, but because of some peculiar difficulties in the excavation. </div>
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Anyway, once I became acquainted with these two pieces of information, a course of action pretty much immediately presented itself.</div>
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ANYWAY! As is my usual form, I was far too busy drawing robots for people to remember to take any photos of it all. But fortunately, some of my robots came to life and came along, so I could take photos of them! Look who I bumped into:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_sUH6Ikxsds/VUiAkRKX00I/AAAAAAAAE1o/pCNhcafXpek/s1600/IMG_3372.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_sUH6Ikxsds/VUiAkRKX00I/AAAAAAAAE1o/pCNhcafXpek/s640/IMG_3372.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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Which, obviously, rather completely made my day. And allowed us to quickly create the following:<br />
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MEGA ROBO BROS LIVE!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZFDJHiPKW0/VUiAwZTBDDI/AAAAAAAAE1w/vAOo29pv5sc/s1600/IMG_3377.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nZFDJHiPKW0/VUiAwZTBDDI/AAAAAAAAE1w/vAOo29pv5sc/s640/IMG_3377.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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You'll notice that the kid who came cosplaying as Freddy was also SIMULTANEOUSLY COSPLAYING AS EVIL EMPEROR PENGUIN, and as such holds a pretty solid claim to being the most awesome person in the country.<br />
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Here for good measure is the Alex version:<br />
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Just so much fun. I made those panels last week, volunteering on a Sunday and being filled with a nagging worry that I really should have just taken a much-needed day off instead. I really hoped they would be a fun little bonus thing for kids and parents at the festival, and anyway, these pictures alone make it all pretty much worthwhile from my perspective. Thanks so much, Mega Robo Family!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tG5fpovYDLs/VSy8dN6kkWI/AAAAAAAAE0o/OdbEGeNiUsE/s1600/booklist2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tG5fpovYDLs/VSy8dN6kkWI/AAAAAAAAE0o/OdbEGeNiUsE/s1600/booklist2.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Regular readers of this blog will know I've talked a lot here about the importance of comics for kids, the role they can play in developing literacy skills and inspiring a love of reading and, y'know, <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/comics-and-literacy-part-1-why-reading.html">all that sort of thing.</a> Unfortunately, I've also talked a lot about how difficult it can be for parents, educators, and indeed kids themselves to know where to <i>start</i> with comics; to find exciting and age-appropriate titles. I've attempted to recommend a few titles from time to time, with my apparently now-annual series of posts <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/comics-for-6-year-olds.html">Comics For 6-Year-Olds</a> and <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/comics-and-literacy-day-4-comics-for-7.html">Comics For 7-Year-Olds</a> (coming this year! Comic-For-8-Year Olds! I guess?), but I'm well aware how brief and incomplete they are. I can't begin to tell you the number of times over the last few years that I've been off doing workshops, talking to teachers and librarians who're interested in using comics but need some pointers where to start, and wished I had just a big LIST to give them. A <b>Big List Of Awesome Comics For Kids.</b><br />
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Well, the good news is, someone made that list! That someone(s) being <a href="https://twitter.com/librarymice">Melanie McGilloway</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/playbythebook">Zoe Toft</a> of the Federation of Children's Book Groups, who have put together a new booklist entitled <i>'Inside The Box: A Selection of Comics And Graphic Novels For All Ages'</i>, which... well, which is basically the thing I've been wishing existed for the last five or so years. To quote Melanie and Zoe's introduction:</div>
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"The Federation's primary aim is to encourage reading for pleasure and we are sure the books and magazines on this list will do just that. Although comics and graphic novels are sometimes resisted by (adult) gatekeepers, we are great believers in this format and hope that this list shows comics are not just for boys or reluctant readers but for anyone who enjoys great storytelling."</blockquote>
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And it really is an impressive list - wide-ranging and thoughtfully curated, with an eminently useful focus on titles that are in print and widely available in the UK. Again, making it <i>easy</i> for teachers, librarians, parents and kids, which I think is so important.</div>
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(In the interests of FULL DISCLOSURE I should mention that I was consulted during the making of the list, but I really barely helped at all - I'm quite sure Melanie and Zoe were already familiar with all the titles I suggested, and a whole lot more besides. There's stuff in here that I'd never heard of previously, and which I'm already looking forward to checking out.)</div>
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Any teachers, librarians, or just anyone with an interest who'd like to get hold of the booklist, please contact the Federation to request copies - just e-mail <a href="mailto:info@fcbg.org.uk">info@fcbg.org.uk</a> with your name and address. More info on the <a href="http://t.co/CnD6BRs5bF">FCBG's blog, here</a>. I personally have a thick wedge of copies that I shall be liberally strewing in my wake pretty much wherever I go from now on. Thanks again, Zoe and Melanie!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzH9fBMcA4A/VSalVal3cTI/AAAAAAAAEzQ/BMOe2dcHGjA/s1600/Gosh%2BPoP%2Bposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZzH9fBMcA4A/VSalVal3cTI/AAAAAAAAEzQ/BMOe2dcHGjA/s1600/Gosh%2BPoP%2Bposter.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
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I'm going to be at lots of book festivals and comics events and such over the next few months, so if you would like to come and say hell<span style="text-align: center;">o and get me to draw pictures of dinosaurs for you: you have MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO DO SO! I've just updated the '<a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/upcoming-events">Upcoming Events</a>' section of my website with details of some, and there's a load more to be announced soon, I just wanted to draw your attention to a couple in particular here:</span><br />
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<b>Pirates of Pangaea Day at Gosh Comics, London - 16 May! </b></div>
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My co-pirate Daniel Hartwell and myself will be at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/813647628722925/">Gosh Comics on Saturday 16 May</a> from 1-3 PM, drawing with kids and running competitions and painting giant dinosaurs in the window and all sorts of fun things like that. If you are about and in London and have kids, or just really like dinosaurs, please come along, and indeed <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/813647628722925/">spread the word!</a></div>
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<b>Phoenix Comic Festival, Oxford, 2-3 May!</b></div>
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It's the third year of the phenomenally good fun <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/phoenixfest/">Phoenix Festival</a> at the Story Museum - tickets are going super fast so if you have any young Phoenix fans in the family, <a href="https://www.oxfordplayhouse.com/ticketsoxford/#promoter=726">BOOK NOW!</a> It's a fantastic day - a whole weekend in fact, this year, they're extending it - and I really can't overstate how fun and positive and exciting an event it is for young comics readers (and creators). I'm doing workshops on the Saturday, and a whole bunch of amazing cartoonists are there over the whole weekend.<br />
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If you can't make it along to those, or indeed any of the other events I'll be at this year, there is still a way to get me to draw on your books! I'm offering through my website a special <a href="http://neillcameron.bigcartel.com/product/the-pirates-of-pangaea-sketched-copy">Custom Dinosaur edition of <i>Pirates of Pangaea</i></a>, in which I will happily sketch for you the following proposition:<br />
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<b>ANY CHARACTER </b>(living, dead or fictional)<b>, riding ANY DINOSAUR.</b><br />
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I hope you will take me up on this as, frankly, they are super fun to do and I love drawing them. Here are a few examples:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kntJsdsCWuI/VSfX1FU09II/AAAAAAAAEzs/avW1_rwJNiQ/s1600/tumblr_nmlfw4Igjn1ruihbao1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kntJsdsCWuI/VSfX1FU09II/AAAAAAAAEzs/avW1_rwJNiQ/s1600/tumblr_nmlfw4Igjn1ruihbao1_1280.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a><br />
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<i>Alex and Freddy on a Chronosaurus (?)</i></div>
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<i>Gandalf on a Stegosaurus</i></div>
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<i>Batman on a Triceratops </i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qMIDSBE9JR0/VSfX1_RvdpI/AAAAAAAAE0A/fPfdBgnohj0/s1600/tumblr_nmlfw4Igjn1ruihbao2_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qMIDSBE9JR0/VSfX1_RvdpI/AAAAAAAAE0A/fPfdBgnohj0/s1600/tumblr_nmlfw4Igjn1ruihbao2_1280.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>A Pirate on A Dinosaur (the 'default setting') </i></div>
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<i>Upsy Daisy on a Hadrosaur</i></div>
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<i>Astronaut on a Velociraptor</i></div>
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You get the idea. You can order your very own Custom Dinosaur at from my web shop at: <a href="http://neillcameron.bigcartel.com/">http://neillcameron.bigcartel.com/</a> </div>
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Challenges welcome!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujaxFFNCGKo/VC5VWSD_6YI/AAAAAAAAEjE/KYF5jJzLPWE/s1600/The%2BHistory%2Bof%2BBritish%2BComics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujaxFFNCGKo/VC5VWSD_6YI/AAAAAAAAEjE/KYF5jJzLPWE/s1600/The%2BHistory%2Bof%2BBritish%2BComics.jpg" height="386" width="400" /></a></div>
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I've technically come to the end of my residency at <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/">The Story Museum</a> in Oxford, but I seem to be still hanging around the place a lot, between my weekly <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2015/02/saturday-morning-comics-club.html">Comics Club</a> there and a few exciting bits and pieces I've got planned before the Phoenix Children's Comics Festival in May. One thing we've talked about is putting together a bit of a permanent reading library of children's comics, which I think would be an absolutely fantastic thing - a collection of great comics from all over the world and all over the years that kids can just sit and peruse and read and get lost in.<br />
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<div>
So: what we need is... well, comics. ALL child-friendly comics from all nations and eras are enormously welcome, but in the first instance what I'm really after is a range of British weekly comics of the 1970s / 80s. Not necessarily long runs of anything, just a couple of <i>Misty</i>s here, a couple of <i>Victor</i>s there, a few <i>Whizzer and Chips</i>es in between. One of the upcoming activities I've got planned for Comics Club is all about anthologies, and it'd be really great to show kids something of the range of material, of genres and subject matters, that used to be available. I've got a bunch of early <i>2000AD</i>s that I'll be donating myself, and it'd be great to have a load of other old comics to keep them company.</div>
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<br /></div>
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(Please note: comics in this library would not be preserved in mylar in pristine condition. They would be read, and no doubt ultimately destroyed, by children. But isn't that the point?)</div>
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<div>
If you do have any comics you'd like to donate to the museum, the best thing to do in the first instance would be to contact either me - on <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/">twitter</a> or in a comment here - or the <a href="https://twitter.com/thestorymuseum">Story Museum</a> directly, and then we can start to liase about details. Please spread the word, and thank you in advance!</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-niSzNHazo6Q/VPiGwLEyyzI/AAAAAAAAEyM/wrnndZVmfd4/s1600/pageone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-niSzNHazo6Q/VPiGwLEyyzI/AAAAAAAAEyM/wrnndZVmfd4/s1600/pageone.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Tamsin and the Deep (c) 2015 Neill Cameron and Kate Brown, OBVS</i></span></div>
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I'm giving a couple of talks on Writing Comics here and there these days, and I thought I'd put some of my resources up here for reference, so: for anyone interested in the process of How To Write Comics - or How <i>I </i>Write Comics, anyway, which is not necessarily the same thing - here you go. As an example we'll be taking the first episode of <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/tamsin%20and%20the%20deep">Tamsin and The Deep</a>, a strip I write for the magnificently talented artist <a href="http://danse-macabre.nu/autojoy/">Kate Brown</a>, which is published in <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">The Phoenix</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
First off, the story is outlined in broad strokes in a Series Outline which we'll discuss and get feedback from our editors on. The way it works on the Phoenix you'll generally have a story commissioned for a given number of episodes, and number of pages per episode, so writing an outline like this is a very useful way of getting the whole story straight and figuring out the overall shape of the thing before you fire into making it. Here's the first page of my outline for Tamsin, covering the first episode:</div>
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<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>TAMSIN AND THE DEEP</b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>SERIES OUTLINE</b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b></b><b>By Neill Cameron</b>(4 ‘chapters’ / seasons, of 5 episodes each. 20 episodes
total.)<br />
<b> </b><b>CHAPTER ONE</b><b> </b><b>EPISODE ONE</b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A cold November morning on a windy beach in Cornwall. It is
largely deserted - all the holidaymakers are long gone for the year. The only
people around are three local boys, surfing - impervious or steeled to the cold
in their drysuits - and a young girl, who sits on the beach, grumpily watching
them.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The girl, Tamsin, argues with one of the boys - her older
brother, Morgan.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"You were supposed to be teaching me. You promised
Mum!"</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Alright, alright! In a minute…"</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Morgan is too busy having fun with his Idiot Friends, and
Tamsin is abandoned on the beach. Grumpily, she picks up her bodyboard and sets
off to have a go herself, some way off, muttering as she goes about Stupid
Morgan and his Stupid Idiot Friends.<br />
Morgan and his friends return to shore, notice that she's
gone. They see her getting up onto her board, some distance off. She's outside
the flags, off a dangerous stretch of coastline. As they yell and wave their
hands to get her attention, Tamsin catches a big wave...</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
...and wipes out. She is rolled around under the surf,
managing to almost get back to the surface before being pulled down by a
powerful undertow. The cord connecting her to her board snaps. She is dragged
downwards, away from the sun and down, down into the dark.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Morgan and his friends see her board bobbing around
uselessly on the surface, and Morgan starts to scream helplessly.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
"Tamsin! TAMSIN!"</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
As Tamsin struggles desperately beneath the waves, she
manages to turn, and sees...</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Arms gripping her legs, pulling her down. And just visible
through the darkness, a terrible, beautiful, utterly alien face.</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>TO BE CONTINUED… </b></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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That was pretty much one side of A4 for one episode. With something like Mega Robo Bros, where I'm writing for myself as an artist and I've been doing it for a while, the outline might be a lot shorter, but as this was an all-new strip and characters it goes into quite a lot of detail.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Once the outline have been discussed, amended, edited and approved, we proceed to scripting. On Tamsin I'm writing full scripts for Kate, whereas on Mega Robo Bros I'll pretty much jump straight from the outline into thumbnailing. Anyway, here's the full first episode of Tamsin, in script form:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b>TAMSIN AND THE DEEP</b></div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b>By Neill Cameron</b></b></div>
<b>
</b><b></b>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b>EPISODE ONE</b></b></div>
<b>
</b><o:p></o:p>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Page One</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
1.1: Small shot showing waves.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
VOICE (o/p): Morgan!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TITLE & CREDITS:</div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>TAMSIN AND THE DEEP</b></b></div>
<b>
</b><b></b>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>By Neill Cameron & Kate Brown</b></b></div>
<b>
</b><b></b>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><b>Episode 1</b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
1.2: Big shot of Porthtowan beach. It is late November, the
skies are slate grey and the sea dark, but that has not put off a small group
of three teenagers: the dark-haired MORGAN and his idiot friends TRAVIS and
KYLE, who are paddling their surfboards out into the waves. On the sands sits a
ten-year-old girl, TAMSIN. Beside her are some bags and surfing-gear, left on
the sands, and a couple of bodyboards. A large golden retriever, PENGERSEK,
runs happily around on the sands behind her, chasing a ball. She is calling out
to the group of boys on their surfboards.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Morgaaan!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN: What IS it,
Tamsin?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
1.3: full-figure shot of Tamsin, so we get a proper look at
her. She wears wetsuit and flippers; she is all kitted up with nowhere to do.
She sits on her bodyboard, lain flat on the sand. Behind her, Pengersek runs around
happily, chasing a ball.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: You’re supposed to be teaching me!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: You promised MUM!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
1.4: Shot from out in the sea; Morgan and one of his idiot
friends (Kyle, the loudmouth)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN: I will! In a bit, okay?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
KYLE: Dude, your sister is annoying. Do you really have to
babysit her?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
1.5: Close in on Tamsin, pulling a sulky face.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN (small, distant): Ugh, tell me about it…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: JERKS.</div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b></b></b></div>
<b>
</b></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><b>Page Two</b></b></div>
<b>
</b>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.1: Medium shot. Her face set in determination, Tamsin
picks up her bodyboard and strides off to panel right.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Who needs him!</div>
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</div>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.2: Arial shot, Tamsin strides along the beach, a trail of
footprints behind her. Pengersek runs after her, yapping.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
PENGERSEK: YAP YAP YAP!</div>
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</div>
</blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Don’t worry, Pengersek. Of course I’ll be careful.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.3: Long shot of Tamsin striding out into the surf. In the
distance we can see Morgan and his friends bobbing around on the surf, waiting
for a big wave.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: After all, if those morons can do it…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.4: Tamsin paddles out, lying flat on her board now.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: …how hard can it be, right?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.5: Tamsin is now out in the sea, facing back towards the
beach. She looks over her shoulder, out to sea.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Okay. So now I just wait for a big wave, right?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.6: Shot from Tamsin’s POV of a wave approaching, in the
distance.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
SFX: SHHHWWWW</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.7: Small shot of Tamsin, looking slightly worried.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: ...that <i>is</i> a big wave.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.8: similar shot to 2.6; the wave is much closer now, white
foam breaking on the top of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
SFX: SHHHHWWWWW</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
2.9: Tamsin grips her board and looks up at the wave as it
curls over her.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Whooooaaaa!</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<o:p><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</o:p><b><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Page Three</b></div>
</b><br />
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</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
3.1: Large panel: Tamsin is doing it; riding the wave,
speeding across the front of it on her boadyboard. She looks delighted. Sun
glints on the waves.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Ha ha ha ha ha! I’m doing it!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: EAT IT, Morgan!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
3.2: Small panel of Morgan, some distance off; looking
round. <span style="color: red;">Possibly we can see Travis in shot, also looking
off to the same point.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN: Huh?</div>
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span></blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: red;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: red;">TRAVIS: What’s she doing? She’s too
far out!</span></div>
<span style="color: red;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
3.2: Close in on Tamsin; she looks worried now; struggling
to hold onto the board as the wave bears down on top of her.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
SFX: SHHHHHHHWWWWWW</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Ummmm…..</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: Hold on…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
3.3: Another large-ish panel; Tamsin WIPES OUT, the wave
crashing down over her – just a limb or a tip of board being visible beneath
the foam.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
TAMSIN: waa---</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
SFX: SHHWWWWFFFF!!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
3.4: Wide shot of the beach; Off to the left we see Morgan
surfing along, looking over to where Tamsin has disappeared beneath the water.
Pengersek is splashing into the surf at the edge of the beach, barking
furiously towards that same point.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN: Tamsin -?</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
PENGERSEK: RUFF RUFF RUFF RUFF!!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
3.6-3.9: Kate, I’d like to leave the precise panelling of this
up to you, but the last third of this page should essentially be a sequence of
Tamsin rolling around under the water in the undertow. The sequence of
‘events’, such as there is one, is –</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Tamsin is pulled down by the undertow. She flails wildly, uselessly.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The cord tying Tamsin to her board snaps free, the board
shoots pu and away to the surface…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
…Tamsin manages to recover her bearings enough to at least
see which way the surface is, and reaches for it…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
…only to feel something pulling her down. She looks around…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
…setting up the big page-turn reveal for p4. But the precise
sequence of events is less important here than the overall sensation – of
panic, or chaotic turbulence, or rolling waves and darkness and impending
drowning.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
HAVE FUN WITH THAT.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<o:p><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</o:p><b><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>Page Four</b></div>
</b><o:p><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</o:p><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
4.1: BIG panel. Still underwater, we see Tamsin being pulled down into the darkness by
a HAND that grips her ankle. Between the darkness and the rolling waves and
perhaps some seaweed it is hard to make out WHAT, exactly, it is. But we see a
hand; a dark, greeny-blue hand. It grips Tamsin tightly by the ankle as she
twists her body round in panic, looking down at it.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
4.2: Close in on Tamsin’s face, looking down in panicked
horror amongst the swirl of air bubbles.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
4.3: Reverse-angle shot; Close in on an EERIE INHUMAN FACE
looking up at her; female but fishlike; large black merciless eyes. Again,
shrouded in darkness and seaweed and churning surf, but it is definitely a
face.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
4.4: Morgan and friends running along the beach, dog
barking…</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Back on the surface, a wide-angled shot of Morgan, running
through the surf in panic, Pengersek at his side. Travis and Kyle are bringing
up the rear, ineffectually. Morgan’s face is absolutely wild with terror.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN: TAMSIN!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
4.5: Shot from Morgan’s POV of Tamsin’s bodyboard washing up
in surf; its cord trailing uselessly behind it, attached to nothing.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</blockquote>
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
MORGAN: (o/p): <b><i>TAMSIN!!</i></b></div>
<b></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<b>
</b><b></b>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<b>
</b><b><div style="text-align: left;">
<b>TO BE CONTINUED…</b></div>
</b></blockquote>
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<br /></div>
Couple of points:<br />
<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>You'll note a couple of lines in red there: I think they were added in based on editorial feedback on the first draft; if memory serves, we just wanted to add a bit of clarity as to where Tamsin was relative to the boys, and hint that she was somewhere she shouldn't be.</li>
<li>On the third page there's a section where instead of giving precise panel-by-panel script description, I've just described the general effect we're going for and left it up to Kate to make those decisions. When you are working with an artist and storyteller as talented as Kate, this is often a good idea.</li>
</ul>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You can currently read the whole of <a href="http://www.movellas.com/story/201411101205041529-tamsin-and-the-deep">Tamsin and the Deep chapter one </a>over on Movella's<a href="http://www.movellas.com/competition/show/201410231320203457/project-remix-competition"> Project Remix</a> site - and maybe then have a go at creating your own comics, too. Do go have a look, and see for yourself the amazingly beautiful comic that Kate created out of all these boring old words.</div>
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</table></div>Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689901140275643742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570136224774191385.post-58321591705458817522015-03-04T08:33:00.000+00:002015-03-04T08:59:29.378+00:00The Pirates of Pangaea: Book One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txBevOB0JnQ/VPa9RbKEVlI/AAAAAAAAExA/31sW6Zh9PsU/s1600/PoP%2BFINAL%2BCover%2BDesign%2B150dpi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-txBevOB0JnQ/VPa9RbKEVlI/AAAAAAAAExA/31sW6Zh9PsU/s1600/PoP%2BFINAL%2BCover%2BDesign%2B150dpi.jpg" height="640" width="451" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/pangaea">The Pirates of Pangaea</a> - a graphic novel concerning pirates, dinosaurs, and adventures thereupon by Daniel Hartwell and myself - was published recently, and it occurred to me that I possibly ought to mention this fact on my blog. The book collects the first big story arc from the now rather hard-to-find issues 0-20 of <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">The Phoenix</a>, along with lots of special new bits and pieces and cool fun stuff like maps and faux 18th-century dinosaur guidebook pages and that kind of thing. It was a huge amount of fun to make and if you know any kids who like comics or dinosaurs or pirates or ALL OF THOSE THINGS I hope you'll consider grabbing them a copy. We've been getting some lovely reviews, which I am now going to proceed to shamelessly share with you...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #231f20; line-height: 25.5px; margin-bottom: 1em; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"<span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Pirates of Pangaea</span> is absolutely the best comic strip being published for children in the UK, possibly the world. 10/10”</i> -<a href="http://www.starburstmagazine.com/reviews/comic-reviews/10945-the-pirates-of-panaea-book-1">Starburst Magazine </a><br /><i>"Pirates! Dinosaurs! Every bit as wonderful together as you expect to be, every bit as brilliant as you wanted it to be." </i>- <a href="http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2015/review-pirates-dinosaurs-epic-adventuring-pirates-pangaea/">Forbidden Planet</a><br /><i>"Superbly engaging and utterly enthralling, this astounding all-action romp is a riotous delight of astonishing adventure."</i> - Now Read This! </span></blockquote>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
...but, as ever with comics, there's not a lot of money for advertising on the sides of buses and so forth (which is a shame because OH how I would love to see dinoships on the sides of buses) and we really do rely on word of mouth, so please... say words with your mouth? Thank you!</div>
<div>
<br />
You can see a bunch of art from the book and find out all about it over on my website, at <a href="http://www.neillcameron.com/pangaea">www.neillcameron.com/pangaea</a>, or read a preview <a href="http://neillcameron.tumblr.com/post/110628055422/hey-look-my-new-book-the-pirates-of-pangaea-is">on my tumblr</a>. And look, you can now buy from those nice people at the Phoenix an <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/product/neill-cameron-3-book-bundle/">exciting BUNDLE</a> containing all three of my books (that's <i>Pirates</i> as well as <i>Mo-Bot High</i> and <i>How To Make Awesome Comics</i>) for a cut-down bargain price. I am mostly just excited to have somehow done enough books to constitute a bundle.</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
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</table></div>Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689901140275643742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570136224774191385.post-58572038720404837642015-02-09T22:13:00.003+00:002015-02-09T22:29:19.926+00:00Saturday Morning Comics Club!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3qH71sRGdw/VNktil1CNII/AAAAAAAAEvg/kBPED64N66Q/s1600/Comics%2BClub%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v3qH71sRGdw/VNktil1CNII/AAAAAAAAEvg/kBPED64N66Q/s1600/Comics%2BClub%2B1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Photo courtesy <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/">The Story Museum</a>)</span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
I'm trying an Exciting New Venture in 2015, running a <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/comics-club-taster-session/">Saturday Morning Comics Club</a> at the <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/">Story Museum</a> in Oxford! It's for kids aged 8-12, and every week we'll be reading comics...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TBF1FtpG11Q/U-G6IMvgk-I/AAAAAAAAEF0/MhF-CSUhzDw/s1600/blogger-image--1394895631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TBF1FtpG11Q/U-G6IMvgk-I/AAAAAAAAEF0/MhF-CSUhzDw/s1600/blogger-image--1394895631.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Like THESE)</span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
...talking about comics, learning about comics, and most importantly MAKING LOTS OF AWESOME COMICS!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6EnA8EmHrQ/U-HA2UrtI8I/AAAAAAAAEGE/V2PMtB84rOU/s1600/Page%2B1%2B-%2BFront%2BCover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-A6EnA8EmHrQ/U-HA2UrtI8I/AAAAAAAAEGE/V2PMtB84rOU/s1600/Page%2B1%2B-%2BFront%2BCover.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Like <a href="http://neillcameron.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/awesome-comics-made.html">this one</a>! Or maybe EVEN AWESOMER. Who can say?</span></i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The goal is to have produced a brand-new anthology comic in time for the <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/phoenix-childrens-comic-festival-2015/">Phoenix Children's Comic Festival</a> in May, but I dare say that'll just be the start of it!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div align="center">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVygP9YVdW0/U99FW-6AueI/AAAAAAAAEFE/81LxDbsCcI4/s1600/blogger-image--679462338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MVygP9YVdW0/U99FW-6AueI/AAAAAAAAEFE/81LxDbsCcI4/s1600/blogger-image--679462338.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I'm also going to be using the same 'curriculum' and ideas to run a weekly Comics Club on a volunteer basis as an afterschool thing at our local primary. I bang on a lot, encouraging parents and teachers and librarians to use comics in their schools as a great way of boosting literacy and encouraging creativity and having FUN, and I figured it was time to put my money where my mouth is and get involved myself. I'll be blogging about the experience and lessons learned and ideas it prompts as we go along here, in the hopes of maybe encouraging other parents / cartoonists / foolhardy souls to have a go themselves.</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Anyway, the Story Museum Comics Club starts with a <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/comics-club-taster-session/">taster session this Saturday</a> (14th Feb), 11-12:30 am. You can find full details and book a place on the Story Museum website, here:</div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
...and then the <a href="http://www.storymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/comics-club-neill-cameron/">main event starts in proper on 28th Feb</a> and then every week thereafter. If you'd like more information please e-mail <a href="mailto:tickets@thestorymuseum.org.uk">tickets@thestorymuseum.org.uk</a> or phone <b>01865 790050</b> to speak to the lovely people at the museum with any questions you may have.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
I am mildly terrified but I think it's going to be lots of fun. If you do know any families in the Oxford area who might be interested, please do spread the word!</div>
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</table></div>Neillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13689901140275643742noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4570136224774191385.post-74130534227787031472015-01-20T10:18:00.000+00:002015-01-20T10:18:06.711+00:00Mega Robo Week!<!-- AddThis Button BEGIN -->
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My comic Mega Robo Bros starts its second series in <a href="http://www.thephoenixcomic.co.uk/">The Phoenix</a> this Friday! To celebrate this exciting fact I thought I'd spend this week sharing some art from the strip, and even some full episodes, and pulling back the curtain a bit to talk about, you know, the artistic process and my thoughts and feelings and all that dumb stuff. </div>
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In case you haven't caught it yet: Mega Robo Bros tells the story of Alex and Freddy, two brothers who live in a London of the (carefully indeterminate) future, and... well, actually I'll just give you the blurb that opens each episode, that seems easiest...</div>
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This is Alex:<br />
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He's the sensitive one.</div>
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And this is Freddy:<br />
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He's the terrifyingly destructive, scatalogically obsessed, borderline sociopathic one. (Which is to say, he's 6).</div>
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The idea for the strip had been floating around my head for a little while, ever since one day I saw my son running around pretending to be a robot and shooting lasers out of his fingers and thought to myself: oh my God... what if he <i>could</i>?</div>
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My son will happily tell you that this means that the strip is in fact his idea, and I'm not going to argue too hard. In fact, as it's been appearing in the Phoenix a weird feedback loop thing has been starting to happen, where I'll put in things kind of inspired by the boy, and he'll find them hilarious and quote them back endlessly, to the point where I actually find it quite hard to remember who said something first: my son or my fictional robots. </div>
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Which can be confusing.<br />
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Anyway: as I say, the second 'season' begins this week!<br />
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Regular readers may have noticed a certain fluidity to the strip so far, in terms of size and scale. Basically, I've been doing it on quite an ad-hoc basis; trying different lengths of strip, different approaches, different things. This has been hugely enjoyable, and I've loved the opportunity to experiment and do shorter little things. Single-page comics have become pretty much my favourite things in the world, and at some point I want to try some even shorter ones. Also, it's basically been as close as I've ever got to just straight-up writing a sitcom, and I have loved every second of it. Back when I was developing the idea, the point at which I got really excited about it was when I had ideas for two stories I could do with it - one of which was a 3-panel gag strip, and the other a 200-page emotionally gruelling graphic novel. That seemed like an idea with legs.<br />
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Anyway, as I've been doing these shorter strips, along the way I've been dropping little hints here and there, letting things percolate away in the background, building up bits and pieces about a bigger story. And in Season 2, starting this Friday in The Phoenix issue 160, we actually get on and start telling that story. I'm really excited about it. Join us, won't you?</div>
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Also! Check back on this blog, as well as my <a href="http://www.twitter.com/neillcameron">twitter</a> and <a href="http://neillcameron.tumblr.com/">tumblr</a> all week where I'll be posting selected full episodes from Season 1, development art and fun stuff to give you a taste of the strip. </div>
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