Johnny Fighters

COLLEGE PROJECT

2012-01-31T12:44:00.000Z

Can't say too much about this yet as I don't sufficiently understand it myself, but here's a bunch of sketches etc from my big project for my MA.

It's very much Work in Progress at the moment, and is something to do with the idea of the City as a centre of financial (mis)management.

This is playing with an idea of Debt as some kind soul-sapping louse or parasite.

Sketches from the documentary Inside Job.

LEVIATHAN STRIKES!

2012-01-26T23:01:00.000Z

This joke is obscure even by the standards of comics geekery, but I had to get it out of my system.

(As some kind of justification, it references two of my favourite writers, from very different forms of comics, Grant Morrison and Peter Blegvad).

Hm, I'd better do some work for college, eh?

ETCH A SKETCH!

2012-01-04T22:35:00.000Z

I got to try some etching towards the end of last year, but as the results ended up as Xmas presents I haven't been able to blog about them until now.

I got to try two slightly different techniques, with a soft and hard ground (the waxy stuff that you roll on to the metal plate and actually etch into).

Here's my first go, on a soft ground on a steel plate. The soft ground picks up lots of texture so you can use it to get patterns from material, or, in my case, thumb prints!

It's the legendary and late Humphrey Lyttelton, jazz trumpeter and presenter of I'm Sorry I Haven't A Clue. My lucky Dad got this picture.

The hard ground gives you a cleaner, more cross-hatchy style, more like I'd thought of as an etching, so I decided to do an etched interpretation of William Blake, Taxi Driver. This is William on a hard ground on a zinc plate.

I thought it would be interesting to experiment with hand-tinting the Blake prints with water-colours (as Blake did in some of his illuminated books) but it's a lot harder than it looks!

It all went a bit clown colours on this one so I had another go with a calmer palette, thus!

Much happier with this one, so I gave this one to my Mum.

So, a really interesting process. I'm looking forward to getting back in the etching studio, trying out some more and figuring out how to incorporate it into my BIG PROJECT.

Happy New Fear...

2012-01-03T22:25:00.001Z

I've been trying to think through my BIG PROJECT for college and wound myself up into a bit of a state, something like this:

I think I made a bit of a breakthrough today so should be more positive stuff on its way! Got a lot of drawing to do over the next few days...

Spiv Hop Pop Art Print

2011-12-14T17:38:00.000Z

Here's the final Hitsville UK print, featuring Spiv Hop pioneer Jack Spatz.

We can't get all the prints on our web shop at the moment (hopefully they'll all be up there in the future) but if you'd like one of Mr Spatz printed on lovely posh paper for £10 plus p&p then let me know.

SCARY SANTA!

2011-12-13T14:50:00.000Z

My tutor saw my big red faces and asked me to do a scary Santa for our class Xmas do.

Here he is. He ended up on a skateboard.
That's how he does it all in one night.

I've gone back to college...

2011-11-30T12:14:00.000Z

...it's like one of those episodes of Neighbours where someone's Mum goes back to school and really embarrasses the kids. Well, it's a bit like that, I should have waited until I had offspring.

Anyway, as opposed to the first time round, I am not, thus far, spending all of my time drinking myself into a slough of depsond, I'm actually making work!

Here are highlights so far: twenty faces on a sheet of A1 paper, followed by another sheet of A1, concentrating on one face. Faces are my thing so this was right up my street, so I decided to muck about with some new techniques, loosening up my drawing/inking style and having a right laugh with some really basic printing techniques. The kitchen looked like I'd murdered the cat*

I'm in there, with current Movember lip slug, and there's the obligatory reference to William Blake in the form of his Ghost of a Flea, top right. The big face turned out like a particularly angry Aleister Crowley, not sure what happened there. We put our A1's up in the corridors of Camberwell on the day that a bunch of prospective students were visiting, so I hope I didn't scare any off!

This Monday, Chloe Cheese took us through some more established forms of those printing technigues, in the form of mono printing. Brilliant fun! It was like primary school art class all over again. Potato printing for the artistically ambitious! Hoorah!

Here's the culmination of my day's experimentation, Hitsville UK's Gwillum, in process and finished version.

I'm really enjoying trying out these new techniques, and I'm really keen on incorporating some of them into my big project (which I am writing the proposal for now, I am I am honest!)

I get to try out etching tomorrow, hope William is watching over my shoulder.

*I did not murder the cat.

Mo-town 'tachebusters vol. 1

2011-11-24T22:44:00.000Z

John has been bullied into taking part in Movember and, not to be outdone, Ruthie from The Carrie Nation's Revenge has followed suit.

That's Feminism in action!

If you can spare a few quids/dollars/euros/yen please donate at http://mobro.co/johnriordan

Thoughts on the bubble

2011-11-23T19:28:00.001Z

Thought Bubble was ace, and bloody knackering. It was straight back into college stuff when I returned so I'm still collecting my thoughts.

I've not been to Thought Bubble before, and I have heard literally not a bad word about it, so I was convinced that I was going to ruin it!

"D'you remember that comics convention in Leeds?"

"Oh yeah, it was really good for the first four years, then that big-headed twat with the crap 'tache came along..." etc.

I am pleased to report that I did not manage to hex the Bubble. It was the first time they've done it as a two-dayer and opinion was divided as to whether they'll do it that way again. It was certainly quieter (and foggier!) on the Sunday but it was nice to actually be able to wander and talk to people, without feeling like it was totally hectic.

We were sharing a table with our good friends Underfire Comics (that's Dan on the edge of the picture above), and stationed in the smaller of the two halls, part of the amazing Royal Armouries (it's actually full of armour, who knew?)

Here's the view from the stand!

Mike and Mark conducted a video interview with Keiron Gillen for a forthcoming Comic Gosh!p sesh (discussing Phonogram and Hitsville UK) and rumour has it that Gwillum may have got in on the act. We'll get back to you with evidence on that when we see it.

Oh yeah, the comics, eh? So much good stuff on sale, waaaay too much to take in. Here's my haul.

God knows when I'm going to find time to read all of these... Nelson alone looks like it's going to demand some serious (and rewarding) rumination. Still, that's a rather nice problem to have, isn't it, and if that's not a good indication of the wealth of talent in comics in our poor, austere isle at the moment, then I don't know what is!

Face to (lack of) face

2011-11-16T12:56:00.000Z

I like to think I don't really do hero worship but you'll have to excuse my gushing a little bit because the other evening I got to to meet Peter Blegvad.

Peter wrote the amazing comic strip Leviathan, about a faceless and philosophically inclined baby that ran in the Indy on Sunday from 1992 to 1999, when I was but an impressionable teenager.

Leviathan was an oblique but definite influence on William Blake, Taxi Driver, and the inquisitive and playful nature of the strip has been an influence on me as a human (I hope) as much as a comic artist.

Here's what my meeting with Peter might have looked like.

(He didn't really have milk, but he is very tall).

If you have no idea what I'm on about I urge you in the strongest possible terms to check out Leviathan over here.

Les Petit Prints

2011-11-15T18:04:00.001Z

Here are the Hitsville prints that I've been working on. Hoping to add one of Jack Spatz yet, but I've run out of time for Thought Bubble and my MA is quite rightly demanding that I actually do my work.

These are A4, printed on lovely, posh paper (somerset enhanced, 100 per cent cotton) and signed by yours truly.
We'll have them on sale at Thought Bubble this weekend (19 -20 November) for £3.50 or £6 with a copy of Hitsville UK #1. We'll put them up on the Hitsville shop next week but they'll be a bit pricier to buy this way so snap 'em up if you're at Thought Bubble.

BADGES!

2011-11-10T11:04:00.000Z

So, let's be honest, making comics and being in a band is just an excuse to do the really good bit, which is...
MAKING BADGES!
These little fellas will be on sale (or, I dare say, free with a copy of Hitsville UK) at the Comica Comiket this Saturday at the Bishopsgate Institute. Click HERE for full details.

I'll be selling limited edition Hitsville prints as well. I'll get some pics up tomorrow.

CHE!

2011-11-08T16:31:00.001Z

This is going to be on the t shirt of a Hitsville character.

It relates to probably my favourite lyric, from The Super Furry Animals' 'Hermann Loves Pauline'.

"They call him MC Squared because he raps like no other,
An asthma sufferer like Ernesto Guevara".

The Gumps!

2011-10-29T14:03:00.000+01:00

Me and the Mrs have been quite grumpy this week. When such moods descend we often refer to each other as the following chararacters:

It seems to help!

HEROISM

2011-10-27T10:45:00.000+01:00

"A perfect three minute chemical-infused rush of a comic", not my words but the words of Comic Heroes magazine (to paraphrase Alan Partridge.

Hitsville UK gets its review in the new issue (Small Press Round-Up pp 110-111) and it's a corker.

Our humble comic is "an acid-fried report from the edges of sanity" and "a feverishly inventive psychedelic odyssey".

They seem to think we're on drugs!

We got five stars (out of five), which is better than all of the DC, Marvel and Image fare on review and the same as Morrison & Quitely's WE3, David B's new book and Paul Gravett's new tome. Not that we're counting. (We're not counting.)

Thanks to Rob Power at Comic Heroes, glad you enjoyed it.

As ever you can read Hitsville UK at www.hitsvilleukcomic.com and buy the whole issue at http://hitsvilleuk.bigcartel.com/

Men Behind Guitars

2011-10-22T13:46:00.003+01:00

New Hitsville UK pic showing Marvin from retronauts Men Behind Guitars.

I'm going to do a series of Hitsville prints and we'll be selling them at Comica Comiket, Thought Bubble and through our shop.

Don't touch the brown acid!

VERBOTEN SPHEROID

2011-10-08T11:59:00.003+01:00

Big belated love to Forbidden Planet International who named us one of their favourite comics of September.

See here!

http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2011/propagandas-best-of-september/

Will Kirkby's Tuk Tuk also looks proper good. Can't wait to get my hands on that. Will he be at Thought Bubble I wonder?

We just heard from Comic Heroes mag that they've reviewed us in their new issue, out 25 October. We don't know what they've said (but they told us they liked it).

Oh, and of course, Hitsville UK here: http://www.hitsvilleukcomic.com/

UNCLE KEVIN

2011-09-26T22:17:00.002+01:00

I just found out that my Uncle Kevin has died.

He was a pretty weird guy, in how he lived, thought, and looked. I couldn't honestly say that I knew him all that well or that I really understood him, but we got on in our way and I'm very sad that he's gone.

This is a picture that I drew of him way back when for an A level art project.

KEVIN RIORDAN 1938 - 2011

PLANET HITSVILLE!

2011-09-15T22:19:00.001+01:00

BONJOUR!
I've just returned from France, and what should greet me in dear old broken Blighty but this very flattering review of our humble comic by Richard at Forbidden Planet International.

ICI!
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/2011/hitsville-uk-a-hit-oh-such-a-hit/

He gets it! The Clash, Phil Spector, Martin Hannett, Scooby Doo, Wacky Races (Dan will love that), Grant Morrison, Deadline... and he says (amongst other things) "it’s 36 pages of out and out brilliance."

(We didn't bribe him, I promise.)

C'EST FORMIDABLE!
Hitsville UK will be in some of Forbidden Planet's shops soon, details to follow.

OR, you could always head to our shop and get yourself a copy.

MERCI!

NUKE ROSS...

2011-07-19T12:18:00.000+01:00

I will be selling copies of Hitsville UK at the New Cross Turn Left Comics and Art Garden Party this Sunday 24th July.

Come along and check out not only my stuff but the comics etc of an amazing selection of artists, including David O'Connell, Ellen Lindner,Gary Northfield, John Miers and Julia Scheele, who designed the cool logo above.

Things kick off at 1 PM, full details here.

REEEEEED HOT!

2011-07-15T15:31:00.000+01:00

Hitsville UK #1 is back in stop in the Hitsville UK shop.

36 pages of full-colour pop art adventures.

3 and a half squid plus p&p to you sir/madam.

Dedications and doodles available on request.

I'LL HUFF AND I'LL PUFF

2011-07-06T11:24:00.000+01:00

Well look at that, through a series of fortuitous events I have a gallery on the launch of the Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/07/03/artist-showcase-john-riordan_n_889476.html?ref=fb&src=sp

They also publish some words from my brain on Hitsville UK and a link to the new Hitsville website here: http://www.hitsvilleukcomic.com/

Enjoy!

NEW CROSS TURN LEFT

2011-06-19T15:49:00.001+01:00

Two fings:

firstly, I will be selling Hitsville and a few other bits and pieces at New Cross Turn Left, a Comics and Art Garden Party on Sunday 24 July at Deptford's grooviest studio, the Old Police Station (114-116 Amersham Vale, Deptford, SE14 6LG). There's a great bunch of comics and illustration dudes taking part. See the New Cross Turn Left site for more details.

secondly, I've finally got round to updating my website with new illustrations and comics pages, including Hitsville and other stuff. Take a look http://www.johnriordan.co.uk

JESUS CHRIST

2011-06-17T15:45:00.000+01:00

How does he do so? By being so goddamn hunky, that's how! I wonder who does the artwork for the Jehovah's Witnesses. They're amazing.

HITSVILLE UK & IAPF

2011-05-31T22:43:00.000+01:00

We had fun selling the new comic at the (deep breath) International Alternative Press Festival last weekend.

Thanks to Mike Medaglia for the pictures of us and our handsom standard bearer.

We've got a big order of new copies on their way and we're going to set up a website with a shop and that.

In the meantime you can snap up a copy of Histville UK #1 at London's Orbital Comics.

(sings) "when the Hitsville hit UK..."

HITSVILLE UK NEW ISSUE 1

2011-05-17T20:13:00.000+01:00

So cause we like to make things confusing, we've done a new issue 1 of Hitsville UK. Last year's effort was a 12-page try-out, think of it as issue 0 like one of those baffling 90's comics. The new issue 1 is 36 pages of pop art madness, incorporating the 10 pages from last year's comic and a whole lot more.

Here's the cover...

...plus a few new pages...

We don't actually have all that many copies yet, and have to make sure we've got stock for the London Alt Press con in a couple of weeks, but if you fancy a copy send me a message and I'll put you on the list. It'll be £3.50 plus p&p to you fine people.

THURSDAY 17 MARCH 2011

2011-03-19T18:56:00.003Z

...was officially the best day ever.

First, my other half's niece was born. Hello Kitty, welcome to the world. Hope you have fun!

Second, Jonathan Edwards (illustrator, not formerly Christian triple jumper) put my Serge Gainsbourg picture up on his brilliant Draw Serge site.

Here's mine, but go have a look at all the other Serges - there are some real gems.

Third, I got my copy of 2011 3x3 Illustration Directory. A very handsome volume it is, and I'm very pleased to be sharing space with some top talents. Go have a browse on the t'interweb version: http://www.3x3directory.com/

Fourth, I found out that we The Little Philistines will be playing at Meadowlands on Sunday 29th May.

Hoozah!

Got an interview for Illustration MA on Monday so hope the good luck lasts!

SCHOOL'S OUT FORRRR EVAH!

2011-02-06T19:22:00.001Z

Pre-colour page from forthcoming (honestly it is) Hitsville UK. Any resemblance to my secondary school is probably coincidental.

HOT POSTER!

2011-01-29T16:54:00.001Z

Here's the poster for our gig next Friday 4th Feb. As my friend Lucas said: "Nice symmetrical bums".
Sadly, Symmetrical Bums will not be playing but a great night it promises to be all the same. Tickets available here: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/105062

HOT PHONE! HOT PHO-ONE!

2011-01-06T10:58:00.000Z

Happy New Year! We, The Little Philistines release our new single Hot Phone on iTunes on 7th Feb and we would dearly love you to come to our SINGLE LAUNCH EXTRAVAGANZA on Friday 4th Feb at The Good Ship, 289 Kilburn High Road, London town, NW6 7JR.

We will be joined by a roster of our favourite talent, namely Bordeauxxx, Cop On The Edge, Keith John Adams, Ben Folke Thomas and special DJ guests including Recharged Radio's Alex Watson.

Doors open at 7.30 and close in the small hours of Saturday morning and I believe the whole shebang will cost you about a fiver.

Huzzah!

IT'S XMAAAAAAAS!

2010-12-24T11:22:00.001Z

THOUGHT PUDDLE

2010-11-20T15:26:00.000Z

Should be at Thought Bubble this week selling freshly printed Hitsville UK comics, but sadly I am not for there are no freshly printed Hitsville UK comics. What with computers self-destructing, moving house and the reduction of hours in the day to a measly 24, the birth of our full-colour, 36-page baby bastard has been somewhat delayed.

To prove I have done some work here's a sneak preview of two new pages, showing the Dreadnoughts going about the daily grind, and then moonstomping it all out on stage.

The finished article will be with you soon. Tell your friends and watch this space!

POSTCARDS FROM YOUR FAVOURITE FICTIONAL BANDS

2010-10-19T19:30:00.001+01:00

I'm exhibiting promo postcards from Hitsville UK's roster of acts at Send Me A Postcard Darling.
It's an exhibition of postcard-sized art, curated by my good friends Laura and James, and it looks like they've collated a really eclectic range of artists and work.

It's at the Red Gate Gallery, 209a Coldharbour Lane, London SW9 8RU from 22 to 28 October 2010 and the private view is this Friday 22nd from 6 til 11, and you're all invited unless you're Jeremy Hunt.

Here's a sneak preview of the work I'll be showing.

NEW STOOL PIGEON ON ISSU

2010-10-10T12:45:00.000+01:00

New Stool Pigeon is up on t'interweb so here's the complete fourth Gollum. I've been really mean to him this time, and sorry Mum for being grim.

Now go and read SP, particularly Charlie Parker, Handyman. which is possibly the best yet...

MAGNETIC PIGEONS

2010-09-20T11:46:00.000+01:00

Yikes, it's been a busy month of catastrophic computer failure and moving flats.

A couple of new comics.

First, the latest instalment of Gollum's miserable life for the redesigned Stool Pigeon. Seek it out, hipsters.

Secondly, my adaptation of the Magnetic Fields song Love Is Like Jazz, over on Julia's magnificent 69 Love Songs blo g.

Cheers
John

Gollum amongst the pigeons

2010-07-11T14:31:00.000+01:00

New Stool Pigeon is out, featuring everyone's favourite Northamptonshire wizard. More fine comics in the middle and we got another nice plug from Forbidden Planet blog. Go find yerself a copy.

PROPS FROM FORBIDDEN PLANET

2010-07-01T17:38:00.000+01:00

The comics section of The Stool Pigeon (including yours truly) just got a nice review on the FP blog.

The new Stool Pigeon is out about now, I believe, featuring more Gollum & Johnny Cash, and an interview with the beardy wizard Alan Moore. Hurrah, comics rule!

PINK NINJAS!

2010-06-28T11:04:00.000+01:00

I've just done a picture for Martin Eden's JAPANDEX project (detail left).

Martin's the author of the comic Spandex, about a team of gay superheroes based in (obviously) Brighton. It's great, witty, poptastic stuff and you should really buy both copies available so far.

Because issue 2 was set in Japan, Martin has been running JAPANDEX, giving other comics artists and illustrators the chance to do Spandex-inspired pictures riffing off icons of Japanese and Eastern culture. Mine shows the team battling issue 2's Pink Ninjas, with a respectful tipping of the hat to the much copied, never beaten master, Hokusai.

You can see the complete picture here

Thanks Martin!

HITSVILLE ONLINE

2010-06-12T16:41:00.000+01:00

You can read Hitsville UK issue 1 online here.

Still, it's not quite the same as owning your own copy, is it? Eh? Eh?

RETAIL THERAPY

2010-05-26T17:16:00.002+01:00

I've got a shop! I've got a shop! Roody schoody boody shop shop shop!

Click HERE to check it out.

Oh go on, I'm skint.

My liver and I had a blast at the Bristol Comics Con at the weekend, where Hitsville went down well amongst the creators whose baffled hands we forced it into. Big props to the legendary Shaky Kane who insisted on paying us the three quid for our efforts.

Thanks to the Underfire crew who allowed me to loiter on their stall. Here's a picture of some of them, including my collaborator Dan. Note copies of Hitsville UK bottom right.

HITSVILLE UK 1 IS HERE!

2010-05-21T13:26:00.000+01:00

Fresh from the printer, get 'em while they're hot. Twelve pages of full-colour pop art depravity by me and the outrageously talented Dan Cox. £3 plus p&p to you, Sir or Madam. Drop me a line if you want one...

GOLLUM and Johnny

2010-04-29T10:53:00.002+01:00

Issue 26 of The Stool Pigeon has been out for a few weeks, and the second of my Gollum strips is in it, nestled amongst some other other lovely comic strips (my fave is Charley Parker).

Pick up a copy, or if you don't live near a thrustingly cool music venue or shop, go read it here: http://issuu.com/thestoolpigeon/docs/issue26

MORE COMPETITIONS THAT I DIDN'T WIN

2010-03-23T11:06:00.006Z

First two pics are for Nobrow's Flickr competition, People I have never met and Conversations I have never had. I have never met this Mayan God-King and this is the conversation that I have never had with him. Lots more brilliant entries (and winners) to be found on the Flickr page here

Next is my entry to Little White Lies' competition to adapt your favourite film into a six-panel comic strip. I went for the Coen bros' brilliant Barton Fink

Gollum in the Stool Pigeon

2010-02-15T13:41:00.002Z

Just got my copy of The Stool Pigeon, featuring hopefully the first of a series of Gollum strips. There are some other lovely comics in there (including my favourite, Charlie Parker, Handyman) so go pick up your own copy from one of these fine venues.

Must remember to put my name on the strip somewhere next time. Doh!

Please sir, my head is on fire

2010-02-10T10:20:00.003Z

YO YO YO!

Cover art for our new single, Head on fire / Stick together, available on 15 March from iTunes.

Come to our launch party on 12 March at the Good Ship: http://www.myspace.com/thelittlephilistines

Book your tickets now! http://www.wegottickets.com/event/71903

THOSE LITTLE PHILISTINES!

2010-02-01T23:17:00.002Z

I wanted to put together the best of the weird characters who end up on the Little Philistines flyers. Here's how it turned out...

GOLLUM WALKS INTO A BAR...

2010-01-26T11:33:00.003Z

Sneak preview of Gollum strip, shortly to appear in the comics section of The Stool Pigeon. Should be out Feb 8th I believe.

SCRAPPY ME

2010-01-19T09:23:00.005Z

Quick sketch - my face ended up bigger than my eyes needed, but I quite liked the way this turned out anyway.

NEW YEAR, YOU HEAR...?

2010-01-14T18:17:00.002Z

A belated greeting to 2010. At the moment I am back doing what makes me happy, namely drawing pictures of Gollum playing the guitar. This is for a one-pager that should see the light of day soon in the marvellous Stool Pigeon

In the meantime here are some sketches of the lovely Sally Kent.

MERRY XMAS!

2009-12-18T08:01:00.003Z

RETURN OF THE LP'S

2009-11-17T23:35:00.002Z

The Little Philistines return to the wonderful Buffalo Bar on Tuesday 8 December.

Come one, come all, come see us before Yule!

Full details here: http://clubfandango.co.uk/gig.php?id=1280

OLYMPUS SCHOOL

2009-11-09T21:38:00.010Z

Long time no post. This is my entry for the recent Observer/Comica/Jonathan Cape competition. Didn't win owt but I'm quite pleased with this one. Click on the pages for big versions...

LITTLE PHILISTINES ON iTUNES

2009-09-10T23:06:00.002+01:00

Our new single is up on iTunes. We're really rather proud of these songs. Hope you like 'em. Here's the accompanying artwork.

WILLIAM, IT WAS REALLY NOTHING

2009-08-31T13:43:00.006+01:00

100 episodes and I'm out. That's it for William. Hope you enjoy the Twin Peaks/Blakes 7-esque conclusion. Thanks for reading everyone (or just looking at the pictures)...

Crumbling bridges

2009-08-18T22:29:00.005+01:00

Sadly, William Blake, Taxi Driver is soon to come to a close. It's been a grand, rambling journey but William's an old poet, and it'll soon be time for him to drive to Bunhill Fields and enjoy a well earned rest.

Here's an exclusive Blake strip that didn't make into Time Out and a sketch for John Bull, obese personification of our fair isle.

There's still a two-part Blake strip to come, in which William attempts to apprehend Jack the Ripper.

Check out this week's TO for the first part...

ERIC/GEORGE

2009-07-13T22:04:00.003+01:00

Sketch for this week's passenger, George Orwell. The reason he's looking so harassed is that he's been picked up by the dreaded Thought Police.

ERM

2009-07-03T12:30:00.003+01:00

Thanks to everyone who came to my exhibition at The Apollo and enjoyed a LOUD and truly eclectic selection of live music. A grand old time was had by all. I for one will sorely miss The Apollo and look forward to whatever Laura and Johnny do next - thanks for having me guys.

Yesterday I paid a fleeting heat wave-visit to William and Catherine.

EXHIBITION AT THE APOLLO!

2009-06-16T10:50:00.004+01:00

WOOP WOOP! Come see my pictures on walls at The Apollo in Herne Hill, Thursday 25 June.

I'll be joined by musical groups, including the Lambeth Wind Orchestra.

The Apollo is a great little project, initiated by my friend Laura and a couple of her chums. They've taken a disused video shop on Norwood Rd and turned it into a gallery/venue/cultural centre for the month of June. Read more here and then get down there...

TROTSKY & STALIN

2009-06-15T11:11:00.003+01:00

Sketches for this week's Blake passengers, a couple of young revolutionaries on their way to the Fifth Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

POP & FOLKS

2009-06-09T18:08:00.005+01:00

I had a great weekend at Sellindge Music Festival in Kent. We opened the main stage on Saturday and the crowd were were wowed by our music (I hope) and Rob's dress sense (I am certain).

Went to see my folks in North Norfolk the other day for some cake, coffee, nature and natter. Here are some sketches of the Riordan Seniors.

HAIL APOLLO!

2009-06-02T11:47:00.004+01:00

Here's Apollo, god of music, culture, reason and other stuff, including the plague(!)

This is for The Apollo, an arts and culture super-fest that's going on for the whole of June in an old video shop in Herne Hill.

Launch night is this Thursday, my band's playing on Thursday 18th and hopefully I'll be doing a little exhibition of work on Thursday 25th.

More details to follow

LITTLE PHILISTINES

2009-06-01T15:09:00.003+01:00

Flyer for the LP's this week at Mother Bar. We'll be warming up for our festival slot at Sellindge on Saturday.

Wooh!

CATS CATS CATS

2009-05-24T12:17:00.002+01:00

NELLY

2009-05-22T09:39:00.002+01:00

Sketch for next week's passenger... Ms Nell Gwyn, orange-loving mistress to Charles II

WILLIAM BRAKE

2009-05-21T21:30:00.002+01:00

This is the strip that Time Out decided not to run. So, just to make it clear, these are not the views of Time Out. They're possibly my views...

SPLAT!

2009-05-13T19:14:00.006+01:00

No William Blake in Time Out this week because they decided that I was too nasty to the free London papers and pulled the strip. Ho hum, I'm telling everyone I was banned, it sounds cooler. In the meantime, here's last week's strip, inspired by my brother's trip to the Tower, where he was given a free souvenir by a raven.

HITSVILLE UK

2009-05-04T23:22:00.004+01:00

Sneak preview of my new comic Hitsville UK, co-authored with the very talented Dan Cox. This is the first inked page of our five-page intro story. More to follow...

HUMAN CELLS!

2009-04-30T09:11:00.006+01:00

Just received my copy of Nature so I can put this bizarre illustration up now. It's for an article on IPS Cells, a new, fast-moving and ultra-competitive field in genetics/biology. Those are human cells that the intrepid scientists are driving - vrrrrm! This piece was great fun

JOHN HAS SOME NEW HOUSEMATES

2009-04-28T19:32:00.000+01:00

Meet Pryor and Wilder

OK COMPUTER!

2009-04-24T15:59:00.003+01:00

I got interviewed for an article in Computer Arts Projects about the AOI Illustration Business Course I attended last year. Best of all, they printed my Illustration Frontispiece in the mag. Huzzah!

MARY & FLO (BUT NOT DIANA)

2009-04-21T10:37:00.004+01:00

When I started drawing William Blake for Time Out I read a book on Mary Seacole and have been trying to get her into the strip ever since.

All being well, she should appear this week, engaged in battle for the affections of the troops of the Crimea with her medical rival Florence Nightingale.

Nurse!

DICK

2009-04-16T18:15:00.005+01:00

Just finished a Psychogeographical special for William Blake, Taxi Driver but you'll have to wait a few weeks to see it.

In the meantime, here's a sketch of Dick Turpin, who appears in this week's Time Out (I think, mine hasn't turned up yet).

LONDON

2009-04-09T19:21:00.008+01:00

This is my entry for a London-themed illustration competition. Just heard that I didn't get through (bah!), so here it is in all it's glory.

The brief was specifically to do with London transport, hence the variety of vehicles on display!

(Click on the image to see it in larger format)

HEARING AIDS

2009-04-09T17:44:00.004+01:00

Just had this piece in One In Seven, the magazine of the RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf people).

It's an article about adverts for hearing aids in magazines and the rip-off products that unscrupulous companies will flog to people with hearing problems.

MONKEY HANDS

2009-03-27T00:17:00.002Z

Here's a sketch of this week's guest in Blake's cab, Charley Darwin.

Must get round to going to see the exhibition at the Natural History Museum, yes, yes...

I'M HENRY THE EIGHTH I AM, I AM...

2009-03-21T11:53:00.004Z

In Blake's cab this week, loving husband and unwitting agent of the Reformation, Henry VIII.

Henry's eaten all the pies, but look, he used to be so handsome and sexy. Quick, get him to rehab...

BIRDS

2009-03-18T17:26:00.003Z

I drew this picture for my Mum's birthday. She's a big bird lover. It wasn't meant to come out quite as menacing as it did. Happy Birthday Mum!

And, in other exciting news The Little Philistines were joint winners of the Sellindge Music Festival tournament. We get to open the main stage for the mighty Supergrass on Sat 6 June. WOOP!

GIG TUESDAY 17 MARCH

2009-03-10T10:22:00.004Z

Flyer for gig at Bullet Bar, next Tuesday. This Saturday's the final of the Battle of the Bands for Sellindge Festival. If we win we'll get to share a stage with Supergrass - woop!

IN THIS CHARMING CAR...

2009-02-28T17:41:00.006Z

Guess who's taking a ride in Mr Blake's cab next week?

The older Moz gets the more he looks like he's drawn by Frank Quitely

NATURE ARTICLE

2009-02-24T17:17:00.001Z

I have this illustration in the new issue of Nature. Quite unusual for me not too have a character of figure involved in the piece, but I'm pleased with how it came out.

EGG WALLACE

2009-02-20T16:13:00.000Z

My housemates and I have become obsessed with Masterchef, particularly the two strange hosts. We love it when Gregg Wallace tasted a nice dessert and reverts to the condition of a child in the midst of a sugar-high.

When he's listening to John Torode talk, his face does a strange saggy thing.

MORE PASSENGERS

2009-02-18T16:05:00.000Z

Couple more passenger sketches for William Blake's cab, Daniel Defoe and JG Ballard, marooned together on a traffic island in Stoke Newington.

I've been bumped out this week by a (yawn) London fashion special...

MORE SKETCHES

2009-02-17T11:29:00.001Z

Here's a picture of Caroline peering over our sofa.

That is all

SKETCHES

2009-02-11T14:27:00.001Z

A few sketches of my housemates and some guests from last Sunday. I was particularly pleased with the back of Steve's head.

NEW PASSENGERS FOR 2009

2009-02-06T16:01:00.000Z

Recent passengers from Mr Blake's cab. Step up David Bowie, Emmeline Pankhurst, TS Eliot and Isaac Newton.

Mrs Pankhurst looks just like a middle-aged actress but I can't think of her name...

2009-02-05T14:07:00.000Z

Long time no blog. Been sorting out my website and sending work to commissioning editors. Also been playing with the Little Philistines - the gigs are coming thick and fast this year. Here are the flyers for the two latest gigs. People seem particularly enamoured of Mr Fox - he's so suave...

MERRY XMAS EVERYONE

2008-12-20T18:21:00.001Z

HUMPH!

2008-11-28T11:20:00.001Z

Double-length strip in this week's Time Out in which Humphrey Lyttelton directs Blake to, of course... Mornington Crescent. Here's a sketch of the great man.

BLUE FLYER

2008-11-17T22:51:00.001Z

Just worked this flyer up for our gig on 4th December. It's from an old sketch I did of the alien rock band in Dan's Frequent Flyers comic.

MANAGEMENT TODAY

2008-11-14T11:55:00.000Z

Just had this full-page comics-tastic piece in Management Today, illustrating an article on emotionally intelligent strategy. Unintentionally I've made the woman in green look quite like my mum when she was younger. Hi Mum!

KEN

2008-11-04T18:06:00.000Z

A belated farewll to the inspirational Ken Campbell. I first became aware of Campbell in a typically manic programme exploring Einstein's theory of relativity that he made for Channel 4 way back when.

Over the years I always meant to check out what he was up to and to go to some of his shows, and like many others I'm sure, I really wish I'd done so now.

I finally saw him perform in his School of Night show at the Latitude festival this summer. He was manhandling a couple of brave actors into discovering their 'inner bards', a technique that demanded they wear pingpong balls, or as Campbell had it 'bollocks', in their eyes.

"This... is actually the second... School of Night" he droned, "the first... was started by Sir Walter Raleigh". This grandiosity was undercut slightly by the sleeping teenager Campbell noticed in the front row.

I got back from Latitude determined to follow Campbell more closely, and then all of a sudden he was dead.

I always thought that if I ever got William Blake, Taxi Driver turned into an animation, Ken Campbell would be my first choice for Blake's voice. It was only when he died that I realised how much he'd influenced my take on Blake, not only in his shiny head and scary eyebrows but in his occasional bursts of irrascibility.

So long Ken!

LIZ

2008-10-04T12:28:00.000+01:00

More sketches for Blake passengers - Queen Liz I and her main man, Bill Cecil.More sketches for Blake passengers - Queen Liz I and her main man, Bill Cecil.

In other news, the illustration for Nature (see below) is going to be reprinted in the Japanese version off Nature. Cool, my first time being published in Japan.

The double-length Time Out 40th anniversary special of William Blake is up on the comix page of my website now - lies, damn lies and outright fibs.

My cake is dough

2008-09-22T10:55:00.000+01:00

William Shakespeare, assistant manager at The Globe gift shop.

When we were young, my brother used to get Shakespeare confused with Shakin' Stevens.

Special double-length Time Out 40th Anniversary strip in this week's Time Out. Out on Tuesday/Wednesday.

YOU HIGGS BOSON!

2008-09-18T18:11:00.000+01:00

Here's the big piece for this week's Nature magazine. It ties in with all the fascinating stuff going on at CERN - each superhero represents one approach to smash the Standard Model. Big guy at the back is the new LARGE HADRON COLLIDER ("LHC SMASH PROTONS!!!"), the others are (l-r) Tevatron, Cosmic Energy, Neutrino Gal and Dark Matter Man. You can probably tell that this job was great fun. Ah, Jack Kirby!

Just finished next week's William Blake strip, which is a Time Out 40th anniversary special.

MORE PASSENGERS FROM THE CAB OF MR BLAKE

2008-09-08T22:20:00.000+01:00

Charlie Chaplin and a jowly and elderly Mrs T, both of whom have graced the pages of Time Out in recent weeks.

Go see the comic strips on the Comix section of my website if you haven't already.

I've just completed a really fun piece for Nature magazine. I'll post something here when the mag's out.

THE LITTLE PHILISTINES

2008-08-13T15:07:00.001+01:00

We have a gig. Here's the red and white flyer - ooh how very White Stripes I hear you cry...

HORRIFIC CONSEQUENCES!!!

2008-08-11T20:24:00.000+01:00

Me and the girlfriend created this beast during a tube journey. If you come across it lurking down there in the tunnels, RUN!

PASSENGERS

2008-07-01T23:44:00.000+01:00

More sketches from the back of Blake's cab. Step forward Messrs Leigh, Merrick and Hirst.

GOLLUM HAS A SPOT OF GIRL TROUBLE

2008-06-13T11:43:00.000+01:00

Poor old Gollum - he can never do or say the right thing. A packet of minstrels to anyone who can correctly identify the artist and painting that this picture tips its hat to.

FLYER

2008-05-21T17:27:00.001+01:00

Apropros of nothing, here's one of my band's flyers, customised by the rain.