downthetubes: Crucible

Sneek Peek: Crucible Page 1, Part 4 - WORK IN PROGRESS

2012-02-24T12:01:00.000Z

So here's another Work in Progress tease - Page 1 of CRUCIBLE Part 4.

Just to show you how much thought Smuzz puts into his work, here are his Work in Progress notes...

"Apologies for not making the MineMouth any larger. If it was larger, we'd lose the 'eyes' detail (The pic bleeds to the edge of the page as it is), if the scale was smaller, the figures would be so small as to be unidentifable.

"Plants: It would be sooo much easier if these things had foliage on 'em, rather than drawing successive (Slightly oddly shaped) treestumps. I'm assming that centuries of trees have grown and died, gradually soaking up the 'Nastiness' from the soil. This leaves the place with a lot of stumps and some, few, trees with some foliage on in their brief lives. There has to be something for the mounts to nibble (Though I do wonder how safe it is for them to eat this stuff).
"No 'grave' for [PLOT SPOILER DELETED] is shown. This is a Lack on My part. I realised I weas thinking about it too much so I just left a 'space' for such a thing and got on with it. I have 'sketched' (Doodled) a post with a [PLOT SPOILER DELETED] hung on it, to be drawn in the Fgrnd but I kinda forgot to put the thing in, what with all the 'Look at that' excitement of Panel 1. One of the (Many) joys of art In Computer is that it's poss to add this later.

"I've put the Mounts in one of the (Raised, in line with the sloping terrain) foundations of one of the ruined buildings. This means, partly, that it made the pic more visually interesting (And will, I hope pay off visdually in the later 'Giant' episode) but also so that the [PLOT SPOILER DELETED].

"You'll note that Meith's 'hood' is now torn (With his shoulder) and that his ear/side of face is bandaged. His right hand is in splints. This makes it hard to use a 'Wand/Screwdriver', but not impossible. Truug has a bandaged eye and an arm in splints. Aard has a bandaged nose and (Not visible) injured leg.

"I forget what's wrong with Sylv right now, but Zingamy has - natch - no injuries.

I've left a gap for what I assume to be the title, above panel 3.

"Panel 2: A chance to draw a nice big face, after all that time packing 'em into tiny panels. It also compensates for that 'fusdsy' first panel. And - Ohh, look! - It's Sylv.

"Panel 3: Gentle humour. Zingamy shoos off an inquisitive Mount.

"In summary: Thanks for this mere 3 panel page - really gave me an opportunity to draw summatt nice there."

Teased enough yet? And this doesn't even include the world's Numbering System he and Eira have developed...

Crucible debuts in May in STRIP Magazine

2012-01-31T21:00:00.000Z

Promotional (not final) cover for STRIP Magazine
Issue 7, on sale in May. Art by Giancarlo Caracuzzo
Colour by Kirsty Swan

Yes! Crucible will begin its first story in STRIP Magazine with Issue 7, on sale in May 2012.

The strip will be one of at least two new stories in the comic magazine, which goes news stand in the UK with the same issue.

Competing for readers' attention will be Black Dragon, a steampunk-inspired story by Richmond Clements and Nick Dyer.

Crucible is cunningly described as "an SF adventure masquerading as a fantasy tale" by the publisher - which gives nothing away!

Six-issue subscriptions to STRIP Magazine are available online.

• Visit www.printmediaproductions.com to subscribe

Crucible in the limelight

2011-12-15T23:26:00.001Z

Readers of the new British comics anthology STRIP Magazine will know the publishers decided to give Crucible a plug in Issue 2, to trail its appearance in the Magazine in 2012.

In addition to revealing a little more about the story, a two-page feature for the title includes some previously-unseen design work by Smuzz and a Crucible mini-poster.

As well as this plug, the mag comes with an ace Hook Jaw cover by Rufus Dayglo and features the stunning Warpaint strip by Phil Hester and John McCrea, Age of Heroes by James Hudnall and John Ridgway and much, much more, for just £2.99.

The issue is on sale now from all good UK comic shops and a digital edition is available for iPad

• More info at: www.printmediaproductions.com

• Buy STRIP Magazine #2 from ForbiddenPlanet.com

• Buy STRIP Magazine #1 from ForbiddenPlanet.com

Buy the Crucible Poster

2011-11-07T16:20:00.003Z

Crucible: Promotional Art by ~theheavygreatcoat on deviantART

If you were lucky enough to grab a copyof STRIP Magazine Issue Zero - it's been distributed at various comic events and there's a online version on Yudu - you can't have failed to notice Smuzz' terrific art on the cover, a promotional image for Crucible.

Well, I'm pleased to report it's now possible to buy a large print of this image via deviantart. Go on, you know you want to...

• Read Read Strip Magazine Issue Zero

Free t-shirt? Yes, please...

2011-09-08T22:52:00.001+01:00

When a British-based company tshirtprinting.net offered us something for free in return for a spot of publicity for their wares, we took them at their word and asked them to make up a 'Crucible' t-shirt.

We're happy to report to show off the t-shirt "in the wild", with modelling help from artist Smuzz's partner, Eira (who has also developed some amazing glyphs for our new world, by the way).

TshirtPrinting.net have over 20 years experience in the screen printing industry and tell us they take pride in offering an honest, easy to understand way of doing business. "We believe our customers are searching for someone to fulfil their printing needs without stress and with their satisfaction being our main aim," they tell us.

While the design on our lovely, free, one-of-a-kind t-shirt is just A4 size, we're told they can print larger designs on shirts and the company can screen print to A3 and above.

The t-shirt is great and you can check the company out at www.tshirtprinting.net. Or phone them on 0800 046 7633

Crucible - More teasing....

2011-07-17T08:43:00.000+01:00

Behind the scenes on this project I'm happy to report we have three episodes drawn and part four scripted: the story runs to eight episodes in total and looks like it will be around 56 pages in length - maybe a bit more, maybe a bit less.

I think we're on course for a mid-2012 launch in Strip Magazine in the UK.

Last week, a casual conversation with ace artist John Ridgway added a new dimension to this book - his invaluable help and advice on some technical aspects of the world in which this story is set. I can't, yet, say what that advice is - it would spoil many surprizes - but I'm very grateful to him for his input!

Meanwhile, here's another unlettered page from part 1 - art by Smuzz, colour by Kris Carter... I hope it appeals.

Kris Carter's new comic: Lou Scannon

2011-07-01T12:52:00.001+01:00

Crucible colourist Kris Carter is a man juggling many projects and one of them is an independently-produced sci-fi comedy comic, Lou Scannon, written and drawn by him and his friend Dan Harris.

The first issue, 'The Wolfman of Astrotaz', comes crammed with jokes about werewolves, stupid mercenaries and even more stupid space police - and uses magnetic business cards as a macguffin.

"Lou Scannon is a Space Pirate/Mercenary/Smuggler/Miscreant/Whatever, trying to get by in a galaxy ruled over by the oppressive Galactic Coalition Police Force (Or GCPF for short)," Kris explains. "He's put together his own crew of outcasts and all sorts of hilarity ensues in their quest to make a buck.

"Along the way Lou tries to learn more about his past (of which he knows nothing) but doesn't realise that in finding the key to his past, he's also unlocking something that will change the galaxy forever. Or at least for a couple of weeks."

Lou Scannon #1 is a full 22 page b&w story, the first in a loosely connected arc of six issues (next one is due around December 2011). The printed comic also has additional exclusive materials such as development sketches, deleted pages, and best of all, a good old fashioned readers letters page, with honest-to-gosh nonsense submitted by actual people!

Be warned: it does have some bad language, so it's not one for the wee bairns.

Lou Scannon co-writer, colourist and letterer Kris Carter has previously worked in newspaper pre-press and graphic design before tackling digital comic book colouring professionally.

A big fan of co-writer Dan’s ‘Lou Scannon’ universe, he badgered Dan to make a comic of it for years, until he decided to light a fire under Dan’s behind by writing and drawing the bulk of issue #1 himself. It worked.

Kris’ published comic book colouring work includes numerous Transformers and Doctor Who titles, Torchwood, TMNT and Wynonna Earp, as well as some stunning work on Crucible.

Co-writr and penciller Dan Harris created the ‘Lou Scannon’ universe as part of his BA (Hons) Animation degree from Glamorgan University. In addition to being a talented writer and illustrator, Dan is also a tattoo artist and co-runs the “Distinctive Tattoo” studio based in Trefforest, South Wales. His published comic book work includes contributing artwork and colours to the 10thology graphic novel published for the Cardiff Comic Con 2011.

• Lou Scannon costs £3 from the Lou Scannon website - www.louscannon.co.uk

Beloc of Quelth - Colour Notes

2011-05-28T16:59:00.000+01:00

Here's another of Smuzz' Colour Guides for one of the main 'Crucible' characters. The amount of work he's putting into these is, frankly, a bit gob-smacking - and his colouring notes for pages of the strip are often so thought-provoking I want to run off and write up some of the ideas they suggest.

This is Beloc. He does magic. As a learner, he's not that good at it...

Crucible Cover for STRIP Zero

2011-04-28T11:09:00.000+01:00

An ace promotional image for the first DTT comic strip - now titled 'Crucible' - graces the cover of STRIP MAGAZINE Issue Zero, which will be given away free to Bristol International Comic Expo visitors next month.

The sampler is the first print promotion for the monthly STRIP Magazine from Print Media Productions, announced last year, which will launch later in 2011.

Smuzz created this stunning promotional image a while back, but he's since tarted it up a tad and it's been further re-tweaked for print by the wonderful Jim Campbell, who will also be lettering the 'Crucible'.

Print copies of STRIP Magazine Issue Zero will not be available until the Expo, with e-copies available shortly afterwards.

I'll be at the Expo, of course, to talk about STRIP, Print Media, ROK Comics, 'Crucible', and, well, comics generally. Hope to see you there!

• If you like the image, you can buy a print of it, in all manner of formats and sizes, from DeviantArt.

• Bristol International Comic Expo - 14th - 15th May 2011. More info: www.fantasyevents.org/bristolcomicexpo

• Print Media Productions: www.printmediaproductions.com

Truuglub Vanderpatz, the Daunting - Colour Notes

2011-03-03T11:04:00.002Z

Here's another of Smuzz' wonderful colour guides we've bombarded poor Kris Carter with. This is the oddest member of the Expeditioners in our story...

Colourist Kris Carter joins The Quest

2011-02-28T15:32:00.000Z

I'm pleased to announce that 'The Quest' has a colourist - Kris Carter, whose work I saw on the new 10thology title, edited by Stuart Tipples, but who came recommended by my old friend Mike Collins.

Based in South Wales, Kris has previously worked on franchises such as Transformers, Torchwood and Doctor Who. His most recent published work includes Wynonna Earp: The Yeti Wars for IDW Publishing and the 10thology collaborative Welsh graphic novel released at Cardiff Comic Con in February 2011.

There are rumours he sleeps occasionally, but these are totally unsubstantiated.

It was his colouring on Mike Collins art for the 10thology The Knights of Craig Y Ddinas that caught my eye in particular; I got in touch, Kris worked up sample colouring on Page 1 of The Quest, Smuzz passed back some notes and Kris gamefully amended the page - and between us and our publisher, we immediately decided to draw Kris into our mad scheme.

With Jim Campbell already on board to letter (he basically threatened us with some unspeakable things if we didn't ask him) the team is complete, ably assisted by Smuzz' partner Eira, who has created a wonderful alien script for us to use in the story.

Well, I say concocted - given the quality of the work, I can't help but think that both Smuzz and Eira are plugged into an alternative dimension and getting hold of a real alien language...

• Samples of work can be viewed at http://www.kriscarter.co.uk

The Quest Design Work - Zingamy

2011-02-18T16:09:00.001Z

Smuzz has just delivered some stunning colour guides for the main 'Quest' cast: I'll post them here over the next few days or so. Here's the first...

The Quest - First Colour Promotional Image

2011-02-09T15:42:00.000Z

Smuzz has just delivered this terrific promotional image for The Quest, which will feature in STRIP Magazine later this year.

There's still a lot of work to be done - 12 pages are drawn so far, and I'm about to start work on the next part of the script. So far, we've had two fights, Smuzz has created more weird creatures than I know what to do with - all of them wonderful - and one of the major baddies has taken its first victim. There will be blood, the artist demands...

Let us know what you think!

Save our Forests: Follow Rupert to Retail

2011-01-25T13:47:00.000Z

Nothing to do with the comic we're working on, but here's a smashing protest montage from Smuzz in support of England's Save Our Forests campaign (http://saveourforests.co.uk)

And now, back to that promo image for the strip...

Setting the Scene: Page 3

2010-09-29T12:54:00.001+01:00

We've been quiet, haven't we? That's because we've been busy. SMS is busy on Page 7 (fight!) and I've now got to crack on and get him some more script pages, in between all the other things I have to do. But we're really enjoying ourselves with this - just had a quick call about some ideas for promotional images and come away with some brilliant ideas for the major 'exploration' part of the story.

Meanwhile, here's an early draft of Page 3. All this art is still 'in progress' - but we know how much you like to see these things. We're still in the offices of a bunch of bureaucrats who you really do not ever want to encounter, assembling our team...

Work in Progress: Fight!

2010-09-09T12:58:00.000+01:00

A panel from an early page of the new book, as our heroes encounter their first bad guys on the streets of the sea coast city of Pomorele... This is Work In Progress, so the final art by SMS may be different.

Setting the Scene: Page 2

2010-08-25T15:41:00.000+01:00

The action moves indoors, as hopeful warriors seek work... This page introduces most of the central cast.

Setting the scene: Page 1

2010-08-04T07:49:00.001+01:00

Here's the latest version of the first page of the first downthetubes story (we hope there will be more than one). It's gone through several drafts, all part of building the world this tale will be set in.

The female protagonist is Sylvana who, like the large gentleman complaining at her, is seeking work where openings are few and far between. There are a lot of people chasing work, as you'll gather....

One thing we're determined about is to give this world a sense of 'reality' despite the storyline and characters. There will be mud. There will be annoying flies. Costumes (some of them, at least) will stink if not washed...

downthetubes: The Comic Strip

2010-08-01T08:12:00.002+01:00

Good news this week as comic artist SMS and I got word that our pitch for a comic strip we have been throwing around ideas for since at least 1996 has got a publisher. 'The Quest' (working title) will be published in STRIP Magazine in 2011 and as a graphic album later in the year by PrintMedia.

SMS has been working hard on designs and the first pages of this comic, set in a world we hope will surprise, for a couple of months, but the origins of the overall concept go back to when I was doing a comics fanzine many years ago. Which only goes to show you should never throw old story files away...

We don't want to give away too much at this stage, but here's SMS design for the coastal city of Pomorele, where the adventure begins...

We're also throwing down a challenge to fans:

Rules. What rules would you make if you were funding an expedition into a world where 'magic' worked and monsters dwelled? Funny or serlous: ideas welcome. For example:

The explorer must buy their own weapons, and is responsible for checking their efficiency...

The current Rules we have adopted are here. If we like your suggested rule, we'll feature your name in the Book of Rules and, perhaps, feature you in the comic in some way at some point... Just add your suggested rule as a comment below.