Hi. I’m just learning how to do this blog stuff so you’ll have to be a bit patient with me. This is really to show off my comic work which I’ve been doing on and off over the last 30 years or so. I’ve been a self-unemployed illustrator since leaving The Central School of Art in the early 70’s but since I left the UK the illustration work’s dropped off a bit and I’ve been doing stuff that really interests me such as painting and comics. The ‘Depression’ comic came about as a sort of therapy– an attempt to cope with my depression– and because ever since I first saw Crumb’s Zap Comics and Shelton’s Furry Freak Brothers back in the late 60’s, I’ve regarded comics as one of the higher art forms. Actually, my first influence was Herge’s Tintin, and France has been the spiritual home of bande dessinee for me, particularly as both Crumb and Shelton now live there.
I now live in Italy with Miranda Innes, the writer, and feel very much at home here apart from the political climate, but I don’t really know where I’d feel politically at home, come to that. I certainly don’t know how I’d vote in the next UK election– having been an ‘old’ Labour voter all my life I was suspicious of Blair and New Labour right from the start and feel rather smug that my suspicions have been amply justified since that bunch came to power. Actually, I shouldn’t get started on politics as I get very angry and start to rant, which always seems to get me into trouble. I’m afraid it was my intemperate ranting which recently got me banned from The Guardian’s Cif. I would keep banging on about 911 being an inside job which is obviously a taboo subject for Guardian readers although as far as I’m concerned the evidence is utterly conclusive. I was also very rude about Israel (while in a post Gaza rage) which possibly clinched it… Anyway, fuck Cif and The Guardian– now I’ve got my blog I can say what I want!
OK, that’s it for now– would love to get responses to my strip which is called either: “Depression, A Beginner’s Guide” or “How to Fuck Up Your Life”
My strip about Oscar Wilde– “Oscar, The Second Coming” can be found on Oscholars (in English) and in Rue des Beaux Arts (in French)- both magazines to be found on Oscholars.com Enjoy!
