Temple APA Issue Fifteen

"T'was the night before Christmas, and all through the house,
Not a creature was stirring, but there was a freaky looking snowman type thing hanging around outside..."

Temple APA Issue Fifteen is now available to download as a totally free pdf file, containing contributions from the likes of Dave Hailwood, Simon Mackie, Tony Suleri, Malcolm Kirk, (who also provides the cover), and newcomer to these pages, Ben Peter Johnson.

You can download from Dropbox, MediaFire or view online at Issuu.
PDF file size is 15.07 MB.

The Temple APA is a showcase for amateur and professional creators who are active in the UK comics scene. If you'd like to contribute or just want more information, check out the Temple blog or like us on Facebook...

Temple APA blog
Temple APA Facebook page

Also, for the next couple of days only, issue one of the 100% Biodegradable comic anthology mentioned within the pages of this issue, (and featuring some familiar names), is available to download for free.

Head over to www.facebook.com/biodegradablecomic to find out how to grab a copy. Go on. Quick!

Have a very Christmassy Christmas, everybody and a hangoverless New Year!

Back From The Depths Presents : HALLOWSCREAM! 2013

The fifth annual Hallowscream! Hallowe'en Special is here! Available to download as a totally free pdf file, this year's comic features 96 pages of shocks and scares to chill your blood over the Samhain season! We've also uploaded an horrific hi-res version this year, to give the gore and ghosties an extra gloss.

Here Are The Download Links :

Lo-res Version (file size = 46.3mb) :      MEDIAFIRE     DROPBOX

Hi-res Version (file size = 125mb) :       MEDIAFIRE     DROPBOX

You can also read the issue online at :      ISSUU

Full contents of the terrors lurking behind that gloriously icky cover by "The Gurch" are as follows...

Page 3 : Pumpkin Soup  Art & Recipe by Simon Mackie     
Page 4 : A Mother's Devotion Story by Chris Charlton, Art by Rowel Roque, Letters by Brant W. Fowler
Page 9 : Bestiary of Beasties : Lurking Tut Article & Illustration by Malcolm Kirk
Page 10 : 6 Seconds To Die by Gordon Innes
Page 17 : And Now A Few Words From Our Sponsors Story by Stu Perrins, Art by Israel Huertas 
Page 19 : Wicked Stepmother Story & Art by Philip Sneyd
Page 23 : The Claws of The Catman Story by Paul Bristow, Art by Andy Lee
Page 29 : A Grim Tale : No Bones About It Story by 'Clark Holland', Art by Malcolm Kirk.      
Page 31 : Empty Story by Chris Charlton, Art by Gregory Woronchak, Letters by Brant W. Fowler
Page 39 : Curse of The Season Story & Art by Carol Kewley ( Merry Xmas Everybody lyrics © Copyright Slade 1973 )
Page 43 : Terrorvision Guide by Malcolm Kirk
Page 44 : Hellevator Story & Art by Paul Gordon Innes
Page 48 : Apocalypse The Board Game Concept & Colour by Tim West, Illustration by Mike Legan
Page 50 : Home Is Where The Heart Is Story by Tim West, Art by The PXD
Page 55 : Bestiary of Beasties : The Spring-Heeled Jackalope Article & Illustration by Malcolm Kirk
Page 56 : Full Moon Jacket Story & Art by Gordon Innes
Page 59 : All The Fun of The Fair Story by Jamie Lambert, Art by The PXD, Letters by Tim West
Page 63 : Bestiary of Beasties : The Pear Wolf Article & Illustration by Malcolm Kirk
Page 64 : Artificial Unintelligence Story by Chris Charlton, Art & Letters by Joe Badon
Page 72 : Bestiary of Beasties : The Crypt Id Article & Illustration by Malcolm Kirk
Page 73 : Hair Scare! Story & Art by Gordon Innes
Page 77 : Run Story by Chris Sides, Art by Simon Bennett Hayes, Letters by Chris Travell
Page 83 : Dead by Dawn ZX Spectrum Game Advertisement
Page 84 : Many Happy Returns Story & Art by Michael Crouch
Page 89 : The North Wind Doth Blow Story & Art by Russell Hillman
Page 90 : Help! Mummy! Story & Art by Simon Mackie
Page 91 : Bestiary of Beasties : The Glook-Gonk Article & Illustration by Malcolm Kirk
Page 92 : Happy Family Story by David Stoddart, Art by Graham Stoddart
Page 95 : Hierophantom's Poeticorner : Ghost Train by Paul Bradford, Art by Eric Hurley
...and...
Page 96 : Back Cover Skull by Malcolm Kirk

Previous issues of Hallowscream are available to download from
backfromthedepths.co.uk/hallowscream or you can buy real-life monochrome paperback versions from Lulu.com. HAPPY HALLOWE'EN!

A Public Service Announcement : Reporting Users On YouTube

This post has nothing to do with arty stuff or comics or cartoons or any of that stuff, but I felt the need to say something about this somewhere and this seemed as good a place as any.

I've just spent far too long reporting people for abuse on YouTube. None of this abuse was directed at me, but it should become obvious why it has angered me as you read on.

The sorts of people who do this kind of thing are usually referred to as 'trolls' in Internetland, but I feel this term is unfair to the forest or mountain-dwelling creatures of Nordic mythology. I don't know about you, but the mythological variety of troll has never caused me any problems. None have ever attempted to eat me, I don't keep goats and whenever trip-trapping over a bridge, I'm always careful to do so as quietly as possible.

I have no problems with trolls.

I do, however, have a problem with people who post derogatory and sickening comments on videos of children with medical conditions and physical disabilities, or on videos paying tribute to someone who has died.

That'll really get my goat, (if you'll pardon the expression).

Earlier this evening, I spotted some of this kind of stuff on a video I was watching and decided to report it, but found that it wasn't immediately obvious how to do so.

Here's a video explaining how to go about it...



...and you can ignore the first 40 seconds of that if you click
this direct link to where you need to go.

Of course, in the instances mentioned, I selected "Hate Speech Against a Protected Group".

So now you know how to do that.

One more thing before I go, whatever you do, DO NOT REPLY TO, OR ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE IN CONVERSATION WITH THE NON-ENTITIES WHO SPOUT THIS OFFENSIVE GARBAGE!

These people are seeking attention. They want to annoy you. They even say "I really like annoying people" on some of their channels. They get a kick out of provoking a reaction. The best thing you can do is ignore them completely and report them as soon as you spot them.

I know it's difficult and how much you'd like to punch their face in, but this is not real life. This is the internet. Attempt to punch someone over the internet and the best you can hope for is a broken monitor.

Ignore them. Because that's the one thing they don't want.

Trapped In A World He Never Made...

That's Howard The Duck.

The character has a long and convoluted history, so instead of going into it here, I'll just direct you to his Wikipedia entry.

My introduction to him was in the pages of British reprint comic, "Marvel Madhouse" in 1982. Because it was an anthology comic, it started off with the shorter horror-themed strips, which had originally appeared as back-up stories in "Giant-Size Man-Thing", (yes, I know, shoosht). It immediately appealed to seven year old me's sensibilities.

That's right. When I was seven, I was reading existentialist horror comics involving a chain-smoking talking duck who becomes romantically involved with a human female artist's model. That kind of thing was totally normal for the 1980s and had no effect on my impressionable young mind whatsoever.

The Spring-heeled Jackalope

This is a Jackalope.

This is Spring-heeled Jack.

Drawn for the Weekly Themed Art Blog.

Temple APA Issue Fourteen

Temple APA Issue Fourteen is now available to download as a totally free pdf file, containing contributions from the likes of Dave Hailwood, Paul Eldridge, Simon Mackie, Tony Suleri, and Malcolm Kirk, who also provides the cover.

You can download from Dropbox, MediaFire or view online at MyEbook.
PDF file size is 13.26 MB.

The Temple APA is a showcase for amateur and professional creators who are active in the UK comics scene. If you'd like to contribute or just want more information, check out the Temple blog or like us on Facebook...

Temple APA blog
Temple APA Facebook page

PIGS IN SPAAAACE! : Ham Dare, Pig of The Future

I've been drawing Oink! characters again. You can see my previous 'fan art' here and here.

Ham Dare was created by Lew Stringer, (who wrote it), and the late Malcolm Douglas, (aka J.T. Dogg), who drew it.

 

Ham was obviously a parody of classic British science fiction comics character, Dan Dare, (created by Frank Hampson), who originally appeared in the 1950s Eagle comic, and has had numerous reboots and reworkings over the years, including a computer animated television series a few years ago. In my view, Ham Dare was truer in spirit, (and appearance), to the original than most of those re-imaginings.

 

The 'Bread Moon Mystery' is not a genuine Ham Dare story but a play on the title of the Dan Dare serial 'The Red Moon Mystery'.  It's not a very good pun, but it did lead to a plot forming in my mind while working on the picture. A story involving a butcher, a baker and a full English breakfast. One day I might just draw the thing for real.

Noah & Nelly Meet The Beast of Revelation (a Read-Along Book & Tape)

I hope this doesn't mean I'm going to Hell. Certainly wouldn't be the first time one of my drawings has got me into a spot of bother.

This was drawn for last week's Weekly Themed Art Blog, for which the theme was 'Scenes From The Bible'. It was the only entry, the Bible clearly not as popular as it used to be.

Noah and Nelly were created by Grange Calveley, who also created Roobarb, (based on his real-life tree-climbing pet dog), and appeared in the children's cartoon series 'Noah and Nelly in... SkylArk' way back in 1976. It hasn't appeared on British TV since 1980.  The series featured 'Nutty' Noah and his wife, 'Knitty Nelly', (who knitted), going on adventures in their all terrain vehicle, 'The SkylArk' with a crew of talking two-headed animals. Needless to say, it deviated somewhat from the Bible story which inspired it, and was a bit odd. You used to be able to get bars of chocolate with various wrappers depicting the animal characters such as 'Brian the lions'.

Like Roobarb, it was animated by Bob Godfrey, which is why Henry's Cat is also one of the heads of the beasty in my picture. The humanoid head is from John Carpenter's The Thing, due to obvious parallels with the film and that's also why Noah is voiced by Kurt Russell in my version, (the cartoon was narrated by Richard Briers and Peter Hawkins).  Well, they seem obvious to me, anyway.  If you don't know why Mr. Bump's on the end of one of the necks, Google a description of the beasts of Revelation and that should explain it for you.

HALLOWSCREAM! Phantasmagorical Fifth Issue Guiidelines

We at Back From The Depths are once again looking for contributors for our free, annual pdf horror comic, HALLOWSCREAM. Here are the guidelines for the 2013 issue...

Submissions should be horror orientated and must be weird or spooky to make the final cut. We are mainly looking for completed comic strips between 1-7 pages in length. Script submissions should also preferably be around 1-7 psges in length. Eerie illustrations and artwork along with interesting horror/comic articles, scary short stories, petrifying poems or anything just plain creepy will also be considered.

 To get an idea of the sort of stuff we're after, you can download previous issues of Hallowscream here.

 If you're looking to illustrate something, get in contact and we'll give you details of available scripts to see if anything suits your fancy.

We'll also consider material previously published elsewhere, as long as the contributors own the copyright. 

Completed artwork can be either colour or black and white, and should preferably be A4 (21cm x 29.7cm) 300 dpi jpegs. Submissions can be sent to merjeagles@yahoo.co.uk or ghastlymcnasty@backfromthedepths.co.uk

As this is a non-profit, small press publication, contributors will not be paid but they will retain copyright on any material submitted.

DEADLINES :

Scripts, articles and text submissions : Sunday 28th July

Artwork : Sunday 6th October

Completed strips : Sunday 20th October.

The finished issue will be available online as a free pdf by October 31st, with a physical copy becoming available via Lulu.com, shortly afterwards. You can also keep up to date with Hallowscream news via the Facebook Page

(Note : There won't be an issue of Shocking Chillers this year, but if you still want to submit a Christmas themed story and you're willing to wait a year or two to see it appear in an issue, we'll happily accept it and put it aside for future use).

There's no place like home viewing : Some Terrorvision Guide excerpts

I was looking through some folders on my PC earlier and I thought I'd share a few bits and pieces I've done for the satirical 'Terrorvision guides' I've created for the annual Hallowscream comics over the past few years.

The first one's quite topical. Sam Raimi's Wizard of Oz (from the 2012 issue of Shocking Chillers)...

Still haven't seen Oz The Great And Powerful, but have been informed I'm not far off the mark.

Next, The Evil Death (from the 2012 Hallowscream)...

Also from the 2012 Hallowscream, The Oscars...

Ed Wood's Torchwood (from Hallowscream 2010)...

Ring of Dark Water (from the 2009 Hallowscream)...



 

...and Quatermass & The Pita (Hallowscream 2011)...

 

 

You'll find more horrific puns and parodies in the issues themselves, here... http://www.backfromthedepths.co.uk/hallowscream/ and hard copies are available to buy here... Hallowscream on Lulu.com

 

Guidelines for the 2013 edition of Hallowscream will be appearing online in the not too distant future, with a finished issue appearing, as always, around October 31st, (and it'll probably include yet another Terrorvision guide. So that's you warned).

 

Terrorvision guide stuff (c) 2013 Malcolm Kirk.

 

Temple APA Issue Thirteen

Temple APA Issue Thirteen is now available to download as a totally free pdf file, containing contributions from the likes of Dave Hailwood, Paul Eldridge, Simon Mackie, Tony Suleri, Dirk Van Dom and Malcolm Kirk, who also provides the cover.

You can download from Dropbox, MediaFire or view online at MyEbook.
PDF file size is 20.9 MB.

The Temple APA is a showcase for amateur and professional creators who are active in the UK comics scene. If you'd like to contribute or just want more information, check out the Temple blog or like us on Facebook...

Temple APA blog
Temple APA Facebook page