DROONTOON & DANTE IN DUNDEE!

I'm not only going to be a guest at the Dundee Literary Festival on the 26th & 27th of October, but they've even put my face on the cover of the official programme , alongside some very esteemed company such as William McIlvanney. 

I'm obviously there to represent the Comics Day section of the Festival. Either that, or they think I'm in some way comical looking...

This year's Comics Day is subtitled Starblazers! Creators of British Science Fiction Comics and features a host of guests, including my partner-in-crime on Nikolai Dante Simon Fraser, Simon Furman, Ian Kennedy, Kev Hopgood, Sydney Jordan, Annie Parkhouse and Steve Parkhouse, amongst others. 

Simon Fraser and I are onstage at 1.30pm on the 27th, at the D'Arcy Thompson Lecture Theatre and Baxter Suite, Tower Building, University of Dundee, although the event begins at 10am. We'll mainly be discussing our 15-year collaboration on the adventures of Nikolai Dante, serialised in the iconic UK SF comic 2000AD from 1997-2012 and collected into 11 Graphic Novels - but will also touch on other projects, such as - you guessed it - Drowntown.

DROWNTOWN AT THE LAKES!

The Lakes International Comic Arts Festival is shaping up to be one of the most exciting events on the convention circuit. The town of Kendal will play host to a grand celebration of the comics medium, modelled on the famous Angouleme Festival in France, but with a uniquely British flavour. 

And if the thought of all the breathtaking artwork that will be on display - including exhibitions devoted to both Bryan Talbot and Sean Philips - isn't enough to have you booking your tickets, Kendal is located on the edge of the Lake District, which has more than a few breathtaking sights of its own.

On Sunday 20th October, at 14.00, I'll be one of the Cape Crusaders, in a panel focusing on and celebrating the eclectic and critically acclaimed range of Graphic Novels published by Jonathan Cape, one of which just happens to be...

The panel is chaired by leading comics scholar Dr. Mel Gibson, and guests include Cape Publisher Dan Franklin, Katie Green, Isabel Greenberg and that dynamic duo Gary and Warren Pleece.

The previous night, Saturday 19th October, 20.30, I'll be appearing at 2000AD: An On-Earth Odyssey, which the Festival Organsers have promised will be a panel 'with a difference'. Naive optimist that I am, I asked if this meant we'd be plied with champagne beforehand and escorted onstage by Las Vegas showgirls...

A star-studded line-up (in the comics world at least) includes former Thargs David Bishop and Andy Diggle, artists Gary Erskine and Dave Taylor (both of whom I recently worked with on Judge Dredd), Simon Fraser, my artistic partner-in-crime for 15 years on the swashbuckling adventures of Nikolai Dante, and the legendary creators of Judge Dredd, John Wagner and Carlos Ezquerra.

A cornucopia of comics talent surrounded by spectacular landscapes? If you ask me, you've only got one choice. Be there or be square.

DROWNTOWN - EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL BOOK FESTIVAL

The 2013 Edinburgh International Book Festival not only celebrated it's 40th anniversary in fine style, but also saw record sales in both tickets and books. Even the sight of this reprobate hanging around the Authors' Yurt and helping himself to copious amounts of complimentary Isle of Jura whisky couldn't scare people away...

I'd like to think that the Festival organizers' bold move to devote an entire strand of programming to comics and Graphic Novels contributed in no small part to the boost. Stripped certainly appeared to be a huge success from where I was standing. Roll on 2014!

The Drowntown - or Droontoon, as it was known during the Festival - event drew a good crowd and took place in the ScottishPower Theatre in Charlotte Square Gardens on Saturday 24th August. Jim, who had flown in from Seattle the day before, and I were lightly grilled by David Bishop, who we were used to cracking the whip at us from his days as Tharg, alien Editor of 2000AD.

We chatted about the concept of the book, how we developed the story and characters that feature in it, and about our careers in general. Check out some of our earlier blog entries for a flavour of what we were blabbing on about...

Jim and Robbie, on-stage.
Photo: D. Tate.

The audience was also wowed by a sneak preview of Jim's art from Book 2. I hadn't seen the new pages either, and my neck is still stiff from craning to look up at them as they appeared giant-sized on the screen behind the stage. I suppose it would be unfair not to treat those of you who couldn't make it a wee peek as well...

Afterwards, we shifted to the Festival Bookshop and had a great time chatting to the audience and signing copies of the book for over an hour. A number of people 'confessed' that Drowntown was the first Graphic Novel they'd ever bought. Further evidence that comics and Graphic Novels are finally being accepted as a legitimate and exciting medium for telling stories? I'd like to think so.

Jim signing/sketching, Robbie posing.
Photo: G. Gray.

On Sunday, Jim and I took part in Stripped's 2000AD event, a celebration of the iconic UK SF comic, alongside artist Warren Pleece and writer Dan Abnett. The talk was extremely well-attended and chaired once again by David Bish-Op. The signing afterwards was busy, though most people seemed to want Drowntown signed more than anything else. 

L - R: Dan Abnett, Warren Pleece, Robbie & Jim.
Photo: D. Tate

Other than those on the panels with us, it was great to catch up with some old friends and colleagues, including Bryan Talbot, Grant Morrison, John Higgins, Glyn Dillon, Rob Davis, Paul Cornell and John McShane.
 

Robbie and Bryan Talbot.
Photo: D. Tate

We also enjoyed meeting and chatting to Hannah Berry, Ian Rankin and Neil Gaiman, who, like some magical character in one of his stories, appeared to be here, there and everywhere at the Festival.

Robbie & fiancee, Deb.
Photo: Gary Gray.

Robbie & his Dad.
Photo: D. Tate

Robbie: 'How come I always work with tall artists?'
Photo: D. Tate

Now, I'm sure I've forgotten something. What was it? Och, aye, here's a wee blast of Drowntown Book 2: Execution Dock...

'DROONTOON' - BEHIND THE SCENES...

In Drowntown, modified rats - originally escapees from genetics labs - have combined enhanced intelligence with natural scavenging instincts to become a major force in the London underworld, operating as spies, pickpockets and fences for stolen property.

As the story unfolds, Leo Noiret - whose definition of a bad day at work is a lot worse than the rest of us - decides to recruit them to help in his investigation, completely forgetting that there's a little bad blood between him and the rodents.

Here's a script excerpt from the sequence - adapted slightly to fit the blog format - followed by Jim's beautifully expressive art for the same page. I've left out the speech balloons to show the artwork in all it’s fully painted glory:

PAGE 27

1. Big Pic, if possible: Slightly High Angle Shot, Noiret, stripped down to some extremely unflattering underwear, is stretched out in King Reggie's lair like Gulliver in the land of Lilliput, rats scampering over him, his body daubed with red paint to indicate where the prime cuts of meat are. His earlier assessment of the situation was obviously a little optimistic... 

King Reggie, a Fagin-like figure with delusions of grandeur, who dresses in the manner of a miniature Dickensian gentleman, stands on Noiret’s big belly, lecturing his subjects like a cordon-bleu chef & pointing out the tastiest parts of Noiret’s anatomy with a cane. 

The King’s lair is a large sewer cavern, lit by futuristic lamps & decorated with stolen paintings & missing museum pieces, some of them recogniseable works of art from old masters.

KING REGGIE: LECTURE TIME, LADS, SO KEEP THOSE EARS PEELED.

KING REGGIE: IF WE WANT TO CLIMB THE EVOLUTIONARY LADDER AND STOP SLOSHING AROUND THE SEWERS, WE NEED TO GET OURSELVES A LITTLE MORE SOPHISTICATION.

KING REGGIE: IT’S HIGH TIME WE STOPPED SNIFFING AROUND THE BINS AND EATING HUMANITY’S SCRAPS. WE DESERVE THE FULL, THREE-COURSE, CORDON-BLEU MEAL, SO I’VE GOT US A NICE BIG HUNK OF MEAT TO PRACTICE SOME RECIPES ON.

KING REGGIE: WE’LL SLICE HIM INTO A SUCCULENT SELECTION OF CUTS AND SERVE HIM UP WITH FRESH VEG AND A VARIETY OF FRAGRANT SAUCES.

2. King Reggie turns to face Noiret, who stares at him in exasperation, thinking hard. 

The rodent removes his hat in a mocking sign of respects & shrugs apologetically, as if he has no choice in the matter.    

KING REGGIE: HOPE YOU DON'T MIND, LEO. WE MIGHT BE SCAVENGERS, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN WE CAN'T ASPIRE TO CULINARY EXCELLENCE.

NOIRET: LISTEN, EATING ME WOULD BE A BIG MISTAKE...

3. King Reggie prods Noiret’s hairy flesh with his cane, as if confirming the poor quality of the produce. 

KING REGGIE: GRANTED YOU MIGHT NOT BE THE FRESHEST SPECIMEN ON THE PLANET, BUT I RECKON ALL THAT ALCOHOL YOU’VE SOAKED UP OVER THE YEARS WILL ACT AS A TASTY MARINADE.

'DROONTOON!'

Jim Murray and I will be talking about Drowntown in particular and our careers in general as part of Stripped at this year's Edinburgh International Book Festival. 

Jim's travelling all the way from Seattle - where he also works as a concept designer for Valve - and it's probably the only UK festival appearance he'll be able to make this year, so if you want to learn more about how he creates his stunning artwork, book your tickets now. 

We're at the Scottish Power Studio Theatre on Saturday August 24th, 5-6pm. For a wee bit more info and to book tickets, click right here. 

The event will be chaired by David Bishop, who in his former life as Tharg, Editor of 2000AD, first commissioned both me and Jim. 

And, on Sunday August 25th, we're taking part in 2000AD: Back to the Future, a celebration of the iconic UK science-fiction comic in which we started our careers. We're at the Baillie Gifford Main Theatre, 3-4pm, and will be joined by writers and artists such as Dan Abnett and Warren Pleece. Again, click the link for further details.   

Finally, in honour of the Festival, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, Drowntown will be officially renamed Droontoon from now until the end of August (which, to be honest, is how I usually say it anyway).  

SCRIPT TO ART: PAGE 1

For those who are interested in behind-the-scenes stuff and working methods, here's Page 1 of Drowntown - adapted slightly to fit the blog format - followed by Jim's groovy art for the same page:

PAGE 1

1. Close, Leo Noiret, battered and bruised, stares straight at us, raising an eyebrow with weary, seen-and-done-it-all-before nonchalance. Despite his downbeat, down-at-heel appearance and hangdog expression, he still exhibits the cool charm and poise of a Jean Reno or Robert Mitchum.

A half-smoked cigarette droops disdainfully from the corner of his mouth. The last cigarette of a condemned man...

The London skyline is visible in the distant background, though we don't see anything too futuristic for the moment, leaving the full sprawling splendour of the sunken city for the following pages.

TITLES: CHAPTER 1: HARD-LUCK HERO

TIMELINE: LONDON: NOW

BOX: Some people have a face that you'd die for.

BOX: Other people have the kind of face that you'd kill for.

BOX: Me? 

BOX: I've got the kind of face that gets you killed.

2. Slightly High Angle Medium Shot, Noiret, staring up at us, shrugs nonchalantly, the cigarette still drooping from his mouth. He is sinking rapidly into thick, quicksand-like sludge, the surface of which is littered with typical UK debris - discarded fish suppers, a copy of The Sun newspaper, a crushed can of lager, etc.

Up to his hips already, Noiret shows little sign of fear, as if this sort of thing happens to him all the time.

BOX: That's why I'm such a realist and always try to keep my feet planted firmly on the ground, which isn't as easy as it sounds in this city.

NOIRET: GUESS THIS MEANS IT'S TOO LATE TO KISS AND MAKE UP...

3. Low Angle Shot, Noiret, back to us, sinking deeper, stares towards a metallic maintenance pier that rises out of the sludge ahead of him.

Grace Carter, an attractive, but hard-faced & ruthless-looking woman, gazes down at him contemptuously from the pier. Benny and Ray, two big, bulky enforcers with the look of prize-fighters running to fat, flank her protectively.

BOX: Grace Carter was a detective in the Serious Crime Squad that I used to get drunk with in the Stag's Head every now and again.

GRACE: KISS AND MAKE UP? WHAT DO YOU MEAN? DID WE...?

4. Close, Grace, Noiret's POV, outraged and exasperated, aghast at the thought he's just slipped into her head.

BOX: I used to console her about the pointlessness and futility of the job, until she stopped caring and started working both sides.

GRACE: YUCK! THAT JUST MAKES ME WANT TO KILL YOU EVEN MORE!

I can't help grinning every time I see the opening panel. As the writer, it captures Leo Noiret brilliantly. Everything you need to know about his personality - which will be fleshed out over the course of the book - can nevertheless be deduced from that one image. Just one of the benefits of working with a great artist...

DEVELOPMENT SKETCHES

Even when you're creating a fantastic, over-the-top location such as the flooded futuristic London of Drowntown, you still have to make sure it's believable and feels 'real'. 

Here're some of what I think are Jim's earliest development sketches for the hydro-bikes that feature in the book:

 I'd love to own one, though have a sinking feeling that my pilot skills would send me crashing into the side of an aqua-bus.