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Loncon 3 schedule
I’m heading over to London on Wednesday evening for the 72nd World Science Fiction Convention (Loncon 3), which is taking place in the ExCel, London Dockland from 14 – 18 August. Here’s my schedule of events during the weekend: 12pm Friday, August 15 What Do You Mean You Don’t Watch … Orphan Black, Grimm or The Returned Capital Suite 17 (Level 3), 12pm – 1pm Mark Slater, Jeanne Beckwith, Maura McHugh, David D Levine (I’m speaking on behalf of The Returned.) 1:30pm Friday, August 15 Best 21st Century Comics: Predicting the New Classics Capital Suite 13 (Level 3), 1:30pm – 3pm Ada Palmer, Maura McHugh, Hannah Berry, Adam Rakunas, John…
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Worldcon Comic Book Programme
Nearly two years ago my friend James Bacon phoned me up and asked me if I’d be on for designing the comic book programme at Worldcon in London (known as Loncon 3) in August 2014. I agreed readily enough as I was keen to raise the profile of comic books at the event. Comics are still a bit of a newcomer to Worldcon – the Hugo Award for Best Graphic Story was only introduced in 2009. I didn’t realise how much work was involved, which was probably lucky for James, as I might have turned him down if I truly understood. I now have huge respect for the Worldcon programming…
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Unland 2 out
Today issue 2 of Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland is out from Dark Horse Comics. You can buy it online, or in any good comic book shop. This comic is part of a five-issue Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder story, which I have co-written with Kim Newman, with art by Tyler Crook, coloured by Dave Stewart, covers by Julian Totino Tedesco, lettered by Clem Robins, and edited by Scott Allie. All set in the Hellboy universe created by Mike Mignola. If you’re thinking of hopping onto the series, then here are reviews of issues so far: Unland 1 reviewed on All-Comic Unland 1 reviewed at Multiversity Unland 1 reviewed at Newsarama Unland 1 reviewed at SciFi Pulse…
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ArcadeCon 2014
ArcadeCon is taking place in the Ballsbridge Hotel this weekend, and I’ll be dropping by for a couple of panels and to chat to people. I was a special guest at ArcadeCon last year, and it was one of the friendliest conventions I’ve ever attended in Ireland – chock-full of fantastic cosplayers and fans who are passionate about genre media. Here are the two panels I’m on: 3pm on Saturday, Ballroom: Representing Geeks: Prejudice, Privilege, Power 4pm on Sunday, Ballroom: We Are Irish Comics It should be a fun weekend!
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Laydeez do Comics, virtually
This evening I’ll be ‘beaming in’ to the London meeting of Laydeez do Comics in Foyles bookshop, 107 Charing Cross Road. Laydeez do Comics is celebrating its 5th year running, and to showcase its network around the world it has created a bumper meeting with presentations from various LdC organisers: Anna Brewer Visual storyteller – Glasgow LdC Maureen Burdock: Artist and graphic designer – San Francisco LDC Louise Crosby Illustrator, printmaker and teacher – Leeds LDC MK Czerwiec Comics artist and educator – Chicago LDC Paula Knight Comics creator, children’s author and illustrator – Bristol LDC Sarah Lightman Artist, curator and scholar – London LDC Maura McHugh Writer of comic…
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22 pages to go
Our artist on Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland, Tyler Crook, recently posted this image of the first 88 pages of Witchfinder artwork, with the caption, ’22 pages left to go!’ It’s weird to see the combined work of 18 months condensed into a thick sheaf of pages. Kim and I finished writing the scripts over six months ago, but the project has been on-going because we’re involved in the proofing of covers, layouts, pencils, inks, and lettering. The job of the writer on comic books doesn’t end when the script is handed in. Witchfinder is coming out on a monthly schedule, so the final comic book in this five-issue mini-series…
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Tyler’s Sir Edward Grey
The reviews for issue 1 of Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland, have been rolling in and so far the team has been delighted with the response from the critics and the fans. I’ll put up a blog post listing them all soon, rather than detailing every single review as it comes in. Although, I will note that the comic got a Pick of the Week from the DC Women Kicking Ass Tumblr, as that’s a site I’ve been following for years, and I’m thrilled our title earned a mention. In the meantime, here’s an interview with me on ComicMonsters.com called Maura McHugh Discusses Witchfinder. Finally, above is a terrific drawing…
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Witchfinder Day
Today is the publication day of issue 1 of Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland! Hurray! This is the start of a five-issue Sir Edward Grey: Witchfinder story, with art byTyler Crook, coloured by Dave Stewart, covers by Julian Totino Tedesco, lettered by Clem Robins, and edited by Scott Allie. All set in the Hellboy universe created by Mike Mignola, and published by Dark Horse Comics. It should be available to buy today in all good local comic book stores, but if not you can buy it as a digital comic.
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Background and Review
Tomorrow is publication day for issue 1 of Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland, and it seems almost unreal. Publishing can be a strange business: you work on a project for a long time and well ahead of its release into the world, and occasionally it feels like a Sisyphean task. Suddenly, it feels like someone is collapsing a telescope and publication day zooms in! For those of you who are unfamiliar with Sir Edward Grey, the protagonist of the Witchfinder series, here’s his entry in the Hellboy Wiki. For the Mignolaverse scholars among you, check out the incredibly detailed and comprehensive Hell Notes column that Mark Tweedale recently dedicated to…
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Preview of Unland 1
The first three pages of issue 1 of Witchfinder: The Mysteries of Unland have been posted online, and on the Tumblr of our artist Tyler Crook (follow him!). What’s cool is that along with the finished coloured/lettered pages, you can also see the original black and white inks beside for comparison. I’m replicating them below. Not only do you see how well Tyler is drawing the comic, this also clearly demonstrates what a brilliant job colourist Dave Stewart is doing, and how much his work adds to the general atmosphere of the piece. Plus, let’s not forget the contribution of our letterer Clem Robins! (Click to embiggen.) The comic is…
