pbrainey

Jack The Robot!

2012-01-26T10:31:00.001Z

Earlier this week, I was delighted to receive notification that my strip, Jack The Robot, runner up in the Dundee Comic Prize, will be appearing in The Beano after all. I don't know in which issue, all I know at this stage is that it's scheduled for sometime in February, so watch this space for details.

pbrainey

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T08:22:00.001Z

Normally, I like to make and send out my own Christmas card but for this year I has been too busy to do this. (More about why soon, hopefully). Instead, here's a drawing I did of Santa a while ago for you. Merry Christmas and a very happy 2012.

pbrainey

Please Don't Cry

2011-12-16T09:22:00.000Z

Please don't cry but the second Thunder Brother: Soap Division story "Going Straight" finishes today. Read the final page here.

pbrainey

Today's Thunder Brother Page!

2011-12-12T09:10:00.000Z

The penultimate page to Thunder Brother: Soap Division "Going Straight" is now available online for you to read here. Read the story so far by going here and reading from the bottom page up!

pbrainey

TB:SD Day!

2011-12-09T19:38:00.000Z

Straight tips over the edge in today's Thunder Brother: Soap Division, page ten of "Going Straight".

pbrainey

The Office

2011-12-08T08:30:00.000Z

Here's a drawing I was commissioned to draw of The Office TV show earlier this year. I say "commissioned" but I did it as a favour for a mate. I say "favour" but I did it begrudgingly because I wanted to be paid for it. Anyway, the upshot is, I did a drawing of The Office for a mate for free and here it is.

pbrainey

Scientists research Thunder Brother; Soap Division

2011-12-06T10:05:00.000Z

Why you should read Thunder Brother: Soap Division. Scientists have done experiments where they denied babies access to my fantastic comics... and they all died. Read today's page here if you know what's good for you.

pbrainey

Uh Oh! It's Thunder Brother!

2011-12-02T08:58:00.000Z

Today's Thunder Brother: Soap Division update features the "uh oh" moment. Read it here.

pbrainey

More Thunder Brother: Soap Division

2011-11-28T08:47:00.000Z

Page seven of the second ever Thunder Brother: Soap Division story, "Going Straight", is now available here for you to read. Stop dragging your feet! It's not too late for you to catch up on the happening that's happening right now!

pbrainey

It's Friday!

2011-11-25T08:53:00.000Z

I know, it's Friday. (Groan). Cheer yourself up with today's new Thunder Brother: Soap Division page... if that's at all possible.

pbrainey

It's Monday!

2011-11-21T08:46:00.000Z

Today is Monday and you know what that means, don'cha? New Thunder Brother: Soap Division page! Read it here! Now!

pbrainey

The Mystery Deepens

2011-11-18T08:37:00.001Z

In today's Thunder Brother: Soap Division, the mystery deepens. Available to read online now right here!

pbrainey

Me in the Press!

2011-11-15T09:05:00.000Z

There's been some lovely coverage of my comics over the last few days. I was nominated by Peet Clack for Andrew Collins and Josie Long's Celebrity Of The Year and received an encouraging mention on their BBC 6 Music radio show on Saturday. You can listen to it again here for the rest of the week if you don't believe me!

2000 AD script droid, Al Ewing, has written a column for Traveling Man's blog where he reviews Too Much Sex and Viloence, to which I contributed some pages of art, and There's No Time Like The Present. "It’s a staggering work of SF – of fiction, full stop – and deserves a place on everyone’s shelf." Read the column here if you don't believe me!

pbrainey

Happy Thunder Brother: Soap Division Day!

2011-11-14T09:01:00.001Z

It's Monday and you know what that means? It's not just the start of a grey autumnal week, it's also new Thunder Brother: Soap Division page day! Page three of "Going Straight" is here.

pbrainey

Sally's First Day at Soap Division

2011-11-11T08:49:00.000Z

Thunder Brother's apprentice, Sally, starts her first day working for Soap Division in today's update.

pbrainey

New Thunder Brother Story Starts Today!

2011-11-07T09:04:00.002Z

The latest Thunder Brother: Soap Division story begins today! A new page from "Going Straight" will appear here every Monday and Friday for the next few weeks. Tell your friends!

pbrainey

Thunder Brother Returns Monday!

2011-11-04T09:16:00.002Z

Don't forget that Thunder Brother: Soap Division returns on Monday in it's second story, "Going Straight". Sally's first day working for Soap Division doesn't go as smoothly as everyone expects. Like "The Apprentice", "Going Straight" will appear every Monday and Friday for the next few weeks on the Thunder Brother: Soap Division blog.

The first story, "The Apprentice" is still available for you to read there. To re-read, select this link and read the pages from the bottom upwards.

pbrainey

Berserker Magazine

2011-11-03T09:29:00.001Z

Launching next year is Berserker Magazine. "Berserker is the new print magazine for comics, comics journalism and music journalism, printing and discussing works that represent the massive variety of fascinating, excellent, attention-worthy comics and new music being produced in the world right now." I'm delighted to be able to tell you that appearing in issue one will be the opening episode of Thunder Brother: Soap Division, "The Apprentice". For details as they become available please visit the Berserker Magazine website.

pbrainey

Dundee Comic Prize Runner Up

2011-10-31T09:07:00.001Z

I've known for a few weeks now, and I think that I'm allowed to tell you, that I am a runner up in the Dundee Comic Prize. The presentation took place yesterday but unfortunately I was unable to attend because I had work to do. My entry, Jack The Robot, was joint runner-up with three other entries which, as far as I am concerned, puts us all in joint second place.

Two of the strips will appear in in print in a DC Thompson title, probably The Beano or The Dandy; the winning entry and one of the runner-up entries. Unfortunately, it isn't mine. This means that even when, technically, my strip is free to them, The Beano or The Dandy still refuse to publish my work! Sheesh! I'm not gonna have to pay them, am I?

You can read Jack The Robot here.

pbrainey

Too Much Sex & Violence

2011-10-18T09:52:00.003+01:00

I am a long time admirer of writer Rol Hirst's comics and I'm delighted to be able to inform you that I am involved in his latest project, Too Much Sex & Violence. Rol describes the comic on his website thus; "Welcome to the northern seaside town of Fathomsby; home to retired super-heroes, monster DJs, mutant prostitutes, pier-owning gangsters, disgruntled policemen and a woman who knows exactly what you're thinking about, whenever you're thinking about...S-E-X."

For Too Much Sex & Violence, Rol has used different artists for each scene including Andrew Cheverton, Kelvin Green, Nige Lowrey, Mark Renhard, Martin Eden, Adrian Bamforth, Rob Wells and Davey Metcalfe-Carr. For issue one, I have drawn a three paged scene.

Copies of issue one can be ordered from Rol's website for a surprisingly good value £2.50. (Seriously, I don't know how he gives so much for so little.)

pbrainey

Thunder Brother: Soap Division will return

2011-10-17T10:46:00.002+01:00

The first Thunder Brother: Soap Division, "The Apprentice" concluded on Friday but, you may be wondering, where is today's update. The answer is that the strip is on a break and is scheduled to return on Monday November 7th in a story called "Going Straight". In the meantime, you might like to continue to visit the blog as I intend to post the occasional soap-news story along with clips from upcoming stories.

The End of The Apprentice

2011-10-14T08:18:00.000+01:00

The very first Thunder Brother: Soap Division, "The Apprentice" finishes today. Read the final page here.

pbrainey

What Next?

2011-10-10T06:50:00.000+01:00

What awaits Sally and Jake after their visit to West Enders? Find out in today's Thunder Brother: Soap Division page.

pbrainey

Happy New Page Day!

2011-10-07T06:17:00.001+01:00

Take a trip to a world that you had previously thought of as fictional in today's Thunder Brother: Soap Division page.

pbrainey

New Page Day!

2011-10-03T08:10:00.000+01:00

Have your eyes been boggled by meeting Thunder Brother? Brain bent by learning about Soap Division? Wait until you see Sally and Jake take a trip inside the Self Dividing Proto-Sphere in today's new Thunder Brother: Soap Division page.

pbrainey

Introducing Thunder Brother

2011-09-30T07:23:00.000+01:00

Introducing Thunder Brother in today's Soap Division page here.
pbrainey

What Is Soap Divison

2011-09-26T08:41:00.000+01:00

Find out what Soap Division actually is in today's uploaded page to Thunder Brother: Soap Division "The Apprentice" now!

pbrainey

New Page Day!

2011-09-23T08:35:00.000+01:00

Page six of the very first Thunder Brother: Soap Division story "The Apprentice" is now available online to read. Go here for a revelation.

pbrainey

Page Five! TB:SD!

2011-09-19T00:33:00.000+01:00

It's Thunder Brother: Soap Division day! Go here for page five of "The Apprentice".

pbrainey

Orbital Comics Self-Portrait Exhibition

2011-09-17T12:27:00.001+01:00

The great Orbital Comics are holding a Self-Portrait Exhibition in their Central London shop between. September 19th and October 15th.

As you can see, there are a terrific selection of artists taking part including ME?! If you're in the area, you should pop in and take a look.

pbrainey

Page Four of Thunder Brother: Soap Division "The Apprentice"

2011-09-16T07:12:00.002+01:00

Go here for page four of the very first TB:SD story, "The Apprentice". New today!

pbrainey

Page Three of TB:SD

2011-09-12T07:42:00.001+01:00

Check it out! The third page of the first story to my new strip, Thunder Brother: Soap Division. Go here to read it and pages one and two too if you want to.

pbrainey

New Thunder Brother: Soap Division Page

2011-09-09T07:35:00.000+01:00

The second page of my brand new strip, Thunder Brother: Soap Division has been uploaded here. Today, meet Sally's best friend, Abeer.

pbrainey

Thunder Brother: Soap Division Begins Today

2011-09-05T01:32:00.000+01:00

My brand new comic strip, Thunder Brother: Soap Division begins here today. Every Monday and Friday, I will be uploading a new page from my latest big, comic strip, all-ages project. Enjoy.

pbrainey

Thunder Brother: Soap Division Teaser 4

2011-08-29T10:04:00.002+01:00

This is the logo to my new strip, Thunder Brother: Soap Division. I've never felt that logo design is one of my strengths, so my friend Robert Wells did this for me. Robert is a great cartoonist also and you really should check out his work.

Anyway, it's one more week until I begin serialising Thunder Brother: Soap Division here. I really want to to see you there from the very beginning so please subscribe to the blog and tell all of your friends.

pbrainey

Thunder Brother: Soap Division Teaser 3

2011-08-22T09:54:00.001+01:00

This is what it looks like when you're standing inside the Self Dividing Proto-Sphere. "What's a Self Dividing Proto-Sphere when it's at home?", I imagine I can hear you ask. Well, the answer can be found in my brand new comic strip project Thunder Brother: Soap Division. The first episode begins serialisation on Monday September 5th here. Remember, it's free, so please add it to your feed of choice.

pbrainey

Thunder Brother: Soap Division Teaser 2

2011-08-15T10:12:00.002+01:00

This is Thunder Brother of Soap Division. Or rather, this is Thunder Brother of Soap Division in silhouette as he doesn't appear in the twice weekly strip when it begins on Monday September 5th. I want the character to remain a mystery until he makes his first official appearance. To ensure that you're there when it happens, go to here, where the strip will appear, and subscribe.

pbrainey

Thunder Brother: Soap Division Teaser 1

2011-08-09T09:43:00.001+01:00

INTRODUCING Sally Timmins, one of the main characters in my new strip, Thunder Brother: Soap Division. Sally is thirteen years old and she looooooves soap operas. Meet Sally properly when the strip starts being serialised here on Monday September 5th.

pbrainey

Caption 2011

2011-08-05T08:57:00.001+01:00

This weekend I will be attending Caption, the always enjoyable small press comic event that takes place every year in Oxford. Copies of my comics There's No Time Like The Present and Book of Lists will be for sale there along with a wide variety of new comics by some of Britain's best creators. This years theme is austerity so, on the Sunday at 2:45, I will be chairing a Comics On The Ration panel with the review blog's more substantial contributors Robert Wells, Rol Hirst and Steve Miller. Maybe I'll see you there.

pbrainey

Coming Soon

2011-08-01T09:45:00.003+01:00

I'm happy to announce today that the my next big project after There's No Time Like The Present begins September 5th and is called Thunder Brother: Soap Division. It's an all ages strip, in full colour and will be available to you to read for FREE. I will be posting the pages to a new blog I have set up every Monday and Friday, so please visit there now and subscribe for updates as they become available. Throughout August, I plan to post teasers to the new strip so don't just do it whenever you feel like it; do it NOW!

pbrainey

West Stray Bullets

2011-05-26T00:50:00.004+01:00

Don't let the fact that I've been a little bit quiet on here fool you into thinking that I haven't been doing much recently. I've been working on a number of secret projects, including the successor to There's No Time Like The Present. Amongst them is four pages for the new West comic, Stray Bullets. The latest issue is an anthology and features contributions from Warwick Johnson Cadwell, Jenika Ioffreda, Emma Price as well as regulars Andrew Cheverton and Tim Keable.

You should know that I rate West very highly and I was very flattered to be asked to contribute to this one-off special. Copies of Stray Bullets can be ordered from here for £3.50.

pbrainey

Jimbo Mechanical Elephant

2011-03-09T08:36:00.002Z

For the recently completed Adventures In Comics exhibition, I was challenged to produce a two paged comic strip inspired by the theme of "Mechanical Elephant". My response was called Jimbo Mechanical Elephant, which can now be read here.

pbrainey

The Two Pauls Orbital Q&A

2011-02-25T10:00:00.004Z

I thoroughly enjoyed Saturday's signing and Q&A that I took part in with Paul Cornell at Orbital Comics. For me, a little bit of attention can be a dangerous thing, but everyone at the shop was very helpful and lovely while Paul was a complete gentleman throughout. Many thanks if you came along. It was great to see and to meet you.

The hour long Q&A session, compared masterfully by Tom Oldham, was filmed by Robin Harman and has been uploaded to You Tube for you to watch if you want to. Personally, I won't be watching it for a while, if ever; I remember being over excited early on while in the second half, I started to ebb and ended up mumbling something about "Doctor Who getting you boobs".

I also drew a sketch for Orbital Comics's wall which, hopefully, should be going up in a few days. Here's a scan I took, just for you.

pbrainey

PJANG 5 Review

2011-02-23T10:05:00.002Z

As you may know, I recently drew a twelve paged strip for the fifth issue of Rol Hirst's comic PJANG. This week, a review of it has appeared on the always vital Forbidden Planet blog. Writer Richard Bruton says, "/Rainey's/ art on the first strip “Derek” is great – with a more open and maybe more relaxed feel to it (I imagine it must have been freeing to get away from the tight, controlled layouts and small panels of TNTLTP). The bigger style really suits his work."

Copies of PJANG 5 can be ordered from Rol via his website. for just £1.75 including postage to the UK. They're also available to buy from Orbital Comics. I know this because I lef a big pile of them there when I was there the other day.

pbrainey

The Two Pauls in Orbital

2011-02-15T10:23:00.006Z

This Saturday at Orbital Comics in London I will be taking part in a signing followed by a panel discussion with Paul Cornell. This should be an interesting event because there will be me, the writer, artist and publisher of small press and online comics that only you have heard of, sharing the limelight with a creator who has written episodes of Doctor Who, Robin Hood, Primeval, Captain Britain and Action Comics. I fully expect for there to be a large crowd queuing to see Paul Cornell and wondering who the hell I am.

Actually, I'm really looking forward to the event. Everyone at Orbital Comics is lovely and I'm sure that they will facilitate my determination to have an enjoyable day. It would be great to see you there if you're able to attend either or both the signing and the panel. The signing starts at 4 PM and the panel starts at 7 PM.

pbrainey

Adventures In Comics

2011-01-31T09:25:00.003Z

If you missed the That’s Novel exhibition at the end of 2010 which I had the honour of producing artwork for, then you have another chance to see it as it will be on display as part of Adventures In Comics. This exhibition will be displaying the four There's No Time Like The Present extras I drew along with other comic work.

Also being exhibited will be a series of two paged strips drawn by a wide variety of comic artists produced especially on the theme of Mechanical Elephant. A sample from my entry can be seen below.

The Adventures In Comics exhibition runs between February 4th to 20th at Marine Studios, 17 Albert Terrace, Margate, Kent. More details can be found here.

pbrainey

TNTLTP; Best of 2010

2011-01-13T10:08:00.005Z

Orbital Comics in London have included There's No Time Like The Present in their highly selective and otherwise tasteful Best of 2010 list. My comic is in there with the likes of The Walking Dead and Bulletproof Coffin. Tom says, "The strength of Paul Rainey’s ‘There’s Time Like The Present’ lies in it’s ability to juxtapose relatable personal drama with lofty cosmic science concepts". Copies of all thirteen parts are still available to buy from the shop section of my website or directly from Orbital.

Orbital Comics like my work enough to have invited me to take part in an event in their shop with Paul Cornell on Saturday February 19th. Paul is a highly regarded writer whose work includes Captain Britain, Action Comics and episodes of Doctor Who. Details can be found on Orbital's website and I'll remind you here nearer to the time.

pbrainey

TNTLTP Extras

2011-01-05T10:00:00.001Z

At the end of last year, I had the honour of contributing to the That’s Novel exhibition curated by Paul Gravett. The theme was graphic novels and for it I produced four exclusive pages which are supposed to work as extras to There's No Time Like The Present. Now that the exhibition is finished, I'm happy to post them to my website. Please click the link below so you can navigate your way through the four strips. I hope you enjoy them.

pbrainey

PJANG 5

2010-12-30T09:08:00.005Z

PJANG is a comic I've enjoyed since it started a couple of years ago. Each issue features two or three strips written by Rol Hirst and drawn by a different artist. The latest issue features two strips; Ex-Men drawn by Kelvin Green and Derek drawn by me.

In a review written by Steve Miller he says, "It’s the first strip I’ve seen from Paul since the completion of ‘There’s No Time Like The Present’, and it looks like he had lots of fun with it, almost like it was a relief to break away from the storytelling mechanisms he imposed upon himself in that previous project." It's true, it was the first thing I drew after completing There’s No Time Like The Present and I DID have lots of fun drawing it.

Copies of PJANG 5 can be ordered from Rol via his website. for just £1.75 including postage to the UK.

Cover art by Nigel Lowrey

pbrainey

Merry Christmas and Happy 2011

2010-12-24T10:17:00.002Z

pbrainey

Updates

2010-12-18T09:55:00.003Z

A couple of updates for you. Firstly, SFX magazine's Comic Heroes features a review of BASTARDS 2, the high quality small press anthology to which I have contributed. Matthew Badham says the book had him laughing out loud. "Dr Kyle, a Doctor Who/Jeremy Kyle mash-up, is a tour de force." I still have some copies of BASTARDS 2 available for sale in The Shop. It costs £10, which includes postage to the UK. If you order it now, you should receive it by Christmas... 2011.

Secondly, Rob Jackson features There's No Time Like The Present on his best of the year list. "Now this 13 part series is finished I am definitely putting it on my best comics of the year list. It's great." All parts are still available and can be ordered from The Shop.

pbrainey

Gin Palace 2

2010-11-23T09:37:00.002Z

I have a strip appearing in the second issue of Rob Jackson's excellent booze influenced anthology, Gin Palace. The short is called Wednesdays and is about feuds between middle-aged dads who should be old enough to know better. Wednesdays appears alongside other great shorts by some of the best UK based comic creators today including Francesca Cassavetti, Andrew Cheverton, Dave Hughes and, of course, Rob Jackson. Copies cost £3 including P&P from Rob's website.

pbrainey

Thought Bubble

2010-11-18T10:10:00.002Z

I will be exhibiting on Saturday at this years Thought Bubble, the Leeds Sequential Art Festival. I will be sharing table space with Spandex superstar Martin Eden and selling copies of There's No Time Like The Present, Book of Lists and BASTARDS 2. If you're in the area, please pop by and say hello.

pbrainey

Speech Writing The Expert Guide

2010-11-10T09:31:00.003Z

Two weeks ago I attended the launch of Speechwriting (Hale Expert Guides) by Simon Lancaster. It was a star-studded event held at The Groucho Club. The reason I was there is because I provided nearly thirty illustrations for the book. Many of the drawings I did can now viewed by going to this new section of my website I've set up. And if you're interested in owning a copy of Simon's excellent book then you can buy it from Amazon .

pbrainey

Comica Comiket

2010-11-04T10:34:00.003Z

As part of this years Comica Festival, as well as taking part in the That’s Novel comic art exhibition, I will be exhibiting at the Comiket Independent Comics Fair taking place on Sunday. I will be sharing my table space with Spandex's Martin Eden. Comiket will be taking place at The Royal National Hotel between midday and 5 PM, so if you're in the area please pop by and say hello.

Comica is run by highly respected comics authority Paul Gravett who recently included There's No Time Like The Present in his seven entry long Great Comics Now List. Paul wrote, "There's No Time Like The Present stands quietly, unassumingly, as one of the most intriguing and affecting long-form British graphic novels in recent years." Read the full review here.

pbrainey

TNTLTP Updates

2010-10-30T12:00:00.003+01:00

I have some There's No Time Like The Present updates for you. Firstly, Paul Gravett, the curator of the That’s Novel exhibition, recently wrote about it here. There's more information about the exhibition along with a sample of one of the pieces I drew exclusively for it.

Secondly, TNTLTP was name checked in the latest Utter Shambles comedy podcast hosted by Robin Ince and Josie Long. They were talking to Mark Gatiss about some of their favourite films, TV shows and actors when my name and the Ultranet are mentioned. I was out walking and listening to the show on my ipod and I was so surprised to hear my work mentioned in this context that I laughed into the face of a passing woman. The podcast can be downloaded for free from here.

Finally, as well as being able to buy the entire series of TNTLTP from my website shop, it also available from the following real world venues - GOSH, Orbital and the London Print Studio in London, OK Comics in Leeds, Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham, Worlds Apart in Liverpool and Forbidden Planet in Manchester.

pbrainey

Comica; That's Novel

2010-10-19T10:00:00.005+01:00

The centrepiece of this years Comica Comic festival is the That’s Novel exhibition taking place at the London Print Studio. The theme is Graphic Novels and on display is up to date work from some of the best creators working in comics today including Charlie Adlard (The Walking Dead), The Pleece Brothers (The Great Unwashed) and David Quantick (Louis Wain). I’m very proud to be able to tell you that I will also be displaying art from There’s No Time Like The Present as part of the exhibition. I have also produced four pieces of artwork spinning out of my strip exclusively for the show. Go here to learn more about the exhibition and this years Comica Festival including a full list of everyone taking part. That’s Novel runs from 22nd October to 18th December.

pbrainey

BASTARDS 2 Reviewed

2010-10-14T10:28:00.002+01:00

Richard Bruton has posted a review of BASTARDS 2, the high quality book collection of British small press cartoonists including episodes of Ghost Zombie and The Doctor Kyle Show by me. "The quality is top notch, and there’s more than enough really enjoyable strips to make it worth your while forking out a tenner for this really solid collection." All contributors to BASTARDS 2 have copies for sale but you can also buy it directly from me for £10 (price includes P&P to the UK) using the Paypal button here or at BICS this weekend.

pbrainey

BICS 2010

2010-10-13T09:56:00.004+01:00

Once again I am exhibiting this weekend at the British International Comic Show 2010. BICS must now be the county's largest comics event featuring publishers, creators and fans from both ends of the spectrum and everywhere in-between. I will be sharing table space with Peet Clack and selling copies of There's No Time Like The Present, Book of Lists and BASTARDS 2. If you're attending the event, please pop by and say hello.

pbrainey

BASTARDS 2 is go Go GO!

2010-10-02T12:03:00.003+01:00

This years BASTARDS collection is now available. For 2010, BASTARDS is even bigger and better coming in as a whopping 208 pages, perfectly bound, soft cover book. BASTARDS 2 features strips by some of the best from the current British small press comic scene including David Baillie, Rob Jackson, Philip Spence, Sean Azzopardi, Oliver Lambden, Sally-Anna Hickman, Dan Lester, Francesca Cassavetti and Schmurgen Jonerhaffs. Also included are twenty pages of comics by me featuring The Doctor Kyle Show and three episodes of the previously unseen Ghost Zombie. Copies can be ordered from me via The Shop. BASTARDS 2 costs £10 which includes the cost of post and packing to the UK.

pbrainey

Comics - On the Ration

2010-10-01T09:31:00.001+01:00

My friend Robert Wells and I have started a comic review blog called On The Ration. The object of the blog is for us to only buy comics if they conform to a strict financial criteria. We post reviews of the value for money comics and graphic novels we find, including our methods of sniffing out a bargain, as well as our Objects of Desire. A great place to start reading the blog is with the rules here. We look forward to seeing you over there.

pbrainey

TNTLTP 13 Reviewed

2010-09-17T09:56:00.003+01:00

Richard Bruton writes another astute review of the final issue of There's No Time Like The Present for the vital Forbidden Planet Blog and provides an overview of the series as a whole. "That was quite lovely and a perfect way to finish." Read the review here. Copies of the entire series are available to buy from The Shop.

pbrainey

Cargo Review

2010-08-20T09:37:00.002+01:00

I've drawn a comic strip review of the Swiss film, Cargo, for online magazine Electric Sheep. You can read my review here. For clarity, I actually quite enjoyed the film.

pbrainey

Comica Comiket

2010-08-18T12:49:00.002+01:00

This years Comica small press event Comiket takes place this Sunday at The Pump House in Battersea Park, London. I will be exhibiting there, sharing a table with my friend Peet Clack and selling copies There's No Time Like The Present and Book of Lists. If you're in the area, please pop by and say hello.

pbrainey

TNTLTP 13 Roll-Out

2010-08-03T09:38:00.003+01:00

The Roll-Out of the final part of There's No Time Like The Present continues this week. Copies are already available to buy from GOSH in Central London and OK Comics in Leeds, the main two outlets to support the 'project' since its beginning. Strange as it may seem now that the strip is finished, every part is now also available from Nostalgia and Comics in Birmingham, Worlds Apart in Liverpool, Forbidden Planet in Manchester and Orbital in London. All of these outlets are also selling copies of Book of Lists.

There's been a lot of positive coverage of the conclusion to There's No Time Like The Present. Forbidden Planet blog mentions it here, Down the Tubes here, Rob Jackson here and Rol Hirst writes a review here.

If you don't live near to any of the stores mentioned above, then all copies can be purchased from my website shop here.

pbrainey

Caption 2010

2010-07-28T23:44:00.002+01:00

This weekend I will be attending Caption, the Oxford based small press event that I've been visiting off and on pretty much since the early days. This year, it has the honour of being the event to premier the final part of There's No Time Like The Present. Every year Caption has a theme and this years is Mad Science. For once, I've remembered to draw a sketch for the programme. Here's my tribute to the great Magnus Pike. See you there, if you're going. I'll probably be in the bar.
pbrainey

TNTLTP 13 is go Go GO!

2010-07-20T06:26:00.002+01:00

The final episode of There's No Time Like The Present is now available. Part 13 is the super-sized (well, a little bit longer than usual) conclusion to the long comic strip, or 'graphic novel', I started work on in September 2004. Because of its length, part 13 costs £3.25, but if you order from me using the Paypal button on my website, that price includes post and packing to the UK. (International customers, please visit The Shop.)

pbrainey

West Justice

2010-07-18T09:13:00.001+01:00

If you have never read West by my friends Andrew Cheverton and Tim Keable then may I point you in the direction of West Justice. This is the definitive collection of the first five stories, beautifully reproduced in hardcover. West Justice is a fantastic example of disciplined comic strip story telling that benefits even more from being read in a single volume. You don't necessarily need to be interested in Westerns to get great pleasure from this book, trust me.

pbrainey

Recent Booty

2010-07-10T09:44:00.005+01:00

This week I ordered Rob Jackson's latest comic, Goblin Hall, from his website. It's a big, in both shape and length, one-off tale set during the middle ages. Goblin Hall is a very eerie, often surreal fairy tale that's meticulously illustrated throughout. Buy it.

I also received Ralph Kidson's latest, Hootiebits The Magic Owl. Ralph Kidson absolutely never fails to be funny and this is no exception. The characterisation, the jokes and the comic timing are perfect. In fact, it's a wonder to me why he doesn't have his own TV show. However, I don't think Ralph even has a website, but you can email him here for details about his comics. Tell him I sent you.

pbrainey

Book of Lists Review

2010-07-07T09:12:00.001+01:00

Dr Jonas Christ has posted a very positive review of Book of Lists to his blog, Crabbed Into Sunlight. "This is highly entertaining. Many sections are funny, some are serious, but all are very honest and open. He concentrates on the small details that make you laugh but are normally quickly forgotten." He also took this photograph comparing my looks with a Megabus driver called Norm. I'm in no position to dispute that. Copies of Book of Lists are still available to order from my Shop.

pbrainey

TNTLTP Finished

2010-07-02T09:44:00.001+01:00

I drew the final page to my long comic strip, or graphic novel, There's No Time Like The Present on Tuesday. After six years of obsessive work, I have finished the biggest project of my life so far. I am currently going through the process of getting the final issue, part 13, ready for the printers so that it's available for sale at this years Caption. In the meantime, here's the black and white artwork for the cover.
pbrainey

Spandex vs. Father Christmas

2010-06-12T10:14:00.002+01:00

Martin Eden's great superhero comic Spandex has enjoyed unexpected but deserved attention since its first issue was published at the end of last year. He has generously decided to spread the opportunity around amongst other comic artists by running Japandex on his website throughout June. Japandex is a project where artists are invited to contribute their own spin on the theme with a new illustration appearing each day. Mine, which was published yesterday, features Martin's character Neon fighting Father Christmas... Manga style. Seriously, it's worth checking out when you have time because the contributions are stunning.

pbrainey

TNTLTP 300

2010-06-04T08:34:00.002+01:00

When I started work on There's No Time Like The Present in 2004, although I had a clear idea of the overall story, I didn't imagine that that it would run for this long. Recently, however, I drew the 300th page! Page 300 will appear in the final issue of TNTLTP available in a few weeks time. In the meantime, here's a panel from it to tide you over.
pbrainey

MCM Expo Booty

2010-06-02T08:47:00.003+01:00

It's Wednesday already and I'm still yet to fully recover from the MCM Expo which took place over the weekend. It was hard work made even harder by there basically not being a train service on Sunday. Still, I picked up some pretty cool comics including the delightful 100 Planets by Daniel Merlin Goodbrey. I haven't a reproduction of the cover art for you here but Daniel posts a new page from his great strip every week on his website.

Sean Azzopardi has produced 100 Days of Winter, his sketch book diary that doesn't last for as long as the artist intended but manages to be both beautiful and touching just the same. Visit Sean's website here for more information and cool stuff.

My table buddy Peet Clack , now known by the nickname of Clackers, has produced a very funny mini-comic called Handy (& Hoofy) Home Hints With Afro Horse. I demand that you check it out.

There were other comics by creators there that I wanted but didn't buy and now regret. You know who you are if you're reading this. Hopefully I'll have an opportunity to correct these mistakes another time.

pbrainey

MCM Expo

2010-05-26T09:59:00.003+01:00

This weekend I am exhibiting with my table buddy Peet Clack (or 'Clackers' as he's now known) at London's MCM Expo. I will be selling all twelve parts so far of There's No Time Like The Present as well as copies of my actual reality diary strip collection, Book of Lists. If you're attending the event then please pop by our table and say hello. I will be easy to recognise because, once again, I will be partaking in the activity of 'cosplay' and dressed up as one of my own creations from Book of Lists.

pbrainey

Bristol Booty

2010-05-25T10:33:00.006+01:00

Despite trying hard not to spend my takings from last weekend's International Comic and Small Press Expo in Bristol, I did crack and make some purchases none of which, incidentally, I regret. I can recommend Andrew Cheverton's Synchrony Four which features short stories illustrated by Jenika Ioffreda, Tim Keable, Oliver Lambden and Dan Lester.

I have been really looking forward to the second issue of Martin Eden's Spandex which premiered at the event and is as joyful as the first. In it, the team of gay superheroes visit Japan where they battle Pink Ninjas.

The find of the weekend was VerityFair by the always brilliant Terry Wiley. The opening pages can be read on his website for free. When everyone is talking about how good this comic is in a few months time, remember that you read about it here first.

pbrainey

Bristol International Comic & Small Press Expo

2010-05-19T09:42:00.002+01:00

This weekend, I am exhibiting at the International Comic and Small Press Expo taking place in the Mercure Hotel in Bristol. Once again, I will be sharing my table space with Trouser Madness' Peet Clack and selling copies of my comics including Book of Lists and all twelve parts of There's No Time Like The Present so far. If you're in the area, please pop by and say hello.

pbrainey

TNTLTP 12 Reviewed

2010-05-17T09:12:00.002+01:00

Richard Bruton reviewed the latest part of There's No Time Like The Present at the start of the weekend on the Forbidden Planet Blog. "It’s genuinely a pleasure to be able to say that (unless issue 13 is unbelievably awful – which is highly unlikely) this sci fi soap opera with it’s varied and unusual, non-stereotypical cast of characters lives up to every bit of early promise it showed." All twelve issues so far can be bought from my Shop, GOSH in Central London and OK Comics in Leeds.

Also, there's been some lovely coverage of the end of the 2000 AD Prog Slog Blog on the Forbidden Planet Blog, Down The Tubes and Pete Ashton's website.

pbrainey

2000 AD Prog Slog Blog to End

2010-05-13T08:51:00.002+01:00

In November 2006, after an impetuous ill-thought out bid on eBay, I won the first 1188 programmes of 2000 AD. Rather than just have them sit piled up in my bedroom collecting dust tormenting me about how much money I had spent on them, I decided I was obliged to read them all. I thought, rather than just read them why not blog about the experience too. So, I started the 2000 AD Prog Slog Blog where I review every other issue of the Galaxy’s greatest comic and many of it’s associated publications.

Well, after three and a half years of thrill power intensity turning my mind into a boggled mess and over 700 entries , the blog is due to come to it’s intended conclusion this weekend. Of course, I would like to tell you how proud I am to have got this far but there’s a part of me that feels ashamed at having used up so much time on a project which, let’s face it, is obsessive and stupid. All I can say for certain is, ‘it’s been emotional’ and ‘thank God it’s over’.

If you ever read 2000 AD when you were younger or have an interest in the blog then you can read all entries so far here. The final prog is scheduled to be reviewed early tomorrow evening while the farewell entry will appear sometime over the weekend. Finally, if you’re one of those people who think that the 2000 AD Prog Slog Blog should continue then you will be pleased to know that David Page is picking up where I will be leaving off on his blog.

pbrainey

TNTLTP 12 Update

2010-05-05T09:49:00.001+01:00

Copies of part 12 of There's No Time Like The Present are now available to buy from GOSH in Central London and OK Comics in Leeds. If you can't get to these great stores then, of course, they are still available from my online shop here. Rol Hirst has posted a review here describing it as "brain-meltingly wonderful" and Rob Jackson has one here. Rob also mentions me in an interview for The National Post arts section in answer to 'Who's the most under-appreciated comic artist working today?' Well, of course I am; it's just not for me to say, that's all.

pbrainey

Book of Lists Club

2010-05-02T10:10:00.004+01:00

Every two weeks, The Paper Jam Comics Collective meet in the Newcastle Travelling Man store. They are a creative community who often also run a book club. Anyway, I'm delighted to be able to tell you that the the next book they are reading is Book of Lists. If you don't live in Newcastle but would like to take part then you can do so by buying a copy from me in The Shop and, er, reading it.

pbrainey

Sci-Fi London

2010-04-30T09:16:00.002+01:00

Currently taking place in our nation's great capital is the Sci-Fi London festival. Starting on Wednesday just gone and finishing on Monday May 3rd, the theme for this years festival is Life in 2050. Now, I'll be honest with you, I like a bit of science fiction, but I'm not immersed enough in the genre to have heard of this festival before this year. Making my ignorance appear even worse is it seems to be quite a big festival. So when I tell you that on Saturday at 1 PM I will be appearing on a panel called Future Publishing you might be surprised. When I think about how little I know about publishing in 2010 let alone 2050, so am I. Fortunately, if you go to the website you will see that the other panel guests look pretty good so, hopefully, they'll take up my slack. If you're attending the festival or in the area, then you might like to pop by and watch me make a fool of myself in public.

pbrainey

UniComics

2010-04-21T09:07:00.003+01:00

This Saturday, I am exhibiting at the new Unicomics Festival taking place at The University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield. I will be sharing my table space with Peet Clack and Andrew Cheverton where I will be selling copies of Book of Lists and premiering part 12 of There's No Time Like The Present. Also, during the afternoon, I'm appearing on a panel about Autobiography in Comics. The event looks pretty good so if you're in the area please pop by and say hello.

pbrainey

TNTLTP 12 is go Go GO!

2010-04-17T09:24:00.002+01:00

Part 12 of my long comic, or 'graphic novel', There's No Time Like The Present is now available for sale for £2.50. This is the penultimate issue to years of hard, and not so hard, work. To buy a copy, please use the Paypal link on my website. Or contact me here for alternative methods of payment. To buy previous parts or if you're an international customer, then please visit The Shop. Price includes P&P to the UK.

pbrainey

Penultimate TNTLTP Nearly Here

2010-04-07T08:26:00.001+01:00

The penultimate part of There's No Time Like The Present is on its way to the printers and should be ready in time for the first Unicon event at the UniComics Festival taking place in Hatfield on April 24th. In the meantime, here's the finished cover for you to look at.

pbrainey

Cool New Comics

2010-03-29T09:55:00.005+01:00

I picked up a bunch of really good comics at this years UK Web Comix Thing and Schmurgencon over the weekend. You should definitely check out Francesca Cassavetti's Striptacular 2 which tells the story of a recent trip to the Angoleme Comic Festival by a bunch of cartoonists and features a guest appearance by me. I can also recommend Peet Clack's Trouser Madness 3. As well drawn and as joyful as you would hope. Check out Schmurgen Gets a Job by Schmurgen Jonerhaffs if you can. It's very, very funny.

It was great picking up the first new issue of West for a couple of years. Written by Andrew Cheverton and drawn by Tim Keable, West Distance takes place earlier in the character's life and is an ideal starting point if you've never read the comic before. It doesn't matter if you are normally indifferent to Westerns, if you like strong story telling and great art then West Distance is ideal for any right minded person.

There's are so many good comics being produced right now. If you're trying to exercise financial restraint like I was then walking around these events is really difficult and me not buying something should never be interpreted negatively as a reflection of my opinion of it. However, I can definitely also recommend David O'Connell's Tozo 3, John Maybury's Space Babe 113 8 and Birdsong.

pbrainey

Pbrainey Award Winner

2010-03-28T11:59:00.001+01:00

I had another very enjoyable UK Web Comix Thing and Schmurgencon yesterday. Thanks to everyone who said hello. My personal highlight was winning the Best Writer/Artist award at Schmurgencon. I won because I was there and, when Schmurgen asked who should win it, I shouted my name out first.

pbrainey

UK Web Comix Thing and Schmurgencon

2010-03-25T10:19:00.005Z

After a quiet few months, a new season of comic events kicks off this Saturday with this years UK Web Comix Thing taking place at Queen Mary University in Mile End, London. I'll be in attendance selling copies of Book of Lists and There's No Time Like The Present. I'll be sharing my table with the mighty Tim Keable, Andrew Cheverton and Peet Clack who, hopefully, will have new issues of their comics West and Trouser Madness for sale. If you're in the area between 11 AM and 5 PM, then please pop by and say hello.

After, I will probably wander over to Schmurgencon taking place at the New Globe Pub around the corner from the UK Web Comix Thing afterwards. Schmurgen is promising an awards ceremony and I really want to win one.

pbrainey

Gin Palace

2010-03-13T09:18:00.002Z

Rob Jackson's latest anthology is now out. It features strips by Francesca Cassavetti, Dave Hughes, Ant Mercer, Jarod Rosello, Lee Johnson, Simon M and rob himself, all of which are great. You can buy a copy from him here at his website.

pbrainey

Twitter me DO

2010-03-09T09:18:00.000Z

Yeah, that's right; just like every other other self absorbed bozo on the planet, I now twitter. You can 'follow' me at http://twitter.com/pbrainey. Gasp as I stare blankly out of a window. Marvel at how I moan about my arm hurting from drawing too much. Read my thoughts on how my local Post Office's automated queuing system could be more efficient. And much more. Do it! Follow me now!

pbrainey

Max and His Weevil 3

2010-02-22T09:38:00.001Z

Please click the above for a larger version of the image.

pbrainey

TNTLTP Part 11 Reviews

2010-02-16T08:55:00.002Z

I have had lots of positive feedback to to There's No Time Like The Present part 11 via email, post and reviews which I'm delighted by. Richard Bruton at the Forbidden Planet blog writes, "it’s a thoroughly entertaining, deliciously complicated and intriguingly staged bit of domesticated science fiction" while Rol Hirst says, "this book continues to surprise." The problem with quoting more from these reviews and talking about part 11 in general is that it's difficult to do without giving away any spoilers. So, if you haven't read the latest issue yet, my advice to you is to save the following two links somewhere and only go to them once you've read it. Copies can be bought from GOSH in Central London, OK Comics in Leeds or from me using Paypal via my Shop.

Forbidden Planet Blog

Rol Hirst

pbrainey

Max and his Weevil 2

2010-02-15T09:42:00.001Z

Click on the above for a larger image.

pbrainey

Max and his Weevil 1

2010-02-08T09:40:00.001Z

If you don't know what a weevil is, in this context at least, it's a race of aliens that live in the sewers underneath Cardiff in the Torchwood BBC TV show. I drew three of these strips recently as part of a pitch to a magazine. I'll post the other two here over the next week or two.

pbrainey

TNTLTP Part 11 is go, Go, GO!

2010-02-02T08:21:00.001Z

Part 11 of There's No Time Like The Present is back from the printers and now available for you to buy. The price is still £2.50 and, if you buy it from here, that includes post to UK destinations. (International readers, please add a pound). Use the Paypal button at the link above or visit The Shop where all previous parts are also still available to buy or contact me here for details on alternative methods of payment.

pbrainey

PJANG 4

2010-01-28T09:54:00.002Z

The fourth issue of one of my favourite comics at the moment, PJANG has just been released. It features three great new atmospheric and creepy strips written by Rol Hirst and drawn by Chris Askham, Ryan Taylor and Tony McGee. Copies cost just £1.75 and can be purchased from Rol's website here. Tell him I sent you.

pbrainey

TNTLTP Part 11 Update

2010-01-20T10:47:00.001Z

Part 11 of There's No Time Like The Present is currently on it's way to the printers and should, hopefully, be available in a couple of weeks. As a teaser, here's the coloured back page panel for your perusal.
pbrainey

TNTLTP End Confirmed

2010-01-15T10:03:00.001Z

For the last few weeks, I've been working on the ending to There's No Time Like The Present. Although I've always had a clear idea of the overall story, I've usually written it a scene at a time. However, because of the way it ends, I decided to write the rest of it up until the very final panel which I finished doing yesterday. It means I can now confirm to you that part 13 will be the last issue of the series. I apologise if you're one of the people I told that part 12 was definitely where it ends. My excuse is that I totally underestimated how much plot I had left to go. Now all I have to do is draw the bastard.pbrainey

Best of 2009

2010-01-07T09:56:00.006Z

The Forbidden Planet blog has been running a series of fun features where personalities from the British comics scene list their picks of 2009. No, I'm not one of the contributors (which I'm fine with, honestly) but I'm delighted to report that in today's entry Martin Spandex Eden includes Book of Lists as one of his three favourite books. Also, writer Rol Hirst recently placed Book of Lists as his second favourite comic of 2009 which is great as I have it on good authority he read a lot of them last year. Of course, as we all know, Book of Lists is ahead of its time and is so this decade.

pbrainey

Merry Christmas

2009-12-23T09:57:00.003Z

(Click on the image to view a larger version)

pbrainey