My 'get up & go' just got up & went!

 "My 'get up & go' just got up & went!" 

(pen, ink & wash on A6 300gsm watercolour paper)

"There's Some Days You Just Can't Get Rid Of A Bomb"

 As you might have noticed, Batman has become rather a theme in my work of late, but I think he's always been a recurring motif in my drawing since I was a kid. He's always there lurking under the surface somewhere! 

More Batman...

I like a little Batman sketch now & then, here's a few recent ones...

Batman on his summer holidays

Moody pensive Batman

 

An Important Message From Batman Concerning This Festive Period!

 

Supernan's Day Out - behind the scenes

 

In celebration of the publication of Supernan's Day Out, the sequel to Superdad's Day Off & the 4th collaboration between me & the brilliant Phil Earle I thought I'd share some of my process & initial sketches for the book. 

Being brought up by the seaside reading superhero comics the British seaside resort & superheroes are subjects very close to my heart so in Supernan I had to opportunity to indulge myself in both so that's a bit of a bonus! I decided to base the seaside resort on an amalgam of Blackpool, my hometown Hastings with a little dash of vintage Coney Island into the mix

This was my very first sketch for the cover which is hidden away on the back of my sketchbook. At this point I hadn't read the book but I'd seen the precis & we wanted to echo the wraparound cover from Superdad's Day Off. Here's some more early pics of nan (on the back of an envelope!)

This was my initial rough which I sent to the publisher. They liked nan's styling but Phil thought nan needed to look a bit older & more frail so I had a little rejig.

They liked this version so I added a bit of colour...

(& added a sneaky cameo of me with an inflatable fish & an ice lolly shhhh!)

A few more sketches of the clifftop hotel being drenched by a tidal wave & my first sketch of Gladys, Nan's best friend

PUBLICATION DAY FOR SUPERNAN'S DAY OUT!

 

Supernan's Day Out by the brilliant Phil Earle & me is published TODAY! (Thursday 6th May 2022)

'An unexpected family secret has hilarious consequences in this action-packed story from Phil Earle and illustrator Steve May - perfect for superhero fans. Plane crashes, robberies and fires were not what Stanley was expecting on a day out at the seaside with his nan and the other residents of her care home!

Nan doesn't know about his superpowers, so Super Stan can't step in to help as it would blow his cover. Luckily, though, another mysterious superhero seems to be on hand, saving the day.

But who could it possibly be?'

This is the sequel to Superdad's Day Off & is full of colourful hilarious action. It's my 4th collaboration with Phil & publisher Barrington Stoke & I always relish our projects. 

I loved illustrating this book & it was huge fun relating the antics of Stan & his nan & reimagining a seaside town which was part Hastings (my hometown) part Blackpool with a tiny smidgeon of Coney Island in the mix somewhere. Being brought up by the sea reading superhero comics the British seaside resort & superheroes are subjects very close to my heart so in Supernan I had to opportunity to indulge myself in both so that's a bit of a bonus!

Nip down to your favourite bookshop & tell them me & Phil sent you (or alternatively you can order a copy here)

The Incurable Oaf™

 My spirit superhero. (Hark! Is that Marvel & DC Comics on the phone I hear?)

MORE made-up comics you say? Go here!

Wear A Mask LIke A SUPERHERO!

Superdad's Day Off

 Superdad's Day Off by Phil Earle with illustrations by me is out now published by Barrington Stoke.

"Stanley is a normal little boy, whose dad just happens to be the greatest superhero on the planet. Six days a week, Dad saves the world from disasters, aliens, and bad guys. Friday is his day off and he always spends it with Stan. But one Friday, Dad and Stan meet a series of people desperately in need of Dad’s help! Soon Stan finds himself saving a lion stuck up a tree, rescuing a monster truck from a ditch and taking on shark-infested floodwaters. That’s right: Stan is a chip off the old (superhero) block!"

Was an absolute blast to illustrate & I'm pleased with how well it's come out, here's a few bits & pieces from the book.

Superdad's Day Off (sneak preview)

Shhhhh! Here's a sneak preview of Superdad's Day Off by the very funny Phil Earle with lots of nice colour pictures by me. It's published by Barrington Stoke on the 15th April & you can pre-order it here.
I'll write & post more once it's published. I've got previous form with superheroes so was BIG fun to illustrate!

Ill-Conceived Comic Franchises #1

During this hot weather this seemed rather are (are you watching Marvel & DC?)

Captain Hyperbole!

Can't anyone just 'like' something any more? Captain Hyperbole to the rescue "because everything can't be AMAZING"

Fat Batman With Balloons

After a rather bleak confusing week I thought I'd draw a fat Batman with some balloons to cheer you all up!

Happy Superhero Day!

Yes! There is such a thing!

(This is a clip from my film X&Y from a few years back - you can see it in its full glory here!)

Batman vs Superman (the 'avuncular years')

Re-imagined in the George Reeves /Adam West oeuvre...

Doomed Franchises #1 Wilbur the Friendly Toast Boy™

Wilbur's exciting adventures were slightly limited by his lack of discernible limbs & tendency to get cold & soggy rather quickly!

Unlikely bird superhero hybrid awaits Marvel movie adaptation

Come on, they're making adaptations of EVERYTHING now. Patience my friend...

Zombies - before & after

It's always nice to get the final copy of a book sent through!
 It suddenly inspired me to look at the stages this cover went through from my (rather maximalist) original rough (top) to my final artwork (less zombies, less superheroes) to the final book where the (decidedly more minimalist) zombies seem to have acquired a rather fetching shade of green!

WHAM-BAM-JELLY-AND-JAM! - Cartoon Kid - ZOMBIES!

I just received my copy of the new Jeremy Strong Cartoon Kid book - Cartoon Kid Zombies!
It's got falling trousers, dancing hippos, talking cakes, police elephants (naturally!) toilet paper mummies & lots of other zombie based shenanigans that Casper & his superhero friends encounter - what more do you need?

It's been a lot of hard work & a lot of fun working on these books & this looks like this will be the last in the series which is a shame (especially as I can draw some of the characters in my sleep by now!) & I've grown quite fond of them.
WHAM-BAM-JELLY-AND-JAM! Anybody can be a superhero! (as long as you stick your pants on the outside, I ALWAYS do!)

You can buy a copy from here but I'd suggest getting one from your local PROPER bookshop - who knows what else you might find?

Cerberus the hound of hell (or a hell of a hound)

 

I had the delight last week of seeing some very talented kids at the Discover Childrens Story Centre drawing their versions of Cerberus after some superhero / Greek mythology related drawing workshop shenanigans. Have been pondering the disadvantages of owning a three headed dog since then... imagine the food bills : (