Review: PSYCHO GRAN COMIC CAPERS CAVALCADE No.2

I've had this fine comic since July but I'm only just finding time to catch up with reviews I promised to do. Here we go then with the second issue of Psycho Gran Comic Capers Cavalcade, written and drawn by David Leach.

If you're already familiar with Psycho Gran you'll know what to expect. If not, expect the unexpected. Psycho Gran started out in Oink! comic over 30 years ago, but as David Leach owns the rights he's able to bring her back in all new stories. Well, not entirely all-new, as the strips in this issue originally appeared in the digital comic Aces Weekly a few years ago but this is the first time they've appeared in a physical print form.

As Aces Weekly is a landscape format comic, it threw up a bit of a problem for transferring to print. Should it be a landscape comic? David decided otherwise, and he's come up with Widescreen PsychoVision, which means that when you open the A4 comic you rotate it 90 degrees to read the stories. This is great for two reasons; firstly you get you see David's detailed art in a nice big size, and secondly it's a bit like reading the A3 size Topper or Beezer comics of old.

They're all short stories, with none lasting more than six pages, but are well told examples of how to do snappy comedy-horror tales. The quality of the printing is superb too, with rich colours and sharp reproduction. In comics tradition there's even a pull-out double-sided poster, although putting it on your bedroom wall might bring you nightmares. 

The thing that impresses me the most though is how much David Leach has progressed as an artist since those days on Oink! Like most of us on that comic back then, he was just starting out and finding his style. Now it's well established and he has a good understanding of his craft. 

Psycho Gran Comic Capers Cavalcade No.2 has 36 full colour A4 pages for £5 plus postage. To buy a copy, contact the Psycho Gran Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PsychoGran/

...or the publisher's Facebook page, Dead Universe Comics:
https://www.facebook.com/DeadUniverse/

...or if you're in the neighbourhood, visit the Dead Universe Comics shop at 5 Bourbon Street, Friars Square Shopping Centre, HP20 2PZ Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire.

PSYCHO GRAN returns again!

Psycho Gran was created by writer/artist David Leach way back in 1987 for Oink! comic and appeared on and off throughout its run. She then rested for years before returning in the charity comic Spirit of Hope in 2011, then in digital comic Aces Weekly in 2012, and her own digital comics published by Titan. 

Since then the octogenarian avenger has appeared in two issues of Psycho Gran Versus in full page illustrations, but now she's back in comic strip form in the first issue of Psycho Gran Comic Capers Cavalcade. 

The full colour 36 page A4 comic features Psycho Gran at her finest, in a collection of short stories where she enacts her own brand of justice to people who quite frankly deserve it. It often ventures into the absurd and surreal because anything can happen in this world! It's full of David Leach's over the top comic violence and is funny stuff indeed. A fine showcase of David's talents as a writer and cartoonist. 

People have been clamouring for more British comics so go for it! To buy a copy you can message David Leach directly for details at the Psycho Gran Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/PsychoGran/

...or you can contact the publisher Dead Universe Comics:
https://www.facebook.com/DeadUniverse

...or buy directly from David Leach at the comics conventions he attends. (He'll be at Macc-Pow! on Saturday 22nd June:
http://maccpow.co.uk

Photos from Wythenshawe Comic Con

It was an honour to be one of the invited guests at the very first Wythenshawe Comic Con, which took place yesterday, 9th June 2018. A relatively small convention, but it attracted a lot of people despite competing with the glorious weather outside. Lots of families there, including several kids in Dennis the Menace style stripey tops! I really enjoyed the day, and the event had a nice atmosphere. Thanks to John Webster for the invite and for looking after us all. A good day and I hope there'll be more!

Here's a few photos...

The Beano's Nigel Parkinson!

Colin Mathieson of Accent UK comics.

Writer and editor Dan Whitehead.

Doctor Who storyboard artist Mike Collins.

Artist, writer, editor David Leach.

A happy customer!

'tis I.

More photos on the Wythenshawe Comic Con Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/wythenshawecomiccon

The organiser, John Webster, also runs the Wow! Comix comic shops. Check them out if you're up that way:
https://en-gb.facebook.com/wowcomixstockport/

Review: The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine No.1

Even 50 years on, The Prisoner TV series remains one of the most remarkable and unique programmes in television history. Although only 17 episodes were produced, its combination of spy thriller, satire, and social allegory has never been equalled and is still very relevant. A powerful, screen-dominating performance by its co-creator and lead actor, Patrick McGoohan, added to its appeal. All in all, the mixture won over a legion of fans who remain fascinated by its appeal even today. 

There was never a comics adaptation of The Prisoner back in the 1960s. Perhaps it was considered too esoteric, or perhaps because of its short run it wasn't considered worthwhile. Marvel Comics did intend to publish a Prisoner comic in the 1970s, but the project was abandoned before completion. (The pages will soon be published in a collection from Titan Books. See here for more information.) DC Comics published Shattered Visage, a four-issue Prisoner sequel in 1988, but the concept hasn't returned to comics... until now. 

London based Titan Comics are launching The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine on April 25th, the first issue of an all-new monthly series. It is written by Peter Milligan (from a plot by David Leach, who is also the editor) and illustrated by Colin Lorimer (with colours by Joana Lafluente). My first impression was that I was pleased that this professional comic hasn't followed the route that so many "fan fiction" Prisoner stories have, of presenting "untold" tales of Number Six. Titan have wisely chosen to present us with a new lead character, with a setting that's firmly in the present day. An excellent move because now we have no idea what to expect. There is a hint though that it is connected to the original series.

While the TV series never really clarified what Number Six's profession was, (because he was intended to be an everyman), our new hero is most definitely a spy, and we're given quite a bit of backstory on him. The TV series had a fast paced opening that got the protagonist into the Village within a few minutes. This new comic takes the whole issue to get there, but the pacing is still fast and intriguing, and sets up plot elements that will no doubt be relevant to the whole series. 

Some of the most distinctive aspects of The Prisoner TV show were its satire and humour. That's not really evident in this dramatic and intense first issue, but I hope we'll see glimpses of it in future issues once our hero explores his new surroundings. 

If this first issue is anything to go by, The Prisoner: The Uncertainty Machine should appeal to fans of the series as well as to new readers unfamiliar with the franchise. Superbly written and drawn, it's a strong debut issue that has certainly hooked me, and I'm eager to see where the story takes us next. We want information...

Issue No.1 will be available from comics speciality shops on April 25th, with a range of variant covers. 

Is this the end of PSYCHO GRAN?

Say it ain't so! Will Psycho Gran meet her maker? Well, she meets the Grim Reaper in the first episode of her latest adventure in Aces Weekly Vol.27 No.5, online now. 

Psycho Gran first appeared in Oink! comic back in 1986 and since then, her creator David Leach has given us brand new stories from time to time, particularly in Aces Weekly. Will her 31st anniversary year be her last? Find out by subscribing to the latest volume of Aces Weekly for just £6.99 for seven issues. 
http://www.acesweekly.co.uk/volumes

The latest issue also includes:

FLIGHT by Jeff Vaughn and Brendon and Brian Fraim. 

SICARIOS by Roberto Corroto and Erito Montana.

DUNGEONS AND BURGLARS by Santullo and Jok.

BOOM! NOWHERE by Kate Cunningham and Heather Fisher

THE FIRST GENTLEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE by Batton Lash.

There's also a Psycho Gran digital solo comic, and you can buy that from ComiXology here:

https://www.comixology.co.uk/Psycho-Gran-1/digital-comic/84714

A sunny day in Sheffield

I had a pleasant day at the Robot: Illustration and Creative Arts Convention yesterday. I had to get up at 5.30am for an early start but after train delays I didn't arrive until just after 10am. Fortunately, the Millennium Gallery venue was only a short walk from the station. When I arrived, there were already some people waiting for sketches so it was a matter of setting up quickly and getting right into drawing. It was good to meet artist Ed Syder, who had the table next to mine. Check out his site here:
http://cargocollective.com/edsyder

The pace slowed down as the day went on and the glorious weather may have played a part in that, but there seemed to be a constant flow of attendees visiting the event, attracting people of varied interests. As always at such shows, some were just out for a browse, but it was good to do some sketching and signings and to gain new readers for my Derek the Troll comic. 

It was great to meet up with old friends and familiar faces from the comics industry too. Good to see artist Peter Doherty looking well again after his recent spell in hospital. Also great to catch up with David Leach, Bambos Georgiou, Fiona Stephenson, Mychailo Kazybrid, and Carl Flint. 

Artist and colourist Pete Doherty.

Mychailo, Bambos, Darryl, and two young attendees.

It was a relatively short event, only running from 10am to 4pm, so afterwards, myself and David Leach, Bambos and his wife Jane, Pete Doherty, his daughter and her boyfriend had a walk to a nearby Chinese buffet bar.

100 years of comics experience between us. David Leach, Bambos Georgiou, and me.

Although I've visited Sheffield twice before for conventions on the outskirts of town, this was the first time I'd had the opportunity to stroll around the town itself, thanks to Robotcon being so central. I was very impressed with the place and I hope there's another event there next year. 

My thanks to my comic pals for being brilliant company as always, and special thanks to convention organiser Darryl Robson for inviting me and putting on the event. There's a very good video news item about it on the Sheffield Live! website that includes interviews with Darryl Robson, Mychailo Kazybrid, and Bambos Georgiou:
http://web.sheffieldlive.org/millennium-gallery-hosts-robot-con-return/

More photos from the event can be found on the convention's Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/pg/robotconsheffield/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1872170106355040

Here's a few photos I took around Sheffield after the convention...

PSYCHO GRAN returns today!

As regular followers of modern comics know, there are more opportunities for creators and publishers to reach their audience these days rather than relying on the expense and hassle of newsstand distribution. One avenue is digital comics, enabling readers to access comics immediately without a so much as a trip to the shops. Today, the much anticipated second issue of David Leach's Psycho Gran went live for anyone across the world to download to their device. 

Psycho Gran originated in Oink! comic 30 years ago when David was at the start of his comics career, but these stories are of a more recent vintage and are fine examples of a cartoonist at the top of his game. The strips originally appeared in Aces Weekly over the last few years and are now collected into one convenient package. 

Who is Psycho Gran? We never know her back story and we don't need to. She's an unstoppable force of vengeance with seemingly unlimited powers to enact short but sweet justice on those that deserve it, from burglars to pushy cyclists. In real life, Psycho Gran would make the world a better place. She certainly makes the world of comics a better place. 

Published by Titan Comics, Psycho Gran No.2 is available to download NOW from Comixology and Amazon. Here are the links. Don't disappoint her by not buying it.

To buy from ComiXology, click HERE.

To buy from Amazon, click HERE.

Review: PSYCHO GRAN VS...

Psycho Gran has been around for a long time now. Like a geriatric Octobriana she has appeared in various publications since her origins in Oink! comic back in the late 1980s and recently appeared in Aces Weekly. Now, creator David Leach has unleashed her in a new publication, Psycho Gran VS... which pits the pensioner of power against numerous iconic characters. They don't stand a chance. 

Psycho Gran VS... is a nice big A4 full colour item with 36 pages. Not exactly a comic, as there are no strips in it, but each illustration fills a full page. This is an excellent portfolio of David Leach's artwork and I was particularly impressed by the Psycho Gran vs Dracula page with its cross hatching shading techniques evoking the style of early British comics. 

If the 22 superb pages of David Leach artwork wasn't value for money enough (and it is), there's a bonus section in the back featuring guest artists doing their interpretations of Psycho Gran. A great gallery by Mike Perkins, Rian Hughes, Mike Collins, Davey Jones, Davy Francis, David Hitchcock, and myself. 

Psycho Gran VS... costs just £3.99 from Dead Universe Comics, 5 Bourbon Street, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP20 2PZ. To find out how to order a copy by post, contact them at their Facebook page here:
https://www.facebook.com/Dead-Universe-Comics-411695270458/

Go Psycho!

If you're at the London Super Comic Con today seek out David Leach who will be selling copies of his latest publication, Psycho Gran VS. The full colour print comic features great new artwork by David Leach pitching ex-Oink! star Psycho Gran against some well known faces in an orgy of comic violence. There's also a 10 page gallery of artwork by guest artists including Mike Perkins, Davy Francis, Rian Hughes and myself. 

You may find David at the Aces Weekly table, where you can also subscribe to the award-winning Aces Weekly of course! 

Here's the page I did for it. I haven't received the printed comic yet so I'm looking forward to seeing everyone else's contributions.

Psycho Gran is back this week!

Artist/writer David Leach has created an all-new five page Psycho Gran strip for the latest edition of award-winning digital anthology Aces Weekly. The story, entitled Psycle, sees Psycho Gran encounter the bane of pedestrians, - a selfish cyclist who rides on footpaths. It won't end well... for him!

It's a great little strip that's sure to entertain fans of Psycho Gran who have followed her since the days of Oink! comic. You'll find it in this week's issue, Aces Weekly Volume 16, No.7.  Don't forget that Combat Colin was in last week's issue, so if you subscribe to Volume 16 for just £6.99 you'll get Psycho Gran, Combat Colin, and a load of other all-new strips too. Why not give it a go? Here's the link:
http://www.acesweekly.co.uk/   

Don't forget that Psycho Gran also appears in her own one-off digital comic, available on Comixology. More info here:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/psycho-gran-returns-in-her-own-comic.html

David Leach Conquers the Universe - again!

One of the most entertaining comics I read last year was the first issue of David Leach Conquers the Universe, - and now David's back for an encore in issue No.2.

Most of you will know David Leach as the creator of Psycho Gran for Oink! in the late 1980s (and more recently the character featured in her own digital comic) but for many years David has been busy as a comics editor on excellent volumes such as The Bumper Book of Roy of the Rovers and The Misadventures of Jane and the ongoing Adventure Time comic from Titan. Therefore any new stories from him are a rarity but always worth reading.

In David Leach Conquers the Universe the hero is an alternate universe version of the real deal, - or is it? The comic is published under the imprint of All-True Comics so perhaps we should keep an open mind. In the comic, David works for M.A.R.S. (Megalomaniac Action Reaction Squad) to tackle dire threats to Earth. In issue 2, David is sent into space to deal with a monstrous problem on an orbiting research station.

I thoroughly enjoyed issue 1 and No.2 is even better. The page count has been increased and it has the addition of red spot-colour throughout, which is applied really well and reminded me of classic British annuals of yesteryear. David has excelled himself with the artwork which is both very detailed and easy to follow. as for the story, - superb stuff. It builds up nicely and results in a sequence of events that actually made me laugh out loud, - a rarity for a comic these days. 

For anyone who enjoys a well told comic book with a healthy dollop of humour, David Leach Conquers the Universe No.2 is the one for you. Give UK comics your support and buy it!

The publisher is Dead Universe Comics and to order a copy contact them through their Facebook page...

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Universe-Comics/411695270458

...or email them directly at the address shown in this advert, stating whether you're interested in issues 1, 2, or both...

David Leach Conquers London

David Leach Conquers the Universe, the comic written and drawn by artist/editor David Leach gets a special variant cover for the London Super Comic Convention on March 14th and 15th.

Publisher Dead Universe Comics are re-releasing six of their titles, each with an exclusive London landmark-themed variant cover. These exclusive editions will only be on sale at the convention.

I reviewed David Leach Conquers the Universe No.1 (with its original cover) last summer and thoroughly recommended it. You can read the review and see more about the comic here:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/06/david-leach-conquers-universe-so-you.html

David is currently working on issue 2. Something to look forward to!  

Information on the variant covers for the other titles will be released on the Facebook page of Dead Universe Comics:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Universe-Comics/411695270458

For more info about the London Super Comic Convention, visit their website:
http://www.londonsupercomicconvention.com/

David Leach is also the creator of Oink! character Psycho Gran who now appears in her own digital comic. You can read more about that here:
http://lewstringer.blogspot.co.uk/2014/03/psycho-gran-returns-in-her-own-comic.html

David Leach tells it like it is

Comic artist, writer, animation artist, colourist, editor, David Leach has had quite a career and he's been interviewed by Alex Fitch about it on Resonance FM. There's a podcast of the interview now available for you to listen to here:
http://podcasts.resonancefm.com/archives/12472 

I've known David for nearly 30 years since we were contributors to Oink! comic and I count him as one of my closest friends in the comics industry. (I went to his wedding many years ago too.) So I'm pleased to see him receive some recognition on Resonance FM. The interview reveals him to be as straight talking and enthusiastic as ever - and it's funny too, so have a listen.   

David Leach Conquers the Universe... so you don't have to

Not content with being the creator of the Psycho Gran comic, winning TV's Come Dine With Me, and hosting the blog Going To The Cinema So You Don't Have To, David Leach has now conquered the universe in his new comic book David Leach Conquers the Universe.

The 24 page comic features one long complete story revolving around a monstrous danger that threatens the city (the clue is on the cover) and only David Leach can stop it! Or at least the cynical David Leach of this comic universe, who differs in a few ways from the teetotal family man of reality.

Is it egotistical for a comic creator to make himself the headline star of his own power fantasy comic? Probably, but it's entertaining fun and that's what comics need more of. It's all very tongue in cheek but played dead straight, and reminded me in parts of the tone of one of my favourite movies Airplane! with a dash of Looney Tunes cartoons.

I've known David for almost 30 years and I know that when he does a comic he puts his heart and soul into it. The pages of this issue have an incredible amount of work in them and you'll certainly feel you've gotten value for money.This is one of the most enjoyable comics I've read in a long time.

David Leach Conquers the Universe No.1 is published by Dead Universe Publishing and is available from their store on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dead-Universe-Comics/411695270458?fref=ts

Psycho Gran returns in her own comic

One of the stars of 1980s cult comic Oink! makes her welcome return this week in her own title. David Leach's Psycho Gran No.1 will be available to buy as a digital comic from Titan Comics on the ComiXology app as from tomorrow (March 26th), - a day now known as Gran-day! 

I'm really pleased to see this happening as David's style of comedy has always amused me and over the years his artwork has continued to develop and reach new heights. Psycho Gran is too good a character to keep down, - and she just wouldn't allow it anyway. 

The cover to PSYCHO GRAN No.1.

Here's the official press release:

PSYCHO GRAN ISSUE #1

First published in the British kid's comic, Oink! Back in 1986 Psycho Gran is the psychotically demented brain-child of cartoonist and comic book editor, David Leach – winner of Channel Four's Come Dine With Me, editor and writer of the Wallace and Gromit newspaper strip and the Adventure Time comic magazine and editor of Roman Dirge's Lenore. David is also the co-creator of cult 1990's strip The Driver for the British cult comic, Toxic!.
Psycho Gran (or Psycho Besta as she's known in Norway) is a five-foot high, mauve-haired, bespectacled psychotic granny with a pan-dimensional, sentient handbag called Percy, a flying dog called Archie and a pathological loathing of rudeness. Join her for an all-new 29 page, full-colour journey into a surrealist slap-stick world of rampaging kaiju (that’s giant monsters to you!), neo-Nazis skin-heads, bag snatchers, death-row inmates, explosive diarrhea, those annoying SOBs who will insist on using their bloody mobile phones in cinemas and innocent people just minding their own buisness.
She puts the Old into Old Skool! 

On sale date: March 26th. Available here: 

http://www.comixology.com/Titan/comics-publisher/92-0

“Dark humour cartoons used to be a strong part of British comics, now sadly long gone, apart from a few adult comics and great strips like Psycho-Gran. I have particularly fond memories of David's "The Driver" and "Dinner Ladies From Hell" and his Psycho-Gran is in the same hilarious mould. It's an excellent representation of the British black comedy we need so much more of.”

– Pat Mills, creator of 2000AD, Action, Battle writer and creator of Sláine, Nemesis the Warlock, Marshal Law, Charley's War and the ABC Warriors.

“While old comedy comic characters wither in the creaking care home of bad stewardship, David Leach's, old but un-withered, bad, batty, toothless, ruthless, fearless, frightening, horrible, hilarious, Psycho Gran marches on in her surgical stockings, getting stronger by the day. Bless him!”

– David Lloyd, artist and co-creator of V For Vendetta.

"Um, how about ‘...David Leach's Psycho Gran is a satisfying blend of top-notch draughtsmanship and gruesome silliness...’ Or something like that? A bit short, I know, but I put the dot-dot-dots in to make it look like it's come from a longer review. “ 

– Davey Jones, Former Viz Editor.

"David Leach takes comic violence to the next level with the powerful and genuinely funny imagery of Psycho Gran. The most Gran-tastic comic book you'll ever read!" –

– Lew Stringer, creator of Combat Colin and regular Viz and Beano artist extraordinaire.

“Psycho Gran is unique and genuinely disturbing, and so is her creator.” – Peter Hogan writer of Resident Alien and Tom Strong 

“I grew up with Pyscho Gran as an inspiration for not only how to draw comics, but how to live my life. She was drawn in a style I'd never seen before in children's comics, and the humour was so dark and so BRUTAL, it affected me in ways no other comic had.  A real eye-opener for what children's comics could, and should, be.”– Jamie Smart, creator of Bear, Corporate Skull and Desperate Dan and Dandy relaunch artist.

“Terror has a new face…. and a purple rinse …With Psycho Gran, David Leach forges a new genre of Octogenarian ultra-violence, surreal and disturbing but a right ‘bloody’ laugh. Harry Brown it’s time to collect your pension” 

– Stuart Jennett artist and writer of Chronos Commandos.

Make it a date, - Psycho Gran No.1 - on sale from your Internet on Wednesday!

http://www.comixology.com/Titan/comics-publisher/92-0

David Leach at work.

OTHER RELATED INFO

The Psycho Gran FACEBOOK page went live on Feb 10 2014 and already has 156 likes.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Psycho-Gran/139243379562556

The FACEBOOK Oink! page has 684 members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/OinkComic/

Psycho Gran appears in the Digital comics, Aces Weekly which was recently voted Best Digital Comic of 2013.

She has appeared Norway in the NEMI magazine where she is known as Psycho Besta.

After a 25-year absence she returned in the Japanese Tsunami appeal book, Spirit of Hope in 2011.