Found objects

Just wanted to say "hi all" and have a happy Bank Holiday (apologies if it ISN'T a bank holiday where you are, I have no control over these things).

I can't claim responsibility for collecting these - I just ran across them, but they're very entertaining all the same. I don't know why, but I found the X-Files ones particularly amusing.

In which I become a Baltimoron. Wait, that's not right...

Ahh, Baltimore...
























...city of Homicide:Life On The Streets locations...





















...and great diners (Scrapple, anyone?)















Okay, let's go to work.




















This is what it looked like before the people arrived.



















Waiting tables.





















A refined palette.

















Books!


















It's a sign!



















Brandon!




















Ooooh! Necromundelicious!


















Good morning, I am a giant Ork space hulk.

















Inflato-Ventris.























Some tables, earlier.
























Whole new levels of loveliness...




















I wonder who this is?






















Ork tank!





















Giant Ork Face says, "We hope you had a great Games Day US 2010."















Nathan Long says, "Leave me alone, I am sleeping."























-

BSFA!

Off to sunny Baltimore tomorrow, and looking forward to meeting and greeting all those attending Games Day US. If you need more details, roll down a couple of posts.

Meanwhile, a little late (my bad) but never mind, here's notice of the BSFA meeting in London next week, where I'll be the guest interviewee. Very nice of them to ask me and make me the focus of attention. If you're in the neighbourhood, it should be a most enjoyable evening.

Attack Of The Fifty Foot Pilgrim II: Revenge Of The Feline

I received a letter addressed to "Pilgrim Abnett" c/o "the Dan Human", forwarded by Matthew Churchill, long time Friend Of This Blog and certifiable loon. The text read as follows:


"Dear Pilgrim

I am sorry to hear of your recent massive weight gain. My human has put me on a diet and it stinks. You must be very hungry being 50ft tall, so I've spared you some of my food. Apparently, they are called 'Kibbles'.

Enjoy

Mayhem Churchill"



Sometime later, an elite squad of RSPCA ninjas was HALO-dropped into the four mile Exclusion Zone, and they were able to send back the following picture before their transmissions went dark.

















-

Bring me the (editorial) head of the New Yorker

Here's a link to part of iFanboy's coverage of the San Diego Comic-con, during which a couple of the usual suspects turn up and gurn at the camera.

And from the notebook:

Idea for a one panel cartoon #256
A close up of a digital clock-radio-alarm on a bedside table. The digital clock reads 06:59. A large SQUID TENTACLE is reaching in from out of shot to thump the "snooze" button.
Caption: The Kraken wakes.

Idea for a one panel cartoon #309
A collectors fair or car boot sale. A banner reads "Records and CDs". A glum stall holder looks on as DARTH VADER thumbs through old albums in a box marked "Artists A to Z".
Caption: "I find your lack of Faith No More disturbing."

Baltimore and other stuff

I've mentioned it before, but just in case you missed it - I'll be at Games Day US in Baltimore next week, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the US readership there (I am a regular visitor to the Baltimore show, but I wasn't there last year - it was Toronto's turn - and, of course, this year has been something of a bumpy ride). This link to the Ultramarines website hints at some of the fun you can expect. Anyway, see you there. Nathan Long, C.L. Werner, Mike Lee, Gav Thorpe and John Blanche - it's going to be quite a gathering. And if you come, you might be able to meet Nik too. She normally shies away from such events, but someone needs to come and keep an eye on me. Dig out your precious editions of Hammers of Ulric or Gilead's Blood, both of which she has a co-credit on, or if you're lucky enough to have an early copy of the new Sabbat Worlds Anthology, bring that, because she has a feth-tastic story in it too.

I recently did the following interview for the Vigilance Podcast. I'd like to thank Mike for taking the time to chat to me via Skype, despite ringing phones and other interruptions (at my end of the line!).

Finally, some (literally) bonkers case notes, courtesy of Ben Morse at Marvel. Thanks, Ben.

Stuff for Ideation

First point, I hate the word ideation. Just saying.

I can't remember if I've posted this before, but what the heck. Thanks to "Diablo Cody..." for sharing this. Windows onto the writing process are always intriguing.

The Mamet connection reminded me of this post, which is of itself fething brilliant.

And while I'm in a sharing mood, if you're not regularly looking at Jeff Vandermeer's blog Ecstatic Days, or Graham Linehan's Why, That's Delightful, or dipping into the works of Peter Temple, Ted Chiang, Kelly Link or Ben Katchor, then there are ways your life can probably be enhanced.

Attack of the Fifty Foot Pilgrim

By our South of England Correspondent.

A domestic cat answering to the name of 'Pilgrim" or "Pidgy-noyns" went on the rampage in Maidstone earlier today. A prominent vet said the animal had evidently been "bitten by a radioactive spider" or "exposed to freaky gamma radiation" or had even possibly "passed through some kind of strange fog during a boating excursion" as very little else could credibly explain the size increase.

Police were eventually able to pacify the cat using horse tranquilisers cunningly concealed inside a specially fabricated tin of Whiskas the size of a gas holder. Nine out of ten house owners said they preferred him that way.























































-

Help Wanted

Let's begin today's post with a splendid, makes-the-job-worthwhile letter from the mailbag:

Dear Messers Abnett and Lanning,

You've gone and done it again!
I was reading the Thanos Imperative #1 and was completely thrilled
at the comment that ‘evil' Captain Marvel makes to the
‘evil' Quasar about how this universe is still young enough to
have death, as this immediately made the following come to mind "And
with strange aeons even death may die." This was absolutely
brilliant! As it completely evokes the concepts behind H.P.
Lovecraft's Chtulhu mythos without being a terrible pastiche.
All I would really need for this to completely go over the top would
be the return of Cthon (the Marvel watered down version of Cthulhu
from the 70's horror) and an epic battle involving Dr. Strange. Now I
know these are highly unlikely to occur, but you have hit just about
every possible ‘beat' of my psyche with all your series so far
so a fellow can hope.
Further, now that SDCC has passed us by, I was gleeful at the
prospect of a Rocket Raccon and Groot mini! This just sounds as if it
is going to be a hilarious romp with Rocket using ever increasing fire
power and Groot constantly banting about yelling "I AM GROOT!".
Speaking of Rocket Raccon, I loved his threat to rampaging Thanos.
Not that he'd kill him, but rather he'd incapacitate him long enough
to put him in serious suspended animation so he would
live…….forever! What an excellent threat against someone
who's in love with Death.
And because I've truly adored everything you've written (that I've
read), I'm going to go ahead and give your Thor/Ironman mini a go and
see if you can pull the same magic with the Marvel first stringers.
Keep up the great work gentlemen, and here's hoping you've got years
more cosmic, or non-cosmic, comic tales to tell.
With much happiness,

Trevor Chapman

Bramtpon, ON

CANADA


Thanks, Trevor.

Now pay attention, everyone. I need your help. Well, a friend of mine does, anyway. Please take a look at the illustration below (brought to you - eventually - by the wonders of computer technology and Rachel, no thanks to my useless so-called "scanner") and see if you can assist me in identifying the artist. We've pretty much ruled out Beardsley (we have, haven't we?), but Rackham is still a person of interest. Anyone? Any ideas at all? There may be some sort of non-specific, non legally-binding prize if someone can ace it.

Help me, Obi Wan. You're my only hope.


















































--

Ravenor and Co

Some splendid character sketches from this blog's good friend Nic Giacondino. May I also take this opportunity to point you in the direction of his fabulous online strip here. Gosh, it's just great!

Before I forget, hair colour suggestions for Carl or Wystan, anybody?

If it's on my fridge, it must be true

Will you be there? (At the event, I mean. Not on my fridge. D'uh).