Here are some gifts to get you into the spirit of the season:

For a couple of months on Twitter I posted a screengrab from the 1970 Hammer Horror movie The Vampire Lovers as 'Madeline Smith Facial Expression of the Day'. Here they all are archived on Flickr - [link] (they're not all safe for work but they're all guaranteed sexy)

Chris Sims and Eugene Ahn bring you The War Rocket Ajax podcast Christmas Special! - [link] Starring Tom Peyer, Jeff Parker, Matt Wilson, Matt Fraction, Matt Sturges, Chris Roberson, Colleen Coover, Laura Hudson, Douglas Wolk, Evie & Aaron, Benito Cereno, Jess Nevins, Rusty Shackles, Zeppelins, Time machines, Bears, and, uh, me. I play a sitar.

I've been doing a writing course that just finished last week and the short stories I wrote are up on their own blog now - [link] So if you fancy reading some of my turgid prose you now have the opportunity.


But I don't just give the gift of me: Here's the fascinated and awesome PDF Batman: The Animated Series writers Bible - [link] It's pretty damn interesting and is packed with character sheets. Also I bring you news that Studio Ghibli are making a movie of The Borrowers - [link] Sounds like a good fit.

So have a merry thing! Whatever that thing may be.

I have now replied to all the favs/watches that built up while I was away (since July apparently, really that long!). I apologise if I missed you, thanked you for something you didn't do, or accidentally sent you a link to hardcore Japanese pornography.

I have 'No Messages' now. Bliss.

I read this article just now on manga story lengths by Jason Thompson [link] While I don't usually like to think about comics in any larger economic terms (because it's at best boring and more often depressing/maddening) it gives a really nice view on manga in it's original context and how the stories grow out of the conditions in which it's published. Made me think about what the best way to do comics in the modern world is.

Well I found it interesting.

Hey gang I've been neglecting my DA account for a few months but now I'm back! I pruned my watchlist and deleted all the journals in my inbox (so if you have any important news you should tell me now). Hopefully I'll be able to keep a handle on things now.

If you're on the twitter you can follow me here - [link]

If you want to hear my dulcet tones and imagine that I'm in the room with you then I've got a treat for you - The War Rocket Ajax Podcast Brovember Special [link] - Where I deliriously give my opinion on wrestling, hip hop, and New Jack Swing.

I've got a full report of the UK Web and Mini Comics thing with links to some of the cool stuff I bought up at my blog [link] so go check that out.

I'll be putting up the pages from mine and Sam Bridgett's 'The Royal Society for the Preservation of Sub-Literature presents' *deep breath* 'a series of Fragments from Lost Novels' soon when I've decided how I want them up.

If you're particularly keen to own a copy send me a note and we'll work something out. They smell of smoky bacon crisps. Really.

There's plenty of good reasons to go to this year's UK Web and Mini-Comics Thing [link] :

Sarah McIntyre
Meredith Gran
John Allison
Kate Beaton
Roger freakin Langridge

And a whole host of others. I, however, am not that great a reason to go but if you're there anyway you might as well pop by and say hello. Me, Gould, and some other guy called Joel (I've never met him but I'm sure he's very nice) have a table and if you feel the need to stimulate my economy a little you can buy some short poorly photocopied comics.

[link]

A sampler of some of my work with the fine people of The Action Age. It'll feature the first part of The Chronicles of Solomon Stone before any where else ever if this excites you.

[link]

Also joining with fellow member of The Royal Society for the Preservation of Sub-Literature Prfs. Samual Bridgett I will help in reconstructing some forgotten tomes from the past.


So come to the UK Web and Mini-Comics Thing and watch a guy with receding hair feel like a bit of a worthless fraud when surrounded by his betters...

Believe it!