Creator Owned Day 2013

Creator Owned Day returns Tuesday 5th March 2013! Last year's challenge saw comic creators writing and drawing up new characters, readers celebrating their favourite creator-owned series and a trending topic on Twitter.

A quick recap of the challenge details:

Create a sketch of an original character or concept and and post it on your Blog, Twitter etc on Tuesday 5th March. It should be a concept completely owned by the artist (or co-owned with the writer/collaborators permission to post).

Why? A number of reasons:

1. A lot of reader and creator focus is on characters owned by larger corporations. Let's bring a little spotlight on creating brand new, creator owned concepts.
2. Bringing a little awareness to the business side of co-creating original content. Take a look at Jeff Parker's article and follow up comments on the subject. Co-creators can take this opportunity as a little trial run, just make sure to have a mutual agreement in advance.
3. Fun! A few creators discussed the idea on Twitter and thought it was a great opportunity to create something entirely new, while bringing attention to these sketches. 

The details:

1. Create a sketch of a new character/character you own. We're doing this primarily to get our imaginations running, so a concept specifically created for Creator Owned Day is probably ideal. It should NOT be a character owned by either a company eg. Marvel's Wolverine, OR owned by other creators e.g. Todd McFarlane's Spawn. It also shouldn't take distinct features from characters owned by others e.g. Wolverspawn You must own the character.
2. Post it on your blog, or Facebook, Twitter etc.
3. Share your post using the Twitter hashtag #CreatorOwnedDay.
4. Help us spread the word by retweeting your favourite new characters.

Let's see what we can come up with!

You can follow Creator Owned Day or my own account on Twitter to see retweets of the best from the day. Here's my example from last year if you need a little inspiration.

Promotarious Pt 2

The promotional whirlwind for Noe: The Savage Boy continues with a chat on the 2D Comics podcast. Some of you know I usually speak at the speed of light (your brain just need to catch up) but I think it's one of my slowest performances yet, so some of you might be able to finally break my brogue.

You can catch the chat with Ciaran over at Irish Comic News or download/listen directly here HERE.  

I'll also be attending the Heroes and Legends Imagine Nation event this weekend in W5, Belfast. There will be copies of Noe #1 and I'll be sketching all weekend. There's also a short Q&A panel with PJ Holden and John Paul Bove at noon on both Saturday and Sunday. 

Should be fun!

Promotarious

It's only a week until the Forbidden Planet Noe signing, so I've been making the promotarious rounds to get the word out.

Mal and I made an appearance on BBC Radio Ulster Art's Extra on Wednesday. We talked about the process of creating comics, themes involved in Noe the Savage Boy, and chatted about the comic industry in general. There's also an interview with Garth Ennis which make good listening. You catch up and stream the show here.

I was interviewed by writer Jay Faulkner on Following the Nerd Internet radio show. We had a nice long chat about comics and general geekiness, which was really fun to do. The show, which features great all-round 'nerd' topics, can be downloaded as a podcast.

There's a great review of Noe on Irish Comic news. Colin O'Mahoney writes

"...artist Stephen Downey, whose detailed pencils and gorgeous inks make this book a thing of real beauty. Credit to Coney for a script that plays to the strengths of his artist, as we are treated to some really amazing double page spreads and splashes in the book."

Here's one such spread from Noe The Savage Boy #1 that I haven't blogged yet, so hopefully it will entice a few of you to make it down on the 9th February. If you can't, tell a friend who can!

Noe The Savage Boy Forbidden Planet exclusive cover and signing

I'll be signing copies of Noe The Savage Boy #1 alongside my collaborators Malachy Coney and Rob Curley in Forbidden Planet Belfast on the 9th February between 1 - 3pm. We've created a Forbidden Planet exclusive cover for the event, seen below, and it should be good fun all round. Come along if you can and tell all your comic-loving friends.

Noe: The Savage Boy #1 Preview

Noe #1 from Atomic Diner is back from the printers. It's currently available at Sub City Comics in Dublin, and it will be making it's way to other comic shops and outlets soon. Here's a preview to whet your appetites.

Created and plotted by  Rob Curley, Script by Mal Coney with art and lettering by Stephen Downey (That's me!).

Noe: The Savage Boy

My latest project, Noe: The Savage Boy, has just been announced from Atomic Diner:

My Cover for Noe: The Savage Boy #1

Our latest title Noe The Savage Boy created and plotted by Robert Curley with Script by Mal Coney and art by Stephen Downey is due for release this September. Noe's story begins in the village of Baltimore Cork in 1631 in which the entire community is kidnaped by Barbary pirates and brought to Africa as slaves. Noes faith lies in the hands a group of clandestine monks who help train him to become a true warrior and overcome his dark faith

This is Mal's first work for Atomic Diner but he has written some high profile books in the past. You can read all about him here http://malachyconey.blogspot.co.uk/

Mal is an old friend and collaborator whose past work includes stories for Harris Comics' Vampirella and Top Cow/Image Comics' The Darkness. We first collaborated on a four page story for a local anthology 'Small Axe Comics' back in the days when he was my manager at Talisman (now Forbidden Planet Belfast), so it is nice to finally work together again.

The concept and script is fantastic and I'm having a ball. More soon I'm sure.

Bounce! Arts Festival

As part of the Bounce Festival, my Absence co-conspirator Andy Luke and I will be holding a free comicbook/cartooning workshop this Saturday, 25th August, 1-4pm at the Arts and Disability Forum Gallery, Belfast. 

The Bounce Festival is Northern Ireland’s first ever disability and deaf arts festival, and aims to create and showcase new art from disabled and deaf people. The event is a follow up to our successful ADF comicbook workshop earlier in the year. 

No experience with comics or art is necessary, and we aim to get people with all levels of abilities contributing creatively, whether it be good ideas, artwork, script writing. If you feel like attending, try to prebook a spot via the Facebook page, and let them know of any special requirements, BSL etc.

See you there.


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