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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League of Their Own

I've drawn one of the variant covers for League of Volunteers #3 from Atomic Diner. The majority of my recent comic work has come through publisher Rob Curley, and while Black Scorpion is set in the same universe (and officially a spin-off) it was nice to get a chance to work on the flagship pulp superhero team, albeit in this 1795 form. 

League of Volunteers #3 Variant cover

The variants for this issue feature different iterations of the League throughout history, so working off Rob's descriptions I was able to digitally paint the 'portrait'. The frame is patched together from photographs taken of a real frame in my mum's house.

The team sans frame.

The characters feature a mix of real and created characters; Mary Ann McCracken, The Patriot, Crimson Blade, James Napper Tandy [Centre] and Robert Emmet, so quite a bit of reference of the time and people had to be hunted for. 

I've also created a promotional image of the current League that Rob will be printing on Sub City Comics bags, T-shirts and posters. Both the League of Volunteers #3 and the League merchandise should be off to the printers soon!

May Cons

Four comic conventions, four weekends in a row. May was a very busy month, and I'm still recovering now. I'm posting a little summary of each event below, both for posterity's sake, and so I can look back to choose which cons to attend next year.

Cyclops, Wolverine v Deadpool Sketches.

Bristol Comic Expo


Reasons for going: Launch of Andrew Croskery's first GN Kronos City, chance to catch up with UK small press scene, Transmedia panel.
Highlights: Picking up Kronos City and White Knuckle (by Cy Dethan and Valia Kapadia); two fantastic books. One filled with crazy ideas and the other with just as crazy characters. Chatting with my collaborators Cy Dethan, Nic Wilkinson, Rich Clements, Vicky Stonebridge and catching up with a lot of my con buddies such as Daniel Clifford, Lee Robinson and Graeme Pearce. Transmedia panel with Scott Grandison, Cody Brotherson and Barry Nugent.
Business End: I flew into Bristol on Saturday morning and went straight to the Kronos City panel followed by our Transmedia talk, so didn't get to the main hall until about 2pm on Saturday and apparently missed the busiest period. I shared a table with Owen Watts but still ended up losing money over the weekend.
Total profit*: -£100

Hulk Sketch

Kapow Comic Con


Reasons for going: Money maker
Highlights: Queue for sketches the whole weekend, sharing a table with the hilarious Dave Stokes.
Business End: I was able to stay with Andrew Croskery over the weekend which  reduced the costs a good bit. Sold a few comics, but most of the income came from with a long list of superhero sketch commissions.
Total profit*: £400

My new banner at Kapow!. Oh... and Dave Stokes too.

Cyclops Sketch

Booster Gold Sketch

MCM Expo


Reasons for going: Jennifer Wilde nominated for an Eagle Award
Highlights: Sharing a table and hanging out with Rob Curley and Maura McHugh, the response to Black Scorpion and our comics in general was fantastic. Free drinks at Eagle awards and after party.
Business end: Since Rob was selling the Atomic Diner books, I was relying on sketches for income over the weekend (and brought out a few of my Markosia GNs on Sunday). Atomic Diner comics sold pretty well but sketch requests were a little slower and are a different breed at MCMs, mostly portraits of people as superheroes. I just managed to break even.
Profit*: £0

Deadpool Sketch

Captain Britain Sketch

2D Festival


Reasons for going: Invited as guest, catch up with the Irish comic scene.
Highlights: This was my favourite of the cons, always great craic and a really relaxed festival. Hanging out with Steve and Jac Mooney, Declan Shalvey and Chris Ryall at dinner and convention. Drinking a lot of free drinks on Friday night with Tommie Kelley, Hillary lawler, Deirdre O'Bara and Gar Shanley.
Business End: I was competing with the Atomic Diner table for comic sales, and at the festival you are expected to sketch for free. As a festival guest though, all my (and Aimee's) expenses were paid for, so any money made was profit.
Profit: £100

Daredevil Sketch

I still have Q-con to attend next weekend, but thankfully that'll be the end of the conventions for a while. The heavy schedule really did effect my work output, but I made a convention profit of around £400 total and the long term connections should help. I have a little con fatigue at the minute, but New York Comic Con is at the back of my mind...


*Total profit takes into account Flights, hotels and table cost, but not alcohol or food.