Big_News

17th December 2001:

Finished the first draft of the script, including the text piece that will be on the inside back cover.
Beavering away at the preliminary sketches while I leave the script "to cool" for a couple of days.
Choosing a font for the lettering, and working on a cover sketch in the meantime.
Currently have two confirmed orders. Early orders equals extra bonus goodies, by the way.

Here's the first preliminary sketch, scanned and touched-up:

22nd December 2001:

Okay. Hondle is now Not the First WaterCooler Comix publication.

In association with Superfast, WaterCooler Comix Proudly Presents:

                                FANBOY CONFESSIONS...
                                                        (mirror site)
                                       (Version 2: single-page reworking)

Also, I've started work on a proper WaterCooler Comix page. This should reduce the traffic through this site, freeing it up for the rest of the good stuff. It'll also afford me time to rewrite that dreck you see above.

My reasoning was sound, but the English was atrocious...

I blame lack of sleep.

Click here for a taster for the new site...

December 24th (7am):

The new comic (in both versions) has been well recieved...kind of. Loads of people have seen it, but only two (!) people have commented on it. I can't work out why...it isn't that bad, surely?

I have lots of new ideas for things, but I'm going to put them on the back burner until I get further along with Hondle.

One thing I will be doing is moving all the WaterColour Comix stuff across to the new site asap. Geocities have been giving me hassle about the traffic through the site. So! I have decided to spread the load.

More later today when I've bought the Xmas dinner, had a kip, and done some work on Hondle.

1st January, 2002:
Sketches coming along, including cover sketch.

A fit of writers block while working on other projects led me to draw this Hondle short story, which may as well be the first teaser for the comic proper. This story will not be reprinted in the Hondle comic, so enjoy it now.

Six weeks until it's due to be finished. Gulp...

2nd January, 2002:
Printed the inside front cover out. This is one of two pages without artwork. Hence, it is the Easy Bit. Have to pick up a pencil tomorrow. *Gulp*again...

31st January, 2002:
Okay. Lots of things have happened.

1. My experiment in creating photocomics (which can be found at the WCC site) has been a success, so far. However, they don't photocopy partcularly well. So, the advertised minicomic, Everbody Loves Mary Jane, can't be mass-produced on my budget.

Hondle, however, can be copied more easily, because it'll be line art.

2. I have decided, after the success of the Hondle Preview comic, that I'm going to do the pencil art on printer paper, scan it, and do all my letting and paste-up on the PC. That way, I can avoid using lots of messy glue. Test printings of the previews have gone well, even though the art is a little rough.

3. Biro, my new Best Friend.

4. With little else to do in the hospital apart from hold the Mammy's hand, I've managed to get most of the sketches and layouts done. all I have do now is draw the bloody thing. Some of it was very hard to draw, for a lot of different reasons.

5. I've posted a second preview comic here. Like the first short, this won't be reprinted in the minicomic.

6. I have a website put aside for the digital, DVD-style version of HONDLE. The people who want the paper comic can have the paper comic. They'll get the whole story, plus some goodies.

The people who can't get hold of the paper comic can read some of the strips at the website, as well as enjoying the DVD-style extras. This will include the complete Hondle story archive, the Making of Hondle, the Photo Gallery, and more besides. Everybody wins.

7. There's still a Job of Work to be done on this book, but I think I can get it done by Valentine's Day. As far as I can work out, I have enough money for about 30 copies of the minicomic.

8. I have some cool ideas for the DVD-style website. And some cooler ideas for the Goodies to be given away with some copies of the printed comic. Moo-Hoo-Hah-Ha-Haaa.

9. repeat: Moo-Hoo-Hah-Ha-Haaa.

10. To finish: a silly piece of artwork that I created for another comic. Two weeks to go. *Gulp*

26th February:
Hondle is going to be late. The Mammy was in hospital, and then my computer blew up. That, and I've been depressed. All the roughwork is done. Half the pages have been drawn in pencil. I'm now looking at March 15th as a publishing date. Sorry. The comic will be worth it, though.

That, and the goodies that come with the paper comic will be worth the wait...

Okay. The Obvious questions:
1. What Does "Watercooler Comix" Mean?

I love superheroes.

I love superhero comics (or "Hero Books," as I like to call the genre).

However. That's not all that can be done with Comics.

Comics are a communications medium, like radio, television, music, film, print or the internet. Like all media, they can be used to convey information, whether it's fiction or non-fiction.

In an ideal world, Everybody would be reading Comics. Seriously. And if you're still scoffing at the idea of Adults Reading Comics, ask yourself this:

At what age should you stop watchig TV?

At what age should you stop going to the cinema?

At what age should you stop reading books?

Answer: ten years after you're dead.

So it should be with comics. No one's asking you to read stuff you don't want to read. Don't like Hero Books? Let's find you something you will enjoy.

The range of genres covered by Comics is as broad as any other medium, from history to autobiography to true romance to pantless cartoon ducks.

Ideally, there would be comics that everybody read: comics that inspired the sort of enthusiasm and reader loyalty normally reserved or shows like ER, Friends or Ally McBeal, or for popstars like Madonna.

The Comics You Come into Work and Talk About:

There are, of course, many comics that already cultivate legions of loyal fans. Because they have superheroes in them, people tend to cock a snoop. But it is possible to overcome that foolish stigma.

There are people out there already who are making headway into the Land of the Giants: Warren Ellis, Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Larry Young, Chris Ware (of "Jimmy Corrigan," award-winning fame), and many many more. But it's not enough.

You Should all Be Reading Comics.

And the more comics (and types of comics) there are, the more likely that there will be something for you.

That, plus I liked the sound of the name., And "Comix" used to be the name for underground comic books back in the '60's. This is hardly underground comix: it's going to be phoocopied minicomix.

But I like the name. So it stays.

2. Why "Hondle?" How is that WaterCooler Comix?

I don't expect to be winning awards with this comic. I don't expect that more than a dozen people will read it. Truth betold, I don't expect to be making a career out of comics any time soon. I'm not doing the book for financial gain: it's going to cost me money. I don't expect that people will discuss the comic at work.

I'm doing this for two reasons: because I wanted to do a comic, and because I Miss My Dog.

You shouldn't do these things, probably, unless you can bring something of yourself to the story. And this seemed like the best story to start with.

3. Why are you writing and drawing "Hondle?"

I can really only draw two things. One of them will get me sued. The other is Hondle.
Seriously, though, this is an intensely personal story. More so, perhaps, than any other I might want to tell. It's all me. My dog. My memories. My tears.

Even if it doesn't look very polished, it means something to me.

Comics are, of course, a collaborative medium. Usually, someone writes the story, another person draws the pictures, and so on. If I do more comics in the future, I'll probably seek out an artist to work with.

It means giving up full control of the product, of course, but sometimes that can be a good thing. Someone who can actually draw can convey nuances of emotion and dramatic tension that can make the difference between a reasonable comic and a masterpiece (or a WaterCooler comic).

I might know the story I want to tell, but if I tried to draw it, it would probably come out looking stilted,at best.

"Hondle" is different, in that I originated this caricature of my dog some ten or more years ago - it's on the wall of my bedroom, where my Ma decided not to paint over it last year - and I know how I want the story to look. Every line has to come from my hand, whether it's art or dialogue.

4. What format will Hondle take?

I'm not entirely sure yet. I want to do a short (~16 page) A4 minicomic, perhaps by stapling loose leaves together, or instead using folded pieces of A3 paper (like in a regular cmic).

The comic will be a photocopy of original art which I will be putting together here at home. As I progress,with the project (in my spare time), I'll try to update this page with how it's all coming together.

The story itself will be vignettes from Hondle's life, and will be broken up by two or more Impressions sketches. I may also include a short text piece, depending on time/space constraints

One of the stories has already appeared on the website: Chomp. This will be redrawn for the printed comic.

5. When will "Hondle" be ready? How can I get a copy? How much will it cost?

I'm going to try to have the book ready to print by February 1st. But don't expect it to be ready to post before Valentine's Day.

As the time comes to print the comic, I'll send out an email to all the people who have asked for a copy (for instance, by emailing me here). Then I'll ask for your land address (if I don't already have it). When it's ready, I'll send it. The book will not be available in shops.

I don't know how much it will cost. I don't want to charge anything, but that might prove impractical. I might ask for a donation to the RSPCA in exchange fot the comic. I'll decide closer to the time, and put the information up here.

So. I'll get cracking. Check back here for updates every couple of days. Direct any questions or order enquiries to