Middle Aged Men & other stories - a week of comics by kids

A week-full of comics by kids in Rhymney, The Hive Worcester, Cockerton and Darlington libraries, and Wollaton and Nottingham Central libraries.

Ysgol Y Lawnt summer school, Rhymney

The Hive in Worcester, morning and afternoon classes. And, gawd help me, I drew a new flipchart image each time, and gave them away to the kids. Because I was handing the tickets myself, I figured the venue was less invested in the classes so they wouldn't be bothered about keeping the flipchart image. Their systems were so Kafka-esque that getting photocopies done was a real headache. I had to open an account with Worcestershire libraries, then put money on my library card, then used that to bill the photocopies to. Singularly the most convoluted process I've had to go through to make the kids' comics.

Cockerton Library in the morning, Darlington Library in the afternoon. And as well as producing two sterling comics, they bought more books than any other place I've visited this month. 

Wollaton Library in the morning, Nottingham Central Library in the afternoon. And Middle Aged Men must be one of the most unusual titles of the season.

The celebrities these seven groups chose to appear in my demonstration strip were Michael Jackson (scary evil old version), Michael Jackson (young version), Mr Beast, Harry Kane, David Attenborough, Ronaldo and Jackie Chan.

My Books And Where To Find Them...

Romeo & Juliet (Colour)	Romeo & Juliet (bw)	Richard The Third (Colour)	Richard  The Third (bw)
Shakespeare Omnibus	Findlay  Macbeth	Prince of  Denmark Street	Midsummer Night's  Dream Team
Tales From Bible (Col)	Tales From Bible (bw)	Joseph, Ruth & Other Stories	Space Elain
Book Of Esther	Who Notes	Shakespeare comic	Kids Comics Annual 2027
Kids Comics Annual 2026	Kids Comics Annual 2025	Socks Do Shakespeare	Colouring Books

A week of comics from Northern Ireland

A week of classes in Northern Ireland. It’s become an annual tour of four or five days in a row. As you’ll see on another page of the blog, I was hoping to sell lots of books, and came well prepared. Then, for whatever reason, the parents ended up buying half as many books as last year. Sometimes you just can’t prepare for these things. 

These are the fruits of classes at Flowerfield Arts Portstewart, Strule Arts Omagh, Ardhowen Theatre Enniskillen, Burnavon Arts Cookstown, and Ards Arts Newtownards 

The celebrities these ten groups chose to appear in my demonstration strip were scary old Michael Jackson (twice), Mr Beast, Cristiano Ronaldo, Cillian Mbappe, Ariana Grande, John Cena, Rowan Atkinson, Tom Holland, and Bob Ross. 

My Books And Where To Find Them...

Romeo & Juliet (Colour)	Romeo & Juliet (bw)	Richard The Third (Colour)	Richard  The Third (bw)
Shakespeare Omnibus	Findlay  Macbeth	Prince of  Denmark Street	Midsummer Night's  Dream Team
Tales From Bible (Col)	Tales From Bible (bw)	Joseph, Ruth & Other Stories	Space Elain
Book Of Esther	Who Notes	Shakespeare comic	Kids Comics Annual 2027
Kids Comics Annual 2026	Kids Comics Annual 2025	Socks Do Shakespeare	Colouring Books

Comic Artist Opportunity - paid gig

 Attention New Comic Talent - Comic Artist Opportunity

I’ve been offered a comic art commission, and I’ve suggested I’d rather pass it on to you, the new young comic artist of the future. (And, no, I won’t be taking a cut)

The organiser of a Comic Con asked me if I’d draw the promo art for them, to be used on online ads and flyers. This Comic Con is not one of the ones that you might have heard of that is exclusively about comic art, it’s one that features TV guests, toy exhibitors, market traders, cosplay, props & cars, and also has guest comic creators.

And they wanted to avoid using AI art, which has been done by many such events and, they felt, doesn’t sit well for an event that’s about promoting artists and creative folk.

There’s a budget for this art, so you’ll get paid. And the artwork will be widely seen, and of course credited. And the fact that the organiser of this event - which I reiterate is not one of those ones run by a major international company, or one that’s been running for twenty years, or one that gets Arts Council grants - wants to make a point of commissioning original art from an up-and-coming artist might hopefully encourage other similar events to do the same.

All you have to do is post a link to your portfolio, ideally including some art that fits the description of comic art illustration, and the organiser can choose the artist they will then contact direct.

Does that sound good? I hope it helps in some small way. Down with AI art, and up with the opportunities for new comic creators.

Post portfolio links to This Facebook thread https://fb.watch/IkIVSC0Bmf/

AI Art Everywhere - But The Most Shocking Example is...

Here's a video I've just made showing shocking examples of Ai art I've spotted in the wild. The problem still continues that most people don't care. There are further examples from my recent travels below.

Today in Ai, a plaque on sale at the antiques centre in Topsham. Yeah, looks legit

The label on the beer I was drinking while uploading Ai images that I'd spotted in the wild

Poster in Ross On Wye

Possibly the worst of the week, a bit of old school really bad Ai art. It doesn't make mistakes like these so much any more (the cop's arms, the lettering). Yeuch.

Factology Magazine, on sale in TG Jones (former WH Smith, soon to become former TG Jones)

My Books And Where To Find Them...

Romeo & Juliet (Colour)	Romeo & Juliet (bw)	Richard The Third (Colour)	Richard  The Third (bw)
Shakespeare Omnibus	Findlay  Macbeth	Prince of  Denmark Street	Midsummer Night's  Dream Team
Tales From Bible (Col)	Tales From Bible (bw)	Joseph, Ruth & Other Stories	Space Elain
Book Of Esther	Who Notes	Doctors Who? Colouring	Sweet Smell Of Sockcess
Kids Comics Annual 2026	Kids Comics Annual 2025	Socks Do Shakespeare	Colouring Books