Hello, and thanks for looking at my little old blog. My brand new graphic novel, Romeo and Juliet, is launching soon on Kickstarter and we'd love your support to make it happen. You can bagsy a signed first edition for just pocket money, or get bespoke original artwork from me, or, if you really fancy, you could appear in the book itself! Please check out the Kickstarter (free, no obligation) and help my new book become a reality. Thankyou for your attention to this matter. Now on with the blog...
Monday August 4th, work resumed on Romeo and Juliet. After writing and drawing the first 27 pages a year ago, I finished the script back in May, then did the first bit of drawing in a year last month. Now is the time to knuckle down.
I started the day by posting off the last signed copies and artwork to the Kickstarter supporters of the new edition of Findlay Macbeth. Having got that out of the way, along with the new full colour Space Elain, and the new Socks Do Shakespeare book, I've finally cleared my desk ready to get Romeo and Juliet produced. I had thought, vainly, I might get it finished in time for The Lakes Comic Festival in September. But realistically I'm working towards launching it at Thought Bubble in November.
If I start the Kickstarter in the next month, then I'm working to a very similar timescale to that of Richard The Third, this time two years ago. Let us see how I progress. Here is my timesheet.
Mon Aug 4 - Pages 28 - 33 (6 pages). I'd laid these out last month, and already pencilled and inked page 28. But I knew that my original design for Count Paris was rubbish (he was just Romeo with a moustache and a beret, see above) so I redesigned him and redrew half that page, then pencilled and inked the rest. The comedy is very satisfying in these scenes, and is all there in the original Shakespeare, needing no help from me.
Tues Aug 5, only one page (P34), but it's a good one, the first glimpse of Juliet's balcony, and Nurse.
Friday August 8th - Pages 34 - 38 (5 pages, laid out Thursday, pencilled and inked Friday), but with a very big not-deliberate error.
I've designed (or, as I think of it "cast") Juliet's mother. And drawn her in 11 panels across these six pages. The only trouble is, I'd already drawn Juliet's mother, when I drew the first 20-odd pages a year ago, and I'd cast a totally different actress! Which means I either have to redraw Mom No1, who only appears in 4 panels from a year ago, or redraw Mom No2, who appears 11 times already. And I prefer Mom No1. I'll ask Facebook, see what they think.
8.36pm Friday - amended all the Mum No 2 faces, no-one will ever know she existed.
Mon Aug 11 - P39 - 43 (5 pages, laid out last Thursday, pencilled and inked today)
Weds Aug 13 - P44 - 49 (7 pages, mostly pencilled & inked + P50 - 58 laid out).
The 'mostly' bit is cos I've partly drawn the party scene which will be, hopefully, people by Kickstarter sponsors.
Thurs Aug 14 - P50 - 55 (6 pages pencilled & inked)
Fri Aug 15 - P56 - 58 (3 pages pencilled & inked)
Sun Aug 17 - P59 - 64 (laid out)
Tues Aug 19 - P59 - 64 (6 pages pencilled + inked) + P10 & 11 redrawn
Weds Aug 20 - P65 - 75 (1 page pencilled & inked, 10 pages pencilled) - Also appearcne on BBC Radio Bristol, interviewed by Joe Sims, after which the Kickstarter followers leaped up from 19 to 24, including Joe himself who tweeted: "I’ve signed up for more info! I want to get my lad in Romeo and Juliet"
Thurs Aug 21 - P66 - 75 (10 pages inked)
Fri Aug 22nd - P76 - 90 (15 pages laid out, 13 pages pencilled
Mon Aug 25th - P76 - 90 (15 pages inked)
Thurs Aug 28th - P91 - 117 (17 pages laid out)
Friday Aug 29th - P 91 - 92 (2 pages pencilled and inked)
Mon Sept 1st - P93 (1 page pencilled and inked)
More to come, I hope, this month.
 |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Richard The Third (Colour) | Doctors Who? Colouring | Socks Do Shakespeare | Kids Comics Annual 2026 |
 |  |  |  |
Richard The Third (bw) | Findlay Macbeth | Prince of Denmark Street | Midsummer Night's Dream Team |
 |  |  |  |
Shakespeare Omnibus | Comic Tales From The Bible | Joseph, Ruth & Other Stories | Space Elain |
 |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |
