Deadlines – Gotta love ‘em!

I’m back behind the drawing board and now Bristol’s coming up fast!

Hi Everyone,

Well the last couple of posts have been a little sad really, so I will try to be a little bit more upbeat with the next batch, although hopefully you have gotten the message that both Blogs regarding Marshall Rogers and Massimo Belardinelli were celebrations of their artwork and their lives in comics, rather than out and out obituaries.

As the Bristol Comic Expo gets ever nearer I am pressing on with the pencils for the “Worlds End” graphic novel. Lots of folks have been in contact with me regarding both the book and my attending the convention.

As I have said before this is my first convention appearance since the late nineties and I am really excited about attending along with my wife, Margaret.

I will have at least half the graphic novel finished at pencils for Bristol for those that have asked lately. I will be posting something here and on the Wizards Keep website sometime over the next few weeks. I should also have the turnarounds for the figurines ready to show at Bristol as well. It’s really great to be behind the board again at last!!!

Whilst working on “Worlds End” I have been listening to the new Marillion album “Somewhere Else”, Asia’s “Different Worlds – Live”, Ten’s “The Twilight Chronicles”, Magnum’s “The Classic Collection” double album, Hawkwind’s “Take me to your future”, and Yes’s “Going for the One” “Relayer” and “Drama”…so it really is like old times here at Prog Rock Central.

I have been doing a fair amount of networking too recently on MySpace and have heard some fantastic new music from bands I may otherwise never have heard. I have also met some really talented artists and all in all some really interesting and great folks.

My daughter Joanne has been telling me for ages now to get with it and sort out a MySpace site. Now her’s is all singing and dancing, whereas mine is nothing special as yet, although I will make it better once the deadlines have all been met…honest…
;))

I have some news regarding the Wizards Keep website too – the New “Hall of Fame” section is looking really cool and the present list is looking like this:

Folks on board up to press are:

Joe Sinnott
Mike Ploog
Barry Windsor Smith
Alfredo Alcala
Will Eisner
Frank Brunner
Bryan Talbot
Jon Haward
Joe James
David Pugh
David Lloyd
Alex Nino
Rudy Nebres
Nestor Redondo

With others still to reply to us at the website.

I also have some news to share with you all soon regarding a new upcoming project, which will have you all on the edge of your seats when you see who’s involved!!!

More than that I can’t say at the moment…

Well, my Blogs continue to be a little lightweight at the moment, whilst I crash on with the “Worlds End” graphic novel, so please if you enjoy reading this Blog accept my apologies as I have to concentrate on finishing off the pencils ASAP!

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…

April 23rd 2007

Massimo Belardinelli

Another legend slips away.

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of yet another comics legend, Massimo Belardinelli.

This last 12 months has seen the passing of Dave Cockrum, Marshall Rogers, Tim Hildebrandt, Jack “Jaxon” Jackson, Joe Gill, Martin Nodell, Patrick “Pat” Williams, Alex Toth, and Tom Frame.

Massimo Belardinelli began his career as a painter of backgrounds for animated cartoons in the Rosi Studio in Rome. The studios took over the artwork of the 'Steel Claw' comic in the British comic Valiant from Jésus Blasco, and Belardinelli was assigned as the background artist. This lasted for a year, when he was succeeded by Carlos Cruz.

Belardinelli then went on to ink 'Messalina' and 'Jacula', which the studios produced.

In 1968, together with Cambiotti, he moved to the Giolitti studios in Rome, where he remained until 1993. Here he drew war stories for the British comics company Fleetway and also provided the inks for the 'Phantom' strips for Flli Spada.

In 1977, 2000AD was born and Belardinelli was assigned to draw the newly revamped version of the classic hero 'Dan Dare'.

Belardinelli also illustrated, among other comics characters, 'ACE Trucking Co', 'Moonrunners', 'Blackhawk', 'The Dead', 'Flesh' and 'Inferno'. He also did some of the early 'Slaine' stories.

In the 1980s and early 1990s Belardinelli continued to work for Fleetway, but his main job was to work in another studio for an important project, which unfortunately failed after many years, which was worked on by several artists. The project was a kind of Disneyland out in Bangkok.

In the late 1990's, several newsgroups carried the reported that Belardinelli had died, a rumour that spread like wildfire through 2000AD fandom. However, in 2003 David Brunt established that he was still alive and living near Rome. Belardinelli in correspondence with long-term fan Robby Cox wrote in one letter to Cox, "Unfortunately I am in poor health: my heart is naughty", which may suggest that the rumours were based in fact rather than being spread maliciously.

Massimo Belardinelli spent his final years living outside Rome and painting watercolour landscapes.

I hope the images here will show the true gift of a wonderfully talented and respected comic creator. I never met the man himself, to express my thoughts regarding his skills, but I hope wherever he is now, he is looking down at all the accolades that my fellow comics creators and myself are heaping on him now.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
April 14th 2007

Captain America – satirised!

No one’s safe in this world anymore!

I just caught hold of this wonderful cartoon, by Mike Thompson, from the cartoon brew website:
http://www.cartoonbrew.com/category/illustration/


I thought it would be fun to share it with you guys.
Satire at it’s best…

Mike Thompson, a 2006 Pulitzer finalist, is with the Detroit Free Press and Copley News Service.

Well, my Blogs continue to be a little lightweight at the moment, whilst I crash on with the “Worlds End” graphic novel, so please if you enjoy reading this Blog accept my apologies as I have to concentrate on finishing off the pencils ASAP!

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
April 10th 2007

HAPPY EASTER FOLKS!

Time for another Blog, Gang.

I must admit to being very busy this last week since my last Blog, but this wasn’t the reason for not writing one earlier then now. No the real reason was out of respect for the passing of Marshall Rogers, whose work I had found as a college student back in the late seventies. I wanted folks to be able to read my tribute to him, which was why I kept it up for a week.

Well as the header says I hope you are all having a great Easter break.

This last week has seen me pushing on with the “Worlds End” graphic novel. I am also having to make ready for the launch of our first Wizards Keep retail outlet, which is due to happen soon. So at the moment it’s all hands to the deck and I only have two…;))

I also celebrated my birthday last week on the 5^th, which was fun. We went out for a family meal, my Wife, Margaret, daughter, Joanne and son, Simon – Great food and a great night out for us all.

With the workload being as it is presently there isn’t always the time spent as a family as I would like, but in the near future I can see things will revert back to normal – although what normal is, I’m not too sure…;))

I read the Modern Masters John Byrne book this last week – excellent read and I suggest anyone that loves comic books give it a go!!! I really enjoyed the book, and have to add that all the books produced by Tomorrows Publishing are equally as engaging and well produced!

There is some of John’s excellent work on display throughout and also some great insights into this legendary artist/writer.

Well, my Blogs may be a little lightweight at the moment, whilst I crash on with the “Worlds End” graphic novel, so please if you enjoy reading this Blog, accept my apologies as I have to concentrate on finishing off the pencils ASAP!

If not sooner…;))

Also welcome to the folks that may have come from MySpace to read my musings.

Okey Dokey, back to the drawing board for me, but I’ll be back here soon, with something to discuss.

Until next time have fun!

Tim Perkins…
April 8th 2007