tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34890370360101825432024-03-04T23:55:17.112-08:00Robots AssembleDave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-1356163870278632222015-03-17T14:23:00.002-07:002015-03-17T14:23:53.860-07:00Look And Learn - 1969.I came across this old <b>Look And Learn Annual</b> a little while ago, and decided to pick it up as it reminded me of my childhood. Living in a time where the future seemed so exciting, full of space flight and robots. The promise of Science Fiction becoming Science Fact. With no limitations.<br />
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I'm not sure that I ever owned this particular book, but the message was a common one of the 60s and 70s.<br />
I was sure that I'd possess my own <b>Robot</b>, a mechanical servant to help me with my day to day chores. A bit like <b>Will Robinson</b>, but in a flat in Sydenham rather than on some exotic planet out there somewhere.<br />
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And then as I got older and I read books and watched films where the robots actually turn on their masters, I accepted that it was probably for the best.<br />
So, let the children of today take their turn. Let them see their dreams of robot servants turn to worry about robot masters.<br />
I think it's a circle of life thing.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-77326176417385696292014-04-06T04:30:00.001-07:002014-04-06T04:30:09.064-07:00Marvin The Paranoid Android - Stephen Moore.I met Stephen Moore at the Memorabilia and MCM event in Birmingham a couple of weeks ago. For me he will always be THE voice of Marvin and I still don;t get why they use Alan Rickman in the movie, but then again the movie wasn't as good as the TV show or the Radio shows, so I guess it's appropriate.<br />
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As you'd expect, Stephen Moore is a very genuinely nice bloke and only to happy to humour an old fan of Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy for a few minutes.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-9457590996679569632014-02-02T05:03:00.003-08:002014-02-02T05:03:45.864-08:00The Terminator by Kev Crossley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I met Kev Crossley at a few conventions between 2000 and 2005, and really enjoyed his interpretation of classic robots. As he was always so ready and willing to turn out these great little convention sketches I decided it only fair to get a real, full on, commission piece.<br />
I asked for his version of The Terminator, and that's what I got.<br />
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Wow.<br />
Kev never disappoints.<br />
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<br />Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-7713198402548423732014-01-05T04:22:00.000-08:002014-01-05T04:27:16.213-08:00The Juggernaut ... from Hurricane Annual 1968<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spotted a cover to a <a href="http://britishcomics.wikia.com/wiki/Hurricane_(Comic)"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Hurricane</span></a> Annual that rang memory bells and picking it up flicked through the pages to discover a story that I rang those memory bells a second time. It featured a massive robot, indeed a <a href="http://britishcomics.wikia.com/wiki/The_Juggernaut_from_Planet_Z"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Juggernaut, from Planet Z</span></a>. <br />
This issue is only two years before that one, and the artwork is painted, and therefore the robot is not quite so detailed, but the basic ingredients are all there.<br />
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The story is pretty straight forward, as they always tended to be, with the military dictator being very definitely the bad guy, and the heroes, Doctor Dan Morgan and his assistant Joe Dodge, having no concerns when calling down the mighty <strong>Juggernaut from Planet Z</strong> to deal with him.<br />
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There is no mention of where exactly Planet Z is or why they should care to help, but it can't be that far away as the robot arrives pretty soon.<br />
The nice twist here is that the robot's controls are taken over by the bad guys and so the Juggernaut starts to attack the soldiers of the tiny state of Alkazia. <br />
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And the tide is quickly turned.<br />
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I must say that I was a little shocked when...<br />
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General Zeb, the bad guy, was very quickly disposed of.<br />
Still, it all turned out pretty well, the tiny state of Alkazia was returned to the happy province it had been, the Juggernaut had saved the day, the two heroes had (through the Juggernaut) saved the day and their reputations and the rare material called Alkazium (vital to the world's space rocket programmes) remained available for exploitation by the powers of the world.<br />
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There are strong similarities between this and the <strong>Robot Archie</strong> stories, the major difference (apart from the size of the robot) seeming to be that he is from a different planet. I wonder if other tales tell us more about Planet Z and its intentions towards the Earth. <br />
It would be an interesting angle to take on this but I doubt it happened.<br />
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<br />Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-5446195538353589192013-12-14T12:13:00.001-08:002013-12-14T12:16:38.385-08:00Robby The Robot by Ramon Perez.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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At this year's <a href="http://thoughtbubblefestival.com/convention-programme-2013/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Thought Bubble</span></a> comic convention in Leeds, I came across <a href="http://www.ramonperez.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Ramon Perez</span></a> sat at a table busy working on a commission. I didn't recognize him and he didn't have his name visible anywhere. So I asked him who he was and what he'd worked on.<br />
'Ramon Perez', he politely responded, 'I'm currently working on the<strong> X-Men</strong> and <strong>Wolverine</strong> but I also illustrated <a href="http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Tale_of_Sand"><span style="color: #a64d79;">A Tale Of Sand</span></a>'.<br />
I actually have a copy of <strong>A</strong> <strong>Tale of Sand</strong>, it's based on a film script by <strong>Jim Henson</strong> that never saw a camera's lens. I remembered being struck by how fluid the artwork on that book was and so promptly asked him for a robot commission.<br />
He asked what robot I wanted, and I said that I'd happily leave that up to him.<br />
He suggested I come back tomorrow.<br />
Which I did, and was pleased to collect the image of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robby_the_Robot"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Robby the Robot</span></a>, from the classic 1956 movie <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forbidden_Planet"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Forbidden Planet</span></a>. <br />
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Very nice indeed.<br />
When I collected this I took the opportunity to get Ramon to sign my copy of <strong>A</strong> <strong>Tale Of Sand</strong>, of course.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-91191180653353635432013-12-01T04:19:00.003-08:002013-12-01T04:19:33.039-08:00Kryten by Robert Llewellyn.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn-ZMY-ccyiFsYNrn4aaIzow_tWC8wzHCZgiHVXlXILBQFifNGHL-6ySXj9Bj-hsp-5_39FsjM_L5K093rxtci3LTCcP2DzhIolqZA3-7pYjAIFDzh4uWVvO1q6xOpuNPNcUk92U2ZzBP/s1600/KrytenHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbn-ZMY-ccyiFsYNrn4aaIzow_tWC8wzHCZgiHVXlXILBQFifNGHL-6ySXj9Bj-hsp-5_39FsjM_L5K093rxtci3LTCcP2DzhIolqZA3-7pYjAIFDzh4uWVvO1q6xOpuNPNcUk92U2ZzBP/s200/KrytenHead.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I met <a href="http://llewblog.squarespace.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Robert Llewellyn</span></a> last weekend at the <a href="http://thought%20bubble%202013/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Thought Bubble</span></a> comic convention in Leeds. His main reason for being there was to promote his books, yep, he's a science fiction writer when he's not on TV. He came across as a genuinely nice bloke, and I picked up a copy of the first in his trilogy of books, <br />
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It sounded an interesting concept where his trilogy explored the idea of what would happen if something significant in the world we know was the complete opposite. <br />
Free with every copy of his book, but not the reason I bought it honest, was a signed photo of him as Kryten.<br />
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Still one of my favourite Sci-Fi characters.<br />
(Note - you should check out Robert's<span style="color: #a64d79;"> </span><a href="http://llewblog.squarespace.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">blog</span></a>... very interesting stuff).Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-48274080299651808502013-11-17T02:58:00.000-08:002013-11-17T02:58:20.990-08:00RobotMan by Duncan Fegredo.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZSOVuzPUUe9fYhOCSx3UH0ek0G6106G4aSgIgKFZ5gHnPlWY3k0vBIcIAF_mgS_U2JFK_2M8MaUHk4U0ocDJC_mdD-4NYJdA8HlLBmoyREt7yH1s_LXRrTvh_s2VeXxfXcePNB21k75U/s1600/RobotManHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZSOVuzPUUe9fYhOCSx3UH0ek0G6106G4aSgIgKFZ5gHnPlWY3k0vBIcIAF_mgS_U2JFK_2M8MaUHk4U0ocDJC_mdD-4NYJdA8HlLBmoyREt7yH1s_LXRrTvh_s2VeXxfXcePNB21k75U/s1600/RobotManHead.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robotman_(Cliff_Steele)"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Robot Man</span></a> is Clifford "<strong>Cliff" Steele</strong> a human mind in a robot body, and <strong>DC</strong> hero who is part of the strange superhero team that is <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_Patrol"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Doom Patrol</span></a>.He has appeared in all versions of the <strong>Doom Patrol</strong> comics, although his powers have varied a little along the way, and I'm not sure if his human brain wasn't replaced by a CPU at one point.<br />
A great design though and a great character who had to constantly fight the depression that was caused by him living in a metal body.<br />
<a href="http://www.duncanfegredo.co.uk/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Duncan Fegredo</span></a> is one of the nicest comicbook artists on the Con circuit. He always seems to be enjoying himself, regardless of the daunting queue at his table, and his talent has recently landed him the job of bringing <strong>Hellboy</strong> to the comic page, which is the highest praise. <br />
I got this quick convention sketch back in 2000.<br />
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CLANK !!Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-31803279465071996762013-11-03T13:32:00.001-08:002013-11-03T13:32:12.380-08:00The Coffin by Mike Huddleston.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Phil Hester and<a href="http://www.comicartfans.com/comic-artists/mike_huddleston.asp"> <span style="color: #a64d79;">Mike Huddleston</span></a> produced a really interesting mini-series a while back called <a href="http://heightslibrary.org/wordpress/undeadrat/?p=4427"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The Coffin</span></a>. <br />
Dr. Ashar Ahmad a brilliant but heartless scientist was intent on proving the physical existence of the soul, going as far as to create an impenetrable cybernetic skin that would trap the human soul after the body within has died - a walking coffin. As you might expect, a dying Ahmad ends up encased in one of his prototypes and then realizes how he'd wasted his life. Things go from bad to worse as <strong>The Coffin</strong> begins a desperate race to reclaim his technology from an evil corporate overlord and and the same time save the life of his estranged daughter.<br />
I enjoyed the book and loved the design of <strong>The Coffin</strong> (who I guess you could argue isn't really a robot).<br />
I was lucky enough to get out to the <strong>San Diego Comic Conventi</strong>on back in <strong>2001</strong> and got this convention commission sketch from Mike himself.<br />
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Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-250916574445636742013-10-12T11:55:00.003-07:002013-10-12T11:55:55.913-07:00The Terminator... from StarBlazer No. 174.<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starblazer"><span style="color: #a64d79;">StarBlazer</span></a> was a <strong>Science Fiction</strong> version of <a href="http://www.commandocomics.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Commando</span></a>.<br />
The same format, the same quality of story telling and artwork. <br />
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What <strong>StarBlazer</strong> had above <strong>Commando</strong> though was that it wasn't constrained by fact and historical events.<br />
in Issue 174 (from 1986) then we had <strong>The Terminator</strong>, which was kind of a mix between <strong>Judge Dredd</strong> and <strong>Robocop</strong>.<br />
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There are some neat little ideas in here, and whilst the story is told in the typical way (these books did tend to spoon feed the reader a bit too much at times) it's a great little read.<br />
It doesn't shy away from death, and the robot follows its programming to the letter. It announces the reason for the judgement and then carries it out. No messing.<br />
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Of course, as usual, humans are behind all the bad things that the robot does, he is after all 'only following his programming'. Marshal Skarr soon finds himself being hunted by the Terminator, his only crime really being that of 'getting in the way'.<br />
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It turns out that there's an alien invasion threat and human greed behind it all and Skarr saves the day, despite escaping almost certain death a few times on the way.<br />
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An interesting robot design. Almost as if he doesn't have a head, and 'Yes', <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terminator"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The Terminator</span></a> movie came out a couple of years before this saw print so they probably used the title to try to attract a few more readers, and made the robot look completely different to avoid a lawsuit or two.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-16633671331488317462013-10-06T07:16:00.002-07:002013-10-09T13:08:59.977-07:00Robot Archie uses, then loses, his head.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robot_Archie"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Robot Archie</span></a> has two stories in the 1970<strong> LION</strong> annual.<br />
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In the first we find the mechanical marvel in India and whilst wandering around a local bazaar, with <strong>Ted Ritchie</strong> and <strong>Kan Dale,</strong> the robot begins to experience problems with his balance.<br />
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It seems that a crystal that is his movement co-ordinator has worn out (maybe we all have these and they are effected by alcohol... just a thought). This crystal is a semi precious gem, which whilst not expensive is not going to be easy to find in India. So they all set off for the biggest jewellery firm in town.<br />
And you just know something is going to go wrong.<br />
Yep, just as they arrive robbers who have just hit the firm are making a quick exit.<br />
<strong>Archie</strong>, being the hero that he is rushes off to catch them.<br />
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But his balance is off and he catches the tram instead of the crooks.</div>
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The crooks make their escape and the even worse news is that the jeweller doesn't have the gem required to repair <strong>Archie</strong> (and you were thinking that he'd say the robbers just took the only one he had didn't you). But fear not, <strong>The Mad Maharajah</strong> has one. He sounds like the kind of person who would be only too happy to help, from behind his 'high walls' (as he never leaves the palace).</div>
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A short trip, avoiding a booby trap, being shot at, minor elephant crushing and head butting a heavy wooden door sees Archie behind the walls and chasing down an escaping helicopter (yep, it appears that <strong>The</strong> <strong>Mad Maharajah</strong> didn't get rich by lots of hard work (maybe not so mad after all then)).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYnQi8C4LBoxK2wbPrA233Ow-kFMIxvJlyCl2arTVIs2gy-IuRo3T4cxwuaQO3DlfXPpTQtdd2WPNEU5o0tZGMFu5SL_GD23vDiUHl1RJwuJxBP8WACbPPWIPts5j982nuwQjTKWwVNL0/s1600/Sample3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsYnQi8C4LBoxK2wbPrA233Ow-kFMIxvJlyCl2arTVIs2gy-IuRo3T4cxwuaQO3DlfXPpTQtdd2WPNEU5o0tZGMFu5SL_GD23vDiUHl1RJwuJxBP8WACbPPWIPts5j982nuwQjTKWwVNL0/s400/Sample3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Except that <strong>The Mad Maharajah</strong> had in fact died years before and the criminals had just moved in and pretended that he was still around, spending without a care.</div>
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In the second story, this time illustrated text rather than full blown comic pages, we see <strong>Archie</strong> pit his abilities again <strong>'Head Hunters'</strong>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyXBUdR4pit1_2etBDKuI6F6pSpzcT2sxCF0hI3hToZRETVgdH9E-ff-5TXfHjPL65PeAsB-kl9PU1Z1eJ0_Z9ApALvpEZLKGHZizXFYHYKjns4hwStzHtJ6jDxE4vgJLILs595LZmNA2/s1600/Title.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguyXBUdR4pit1_2etBDKuI6F6pSpzcT2sxCF0hI3hToZRETVgdH9E-ff-5TXfHjPL65PeAsB-kl9PU1Z1eJ0_Z9ApALvpEZLKGHZizXFYHYKjns4hwStzHtJ6jDxE4vgJLILs595LZmNA2/s400/Title.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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In this tale the three get attacked by a tribe of head hunters, who manage to steal the transmitter that controls <strong>Archie</strong> before beating a hasty retreat back into the jungle. The heroes then allow themselves to get separated and finally catch up with <strong>Archie</strong> to find him having his head unscrewed by the <strong>Head Hunters</strong>.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-gpmo5UZ7gUV23JupEy6Ts9AWhOJRv2egzJ6IqiqVI48JIHiRvRgj315p_yb10HJnKcKJ0WiL06ORmas1eHVwo5WmN8dXMd1unYvERWe6207GzYm8ImhEBNN0fZA3bGQhBj6YmmbXDxX/s1600/headless.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-gpmo5UZ7gUV23JupEy6Ts9AWhOJRv2egzJ6IqiqVI48JIHiRvRgj315p_yb10HJnKcKJ0WiL06ORmas1eHVwo5WmN8dXMd1unYvERWe6207GzYm8ImhEBNN0fZA3bGQhBj6YmmbXDxX/s400/headless.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It all looks pretty bleak for them all until <strong>Professor Zing</strong> turns up and saves the day. Why the <strong>Head Hunters</strong> had never removed the Prof's head is a mystery that is neither questioned nor answered, leading me to suspect him of being some evil matermind or somesuch, but I guess I may never know.</div>
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Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-72243743720386680932013-09-29T09:22:00.001-07:002013-09-29T09:22:20.586-07:00Maria by Kev Crossley.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfitiGdBCP6y63QAYWXiMsBjYPH1cMaT1FLwB-BMFRfU4prlY4CcWoENmKos6IXo79M_rLMW5MHIkMyLQ8BjbKkiw3CPOw2Z5I1U06Nw4ZioYEFZHVY9OH8vFx46FGtgbvPh8WHBobOZAo/s1600/MariaCrossleyHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfitiGdBCP6y63QAYWXiMsBjYPH1cMaT1FLwB-BMFRfU4prlY4CcWoENmKos6IXo79M_rLMW5MHIkMyLQ8BjbKkiw3CPOw2Z5I1U06Nw4ZioYEFZHVY9OH8vFx46FGtgbvPh8WHBobOZAo/s1600/MariaCrossleyHead.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.kevcrossley.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Kev Crossley</span></a> was a regular of the comic convention scene, and may well still be, I tend not to get too much time to wander these days. He does these really angular sketches and I was intrigued with what he'd do with <strong>Maria</strong>. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy24bwMLtIwkrGljbadMzQCwSHRxHgJNwAzUzA6DiyOb4tDfifp5ogeustTHS4-J1urMzpjegHVE_u09RunhH2Sjt5n4wjRLN2ZD-WPqaVMe0LwagvTzN7Rzcjw5wYQABIIICyhQt_Ez6/s1600/Crossley_Maria+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzy24bwMLtIwkrGljbadMzQCwSHRxHgJNwAzUzA6DiyOb4tDfifp5ogeustTHS4-J1urMzpjegHVE_u09RunhH2Sjt5n4wjRLN2ZD-WPqaVMe0LwagvTzN7Rzcjw5wYQABIIICyhQt_Ez6/s640/Crossley_Maria+copy.jpg" width="402" /></a></div>
Amazing. I'd love to see Kev's interpretation of the whole movie in comic book form...<br />
<br />Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-49027797886706600872013-09-15T07:38:00.000-07:002013-09-15T07:38:24.543-07:00One-Eye by Dave West.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXQ_OKsjSaB5tq88OOsbA-LEKI5zRDLHF-LF_hXSb8PVkKpSs8L-JkRTVgNuik5pC9ivGpP0FoDj5OiI_k4TzIOV19OXv7FZsf-3AQ5_KzVKhFhjtlHT8IbJPw62MQfTwTdU_uoioo_jq/s1600/OneEye-head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXQ_OKsjSaB5tq88OOsbA-LEKI5zRDLHF-LF_hXSb8PVkKpSs8L-JkRTVgNuik5pC9ivGpP0FoDj5OiI_k4TzIOV19OXv7FZsf-3AQ5_KzVKhFhjtlHT8IbJPw62MQfTwTdU_uoioo_jq/s200/OneEye-head.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>
I thought I'd put something a little different up here for this posting. A while back I started playing around with paper mache and found objects (or rather objects that I salvaged from broken household appliances and the like).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJOJ1mYxphG1aytLRLkWuwFMSfaJ4rXoMOrTS40RV2xz0ton2HBPouN_VOep0PcmjlHV2Pm2UZZXX8SYJKtE-btlYHP_r-RI3NWA3InMU8jh9SJnpZcGOyq9i2vL1jqaPDGXS34u4wqQh/s1600/OneEye.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsJOJ1mYxphG1aytLRLkWuwFMSfaJ4rXoMOrTS40RV2xz0ton2HBPouN_VOep0PcmjlHV2Pm2UZZXX8SYJKtE-btlYHP_r-RI3NWA3InMU8jh9SJnpZcGOyq9i2vL1jqaPDGXS34u4wqQh/s400/OneEye.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
One of the results was One-Eye, who I used as a table display at Comic Conventions. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYk97zJfGZbUYTs7Q45fOuxJbWQJ4Q_DaAODjJZLBxU_AEsqZwJD25Ax_NqGqXhB34WVtvrUY-yt1pLDtFvnjpaOq1QiSXUDL5tTACeS7WVEISAdjwKcCrzcKLgIfISuhM_ThgYDkigq3/s1600/One-Eye-before-paint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHYk97zJfGZbUYTs7Q45fOuxJbWQJ4Q_DaAODjJZLBxU_AEsqZwJD25Ax_NqGqXhB34WVtvrUY-yt1pLDtFvnjpaOq1QiSXUDL5tTACeS7WVEISAdjwKcCrzcKLgIfISuhM_ThgYDkigq3/s400/One-Eye-before-paint.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
As you can see, a bit of silver paint certainly helps to bring all the bits together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif82cXJmcBNZSXzSfHHZrfuvjPO1iy7gP-R7jAD76oSwAUy7Mcxgy8PQHdw0qNbYiIljw-EdD1gXhXNCDtA-hFt1HHWTBCOzdyiG-ocxFycPL454ChHYLKqNsMkpd-CHhLMdcpOm_aKCP2/s1600/OneEye-detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif82cXJmcBNZSXzSfHHZrfuvjPO1iy7gP-R7jAD76oSwAUy7Mcxgy8PQHdw0qNbYiIljw-EdD1gXhXNCDtA-hFt1HHWTBCOzdyiG-ocxFycPL454ChHYLKqNsMkpd-CHhLMdcpOm_aKCP2/s400/OneEye-detail.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
But I liked to make it possible to still be able to read some of the words from the electronics books that I used to make him.<br />
Good fun but it took a lot longer to make that I can fit in these days.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-11591464561081222352013-08-24T12:38:00.003-07:002013-08-24T12:38:58.146-07:00Robot Maria by Matt Boyce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHDqRnk2p9Ni-qmb3UtbtdEZ7BhT3vrtXeJFjPkt57UTVubvhc8rD3RIVBmD63LblQVvFLVGHpyxrasEl5QWsLqwrUhZUI9NSssltZonnb-kD0DKuUCdXTklNRIZW8BSZFNL9ABjm5MxO/s1600/MariaHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAHDqRnk2p9Ni-qmb3UtbtdEZ7BhT3vrtXeJFjPkt57UTVubvhc8rD3RIVBmD63LblQVvFLVGHpyxrasEl5QWsLqwrUhZUI9NSssltZonnb-kD0DKuUCdXTklNRIZW8BSZFNL9ABjm5MxO/s200/MariaHead.jpg" width="142" /></a></div>
Maria just has to one of the best robot designs ever created.<br />
She has stood the test of time and influenced so many that followed her, notably C-3PO being one of the most famous, and I really enjoy seeing artist's interpretation of such a classic.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8kVePvNqnPwPXOgc55Dx4yd9LFPrkqnSwIeycth1jpkFl7CqPZYya6Jq0GAv_SfFFcTwESy2EU65cUiPkXCqKVzprhRZkCk58vhdENuhjfoW9tbsicwiIImSqdb1VDJ6PMSzEzhtrHd2/s1600/MattBoyce_Maria.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8kVePvNqnPwPXOgc55Dx4yd9LFPrkqnSwIeycth1jpkFl7CqPZYya6Jq0GAv_SfFFcTwESy2EU65cUiPkXCqKVzprhRZkCk58vhdENuhjfoW9tbsicwiIImSqdb1VDJ6PMSzEzhtrHd2/s640/MattBoyce_Maria.jpg" width="512" /></a></div>
<strong>Matt Boyce</strong> appeared on the comic scene a while back now. A very funny, very genuine bloke who produced a couple of mini-comics, contributed to a couple of independent UK anthologies and then just stepped away from the comic creating world. A real shame. I do see Matt about once a year or so, he pops up at what seems to be a random Comic Convention (although I'm sure there will be a pattern), and we chat.<br />
He did this sketch for me at a Convention when he was 'doing his comic book thing' and asked me to scan and email it to him so that he could colour it.<br />
I jumped at the chance and got this great little image back.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc2tthjxrahsgsE69T4IL8RaOpzdJ8AogJNYTdD7NkR4S8gO91L7aT7-nZXhkyWItr20jO6dc0R0UH_lRjd8cvXetmfioeKn5XbuGRuu6YmfwwdDJs0mkDrMLSz5yjlKHwJSe47cSrFlU/s1600/maria_by_MattBoyce_colour.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMc2tthjxrahsgsE69T4IL8RaOpzdJ8AogJNYTdD7NkR4S8gO91L7aT7-nZXhkyWItr20jO6dc0R0UH_lRjd8cvXetmfioeKn5XbuGRuu6YmfwwdDJs0mkDrMLSz5yjlKHwJSe47cSrFlU/s640/maria_by_MattBoyce_colour.jpg" width="452" /></a></div>
Fabulous.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-33073162177430397402013-08-11T09:33:00.002-07:002013-08-11T09:33:31.635-07:00Terminator by Garry Brown.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm9nS3-a3k0YPrzL-oc2bi4BCYCf71rRu1G3MiSCd3swSs4ksZ7Abe1OH70jnfB5RdM9xgeXbiyuLO21d51499dfzPlYS-hqZKvjI6MsXxYhU0O4zTF4oG42W61rK7JCEMlfVOkYQCl3S/s1600/TerminatorHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm9nS3-a3k0YPrzL-oc2bi4BCYCf71rRu1G3MiSCd3swSs4ksZ7Abe1OH70jnfB5RdM9xgeXbiyuLO21d51499dfzPlYS-hqZKvjI6MsXxYhU0O4zTF4oG42W61rK7JCEMlfVOkYQCl3S/s200/TerminatorHead.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
Well, as <strong>Arnold Schwarzenegger</strong> is looking to resurrect his acting career (I use the term loosely) with his return to the role that made his a household name, I thought it appropriate to have a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Terminator"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Terminator</span></a> commission up here.<br />
I watched the <strong>Terminator</strong> films as they came out but lost interest with the third and didn't bother with the fourth until the DVD was cheap. They really need to do something fresh if they are going to capture my interest again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HG3OV4LHLzxLFUeNAUy4X9msTAI-P1jXDSkmn7hBTQBgjXFTWtQhPV87CGOISinrBtP7ABmze7JL78C2REQJ-9l3tWv71A1-nLK2CCstxqe_URLghtLf5kzk1Dg73j7fU7Kj_wUDUVtg/s1600/GarryBrown_TERMINATOR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HG3OV4LHLzxLFUeNAUy4X9msTAI-P1jXDSkmn7hBTQBgjXFTWtQhPV87CGOISinrBtP7ABmze7JL78C2REQJ-9l3tWv71A1-nLK2CCstxqe_URLghtLf5kzk1Dg73j7fU7Kj_wUDUVtg/s640/GarryBrown_TERMINATOR.jpg" width="420" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.garrybrownart.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Garry Brown</span></a> did some work for the earlier <strong>Accent UK</strong> anthologies and I knew from the offset that he'd do well in the industry. Since those days he's gone on to work for the major companies and at the moment is illustrating <strong>The Massive</strong> for <strong>Dark Horse</strong>. <br />
As you can see, he does great black and white images.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-83068686079409166012013-08-04T11:36:00.003-07:002013-08-04T11:36:48.843-07:00Steel Commando.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEx-oi7fJOpV7RNS4HX934zdo-ZTrd8S48-C9UiYHNJpgPA_5keXKF0scWj3qfETpBnZfZTcxlwXwpdUmHxyMCkMq8dFA8RUgRFCzc3wD5yIJG86d5B-PqiqgviYzMhyphenhyphen0NzmXEuR5xA8ih/s1600/SteelCommandoHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEx-oi7fJOpV7RNS4HX934zdo-ZTrd8S48-C9UiYHNJpgPA_5keXKF0scWj3qfETpBnZfZTcxlwXwpdUmHxyMCkMq8dFA8RUgRFCzc3wD5yIJG86d5B-PqiqgviYzMhyphenhyphen0NzmXEuR5xA8ih/s200/SteelCommandoHead.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
Also appearing in the <strong>1976 LION Annual</strong> is a story about the <strong>Steel Commando</strong>.<br />
More <strong>Beano</strong> than <strong>Lion</strong>, this character is a <strong>World War II</strong> secret weapon put under the control of <strong>Lance Corporal Ernie 'Excused Boots' Bates</strong>. What could possibly go wrong ?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNKcCezJeZF9OU_g4wPQ_dHu0hQ5MHXh9ynR7BD0a-SUuKauONiPrLL_5L_6_e2TorOV4y6SV2-W7i2Yd9UT4I-CVq48_tm3xqtB7YAl7HqhyphenhyphenOQv2pMgsHjvXaRrsfaIek6dBF7j7UWzr/s1600/SteelCommandoTitleBanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="75" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrNKcCezJeZF9OU_g4wPQ_dHu0hQ5MHXh9ynR7BD0a-SUuKauONiPrLL_5L_6_e2TorOV4y6SV2-W7i2Yd9UT4I-CVq48_tm3xqtB7YAl7HqhyphenhyphenOQv2pMgsHjvXaRrsfaIek6dBF7j7UWzr/s400/SteelCommandoTitleBanner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
You can tell what sort of story you're going to get when you discover that the man who created the robot is called <strong>Professor Brayne.</strong><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqoJ7KdfKidlmB5Fw9qk8759dMoto_t4eAslpLRKSYyrLlc8_4gzqtu9vGn2d9Bw1v2DOuWFUHBGHl4afG6H_vZQllJnw3hohM2grG1skXa4739rsm9d7RQ7jmJkGR_PbwOz1TeoEYLz8/s1600/SteelCommandoSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBqoJ7KdfKidlmB5Fw9qk8759dMoto_t4eAslpLRKSYyrLlc8_4gzqtu9vGn2d9Bw1v2DOuWFUHBGHl4afG6H_vZQllJnw3hohM2grG1skXa4739rsm9d7RQ7jmJkGR_PbwOz1TeoEYLz8/s400/SteelCommandoSample.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
and it starts to play out in this story as a short circuit causes the <strong>Steel Commando</strong> to go 'loopy' whenever anyone says <strong>'Blockhead'</strong>. <br />
This 8 page story sees <strong>Bates</strong> and the <strong>Steel Commando</strong> go behind enemy lines in to try to get hold of an important map. They come across the German's own robot, which for some reason is used as a butler rather than a soldier, and there's a nice toouch when the <strong>Steel Commando</strong> is disguised as the robot Butler in order to get closer to the German command.<br />
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Not my cup of tea but it is a robot, so it's not all bad.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-3624741207809061262013-07-21T08:27:00.000-07:002013-07-21T08:27:20.228-07:00When it came to a real battle of the Robots, Archie was king...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The 1976 LION annual has two Robot Archie Stories.<br />
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In the first we find an illustrated tale of <strong>Archie</strong> meeting a robot adversary in the shape of<strong> Robot Reg</strong>. <strong>Ted Ritchie</strong> finds himself in an angry confrontation with a man only ever referred to as Harrison. After an initial clash, in which <strong>Archie</strong> appears to be sent flying by <strong>Robot Reg</strong>'s repulsor beam, Ted is taken captive leaving <strong>Archie</strong> and an injured <strong>Ken Dale</strong> to lick their wounds.<br />
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But all is not what it seems, and <strong>Robot Archie</strong> has been onto Harrison all along, playing the role of a weaker robot in order to draw him out. He soon sets off with <strong>Dale</strong> and tracks down Harrison, <strong>Robot Reg</strong> and their captive.<br />
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Turns out the repulsor was a dud. <strong>Archie</strong> threw the fight and always knew he was the superior robot. This he demonstrates in the final conflict where he knocks <strong>Reg</strong>'s block off.<br />
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A fitting end to the tale, and <strong>Robot Reg</strong>. Although to be fair to him he was only doing what he was programmed to do and was merely a tool being used by Harrison.<br />
In the second story, this time a comic book tale, we see<strong> Robot Archie</strong> and friends in the Caribbean.<br />
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This eight page story sees <strong>Archie</strong> combat <strong>The Living Dead</strong>. Yep. <strong>Zombies</strong>. 'Beware - I am Archie Lord of the Scrapyards' is <strong>Archie</strong>'s<strong> </strong>challenge to <strong>Baron Samedi</strong>,<strong> Lord of the Graveyards</strong>, who turns out to be a bloke on stilts...<br />
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and the <strong>Zombies</strong> ? Well, they turned out to be men who had been hypnotised. Nothing is as it seems in the world of <strong>Robot Archie</strong>. Except <strong>Robot Archie</strong> himself.<br />
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<br />Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-18642119986165688312013-07-14T03:04:00.000-07:002013-07-14T03:04:25.371-07:00Kryten by Roger Langridge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kryten"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Kryten</span></a></strong> is my favourite character in<span style="color: #a64d79;"> <strong><a href="http://www.reddwarf.co.uk/home/index.cfm">Red Dwarf</a></strong></span> (no surprise there) and is the one who changes the most as the series progress. Second to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_the_Paranoid_Android"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Marvin</span></a>, the paranoid android of <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker's_Guide_to_the_Galaxy">Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy</a></strong>, Kryten provides a great comedy double act to each of the other characters, but in different ways. Always put upon by Rimmer, largely ignored by the Cat and taken under the wing of Lister, <strong>Kryten</strong> is your robot without a cause. A robot who is happy to fulfil his programming despite Lister's attempts to get him to rebel and take more control of his existence. <br />
There are some great lines delivered by <strong>Kryten</strong> throughout the series and his look is how <strong>Marvin</strong> appeared in my head when I first read<strong> Douglas Adams's Hitchikers Guide To The Galaxy</strong>. Simple design but effective. <br />
<a href="http://hotelfred.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Roger Langridge</span></a> has been a regular of the UK Comic convention scene for many a year and now enjoys success as writer artist of Snarked! and is always popping up in the <strong>Muppets</strong> comics. Roger is always happy to produce a great little convention sketch.<br />
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Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-42253097456715715252013-07-06T14:26:00.000-07:002013-07-06T14:26:02.804-07:00Cyberman by Adrian Salmon.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It was always the <strong>Cybermen</strong> that scared me the most.<br />
I grew up with <strong>Jon Pertwee's Dr. Who</strong> but still remember a few episodes of <strong>Patrick Troughton's</strong> character. I bought <strong>Tomb Of The Cybermen</strong> on DVD a few years ago and was stunned that I actually remembered some of the scenes. They stuck in my mind all these years, waiting to claw their way out, much like the <strong>Cybermen</strong> did in the third episode.<br />
Epic.<br />
Scary.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adrian Salmon Convention sketch from 2005</td></tr>
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I came across an artist called<strong> <a href="http://adriansalmonart.blogspot.co.uk/">Adrian Salmon</a></strong> who was already drawing a <strong>Cyberman</strong> for another <strong>Dr. Who</strong> fan, albeit a younger fan than me but some years. I asked for a sketch of one of the earliest versions of the monster and Adrian was more than happy to produce this whilst discussing all things <strong>Who</strong>.<br />
OK, purists might want to argue that <strong>Cybermen</strong> are more <strong>Cyborg</strong> than <strong>Robot</strong>, and I would agree that you have a point but for me <strong>Cybermen</strong> stray into the robot mold as they aren't, typically, left with any human emotion or intelligence. They've been re-programmed.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-80591326384624712012013-06-30T01:51:00.001-07:002013-06-30T01:53:06.298-07:00The Valiant Annual 1977 - The Prisoner of Zenga.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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An interesting one this. The cover caught my eye, and I must learn to check inside the covers of annuals that don't have a robot on the cover.<br />
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The story features the<a href="http://www.internationalhero.co.uk/z/zenga.htm"> <span style="color: #a64d79;">Robot Zenga</span></a>, but it turns out that this robot is actually a mechanical body within which 'intelligence of ex-arch criminal <strong>Max Zenga</strong>' controls the 'merciless metal monster' towards some great crime.<br />
As you can see from the cover the robot can fire lasers from his eyes, and is quite happy to do so, killing the inhabitants of the helicopter (in this instance). I guess having a human mind implanted in the robot means that <strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Laws_of_Robotics"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Asimov's Laws</span></a></strong> don't apply.<br />
This 8 page snippet seems to be somewhere in the middle of an ongoing story. Poor lab assistant Julian Caine 'has become the terrified slave' of Zenga and appears to be being dragged along for the ride. I'm not entirely sure that Caine is as innocent as this makes out though, as he appears to care for the robot and certainly does very little to change his path. From searching the web, and there's very little up there about this robot, it seems that Julian Caine was actually looking to control the robot, as it was being created, for a robbery he was planning himself and so is certainly not the innocent victim here. Looks like he got more than he bargained for.<br />
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It's a nice twist to have the robot be evil and therefore move away from <strong>Archie</strong> and<strong> Iron Teacher</strong> territory.</div>
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I also like the way the body is pitted and not the shiny expanse of metal shown on the other robots of the time.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8clLwMz_6flfR53SDL4Jod9GtjAklw5xFuEJPEEekROhPbYo8D4LlNJeYB0cJJ8KxFE4NoGinkRey0a5Jq2M7Ld0oN_tdAFF5ZkRpb9MTBPUB86hq-ZlAIHUXChC8498GKSep_tyRcCc/s1417/ZengaInternalSample1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd8clLwMz_6flfR53SDL4Jod9GtjAklw5xFuEJPEEekROhPbYo8D4LlNJeYB0cJJ8KxFE4NoGinkRey0a5Jq2M7Ld0oN_tdAFF5ZkRpb9MTBPUB86hq-ZlAIHUXChC8498GKSep_tyRcCc/s400/ZengaInternalSample1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'll have to see if I can find out more about the character in other annuals.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-45852091822519151132013-06-16T13:23:00.001-07:002013-08-24T12:39:18.123-07:00Robot Maria by Garen Ewing.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26IVc-APWBn_KUY8IpvQf-X-iuozyguLgWD7s5MwoGPy_QBEDSH3a3UYPLuNddQevquqa2H4aloBrboJc_c-8MSVo5F_EpqwPYfCcJk_yoAzCvmXTOkmEYSGvwN1pbZOuIkC0pqODJhbG/s1600/GarenEwing_Maria_head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26IVc-APWBn_KUY8IpvQf-X-iuozyguLgWD7s5MwoGPy_QBEDSH3a3UYPLuNddQevquqa2H4aloBrboJc_c-8MSVo5F_EpqwPYfCcJk_yoAzCvmXTOkmEYSGvwN1pbZOuIkC0pqODJhbG/s1600/GarenEwing_Maria_head.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.garenewing.co.uk/rainboworchid/"><span style="color: #a64d79;"><strong>Garen Ewing</strong></span></a> has been a good friend for a long time now. He's one of those talented guys who has been around the independent UK comic scene for quite a while (even longer than I have) and has gone on to great things with his excellent <strong>Rainbow Orchid</strong>. <br />
I asked him for this commission a little while before <strong>Rainbow Orchid</strong> was picked up by <strong>Egmont</strong>, back in the days when I think he probably had more spare time than he has today. <br />
As the saying goes, it's the early bird that gets the worm, and in this case the <strong>Maria</strong> commission.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmpLOIBqp2_usP94xuOWJ3o2-XbeJ7u4LYOmuXVsfiQ9CqN5HESH3yMsF4WojTF4t48dKWbQh0cv4HHtOK0zkraamHlSMCXzChp8tmHNnGvU1Y7kr-a78azuHwo_6LAdDV5X96KGiJ_om/s1600/GarenEwing_Maria_rediscovered.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijmpLOIBqp2_usP94xuOWJ3o2-XbeJ7u4LYOmuXVsfiQ9CqN5HESH3yMsF4WojTF4t48dKWbQh0cv4HHtOK0zkraamHlSMCXzChp8tmHNnGvU1Y7kr-a78azuHwo_6LAdDV5X96KGiJ_om/s640/GarenEwing_Maria_rediscovered.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maria Rediscovered - by Garen Ewing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A very thoughtful piece that demands a story to accompany it. Feel free to make up your own, and here's the inked version for those who like things in black and white.<br />
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Lovely work as always from Mr. Ewing.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-76898816981990389572013-06-09T13:48:00.002-07:002013-06-09T13:48:42.900-07:00Original Robot - John Kenn Mortensen.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLlrzko6Emo25kCrnWoUU43cwsQGTxrV0_etVn5P9f7aOZJApusqWDiy2DHou17ymlmFp1ZxBLVv_QA31K6l1EG6Ppi3tmx6kskBGhlBqbjDhJEun-nFyFwTdfCxkm8uU7PCs0Akq4Kwy/s1600/2013RobotKennHeadSample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvLlrzko6Emo25kCrnWoUU43cwsQGTxrV0_etVn5P9f7aOZJApusqWDiy2DHou17ymlmFp1ZxBLVv_QA31K6l1EG6Ppi3tmx6kskBGhlBqbjDhJEun-nFyFwTdfCxkm8uU7PCs0Akq4Kwy/s200/2013RobotKennHeadSample.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
I've just returned from the<strong> Copenhagen Comic Convention</strong>. Had a great, and very busy, time selling comics but also spotted a <strong><a href="http://johnkenn.blogspot.co.uk/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">John Kenn Mortensen</span></a></strong> sat at a table diagonally opposite mine. <br />
I discovered John's books only recently and was stunned by the thought of someone drawing such exquisite images on post-it notes. Yep. The things we all use everyday in the office. <br />
I got John to sign a copy of<strong> Post-It Monsters</strong> for me and also asked for a sketch. Not a monster but a robot please. He obliged with...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWPy1H2KLM73u8Rwyg8Ejb7JAHtQI9JCpQIb_kIJpLqeADbf5cemGZCtpmwYEIlFEC6GNenjisrgt2avAmjcj1P7Vo7V8WoSQoQBLIqmVRw8wS33a7Bzqdzhb_ambbcgsESWbTqjaF_42/s1600/2013RobotKenn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCWPy1H2KLM73u8Rwyg8Ejb7JAHtQI9JCpQIb_kIJpLqeADbf5cemGZCtpmwYEIlFEC6GNenjisrgt2avAmjcj1P7Vo7V8WoSQoQBLIqmVRw8wS33a7Bzqdzhb_ambbcgsESWbTqjaF_42/s400/2013RobotKenn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
...nice and creepy.<br />
If you've not come across John's books then I recommend you pick them up.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-7293897022640051322013-05-26T05:23:00.001-07:002013-05-26T05:24:30.429-07:00The Iron Teacher.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmByqyE7INhPYagw3gwYxIR4mDq7FeDDluD3z0-L0YmS7271RIitVD-TCfkv2Wne3LKalzualUWHSiDJrnqKiAGIleMXeMARqAC8LCMJsO_yZA1fttH-spZTBdbPx4Q6b7lVX3Cp3lYBJ/s1600/IronTeacherHead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicmByqyE7INhPYagw3gwYxIR4mDq7FeDDluD3z0-L0YmS7271RIitVD-TCfkv2Wne3LKalzualUWHSiDJrnqKiAGIleMXeMARqAC8LCMJsO_yZA1fttH-spZTBdbPx4Q6b7lVX3Cp3lYBJ/s200/IronTeacherHead.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Whenever I visit a book shop that stocks old books, or an antique fair, I keep my eye open for any old copies of <strong>LION</strong>, looking out for a new <strong>Archie</strong> story. <br />
I was quite surprised then to come across this issue of <strong>Hotspur</strong>...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSTxVy6xWK3TWKbEQ7CNAYIQ3c9ATLAUhkxR6TH9pGS-x9gibWp9YQMLfUcjimQZBv-OsYK2J_cXXONa4DaBYKDTKAxktyvRVHdXb97VLBoAORw2wL5QVvl_rYGrXG1a8vz5pMDrwDZ_Q/s1600/IronTeacherCover1977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSTxVy6xWK3TWKbEQ7CNAYIQ3c9ATLAUhkxR6TH9pGS-x9gibWp9YQMLfUcjimQZBv-OsYK2J_cXXONa4DaBYKDTKAxktyvRVHdXb97VLBoAORw2wL5QVvl_rYGrXG1a8vz5pMDrwDZ_Q/s640/IronTeacherCover1977.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
...which sports what at face value looks a bit like a <strong>Robot Archie</strong> clone. <br />
Were <strong>Hotspur</strong> trying to attract readership from <strong>LION</strong> with its own mechanical marvel ?<br />
The 6 page story tells the tale of <strong>Jake Todd</strong>, a teacher, who finds himself teacher school children in what looks to be Alaska. I've no idea how he ended up there but he and his mechanical pal take on some pirates and during the action manage to sink a Destroyer. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA69mRxM3NeZCnkegSrEZQ1I0Rr5bIbJ6J4gik0KLphPQVSZ8hs8Us2QTphwMm3fIEObf6ViGKYnh6NzQGfq7gxoMmO8flh4e_EVa4Aj7NXYELTYgOki5KC9WKT2gVWxiGLwr-71Sv5XFr/s1600/IronTeacherP2sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA69mRxM3NeZCnkegSrEZQ1I0Rr5bIbJ6J4gik0KLphPQVSZ8hs8Us2QTphwMm3fIEObf6ViGKYnh6NzQGfq7gxoMmO8flh4e_EVa4Aj7NXYELTYgOki5KC9WKT2gVWxiGLwr-71Sv5XFr/s400/IronTeacherP2sample.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This is achieved by <strong><a href="http://www.comicvine.com/the-iron-teacher/4005-72122/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">The Iron Teacher</span></a></strong> punching a hole in, and then ripping plates of steel, out of its hull and so sinking it.<br />
But is the mechanical marvel actually a robot ?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAx4_V4v2FU7sWKE7IQM87qelSrt1Pr_3k6OXd1vreHxCgqGxiPtZUxHErlum6a8baqvfrbfoTAwE-BsD5JCaISHfe6yn2cSffMbPKrpGcqyITtwBSvCCaAULMyq_hGit4SMfCe63CVlK/s1600/IronTeacherP1Sample.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="373" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDAx4_V4v2FU7sWKE7IQM87qelSrt1Pr_3k6OXd1vreHxCgqGxiPtZUxHErlum6a8baqvfrbfoTAwE-BsD5JCaISHfe6yn2cSffMbPKrpGcqyITtwBSvCCaAULMyq_hGit4SMfCe63CVlK/s400/IronTeacherP1Sample.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Not by my definition. <br />
<strong>Jake Todd</strong> appears to control all of <strong>The Iron Teacher's</strong> motions through a control device in his glove, and the words that appear to come from the Iron Teacher are actually spoken by <strong>Jake Todd</strong> through a 'throat microphone'.<br />
<strong>The Iron Teacher</strong> is not self aware then and seems to be more a remote controlled device than anything else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipehq1Pi6S5APoty8AR-laM44YVNIDdwS_zZaALZH3H8r0RxhiroWi8XHiss_HTkzhCRlujrdfJLt0Qz5H8I8j0-Ogb75Wq_7sy1KmLbA_IFahE-NbXi8l3FkychWFKB7xYbWo4XoWcb64/s1600/IronTeacherP1Sample2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipehq1Pi6S5APoty8AR-laM44YVNIDdwS_zZaALZH3H8r0RxhiroWi8XHiss_HTkzhCRlujrdfJLt0Qz5H8I8j0-Ogb75Wq_7sy1KmLbA_IFahE-NbXi8l3FkychWFKB7xYbWo4XoWcb64/s400/IronTeacherP1Sample2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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It's a nice design though and he may actually have been self aware as this version is a re-design and Jake Todd is a new addition to the character's tale. He may even become self aware in a later issue.</div>
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Guess I'd better add <strong>Hotspur</strong> to my list of things to look out for.</div>
Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-20473165666052194892013-05-19T07:53:00.002-07:002013-06-30T01:52:16.348-07:00Original Robot - Lars Rahm.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE7sxYoY65nXFVosVXH576CcDB3DIrB-GbuTF2h_FdtM6btktTfsbbQ7vA2DuUlmAWmFZqC_ZFrXHb1ek7RHA8JBWvZ4_hoYi79H7pT8GKMVseyjyW-3inxqczbPoIQpmNIk_o3BTwmsL/s1600/LarsRahmUpClose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaE7sxYoY65nXFVosVXH576CcDB3DIrB-GbuTF2h_FdtM6btktTfsbbQ7vA2DuUlmAWmFZqC_ZFrXHb1ek7RHA8JBWvZ4_hoYi79H7pT8GKMVseyjyW-3inxqczbPoIQpmNIk_o3BTwmsL/s1600/LarsRahmUpClose.jpg" /></a></div>
Here's an original robot, sketched at a Comic Convention. <br />
It's often interesting when asking for robot sketch to ask the artist if he or she'd create one and rather than produce their version of a specific robot from film or comic.<br />
I love this image from Lars Rahm, which he kindly produced at the Komiks.DK event in Copenhagen back in 2006. I love the the oversized jaw and big clunking nut holding it to his head. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg_A192wqVoTnhRLzN2x7zrzsa8icLsURQQwyayB0nI21CpkEDZ1ftpSrcfw-Q1YxVjPJcNgsdQfyn9jEM7wnB9yTbkptIoFFazSrGhAZotN30jrtm1zQMG-qGD7xJ4P9G_du9_uGjclV/s1600/LarsRahm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg_A192wqVoTnhRLzN2x7zrzsa8icLsURQQwyayB0nI21CpkEDZ1ftpSrcfw-Q1YxVjPJcNgsdQfyn9jEM7wnB9yTbkptIoFFazSrGhAZotN30jrtm1zQMG-qGD7xJ4P9G_du9_uGjclV/s400/LarsRahm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I'll be off to another <a href="http://copenhagencomics.dk/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Copenhagen Comic Convention</span></a> at the beginning of June. If I have time I'll see if I can get a few more robot sketches for the blog.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-83477436148947409412013-05-12T08:55:00.001-07:002013-05-12T08:55:51.000-07:00The Gigantic Robot.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbQZDMKWoj9TCz5VElp3TGmthFJDwyh-zcM0nUa5Eb_DbKXMmB4P75V-YcK3XwC0x9iJkh9sdAxHDX4M0M1VM323bp9IcdLACG-gJPJpOiYiW78KkMJjVAt2wZPoJTCSuTz2l7lOnWO92/s1600/GiganticRobotSmallRobot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbQZDMKWoj9TCz5VElp3TGmthFJDwyh-zcM0nUa5Eb_DbKXMmB4P75V-YcK3XwC0x9iJkh9sdAxHDX4M0M1VM323bp9IcdLACG-gJPJpOiYiW78KkMJjVAt2wZPoJTCSuTz2l7lOnWO92/s200/GiganticRobotSmallRobot.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
I've been a fan of <strong><a href="http://www.tomgauld.com/"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Tom Gauld</span></a></strong> for a while now and it was really nice to meet him at a couple of Cons last year, one in London and the other in New York.<br />
<strong>The Gigantic Robot</strong> is typical <strong>Tom Gauld</strong> and sees the ultimate weapon being built during a time of war and... well... let's just say it doesn't do much to change things.<br />
Meeting Tom I, of course, took the opportunity to get my copy of the book signed, and sketched.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERgscAHc6W1Rkzi3fbWDvSPL0VMrbV7_hZwCECuyzsnHa7fTk8kQOvZNDX203RdcwFZ89LVamWDzLvvqJJcy_m5HyeIiP8P4lS52HVKf2RduYMkqMYVHnFS5c4YrbogoKuuFpN0hkNczy/s1600/GiganticRobot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiERgscAHc6W1Rkzi3fbWDvSPL0VMrbV7_hZwCECuyzsnHa7fTk8kQOvZNDX203RdcwFZ89LVamWDzLvvqJJcy_m5HyeIiP8P4lS52HVKf2RduYMkqMYVHnFS5c4YrbogoKuuFpN0hkNczy/s640/GiganticRobot.jpg" width="516" /></a></div>
He does draw great little robots...Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489037036010182543.post-25653486716373003722013-05-05T15:26:00.000-07:002013-06-30T01:53:53.820-07:00Robby The Robot by Ian Gibson.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8BCMZgDtQQfilxR4bFhN8-WehxgvXsa2I4RMJGsmdZjBPf3uPp2Hq7sgzPVCRlJ-urRMQecYsRWX4pSXUbjopWvTy6y294REAWKW5xtDbAFnoJkebBgbjwrzUbf0t-mCgnpMaqkVWc0-/s1600/Robby-Main.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8BCMZgDtQQfilxR4bFhN8-WehxgvXsa2I4RMJGsmdZjBPf3uPp2Hq7sgzPVCRlJ-urRMQecYsRWX4pSXUbjopWvTy6y294REAWKW5xtDbAFnoJkebBgbjwrzUbf0t-mCgnpMaqkVWc0-/s200/Robby-Main.gif" width="150" /></a></div>
<strong><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ian_Gibson_(comics)"><span style="color: #a64d79;">Ian Gibson</span></a></strong> produced the first comic work that I ever read that had me wishing my
life away. How long would I have to wait for the next issue of <strong>2000AD</strong> and my
next fix of <b>Halo Jones </b>? Together with Alan Moore he made me realise that
I was going to be into comics for a very long time.
<br />
I love the way Ian portrays women in comics, the strong characters but with very feminine physiques and without making them too top heavy (if you know what I mean).<br />
When I came to ask Ian to do a Robot commission, it had to be something that had a female in it. I was torn between two ideas, <strong>Miranda and Robby the Robot</strong> on planet Altair-4, from <strong>Forbidden Planet</strong> or <strong>Robot Maria</strong> from <strong>Metropolis</strong>. In the end I went for both, but here's the first, Miranda and Robby. <br />
Ian was an easy person to deal with and seemed genuinely interested, and set off to work his magic. A
month or so passed and I'd heard nothing from Ian so I dropped him an email.
Just a little friendly questioning type of thing. Ian was of course busy, as he
should be, but was also having a few problems getting the thing to work
right.<br />
He was playing with the image whilst doing his other work, but informed me that it hadn't come together yet, or at least he wasn't happy with how it had come together so far.<br />
After the commission had been completed I asked Ian if I could have the preparatory sketches, just so that I could see how the final image come to be. Here are a selection of the pages he sent me for you to look at...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-OTcrq0gNXiwQd3JLH6CNp_JaW-bZB0P3mc5-bRCTUlmcrtIA39CLId-0P1sJYhe8AM4SYvBLKxlZy7cN8uuUZ7z5J0CDTGZMLPo4rUTLM8-LvOyQUDyXzwuYHxvHbAV6bBxxn6AxMud/s1600/IanGibson_Robby_sketch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-OTcrq0gNXiwQd3JLH6CNp_JaW-bZB0P3mc5-bRCTUlmcrtIA39CLId-0P1sJYhe8AM4SYvBLKxlZy7cN8uuUZ7z5J0CDTGZMLPo4rUTLM8-LvOyQUDyXzwuYHxvHbAV6bBxxn6AxMud/s400/IanGibson_Robby_sketch1.jpg" width="286" /></a></div>
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I think Ian pretty quickly settled on Robby's look ...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7ktJYHN_vLHe7crEHZSA-64p6YOBxTlA4-kZKsxrXy_IOU5hyPD-WE8QS-109GSifLi20vEDpkHj-uXGmf_HJ7ZoOkHOEjIYvU9qy1P8KPoBUVBb5zect1uZsFYMVgH2P1f9BY3_5dfJ/s1600/IanGibson_Robby_sketch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7ktJYHN_vLHe7crEHZSA-64p6YOBxTlA4-kZKsxrXy_IOU5hyPD-WE8QS-109GSifLi20vEDpkHj-uXGmf_HJ7ZoOkHOEjIYvU9qy1P8KPoBUVBb5zect1uZsFYMVgH2P1f9BY3_5dfJ/s400/IanGibson_Robby_sketch2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
I love the curves that make up Robby's body. Showing similarities to the
Robby of the movie, and yet very different. Movie Robby had a problem walking,
whereas Ian's version looks perfectly able to nip in front of Miranda and
protect her from the soldiers sent to investigate her father's activities. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBxe32RZilI-ithQMnNCQRVY7p0eUpyfDML-oi8HGrWTrFPrQEbI-sgQsEXK5lwvERhzDbkNPU4nsGNsz_nNgs2Z5oqOkv9990z5HzuhtJZ_IthOgxiQABQvR-EgMfgHHKs5Rsa21VsLb/s1600/IanGibson_Robby_sketch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihBxe32RZilI-ithQMnNCQRVY7p0eUpyfDML-oi8HGrWTrFPrQEbI-sgQsEXK5lwvERhzDbkNPU4nsGNsz_nNgs2Z5oqOkv9990z5HzuhtJZ_IthOgxiQABQvR-EgMfgHHKs5Rsa21VsLb/s400/IanGibson_Robby_sketch3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Once happy with Robby, Ian then works on Miranda...<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcME-IrqknP20w4flU5o56O_ogGJT1KUX6yQK8kccNVHVw4RMW5SHPek5FA36O7jhRwXr88-COfgkddgadffhHUa4vLSlVOLrc5NuNSZAEHDspZZWZDF_6YeH0nMHaxYRaO1L1LsARYSO/s1600/IanGibson_Robby_sketch5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcME-IrqknP20w4flU5o56O_ogGJT1KUX6yQK8kccNVHVw4RMW5SHPek5FA36O7jhRwXr88-COfgkddgadffhHUa4vLSlVOLrc5NuNSZAEHDspZZWZDF_6YeH0nMHaxYRaO1L1LsARYSO/s640/IanGibson_Robby_sketch5.jpg" width="444" /></a></div>
working on the dynamics of the composition.<br />
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and the background, capturing the strange sky that instantly places the scene on a
distant planet...<br />
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and then tightening up the characters...<br />
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until finally it all comes together, with the eye flowing from Miranda's outstretched had to that plaved on Robby's chest and across to Robby's own hand, as she hold him back from being perhaps a little over protective.<br />
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Using purple as the predominant colour is a great way to add to the feel of it all taking place on a different planet, and not our grey moon, and this is nicely offset by Miranda's green body suit.<br />
What a fabulous image, and what a privilege to be able to leaf through all the preparatory sketches. <br />
I'll leave you then with one last look at what might have been...<br />
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Ha ... humourous Robby ... great stuff.Dave Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11553813657274479536noreply@blogger.com2