Thank Comics it's Friday - New Review!

When we were kids, Lorenzo and I would look forward to Friday with, well, child-like joy.
Friday was pocket money day ... although this was later moved to Saturday (even at seven, we were learning to roll with the swings and shifts of high finance).
Friday night was chocolate bar night (Curly Wurly or Crunchie please!)
Friday was also, best of all, comic book day!
We each had an order at the local newsagent - Lorenzo his Beano, and me, Battle Action Force - and our comics would be sitting behind the counter, reserved for our greedy mitts.

They were great days. Filled with the innocent celebration of sequential action and comedy.

Who'd have guessed that many MANY years later, we'd be making comic books that look like this...

... or receiving fantastic reviews for Monkey Nuts like THIS from writers/reviewers like Steve Holland over at Bear Alley.

A little taster ... "the ceaseless banter between Sid and Rivet will keep any kid amused and entertained."

And our favourite line ..."There's plenty here for adults who want to unleash their inner ten-year-old: it's pacy, it's funny and it deserves a place on your shelves."     

Speaking as a couple of kidults who never let their ten-year-old self escape - this is high praise indeed.

We're getting that Friday feeling all over again...

Halloween weekend sale! 20% off until 1/11/10

Okay folks, you're gonna have to move fast to take advantage of this one! We're offering you 20% off my giant 600 page El sketchbook Lorenzo Deluxe collection and/or Malcolm Magic Big Kahuna Collection until 01/11/2010. That's a massive £4.99 off the sketchbook alone! Just GO HERE, choose the books you want and enter the code "GHOST" at checkout to make your lovely big saving! You're welcome!

Lorenzo!

Funkids Select Monkey Nuts as their Book of the Week!

Well, this is an honour indeed! Fun Kids, the superb children's online radio station, have selected Monkey Nuts and the Diamond Egg of Wonders as their book of the week for older readers!

WOO HOO!

In their own words, Sid and Rivet's debut adventure is a "fun, fast-paced graphic novel that is packed with detail and bags of laughs."

And who are we to disagree?

You can go HERE for the full article - thanks, Funkids!

Come see us at the London MCM Expo this weekend!

Hey folks, just a quick one to let you know that we'll be appearing at the London MCM Expo this Saturday and Sunday. We're on a table with the awesome Neill Cameron, (whose DFC Library book comes out today - get it HERE!) so stop by, pick up a copy of Monkey Nuts, or Malcolm, or our Giant Sketchbook, get it signed and have a chat!

Oh, and if you want a sketch in your book (like the one below), be sure to come see us on the Saturday, as I won't be there on the Sunday!

See you at the show!

Lorenzo!

It's Robin's BIRF-DAY!

Whoop! There'll be no comics made today by us Etheringtons, 'cos it's Robin's big fun b-day! Happy Birthday bro! You ROCK! Here's a little pic of how we started this morning, out in the roof gardens here at castle Etherington.

Bagsy the first glass of cheese and prune punch!

Lorenzo!

Left to right it's Mimi, Robin and I (Esty's taking the photograph).

Some days there are just too many exciting things to share. I have just received through the post, my very own copies of a new series of books created by Pearson Education, in partnership with the DFC.

The BUG CLUB is a new range of books aimed at Primary School classes. It's been produced as a whole-school reading program and consists of over 200 books, including 10 comic books.

Best of all, I'm lucky enough to have work in TWO of these beauties.

Both tales have been adapted from the Strange, Strange World of Weird series I co-created for the DFC comic with our good friend and talented scribbler, Zak Simmonds-Hurn. 

The first is the Lime Comic entitled Monstrous Trouble, and tells the tale of a large beast with a sweet tooth.

The second is Mirror Magic, a tale of spooky goings-on in a creepy funfair.

If anyone wishes to learn more about the series, or how to order these incredible books for your local primary school, simply head over to the SNEAK PEEK section of the Bug Club site.

Yep, comics have NEVER been so much fun ... especially when schools are using sequential Etherington adventures as a teaching aid!

Superb Monkey Nuts Review!

Here's a positive way to start a new week. Following a fantastic event at the Crystal Palace Children's Book Festival (more on this soon) we were lucky enough to meet Darren Hartwell who runs The Book Zone, a great online review site focusing on top books for boys.

We were delighted that not only had Darren read and reviewed Monkey Nuts and the Diamond Egg of Wonders, but he'd also thoroughly enjoyed it!

To read Darren's completely awesome review in all it's magnificence, go HERE!

Fuff and Gobble FAN ART!

Well, how's this for awesome?! Our exceptionally talented friend (and all-round comics superstar) Kat Nicholson has gone and done a suuuuuper-cool piece of Fuff and Gobble fan art! Whoop! Click the pic to go see the whole image in Kat's awesome Gallery!

Lorenzo!

Friday Comic! Fuff and Gobble!

Morning Gobblers! It's Friday! The end of the week is within spitting distance so we thought we'd help kick-start your weekend with something small and refreshingly palatable in the shape of a NEW FREE COMIC! May we proudly present, for the benefit of your eyeballs' questionable enjoyment, Fuff & Gobble!

Click the pick to go LARGE!

Lorenzo!

P.s. and don't forget to be at the Crystal Palace book festival tomorrow to come and get involved in our FREE comics making workshop! Details HERE!

The name Sarah McIntyre pops up a lot in the world of children's books and comics (and often on this blog) and that's because she is both talented and prolific - a heady combination. We Etheringtons have been lucky enough to work alongside Sarah in both the DFC comic and now the library series. Earlier this month Sarah launched her first DFB graphic novel, Vern and Lettuce, and what an utterly charming work of wonder it is!

Sarah turned up at the BICS comic show last Saturday - before winging her way to the Cheltenham Book Festival (honestly, her tour schedule makes ours look relaxed!) - and was kind enough to sign a copy of her superb volume. Like Lorenzo, Sarah believes in giving her readers something extra special ... what a dedication!

As for the book itself, well it's packed full of beautiful pages and charming, amusing stories of a sheep and a rabbit making their way in a difficult world. If you are looking for sumptuous design and heartwarming story telling, then Vern and Lettuce is the perfect book - and did I mention pretty? Cor...

We'll be appearing with Sarah at the Crystal Palace Book festival this Saturday, so be sure to drop by and grab both our graphic novels!

And remember ... THE WHOLE DAY IS FREE!

Tabitha!

A little break-down of a page from our new book Monkey Nuts. Have you got your copy yet? Get it anywhere in the world delivered for FREE right HERE! Whoop! Or you can always get it on Amazon if you so wish!

Lorenzo!

Crystal Palace Children's Book Festival & Interview!

So we're off again this Saturday on another comic jaunt, bringing joy and laughter and sequential delights to the masses ... well, everyone who's lucky enough to catch our workshop and signing at the Crystal Palace Book Festival, that is!

And the best news of all .... the entire day is completely FREE!

The poster above was created by our good friend and fellow comic creator, Sarah McIntyre who will also be appearing at the festival alongside many other master craftsman like Garen Ewing and Gary Northfield. 

Our workshop starts at 12 midday and I think we'll be able to squeeze in some signing time after the talk.

And to keep you going till then, here's an Etherington Brothers interview with festival co-ordinator and all round literary talent, Alex Milway, who delightfully describes us as "a highlight of our festival" (we didn't pay him to say that - honest)

... READ ON for the fun!