ComicBuzz give Sid and Rivet a fantastic pre-Christmas present!

This is the last post before I retire for three days of delightful hedonism involving roasted food, chocolate, wine, baubles, Home Alone, Groundhog Day, the Muppets, boardgames and sledging ... so I'd better make it a good one!

The lovely folk over at ComicBuzz have just informed me that they've popped up a review of Monkey Nuts: The Diamond Egg of Wonders, and it's a little corker!

 With an opening comparison to Monty Python's Flying Circus (high praise indeed!) the guys go on to say:

"The art is so detailed, from the characters to the backgrounds. The characters are rendered with so much personality. Every panel has so much going on. The monsters are wonderfully over the top. The way the panels are drawn they look like a story board for a movie. The Etherington Brothers have crafted a fun and action packed story. The story is filled so many memorable characters and great moments ... You never know what is coming next."

And perhaps best of all, the closing score .... 9/10!

Thank to all at ComicBuzz for helping spread the seasonal good word and a very merry Christmas to you all!

Merry Christmas!

Have an awesome one, folks, and we'll see you in the new year for lots and lots more good stuffs!

Lorenzo!

3 days to go ... which is plenty of time for new comic news!

2010 is drawing slowly to a close but we Etheringtons are still squeezing sequential joy from the year, today in the form of a brand new Star Wars adventure!

Hitting newsagent and supermarket shelves all over the UK this week, issue 6.15 of the ongoing Clone Wars comic from Titan features a story of treachery and trickery as Cad Bane tackles another bounty hunter, hell-bent on selling his hide for a very high price.

'Spices and Spies' is a pretty special tale because the main character was actually designed by a competition winner in the monthly magazine. I was asked to incorporate his creation, Sulphurr Cyander, in some small fashion. Perhaps in a walk on part or a background conversation.

But that's not how we Etheringtons roll. I made him the main bad guy for the ENTIRE adventure.

So if you're reading this, Benjamin Dawe from Canterbury in Kent, I hope you got a blast from seeing your creation kicking some bounty hunter butt!

To join the clone war and catch every single action-packed, Etherington-penned story, grab a subscription HERE!

Giving the gift of giggles!

Just received a lovely e-card of sorts from David Fickling Books with a general message of joy regarding the lovely DFC Library.

Featuring some rather spiffing art by the awesome Jamie Smart, it's a little belter of a festive ad and one shot in particular caught my eye that I just had to share.

Santa handing a happy kid a copy of Monkey Nuts. Come December 25th, this dream will become a REALITY all over the UK!

Four days and counting...yip!

Lil' scamps!

Well, Christmas is nearly upon us, and all across the globe there'll be excited paws tearing the wrapping off copies of Monkey Nuts come Christmas morning! Two such little readers are Finn & Freja, the awesome offspring of very good longtime Etherington Bros friend Polly, and they've already got their mitts on their copy! We believe in starting 'em reading young here at Castle Etherington, and these two are fine evidence that you're NEVER too young to get into comics! Whoop!

Wanna be on the blog? Just send us an (amusing!) pic of you enjoying your boooook!

Lorenzo!

Wallace and Gromit freebie fun!

A while ago I mentioned that I'd been writing for the Wallace and Gromit daily strip in The Sun newspaper.

Today, as the snow falls all across England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland, I thought I'd bring a little unseasonal cheer to our blog with some excerpts from one of my summer tales.

In 'A Snip Above', Wallace attempts to help out his pal, Toni the hairdresser, with the usual predictable hair-raising results. Cue some classic W&G punnery and mayhem...

We'll pop some more strips up soon but if you wish to catch every adventure with the nation's favourite man/dog inventing team, simply nip to your local newsagent.

Right, time for another cracking cup o' tea then I'm off to crawl back under my duvet. It's COLD today!

Robin

Bigger than the Golden Globes, bigger than the Academy Awards, it's...

Da-da-da-DA-da-da-DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Yes, it's true!

Above is the first official artwork from our brand new series, YORE!, which will be making it's early 2011 debut very, very soon, only in The Dandy. We don't want to give too much away (hence the completely non-explanatory pic choice!) but we can reveal that there will be action, adventure, laughs, lots of complaining about stuff, gratuitous cartoon violence by the bone-filled bucketload, er, and a pig.

And if that doesn't get you rushing to the newsagent and placing your order then you're probably reading the wrong blog!

So remember folks, when you're sitting there at home on Christmas Eve feeling jaded because there's nothing on the TV but a rerun of Dr No or Jamie Oliver cooking something ... just remember ... Santa really does exist ... and he'll be bringing you a special gift every single week of the year in technicolour quest-o-vision!

Newsflash: Armadillos love Monkey Nuts and the DFC Library!

Although it has not yet been confirmed that EVERY armoured placental mammal on planet Earth has read the first brave tale of Sid and Rivet, we have just had official confirmation that one Armadillo in particular has been thrilled by the DFC series. And that critter is the namesake for a superb Children's book review website.

Fancy a couple of tasters from contributor, Liz Bankes?

"Monkey Nuts is just that – nuts! It is a chaotic, humour-packed caper of craziness."

"While the story hurtles along at a million miles an hour, you can also pore over each of the pages for hours as there are so many details and gags to find." 

She's right, you know!

Dave Shelton, Sarah McIntyre, Neill Cameron, Kate Brown, myself and head honcho, David Fickling have all been interviewed for the feature that discusses the history of the DFC, from initial comic to hardback bound collection.

What's more, all six fantastic debut tittles are reviewed in the article, which you can read in full HERE.

If you're still looking for that perfect chrimbo gift for nephew, niece, son, daughter, brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, friend, enemy or complete stranger, look no further. The DFC has something for everyone! Even Armadillos!

They came, they saw, they bought...

If there's a nicer store than a bookshop to work in around Christmas we want to hear about it!

Having spent a delightful Saturday in Waterstone's, chatting to a million customers about everything and anything related to the world of comics and story-telling, I must share my theory that the mere presence of countless wonderful books creates an extremely special vibe. Outside, the city of Bristol was going mad with panicked gift-buying, but within the walls of Waterstone's the atmosphere was one of serene relaxation.

Poor Lorenzo was on extremely brave duty, as he'd come down with an absolutely rotten cold but NOTHING (short of losing a limb) stops us Etheringtons from sharing a giggle with our readers new and old. And judging from the speed with which books were leaving our table, lots and lots of new readers seemed keen to jump aboard the Monkey Nuts express.

To everyone we met - welcome to the party! There's LOTS more to come.

A thousand thanks to Mark for organising the day, and to the rest of the staff for making us feel so welcome.
We had a great time and can't wait to come back!

10 Years of Lurve!

Big anniversary in castle Etherington today!

I love you, baby!!

Lorenzo!

Ink-dot TONIC opening night photos...

Hey folks, some snaps here from the opening night of the Ink-dot TONIC show, which runs until January here in Bristol. Details HERE!

 Lorenzo!

Monkey Nuts in France!

Had to show you this great pic we got sent from long-time Etherington Bros friend Julie over in France. Here she is brandishing her copy of Monkey Nuts and adorned with a fine set of cartoon lashes, and a tiny self-portrait nonetheless!

Got a pic of yourself with your treasured Monkey Nuts book? Send it in! See it on the blog! The funnier the better! Whoop!

Lorenzo!

Baby, it's COLD outside...

...but on Saturday it's going to be HOT, as we bring our very own brand of warm milk and cocoa to the Bristol branch of Waterstone's.

And by warm milk and cocoa I obviously mean piles of Monkey Nuts graphic novels and our good selves!

If you're still looking for that perfect present then look no further. Boys, girls, ladies and gentlemen all agree that Monkey Nuts is  the definitive stocking filler. And what better way is there to say "Santa Loves Ya" than by picking up a personalised copy straight from the hands of it's creators.

We'll be instore all day until the stock runs out so put on your thermals, scarves and mittens and head on down.

Remember - the early bird catches the sequential wonder ... only at Waterstone's!

Come see us in Waterstones this Saturday!

Just a little reminder that robin and I will be in the Bristol Galleries branch of WATERSTONES this Saturday (11th) for most of the day, signing books and talking comics. I might even do a bit of live drawing! Please do come down and see us! Full details HERE!

Lorenzo!

Optimus Prime and Rivet UNITE!

I'm turning into quite the little fibber when it comes to creating titles for these blogs!

No, the Autobot commander and our very own walking robotic coffee pot are NOT about to appear in a spin-off series (although that would be one funny show). But the illustrious crime fighting duo better known as Monkey Nuts ARE making an appearance in this month's Transformers comic!

Having written for Titan's Transformers title for a while, I probably shouldn't be quite this excited to announce that December's Christmas issue contains a competition to win 10 copies of Monkey Nuts! Also featured in the prize will be copies of the rather wonderful Mo-bot High from our very good friend, Neill Cameron.

There's just something so darned COOL about being a competition prize in an xmas comic special!

Grab yourself a copy today from your nearest newsagent, supermarket or quality comic outlet!

New Stranski Print On sale NOW!

Here we go, folks, the one your Christmas list has been waiting for! The brand new Stranski print is now available to buy all over the world! Whoop!

Launched last night at the Ink-dot TONIC exhibition (full report to follow) the print is now up online in our store for your purchasing pleasure! Available in limited numbers at A3, A2 and super-big-super-beautiful A1 sizes, the production quality on these prints is through the roof. Gorgeous paper, super-high quality Giclee printing, they are things of beauty!

To preview and buy this bad boy, go to the prints section of our store HERE.

Oh, and my previous 2 prints for the ink-dot guys, one of which also features Stranski, are still available, so why not treat yourself to the set? Whoop!

If you want to see the print in the flesh before you buy, and you're around the Bristol area during December, then just head over to the mighty Colston hall and check out the awesome TONIC show!

Lorenzo!

Waterstone's Present ... The Etherington Brothers!

Oh, I do love a nice dramatic title. Especially when it's true.

Following on from Lorenzo's reminder that tonight marks his third appearance at an Ink Dot exhibition (if you can get to Colston Hall in Bristol tonight, or anytime between now and January 2nd, you'll be in for a real treat -  he's created something truly special for this year's show) we've ANOTHER great appearance to share.

On Saturday 11th December, from 11am-4pm, Lorenzo and I will be entertaining the pre-Christmas crowds in the Bristol branch of the Waterstone's book chain (located in the Galleries shopping centre).

We will be signing and sketching in copies of Monkey Nuts and the Diamond Egg of Wonders, discussing new projects, talking about our working process, chewing the festive fat, and generally gabbling around and making a nuisance of ourselves.

So if you're in the area, looking for that perfect gift, or just fancy meeting us and having a giggle, come on down and say hi. We're extremely approachable and good with kids and pets.

See you soon!

It's TONIGHT!

Yes, folks! This evening is the grand opening night of the Ink-Dot Tonic print exhibition, featuring an exclusive, brand-spanking new Stranski print, just in time to make it onto your Christmas list! Everyone's welcome to the opening night here in Bristol, get all the details HERE!

Here's a little pic of a snow-bunny proudly trooping home with her purchase...

See you THERE!

Lorenzo!

Woolly hat hair

Because winter head wear affects us all...

Lorenzo!