Perhaps you'll be next! The Dangerous Adventures of Von Doogan continues HERE! You have a chance to win each and every week! Why not check out the awesome issue 6 preview HERE!
Lorenzo!
Monday, 13 February 2012
Von Doogan salutes - Jack Holt!
Perhaps you'll be next! The Dangerous Adventures of Von Doogan continues HERE! You have a chance to win each and every week! Why not check out the awesome issue 6 preview HERE!
Lorenzo!
Friday, 10 February 2012
Influencing Apes! Rwanda Revealed part 2
Rwanda is a lush country. The sun beats all year round but the rains arrive with regularity allowing the thousand hills of this remarkable nation to bloom and flourish. Tea, coffee, corn, maize and innumerable fruit and vegetable crops spring from the fertile soil in all directions and barely an inch of the earth is left untilled.
Higher up, in the heart of the Virunga mountains - a chain of volcanoes stretching along the border between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo - the environment takes on a denser rain forest quality, as giant bamboo, hagenia trees, shrubs of all varieties mosses and lichen all battle for dominance. And it's through this foliage that we trekked, ably assisted by our fantastic local Rangers.
Our mission? To spend an hour with Rwanda's famous Gorillas - this was something I had been dreaming about for months...
His name is Bwenge, which means "Intelligence" and watching this regal statesman of the forest go about his business, it is not difficult to understand why. You only have to look into a Silverback's eyes (something I was instructed NOT to do but simply couldn't stop myself!) to see the mind at work.
Then, suddenly I found myself shuffled to the front of the group, within a mere three metres of this living wonder. My delight should be evident to all!
A second after the photo above was taken Bwenge decided that he had had quite enough of my googly eyes and knuckled towards me. In the most uncool fashion imaginable I attempted to run to safety only to lose my footing and stumble into the bracken. Scrambling clear I felt both foolish and exhilarated for the Silverback had only been moving to a new eating spot, clearly favouring the greenery I'd been hiding in. He wasn't in the least threatened by my presence: in his eyes I was less bothersome than a mosquito!
Our hour of privilege finally came to an end and we all trekked down the mountain, grinning like idiots. There are only 13 gorilla groups living in the Virungas and only one visit to each family is allowed per day which makes this experience all the more special and one I heartily recommend, should you ever visit this remarkable country. Even better, team the visit with a trip to the Nyungwe Forest and the breathtaking canopy walk.
Now, I had always wanted to tell a story about a primate, and that dream was realised with Sid's adventures in Monkey Nuts Book 1 ... but this AMAZING experience has refueled my desire to generate another tale of ape-based action so watch this space for more news, friends!
- Robin
Higher up, in the heart of the Virunga mountains - a chain of volcanoes stretching along the border between Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo - the environment takes on a denser rain forest quality, as giant bamboo, hagenia trees, shrubs of all varieties mosses and lichen all battle for dominance. And it's through this foliage that we trekked, ably assisted by our fantastic local Rangers.
Our mission? To spend an hour with Rwanda's famous Gorillas - this was something I had been dreaming about for months...
After two hours of pretty sweaty hiking - during which an advance tracking team constantly relayed the position of our target family group back to our rangers - I suddenly saw a dark shape in the distance, moving peacefully through the green. We had arrived and our minds were blown.
The infants and females were stunning. Playful, elegant and utterly oblivious to our presence. I was so busy snapping away that I initially failed to notice when the leader of the pack arrived.
Let me say this in all honesty. Nothing can quite prepare you for coming face to face with a Silverback...
His name is Bwenge, which means "Intelligence" and watching this regal statesman of the forest go about his business, it is not difficult to understand why. You only have to look into a Silverback's eyes (something I was instructed NOT to do but simply couldn't stop myself!) to see the mind at work.
Then, suddenly I found myself shuffled to the front of the group, within a mere three metres of this living wonder. My delight should be evident to all!
A second after the photo above was taken Bwenge decided that he had had quite enough of my googly eyes and knuckled towards me. In the most uncool fashion imaginable I attempted to run to safety only to lose my footing and stumble into the bracken. Scrambling clear I felt both foolish and exhilarated for the Silverback had only been moving to a new eating spot, clearly favouring the greenery I'd been hiding in. He wasn't in the least threatened by my presence: in his eyes I was less bothersome than a mosquito!
Our hour of privilege finally came to an end and we all trekked down the mountain, grinning like idiots. There are only 13 gorilla groups living in the Virungas and only one visit to each family is allowed per day which makes this experience all the more special and one I heartily recommend, should you ever visit this remarkable country. Even better, team the visit with a trip to the Nyungwe Forest and the breathtaking canopy walk.
Now, I had always wanted to tell a story about a primate, and that dream was realised with Sid's adventures in Monkey Nuts Book 1 ... but this AMAZING experience has refueled my desire to generate another tale of ape-based action so watch this space for more news, friends!
- Robin
Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Don on the run
Read Long Gone Don every week, HERE!
Lorenzo!
Tuesday, 7 February 2012
Book Brunch serves up a side helping of Etherington!
Okay, this one's a little belated, but dropping it ahead of my NEXT post-haste post-Rwanda post (trying saying that ten times fast!) seems rather apt.
Last Thursday, Book Brunch - that online bubbling cauldron of tasty publishing titbits - got wind of my tiny African escapade and decided to spread the good word even FURTHER.
Which is basically awesome.
In case you're struggling to read the TINY text on this screengrab, my comments read something like this:
"When I was first approached with the opportunity to visit Rwanda my mind turned instantly to the unforgettable events of 1994. I had no distinct concept of the country or its people outside the remit of that unforgettable tragedy. But there is nothing greater in life than witnessing first hand the strength of human nature and so, thanks to a good friend working with Paul Kagame's government, I found myself transported to the 'Land of a thousand Hills' - a verdant, vibrant country more captivating than I could ever have imagined.
Last Thursday, Book Brunch - that online bubbling cauldron of tasty publishing titbits - got wind of my tiny African escapade and decided to spread the good word even FURTHER.
Which is basically awesome.
In case you're struggling to read the TINY text on this screengrab, my comments read something like this:
"When I was first approached with the opportunity to visit Rwanda my mind turned instantly to the unforgettable events of 1994. I had no distinct concept of the country or its people outside the remit of that unforgettable tragedy. But there is nothing greater in life than witnessing first hand the strength of human nature and so, thanks to a good friend working with Paul Kagame's government, I found myself transported to the 'Land of a thousand Hills' - a verdant, vibrant country more captivating than I could ever have imagined.
"But I wasn't simply here to enjoy the sites, I had a mission: to bring comic books to a nation that had never seen one before, and to try and teach the basics of comic storytelling to as many children as possible."
Erm. Actually, that's exactly what it says!
MANY thanks to Book Brunch for making this visit a newsworthy piece.
- Robin
Monday, 6 February 2012
Come see us at the Cardiff Comics Expo!
Lorenzo!
Thursday, 2 February 2012
School is OUT!
"Pinch, punch, YESTERDAY was first of the month" ... which means a new slice of Etherington-inspired Prime action for your eyes!
In "School is Out!" things get a little toasty for Jack and the Autobots after a series of bizarre gas explosions destroy four neighbourhood schools. Fearing Decepticon involvement, the team splits up to monitor the remaining buildings but all is not as it appears ... and the results are explosive!
Horacio Domingues rejoins me on art duties with some fantastic pages.
And remember, if you can't find a copy at your nearest newsagent then simply order a subscription HERE!
- Robin!
- Robin!
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Von Doogan's Army!
Episode Zero: ‘The Chattering Totem of Tukaluk’
- solved by AMY PERKINS
Episode One: ‘The Nine Locks’
- solved by WILLIAM MACKIE
Episode Two: 'The Big Mysterious Package of Mysteries’
- solved by JAMIE TODD
Episode Three : 'The Big Engine Trouble Puzzle'
- solved by SOPHIE KING
HUGE congratulations to all those who sent their solutions in, and if you didn't win, have HEART! There's another opportunity to become an honorary Dooganeer each and every week, only in The Phoenix!
Want more Doogan? You can get clues to each puzzle, watch the Doogan trailer and keep up to date with the puzzle master himself on his very own web page HERE!
Lorenzo!
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Making friends and comics ... Rwanda Revealed part 1
Last Friday I arrived home to England but, due to a monumental 22 HOUR door-to-door return trip, I proceeded to spend most of the weekend - and yesterday - sleeping! With my batteries now fully charged I feel ready to reveal the magic of Rwanda and its people.
But there is SO much to share! Where do I begin? Strangely enough (and anyone who's read the opening chapter of Long Gone Don will appreciate the symmetry here) I want to start at the end.
On our last full day in Kigali - the capital city of 'The Land of a Thousand Hills' (more on that later) - I visited Remera Catholique 2, a large primary school in the Remera district. The trip had been organised by my good friend Kate Haines and Stephen Mugisha, the founder and president of the Rwanda Book Development Initiative. One of the brilliant aims of RWABODI is to 'develop a culture of reading', and that is where I come in ... for Rwanda is a country that had NEVER read a comic book!!!
The reaction from the children was ... erm ... quite frankly amazing.
As if the lack of comics wasn't enough of a brain melt, you need to understand that Rwanda only switched from French to English as one of its official languages (the other being Kinyarwanda) TWO YEARS AGO!
So as I stepped into the classroom, armed only with a huge pile of Monkey Nuts/Baggage and a special version of our GO NUTS activity sheets, I was ready for a challenge.
The children however were more than ready to listen, to learn, to laugh a LOT (see if you can spot my drawing of Sid, or some questionable stick men!) and to get involved.
Lorenzo and I have visited a lot of schools in the UK where books are increasingly scarce but still available. That is not the case in Rwanda. Most of the books in the school library are curriculum based, or factual and there simply aren't any books for the children to read for FUN! Leaving Remera Catholique 2 with the knowledge that the adventures of Sid and Rivet and Randall will soon be worming their way through the hands of hundreds and hundreds and HUNDREDS of kids was a fantastic feeling. They might not understand every word on the page but I know for a fact they're going to have a blast looking at the pictures!
And the good news continues as Aaron, the teacher whose class I met, was keen to keep the comic spirit alive with further lessons in storytelling.
HUGE thanks to Kate and Stephen for giving me this incredible opportunity; to Lauren Bennett and the kind folks at Random House for providing the books; and to all the children and staff at Remera Catholique 2 for being ... well, for being basically awesome.
Rwanda ROCKS! More soon when I'll be revealing how I influenced an ape...
- Robin!
But there is SO much to share! Where do I begin? Strangely enough (and anyone who's read the opening chapter of Long Gone Don will appreciate the symmetry here) I want to start at the end.
On our last full day in Kigali - the capital city of 'The Land of a Thousand Hills' (more on that later) - I visited Remera Catholique 2, a large primary school in the Remera district. The trip had been organised by my good friend Kate Haines and Stephen Mugisha, the founder and president of the Rwanda Book Development Initiative. One of the brilliant aims of RWABODI is to 'develop a culture of reading', and that is where I come in ... for Rwanda is a country that had NEVER read a comic book!!!
The reaction from the children was ... erm ... quite frankly amazing.
As if the lack of comics wasn't enough of a brain melt, you need to understand that Rwanda only switched from French to English as one of its official languages (the other being Kinyarwanda) TWO YEARS AGO!
So as I stepped into the classroom, armed only with a huge pile of Monkey Nuts/Baggage and a special version of our GO NUTS activity sheets, I was ready for a challenge.
The children however were more than ready to listen, to learn, to laugh a LOT (see if you can spot my drawing of Sid, or some questionable stick men!) and to get involved.
Lorenzo and I have visited a lot of schools in the UK where books are increasingly scarce but still available. That is not the case in Rwanda. Most of the books in the school library are curriculum based, or factual and there simply aren't any books for the children to read for FUN! Leaving Remera Catholique 2 with the knowledge that the adventures of Sid and Rivet and Randall will soon be worming their way through the hands of hundreds and hundreds and HUNDREDS of kids was a fantastic feeling. They might not understand every word on the page but I know for a fact they're going to have a blast looking at the pictures!
And the good news continues as Aaron, the teacher whose class I met, was keen to keep the comic spirit alive with further lessons in storytelling.
HUGE thanks to Kate and Stephen for giving me this incredible opportunity; to Lauren Bennett and the kind folks at Random House for providing the books; and to all the children and staff at Remera Catholique 2 for being ... well, for being basically awesome.
Rwanda ROCKS! More soon when I'll be revealing how I influenced an ape...
- Robin!
Monday, 30 January 2012
The Dangerous adventures of Von Doogan - The Nine Locks
More soon!
Lorenzo!
Friday, 27 January 2012
Long Gone Don Fanart all the way from New Zealand!
Check this out! A great piece of Long Gone Don art by top fan George Shiers, who lives all the way on the other side of the world in New Zealand. Cheers pal!
If you live somewhere unusual (or somewhere very ordinary) and want to see your Etherington Brothers fan art up here, then by all means, send it through!
Lorenzo!
If you live somewhere unusual (or somewhere very ordinary) and want to see your Etherington Brothers fan art up here, then by all means, send it through!
Lorenzo!
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Baggage gets great review in Scribbler magazine!
The latest issue of the excellent magazine for children, SCRIBBLER has just come out, and I'm delighted to say it contains a great review of Baggage! Scribbler is a fantastic publication which encourages children to take their reading and writing skills to the next step, and gives informed advice about quality books for 7-11 year olds.
Lorenzo!
Monday, 23 January 2012
Long Gone Don cover art!
Here is the original artwork for the cover, before all the typographical bells and whistles went on...
Lorenzo!
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