Graham is the creative force behind Exceptional Man, working with scientist Karolina Rygiel and his regular colourist Jim Cameron.
Who are you?
I'm Graham Pearce, a boy from Cornwall who now lives in the North West and draws comics in his spare time. I've won an episode of The Weakest Link, I've never been drunk and once stood next to Stan Lee for 2 seconds (but keep showing the photo to make people think we're great mates).
What have you done / what are you doing?
I've spent the last 12 years writing, drawing and publishing the satirical action comic SGT MIKE BATTLE: THE GREATEST AMERICAN HERO! I've got dozens more ideas in development and am currently creating a new comic called SWOOPER HEROES with my 6 year old niece.
What excites you about comics?
Comics are so versatile and it's a medium which allows you to create characters and worlds with nothing more than a sheet of paper and a pencil!
What excites you about science?
Science fascinates me more as I get older as I realise how little I understand about it.
Contact/Links
@mrgrahampearce
www.sgtmikebattle.co.uk
Showing posts with label profile. Show all posts
Showing posts with label profile. Show all posts
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Sunday, 11 August 2013
Introducing Oscillating Brow
Oscillating Brow once created (drew and photocopied) a comic so popular that it kept selling out at a local pop-up shop. He found this quite troubling and protested at length whenever he received the profits. Oscillating Brow is in it for the comics. He wants to draw them and share them. O.B. has contributed a comic demonstrating a brilliant grasp on Astoundishing Science and all it's implications. This was lettered and coloured by Paul Thompson. The two had so much fun working together they teamed up again to make one of our puzzles.
Who are you?
Who are you?
Oscillating Brow
What have you done / what are you doing?
I draw daft comics because it's fun. I even print my own small comics occasionally. I've been a member of the Paper Jam Comics Collective since the very start and have done a story in each of the PJCC anthologies. You can read some comics I drew (mostly at Paper Jam meetings) here. Occasionally I write reviews and articles about comics for the Newcastle City Library graphic novel reading group 'Readers of the Lost Art' (see here).
What excites you about comics?
Drawing silly stuff, ideally with shouting and gurning (but preferably not involving backgrounds or perspective or any of that nonsense). The great thing about comics is that anyone can do it. Pick up a rudimentary drawing implement, find a bit of paper, draw a sequence of pictures - BOOM! If you haven't drawn a comic recently, have a go. Right now. Stop reading this. Stop it. Go on, do it now. ... Fine have it your way, but I'm tutting at you.
What excites you about science?
Anything amazing and it's all amazing. We take so much for granted but if you look objectively at life today, it's like magic. I think science is basically magic that someone somewhere can explain and has replicatably demonstrated beyond current reasonable doubt. It's pretty exciting that science is still happening, and at a faster rate than ever. Where will it end? (well, the heat-death of the universe, I guess, but that's got to be quite a way off).
Contact/Links
Thursday, 8 August 2013
Introducing Brian Randell
I'm happy to say that our definition of science also includes computing science. You can't really talk about the history of computing science without getting into Bletchley Park - which, by the way, is an amazing place to visit and one of the few places where it's essential to go on the tour. Every member of staff has a real passion for the place and it makes the experience really cool. Brian Randell's work rediscovering the Colossus and the work at Bletchley Park during World War II are the topic of not one but two comics - including a brilliant cypher puzzle comic by Paul Thompson and a comic featuring Brian himself drawn by Sigmund Reimann with words adapted from Uncovering Colossus by Alexi Conman - A Colossal Achievement. Let's have Brian speak for himself:
I graduated in Mathematics from Imperial College, London in 1957 and joined the English Electric Company where I led a team that implemented a number of compilers, including the Whetstone KDF9 Algol compiler. From 1964 to 1969 I was with IBM in the United States, mainly at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, working on operating systems, the design of ultra-high speed computers and computing system design methodology. I then became Professor of Computing Science at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, where in 1971 I set up the project that initiated research into the possibility of software fault tolerance, and introduced the "recovery block" concept. Subsequent major developments included the Newcastle Connection, and the prototype Distributed Secure System. An at times very active side activity has been the history of computing, one high point of which was the “discovery” of the Colossus computer, developed for code-breaking at Bletchley Park during World War II. I have been Principal Investigator on a succession of research projects in reliability and security funded by various UK and European agencies. I am now Emeritus Professor of Computing Science, and Senior Research Investigator, at Newcastle University.
My personal home page is at: http://homepages.cs.ncl.ac.uk/brian.randell/
I graduated in Mathematics from Imperial College, London in 1957 and joined the English Electric Company where I led a team that implemented a number of compilers, including the Whetstone KDF9 Algol compiler. From 1964 to 1969 I was with IBM in the United States, mainly at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, working on operating systems, the design of ultra-high speed computers and computing system design methodology. I then became Professor of Computing Science at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, where in 1971 I set up the project that initiated research into the possibility of software fault tolerance, and introduced the "recovery block" concept. Subsequent major developments included the Newcastle Connection, and the prototype Distributed Secure System. An at times very active side activity has been the history of computing, one high point of which was the “discovery” of the Colossus computer, developed for code-breaking at Bletchley Park during World War II. I have been Principal Investigator on a succession of research projects in reliability and security funded by various UK and European agencies. I am now Emeritus Professor of Computing Science, and Senior Research Investigator, at Newcastle University.
My personal home page is at: http://homepages.cs.ncl.ac.uk/brian.randell/
Introducing Marcus Kaiser
Explaining epilepsy to a younger audience was a challenge for us. It can seem a very scary thing, specially as we're still learning about it. Luckily the excellent team of Marcus Kaiser and Cuttlefish were on the case with their comic The Hyperactive Brain.
Marcus studied biology and computer science now works at Newcastle University in the field of Neuroinformatics which combines both areas. He observes how the human brain is connected and how the wiring from patients with developmental diseases differs from healthy subjects. By using computational tools he aims to better diagnose brain disorders and to inform about the most suitable therapy for individual patients. Current projects involve the simulation of human brain development to understand the rise of schizophrenia, Tourette Syndrome, and epilepsy (http://www.greenbrainproject.org/ ) as well as the development of novel treatments for epilepsy patients.
Schematic drawings, or comics in other terms, are an essential tool to communicate ideas within my lab and with other researchers. These are exciting times for our research field as, for the first time, we have enough data to build realistic models of human brain development and brain function. More information about our research can be found at http://www.biological-networks.org/ and there are various Neuroinformatics training opportunities at Newcastle (http://research.ncl.ac.uk/neuroinformatics).
Marcus studied biology and computer science now works at Newcastle University in the field of Neuroinformatics which combines both areas. He observes how the human brain is connected and how the wiring from patients with developmental diseases differs from healthy subjects. By using computational tools he aims to better diagnose brain disorders and to inform about the most suitable therapy for individual patients. Current projects involve the simulation of human brain development to understand the rise of schizophrenia, Tourette Syndrome, and epilepsy (http://www.greenbrainproject.org/ ) as well as the development of novel treatments for epilepsy patients.
Schematic drawings, or comics in other terms, are an essential tool to communicate ideas within my lab and with other researchers. These are exciting times for our research field as, for the first time, we have enough data to build realistic models of human brain development and brain function. More information about our research can be found at http://www.biological-networks.org/ and there are various Neuroinformatics training opportunities at Newcastle (http://research.ncl.ac.uk/neuroinformatics).
Introducing Liz Todd
We've covered biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and more, not to mention loads of science that is so awesome we just can't categorise it. It was fascinating learning about how human beings communicate - with scientist Liz Todd and artist John G. Swogger with their comic Watching you... Watching me...
Who are you?
My science is educational psychology. I am Professor of Educational Inclusion at Newcastle University and in the past I have worked as a maths teacher, educational psychologist, therapist and on a market stall.
What have you done/ what are you doing?
I use video and narrative to bring change in relationships, whether this is in families, schools or between those working in children services. I also try to get schools to open their doors to their communities and to have a range of professionals offering services from within schools. I am passionate about getting young people involved in research.
I have written 3 books that represent my research over the last 20 years. Their titles are:
Beyond the School Gates: Can full-service and extended schools overcome disadvantage? (with Alan Dyson and Colleen Cummings); Video Interaction Guidance (with Hilary Kennedy and Miriam Landor); and Partnerships for inclusive education: A critical approach to collaborative working (I wrote this by myself). Two of these books have been given prizes.
What excites you about comics?
They get over tough ideas in a fun and interesting way so everyone can talk more about science
What excites you about science?
It's the asking of questions that I like about science. I like having ways to explore what we can know about the world. For me this is the world of people interacting with each other within complex contexts.
Contact/ Links
Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/staff/profile/liz.todd
Email: liz.todd@ncl.ac.uk
Who are you?
My science is educational psychology. I am Professor of Educational Inclusion at Newcastle University and in the past I have worked as a maths teacher, educational psychologist, therapist and on a market stall.
What have you done/ what are you doing?
I use video and narrative to bring change in relationships, whether this is in families, schools or between those working in children services. I also try to get schools to open their doors to their communities and to have a range of professionals offering services from within schools. I am passionate about getting young people involved in research.
I have written 3 books that represent my research over the last 20 years. Their titles are:
Beyond the School Gates: Can full-service and extended schools overcome disadvantage? (with Alan Dyson and Colleen Cummings); Video Interaction Guidance (with Hilary Kennedy and Miriam Landor); and Partnerships for inclusive education: A critical approach to collaborative working (I wrote this by myself). Two of these books have been given prizes.
What excites you about comics?
They get over tough ideas in a fun and interesting way so everyone can talk more about science
What excites you about science?
It's the asking of questions that I like about science. I like having ways to explore what we can know about the world. For me this is the world of people interacting with each other within complex contexts.
Contact/ Links
Website: http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ecls/staff/profile/liz.todd
Email: liz.todd@ncl.ac.uk
Friday, 2 August 2013
Introducing Terry Wiley
As I declared earlier, everything is connected. Terry Wiley is connected with scientist David Alderson by the comic Everything's Connected. Figuring out complex networks and how they connect isn't just serious stuff, it's fun too. Terry was also kind enough to be one of our earliest contributors by helping put together our school activities pack, Science FACT-ion.
Who are you?
Terry Wiley
What have you done / what are you doing?
I drew the massive 480-page black & white 'Sleaze Castle' collection (which is not at all sleazy),
and now I'm doing a 160-page colour story 'VerityFair' (warning - cotains bums and swears).
What excites you about comics?
Comics are the ultimate combination of Show and Tell - OK, maybe film is good at that too, but comics
only need 1 millionth the budget of a film!
What excites you about science?
Science is is what's left when you get rid of all the flim-flam, hearsay, self-deception, lies, exaggerations,
hard-sell, gibberish and hoo-hah we ape folks chuck at each other every day.
Contact/Links
www.idcm.net twing@cix.co.uk
Who are you?
Terry Wiley
What have you done / what are you doing?
I drew the massive 480-page black & white 'Sleaze Castle' collection (which is not at all sleazy),
and now I'm doing a 160-page colour story 'VerityFair' (warning - cotains bums and swears).
What excites you about comics?
Comics are the ultimate combination of Show and Tell - OK, maybe film is good at that too, but comics
only need 1 millionth the budget of a film!
What excites you about science?
Science is is what's left when you get rid of all the flim-flam, hearsay, self-deception, lies, exaggerations,
hard-sell, gibberish and hoo-hah we ape folks chuck at each other every day.
Contact/Links
www.idcm.net twing@cix.co.uk
Introducing Alexi Conman
Enigma of a man, Alexi Conman has been kind of hiding in the background ever since Newcastle Science Comic became a thing giving endless support and and opinion. Alexi is the writing mastermind behind The Amazing Three Parent Monkey, working with scientist Sourima Shivhare, artist Tony Hitchman and colourist/letterer Paul Thompson.
Who are you?
Alexi Conman. I write comics sometimes.
What have you done / what are you doing?
I've scripted comics stories in various anthologies, you can see the full list here.
What excites you about comics?
Sequential Art is a medium that has almost limitless storytelling potential; its unique visual syntax (a synthesis of lexical and iconic and mimetic pictorial elements) makes it incredibly adaptable, potentially complex, yet naturally intuitive.
What excites you about science?
That it might save humanity from itself, an edifice up which we might climb to the stars.
Contact/Links
alexiconman.blogspot.co.uk
@alexiconman
Who are you?
Alexi Conman. I write comics sometimes.
What have you done / what are you doing?
I've scripted comics stories in various anthologies, you can see the full list here.
What excites you about comics?
Sequential Art is a medium that has almost limitless storytelling potential; its unique visual syntax (a synthesis of lexical and iconic and mimetic pictorial elements) makes it incredibly adaptable, potentially complex, yet naturally intuitive.
What excites you about science?
That it might save humanity from itself, an edifice up which we might climb to the stars.
Contact/Links
alexiconman.blogspot.co.uk
@alexiconman
Introducing David Alderson
One of our favourite things about this project has been the chance to share big ideas that don't normally reach younger audiences. Everything's Connected, drawn by Terry Wiley, with science from David Alderson is a huge idea. From flushing the loo or turning on a light to whether your train arrives on time, it's all connected, with all the disruptions possible I'm surprised any of this works at all. So let's have David introduce himself and tell us a bit about what he does...
My name is David Alderson, and I have been working as a
researcher in GeoInformatics at Newcastle University since 2005. Geomatics,
geoinformatics and many derivatives thereof in general refers to the study,
measurement, and management of earth-related things. Think Google Earth, and
you are nearly there. It could include monitoring biodiversity by collecting
crowd-sourced data on species sightings, developing models of infrastructure
networks for failure analysis, to delivering web sites and web services for
people to get access to spatial data. This data comes in many forms, from GPS
positions, detailed land and building surveys, satellite imagery and aerial
photography – with the one thing they have in common being that they are all
related to the Earth, and position on the Earth.
In the past I have worked largely to manage, store and then
deliver, mainly via geospatially-enabled websites, spatial data of all kinds. A
couple of projects that I have been involved in involve crowd-sourcing data to
help validate flood models and collect experiences of flood events, to collecting
species sightings around the North East of England. I have worked with the Met
Office, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), British
Atmospheric Data Centre (BADC) and many others to help deliver the latest
climate change projections, back in 2009. As climate change is largely accepted
by all in the scientific community as a genuine challenge facing mankind over
the next 10, 20, 50, 100 years and beyond, the tools and websites that I have
been involved in developing, help to disseminate data that can aid decision
makers to make better informed decisions. This is particularly important, for
example, when considering what types of energy-generation technologies to
invest in, or what carbon reduction strategies to employ. My current research,
and largely the inspiration for getting involved in the comic, is focussed on
the modelling, study and analysis of traditional infrastructure networks
including roads, rail, energy, water and solid waste. We are trying to
understand how infrastructure networks are affected by climate-related hazards,
such as flooding, but then also understand how the supply and demand for
infrastructure services will change over the next 100 years as the economy and
population changes.
Comics excite me both because they are so much fun to read
but can feasibly by focussed around any topic imaginable. When speaking with
the artists and writers during the production of the comic, the alternative
ways of portraying a specific idea seemed endless, and often presenting
information in such different ways can lead to a better understanding of patterns,
or identification of other interesting artefacts. I think the idea of joining
up science and research within the comic medium for communication offers a
completely different mechanism for disseminating concepts, ideas, research,
data to the general public and other researchers. Scientists in academia are
largely judged by their ability to, and frequency with which they, publish in
peer-reviewed journals about their specific subject. However these are not
necessarily easily-accessible to the general public or children alike, despite
the proliferation of open access publishing and the accessibility offered by
web-based publishing. The use of a comic as an alternative method brings in an
element of fun to scientific research, and ultimately that is probably the best
way to attract children and teenagers to becoming interested in science – BY
MAKING IT FUN!
Email:
David.Alderson@ncl.ac.uk
More information about some of the work that I have been
involved in at Newcastle University, and also some of the work that the
Geospatial Engineering, Geodesy and School of Civil Engineering at Newcastle
have undertaken and are currently involved in can be found from the following
links:
https://blogs.ncl.ac.uk/geospatialengineering/
- Geospatial Engineering Blog
http://research.ncl.ac.uk/geospatial/
- Geospatial Engineering Research Website
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ceg/research/geomatics/
- Geomatics Research
http://www.ncl.ac.uk/ceg/staff/profile/david.alderson
- David Alderson, University Profile
http://www.ceg.ncl.ac.uk
– School of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, Newcastle University
Specific websites related to my work:
http://www.itrc.org.uk/
- Infrastructure Transitions Research Consortium (motivation behind comic)
http://ukclimateprojections.defra.gov.uk/
- UK Climate Change Projections ‘09
http://ukclimateprojections-ui.defra.gov.uk/ui/admin/login.php
- User Interface to UK Climate Change Projections ‘09
http://ceg-morpethflood.ncl.ac.uk/
- MorpethFlood / ToonFlood crowd-sourcing
http://eyeproject.org.uk/
- Species sightings crowd-sourcing
Tuesday, 30 July 2013
Introducing Tony Hitchman
Tony helped us bring the The Amazing Three Parent Monkey to life with his wonderful illustration. Also on the team were Sourima Shivhare (scientist), Alexi Conman (writer) and Paul Thompson (colourist and letterer).
Tony Hitchman used to teach Primary Science by day and draw comics by night. Now retired he draws comics by day and tries to think of witty things to put in a bio by night.
He is the co-author of "Using Comic Art to Improve Speaking Reading and Writing" (title trips off the tongue doesn't it?) and has written for DC Thompson as well as cartooning for the small press. He is currently working, for no discernible reason, on a series of four page adaptations of Henry James novels - with added robots!
Tony is not sure what a URL presence is but thinks he was possibly screened for it when he turned sixty!
Introducing Sourima Shivhare
Sourima is the scientist behind our The Amazing Three Parent Monkey comic. This was one of our more challenging comics as the subject was so new to folks that we couldn't assume anything. Sourima worked with writer Alexi Conman and artist Tony Hitchman on this comic, with colours and lettering by Paul Thompson.
Who are you?
I am an early stage researcher interested in human reproduction, particularly embryology. Evidently I love science, but importantly also have a keen interest in effective science communication.
What have you done / what are you doing?
I am a 2nd Year student at Newcastle University studying my PhD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Prior to this I studied Clinical Embryology and after having worked with the eggs, sperms and embryos I realised I better study the uterus to complete the picture. So, currently I am looking at blood vessel development in the human uterus in one of the most common bleeding disorders, called menorrhagia.
What excites you about comics?
I like simple but visually powerful comics. Although not a fanatic, I appreciate and understand the strength of the use of comics in making science simpler and perhaps more interesting, especially to the younger audience.
What excites you about science?
The fact that it almost always makes sense!
Who are you?
I am an early stage researcher interested in human reproduction, particularly embryology. Evidently I love science, but importantly also have a keen interest in effective science communication.
What have you done / what are you doing?
I am a 2nd Year student at Newcastle University studying my PhD in Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Prior to this I studied Clinical Embryology and after having worked with the eggs, sperms and embryos I realised I better study the uterus to complete the picture. So, currently I am looking at blood vessel development in the human uterus in one of the most common bleeding disorders, called menorrhagia.
What excites you about comics?
I like simple but visually powerful comics. Although not a fanatic, I appreciate and understand the strength of the use of comics in making science simpler and perhaps more interesting, especially to the younger audience.
What excites you about science?
The fact that it almost always makes sense!
Friday, 26 July 2013
Introducing Sara Woolley
Sara Woolley is an award-winning illustrator and comic book artist living and working in Brooklyn, NY. Her work has been twice recognized by the New York Society of Illustrators, by the Los Angeles Society of Illustrators, and most recently by 3×3 Magazine of Contemporary Illustration.
Sara has always been fascinated by science and draws a lot of her inspiration from the natural world. Her father worked in research science at Colombia and her mother was an earth science teacher. Her first comic ever, created at the age of 8, was about microorganisms, the Daphnea and the Hydra. She is deeply honoured to have been included in this year's New Castle Science Comic!
Of Colombian and American ethnicity, Sara also explores cultural identity throughout her art work. Her current project, Los Pirineos: The mostly true memoirs of Esperancita Gómez, a three volume graphic novel written by Sara’s mother, Leila Gómez. Los Pirineos is a fictionalized memoir chronicling a young girl’s upbringing in and eventual exile from Colombia told through the lens of childhood imagination. Researched on location in Colombia with the help of a grant from the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture (NALAC), Los Pirineos is at once deeply personal while giving voice to a common immigrant experience.
Sara attended the City University of New York, Queens College where she first majored in Geology, prior to earning her BFA in Visual Arts with honors Cum Laude. She went on to receive her MFA in Illustration, from the Academy of Art University, San Francisco California.
To see more of Sara's work please visit
WWW.SARAWOOLLEY.COM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/
Twitter @saritajeanine
Sara has been working with scientist Lauren Breese to create a comic activity about fight or flight responses. You can see a preview of the comic here.
Sunday, 21 July 2013
Introducing Jenny Rigby
Newcastle Science Comic has a brilliant mixture of professional comic artists, self published artists and those who are being published for the first time. It's been great discovering (and sometimes rediscovering) talent, creativity and all the different ways of working comics folks have. Jenny Rigby is one of our youngest artists and a student at Newcastle University. She worked with scientist Michael Jeffries on a comic all about ponds and the life found within them.
What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm heading into my third year, studying Biology at Newcastle University.
I've done a fair bit of travelling related to Biology but I've never really had the chance to do anything past GCSE art when it came to drawing. I know I'm still a novice and I've got plenty to learn, but I enjoy drawing as a hobby and I've just begun to explore Digital Art, so things are on the way up! I've just started putting things onto my Deviantart and I'm going to be an artist for Sunnycon, an anime convention held in Sunderland.
What excites you about comics?
What excites me about comics? What doesn't excite me about comics! I love them, especially manga, Japanese comics. If it weren't for my student budget, I would have a library of them!!!
What excites you about science?
And as for science, for someone doing a science degree, I should hope I still like it this close to the end! I've always admired David Attenborough, since I was old enough to watch and understand documentaries. My ultimate goal is to be like him, a long shot, but you have to dream big! In the short term, however, I've designed my own dissertation and I'll be creating science revision comics for A level students to review and revise from!
Contact/Links
http://shakuganotaku.deviantart.com/ - My Deviantart account, it shall soon be filled with all sorts!
What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm heading into my third year, studying Biology at Newcastle University.
I've done a fair bit of travelling related to Biology but I've never really had the chance to do anything past GCSE art when it came to drawing. I know I'm still a novice and I've got plenty to learn, but I enjoy drawing as a hobby and I've just begun to explore Digital Art, so things are on the way up! I've just started putting things onto my Deviantart and I'm going to be an artist for Sunnycon, an anime convention held in Sunderland.
What excites you about comics?
What excites me about comics? What doesn't excite me about comics! I love them, especially manga, Japanese comics. If it weren't for my student budget, I would have a library of them!!!
What excites you about science?
And as for science, for someone doing a science degree, I should hope I still like it this close to the end! I've always admired David Attenborough, since I was old enough to watch and understand documentaries. My ultimate goal is to be like him, a long shot, but you have to dream big! In the short term, however, I've designed my own dissertation and I'll be creating science revision comics for A level students to review and revise from!
Contact/Links
http://shakuganotaku.deviantart.com/ - My Deviantart account, it shall soon be filled with all sorts!
Wednesday, 10 July 2013
Introducing John Miers
We've got another profile for you today, it's John Miers. John has created a fantastic comic for us which allows you to programme a robot, allowing it to navigate a maze. This is no easy task but is certainly great fun. John's work is based on the science of John Hedley.
Who are you?
John Miers
What have you done / what are you doing?
I'm a cartoonist, teacher, and researcher, currently working on a practice-based PhD exploring the use of metaphor in comics. I've done a lot of work in the UK indie / underground comics scene, and illustration for books and magazines. One of my favourite recent projects was collaborating with some of Britain's best cartoonists on a billboard-sized comic for Foyles bookstore, which is still on display outside their flagship store on Charing Cross Road, London. I'm frothing with excitement about my work being used in an upcoming book about comics from Tate publishing, the first survey of the artform they have ever conducted.
What excites you about comics?
How long have you got? They're a unique artform that combines the immediacy of imagery with the specificity and detail of writing. Comics can present the reader with fantastic worlds and sprawling, epic narratives, while retaining the intimacy of handwriting. What's really exciting about being involved in comics right now is the explosion in the styles and subject matter being used by cartoonists, and the different uses to which comics are being put. The Newcastle Science Comic is a great example of this!
What excites you about science?
I can't help but be attracted by the mind-bending theories proposed to explain some of the more outlandish phenomena that have been observed in the recent history of science, such as the use of parallel universes as an interpretation of quantum mechanics, or the idea derived from the study of black holes that we might all be living in a hologram. More generally, the scientific method, rooted in scepticism and evidence-based knowledge, is one of the greatest gifts to thought humanity has ever given itself.
Contact/Links
Website: www.johnmiers.com
Email: info@johnmiers.com
Labels:
artists,
comic,
Contributor Profile,
John Miers,
profile,
programme,
robots
Thursday, 13 June 2013
Introducing Georgia Litherland
Georgia Litherland is the writer behind Marine Mob Meltdown, a comic about fishy goings on in the North Sea. Georgia is one third of the team, working with artist Marvin Harding and scientist Johanna Forster.
I'm Georgia. I get a kick out of communicating specialist information in accessible ways.
If it’s funny, so much the better.
I love the way comics fire on all cylinders. They get all your senses involved. I love how you can read, write, draw, create a comic in so many different ways and when it works, it's just great. Comics can surprise us and get us involved in stuff we thought we weren't so interested in. (Thanks to Hunt Emerson for making Dante and John Ruskin accessible!)
The first time I saw a detailed drawing of a cell and understood a bit about how they work was one of my biggest ever WOW moments. Before that I'd missed a lot of science classes, and hated a fair few more. After that, and all credit due to a great teacher, I was hooked. I love finding things out - especially about how life and living things work and our amazing human bodies and brains.
I'm Georgia. I get a kick out of communicating specialist information in accessible ways.
If it’s funny, so much the better.
I love the way comics fire on all cylinders. They get all your senses involved. I love how you can read, write, draw, create a comic in so many different ways and when it works, it's just great. Comics can surprise us and get us involved in stuff we thought we weren't so interested in. (Thanks to Hunt Emerson for making Dante and John Ruskin accessible!)
The first time I saw a detailed drawing of a cell and understood a bit about how they work was one of my biggest ever WOW moments. Before that I'd missed a lot of science classes, and hated a fair few more. After that, and all credit due to a great teacher, I was hooked. I love finding things out - especially about how life and living things work and our amazing human bodies and brains.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Introducing Anton Brand
My name is Anton Brand
I studied fine art in college but have spent most of my working career in the print and design industry. I now work as a freelance illustrator specialising in cartoons and comics.
I have loved comics since very young, starting with Asterix and Tintin and later moving to superhero comics. My taste in comics in recent years has returned to European graphic novels.
I have always loved science, I especially like watching science documentaries on TV or have them playing on YouTube while I'm working.
My website is www.antonbrand.co.uk
Twitter account https://twitter.com/antonbrand
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antons-cartoons-and-Illustrations/107375559294065
Anton has created a comic for us called "When Wee Goes Bad...". It's a scary topic but important. His comic is based on the science of Angela Revell.
I studied fine art in college but have spent most of my working career in the print and design industry. I now work as a freelance illustrator specialising in cartoons and comics.
I have loved comics since very young, starting with Asterix and Tintin and later moving to superhero comics. My taste in comics in recent years has returned to European graphic novels.
I have always loved science, I especially like watching science documentaries on TV or have them playing on YouTube while I'm working.
My website is www.antonbrand.co.uk
Twitter account https://twitter.com/antonbrand
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Antons-cartoons-and-Illustrations/107375559294065
Anton has created a comic for us called "When Wee Goes Bad...". It's a scary topic but important. His comic is based on the science of Angela Revell.
Labels:
Anton Brand,
artists,
Contributor Profile,
profile,
wee
Monday, 10 June 2013
Introducing Martin Kirby
Who are you?
My name is Martin Kirby and I'm a freelance artist and cartoonist living in Newcastle.
What have you done / what are you doing?
Currently I have mostly done freelance work spanning a pretty large range, from personal commissions to portraits to small book runs and company advertisements. Currently, however, I'm working on my long term goal of producing my own graphic novel, Freelancers, due out this summer! Check out http://www.freelancerscomic.com for more information and to see the comic!
What excites you about comics?
I think that the accessibility of comics is what excites me most. Practically everyone, at some point in their life, has read or drawn comics. Even if they were just small ones when you were a kid, it's a medium that we've all cherished at one point in our life or another and I think that makes them inherently appealing to a huge audience. And comics are really hitting a boom at the moment, both with works from recognised publishers and creator owned comics alike. Nothing excites me more than seeing so many amazing stories and styles coming out from across the world on literally a daily basis!
What excites you about science?
The thing I've always loved about science is that is makes the mundane seem incredible. I remember going through physics lessons and finding out exactly how much is involved in simply throwing a ball, or making a loud noise, that it blew my small, impressionable mind at the time! It still fascinates me when I hear new bits of news about scientists figuring out a little bit more about how the universe works. Its exciting stuff!
Also, robots are neat and science helps make them happen.
Contacts/Links
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kirbishart
Twitter: @KirbishArt
Website: http://www.freelancerscomic.com
Labels:
artists,
bugs,
comic,
Contributor Profile,
explore,
Martin Kirby,
profile
Friday, 7 June 2013
Introducing Owen D. Pomery
Owen D. Pomery has made us a comic entitled Moon Beach, it's rather fine. Fine in the amazingly good looking sense of the word, rather than the okay sense. You can catch a peek of it on Paul Thompson's Vine of our printed proof. Oh yes, we got our proof in the post today. It looks mint. The guys and girls at Newspaper Club do not disappoint.
Who are you?
I am an illustrator working in the three main areas of architecture, editorial and comics.
What have you done / what are you doing?
My educational and professional background is in architecture. In recent years I have become an illustrator working on a whole range of projects and featured in books, magazines and on websites. I create the graphic miniseries Between the Billboards as well as contributing to several comics anthologies. My next project is The Megatherium Club published by Avery Hill, is about a real life group of eccentric 19th century scientists and due out in July 2013.
What excites you about comics?
Despite being around in some form for many years, it still feels like it is an emerging culture and as such, there are new an exciting ways of telling a story being produced all the time. It's the freedom, diversity and lack of 'rules' that I really enjoy and I love the fact there is no medium quite like it.
What excites you about science?
It's a cliche, but it is literally everywhere and everyone can engage with whatever part of it that interests them at whatever level. I get excited by seeing simple, mechanical science in action, basic stuff like The Falkirk Wheel still blows my mind.
Contact/Links
Labels:
architecture,
artists,
beach,
comic,
Contributor Profile,
moon,
Owen D. Pomery,
profile,
space
Monday, 27 May 2013
Introducing Marvin Harding
We've got another fabulous artist to introduce today. Marvin Harding is helping us explain the ups and downs of the North Sea. It's a fish eat fish world out there. Marvin is working with writer Georgia Litherland, their work is based on the science of Johanna Forster.
What excites you about science?
Contact/Links
www.hardingdesign.co.uk
marvinpaul@w3z.co.uk
Who are you?
What have you done / what are you doing?
What excites you about comics?
Marvin Harding
•Studied graphic design at Kedleston Road Derby College of Art
•Got first job in advertising back in 1970
•Currently proprietor of Harding Design. Business is almost in its 20th year.
Always been interested in cartoon work.
Have produced educational comics for over 5 years now with publishers inHeritage. Comics provide not only a window to the past and future but enables the kids of all ages and competence to participate with the adventures and learn something in the process.
Comics are a superb way of presenting difficult subjects to children 8 to 11 years. I always get a kick out of the kid's responses to our comic work.
Science has always excited me since my fascination with subjects dealt by The Eagle, Look and Learn and Knowledge, all ground breaking publications from the early '50s and '60s. At that time 'outer space; was such
a major topic, not only in scientific journals of the time but comics too.
a major topic, not only in scientific journals of the time but comics too.
Contact/Links
www.hardingdesign.co.uk
marvinpaul@w3z.co.uk
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
Introducing Dave Windett & John Gatehouse
We're excited to introduce our first team of contributors to the Newcastle Science Comic, Dave Windett and John Gatehouse.
He has drawn comics featuring numerous licensed characters, including Inspector Gadget, Eek the Cat, Ace Ventura, Daffy Duck and Korky the Cat .
For the Scandinavian market he has illustrated educational books, business manuals and comics.
He has also designed original characters for a variety of publications and provided illustrations for everything from magazines and websites to mobile phones, games, and children's shoes.
Samples of his work can be seen at - http://www.davewindett.com/ and on his blog at - http://www.davewindett.com/blog/
John Gatehouse has written over 100 books and annuals, over 300 television shows and thousands of comic strips and short stories for children.
He has produced stories for legendary characters such as Inspector Gadget, Pokemon, Scooby Doo, Garfield, Dracula, Spider-Man, Ace Ventura Pet Detective, The Hurricanes, Digimon, Rugrats, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and hundreds of other Intellecutal Properties.
John and Dave are currently working together on two projects.
Monster Hunt, a series of Children's books for Penguin (USA) the first of which should be available this Autumn.
The Kaci Bell Mysteries, a newspaper style adventure strip which he and John plan to publish as both a daily web-comic and printed collection once the story is finished. At the time of writing over 100 episodes have already been drawn.
A collection of the Lazarus Lemming strips (that they created for the weekly DFC comic) is due to be "published" on the digital comics platform Comixology and their kid's book, Trick or Treat is still available from Amazon.
Check out these fantastic roughs they did for us. The final version is looking great but you'll have to wait for the comic to see it all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)






















