Posting About Postal Puzzles

Puzzles. Life is full of them. Frustration and confusion abound, but then, hopefully: solution, coherence, progress, joy?

Cryptogram Puzzle Post is, frankly, probably the most interesting ongoing art project that Alexi has come across in years: an engaging narrative, based around themes of witchcraft, alchemy, occultism, combined with ingeniously interlinked brain-melting puzzle sequences (of the variety where working out what the puzzles actually are are the core of the puzzles), replete with evocative illustration and design. It's the work of Jack Fallows, who has, absurdly, kept the monthly schedule up for two years of befuddling delight.

Alexi has been a huge fan of the project since the first issue, so was thrilled to be given an opportunity to script a guest season (of three issues). THIS IS HAPPENING, starting in March! The issues will feature guest artists (including Steve Larder) along with Jack's own prodigious talents, and Alexi is understandably wildly excited about how it'll turn out.

This season takes a diversion from the main story (and its protagonist, Anna) to focus on new character, Otto. Otto used to be a magic user of some substantial skill, but is now old and tired and alone. However, the past is not done with him, and an unexpected visitor sets him on a journey that will at times be confusing, ridiculous, perilous, and occasionally, hopefully, comforting. Also: it will involve numerous brain-melting puzzles.

Alexi finds almost all his creative endeavours to be anguished experiences of exasperatingly incremental progress, but trying to plan these issues has been the hardest creative challenge he's worked through - but also the most interesting. More blather about all this soon.

The Stone Leaves season of Cryptogram Puzzle Post runs in March, April and May 2019. You can order the season here (along with various options for individual issues and bundles), but why not consider subscribing to the Cryptogram Puzzle Post Patreon - you'll not only get the issues but also a load of bonus content including behind-the-scenes process posts and exclusive puzzle challenges!

Next: Part One and some further information about the project.

Hot Dogs!

A western IN SPACE!


That's kinda the underlying high concept of classic 2000AD strip Strontium Dog right? Sure, Wagner & Ezquerra took Johnny Alpha and Wulf on all kinds of sci-fi escapades, but the bounty hunter premise gives most stories the tone (and often narrative shape) of a gritty western.


Alexi has long liked the idea of this and finally got round to scripting a story for Dogbreath, the long-running Strontium Dog comic anthology fanzine from FQP. Turns out, he really enjoyed trying to come with a satisfying sci-fi western story, and ended up scripting a chunky fourteen-pager - fortunately, the editors accepted it and artist David Parsons (plus Bolt-01 lettering) really nailed the art.


You can find the resultant story, 'A Safe Haven', in Dogbreath #34. It's the tale of a sheriff of a prim backwater farming colony having to deal with a notorious criminal gang (pursued by Strontium Dog bounty hunters) trying to lie-low in his jurisdiction. (IN SPACE!)

Dogbreath #34 cover by Mike Collins

Panel from 'A Safe Haven', art by David Parsons


But that's not all! Also fresh out from FQP is FutureQuake 2018 - the latest volume in their flagship sci-fi anthology series.

FutureQuake 2018 cover by Gibson Quarter & Steve Denton

Panel from 'A Strange Thing Happened', art by Scott Twells


Snuck in on the back cover is a one-pager scripted by Alexi, art by Scott Twells, colours by Owen Watts, letters by Bolt-01, A Strange Thing Happened - a brief sad look at disaffection and loneliness... and dogs.


These fine publications are now available from FQP - direct via their webstore (details plus full contents lists here: Dogbreath #34, FutureQuake 2018), or catch FQP in person at Oldham Comic Con on the 12th May.

ALEXI ATEN'T DEAD

Despite the tumbleweed proliferation around here, Alexi Conman is still a thing. He has been scripting comics. They have been being drawn by excellent artists.


And so it is that (like buses?) you wait for ages for an Alexi Conman comic to come along, and then four (!) come at once - all in the latest astounding issue of SF comic anthology FutureQuake!

Cover by Romain Brun & Julien Brun

FutureQuake 2017 is a bumper 100-page beast, chock-full of quality comics stories, and well worth £6.50 of your Earth-money. The four stories within it that Alexi scripted are:


From Tiny Acorns - Art by Richard Waugh, Letters by Bolt-01

An endeavour to spin a yarn at breakneck pace. Scientists develop a miracle crop, it (of course) gets out of control, it wipes out the human race, takes over the planet and gains sentience - in the first three panels. Things then get weird.


A Week - Art by Sketchy Magpie, Letters by Bolt-01

Pretty high-brow stuff this, riffing on two of Western culture's most venerated cultural icons: Shakespeare (the seven ages of man) and Jean-Claude Van Damme (Universal Soldier).


Turing's Prisoner - Art & Letters by Bolt-01, Greytones by Barry Renshaw

A slightly experimental piece this, both conceptually (investigating a novel spin on 'the Turing test'), and formally (the whole story is a guy talking to a door!). Alexi genuinely hopes it raises a few moral conundrums.


Action & Consequence - Art by Scott Twells, Colour by Owen Watts, Letters by Bolt-01

Daft one-pager, contrasting rumination on free will with punching monsters. We've all been there, right?




Alexi thinks all the artists did absolutely fantastic jobs - all of his stories were quite tricky in their own ways. He's also mightily impressed with the range and quality of all the stories in the anthology, and is certain that you'd enjoy it if you were to purchase it.


FutureQuake 2017 is available from the FutureQuake Press shop.

Partly Partners

As recently mentioned, Alexi has the cover story in the new FutureQuake #26. But that's not all - check out the Mark Harrison cover to the latest issue of FQP's 2000AD fan-comic, Zarjaz #23 (also out on 1st March):

AND guess whose story that is.... well, okay, that one's actually not Alexi's. But it looks pretty cool, right? And Alexi DOES have a splendid story that should be appearing within those pages - 'Partners', art by Roland Bird and lettering by Bolt-01, a story about being a judge on the mean streets of the Big Meg and how you deal with who's got your back. Maybe like Brief Encounter with more plasma cannons ... or not.

Alexi would like to point out that you can purchase this fine comic online or from FutureQuake Press' table at all good comics events.

Part of the flock

FutureQuake #26 is out on 1st March. Get a load of this:

Nice Matt Soffe cover, eh? And guess what? That's Alexi Conman's story that!

Yes, the longest-running/coolest/bestest UK small-press SF anthology comic is leading an issue with 'The Shepherd' scripted by Alexi. It's a tale of loneliness and job disillusionment and aliens. The stunning interior art is by Xia Moua...

... and it's lettered by Bolt-01. Plus the comic will no doubt be chock-full of other great stuff.

Alexi urges you to consider purchasing this fine publication (after 1st March): order it online, or pick it up at any of the many comic events that the splendid chaps of FutureQuake Press will be attending over the forthcoming months.

Back with a Rigelian Hotshot

Finally, some more comics that Alexi has worked on should be appearing in the relatively near future - starting with 'Partners', a story that should hopefully be appearing in Zarjaz #23.

Zarjaz, as you know, is the much-respected 2000AD fanzine comic that allows the cream of small-press creators (and many established pros) to play around with the iconic characters of 2000AD. Alexi has previously scripted a story that was published in issue #12 (which is still available to purchase at many comic events and via the FutureQuake Press website!).

 

'Partners' is a nine-page story about the responsibilities of being a judge in the Big Meg. Alexi is pretty flipping pleased with how it turned out, thanks to cracking art by Roland Bird and lettering by Bolt-01.

**EDIT: Gah, it's not going to be in Zarjaz #22, but may land in Zarjaz #23!**

Canny Cow Science

Alexi has been up to several things of late that are probably blog-worthy.

ONE! Alexi organised the Canny Comic Con again. Many many emails, but again it went really well and Alexi was moved almost to tears by the spirit of the comics community creating something good by force of will. He is very grateful to all comics folks involved (particular those who helped Alexi behind the scenes), and to the amazing Newcastle City Library for hosting. More blah will go up on the Canny Comic Con blog soon.

TWO! Top Cow ran an open submission Talent Hunt in the latter part of 2012 which will result in a paid gig for two writers and two artists. Alexi understands that it's good PR and that they probably got a sales spike from prospective creators buying comics to research the characters, but even so, he was impressed that Top Cow (or, specifically, editor Matt Hawkins) would take the time to run this kind of thing. It is admirable to see established comics publishers trying to engage with aspiring creators (apparently there were around 1100 entries!).

Anyway, mainly as an exercise in writing to a brief, Alexi decided to enter. He enjoyed the challenge, and produced a script (a slightly offbeat little story about pigeons and second chances) that he was pretty happy with. Along the way, he caught up with reading a variety of recent Top Cow comics. In honesty, Top Cow was not a publisher he had been paying much attention to in recent years, but he enjoyed catching up with their output. One title in particular stood out as excellent - David Hine and Jeremy Haun's new take on The Darkness, which is very human and engaging yet delightfully creepy and unsettling. If you're interested (and you should be), Alexi would point out that you can read the complete first trade for FREE here (legitimately)! Very much worth a go.

THREE! Alexi is currently getting involved in the Newcastle Science Comic, a fascinating project that will use COMICS to communicate SCIENCE to KIDS. Huzzah etc. Alexi is not exactly sure what form his direct creative input will be (if it will be involved at all), but he was recently at a launch event thing and heard a great many extremely interesting ideas whizzing around and is certain that the project is going to be aces.

Connecting with Disconnected

Alexi has been working on a story in the upcoming anthology Disconnected Vol. 2 from the excellent people at Disconnected Press. His story is called 'Plans' and has fabulous art by Nadine Ashworth.

Alexi was interested to hear last year that Lizzie and Conor were setting up Disconnected to publish some high quality comics anthologies - and he was delighted when he was invited to pitch for their second Disconnected book. The theme (things askew in small town settings) was so intriguing but so hard to pin down that it took a lot of thought for Alexi to come up with a story he was happy with, but eventually he managed 'Plans', a story of aspirations and regrets and the contrasts between the dreams of youth and the realities of ageing.

Disconnected Vol. 2 will be out at Thought Bubble and you can read a little bit about Alexi and Nadine and the story and the book by clicking this link.

Bayou'd be mad to miss it

Another project that Alexi Conman has contributed to that should see publication later this year is Bayou Arcana (Volume 1: Songs of Loss and Redemption), edited by Jimmy Pearson and published by Markosia.

Bayou Arcana is a 'southern gothic' fantasy/horror anthology of linked short stories (each with a different creative team) about a magical swamp and the community of escaped slaves who've made their home there. To make the structure even more complex, the creative teams are all made up of male writers and female artists to hopefully give the book an interesting and balanced artistic dynamic.

Alexi scripted a story called 'Tohopka', about a half-Hopi emotionally-repressed bounty hunter of that name, who sets out to capture the escaped slaves. Alexi is very pleased that the story is being drawn by Vicky Stonebridge, who has a really vibrant art style with a genuine sense of magic that will suit the book perfectly. With a host of other great talent involved, the book is sure to be a winner and Alexi is very much looking forward to seeing it complete.

For more info (including ordering options), Alexi urges you to visit the Markosia website.

Wood you believe it

Although Alexi failed to conquer the world in 2011, he maintains that goal for 2012. One of the comics projects that he's involved with that will be released this year is Into The Woods.

Conceived of and edited by the stupendous Stacey Whittle (of Small Press Big Mouth fame) with design and production by the astounding Andy Bloor (of Accent UK fame), it's a really varied anthology of fairytale stories, ranging from the light and fun to the dark and eerie.

Alexi scripted a four-page story (somewhat towards the dark and eerie end of the spectrum) called 'Changeling' for the book. As the completion deadline approached, things were looking uncertain for this little tale (due to a couple of changes in the project's artist roster), but at short notice, to Alexi's immense approval, one of the most hotly-tipped artists currently working in the UK small press stepped in - Conor Boyle. Aside from being ruddy good, he's lightning fast and turned in some great pages that Alexi thought made a tricky story work really well.

In addition to 'Changeling', the book features seven more stories:

• Nic Papaconstantinou, Bevis Musson and Filip Roncone - 'Amber And The Egg'
• Richard McAuliffe and Sara Dunkerton - 'Red Riding Hood'
• Scott Harrison, Lee Grice and Filip Roncone - 'The Madness From The Sea'
• Daniel Clifford, David Wynne and Ian Sharman - 'The Black Shoes'
• Lee Robson, Simon Wyatt and Filip Roncone - 'The Lang Pack'
• Ollie Masters and Valia Kapadai - 'Time For A Change'
• Matt Gibbs and Alice Duke - 'Samhain'
• Stu.Art - 'Blood & Sacrifice'

Plus pin-up/cover art from Graeme Howard, Vicky Stonebridge and Andy Bloor & Steve Howard.

Having seen much of the finished material, Alexi is mightily impressed with the high level of quality that's maintained throughout and urges you to pick up a copy when it's released at Cardiff International Comic & Animation Expo on 25th-26th February.

Bubble Quake Canny Future Thought

This weekend will be Leeds' Thought Bubble Festival comic con, now even bigger and spread over two days. Alexi Conman will be there. If Alexi sees you, he will likely urge you to buy some or all of the new publications that he has contributed to, including Zarjaz #12, Accent UK's Predators anthology and the hot-off-the-press FutureQuake #19 (cover by Michael Byrne).

You can get a full overview of the issue here. It includes two stories by Alexi (TWO! It's like an Alexi Conman special! Well, not really!). These are: 'Little Things' with art by Mike Bunt, and 'Scientific Progress Goes Bosh', art by Andrew Chiu. Alexi was really pleased with how both stories turned out (one's quite creepy and one's quite daft, he leaves you to guess which is which), the art in both is excellent, and Alexi hopes the FQ readers dig them.

In other news, against all rationality, Alexi himself seems to be organising a little comic festival. If you're going to be anywhere near Newcastle on 10th December and have any interest in comics, you should definitely learn more about the Canny Comic Con.

In the future, there will be quaking

Alexi Conman expects that you know of FutureQuake, yes? The long-running Eagle-nominated anthology comic, filled with quirky sci-fi stories, in the tradition of 2000AD's 'Future Shocks'?

Well Alexi is delighted that TWO stories that he has scripted are lined up to be appearing in the next issue!

Sneak peeks have been posted on the FutureQuake blog, check it out here and here!

Zarjaz #12 is available now...

It's time for a bit of info regarding Zarjaz #12, which is out now and includes the story 'Fat Chancers', written by Alexi Conman.

If you're not already aware, Zarjaz is a 2000AD fanzine comic anthology. However 'fanzine' is perhaps a little misleading as Zarjaz has been Eagle-nominated (for 'best British black & white comic'), and as well as featuring some of the best small press and indie comic creators from the UK and beyond, it often also features material from establised pros who've worked on 2000AD itself. For example, issue 12 features work by Alex Ronald and Liam Sharp, along with many other superbly talented folks, so Alexi was pleased to be in such esteemed company.

Alexi's story features Dredd-alike 'Judge Dury' investigating some corpulent criminals in a daft two page story with perfect art by Luis Chichon (see below, and check out a little before/after taster of the strip on Luis' blog).


There's a link round-up for the issue on The Quaequam blog and it's reviewed twice on the ECBT2000AD blog (here and here) and in episode 61 of the ECBT2000AD podcast. Alexi was delighted to find that the reviewers seemed amused by his silly little story and impressed by the comic in general, so Alexi suggests that you may like to purchase a copy here.

In other breaking news: Accent UK's Predators anthology (which features more Alexi Conman work) has been spotlighted in Previews for your pre-ordering pleasure (order code STK449777), see the Accent UK blog for further details.

Drokk!

Alexi suggests that you check out the info on the Quaequam Blog concerning Zarjaz #12. You will see that this forthcoming publication will include the story 'Tales of Mega-City One: Fat Chancers', written by Alexi Conman, art by Luis Chichon (sample here!) - along with assorted other 2000AD-flavour tremendousness by many talented folks and a scrotnig cover shown above (by Alex Ronald).

An arachnid and fatties

A couple of stories written by Alexi Conman will be hitting print relatively soon.

First up, in Accent UK's latest anthology, Predators, is 'Spider', a five-pager brilliantly drawn by Crispian Woolford (see a sample of his line art for the story here). Alexi describes it as a little kind of meditation on motivation in relation to predation - because he is a bit pretentious.

Next, hitting the world in an issue of top 2000AD fanzine comic Zarjaz, is 'Fat Chancers', a daft two-page 'Tales of Mega-City One' story inspired by some jokey suggestions from the editor at a post-convention night out which Alexi took seriously (he is serious about all things!). A little more info and a sample of the fantastic art by Luis Chichon is here.

Alexi predictably urges everyone to keep a keen eye out for these fine publications.

An Even Bigger Bang

Jack Fallows, geordie comics wunderkind, is releasing the second issue of The Big Bang at Leeds' Thought Bubble comics festival this weekend.

Alexi assists (or hinders) Jack with this comic with a little bit of writing, editorial suggestions and suchlike, and is delighted to see such a fine product, testament to Jack's awesomeness.

This continues the story from last year's first issue and if you are not already familiar with it (why not? Alexi suggests you purchase the first issue from Jack's Etsy shop), it concerns a variety of people dealing with an unexplained event (that may or may not be described as a kind of large bang of some type) and themselves. Oddness! Pathos! Cake!

Alexi assures you that it is excellent stuff and well worth investigating.

And if you are admiring Jack's fine cover image above, then check out his blog where he explains how he made it.

Indie anthology rises from the flames but needs your help to survive!

Persons following the world of small and independent comics publishing may have heard about the recent, somewhat acrimonious, disintegration of ambitious UK independent graphic novel publisher Insomnia Publications.

They'd put out some really good books, including the Layer Zero: Choices anthology, which includes a story scripted by Alexi. There were a lot of talented up-and-coming creators involved with the company and having met quite a few, Alexi found them all to be highly capable, professional, and enthusiastic, so he considers it all a particular shame that the venture collapsed.

Whilst the creators who had graphic novels in the works have the unenviable task of negotiating the return of the rights to their work, there is one project that is already rising from the proverbial flames. The next anthology book was, coincidentally enough, going to be 'survival' themed, so it's perhaps fitting that the creators involved have banded together as the 'Sleepless Phoenix' collective to keep the project going and publish the anthology as Survival Stories. Alexi has scripted a story that will be appearing and thinks it looks like it's shaping up to be a dang fine book.

If the heroic journey to bring the book together and the fact that it's full of quality sequential art including new Alexi Conman work isn't enough to interest you, it's also extra worthy as all profits will be going to the Comic Book Alliance (a UK organisation who, despite the use of Comic Sans on their website, seem noble-minded folk with aims like helping comic creators in legal disputes, promoting comics, running education projects and suchlike).

However, printing requires the dollar dollar bill y'all, and to that end, Sleepless Phoenix have set up a pledging page, where, basically, you can pre-order the book, and if they get enough pledges, the book gets printed, huzzah! For less than a tenner you get the anthology (nearly 200 pages of comics), alternatively, if you're a high-tech comic reader you can get a digital download of the book for just a few quid, or, if you're feeling flush, pledge larger amounts and get super spiffy extra shiz like sketches and undying gratitude.

So Alexi would urge you to investigate this, not for his sake, but for your own - because it's going to be a pretty tremendous book! Check it out HERE.

A beginning...

The prodigiously talented (and depressingly youthful) Jack Fallows is set to release the first issue of his possibly three-part saga, The Big Bang, at Leeds' Thoughtbubble comic convention.

Alexi Conman provided some minimal editorial assistance to Mr. Fallows in this project (basically just offering him ill-considered suggestions and ungrounded analysis throughout the creative process) but entirely without bias recommends that anyone in the market for a blackly comic look at human foibles, arty and offbeat but unpretentious, with a vaguely Dan Clowes kind of vibe, will thoroughly enjoy this excellent comic.

It can be purchased at Thoughtbubble or probably later from Jack's Etsy shop.

Choose Life

Alexi Conman is fairly chuffed to find that stories that he's scripted will be appearing in TWO books being released at the Bristol Comics Expo. As well as Accent UK's Western anthology (mentioned previously), Insomnia Publications' latest Layer Zero anthology, Choices, will be unveiled at Bristol too. Wooha!

'Red Wire, Blue Wire', a five-pager with awesome art by Larry Watts, will be in amongst a whole load of other awesomeness being showcased in this fine collection. For anyone who may be attending Bristol, Insomnia are doing special convention rate deals on many of their books, you lucky lucky people.

Insomnia have really come hurtling into the UK independent comics scene over the past year or two - as well as Choices, they've got a highly anticipated new graphic novel coming out at Bristol (Cancertown, featuring an intro by Bryan Talbot) and a really substantial slate of projects coming soon, so keep an eye out for them. Their website is currently under reconstruction but check out their blog for all the latest info.

Go West

The latest anthology from the fine people at Accent UK is now at the printers. It's Western (y'know, cowboys and that) themed and Alexi Conman has written a six page story, with art by the awesome Nic Wilkinson, that will be appearing in it - alongside other excellent work from UK and international talent.

It should be released on an unsuspecting public at this year's Bristol Comics Expo in May, and, fingers crossed, will be distributed through Diamond in the future. You can have a look at the contents and sample pages by following the 'publications' link on the Accent UK site.

It's a safe bet that Western will continue Accent UK's record of quality, further establishing them as one of the brightest lights in UK independent comic publishing.