Crazy Mary goes Wow

ROK Comic creator Mike Colbert - despite juggling his work behind the scenes on My Name is Earl and home life as a new dad ("My baby is 3.5 months old and I'm amazed I'm able to get this e-mail off to you," he tells us) - reports he's busy with several comics projects.

ROK Comics strip Crazy Mary is now available on www.wowio.com for free download (US only) with the four-issue story The Hunt for Dano Corvair being coloured now with an eye on a July release, also on wowio.

"Federico Zumel (Crazy Mary - Chase) did the pencils," syas Mike, "Larry Brown is colouring, Nathan Kroll is inking and E.T. Dollman is lettering."

Mike's also had time to revamp his web site (www.whoiscrazymary.com), with more on the way, and has been writing comic reviews for www.comicsbulletin.com.

"I've also written a story for William Blankenship's comic series Special Edition, he reveals. The story is called "Spak Daxler: Hero of the Ages!" and it's a big dumb superhero fight with a giant mutant cybernetic lizard and all that implies. William has the pages inked and is heading into the coloring stage now. Release is TBD."

"I sold a story to Darkslinger Comics for their series Ghost Assassin called "Unfinished Business". An artist is being chosen now."

In more Crazy Mary-related news, artist J.K. Woodward, who drew the first two stories and Fallen Angel, will see his Marvel debut, X-Men Origins - Beast released as a collection in September. "Yours truly rocks a cameo in it as a jock who teases Hank McCoy," says Mike.

As for season four of My Name is Earl, Mike tells us "So far, we've had Seth Green and Jerry Van Dyke as guest stars, made Randy a cheerleader and blown up Pigsquatch!"

Lloyd's Highgate talk

Kickback and V for Vendetta artist David Lloyd is giving a talk at the Highgate Library in London at 7.15pm on Wednesday, 25th June. Admission is fre but to book a place call 020 8489 8772

David will be talking about his latest work Kickback, and the experience of being a graphic novelist.

Highgate Library is at 1 Shepherd Hill, London N6 5QJ

Admission is free and refreshments will be available.

• A four-part free preview of Kickback is available via ROK Comics

Vampires descend on ROK Comics!

Rodrigo Diaz Ricci's new Liegia comic strip is proving quite a hit: a Spanish language site, vampioros.cl, has just posted an interview with the creator which may be of interest (if you can read Spanish!)

Ligeia, created by Rodrigo is a vampire living in Rumania, and the strip can now be downloaded on any cellphone in the world. You only need to have a connection WAP.

"I created Ligeia in the summer of the 2006 in Italy," says Rodrigo. "I was inspirèd by Edgar Allan Poe: I needed a vampire with a certain touch irony. Originally pitched as graphic novel to an Italian publisher Liegia has since, incredibly given the strip's popularity on ComicSpace, been "buried" on Rodrigo's computer until it found its new ROK Comics home.

• Read Liegia on ROK Comics

Creating WebComics: A Brief Guide

An article on creating WebComics has just been posted on downthetubes.net, which includes information on creating strips for comcis-to-mobile service ROK Comics.

It includes some other links which may be of interest to would be or indeed existing webcomic creators.

If you've got any thoughts on the subject yourself, please feel free to leave your comments here.

And talking of webcomics, what better moment than to mention Ian Stacey's arrival on ROK Comics, a much-praised cartoonist with a great eye for fun. Welcome aboard, Ian!

Win Roy of the Rovers Books!

Note: This competition has now closed

The UK’s teams may be missing out Euro 2008 this summer, but Titan Books is bringing football home with the publication of a new series of books collecting the comic strips of Britain’s most famous fantasy footballer: Roy Race.

The Best of Roy of the Rovers: The 1980s [Titan Books, 13 June 2008, £9.99] is the first in a brand new series of bumper volumes collecting Roy’s thrilling comic strip escapades. Featuring some of Roy’s greatest matches and adventures from the early 1980s, this incredible collection is a must-have for footie fans of all ages. Thrill once more to the roar of the crowd, as Roy and Melchester Rovers face trials and tribulations on and off the pitch, including the threat of relegation, Roy’s marriage troubles, and an assassin’s bullet!

Collected together with an introduction from Gary Lineker, these are the tales that endeared Roy of the Rovers to a generation.

• For information on Roy of the Rovers visit the official website www.royoftherovers.com

• Roy of the Rovers: England Manager is also being serialized via ROK Comics