Marc Ellerby

Hey kids,

I've got loads of books for sale at thewebsite.

I've written and drawn a 14 page comic called "I Went Away" in the new Image anthology "This Is A Souvenir". The idea of the anthology is that the comics are based on songs by the band Spearmint and their songwriter Shirley Lee, much like their Tori Amos and Belle & Sebastian anthologies. The only thing is, not that many people have actually heard of Spearmint and I must admit to being one of them. I popped into Gosh yesterday and chatted to a clerk and they're all convinced that Spearmint don't actually exist and they're made up. Which, sounds like something Matt Sheret would put together - an anthology based on song lyrics by a band that doesn't actually exist.

Anyway, this stuff's kinda seven months old. To me, it looks dated already but to you it might still look Ellerby enough to be enjoyed. Regardless of which, there are some other people I quite like in there, like Chynna Glugston, Jamie S. Rich and (ugh) the Phonogram boys, so it is worth a look even if you don't know anything about the band.

( Read more... )

Saw Jaguar Love last night with Rachel. I don't think we were actually looking forward to it at all, so we went and hung out at the pub till they came on at 10. The sound was horrible, the audience about half full (if that) but somehow they turned in a great show. I admit I was dubious as I <3 the Blood Brothers to bits, but I can see where this natural progression came to. It's also slightly ludicrous and powerpoppy and fun and a hint of sleazy soul. I dug. I really dug. I didn't think I was going to.

I met Johnny after the show.
J:"What's your name?"
M:"Marc"
J:"Mar?"
M:"MarC!"
J"Oh I thought you said Mar!"
M:"I should change it to Mar..."
J:"MarMarMarMar"
M&J:"MarMarMarBarBarBarMarMarBarbar"

Yeah no sense...



I also got Smash Bros Brawl the other day, god it's taken FOREVER to come out over here in the UK. Anyway, I have a friends code apparently and it's 369515754798 so if you want to beat me (quite easily) then add me yeah? I'm super surprised how good Kirby is, that useless fucking BLOB.



Brandon Graham's putting King City 2 up on his livejournal because Tokyopop are officially a bunch of useless shits (it's not just the artists getting fed with them, as a bookstore we're sick of receiving their books that just sit there and don't sell when they're taking up space from Naruto 30, y'know?) Anyway, vol 1 is one of the most enjoyable comics I've ever read (seriously) so take a look at vol 2...

http://royalboiler.livejournal.com/11936.html#cutid1

Spread the word...

I drew this in late 2006, but I think it eventually came out around February 2007. It was to tie in with an exhibition of the same name that my friend John was putting on in Brick Lane - I thought the show was great, mainly because old friends were reunited and as a force we kicked some arty arse. Dev from Lightspeed Champion stopped by. I stressed out thinking that I was a massive failure and I'm pretty sure my ex girlfriend Sarah came too and I freaked out about that too.

Anyway, this comic is about an other ex girlfriend of mine, Holly. You can explore this journal for embarrassing, lovey dovey, angsty entries about her but I really wouldn't if I were you. I thought for a long time that I only really made decent work when it was about or for her. That she somehow had this control over my artist abilities, that everything I created, I wanted to make for her approval. It was a weird time, like she broke up with me before I started this and it was obvious to everyone that she had treated me wrong and I couldn't let go but for me I still saw so much in her. I'm much wiser now though (well...maybe not wiser)

I really like this comic, it's a bit flat in places and maybe doesn't hit the right notes, but I still think it holds it's own a year on. I made it into a mini comic and it's sold out now (there might be a few copies at Dave's Comics in Brighton...) so I present to you the first mini I ever made and sold in it's entirety. A couple of hundred are out there in the world and I hope everyone enjoyed them.

Lemme know what you think and feel free to spread this link around.

Enjoy!

( Click to read )

Hey kids, it's new mini time!



Ellerbisms £3 (UK price includes P+P)

Speed Trail £2 (UK price includes P+P)

For more photos check out the flickr set and for those not in the UK please email me (marclrb at gmail dot com) before purchasing and we'll work out P+P. I am trying to get someone in the US to sell my books over there so you might want to wait for that...

But yeah, I sold half my Ellerbisms stash at the UK Web & Mini Comix Thing on Saturday and the show was a huge success for me overall, so if you want a 'Bism, get in quick! Adam sold a shit load too and we work so well together, I sorta want to do every convention with him now, the kids loved our banter and brownies! So yeah, thanks to everyone who came out and uber thanks for making it so successful for both of us. I'm actually stunned at the reception and the money I took. Amazing.

Yeah kids, the annual Thing is happening this Saturday at the Great Hall, Queen Mary University, Mile End, London, England, The World. It's open between 10am and 5pm and tickets to civilians are £4.

What the hell am I selling? I'm bringing Venal Muse, Polar Opposites, LTWYL 2-5, Badges (Buttons) and most importantly my 2 brand new minis.



The long awaited (by my girlfriend...) collection of Ellerbisms Vol 1. This includes some never seen before strips and the cover is printed on really nice recycled card. I've got such a boner for those Kurosagi Corpse Delivery comics at the moment and wanted something which was similar to them while being robust and different to the last minis I made. I'm so pleased how these came out, they're the best looking comics I've made yet.



Second is the mini version of my Hourly Comic and is limited to 150 copies. That's 150 copies EVER! So if you want one get in quick. The covers for these are printed on recycled card too, so the illustration above doesn't do it justice- the yellow gives a nice screenprinted effect on the brown card. These are A6 in size and look really cute all stacked up.

Click here to see the cover spreads in full. Fans of the 'OM!' picture will be pretty pleased ;)

Anna's been helping my staple and cut and fold these so massive thanks to her as I would be days behind schedule if it weren't for her.

I'll be selling these on line from Monday and they'll be cheaper than Venal Muse and Polar Opposites as I've Learnt My Lesson Regarding The Selling Of Mini Comics. Oh and speaking of which, I'm letting Venal Muse go out of print this year and when they all go, I'll put it online.

Americans who want some might want to hold off buying anything yet as I'm looking at getting a US distributor set up so I don't end up charging the world for postage.

So hopefully see you there?

As much as you guys love not having a new issue of Love The Way You Love come out, I'm pleased to announce that I have now finished drawing volume 6 and next week, Adam and myself will get our rush on and tone the fucker. Here's a page I like with lots of blah blah blah...



Ugh. More details when I don't have to go to work.

Also: Michael Cera as Scott Pilgrim...old news mate, but still, oooooooooooooooooooh!!

This is from John Cei Douglas' Fuckr page and is a shot from Gosh's self published section, What I really like is spotting not only my own Polar Opposites on the bottom shelf, but Anas Awad up the top and John himself on the second shelf down.



This has got me thinking about the small press scene in England. There's a lot of stuff that I'm really enjoying at the moment, I just wish there was more of it. Stuff like Lizz Lunney's books. They're so innocent and crudely drawn but there's something hilarious about them, Lizz has perfect comic timing mixed with a obscure and out there sense of humour, it's a bit like Harry Hill's stuff mixed with Simone Lia, but they're totally her own and I love them to bits.



Steve Larder who does Rum Lad, which isn't a comic, but does have little blasts of narrative throughout, is another little gem. Essentially a collection of single page illustrations/sketchbook stuff with hand written diary entries detailing what he did on a particular day, his Duncan Fergredo-esque style is at times, both rough yet refined. I really enjoy the parts (in #3) where he d draw band scenes and then that would drift into shots of boating towns and docks. From the extreme and heavy use of black ink to the quiet and gentle nature of empty towns, it's really effective.



Liz Greenfield really isn't English, she's from some...where...European? Dutchland? I dunno...but anyway, she lives here so whatever, I really fucking love her new auto bio stuff. She used to do Stuff Sucks, which my girlfriend loves but I never really got into, but with her new stuff is genuinely hilarious, in a 'lol' way. She put out a collection of these recently, so go to her store and order it, I think I've read it a thousand times now.



Thom Dowse's stuff is also stunning. Whereas he's pretty precious about his work, his line work is rough and spontaneous. His work mainly deals with his surroundings, though this is from a strip that he worked on dealing with some guy getting sunstroke and then going mental thinking he's a hunter. You can't buy any of his stuff and he doesn't put anything out nearly enough, but man, that's pretty, right?



I'm liking Adam Cadwell's journal comics, The Everyday, too. He puts out these really nice minis that are printed on lovely textured paper and he sells them for a fucking pound! A POUND! And there's my little penguin strip book going for £2.50...the swine's undercutting me! Anyway, yeah there's like 8 of these mini collections available and they're always worth checking out. I dunno why, as he's a totaly nob.

Anyway, I just wish there was more of us, we'd be unstoppable if we just got our arses in gear and put out more stuff on a regular basis. There's a guy from Norway who I used to go to uni with called Martin Ernstsen and he's put out like 3 or 4 minis this year. Puts me to shame, absolute shame. I hope to god the Mini comic thing in Mile End in March isn't a total shambles and we all come out the wood work and go TA-DA!!!!

Ugh, this took too long...but yeah, check out the links and spend some money, they all totally deserve it.

You'll notice with these batch of Ellerbisms that I don't move the camera at all and it's all very stationary looking. Well you'll be pleased to know that this changes soon as it's HARD TO PULL OFF. This is what I like about Ellerbisms, the way I can experiment with my comics and see what works and what doesn't work.

Oh and here's my Observer/ComICA competition entry that probably won't win. It's a redrawn Ellerbism. Click to enlarge...

Yeah, so, the Collected Edition of Love The Way You Love is finally coming and the two images above are the "extras". Obviously, click to enlarge.

After being stalled and canceled it's now back on the plate after Borders sent in a load of orders for it. So it's going to bookstores FIRST and should be out in a couple of weeks in time for Stumptown and THEN be in comic stores some time after that? I have no idea how it works. I seriously just draw the damn thing...

Speaking of which I've been hella busy this week. Having no internet has been a godsend (even if it did mean crashing round Matt Voi's house to use his connection, thanks pal!) and it means I've been really productive. Love The Way 6 is gearing up after an initial stumbling block and I've been busy doing flyers and the odd pin up. When I'm allowed to post whatever I can, I certainly will. I've been quietly pleased with my stuff recently and learning from past mistakes and there's an urge...an actual desire to change and adapt my style. Exciting times ahead.

Also got an email to go back to my University to do another day's teaching (with Thom Vomit) in a few weeks. That should be a lot of fun. I really enjoyed myself last time and this time it's with nonchalant 3rd years, so lucky for us! I jest, I just hope they're interested in what we have to say. I remember the amount of time a lecturer would come in and bore me to tears. I might bring in some whoopie cushions and some party poppers and blow their freaking minds!

EDIT TO ADD:

Cheers to everyone who said nice things about the Last Hours illustration. I always get nervous about posting my stuff on line, so that really unexpected. Thanks!

In other news, come to this!



I won't be there in person, but will be there in product. Some Venal Muses and a few Polar Opposites will share the table with works by John Casey, Thom Dowse, Ben Myers, Alexis Goodwin and others. It's free to go, apparently they'll be music from Pariah. I'd like to go, but y'know, day job.

Speaking of Polar Opposites, that's now sold out (from me, at least). I was bitching the other day to Rachel that no one was taking to it in the same way of Venal Muse, but then remembered I sold quite a few in San Diego and then people started buying 2/3 copies of them and then suddenly, gone. I will reprint it but maybe not for a couple of weeks. Shit took ages to cut last time.

If you want a copy you can buy them from the following stores...

Page 45, Nottingham
Gosh, London
Travelling Man, Newcastle.

Page 45 have always been good to me (well, when it comes to my minis, anyway) and they offer a mail order service so I'm sure they'll let you buy P.O from them.

I'm planning on doing my Observer/Jonathan Cape Competition entry today. Ugh. It's a bit cute, but then..fucking cute is where it's at, right?!