Marc Ellerby

Love The Way You Love Side B
Due out in August from Oni Press.
You can pre-order from here (though obviously the cover's wrong on there...)

Here's the back cover too.



Saw Blonde Redhead last night. Pretty good, Holy Fuck were supporting and they blew my FACE OFF.

I am pleased to inform you that the art and tones for Love The Way You Love #6 is now complete. I'm extremely pleased with how it turned out and failing any mishaps should be in stores in June. That's it. Done. THE. END.

I can only apologise to the fans who might be reading this who have had to wait so long for it to come out. As you might know I suffered from an extreme case of R.S.I in around October/November last year which caused a complete halt in my drawing. The problem actually wasn't in my wrist but was due to a muscle build up in my neck which then caused the rest of my arm to...well...not work. Major thanks to Toby my physio who ironed out my problems and there's still some irritation there but I can work through it.

Today also saw the new episode of Panel Borders go up here which is a podcast about the UK comic scene. This particular episode talks with some of the exhibitors at the UK Web & Mini Comix Thing that was held in March. I'm not in it, but Oliver, the guest host, interviewed Anna, my girlfriend about her experience at the con. And not me. Really. Hilarity ensued at the time. Adam's on there too. For all of 5 seconds.

Now, fair game, I was in the loo at the time when they started and I think Anna makes some great points regarding the outsider interest of comics, however I do have a bit of a problem with the part where he calls Anna my "booth babe" which I do think is a bit condescending and degrading for her. She's a major part in helping me put my minis together and her time and effort means much more to me than just some girl who brings in punters at my stall. Would Liz Greenfield's boyfriend Rob be classed as "table totty" or be implied that his sex brings in punters? No of course not, it's only because Anna's a girl and that's why she's a booth babe. Truth be told she was sat on the floor when she was at my table because there were no seats! Plus the majority of my customers are usually girls.

Also, if she didn't help me out I probably wouldn't have been able to keep drawing LTWYL and put 250 minis together. It's probably meant to come across in a tongue in cheek way, but I just needed to get out there that she's a vital part of me being able to do this.

Anyway, the podcast talks about the difference between the UK Web & Mini Thing and the "rival" event being held on the same day in Camden, The what would appear to be The Second Coming Of Christ Underground Comic Stall. The background here is, the Thing put up their table prices and the guys behind the Camden stall (which has been running for about 6 months I think?) invited people who were not happy with the Thing to come and sit at their stall which was going to run anyway because it runs every Saturday. Sides were drawn up, etc.

For me personally, the UK Thing was a huge success and I certainly don't think I would of taken £180 from exhibiting on the Camden stall. Yeah the Thing hall was freezing cold, charging people for entry was really shit, the organiser didn't introduce himself only when he was shouting from the stairs and the price of the table for one day was the same for the whole weekend at Bristol (who haven't raised their prices in 9 years) but the irony is I had a better con than I did at Thought Bubble where, the table was cheaper, the hospitality was amazing, the room was warm but I made a loss. Swings and roundabouts, kids,.

So yeah, give it a listen. Mike Rouse Dean makes some good points (as always) plus it's always good to keep up to date with what the UK scene is up to. I'm intrigued about the Camden stall and want to try out my stuff there...if they'll have me, that is.

But yeah, Love The Way You Love = DONE.

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!!

I've restocked most of the items from my webstore, though be quick because numbers are limited. The biggest addition is probably Love The Way You Love Volumes 3 - 5. Wow, the cursed issue (3) finally makes an appearance 11 months after coming out. Don't start me off :)




So yeah, Polar Opposites are back in stock and I've lowered the price for Venal Muse (also back in stock). I've sold out of LTWYL 1 and the Belle and Sebastian GN. Not sure what I'll do about LTWYL #1, it does seem to sell the most at conventions so I *might* get it back in stock. Stay tuned! Mike Carey brought one of the last B&S's so blame him if you wanted one...

Click!

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:

Love The Way You Love #5 is out this week (15th August) so be on the look out for it.

This issue: Fighting. Tristan Vs Marcus!

Why are they fighting? Who will win? Why is Isobel avoiding Tristan? Why is Lance covering Elvis Costello songs at twice the normal speed? Find out the answers to these and many more this week!

Here's a preview...

Cover:



Pages 23-25







Pages 33-37










I think this issue ties with 4 as my favourite. Ach, it's too hard to decide! The series has really come into it's own and I'm really pleased with my work on this issue. Really, really, really, really pleased. We don't get reviews anymore but the feedback from SDCC was pretty positive.

I'm wrapping up the extras for the LTWYL trade tonight. DON'T WORRY. I'll put all the extras up on LJ because, like most people, I hate it when you buy the singles only to find out that there's extra stuff going in the trade. I'll keep you informed.

Also there might be a German edition soon? Fingers crossed, eh?

The FOURTH issue of Love The Way comes out this week. Wednesday in the US, Thursday in the UK.



For those not in the know there's a 12 page preview up on my site at the moment. Check that out, if you like.



Also, Jamie's put up (for a limited time) a PDF of the entire first issue here so if you like, you can download it and see where it all began.

On a personal note, the art is nothing like it is now. Well there's hints of it, but I've seriously moved on as an artist and it's weird to see this older (less confident) style sit next to the stuff I'm doing now. However, I still like it, perhaps just don't enjoy looking at it much. That's just me though!

You can buy Love The Way You Love online. I have issues 1 & 2 (because Oni and the UK Post Office don't seem to get along, I've never received vol 3) for sale on my site. If you live in the US, you can buy the books from Oni directly or from Mars Import (US). If you live in the UK, which most of you do, well I guess you'll just have to wait until I get 3 & 4 in? You can buy 4 from Forbidden Planet Online if you want? Yes this does suck. Sorry.

I've just updated my website with a 12 page preview of Love The Way You Love #4 which should hopefully be in some stores this week and the rest the next.

Here's that post I was trying to post yesterday but failed. Yeah thanks Livejournal, jesus...

I am alive. I really am. I just don't seem to blog much anymore, which I guess is a crying shame because that means all you guys can't pick on me. Seriously, what is with that?

Anyway, here's a list of things I am doing at the moment.

• LTWYL #5. Past the half way mark, I'm sorta hoping this is out for San Diego (which would be the quickest turn around in the series yet) but I'm optimistic at best. It's looking quite nice.

• I started up my comic journal/diary again. You can read the old one from years ago here. The new one will go on line in a few days, but I fell a bit behind as I started doing it a few days before I went to ATP and obviously I was too wrecked to even think about it let alone draw it, so I'm catching up. Hopefully it'll be updated daily, but I'm not promising. I'm thinking about calling it ELLERBISIMS though...haha, that might be shit.

Why am I doing it? Well there's pretty much nothing new on my website and most of the comics are from a few years ago, so this way people can see what my style's currently like. Plus it means I get to draw for myself at least once a day.

• Polar Opposites Collection. Redrawn strips and new ones too. This will be at San Diego. This is going to be amazing! No lie.

Here's the cover! It'll come in a variety of colours. Hooray!

( Under the cut! )

• Oh and I guess this one's just a reminder that I still have some Venal Muses left (and will have them in San Diego too) but you know...you can buy it now if you want?

Click here for the store. £5 including P+P a free Eyesore Zine and CD, plus postcard yadda yadda.

So the toning/lettering frenzy continues. This is my own fault as I left the one thing I hate till last whereas I should of done it bursts of maybe 5 or 6? Something to think about next time I guess. To try and speed myself up I've loaded my Itunes with loads of noisey raaaaaaaa to zoom me along. Converge, High On Fire, Plot To Blow Up Eiffel Tower, yadda yadda. My neighbours probably hate me. Hell, YOU probably hate me just talking about it.

Anyway, I had a blood test yesterday because I've been feeling really lethargic and nearly falling asleep around 3 in the afternoon despite sleeping for a good 10 hours. Now I never get woozy when I get a blood test but when the nurse stuck that bastard needle thing in me I nearly took a chuck out of my bottom lip I was biting so hard. On the note for my blood test under "Concerns" it said "Tired" which is the lamest excuse for a blood test ever. They could of just wrote "awwww needs a good nap nap" or something equally silly.



Matt brought the first season of Oz round the other day. When it was shown over here it fell under the radar and I must of been 14 so I wouldn't of got anything, but now, oh man, what a show. If you have one of those Amazon rental things or the like, get Season One and just sit down on a Sunday and soak it all in (it's only 8 episodes too.) Like other HBO shows it's the sort of show that you find yourself staying up to 3 in the morning because of you've said "oh just another episode before bed" about 4 times. It's sort of weird to see Michael and Mr Ecko from Lost playing...well NOT Michael and Mr Ecko.



Oh and new Polar Opposites for those who care. Hmmm. Where is it appearing? ( Well click and bloody find out! )

There are three things I hate about comics. Literally detest them. They are toning, lettering and stapling. Luckily for me the third doesn't apply with Love The Way You Love, however the first two do and I'm knee deep in a tone-a-rama letter-hoopla hate fest. I've finished drawing the (late) fourth issue, BUT I have 27(!!!!!) pages to finish ala colouring and placing the text. UGH! I like the finished result and wouldn't let anyone else do it anyway if given the chance (read: control freak), but it's just so boooooooring. Hence me blogging about it. I haven't been out the house apart from to go to work because of these lousy buggers. EXHALES LOUDLY.

Good times though, yeah!?!

I don't know what it is about Trail of Dead and Livejournal, but they seem to be going oddly hand in hand recently. I found this Peel session from 2000 on The Runout Groove blog and had to share as it's fucking amazing! A horrible reminder of the force that they used to be and though they can still cut it live to an extent, not like this they bloody can't.

Setlist!

Mistakes & Regrets
Mark David Chapman
Gargoyle Waiting
Richter Scale Madness
Aged Dolls
A Perfect Teenhood.

Click to download, yes.

Oh and Venal Muse has been sent to a shop here and there. Page 45 in Nottingham have 10, Traveling Man in Newcastle are going to taKe 10 if the guy ever emails me back. I'm trying Gosh in London and Dave's Comics in Brighton (maybe the Permanent Gallery too) but if anyone knows of any other indie stores that'll take it, lemme know.



I've been really enjoying Charlotte Gainsbourg's stuff at the moment. Shallowly (is that a word?) enough, it was really only because I thought she was cute in Science of Sleep but was curious enough to see what her delicate tones could bring to music. Anyway! I text Tara asking if she had a connection to Air because her 5:55 album is "dreamy and frenchy." She told me to "fuck off and google it", so I fucking did. Turns out that yes Air provided all the music and get this, Nigel flaming Godrich produced it and ol' Jarvis Cocker and Neil Hannon turned up to help out too! Well as if the indie boy in me wasn't hard enough I'm practically drowning in tweady jizz at the moment. Lovely stuff (not that metaphor though, we all could of done without that)

Sigh...I better crack on before Jamie YELLS AT ME SOME MORE.

Pulse Interview with my goodself, here!

Sample:

THE PULSE: Are you a fan of the type of music Like A Dog, the band the stars of this comic are in, performs? Who are some of your favorite musicians/groups?

ELLERBY: Urrm, yes and no. I like *some* British indie like later Blur and of course The Smiths, but not to the extent that Jamie does (if that's even possible!). I just find a lot of it kinda samey. I was too young for Britpop, that one just sorta passed me by, but Phonogram's filling me in with what I missed. Haha.

See, I'm topical and charming (and by "charming" I mean, "a piece of shit.")

Check it out anyway, I swear a bunch and ramble on about Six Feet Under and Andi Watson. There's also preview images from issues 3 AND 4 of Love The Way You Love. Enjoy, kiddos, I'm off to ATP in the morning to get my face raped off by droney noise bands in Somerset. Yay?

The Love The Way You Love press machine props up again, this time at the Pulse website. This interview's with Jamie, I'm told my answers are so great they'll have to wait till December when issue three comes out. Yeah...go figure.

The article's pretty easy going, there's some pages from 3 in there. I got similar questions, my answers were pretty sweary. I'm so angsty!

Oh and Marc Ellerby and his products now come to you through a brand new 20" iMac. Here's me enjoying it through my iChat cam.



I think this might of been the worst livejournal update ever...