#197: Cleaning house
And the last gasp of Paddywhackery
Welcome to DECLARATIONS a bi-weekly newsletter by artist/writer Declan Shalvey.
This is a regular workblog featuring exclusive peeks at upcoming projects with advance releases of original art/merchandise.
ALL THE LATEST
Was doing a lot of moving in the last week, while chipping away at work. Also some touristy stuff with Paul Azaceta before I sent him on his way. We had some lovely weather too which was the icing on the cake.
With all the new sunshine, and going through a big move, I’m going thorough a bit of a mental reboot. While packing everything up, I found some old jems [one of which was a lovely pair of glasses I’d forgotten about and lost them that night while out drinking], wonderful books that were at the bottom of some pile I hadn’t looked at in a few years, etc. I’m looking to streamline things a bit for the rest of the year as I kick off some new projects.
So yes, I’ve moved into a new space. I’m still getting things together, but with this ‘reboot’ I’m trying to take some time to organise my files, update to a new laptop, etc.
I’m all moved now, with the above setup for the next few months. Here’s the latest Worklog:
Wrote PROJECT SILENCE #2
Wrote THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4
Wrote outline for Negative Burn short story
Wrote first outline draft; PROJECT AXIS
Pencilled 2x London MCM commissions
Pencilled/inked PROJECT SILENCE cover
Inked/live-streamed one London MCM commission
Gave two friends some feedback on their creator owned pitches
-DC Comics have released my variant cover for DETECTIVE COMICS #1111! I had such a blast working on this.
-I got my trade and hardcover comps for TERMINATOR: Vol 1 in the post. It came out great, it’s a really nice package. Will bring some trade copies to London MCM in a week or so.
-The script for PROJECT SILENCE #2 is in. Very much enjoying this mini-series and hello, what’s this…?
I’m also doing covers for this series, here’s a tease from the first…
-More art is rolling in on PROJECT ARCA and I couldn’t be happier. Will need to write more of this soon.
-I’ve been making progress on another creator owned project that I’m going to call PROJECT AXIS. Been trying to spend some time to develop this along with everything else I’ve had on but have finally makereal progress and pretty much have the whole concept and team worked out now.
-Saw this online a week or so ago, a look at the Wintermorph from my ALIEN run with Andrea Broccardo, focusing on the annual I did with Danny Earls.
-I’m currently preparing a workshop [or trying to] for a local arts group. It’s essentially a version of the classes I used to do doe the Irish Writer’s Center in Dublin years back. I’m pretty rusty though, and would like to do something more updated.
-I’ll be a guest at Florida Supercon on July 10-12th. Been a few years since I’ve been to Miami, looking forward to going back.
-With the new studio space comes a new studio buddy. I think you’ll all agree he is a big step up from Paul Azaceta.
This face is very hard to walk away from when I need to go to the shops though…
ART DECO
I got a couple commissions via the previous Declarations post.
Have made a start on them with …BATMAN
You can watch the livestream from yesterday here…
Last chance to grab one [one spot remaining] if you’re heading to London MCM this week!
PADDYWHACKERY
Longtime readers of Declarations will know I released two Irish-set crime ‘Paddywhackery’ graphic novels. The first was SAVAGE TOWN, a Limerick-set Sopranos-type story with cartoonist Philip Barrett. The second was a survivalist story set in the Dublin mountains with Gavin Fullerton [THE CLOSET, EXQUISITE CORPSES] called BOG BODIES. Both were creative highlights for me where I got to stretch myself as a writer and expand in different creative avenues.
It seems both books have reached their widest audience as Image Comics have decided to liquidate the remaining stock of both books later this week. I can’t complain, Image took a risk putting out these odd Irish-tinged books, especially SAVAGE TOWN which was by an as-yet unproven writer over 10 years ago. Both books both did well [BOG BODIES even getting a second printing, SAVAGE TOWN optioned by Lighthouse Studios] but they have been out a good few years at this point and storage costs are eating away at us.
So, I wanted to give these books a final plug. I may have some copies at shows in future but NOW is the final opportunity to order them from your local comic shop, or via Amazon links below…
SAVAGE TOWN Amazon [US] /[UK]
BOG BODIES Amazon [US] /[UK]
If you haven’t tried these books out yet, I urge you to try them now while you can, I’m very very proud of them, I feel great about having made original Irish-set material with fellow Irish creators for a wider international audience and still want to do more in this ‘world’ once I get a chance.
THUNDERCATS
THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS Issue 2 is out tomorrow! Drew Moss takes over art duties for the rest of the crossover series. Here’s some preview pages, colours by Igor Monti, letters by Jeff Eckleberry…
I just handed in the script for Issue 4, ahead of Drew wrapping Issue Three. Just one to go and I’m wrapped! Here’s a little peek at one of Drew’s more recent panels…
MUMM-RA
I’ve started working on the script for MUMM-RA Issue 4, I’m looking forward to writing this next issue as it gets pretty dark. Series artist Rapha Lobosco is working on Issue 3, here’s a peek at some of his layouts.
Not much else to report on this book this time as we’re just busy making it.
OUT SOON
May 13th
THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #2 [W/C]
THUNDERCATS HC VOL 03 APEX [W/C]
May 20th
MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #2 [W/VC]
INGLORIOUS X-FORCE #4 [VC]
THUNDERCATS CLASSIC YEARS COLLECTION OMNIBUS HC [C]
PREDATOR: BLOODSHED #4 [VC]
May 27th
THUNDERHAWKS #2 [VC]
June 6th
THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #3 [W/C]
June 17th
MUMM-RA: THE EVER-LIVING #3 [W/VC]
SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN: BRAND NEW DAY #2 [VC]
June 24th
THUNDERHAWKS #3 [VC]
TYLER RAKE: AN EXTRACTION STORY #3[C]
July 8th
THUNDERCATS X SILVERHAWKS #4 [W/VC]
July 15th
MUMM-RA: THE EVER LIVING #4 [W/VC]
22nd July
THUNDERHAWKS #4 [VC]
APPEARANCES
MCM London, May 22nd-24th
Florida Supercon, July 10-12th
