Here’s a snip from The Eclectic Micks Swap Thing pic. Was banged out while waiting for Amperduke to burn to a cd (becasue I’ve changed printers) and talking to Yvonne on the phone. Sorry hun! Hey it’s the same as aimlessly doodling while you’re talking to somebody innit?

Ah…..Swamp Thing, remember that film? I’m man enough to admit it now that some parts sort of scared me. Then there was the animated show and toys. What was that about? Sort of like Toxic Crusaders being a spin off of Toxic Avenger and bearing no resembelance to the source. BUT scoff as I may, the TMNT cartoon which I grew up on and craved was just a hack job of an independant comic.

Anyway, about being scared while watching Swamp Thing, there was a part where a baddie turns into a snivelling little rodent thing and it just freaked me out. At least I didn’t shit my bags like Poncho when he saw Slimer in Ghostbusters.

This has been bubbling for a while now with around 12,000 emails a day from the lads. There is now an elite group of Irish comic artists and we’re calling ourselves The Eclectic Micks. Thompson thought of the name I believe and it’s really growing on me. The plan is to release a sketchbook this year. Each artist picks a character for each artist to draw, I got Swamp Thing, Captain America, Dredd, Thor and I forget the other ones.

So here’s the roll call:

PJ Holden
Dec Shalvey
Will Sliney
Stephen Mooney
Nick Roche (Sorry Nick, couldn’t find your folio site!)
Stephen Thompson
Me

It’s just great finally having pals who do the same thing. Not that I ever talk to them or anything, it’s like having a frozen sliced pan in the freezer, just knowing it’s there makes me feel better. Nah, the boys are really making waves. Nick has done Transformers and Doctor Who, Mooney has done CSI, Angel and The Mummy, Thompson is working on Star Trek and has done a bunch books in the US, Will and Dec are working on loads of shit, a graphic novel each for Classical Comics and my main man PJ is knocking out non stop artwork for 2000AD
and Fearless for Image.

It’s mad though, I still don’t know anything about comics, what’s popular and who’s doing what but the lads know everything. EVERYTHING. It’s a new year resolution to read more comics. I read and HATED the new League of Extraordinary Gentlemen book though.

I think we’re keeping all our sketches secret till the book is out so go suck a wang.