Well, this has been a fairly huge week for this blog, hit wise. What's interesting to see is the increasing amount of repeat visitors with "no referring link" (I did mention I'm addicted to my web stats, didn't I?). While there are several reasons someone might arrive at the site with "no referring link" the most common is that they've bookmarked the site, which is immensely cool. So, if you're a regular visitor here than, please, click the "comment" link below and say "Hi".
Okay, to celebrate this week's massive increase in hits, I thought I'd share a bit more about myself via this list of 100 Questions that Budgie recently posted on his blog (for those that don't know, Budgie co-hosts the Hypotheticals panel every year at the Bristol Comic Expo, it's one of the high lights of the con').
1. NAME ONE OF YOUR SCARS, HOW DID YOU GET IT ?
Well, there's the scar on my left hand...I'd love to claim that it's the result of a knife fight during my rough upbringing on da' streets. Sadly, the less cool story behind it is that I tore my hand open on a park fence while trying to avoid some of the rougher kids in my school.
2. WHAT IS ON THE WALLS IN YOUR ROOM?
Well, I'm in my studio right now so I've got some pages of Ryan Stegman's pencils that I've inked on the wall. A couple of pin-ups of Reena from The Lexian Chronicles that I did for Harry Markos a while back which are, quite frankly, awful, looking at them now. Lastly, there are some posters from ImagineFX, which is an excellent new magazine for fantasy and sci-fi digital artists.
3. WHAT DOES YOUR MOBILE PHONE LOOK LIKE?
It has a picture of Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader on the back (depends what angle you look at it from). Also, as attendees of certain panels at the Bristol Comic Expo will know, it plays the Imperial March when it rings and sounds like R2-D2 when I receive a text message.
4. WHAT MUSIC DO YOU LISTEN TO?
I'll listen to and appreciate anything that's clearly got talent behind it. That said, if I'm in control of the music selection then it's rock, hard rock, metal. Particularly Guns N' Roses.
5. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT DESKTOP PICTURE?
Very sad...still the default background after two years... At work I have a picture of my eldest son in his karate Gi.
6. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING RIGHT NOW?
To be published, which, by happy coincidence, is happening next month. I never thought that my first published work in comics would be as a colourist, but it's infinitely better than nothing. So...buy the Smoke & Mirror TPB next month, then post nice things about the colouring in #5 here.
7. WHAT DO YOU MISS?
I miss playing the bass guitar in a band full of my closest friends and family. Hearing myself play bass on the radio. I also miss Scott Lobdell and Ben Raab, two of the greatest writers in comics, and also wonderful people for putting up with me when I was still just a fanboy wannabe.
8. WHAT TIME WERE YOU BORN?
About 4:00pm.
10.WHAT ENDED YOUR LAST RELATIONSHIP?
Living on different land masses.
11. DO YOU GET SCARED IN THE DARK?
Sometimes. If I'm out on my own at night, and the street is badly lit. Statistically you're more likely to get attacked if you're a man.
12. THE LAST PERSON TO MAKE YOU CRY?
Probably one of my kids, out of pride. They're the best things I've ever done.
13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE COLOGNE / PERFUME?
Well, I wear Diesel Plus Plus, but I haven't exactly spent a lot of time sampling different aftershaves. I wouldn't know what perfumes I like, either, but...perfume does have a definite effect on me.
14. WHAT KIND OF HAIR/EYE COLOUR DO YOU LIKE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Well, if it's true that gentlemen prefer blondes then I must be no gentleman. Definitely brunettes. Brunettes are to blondes what a tender, medium rare rump steak is to a Big Mac. That said, sometimes I just fancy a Big Mac... As for eye colour, no real preference. Blue is handy for quoting Swett Child O'Mine...but deep brown eyes can be like swimming in pools of chocolate. The brunette/blue eyes combination works well for me though.
15. DO YOU LIKE PAINKILLERS?
They perform a function, although I'll usually only take them as a last resort.
16. COFFEE OR ENERGY DRINKS?
Coke. Or Dr Pepper.
17. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE PIZZA TOPPING?
The classic - ham and pineapple.
18. IF YOU COULD EAT ANYTHING RIGHT NOW, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A Big Mac. (See what I did there...).
19. WHO IS THE LAST PERSON YOU MADE MAD?
My wife. Frequently.
20. DO YOU SPEAK ANOTHER LANGUAGE?
The language of luuurve. Oh...ok....I speak a little Klingon... Ka'pla!
21. WHAT WAS THE FIRST GIFT SOMEONE EVER GAVE YOU?
Oh, come on, surely people bought me things the day I was born! If not, I have some seriously stingy relatives. The first gift that really sticks out in my mind is the Autobot, Jetfire.
22. DO U LIKE SOMEONE?
I like many people.
23. ARE YOU DOUBLE JOINTED?
Only in my thumbs.
24. FAVOURITE CLOTHING BRAND?
Yeah...I'm going to be thirty this year....plus I'm a total geek...like I have a favourite clothing brand. NEXT jeans look pretty good on me though. When I was younger it was anything black and preferably leather.
25. WHAT'S YOUR DREAM CAR?
A Mazda RX-8.
27. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF MARRIAGE?
It's a mixture of hard work and compromise...and figuring out how to compromise while staying true to who you are. It's always thinking about someone else first and constantly being accused of being selfish (for both people involved). It's definitely not right for everyone, but I do think it's better for kids if their parents are married.
28. WOULD YOU FALL IN LOVE KNOWING THAT THE PERSON IS LEAVING?
Well...I've fallen in love knowing that the person is on the other side of the planet and I have no way to get to her. That's just setting yourself up for a fall. I am that much of an idiot where women are concerned.
29. WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO TELL SOMEONE HOW MUCH THEY MEAN TO YOU?
Just be there for them to pick them up when they fall down.
30. SAY A NUMBER FROM ONE TO A HUNDRED:
Sixty-nine, dude!
31. BLONDES OR BRUNETTES?
Didn't we do this one already? Brunettes. But I'd rather be with a good looking blonde girl than a fugly brunette!
32. WHAT IS THE ONE NUMBER YOU CALL MOST OFTEN?
My home number! And I still have to look it up.
33. WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
Most often - my kids. Otherwise - abuse of power.
34. HAVE YOU BEEN OUT OF ENGLAND?
Yes. Most memorable trip was a mini-bus ride across Europe to visit the refugee camps in Macedonia during the war in Kosovo.
35. YOUR WEAKNESSES?
Kryptonite. Ok...honestly...procrastination. There are far more important things for me to be doing now than answering these questions.
36. WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED?
Comics from Harry Markos.
37. FIRST JOB?
Working in a book warehouse, unpacking books and shipping them out to book stores. Lasted less than two weeks. Hated it with a passion.
38. EVER DONE A PRANK CALL?
Nope. Far too square for that!
39. WHAT WERE YOU DOING BEFORE YOU FILLED THIS OUT?
Taking a bath.
40. IF YOU COULD GET PLASTIC SURGERY WHAT WOULD IT BE?
Liposuction. Think I may be stuck with this spare tyre for life.
41. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN IN LOVE?
How many times have I actually been in love rather than just thinking I was? I'd have to say, probably, twice.
42. WHAT DO YOU GET COMPLIMENTED ABOUT MOST?
My enormous...no...wait...my art.
43. WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF ALCOHOL BECAME ILLEGAL?
Spend less at conventions.
44. WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY?
An electric guitar and an amp to plug it into. And some headphones for the amp so I don't wake the kids...
45. HOW MANY KIDS DO YOU WANT?
Well, I have two boys. A girl would be nice, but, three boys wouldn't be so great...
46. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
My mum's cousin. He's a dustman...and he wraps things... Thanks mum, couldn't have named me after the cousin who's an actor, no?
47. DO YOU WISH ON STARS?
No.
48. WHICH FINGER[S] IS YOUR FAVOURITE?
Right middle.
49. WHEN DID YOU LAST CRY?
Tuesday night. I had to go for an introductory meeting at my edlest son's school. He's four and he starts school in September. Why did it make me cry? Because it was my school from ages 7 to 11. I was sat in the hall where I has my first slow dance and my first snog (with a girl called Tina Matthews). It was a lot smaller than I remembered it...
50. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
Not particularly. It's degenerated over the last decade as I've used a computer more and more.
51. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE VEGETABLE?
Asparagus.
52. ANY BAD HABITS?
Yes, many. The one most suitable for public consumtion is that I pick my nose.
53. WHAT IS YOUR MOST EMBARRASSING CD ON THE SHELF?
Either Britney Spears - Baby One More Time or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles OST.
54. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON, WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
It's highly unlikely. I'd have to meet me and I really don't get out that much.
55. HAVE YOU EVER TOLD A SECRET YOU SWORE NOT TO TELL?
I think everyone probably has. One of the great things about being married is that you're not supposed to keep secrets from your spouse, so you always have an excuse to tell someone.
56. DO LOOKS MATTER?
Of course. Who wants to wake up every morning next to a minger?
57. HOW DO YOU RELEASE YOUR ANGER?
Generally I suppress it until it becomes a festering black ball at the pit of my soul. Playing the bass used to be a great release, but I don't have that anymore. Hmmm...interesting...
58. WHERE IS YOUR SECOND HOME?
London. My mum lives in London. She moved there when I was 13/14. Was great fun exploring London on my own at that age.
59. DO YOU TRUST OTHERS EASILY?
Not anymore. Being deeply betrayed by your Pastor and your best friend in the space of one month will do that to you. I find it hard not to believe that everyone who's nice to me isn't secretly laughing at me behind my back.
60. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVOURITE TOY AS A CHILD?
Transformers. Too cool to mention.
61. HOW MANY NUMBERS ARE IN YOUR CELL PHONE?
A lot less than there used to be.
62. DO YOU USE SARCASM?
Me? Use sarcasm? Never!
64. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN A MOSH PIT?
No. I have stood at the front at an Aerosmith gig at Wembley Arena though. That was fairly mind blowing.
65. WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Well, being married, I don't look at other women, of course. Hypothetically speaking, however, intelligence and a sense of humour are top of the list. I have little patience where stupid people are concerned. Small breasts are a bonus too...
66. WHAT ARE YOUR NICKNAMES?
Ease.
67. WHAT IS THE MOST PAIN YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED?
Okay, is you're squeamish, look away. The most pain I've ever experienced was when my mum removed my dressing after I was circumcised at age 8. Too much information?
68. DO YOU UN-TIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
No. Hence, I destroy shoes.
69. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU SPILLED?
The beans. We had beans with dinner and I spilled some bean juice on the work surface. I should probably go clean that up at some point.
71.WHAT'S THE LAST FURRY THING YOU TOUCHED?
Me.
72.WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE COLOURS?
Black and purple.
73. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE BANDS/SINGERS?
Guns N' Roses, Little Angels, Aerosmith, Evanescence, Mr Big...
74. HOW MANY WISDOM TEETH DO YOU HAVE?
One coming through. One more yet to break the surface.
75. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
No...most people aren;t nearly as interesting as me ;-)
76. WHO ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
The Little Angels.
77. LAST THING YOU ATE?
Popcorn.
78.LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
Probably my manager at work.
79.WHAT'S THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ON THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Face.
80.FAVOURITE THOUGHT PROVOKING SONG?
Civil War - Guns N' Roses
81. FAVOURITE THING TO HATE:
Rob Liefeld's art. Obviously, I hate racism, and fascists, and right wing idiots...but they're not fun to hate.
82. FAVOURITE DRINK:
Alcoholic: Bacardi or Martini.
Non-alcoholic: Cherry coke.
83.FAVOURITE ZODIAC SIGN:
Cancer. Because we're just damn cool people.
84.WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SPORT?
Football (soccer for my American friends). Particularly Gillingham FC.
85.WHAT IS YOUR HAIR COLOUR?
It used to be blond...now it's brown...with a hint of grey.
86.EYE COLOUR?
Blue.
88.SIBLINGS?
Two sisters, six and seven years older than me. I was the baby of the family, but the first to buy a house and have kids (was also the first to have to sell their house because EVERYTHING went wrong).
89.FAVOURITE MONTH?
July. People give me stuff.
90.DO YOU LIKE SUSHI?
No. I'm under orders to try the new sushi bar at Bluewater though.
91.LAST THING YOU WATCHED?
Honey We're Killing The Kids. Makes me feel like a good parent. These people always have a drawer full of chocolate that their kids can just help themselves to at any time...and yet they wonder why their kids aren't healthy...
92.FAVOURITE DAY OF THE YEAR?
12th July. Hmmm...maybe my wife is right about me being selfish...
93.ARE YOU TOO SHY TO ASK SOMEONE OUT?
I used to be. Actually, chatting to girls on the internet cured me of that. I pestered my wife for so long to go out with me that she eventually gave in just to shut me up. Eight years later...
94. SUMMER OR WINTER?
Summer. I suffer from SAD, so winter is generally one long drag with a disappointing Christmas in the middle.
95.KISSES OR HUGS?
I find you rarely get one without the other.
96.RELATIONSHIPS OR ONE NIGHT STANDS?
I've only ever really had relationships so I'm not in any position to comment.
97.WHO IS THE MOST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
Me...and I have!
98. WHO IS LEAST LIKELY TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS?
My son, Aaron, aged two...his answer to everything is, "No, not!"
99. BIGGEST FEAR?
Anything hurting my kids, emotionally or physically. Unless it's funny, y'know...they're alwyas walking into things in amusing ways.
100. IS ANYONE IN LOVE WITH YOU?
I'd like to think my wife is.
Well, first and foremost, while I'm both stunned and amazed that Tony Lee (Midnight Kiss, Starship Troopers, Doctor Who and...a back up story in Amazing Fantasy...) can remember anything from the Bristol Comic Expo, his account of the proceedings makes good reading and can be found here. Mind you, why he felt the need to post my expenses for the weekend as part of his review, I'll never know...
Well, this has been a fairly huge week for this blog, hit wise. What's interesting to see is the increasing amount of repeat visitors with "no referring link" (I did mention I'm addicted to my web stats, didn't I?). While there are several reasons someone might arrive at the site with "no referring link" the most common is that they've bookmarked the site, which is immensely cool. So, if you're a regular visitor here than, please, click the "comment" link below and say "Hi".
Whoah...what a week!
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