Moon Launch 2: The Build-up

We are very quickly moving towards Moon Launch 2. Final touches to the book still need to be completed, extra material, colours, graphics, bit of lettering and effects but as soon as those are complete Moon Launch 2 is a go. Currently scouts are moving through the underbelly of central London, trying to find the perfect location for just such an event Music license, music equipment, fine bar, good atmosphere, reasonably priced alcohol and a door from which the good Moon fans can pick up their brand new spanking copy of Moon 2.

This is the point at which the pressure is greatest, as the finished product forms right in front of our disbelieving eyes. The strange things is seeing how these things develop as each layer is put on. From the first panel of Moon 1 to the last page of Moon 2, little has changed in terms of story, humour and style, but slight tweaks and improvements to Moon 2 mean that it will most likely be a much more slick affair. No typos for starters – though one was indentified in 1 that neither me nor Dan had ever noticed and that no fan has ever commented upon. First to write the typo in the comments below gets a free copy of Moon 2.

Moon hits Demoncon 2012

Moon hit Demoncon pretty hard in Maidstone yesterday we’re very pleased to say. Sharing a table with Cy Dethan, Nic Wilkinson, Barry Nugent and his lovely lady we settled in fast. While it wasn’t the biggest con Moon has ever attended there was wrestling in the other room – which was novel. Well received I’d like to thank everyone that showed so much enthusiasm for the golf ball head.

Also, thanks to Andy Lanning for donating his Starfleet Academy page from 1998 to the raffle that I won! Very, very cool. Plenty of inking tips and some frankly eye opening explanations about how lettering used to be done. Who knew that Richard Starkings was the godfather of modern comic book lettering, Dave Gibbons has his own lettering template so he doesn’t have to letter his own stuff anymore and Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning have a new book out that does stuff that they weren’t allowed to in Guardians of the Galaxy.

Lost Jedi Sketch 3: Ba Na Newlon 2

Just a quick sketch of Jedi Master Ba Na Newlon. Matriarch to a new generation of (doomed) Jedi she is a wanderer. The love of curmudgeonly old Jedi Crusader Rial Shif she arrives just in the nick of time – in true Jedi style. Her quick thinking, decisive action and understanding of what is truly important leads a disparate band of wastrels to apparent safety. Frankly I’d love for Lost Jedi to happen just to be able to see Ba Na Newlon’s tale.

Fallen Heroes 2 Ready to Go!

Fallen Heroes 2 has been completed is currently going to print. The hope is that it will be resting alongside the larger Unseen Shadows graphic novel at Thoughtbubble but we cannot confirm that at this stage as the book is so close to the date in question. We have no doubt that Stu at Ukomics is doing everything he can to make sure visitors at Leeds get to have a look at the new edition.

Featuring Ben ‘The Hand’ Ashodi and Stephanie Connisbee from the previous issue (and the Tales of the Fallen Graphic novel) as well as introducing some pivotal characters and developments to the FH canon, it’s been put together by Barry Nugent (writer of the original novel and general demagogue), Martin Conaghan (writer and calm voice of reason), Steve Penfold (me, on pencils and inks), Gat Melvyn (colours, seamlessly professional) and Paul Mclaren (lettering and diligent communicator).

Fallen Heroes Page 3 Preview

Work continues apace on the central title of the Unseen Shadows Universe, currently building to a massive crescendo thanks to the tireless promotion of Barry Nugent of Geek Syndicate who created the book itself. With the Tales of the Fallen, Moon and Fallen Heroes 2 coming out in the next two months its all hands to the pumps at Bunker towers but we’re confident all will be complete.

Reverend: Wrath of God page 2 Preview

Welcome folks. Please find attached one more art and colour sample of Cy Dethan’s version of Barry Nugent’s Unseen Shadows character, The Reverend which I’ve been working on for a few weeks now. Almost every page is finished now and on its way to be coloured by the irepresable Gat Melvyn of SA. The collected work of the five Fallen Heroes titles, Tales of the Fallen, will be available at Thought Bubble in Leeds in November.

The Reverend: Wrath of God Preview

Allejuah!! First preview of Wrath of God, one section of Tales of the Fallen trade paperback available from the Thought Bubble Comic Convention in Leeds. Still working on it if I’m honest. Meanwhile 4 other creative teams all over the country are working to complete their projects ready for the big release. Trust me, there’s plenty special to take a look at.

Check it out at www.unseenshadows.com.

Fallen Heroes 2, Page 2: Full Preview

Page 2 of the upcoming second issue of Fallen Heroes, due to be released at Thought Bubble in November. Work continues apace on the collected edition of Unseen Shadows, featuring 5 of its central characters (Ben Ashodi (The Hand), Clancy Wallencheck, Napoleon Stone, Stephanie Connisbee) in one shot stories in one tome. Featuring work from Dan Thompson, Pete Rogers, Richard Clements, Cy Dethan, Corey Brotherson, Roy Huteson Stewart, Rob Carey, Conor Boyle, Cormac Hughes, Gat Melvyn, Vicky Stonebridge, Paul Mclaren, Nic Wilkinson and myself (Steve Penfold).

Check out www.Unseenshadows.com for more deets.

Moon 2, Page 1 in Ink

Moon 2, page 1 as god intended her (all that's left is getting it as Iv intends her)

I remain excited at the prospect of being able to offer up the inks for Page 1, Issue 2 of Moon. This was a tester for me as we got back in the game to bring you the lunar shennanigans before. In my time off I was very clear in my mind as to what the drop points of the original were, not that anyone seemed to notice. The linework lacked the sharpness I was looking for and the clarity of composition I was hoping for. So I went in on 2 (and FH 2 – and even more so on Cy’s Reverend) with the intention to develop what had already been done without losing the tone of the original.

It can be difficult to develop within a series as the artwork shouldn’t change too dramatically from Page 1 to Page 150 frankly but when you’re in your early days – like I am – there’s a curve and it’d shortchange readers if you don’t follow that line. I’ve tried to hard to maintain the tone of Issue 1 but I hope Issue 2 proves sharper and cleaner, funnier and more engaging still than the original. If Issue 1 was the intro, this is now the proving ground. Here’s hoping we’re up to it.

All that’s left to do is send it over to Iv. She’ll do what she always does and blow it clean out of the water with deft application of creation-like colour work. We love Iv and I personally have to thank her for being so patient while waiting for pages. She’s a colour obsessed angel. The end results of her efforts’ll be posted here as soon as they’re back.

Semper procedens.

Steve P (Penners)

Steve P returns to Beyond the Bunker. All hands to the lifeboats…

Due to unforeseen circumstances I had to drop away my involvement in Beyond the Bunker (not including MCM whicxh was an awesome success) and I’ve been trying to get back to the level of involvement I had before.

Mr D Thompson Esquire has handled things beautifully in recent weeks and held the Beyond the Bunker banner aloft with credibility and style that you would expect from a man that represents in so many ways the best elements of both man and lady (he can’t fight for love nor money but that rarely comes up). However, the pressure is now decidedly off him.

After an unfortunate hiatus in which I dealt with rampaging demon hordes and traveled to a distant Japanese monastery to practice the zen art of turning mere paper and computer pages into works of fine art and design, I have returned and quite frankly I can’t wait to start showing you what’s coming. With the enormous goliath that is the Unseen Shadows project being formed outside of your vision as we speak; which incorporates 4 central characters from the Fallen Heroes Universe into collected 1 shots, plus the veritable leviathan that is Moon 2 waiting quietly in the corner for launch at a soon to be announced date – much is going to take place in the coming weeks and I am proud to say that Beyond the Bunker is in the centre of it.

Now, partly due to recent events and partly because there is now longer no course of action left open to us, myself, Gat Melvyn and Iv Matilla are going to attempt something of a coup. Now, if I say its getting done – it’s done. I am no longer Steve Penfold, Bum Artist. I am Steve Penfold. Zen Pen Ninja, Fourth Dan. If you stand in the way you are gonna get covered in ink.

As the stunt rider says to the expectant white trash jail bait…

‘Watch this…’

Watch here over the next few weeks to see if I make good on my great big, grand plans. (I will).

To those who know who they are – I plan to make you proud. Even if it kills me.