The Forbidden Planet International Blog Log » Geek Syndicate

Fallen Heroes at Cardiff Comic Con

Joe — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:01:29 +0000

From the banter on Twitter it seems like most folks had a really good time at the new Cardiff Comic Con at the weekend, lots of positive reports cropping up on Twitter (if you were there to see it or exhibit at it, please feel free to leave a bit in the comments about how it went for you, or send us a link if you are posting a report and pics on your own site). One of the events at the convention was the launch of the comics version of Fallen Heroes, an adaptation of the fantasy novel by none other than the Geek Syndicate‘s own Barry Nugent. Matt Pease has video of the launch at Cardiff which is now online; on a related note I’ve had a peek at the comic (thanks, Barry) and really enjoyed Martin Conaghan’s adaptation of the Nuge’s book (plus Steve Penfold’s art was cracking, some lovely colour work in there too, do consider giving them some support and picking up the comic):

Best of the Year: Barry Nugent

Joe — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 00:05:46 +0000

Today’s guest Best of the Year is a regular face on the convention circuit, master at sneaking into various launch events, comics and SF guru, podcaster and writer (with a comics adaptation of his own novel, Fallen Heroes, also on the way too now), one half of the fine Geek Syndicate Podcast team, Barry Nugent, often known in geek circles simply as The Nuge:

FPI: Can you pick three comics/webcomics/graphic novels which you especially enjoyed over the last twelve months and tell us why you singled them out?

Nuge: It’s a bit of an old one for my first choice but after being hassled by several people I finally read the first Astonishing X-Men trade ‘Gifted’ pairing Wheedon and Cassaday (thanks for the loan Iz!). As clichéd as it sounds the only word I could use to describe this first trade is Astonishing (cliché’ alert over). I’ve never been a big X-Men fan but the top notch writing and art in this trade dragged me kicking and screaming into the mutant world and I can’t see myself leaving anytime soon.

(Whedon and Cassaday’s Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, published Marvel)

If you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan then should pick A Study in Scarlet by Ian Edginton and Ian Culbard from Self Made Hero. It’s the latest of the duo’s brilliant adaptation of the classic novels by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. If you want to introduce some to the world of Holmes and Watson through the medium of comics then this title cannot be bettered. I can’t wait for their next adaptation Valley of Fear to hit the stands.

(cover to A Study in Scarlet by the always excellent team of Edginton and Culbard, published SelfMadeHero)

As far as web comics go I only stumbled across Jackie Rose a few weeks ago. It’s a great light-hearted pulp adventure strip with fantastic art that I would recommend any fans of the Atomic Robo comic from Red 5 comics check out.

(art from the Jackie Rose webcomic by and (c) Josh Ulrich)

FPI: Can you pick three books which you especially enjoyed over the last twelve months and tell us why you singled them out?

Nuge: It’s weird as I usually read a load of books over the year but as I’ve been working on my book that’s been something that suffed (looks sadly at the stact of unread books). Candle Man by Glenn Dakin is the first of a trilogy and is very much in the mould of the Harry Potter and Artemis Fowl books. It’s a weird mix of steampunk and modern but it work really well. Candle Man is a great little read and I would recommend it to fans of the Urban fantasy genre. Also any book which has an organisation called The Society of Unrelenting Vigilance is worth a look.

FPI: Can you pick three TV shows and/or movies which you especially enjoyed over the last twelve months and tell us why you singled them out?

Nuge: Inception was one those films which either blew your mind or you hated mainly because of overhype or you thought it was ok but couldn’t see what the fuss was about. For me it blew my mind because I just loved the amount of effort that went into the world building that surrounded the plot/characters for what was essentially a heist movie. A lot of films I watch I just get swept up int the action but watchin Inception I really found myself focusing in on trying to understand the rules this expert team have to operate in. There’s talk of an Inception TV series and I hope it comes off as I think there were a lot of great ideas/concepts in the film that could be explored to great effect in a TV show.

After every episode of Walking Dead I have to either have a stiff drink, watch an episode of Family Guy or just pray to the four winds the plot of this show never comes true. Bleak, unrelenting and utterly compelling. As much as I loved this show I’m so glad there were only five episodes. If this had been the standard 22 episode run like some US shows I would have blown my brains out by episode nine.

There are very few shows I think that manage to get what it’s like to be into geeky things without it feeling forced, stereotypical or just plain insulting. The US comedy show Community doesn’t just walk this line it soars high above it like a geeky colossus. You think I’m kidding mention the ‘Paintball’ or ‘Batman Halloween’ episode to anyone who watches this show and you’ll see what I mean. This show reminds me of what I loved so much about ‘Spaced’

FPI: How did 2010 go for you as a creator? Are you happy with the way you got your work out this year?

Nuge: Well I’m not a comics creator as such but I have been working very closely with the creative team who are adapting my novel Fallen Heroes as a comic. With Insomina going under (who were all set to publish it) I was worried this would never see the light of day. I’m very proud of what the guys have done so far and I’m looking forward toe getting the 1st issue out there for people to see. Also with the book itself becoming a number one bestseller on Amazon I’ll say it was a good year for me.

FPI: What can we look forward to from you in 2010?

Nuge: Well more podcast nonsense from my stint on Geek Syndicate and some of other podcasts I co-host. I will also be appearing at the Cardiff Comic Expo alongside srtist Steve Penfold for the launch of the first issue of the Fallen Heroes comic adaptation.

FPI: Anyone you think is a name we should be watching out for next year?

Nuge: I know Martin has already said this and I’m probably being biased but I would have to pick Gat Melvyn and Steve Penfold who are working on the Fallen Heroes comic at the moment. I’m hoping that as soon people see what these fellas can do they’ll get some more work coming their way. I think they both have a long career in comics ahead of them.

You can catch up with all the guest Best of the Year posts to date here on the blog.

Comics at the London Book Fair

Joe — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 23:02:11 +0000

The Nuge from the excellent Geek Syndicate podcast was at the recent London Book Fair and took in their newly added comics section: “It was a pretty small set up, well smaller than I was expecting, although I did hear that some companies/individuals couldn’t attend due to the flight ban. The Pavilion, which was in one of the corners of the main hall and was made up of Diamond, Dark Horse (who weren’t there), Self Made Hero and Foyles . The space available was dominated by Diamond which I thought was a shame as I would have loved to have seen more indie companies there like Com.X, Markosia and Insomina Publications to name but a few. ”

(Emma Hayley, Ian Rankin, David Fickling and Paul Gravett on the graphic novel panel at the LBF, pic borrowed from the Geek Syndicate)

Nuge does go on to say that despite the massive travel problems caused by the volcanic eruption footfall did seem to pick up later on and that there was a bit of a buzz from some folks curious to know more about comics publishing, while Emma Vieceli and Nana Li did a sterling job drawing away and acting as ambassadors for the medium and that a panel discussion, New Opportunities: Graphic Novels and Digital, with Emma Hayley (from SelfMadeHero), Ian Rankin, David Fickling and Paul Gravett (Cory Doctorow couldn’t make it) was a standing room only affair, which surely bodes well for more publisher interest in the graphic medium.

Geek Syndicate talks to Jane Goldman

Joe — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 11:29:21 +0000

The Geek Syndicate boys have a cool video interview up with Jane Goldman, wife of Jonathan Ross and screenwriter for Kick-Ass and Stardust:

Comics auction in memory of Eric Martin

Joe — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 15:22:10 +0000

As we covered last week comics fan, geek and podcaster Eric Martin passed away unexpectedly at the age of only 36 from a massive heart attack, leaving behind his eight year old daughter Gracie. As Barry from the Geek Syndicate told us Eric’s brother Mike has set up a fund for Gracie to draw on when she is older and Eric’s friends, including the GS guys, have been garnering donations from others in the comics community for a fund-raising auction. That auction has now started online and includes a Mike Ploog pencil cover from Werewolf by Night donated by Jonathan Ross from his collection, an original page from All Star Superman from Frank Quitely, 2000 AD are donating a signed Greg Staples sketch and books signed by Pat Mills and Clint Langley, Tommy Lee Edwards has very rare Star Wars prints, with signed Star Wars artist’s proofs to follow, the BBC’s Merlin cast have signed 2 volumes of DVDs for the auction, a signed, never-seen-before initial pitch for Captain Britain by Paul Cornell and a lot more – check the GS site for full details and please do spread the word.

(original All Star Superman page by Frank Quitely)

A fund for Eric Martin’s daughter

Joe — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 11:05:33 +0000

Good friend of the blog and well known character on the Brit comics scene Barry Nugent from the Geek Syndicate Podcast told me about the recent sad news concerning one of his friends and fellow comics podcasters Eric Martin, who he described as ” a great supporter of Geek Syndicate back when we first started and came on a few episodes. He then went on to start up a few podcasts of his own Comic Playground and DC Noise. He was also a regular contributor to many of the comic book podcasts out there and their forums. He was a huge supporter of the Comic Podcasting community who loved comics and all things geek.”

Eric died of a massive heart attack in his sleep in mid-November; he was only 36. Obviously his family and friends are all shocked at his sudden, unexpected death; some of them, Barry tells me, have decided to try and do something positive – Eric leaves behind his young daughter Gracie, aged 8 and they’ve announced on the Geek Syndicate podcast that Eric’s brother Mike has set up a PayPal account where friends and fans can donate to a fund that will be established for Gracie to use when she is older; the Nuge also tells me they are planning some auctions further down the line to help raise more funds; more details on that when we hear them. Meantime the GS page has details of the PayPal account and how you can make a donation; the GS boys have also put up two episodes with Eric as a tribute.

Fallen Heroes comic

Joe — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 00:02:53 +0000

Barry Nugent from the excellent Geek Syndicate podcast mentioned recently how pleased he was that his SF&F novel Fallen Heroes was going to be adapted into comics form; now Insomnia’s Redeye blog has a few details, with Martin Conaghan (writer on the recent Burke and Hare, see here) involved and Steve Penfold just announced as the artist. There’s not a huge amount of details yet as its still in the scripting stage, but while talking about their time at the weekend’s Thought Bubble in Leeds the Insomnia folks did slip in a couple of Steve’s character sketches for Fallen Heroes. I’m sure the Nuge will tell us more further down the line.

(early character sketches for the comics adaptation of Barry Nugent’s Fallen Heroes, art by Steve Penfold, to be published by Insomnia)

Geek Syndicate goes on set with Merlin

Joe — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 23:01:28 +0000

The Geek Syndicate Podcast boys have a new special up detailing a set visit to the BBC’s Merlin production, discussing their visit and talking to the shows stars and crew such as Colin Morgan (Merlin), Bradley James (Arthur), Katie McGrath (Morgana), Anthony Stewart Head (King Uther) and Charlotte Morris (Head of Costume Design).

(a suitably armed and armoured James Bradley as Arthur in Merlin, (c) BBC)

In other news Barry tells me that top science fiction mag SFX has teamed up with the Geek Syndicate to run a competition offering a chance to win free accommodation and signing passes at the upcoming (and rather exciting looking) SFX Weekender con in February.

Shane Chebsey on Geek Syndicate

Joe — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:03:36 +0000

Barry at the excellent Geek Syndicate podcast reminds us that the guys have a 45-minute chat with British International Comics Show organiser Shane Chebsey, where Shane “reveals what events people can expect at this years show as well as a look back at lessons learned from previous years. There is a look behind the scenes at what goes into the preparation of the show and what their plans are for the future.” And the Baz is stoked about an upcoming, hour long special the GS boys have in the pipeline with celeb comics nut Jonathan Ross, coming very soon.

Geek Syndicate interviews Duncan Jones

Joe — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:28:49 +0000

The Geek Syndicate boys interview writer/director Duncan Jones (the artist formerly known as Zowie Bowie) about his debut feature, the British indy science fiction movie Moon, starring Sam Rockwell and the voice of Kevin Spacey. I was lucky enough to catch the film a few weeks back at the Edinburgh Film Festival (reviewed here) and I thought it was a great slice of mature science fiction and well worthy of your support.

Also on the Geek Syndicate front Barry tells me they have a competition to mark the DVD and Blu-Ray releases of Watchmen, with a cracking prize – a chance for a ‘meet and greet’ with the great Dave Gibbons. Closing date is tomorrow(Thursday 23rd) so you better get over to the GS site right now.