That’s genius.
The one part of Phonogram I don’t really “get” is the musical ‘gods’.
But, it’s probably the concept that I like the most.

Now hoping we’ll get some more of this in the next issue.

what a fuckin shit comic. first off there is no colour. second of all you didnt use comic sans. You know why its called COMIC sans? Because you are supposed to use it in comics. thirdly there was far too much gay subtext. overall i would give this a 3/10 and say that while it shows maturity and compassion, it lacks the skill and verbal humour of say.. Billy Whizz.

To be fair, it’s no shame being shamed by the the power of Billy Whizz.

KG

As much as I hate being the dickhead with stars in his eyes…
Charlie Brooker?
THE Charlie Brooker?
(Yeah, straying into stars-in-eyes potentially-making-a-tit-of-myself territory. Ugh. Nevertheless, the question stands.)

When’s the new issue, Mr Gillen?

(Also…you might know…Are there any more thrilling opportunities to immerse myself in the world of British half-hearted comicons beside Bristol?
It’s irritatingly inconvenient.
…Still, might be a worthy sacrifice. I trekked through heavy rain to the Birmingham one, and that turned out enjoyable enough. After all, what is better than a babbling comics writer?)

Alex: No, at least as far as his IP and e-mail address would suggest. That said, it was in a fair impersonation of his voice, so who knows.

New issue is (er) soon? It’s at the printers.

In terms of comic culture… well, Birmingham is in November I think. Smaller than Bristol, but should be good. CAPTION is the small-press thing, which is in Oxford in September or so. There’s other cons where comics have a presence, but aren’t predominant.

KG

Ahh, the classic “at the printers” excuse.

Hmm. I really want to go to Bristol, but I haven’t got anything booked, and it’s a bit late to book a hotel now, isn’t it?
(Or is it?)
Damn my secret life as a comics geek.

(But you are going to Bham again this year? I’ll be at Uni there by then, as horrible as the idea is that I’m never going to leave this area. Ever.)

There’s a thread on the Engine about hotel booking actually, which may have some good advice. I know some people have done it already.

We’ll almost certainly be at Brum. No promises yet, but we do want to.

KG

You say ‘first series’ does that mean there’ll be more Phonogram?

As much mockery as I expect (and probably deserve) for my love of IGN… Have you seen this?

http://uk.music.ign.com/articles/782/782269p1.html

I kind of consider it a disgrace.
For multiple reasons.

And my final chances of going to Bristol have been killed.

No, I hadn’t.

I’m a little sad inside.

No Bristol? Boo!

KG

Wow, that was wrong on so many levels.

I know.
Reading through it again, it’s just more disturbing.
Nevermind, it’s behind me now.

I am a bit gutted about Bristol, though.
It denies me the chance to annoy both you two and Brian K Vaughan. Dammit.

We can annoy him for you.

Would you?
That’d be good of you.

Which actually raises the question, are you into BKV?
I know at least one of you trolls his forums, but is that just an attempt to ensnare simple minds such as my own?

(Which raises the further question of what comics you both like/love. Which, annoyingly, is the kind of inane question I could bother you with at Bristol. And get the feeling I asked at Birmingham, but… Eh, I’m not all that with the memory.)

You may have. My memory of the Brummie conversation is basically you saying “I like your book” and me then talking at 250bpm about whatever came into my head while McKelvie ducked to avoid my frantically gesticulating arms.

I like a good chunk of what BKV does. He used to frustrate me a little - I thought he was holding back somehow, and one day would really *cut loose*. When I’ve realised he isn’t holding back at all, and he’s just a bit more reasonable that - say - Morrison or Ellis or Ennis or whoever, I like him more. SAFEWORD is my favourite Y: The Last Man arc (Seriously: S&M deprogramming is a really hard topic to write in an unembarassing fashion), but I think Ex Machina’s my favourite of his.

I’ve never read Runaways. I will eventually, I’m sure.

In terms of what stuff I dig, to save just hammering out a list, here’s something I wrote in the closing months of Ninth art. Everyone was doing their Nine Favourite comics. I treated it as a comics-taste-as-autobiography thing…
http://www.ninthart.com/display.php?article=1174

Clearly, there’s a hell of a lot more than just here, but it’s a good cross-section of what directly shaped me and are emotional touchstones.

KG

Agreed on that description of the Brum convention.
Ahh, good memories.
It was like some Freudian therapy technique (sorry, revision time at the moment). But I enjoyed it (although, on reflection, I’m a bit sad I didn’t get to talk to Mr McKelvie.)

I just felt like Official No. 1 Rabid Fan.
Which is always fun.

..Have you read BKV’s Escapists? It’s probably the best thing he’s done, but I have an obsession with self-contained stuff at the moment.

I read Scott Pilgrim after the huge praise last week, and it’s really great. I was surprised.
Getting Watchmen as soon as I get paid, I haven’t read since …. when I was much too young to be reading that kind of stuff.

Actually, yes, enjoyed the first 3 issues of the Escapist I read. I didn’t pick up the rest for reasons of me moving around a lot, but plan to grab the trade.

Never too late for Watchmen, man.

KG