Britain's (Comics Scene)'s Got Talent ... or something

So I entered this competition run by 2000AD, the UK's premier weekly comics anthology, to submit artwork for scrutiny by the editor. The winner gets to have his or her artwork grace the pages of said publication.
I tooled along to the Though Bubble Comics Convention in Leeds where the competition was being held.
I showed my artwork to the editor.
I did not win.
I did not even make the cut.
Oh.
Given that this is my first attempt at anything like this I was not surprised but I was still a little crest-fallen. Especially since I had pulled an all-nighter the previous day to get the artwork finished, so I was a little spaced out.
The critique was firm and swift, much in the way of tearing off a sticking plaster, something for which I was grateful. I couldn't disagree with much of what he thought was either wrong or lacking and it ultimately had the effect of making me determined to keep trying and improve my skills. Gerry from the past may not have been so upbeat. Gerry from the present and, dare I say, Gerry from the future are going to work together to make serious improvements in technique and execution.
Anyway, without one single ado being furthered, here is what I produced. Flawed but, in its own way, beautiful.

The Purple Pandas of Patchouli

The aforementioned never-really-got-off-the-ground comic concept.

One from the vaults - well, four actually

These are probably all from the late nineties or thereabouts.

Aw, this was my abortive attempt at my own comic. I've still got some cover art somewhere. I'll post it next time.

Wonder Woman, obv. Believe it or not, I was going for a "realistic" approach, as opposed to "pneumatic".
There was a painted version of this but it's lost now. :(

Now, if you are British and of a certain vintage, you'll remember a weekly TV science programme called "Tomorrow's World". It was live, low rent and often obscure. It was how we did geekery back in the seventies.

Anyway, here are a couple of attempts at humour based on that show of shows.

Fourth Deetees gig flyer

Again, all my own work. We actually look just like this in real life. No joke!

Third Deetees gig flyer

All my own work this time. Except for the cobbles. That's a picture. I didn't *make* some cobbles. The theme here was the Press being a wolf in sheep's clothing that distracts you with sex and sport and so on. Not the most subtle of approaches but we're not a subtle band.

My second Deetees gig flyer.

Now, I cannot take credit for the Bakelite telly or Rosie the Riveter. Those are pre-existing images that I have mis-appropriated for my own use. But hey, this is no commercial enterprise, this is music!

In any case I take credit for everything else. :)

Flyer for my first gig with the Deetees

The other members of the Deetees are seemingly quite happy to let me loose on the visuals. Although I do ask for input from them by way of concepts for me to expand upon. Working pretty well so far.

I joined a band.

And as well as playing guitar they let me loose on the graphics.

Ephraim - The Beast of New-Ark

This is Ephraim Henderson. A merchant, a snob and a conniver. He has, however, a deep vein of decency and gallantry that he is unaware of that may be put to the test and even used to manipulate him.

Munki Island

Emergency Hobberation

Jordy - The Beast of New-Ark

This is a character study of Jordy MacSuail for a story I'm writing and drawing set in Port Glasgow in 1698. He's a big lump of a fella, thought to be a bit simple by the villagers he encounters. Far from it, even Jordy has no idea of his significance...

Mark Thompson

UnionMan

A commission for work today. Is Alistair Darling the hero of the pro-Union campaign?