Happy Halloween

Although only 2 days apart in newspapers these two strips were drawn about a year apart. The "Beast of Biggly Bay" was drawn last year and you'll notice the characters are smaller in each panel. The text is also smaller. I received some negative comments on the size of these aspects when I first launched so have upped the font size and increased the size of Ollie and Quentin when I can. I think the black line is a little more confident too.

Happy Halloween everyone.

The Basement

In the new year Ollie and Quentin go looking for monsters in their basement. I've really enjoyed coloring these strips because of all the shadows and highlights I can play around with. Here are a few panels to show you what I mean. The three panels here are taken from 3 different strips but, by chance, seem to tell a story in themselves.

Censored

So far this has been my only censored strip way back in March of this year. Shame really as I think it's quite sweet. Oh well, one out of the first 300 isn't too bad.

Rebuke

Oh dear, seems that this strip didn't please everyone. The cruel punchline is a bit out of character for Ollie and Quentin so I can understand why someone might complain. Thing is, I do agree. I wish I'd worked harder at finding a funny last couple of frames. Oh well.

Uh-oh, thick skin on, it's another Comics Survey

Looks like The Eagle newspaper in Kansas is conducting a Comics Survey. 'Ollie and Quentin' is one of 7 very good strips being surveyed so if this is your local newspaper and you like my feature please let them know. These surveys tend to drag out the readers who just want to be rude and nasty about the comics that they don't like so any positive comments would be welcomed by all of us.
Click here to visit their site.

Norman Hale

Today is my old school headmaster's funeral. I shall be attending the service afterwards followed by a reception back at the school along with my brothers and no doubt, hundreds of other pupils, ex pupils, parents and friends. Norman Hale was owner of Milbourne Lodge School until 2007 and was Headmaster from 1948 to 1999, Britain’s longest-serving Head. I was there from 1971-76.
It's very difficult to write about Norman because he was such a one off. I have never met anyone more charismatic or loud! I remember him charging around the school in his shorts and deck shoes with his faithful old dog 'Wagger' trailing in his wake. We liked him as much as we were afraid of him with his booming voice echoing through the building. Those fortunate enough to have known him will never forget him. A great man and a great headmaster.

Talk Like a Pirate Day

In this week's strips Quentin tries to impress Rosie with a new bad boy image. He thinks dressing like a pirate will do the job. These comics were meant to coincide with "Talk like a Pirate Day" on September 19th but I forgot and sent some other strips up on that date. What an idiot, or should I say "scurvy dog".

Ollie and Quentin Widget

You can now get an Ollie and Quentin Blog Widget for your website or blog. Just click on the 'Get Widget' button right.

Ollie and Quentin NOT at the News and Observer

I really believe in my strip. I am very pleased with my work, as is my editor at Kings, but in trials 'Ollie and Quentin' is failing to connect with readers in the USA. Feedback from areas where my strip is running full time is overwhelmingly positive so I know that once it's in place 'Ollie and Quentin' goes down well, it's just getting there that's proving difficult. Ollie and Quentin isn't a 'cool' strip so it's going to take time to get a foothold. One day, I believe, it will.

I wonder if...

I'm happy with today's joke but looking at it a couple of months after I drew it I wonder if I should have had Quentin way off in the distance. We'd still be able to read his sign but he'd be hidden in the long grass and off to the right somewhere rather than in the middle. Boy, am I fussy?!

Star Wars in the Comics

Delighted to see Ollie and Quentin appear on the 'Star Wars in the Comics' website with this strip. Look out guys 'cos I've just done another Star Wars reference which is due to appear in the new year.