Where do you get your ideas? #987

Ollie and Quentin is rarely a topical comic but seeing as the Volcano Eyjafjallajokull in Iceland may keep erupting for some time I thought I could risk it with today's comic which was written over six weeks ago.

Sunday strip in full

Z

Today's comic doesn't work here in the UK as we don't say Row Zee, we'd say Row Zed.

Quentin cycles the Tour de France

The real Quentin (my brother, on the left) will be cycling the whole of the Tour De France on June 19th in aid of the William Wates Memorial Trust. He and his friend Colin will depart Holland and cycle all 3,556 km of the 2010 Tour De France route arriving in Paris on July 10th having completed 20 gruelling days in the saddle (ouch), averaging 178km per stage.

The William Wates Memorial Trust helps disadvantaged children through the mediums of education, sports and arts and anyone wishing to know more can visit www.wwmt.org or donate at www.bmycharity.com/V2/qandcolin.

I'm very proud of my brother for doing this and wish him every success. Go Quentin!

Landscape Portrait

So you don't have to hurt your neck or give yourself a nose bleed here's today's comic the right way round.

Goofiest yet!

When I sent the pencil rough off to my editor for this comic I really thought he might send for the men in white coats. This has got to be my goofiest comic yet. I like it and I'm happy with the drawing but boy is it bizarre!

Sunday strip in full

Reuben Entry

Here's Ollie and Quentin's entry for the 2009 NCS's Newspaper Comic Award whose Reuben's ceremony was held last weekend. I know we didn't come first, second or third but perhaps the respectable 248th place was ours and we don't know it yet.

La Tomatina

La Tomatina is a mass tomato throwing festival in Buñol, Valencia in Spain which happens every last Wednesday in August. There are a number of theories as to how this tradition originated but one of the most popular is that disgruntled townspeople attacked city councilmen with tomatoes during a town celebration and it was enjoyed so much that it was repeated every year since (although banned under the rule of General Franco). Apparently women have to wear white and guys must go shirtless.

I've never been but, boy does it look fun!

Ironing Surf Board

Today's comic is a reworking of an old idea first drawn up in 2006 (pre-syndication) when Ollie was Eric and Nobby was the bearded Stormy Stan the Lifeboat Man. Not sure it was a particularly good joke then either.

Samples Update

I've updated the Ollie and Quentin website with a handful of new samples. Click here to have a look.

Ollie and Quentin on Facebook

Don't laugh but I've created an Ollie and Quentin Facebook page. I know, I know. I'm a Facebook novice but am interested to see what can be done with it with regards to my comic strip. If you're a Facebook user and know what you're doing head over to the O&Q page and prod me or poke me or whatever it is you do to say hello.

Sunday strip in full

Albatross: The Series

Carry On Sergeant

We moved to our lovely house last november. It's part of a converted army barracks and I discovered today that it was used in the very first Carry On Movie "Carry On Sergeant" made in 1958. That's before I was born. I think that's hilariously fantastic!

If you watch this YouTube clip that's my house on the end in the opening shot. The parade ground has gone and it now has a pretty front garden. There's a door in the left hand window too.

Steven Seagal

I loved the idea that Ollie's hero was Steven Seagal but the name was too close to 'Seagull' and we thought it might be distracting. I spent ages thinking of a replacement but nothing worked nearly as well. Bruce Willis is an ok alternative but he's more likely to be Quentin's hero because they look so similar.

And that's true about acting like an idiot when you meet someone famous. I'm six and a half feet tall and once met a famous, but very short, actress and all I could say was "You're short aren't you?" Gaaaaaaah, still makes me cringe today.

Teenagers and Underpants

I can't understand those kids walking about with their underpants on show. We always shout "I can see your underpants!" when we see them. A couple of weeks ago I saw one of these baggy-trousered teenagers emerge from a computer games store and sprint up the road. However, his trousers were so low he only got ten yards before they tripped him up and he went down face first into the sidewalk in the shape of an inverted 'V' leaving his now completely bare butt on show to the world. Honestly, you could have parked your bicycle there. Much hilarity from all us over 40's in the busy street.

Sun Dried Day strip in full

Sun Dried Day, Mournday, Chewsday, When's Day?, Thirst Day, Fright Day, Sat On Day.

Historic Lincoln

Just spent three fab days in beautiful Lincoln, a city I've never been to. Full of lovely old buildings it has one of the most beautiful cathedrals in Europe and a Castle that houses one of the four copies of the Magna Carta (1215). This historic document influenced the development of common law and many constitutional documents, including the United States Constitution.

Now I'm back I've just inked and colored six daily comics in one day which is a record for me. Time for a beer.

Tendonitis

We moved house last November and I had to carry box after box after box up into our new attic. A few days later I noticed my elbow was quite sore and now, six months later, it still darn well hurts! Anyhoo, that's how I got this idea.

...and I STILL don't understand why the drop panel is dropped online!

Banjo

It looks like I have something against banjos but I really don't. They're just an easy target for which I apologize. I like folk music and one of my favorite bands at the moment is the fantastic Mumford and Sons. Check 'em out.

May the Fourth be with you

It's Star Wars Day (May the 4th) so I've dug around and found three Ollie and Quentin's that mention Star Warsy type stuff.

I'm Spartacus

Today I get to reveal Quentin's middle name and their full address. Wish my middle name was Spartacus!