Pirate Song

"Awaaaayyy, boarders!!!"
"Down with motivation!" "No quarter!" "Her happiness is ours!!"

"Lex, honey? I'm gonna make dinner, what do you wanna eat?" "Uh... I really don't care, actually..."
"... You don't look so good..." "No, no, I'm fine... Everything's fine, I'm just going to finish this and I'll be right there."
"You sure?" "YES Sondra, don't worry!" "I'm not w-" "LEAVE ME ALONE!" "..."

"Come back to me... Come back to me... In the shadows and in the darkness... I am here... I am yours... So come back ... Come back to me..."

"Hey, Sondra, I'm..." "..." "So I ended up putting some pizza in the oven..." "I thought we could watch an episode of 'Card House', if you wanted."
"... Hey, thanks... Thanks for everything."

This was my entry for the pirate-themed issue 5 of the Franco-German comic zine BETON, which came out this month! You can check out the project online here and locate stores that carry it here.

Also, if you are in Paris on February 8, you can meet the team at the local Goethe-Institut! Originals (including mine from issue #3) will also be on display there.

This has been my regularly scheduled Franco-German moment. As you were.

[ Linkin Park - Papercut ]

Swearing In English

My preferred language in which to swear is actually French, but sometimes it fails me.

***

BERLIN! There's a show opening at Raum B this Friday featuring originals for the new issue of BETON (including a brand-new 4-page story by yours truly)! Doors open this at 7PM and there will be live music and drinks and comics! See you there!

[ Eliot Sumner - Information ]

Store Music

Was James ever confronted with department stores playing Christmas carols after New Year's? It's debatable.

I am back in Berlin! Here is a late update as I was traveling home from California earlier this week. I survived! Also, I may never sleep past 4:30 AM again!

What was 2015 like?

Happy New Year! One of my goals this year is to write more fictional comics, and I figured I would start the year off with these peeps. They have been hanging around in my sketchbooks for many years now. Onwards.

***

Also: Master of Survival #3 (the final issue) is now available to buy online! Shipping from Berlin begins January 15. I will also be selling them at this year's conventions, which will be announced here as they are confirmed.

Same

It's the last comic of the year! Goodbye forever, 2015! See you next week, 2016.

[ Clocks Go Forward - James Bay ]

Welcome zurück

Greetings from California, where I am eating many Eggo waffles and discovered that comedians have their own brand of Ben & Jerry's. Happy holidays!

House Numbers

Forget this Hausnummer business, I'm off to Northern California this weekend! Woo!

[ Phia - So Far, So Close  ]

13. [tw]

Master of Survival Epilogue II - "A Berlin Story"

[ Soundtrack: U2 - The First Time ]

Version française à venir.

And that is the end of the Master of Survival story. Thank you for sticking around, telling me you liked it, buying the zines at conventions and generally being the support that makes art happen. This was my first try at telling a longer story, and it took awhile to finish, but the learning process was worth it. Now it is time to tell other stories.

MOS Bonus Comic #2

English version.

[ Soundtrack: The Clash - Should I Stay Or Should I Go? ]

Read Master of Survival here.

MOS Bonus Comic #1

Version française.

[ Soundtrack: Sausage Biscuit - Une Envie ]

Read Master of Survival here.

***

I'm back from Leeds, where I spent the weekend alternating between convention activities at Thought Bubble and watching BBC News in my hotel room. I don't have many words right now, so I'm saving them for something else. Thanks for understanding.

MOS Epilogue

Version française.

[ Soundtrack: An Horse - Camp Out ]

***

At long last, the Master of Survival bonus comics are upon us! 

I started writing Master of Survival in 2010 as a means to get my first long-form comic project out in the world. Five years later, the story is officially wrapping up with a handful of comics that I left out of the original two volumes. I will be posting them here for the next month, and I hope that you will enjoy them! 

We open today with what was intended to be the ending of Vol. 2 and ended up not being ready by the time Vol. 2 went to print. It constitutes a much softer landing, in my opinion, than this page!

***

On a day-to-day note: Zinefest Berlin 2015 was amazing! Easily the best edition I've tabled at so far. Thanks to everyone who came out, bought stuff and nerded out with me about comics! Only three more sleeps now until I arrive in Leeds and reunite with bacon rolls.

Sundown

This weekend is Zinefest Berlin and I will be there with zines and suchlike! Come say hi!

[ Incubus - Drive ]

How to Tell Time in Berlin

  

It's that special time year where we turn the clocks back! AKA time to go sit in front of my special lamp and anticipate going back to California for the holidays.

ALSO: I will be returning to table at Zinefest Berlin this year! November 7 & 8, mark your calendars. I am working on a couple things to debut there before going to Thought Bubble the following weekend. Come say hi!

[ Placebo - In The Cold Light of Morning (live) ]

Friday Sketchpost: Salt + Sass #2 with Susan Langan + Christine Kakaire

Last night I got to attend the second edition of Salt + Sass - "an event series that aims to connect, celebrate and bring visibility to women working in the music industry in Berlin." This time around, Christine Kakaire interviewed DJ and producer Susan Langan about many things, including her process and life in Berlin. It was extremely inspiring and I'm already looking forward to the next one, which is planned for December. Thanks, folks! (PS: "That track" is the one linked below.)

[ Qzen - Love Is Kindness  (cover) ]

Misheard Nouns

I've actually had this conversation more than once. I need to work on my enunciation.

[ Matchbox Twenty - Sleeping At The Wheel ]

Friday Sketchpost: Petra Zlatevska @ Creative Mornings Berlin, 9.10.2015

  

In keeping with this week's theme of culture shock on the blog, here are some notes I took during Petra Zlatevska's talk at last week's monthly Creative Mornings Berlin meetup, hosted by Factory Berlin. Happy Friday!

Home Is Where The Culture Shock Is

True story: I jaywalk less in other countries since moving to Germany. People are like, "there's no cars!" and I'm like "but --"

***

Two announcements! Firstly, for those of you in Berlin who have been wanting to make comics, I am teaching a workshop on October 24 down on the hallowed grounds of Neukölln's Raum b café. (See that, I just made a coffee pun.) Signups are here. Come hang out!

Secondly, November approaches and with it comes my own personal con season. I will be tabling at the Thought Bubble comic festival in Leeds and am highly looking forward to returning!
I am also dilingently working on a couple new things to bring out for you, and these are going to cost some money on top of the travel and lodging. As I am currently 100% self-employed (huzzah!), the expense is a bit daunting - but you can help make it happen by donating to the Traveling Tip Jar or by pledging to my Patreon campaign. Every little bit truly helps.

Also, the first five people who donate $25 to the Tip Jar get a B/W digital portrait of themselves. Want to look like this? For a limited time only, you can.

[ Death Cab For Cutie - Little Wanderer ]

Friday Sketchpost: La Cordée (Liberté), Lyon

As depicted in this week's comic, I had the good fortune of visiting a branch of La Cordée, Lyon's network of coworking spaces. If I'd had time, I would have stayed and drawn the place for hours. Here is what I had time for. If you are a freelancer or remote worker traveling through Lyon (or Paris, or Annecy, or even... Villefranche and Morez??), I highly recommend stopping by.

Clairikine Hits Lyon - Part 4 of 4

* "This is nice, isn't it?" 
You know, it is, actually. This, right now, this is nice."


[ Tegan and Sara - Wake Up Exhausted ]

Clairikine Hits Lyon - Part 3 of 4

[ Mark Ronson feat. Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk ]

Friday Sketchpost: Kamingespräch at ESCP Europe

Last week I attended a "Kamingespräch" (or "fireside chat"*) organized by the ESCP Europe business school in Berlin-Charlottenburg. The ESCP and their participants let me draw their faces and take a couple notes during the event, which I present to you below. Happy Friday!
* Not involving Nixon.

Clairikine Hits Lyon - Part 2 of 4

 

*  Frank Underwood: "You've got quite a long list of hobbies."

I have very patient friends, bless them. (Also, did I mention I've seen Fury Road three times this summer? Best 26€ I ever spent.)

[ Brothers In Arms - Tom Holkenborg (aka Junkie XL) ]

Clairikine Hits Lyon - Part 1 of 4

Hey folks! For the next month I will be posting pages from my new travel comic Clairikine Hits Lyon, which I drew during my week-long visit back in August. A new instalment will be posted every week. Enjoy!

[ Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hard To Concentrate ]

Analog Living

I don't always go a week without Internet at the house, but when I do, I flip my lid.

***

Remember this drawing about the woods? It is now a postcard that is available in my Bigcartel store! Along with many fine comics.

Also - do you live in Berlin? Want to get pointers on making your own comic? Want to chill in a fine Neukölln location while doing so? Then I cordially invite you to my next comics workshop (in English!) on Saturday, October 24 at raum B. Let's make comics together!

[ Linkin Park (feat. Daron Malakian) - Rebellion ]

Suiting Up

That is is indeed! Happy September, everyone.

[ BOY - Rivers or Oceans ]

Le chemin du retour...

Ça fait du bien de rentrer au pays quand même! (Libre à vous de décider dans quelle direction.) Merci à ceux et celles qui m'ont accueillie quelques jours à Lyon, payé des coups à boire et sponsorisé des pétages de bide.

* It does a person good to go home from time to time! (You get to choose in which direction that might be.) Thanks to everyone who housed me for a few days in Lyon, bought me drinks and sponsored my food comas.

[ Mumford & Sons - Believe ]

Fact vs. Fiction

Good news! There are actually many things one can do about the world being a bad place sometimes, even if feelings of helplessness won't tell you that.

Very specifically, if you live in Berlin, Finding Berlin has a good list (in English!) of ways to help refugees currently seeking asylum in our city. It may feel daunting, or it may not seem like much, but a little goes a very long way.

I myself am currently in France, where it is a pleasant not-above-27 degrees, and will catch you all on the flipside (i.e. next week).

[ Jars of Clay - Weighed Down ]

Home vs. Office

It's too hot! Hot dang! Call the police and the etc.

I'm going to go continue melting in France for a bit later this week. Stay cool!

[ Red Hot Chili Peppers - Hard To Concentrate ]

Sustenance

***

This month my $5+ patrons are getting their monthly postcard sent to them from Lyon! If you would also like to get a postcard from Lyon, or if you would like to commission some art, you can donate to the Traveling Tip Jar. (I've been doodling Tom Hardy lately, for instance, if that is your thing.)

[ Anthony Joseph - Shine ]

A Prayer

[ Death Cab For Cutie - You've Haunted Me All My Life ]