Vampire Variations Volume II - Let's get cracking!

 

It's a good time to be a Castlevania fan...

 

Before being released on October 31st, Project Director Chernabogue has treated us to the trailer for Vampire Variations II. For those of you who didn't read the last post, or frankly just couldn't be bothered - VV2 is a Castlevania fan album remixing two soundtracks for two of its most popular titles; Rondo of Blood and Bloodlines (aka New Generation).

 

I had the opportunity to be part of the project by providing the album's artwork. This newest trailer contains the final illustrations in all their glory (plus they will be available as part of the download package), and also they will be blogged here to coincide with the release of this very exciting tribute album.

 

You can watch the new trailer below. For news updates be sure to check out the VV2 site here.

 

 

Vampire Variations Volume II is coming...

 

 

 

Back in 2011, Konami (sort of) celebrated the 25th Anniversary of the Castlevania series of video games. Those of you *cough* old enough to remember it or perhaps those of you who dabble in the delights of retro gaming or have played the latest efforts courtesy of MercurySteam will know what the series entails. Those who don't...well, go and play them. In short, the Belmont clan have been kicking Dracula's pale backside for over 25 years now. Ouch.

 

However the 'true' celebration of the texture, the art, the music and the sheer playability of the Castlevania games was initiated by the fans. One group of fans in particular. Led by team leader Alexandre 'Chernabogue' Mourey and his sterling array of fellow musicians, they channelled their passion for the franchise into a downloadable fan album; Vampire Variations - showcasing some of the best and memorable video game music composition of the last 25 years - expertly re-arranged.

 

 

Well, this Halloween Chernabogue and his crew are back for another bite. This time taking advantage of the 20th anniversary of one of the most popular games in the series; Chi no Rondo, or Rondo of Blood to us not in Japan. The original soundtrack to the game was released the year after the game's release; in 1994 as a double album paired with the next game in the series; Vampire Killer, or Bloodlines to those in America, whilst in Europe it was 'tastefully' renamed The New Generation. To avoid any mention of blood, obviously. In a game about vampires. Pfft.

 

Vampire Variations Volume II is a re-arrangement of that classic double album in the style of the former VV album. And, as the aforementioned games are two of my favourite in the entire series I can gleefully say that I am very proud to be part of this project.

 

I have provided illustrations that will accompany the final product when it is released to the masses this Halloween as a download. More updates will undoubtedly be announced as the weeks peel away, and all the art will be blogged here as soon as it is released and the final product revealed.

 

In the meantime there are 2 teaser trailers to get your teeth into (I'll stop soon, I promise) in which you'll see snippets of early sketches for the project, along with the official teaser art (two examples being above). You can check for updates on VV2 at its official website here.

 

 



One Piece Fits All

Not available at a convention this time, the following two pairs of painted shoes were in fact specially commissioned. The brief was to not only decorate them with illustrations of the anime One Piece, but also interpret the client's two children as One Piece pirates and paint them on their own respective pairs. They were boys - so the more scars, swords and knives, the better, right?

Each pair was adorned with their favourite characters, plus the tongues for each pair acted as a set of 'Wanted' posters, that frequently make their appearance in the series.

Here's the first pair:

 

 

 

Here's the second, slightly larger pair of the two:

 

 

 

 

Rate My Smile

Special thanks go to Andy Oliver over at Broken Frontier for his generous review of The Grinning Man. Having your comic being likened to the work of the great M.R. James is nice enough, but for it to be called "a kind of council estate ‘Oh, Whistle, and I’ll Come to You, My Lad’" - well, that made my day as you can imagine.

Kudos to him and all at BF for keeping us small pressers on the radar. Here's to them.

London Film and Comic Con July 2013

 

Snaking queues, stifling heat and an air of excitement. Oh yes, it can only be a summer comic convention. So, as usual, many thanks to all who forked out for prints, books and various sketches. A new print of the rustic wizard Radagast was available, and the keener among you would have seized the opportunity to get it signed by the man himself; Sylvester McCoy, to whom I later had the privilege to meet and present the original - whilst quietly gushing like a fanboy, naturally.

 

Still Grinning...

 

For those of you perhaps wondering just what that 'grey, smudgey spooky ghost comic' was - well, you're in luck. The good folks at Orbital Comics, have a fresh and shining new batch of The Grinning Man, hot off the presses for all your browsing needs. As well as Orbital, they are also available at my store, and will also be present at my table at the forthcoming LFCC very soon.

Meltdown UK

 

 

ESports, a term that may be unfamiliar to many - refers to wonderful world of competetive (video)gaming. Meltdown, in London's Caledonian Road is not only the first eSports bar in London but also in the UK, after two other successful eSports bars in Paris and Berlin respectively.

 

I had the privilege to be asked to paint a mural on the wall in London's Meltdown - and was briefed to make it fit in with their futuristic, post-apocalyptic flavour. Considering I had no more than 2 days to complete it before they opened on June 1st - I think it went rather well. More snaps below.



 

After the first day...

 

 

Half way through day two; at a different angle...

 

 

The final Mural.

 

So - if competetive gaming is for you - or perhaps if you merely enjoy a few beverages with your finest chums whilst watching other people play video games on a projected screen - then check out Meltdown at 342 Caledonian Road, London. Game on.