Happy New Year.

Considering 2017 was meant to be the year I took things a bit easier, it no doubt in the end has become my busiest year to date. From releasing SLASH-UPS, and re-releasing Brides Of Babayka, to mine and James’s crypt base Halloween Art Show. I don’t think there’s ever been a year that comes close to this one in terms of output. Although I was very proud of the first edition of Brides Of Babayka, I’ve learnt so much doing the second edition and SLASH-UPS this year. That said, I could have done without the hours and hours of resizing and uploading pages, though. That was hard going.

A few highlights from the year include:

* SLASH-UPS selling out at Orbital Comics in London.

* Getting very drunk in a real life haunted crypt.

* St Mary In The Castle buying a copy of my Art Show poster for the building.

My plans for 2018 are just more of the same, really. Continue working on Babayka Land and maybe trying to squeeze in an odd Babayka\Yana pin-up when time allows. Also trying to do the odd non-Babayka related pin-up in 2018, too. 

I’ve also got a hunkering to both do another Dracula pin-up this year, after not doing one for a few years. And also trying to pick up a cheap second-hand DSLR Camera and maybe start trying to get back into Photography. Although I hold out less hope of either of these two happening, due to lack of time. But we’ll see…

So anyway, a big thank you to anyone who showed Babayka-Lives or SLASH-UPS some love in 2017. It’s business as usual for me in early 2018, as I try and get a couple of projects off the ground over the next couple of months.

There’s also still a couple more instalments of Babayka Land before a brief hiatus in early 2018. After the team breaks into two, who is hunting who, as game plans are put into action on Babayka-Lives.

Merry Christmas 2017.

Wow… Christmas Eve already, huh? Much like an escaped lunatic dress as Santa prowling around and hunting for victims… it really feels like Christmas snuck up on us this year, huh?

So Merry Christmas and hope everyone has a good one. I get the feeling by this point in the year, most people have gone into their Xmas hibernation state, and are all hunkered down for the next couple of days.

My own plans this year involve binge watching a certain TV boxset. Getting some thumbnailing done during my Xmas downtime. Trying to make a dent in my copy of IT (I’m136-pages in, and I’m still only at the start of the book. It’s madness). Plus I was also lucky enough to get hold of a copy of an awesome documentary called Scream Queens: Horror Heroines Exposed that I’ll be watching this Xmas, too. 



Also just a reminder that Babayka-Lives does not “go dark” this Christmas, and will still very much be running over this festive season. As the team splits up, what will be the plan for Newton, Oleg and the Mercenaries now, as the hunt for Babayka continues.

So again, Merry Christmas and hope you all made the ‘Nice List’ this year. I have to confess, 2017 was a hell of a year.

Babayka For Christmas.

For those that crave something a bit morbid at Christmas.

Just a quick reminder, that if you’re in need of a last minute Christmas presents this year. Or you just want to treat yourself this festive season. That copies of Brides Of Babayka are available to order online. 

All copies will now of course be the new redesigned second edition. Including bloody Yana white and red cover.

If Santa disappoints you this Xmas. Put things right with a copy of Brides Of Babayka.

Yana Fan Art.

A massive thank you to Spanish comic-book artists Maria Osuna Marcos for this amazing and awesome bit of Fan Art, as Yana showcases her latest trophy. Strangely for a woman holding a decapitated head, I don’t think Yana has ever looked cuter. I’m also a big fan of the sly look and sexy pose. It’s also nice to know I’m not the only one who thinks deadly brunettes are cool.

Maria is no stranger to murderous women, being the creator, writer and artist of the comic ‘Killer Housewives’. If you like the deadly femme fatale action of Babayka-Lives, Killer Housewives is another comic you might enjoy.

Also be sure to swing by her Instagram page for more of her great art and info on Maria.

Babayka-Lives related Fan Art is always welcome. I get a massive kick out of seeing other artists drawing Babayka, Yana and Co. And it’s always very cool to see people showing this series some love.

All art can be sent via email to the usual address. Or better yet, submitted to my Deviantart Babayka-Lives Fan Art folder.

And don’t forget Babayka Land is currently happening over on Babayka-Lives this Saturday. Things take a turn for the sinister, as the team is force to split up, as Yana thins the herd.

Big thanks again to Maria for the early Christmas treat.

The Perfect Vampire.

I don’t often just post random photos I’ve found off the internet on my blog… But this one was just far too bewitching not to.

She’s like the perfect Vampire.

Looking Forward.

So the SLASH-UPS art show is now over. A massive thank you to those that came. I think I’m right in saying we had a good turn out and attendance was decent (especially considering we had such little time to put together and promote the show). Myself and James are planning on getting drunk and reading through the comments in the guest book sometime before Christmas… Eek!

I’m also told that while the art is gone, you can still pick up copies of SLASH-UPS, Brides Of Babayka and James’s Anatomy Greeting Cards from St Mary until the end of the week. So if your in the area doing any Christmas shopping and want to buy yourself or a loved one something morbid this week, head to St Mary.

Looking to the future and 2018... there of course will be talk of SLASH-UPS: Vol 2... but not for a little while. I think a rest is needed first.

Obviously the main thing I’ll be working on now will be Babayka Land. Making sure 2018 is rich with scary Babayka action. As well as something else big and Babayka related happening early next year.

I’ll also be hopefully doing some more pin-up art very soon. I don’t want to give any spoilers, but I’ll probably be returning to a horror genre that fans can really sink their fangs into (hint, hint). A genre I don’t think I’ve tackled since 2013, but have a strong urge to return to.

For now… new Babayka Land content is currently going up every Saturday this Christmas (and yes, even over Christmas). You can read the latest instalments over on Babayka-Lives this weekend.

Killer Clown Epic.

48-pages down… 1118 to go. Up until now I’ve shy away from tackling one of the Stephen Kings mega epic books. I think Cell at 512-pages is the biggest one I’ve ever read to date. Hoping to change that over Xmas and early 2018. I’ve given myself the task of reading IT before I let myself see the new movie

I bet it turns out the clown did it. I’m good at guessing who the killer is in stuff. I totally guess the shark was the murder in Jaws.

Mid-Ink Job.

Just because I’m so happy to be back working on Babayka Land, and since it’s been a while, I thought I’d share a photo of what I’ve been up to this week. Just a quick and crappy photo live from the drawing board, as it were. Here’s a mid-ink job shot of a moody looking Serrock.

Also, be sure to check in with Babayka-Lives this weekend, as Newton must make a tough choice.

This Winter.

A big thank you to everyone who has been to see the SLASH-UPS art show recently that’s currently happening at St Mary In The Castle in the Southeast of England in Hastings. The show runs until the 4th of December, so there’s still time to visit if you’re gonna be in East Sussex in the next couple of weeks.

I have no idea if and when I’ll be doing another horror based art show again, as the offer to do this one kind of came out the blue (although me and James have had a couple of non-committal talks recently about what we’d do if there was a follow up to SLASH-UPS). But this could be your only chance to see my artwork out in the wild, as it were, for a while. So if you get a chance, please do. Plus if nothing else, it’s in a haunted crypt, which is always worth a day trip out for.

And just a reminder that Babayka Land continues over on Babayka-Lives this winter. See what damages Yana can do, now she has infiltrated the group.

Swag.

Also I think I’ve failed to mention this before so far while promoting this show, but I should say people can buy copies of Brides Of Babayka and SLASH-UPS at St Mary In The Castle during the run of our art show. As well as some of James’s Anatomy greeting cards. 

Good news hopefully for people who like to take something physical home after visiting a gallery. All sales (whether at the show or online) really do help.

A big thank you to everyone who has been to see the show so far. Just a reminder, it runs until the 3rd of December.

Opening Night Art Show Party.

Well, Halloween might technically be over… but if you’re like me and wanna keep that spooky vibe going, we are holding a small event this Friday night to celebrate the opening of SLASH-UPS new art show.

A rare chance to both check out our artwork for yourself, and get drunk in a real life haunted crypt (something to tick off the bucket list, surly?). Myself and James are both currently working on spooky playlists which will be played during the night, and there’s a bar and restaurants area very close to the crypt area for drinks and food, and there’s even talk of having pumpkin punch going around.

Please feel free to Note or Email me if you have any farther questions, or need any other information about this event. Or check out this awesome poster James has put together to get word out about this show.

Happy Halloween 2017.

So this will very much be my Halloween offering to all readers this year, to celebrate everyone’s favourite morbid holiday. And just me making sure readers get some meaty Babayka action this Halloween, after a long absences this summer.

Nothing quiet says Halloween like found footage horror (or let’s stay classy, and say it’s more a modern take on Optography than found footage. Instead of the last thing you ever see being caught on your retina, now-a-days it’s your smart-phone).

To give this scene some context, it’s meant to take place pre-Babayka Land. With one of the unlucky Canadian Hockey Players catching the sight of an attacking Babayka as she’s wiped out. Of course the massacre of the visiting Lesbian Hockey Team happens between Book One and Book Two, and is therefore never seen, as it happens off page. But I do like to give a couple of hints of what happened here-and-there when I can. This being one of them.

I always think the less you see of Babayka, the scarier he is… but that’s hard to pull off when you’re drawing a pin-up. I liked the idea of both only hinting at Babayka, and not really seeing him full on. And also the idea of seeing the chaos and bloody mess he’s left behind after an attack. So I was very happy to finally figure out this design that let me do both.

I knew this pin-up was always going to be coloured, so I drew it a tiny bit differently then normal. I knew I wanted to do most of the Babayka effects digitally after in photoshop. So the Babayka drawing is a bit bareboned, as it was important to me in the finish image, he looked like a blurry photo on a screen (perhaps this is the same smart-phone as the one from the Yana selfie pin-up?)

Anyway, hope everyone has an awesome Halloween this year, whatever you’re up to.

Fame At Last.

Just found out our art show got a mention in the Hastings Observer.

From Today.

You know what a good way to spend a random Friday night is? To have an art show opening the next day on the Saturday in a known haunted crypt, and since you’ve still got so much work to do before the show can open, having to work till late alone in that crypt the Friday night before, just the two of you.

Everything pretty much went ok, hanging all the art and getting everything ready (apart from this really pale and glow-y girl, with the hollowed out black eyes, wearing a Victorian white dress, who kept randomly appearing from nowhere, pointing at me and screaming, and then vanishing… What was her problem? So rude). But I am glad to say, as of today, until the 3rd of December, the SLASH-UPS art show at St Mary In The Castle is open to the public. If you get the chance, please feel free to come pay the show a visit.

I’ve included a couple of photos from last night below. If you spot any Victorian ghost children in them, I can assure you they weren’t there when I took the photo.

And if that wasn’t big enough news, today also sees the return of Babayka-Lives after its long summer break.

Catch up wit the Babayka hunting crew, as they move out and farther into Krayvengrad looking for the old man looking monster known as Babayka, little knowing someone very dangerous has now joined their team and is sabotaging their mission from the inside. Can anyone escape before the net closes in? Find out from today.

How can one Saturday hold so much horror art goodness, eh?

Babayka Returns This Halloween.

I’d just like to official announce the return of Babayka Land restarting next week in time for Halloween. Find out what happens, as Yana joins the group and starts spinning her dark web from the inside on Babayka-Lives.

Also, be sure to tune into my Deviantart page on the big day itself, as I plan to post a big Babayka related treat this year for Halloween. I don’t wanna oversell it, but I think it might be one of my favourite bits of Babayka art I’ve ever done.

And just a reminder, if you do live or can make your way to the southeast of England next week\next month for the SLASH-UPS art show happening at St Mary In The Castle, the show will also contain some Babayka related artwork (including some unpublished and never before seen Babayka Land pages), for those that maybe didn’t get onboard the SLASH-UPS bus this summer.

And don’t forget, readers can pick up the new Brides Of Babayka second edition and invite Babayka into their homes this Halloween for some spooky all hallows’s eve reading.

Again, if people have any question about the SLASH-UPS art show or the return of Babayka Land, I can be reaches at the usual Email address and will make every effort to help. And I really hope people are looking forward to both this Halloween.

Vote Reedy.

So here’s some pre-Halloween fun, and something to celebrate today’s Friday The 13th.

As part of the SLASH-UPS Halloween art show at the end of the month happening at St Mary In The Castle, myself and James were ask to pick four horror movies (two each) to be put up to the public vote as to which one should be screen on opening night. 

While I’ll leave James to pimp his two choices (The Shining and Nightmare On Elm Street) on his own social media accounts, here’s my two movies, and why I think you should vote for them: 

Evil Dead 2: I have to say, if I had to pick one feel good, always makes me feel better for watching it horror movie… it would probably be this one. I watch this film a lot growing up. I think it’s the one horror movie that gets the scare to laughter ratio just right (maybe only Re-Animator comes closes to matching it). There’s something about the tone of Evil Dead 2 that I think just works really well (plus everybody loves a horror movie that has a self-mutilation scene with a chainsaw, no?). 

Friday The 13th Part 3D: Yep, you read that right, friend. Vote for this flick, and I’ll personally lend St Mary my HD, US imported, 3D Blu-ray for the night if people pick this film. What better way to spend a Halloween night out this year, then watching an old school, 80’s, 3D, Slasher movie. I go back-and-forth on whether I like Part 3 or Part 4 better. But I honestly think the third Friday The 13th movie is the most watchable and fun instalment of the series. Jason isn’t over designed and looks iconic in that green shirt and hockey mask. 

I’m sure James will no doubt have his own rebuttal on why you should vote for one of his two horror movie choices (only he won’t, though… He’s the Theresa May of horror. He just expects your vote and won’t campaign for it.)

I don’t think voting is open very long, so don’t delay in having your say and casting your vote. The easiest way to do this is to head over to their Facebook page and comment with the horror movie you want to see.

I will give updates on this screening as they come in, but I do recommend if you want to vote, to do it sooner rather than later.

Upcoming Announcements.

For those missing their regular Babayka-Lives updates, you’ll be please to know I plan to make a couple of announcements over the weekend about what will be happening this Halloween, over on my webcomic.

So tune in for that.

It says a lot about my life, that I was planning on having a low key Halloween this year, and now with the upcoming SLASH-UPS show and making sure there’s gonna be new Babayka-Lives content going out, it’s suddenly become my busiest.

SLASH-UPS Halloween Art Show.

It’s come as a bit of a surprise, but I’m happy to say myself and James were approach very recently about putting on a SLASH-UPS theme horror art show by the St Mary In The Castle Gallery. We had been planning on doing something SLASH-UPS related for this Halloween, so when the offer of a show came along, it just seemed too perfect to pass up.

So from the 28th of October until the 3rd of December this year, if you make your way to St Mary In The Castle (7 Pelham Crescent, Hastings, TN34 3AF, Untied Kingdom), you’ll be able to see most of the pin-ups that make up SLASH-UPS up for display. With many now in colour. As well as some of my Babayka-Lives artwork and sequential pages, and some new humorous horror art by James.

The show itself takes place in a real life renovated crypt, and the gallery also has its own bar, and there’s even talk of a small party and horror movie screening to celebrate opening night.

I know the number of you who either live in the South East of England, or live close enough that you could drive or travel down might be small. But if anybody wants any help in finding this show, please contact me by Note on Deviantart or Email at the usual address, and I’ll do my best to guide you there. One big hint is the gallery is across the road from the sea. So just follow the coast until you see the cliffs and that big, white building.

You can find more details on St Mary In The Castle on their Facebook page. 

As you can see above, I’ve drawn a brand new piece of art to celebrate and advertise this show. See the famous St Mary’s clock-tower get invaded by a gruesome blobby creature.

I hope to maybe see some of you there at this event this Halloween.

Also, while we’re talking SLASH-UPS… I should also mention there are no more copies of the book in the capital right now, for the lovely reason that we sold out. But plans are underway to try and get some more back into London soon. And on that note, a massive thank you to everyone who has bought a copy and supported SLASH-UPS since its launch.

I’ll be giving more updates on this show as they happen. Again, please feel free to get in contact if you have any questions about visiting this show.

And of course people can still get their copies of SLASH-UPS in time for Halloween.

Babayka For Halloween.

While I’ll go into this in more details soon, I just wanted to reassure readers there will be new Babayka content coming your way this Halloween. It’s all done and waiting to be made web-ready, so breath a sigh of relief if you were fearing a Babayka-less Halloween this year.

And also for those currently pondering what spooky books to get to read over everybody’s favourite morbid holiday this year… just a reminder that the new edition of Brides Of Babayka is currently out and looking fierce.

As always, you can find details on buying a copy HERE.

Halloween Playlist Request.

For reasons I can‘t go into just yet, my Halloween this year is gonna be very busy and chaotic. But more on that soon…

For right now, I thought I’d just put a call out for Halloween tunes I could use for putting together a spooky playlist of terror. I would love to hear any good sinister suggestions for music to put on during this forthcoming Halloween season.

There might be a more professional reason for me wanting to put together a playlist this year… or it might just end up being a bit of fun and something for me to do for kicks this Halloween, we’ll see. Never the less, if people do wanna throw some song ideas at me, I’m all ears.

The only rule is the song has to be somewhat horror related. And if possible, a bit funky and not too downbeat. Something that would chill a room (in a creepy way), but not bring the vibe down too much. Also, fair warning, I’m not really much of a pop guy, although I have to confess pop music has got a lot better since I was a kid.

So if you’d like to recommend a sinister tune or two, comment below, Note me (on Deviantart), or send your picks to the usual Email address.

The Abomination On The Roof.

While I still can’t just yet give out too many details on the nature of this pin-up poster, I think it would ok to post a photo of the artwork itself for now. As it won’t remain a secret for much longer (and I will give one clue, this is a Halloween base project), and it would be nice to post some new artwork for the weekend.

If nothing else, I hope this photo goes to show I have big plans for this forthcoming Halloween, readers will hopefully be pleased to hear.

In The Works.

Jeez, just as I thought the busiest summer of my life couldn’t get any busier… it looks like something else big has come along to add to my hefty workload.

I can’t go into any details just yet, but here’s a sneak peek at what I’ll hopefully be inking up next week. Let’s just say my Halloween just got very complicated this year (but hopefully in a good way).

More details soon, folks.

New Babayka Fan-Art.

Thanks go out to James Holcombe (co-artists of SLASH-UPS) for this recent bit of Babayka fan-art. James has depicted Babayka no doubt in full attack mode, as he goes in for the kill. I also think the mouth and eyes are terrifying. A very creepy effort all round.

You can check out more of James’s artwork on his Deviantart page.

Just a reminder, I have started a Babayka-Lives fan-art folder on Deviantart, for those who wanna show this series some love via fan-art. Fan-art is the creepiest and purest of all love.

Brides Of Babayka: Out Today.

The Brides are back in the new and available from today second edition of Brides Of Babayka. Go on a deadly date with Yana and Co with this newly updated graphic-novel with new cover art and relive the terror of Book One.

I think if people knew the hassle that went into rejigging this new edition, they’d be both impressed and wanna give me a sympathy hug at the same time, (hence why it ended up going from taking a couple of weeks, maybe a few at the most, to taking months to be ready to be republishes). What I thought was going to be a few simple tasks to do quickly over the start of the summer, turned into a long ongoing nightmare.

But my recent pain is your gain, as I honestly think this new edition looks so much better than the first book. I’ve ironed out the kinks that were annoying me, and had some very nice feedback from people who have seen this new copy. For a start, people seem to like the new cover a lot more. As much as I liked the first cover, I have to agree. I think the original cover was maybe a little bit too subtle. The new cover sets the tone a lot better.

I also learnt a couple of new tricks while putting SLASH-UPS together that I wanted to use on this new edition.

Rerelease the beast that is Babayka.

On a different subject… is it weird that it’s only mid-august and I’m already stressing out about doing a Halloween Ecard again for this year? That’s normal, right?

A Little Bit Of Babayka.

The Babayka-less drought this summer will (fingers crossed) start to come to an end this week, as all being well, I should be dropping some big Babayka related news this weekend.

But to keep people ticking over until then, though, and to prove I am working on new Babayka related stuff, here’s a quick photo of a drawing of the creepy old man himself, to both delight and fright you. This is the rough layout of a Babayka sketch that was tidied up and light-boxes onto a page for a forthcoming pin-up.

It feels good to be slowly stepping back into Babayka territory, folks.

To Ease The Waiting Pains.

I know it’s been a long and Babayka-less summer so far. But I promise that will be changing in the coming weeks. It’s been nice working on SLASH-UPS as a side project and everything, but readers won’t have to wait too much longer for forthcoming news on all things Babayka.

So to hold people over until then, I’ve just uploaded three unlettered pages of art from the scene just gone over on my Deviantart page today:

HERE, HERE, and indeed HERE.

Also to fill the Babayka shaped void in people’s lives right now, readers are also very welcome to send feedback to the usual address HERE. All feedback really does help.

SLASH-UPS: Now On Facebook.

That’s right… SLASH-UPS now has a Facebook fan-page. So come give us a LIKE and check out all the latest SLASH-UPS related news, photos and art.

Much like an evil cult, myself and James would like followers… but unlike an evil cult, we only want you to tap that ’Follow’ button and nothing more. We promise no creepy force marriages or drinking of deadly Kool-Aid is involved… yet.

Here’s the link and URL for new members:

www.facebook.com/slashups

Join us.

Also Available At…

Not only is SLASH-UPS available online, but you can also pick up copies more and more in certain shops around the UK. Some of these include…

The famous De La Warr gallery in Bexhill, where you can pick up copies in their awesome shop. Pictured here next to their last remaining copy of Brides Of Babayka (first edition).

Book Buster in Hastings, whose very cool bookshop is the old local Blockbuster video store, now changes into a funky bookshop,  and who also kindly gave myself and James a shout out on their facebook page.

And should you find yourself in the capital comic hunting any time soon, you’ll also be please to hear you can now pick up copies of SLASH-UPS from Orbital comics in London as well. Be sure to grab your copy while stocks last.

Now With Video.

Super cool, did some modeling for Andrew Reed's horror comic SLASH UPS! #horror #comicart #monster #damsel https://t.co/h1pBTymL8C pic.twitter.com/ULb60B7HLm

— mercedes the muse (@mercedesthemuse) 14 July 2017

After over 10-years on Blogger, I'm still learning new tricks, like how to embed a Tweet.

Again, a massive thank you to Mercedes for showing SLASH-UPS some love.

Extra Special Sexy SLASH-UPS Love.

Just a quick follow up on last weekend’s post…

A massive thank you again to Mercedes for showing some more SLASH-UPS love (and for no doubt brightening up a lot of people’s weekends), with a Twitter shout out, and sexy video of her enjoying her copy.

Personally, this is how I like to think everybody reads their copy of SLASH-UPS.

A big thank you to her for this unexpected and very sexy treat. If you wanna see more of Mercedes (and after watching that video, who doesn’t?), just a reminder that her new Troma movie, Rose And Viktor: No Mercy is out now.

And If you wanna get your own copy of the horror pin-up artbook that’s so good, it makes you wanna strip down just to your panties when reading it, you can order your copy today.

Showing Some More SLASH-UPS Love.

Time to end the week with some more SLASH-UPS love. This time being shown by the lovely Mercedes The Muse (Star of new Troma movie Rose and Viktor: No Mercy), shown above chill-laxing with her copy.

Mercedes actually stars in two pin-ups that people can find collected in SLASH-UPS. After an ill-advised late night hook up makes the mistake of taking her for a midnight splash about in the woods, Mercedes finds herself sweep up by the monstrous Uncle Gnaw (A.K.A. The Skinny-Dipper Ripper), as she must fight to escape the evil, inbred, redneck cannibal.

I had a blast working on both pin-ups with Mercedes, who was an amazing model, and think both pin-ups look great in print in SLASH-UPS.

So a big thanks to Mercedes The Muse for showing some love.

To keep up to date with all of Mercedes goings on, folks can no doubt find out her latest announcements and news over on her Twitter page, where she lets people know what she’s up to. And if you’d like to see more of Mercedes being a muse, you can find her putting the deviant into Deviantart with her awesome photos on there as well.

She’s always up to something crazy, sexy and fun.

Showing Some SLASH-UPS Love.

Big thanks to Amy Crosby, for showing SLASH-UPS some love recently with an online shout out. Here is Amy with her copy.

Amy was of course the star of the pin-up Cut Here back in Febuary, where she found herself facing off against a Buzzsaw welding mad Doctor, intent on performing some late night unnecessary surgery.

It was a pin-up I love doing, and I think one of my best designed ones, but I’m sure was a nightmare for poor Amy to create in her ref photos, but she did an amazing job, and I totally think it shows in the final artwork.

And folks might be glad to hear it’s included as part of my half of artwork for SLASH-UPS.

For more things Amy, please be sure to swing by her Facebook page, where you can check out some of her awesome photography, and get updates on her latest goings on. Or she’s also just launch a fancy new website concentrating on her writing, which everybody should check out. Horror fans will no doubt love Amy’s morbid, thrilling and often touching stories, which are well worth a read, and come highly recommended.

And a quick thanks to everybody who has been showing SLASH-UPS some love since it launch on Saturday. And if you miss the news, SLASH-UPS is a new horror themed artbook that’s just been release that I did with illustrator James Holcombe. For information, or to buy a copy, please go here for more details.

SLASH-UPS.

Available from today… SLASH-UPS: The Morbid Art of Andrew Reed and James Holcombe.

Yes, folks. It’s that rare but most wonderful time again… New book time. It’s been a while, but now if you enjoy my art in handy paper format, rather than soulless digital, today is your lucky day. As I have team up with my old bloody buddy and twisted illustrator, James Holcombe, to make SLASH-UPS. A 32-page, comic-book size, horror, black and white, pin-up book.

From murderous Sex-dolls, to pumpkin-headed zombies, SLASH-UPS is a morbid treat for all those who like their art-books monstrous and raw. This edition also includes a gruesome six-page sketchbook gallery, and Myself and James in Slasher mode on the front-cover as paper-dolls.

This book is obviously recommended for older readers, as it does contain scenes of horror, gore and some nudity. So those who are easily offended, may wanna give it a miss. But for those with a love for the macabre, from today can buy your copies here>

SLASH-UPS: THE MORBID ART OF ANDREW REED AND JAMES HOLCOMBE.

Make your summer more sinister with a copy today.

Before The Storm.

Before the storm that is next weekend’s big announcement, I need to do some very quick, and much needed house keeping, before things get crazy next Saturday.

I’m stuck in the very weird position where I may actually have a chance to print some Babayka-Lives fan-art very soon, but where I’d be able to print it in, I need to start putting together very soon, which may mean it’s too much of a tight deadline for people to get around to doing some. At the moment, I think I’ll give it a month, and if there isn’t enough to do it in that time, I’ll chalk it up to my bad timing on my part, and replace it with something else. My plan right now is for me to put the word out (which hopefully I‘m doing now), and see how things look in a few weeks.

I know the summer is the worse time to put out the call for fan-art (more bad timing on my part), but we’ll see how it all goes. If anyone out there is interested, but has questions, you can either Note me on Deviantart, or send an email to the usual address.

And just a reminder, we do have a Babayka-Lives Fan-Art folder over on Deviantart now, if anyone would like to submit artwork to it. I'd love to see it.

This Time Next Week.

Something huge is heading your way in 7-days, folks. So tune in to find out what this time next week. It’s gonna be big and bloody, I can reveal that much at least for now...

It’s news not to be missed, that’s for sure.

The Need For Feed(back).

What with the summer cliffhanger and summer break starting over on Babayka-Lives now. And the fact that I plan to go public with a big announcement very soon about something coming people’s way very, very soon. I think I’ll use this short period of quiet to quickly put out a call for feedback before things get super busy for me later in the summer. At this halfway point of 2017, I’d love to hear what readers think of Babayka Land so far this year? I’d love to hear readers thoughts and reactions to the big reveal from a couple of weekends ago.

As always, feedback can be sent via Babayka-Lives email address.

And as well as feedback, I’d also like to remind folks that Babayka-Lives now has its own fan-art folder that’s in need of fattening up. While I make no promises, I am working on something (another big announcement to be revealed later in the year), where there’s a chance I might get to print some of the best ones. It’s not official yet, but it is something I’m flirting with doing. So if you have been thinking about showing this webcomic series some love by drawing, rendering, cosplaying or making some Babayka-Lives themed fan-art… please do… and soon. And be sure to let me know of its excisions via the email address above, or by Note on Deviantart. Or feel free to Note\Email me if you have any questions about doing fan-art.

I hope to be getting back to the world of doing Babayka-Lives art myself very soon.

Babayka Snoozies.

Just a reminder that, while Babayka-Lives may have started its summer hiatus, I will be making several big announcements during this year’s break. So watch this space, for a few surprises this summer.

I have a couple of big Babayka related announcements coming your way very soon, and also a couple of other secret projects folks will be able to check out during the summer downtime, that I’ll be going public with more details on soon.

So keep an eye on this blog in the coming weeks, folks.

I hope all readers have a great and fun filled summer.

And just a reminder that I’ve started a Babayka-Lives fan-art folder on Deviantart, for anyone who feels artsy this summer, and wants to draw, paint, render or write anything for it. All submissions are very welcome.

End Of Sale Looms.

Ok, guys. This is my last shout out to let you know the 30% off first editions of copies of my Graphic-Novel Brides Of Babayka sale ends on Wednesday (the 24th). After that date, that particular edition will be out-of-print. I myself won’t be selling it, as I only have a couple of copies myself. And the only place you’ll be able to pick it up is from second-hand sellers. And bear in mind the couple of times I’ve seen people selling second-hand copies online, they’ve been pretty pricey. So the next few days will truly be people’s last chance to buy the first edition for new and at only 70% of retail price, before it’s gone forever this Wednesday.

Copies for a very little bit longer can be bought from Lulu.com.

I will try answer any and all questions you may have about the sale before it ends midweek at the usual Email address, but be quick in getting them in.

Also, head over to Babayka-Lives this weekend for the summer cliffhanger, before the series returns later in the year. Find out if I was a massive jerk and left the question of who’s in the barn unanswered, or if I finally made the big reveal.

The Big Reveal.

While the summer cliffhanger is coming at you a tiny bit earlier then I’d like this year, it none-the-less is on its way this Saturday. Find out who has been rescued by Newton and co this weekend, as Babayka-Lives taps out for the summer.

But just a reminder I will be around a bit more, however, this summer. As I have a few big announcements I’m gonna be making over the next few months.  So be sure to check in on rainy days this year for a few surprises on this blog. And I also will be making a few surprise updates over on Babayka-Lives, too.

But for now, as a bonus for readers of this blog, I have a sneak peek panel from this week’s instalment. An early look at what’s (or who’s) to come.

One Extra Week Added.

I’m officially adding another week to the 30% off Brides Of Babayka sale, as it’s become very clear I’ll never finish what prep I need to do before next Wednesday. I will have to take the first edition down from being for sale online to slowly switch over to the new edition very soon (which will probably take a month or two.) But I think if I make the deadline the 24th, rather than the 17th, it gives readers one more week to hop on this deal, and lightens my workload a little. So for those planning on getting a copy of Brides Of Babayka for the summer, you now have until the 24th, but no longer.

This offer is only available on copies bought from Lulu.com

And if people have any questions, please send them to the usual Email address.

And just a reminder, this will be folks final chance to buy the first edition of Brides Of Babayka new. I myself now only have a couple of copies left, and it will be officially out-of-print come the 24th. At which point, you will be at the mercy of second-hand sellers, if you want to buy the first edition after that.

Here in Britain, we have this famous saying… “You wait ages for one Bus, and then three come along at once.” This is very much how I’d describe my creative output for the summer of 2017. I haven’t had anything new publishes for a while now, and yet for some reason, I’ll have a few things coming your way during these next few hot sunny months.

But for now, before I make any announcements of forthcoming projects, the next couple of weeks for me will be about finishing up and putting out the summer cliffhanger for Babayka-Lives (although this year, it’s as much a reveal as a cliffhanger.) So tune in this weekend as we continue to find out who’s been left for Newton and crew to find in that dark and mouldy barn.

14-Day Sale On Brides Of Babayka.

Yep, the first edition of Brides Of Babayka will go off to the big library in the sky where all first editions go to, shall we say… retire, as they’re replaced by a younger, slicker second editions. Yes, I’ve finally set a date, and readers have until May the 17th to order a copy of the first edition of Brides Of Babayka, before it goes offline forever.

And just to sweeten the deal and as a last hurrah for the first edition, for these last 14-days, I am offering a super special 30% off deal starting today. For people who are on the verge of buying a copy of Brides Of Babayka, but haven’t yet… here’s your chance for a limited period to buy and own it at a cut down price before it’s gone. For a short time, you can get a massive 30% off the retail price.

Obviously this offer is only on until the 17th of May, and only available from Lulu.com

This offer does not include the signed and sketch in copies of Brides Of Babayka on Etsy, and the second edition will be launch back at normal price, so snap it up at this cut price while you can, folks. I have no intention of keeping the retail price this low for long, so for all those interested, act now.

Again, if people have any questions, I can be reach at the usual email address.

And just a reminder, too, that Babayka Land continues again this weekend. Tune in to find out who’s been left for the Newton and Co to find in that abandon barn this Saturday.  

Also, a big shout out and congrats to Mercedes The Muse, who some people on here may know as the model from my two Skinny-Deeper Ripper pin-ups from last year, who’s just got her movie (Rose And Viktor: No Mercy) picked up by the mighty Troma entertainment, which is very awesome news. So a big congratulations to her.

Brides Of Babayka: Second Edition.

I guess today’s is as good a day as any to drop my first bit of big news in a series of big announcements that are coming your way over the next couple of months.

So (drum roll) one of the big things happening in 2017, is Brides Of Babayka is getting a second edition. The first edition has been around for just over three years now, and I feel now is the right time to retire it and launch a new copy. This new edition will have an all new front and back-cover, as well as some changes inside. A couple of things I’ve wanted to retouch and correct over the last three years, as it were. There’s a couple of bugs in this first edition I’ve been wanting to squash for a while now.

I don’t know how much longer this first printing of Brides Of Babayka is gonna be available to buy. It might be a month or two… it might be sooner… it might be later… but once it’s gone, it’s gone. I’ve still got some copies for any readers who have been flirting with the idea of getting a sign and sketch in copy off me from my online Babayka-Lives store.

So if you’re a collector of first editions, or enough of a Babayka-Lives fan, that it would bug you that you never snapped up the chance to own the first edition when you had the opportunity, you still have a limited time to do so, but be warned, the first edition’s days are numbered. I might put aside a few copies for hardcore collectors down the line, but this most likely will be your last chance to own Brides Of Babayka in its first edition incarnation for retail price, before it’s replace by the second edition. As always, you can find details of how to pick up your copy on Babayka-Lives.

It would be arrogant to imply I think a first edition of Brides Of Babayka might ever be worth something in years to come. That said, this is the first edition of it… and your chance to own a copy is coming to an end very soon. So if you are an first edition junkie… act now, before it’s too late.

Email me at the usual email address if you have an questions or inquires about buying a first edition copy.

Mini-Break.

I know after last week’s cliffhanger, a break in the action is the last thing most people want… but I’m afraid we must squeeze in a quick one before the summer holiday. Give readers a chance to speculate over who it is the strangers have found hanging in the barn.

Enjoy this slightly S&M themed promo above until then.

The Plan.

I’ll happily admit I suck at getting the start date of Babayka-Lives summer breaks right. While year one the webcomic had no break over the summer months, and year two I pretty much timed it perfectly… Last year I screwed up, however, and it didn’t start until the summer was half over, and this year, it looks like I’ve time it wrong again, and the break’s gonna come too soon this year. So to combat this problem, I think after this weekend’s easter instalment (which is like a mini-cliffhanger itself), I’m gonna throw in a quick couple of weeks break. Nothing major, just a bit of a rest until the 6th of May. And then we’ll pick up from there. I always try and aim for June to be the start of the summer break, and doing this will get us pretty close to that.

If the two week break, and the fact we’re getting close to the summer break bums you out a little, fear not. Unlike the last three summer breaks, I plan to make a couple of big announcements while we’re all resting in the sun this year. Firstly, I’ll finally come clean on the secret project I’ve been working on these last several months. I promise the time for revealing all is very close. Also, I might try and find some time this summer to make some kind of digital treat solely for those that do make any Babayka-Lives fan-art. Something I can just email people as a thank you for showing the series some love.

Speaking of fan-art, I’m also flirting with setting out a little challenges, if any readers want to have a bit of fun. Hopefully it won’t be too much of a spoiler, if I reveal that one of the last things to happen in Brides Of Babayka, is Vera announces they’ve had an enquiry from a Canadian female hockey team about visiting the hotel. Babayka Land then opens with the scene of the last surviving member of the hockey team being chase across the countryside and caught by Babayka. I have no plans at this time to ever show what happened between Book One and Book Two, or what horrors befell those poor hockey players. Needless to say it was probably grisly… I’m leaving that one to fan-fiction for now. Should anyone be brave enough to wanna fill in that bit of story themselves with some fan-art or fan-fiction, though… please do. I’d love to see it. I will honestly try and make something digital and exclusive in the coming months, just for those that do create anything, I promise.

And if anyone does take me up on my challenge, please be sure to Note or Email me about your pin-up, etc, so I’m aware of it, and I will check it out. Or let me know if folks have any questions.

So that’s the plan and how things look right now. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for a mini-cliffhanger at Babayka-Lives.com

Fan-Art Request: Update.

A big thank you and shout out to Monica (A.K.A. Pixiefairydust) from Deviantart for stepping up to the Babayka-Lives fan-art challenge and doing this awesome piece you see above.  

I think it’s a scene depicting Alina and Babayka cleaning up after another bachelor has been dispatch back at the hotel. The little details like the bloody handprint on the bed-board, or the washing bowl of bloody water I think are very cool. I love how sultry the Bride looks, and how creepy and otherworldly she got Babayka looking, too.  

It’s also just very cool to see another artist having a go at doing my characters.

I strongly recommend people give Monica’s DA page a look. If only for the sexy Power-Ranger (sorry… Super Serious Sentai) booty in a recent strip she’s been doing, which I’ve been enjoying.

I’ve also started a Babayka-Lives fan-art folder on my DA page that’s looking a little underfed for any and all future fan-art.

Fan-Art Request.

If there’s maybe one area I’ve been dropping the ball when it comes to Babayka-Lives lately, it’s been putting out the call for fan-art. In fact I usually try and make a push in the comic’s summer downtime to see if anyone fancies doing any, and last year I completely forgot.

So here we are tiptoeing into spring, and I’m gonna put the call out early this year to avoid that mistake again. I don’t know the cross over on the Babayka-Lives venn diagram of those that read and those that create, but if that’s you, please consider and feel free to do some. I’d love to see any and all efforts. I’ve actually had a few people in the past say they’re gonna do something (artists friends etc, etc), but so far, no one has step up to the challenge.

So if you fancy drawing a beautiful, early twenties, Russian, brunette, femme fatale or her hunch over, bald,  godless, old man impersonating overlord, or any of the Brides really… please, by all means have a go. However you like to express yourself artistically, from traditional to digital art, to model making or writing, I am officially putting the call out for the first time this year.

I myself haven’t done any Babayka-Lives pin-ups for a while now, as I’ve been busy with the main strip and working on this secret project, so I’ve got a couple of Babayka and Yana pin-up ideas I wanna do in 2017. So if this call out goes unanswered, hopefully there’ll be some new Babayka-Lives art later in the year, one way or the other.

I’m also trying to think of something I could make and give out digitally to kind people who do show the series some love and do fan art. I’m gonna have a good think about it, and see if I can come up with anything. Suggestions are welcome at the usual email address.

And tune in this Saturday to find out who’s in need and shouting for help in this week’s instalment of Babayka Land, as we build to our summer cliffhanger.

Outtakes.

It’s been a very narcissistic couple of weeks for me lately. First of all, I had to draw my first self-portrait in years for a secret project I’m currently working on, and considering I do them so rarely, I wanted it to be a good one, so I’ve been really trying to get my likeness down recently.

And now I’ve gotta free up some space on my phone and delete some old photos, and I’ve decided I kind of like some of the outtake photos from a selfie id photo session I did late last year so much, I’m gonna post them here and set them free onto the internet.

Forgive me for this very self-indulgent post this week. Considering there’s so few photos of me floating around on the internet, though, I hope you’ll excuse it. I know I’m meant to also give you some kind of update on Babayka-Lives for the weekend, but I just caught my reflexion in a shiny surface and I’m too enchanted to do so now, so I strongly just recommend to tune in and find out for yourself.

Thanks And More.

A big thank you to everyone who has been tuning back into Babayka-Lives since its return a couple of weeks ago. I always get a little nervous every time the comic takes a break, that no one will come back and all return readers will evaporate during the downtime… happily that has not been the case again this time. So enjoy the coming weeks thrilling instalments. And I promise I have something big up my sleeve for the summer break cliffhanger this year.

Tune in this weekend to see the stand off between Newton, Elizabeth, Oleg and the armed strangers continues.

Plus there’s still very much time to chip in on my horror sub-genre request post, FYI, if you have a suggestion you’d like to see me tackle in a future model\monster pin-up?

To keep that ball rolling, here’s a few more.

Swamp Beasties: If I’m honest, this is my current personal favourite that I’d love to do. Maybe a grungier Julie Adams from Creature From The Black Lagoon type meets a muck monster style image. I did do a Sand-Thing attacking a cowboy a few years ago, but that doesn’t really count, right?

And speaking of cowboys…

Weird Western: Fun fact… I was a huge western fan as a teenager. It was the only genre growing up that almost equalled my love of horror films, and I’ve been dying to do something set in the old west. However, the fact that it would be a period piece, might make it too hard to pull off to begin with, though.

Kaiju: To be brutally honest, I didn’t get to see a lot of Japanese style big monster movies growing up. They don’t really play them here in the UK on TV or anything. None the less, I’d be up for drawing a super-size baddie in a future pin-up. I think the biggest monster I’ve drawn to date is a T-Rex.

So please keep those horror sub-genre suggestions coming in, guys.

Getting To Know You.

A big thanks to everybody who tune in this week for the return of Babayka-Lives. In this Saturday’s instalment, it’s time to get to know the mysterious armed strangers a little better.

Here’s a short horror film I saw a couple of months ago, and totally forgot to post at the time. I guess it’s kind of a slasher parody. I especially enjoyed the Spock mask joke reference.


Night of the Slasher from Shant Hamassian on Vimeo.

Horror Sub-Genre Suggestions?

The nice thing about doing these recent model\monster mash-up pin-ups (I really need to think up a better name for them, lol), is that it’s given me a chance to try out horror sub-genres I never usually would. From the inbred, backwoods slasher goings on of Uncle Gnaw. To the buzz-saw wielding mad doctor antics of yesterdays freshly posted pin-up. It’s been fun to try out new things and ideas recently.

This has got me curious, though… is there any sub-genre of horror I’ve never done before that people would like to see me do? Any themes folks would like to see me tackle in 2017?

To get the ball rolling, here are just a few off the top of my head I’ve never done before:

Nature Runs Amok Horror: Think Jaws or The Birds.

Ooze Horror: I’ve just read Dissolving Classroom by Junji Ito, so I’m kind of in the mood for something along these lines at the moment. The only downside is, it might be a bit too much of an ask for any model who I worked with on it, though, lol, getting gunges.

Femme Fatale: Ok… I know this genre very well, as anyone who reads Babayka-Lives knows… but… up till now, I’ve had models just as Scream Queens style normal women. Would people like to see me do some female horror monsters pin-ups working with models, maybe? Scary succubuses? Killer nurses? Rabid mermaids?  Demented lollipop-lady? Ok, maybe not that last one.

Or failing all that… any particular monster or monsters you’d love to see me take a stab at drawing soon? Or maybe even something I’ve tackled before once, that you wish I’d go back and do a follow up to, maybe?

Comment below, or ‘Note Me’ on Deviantart, or just email me at the usual address if you do have a suggestion. I’d love to hear them all, if people do.

Also, just a quick reminder that Babayka-Lives does indeed return this coming weekend (the 25th.) Newton, Elizabeth and Oleg may have seen off the hungry wolf-pack, but you can be sure their troubles are only just getting started, as they face-off against the new armed strangers. Tune in this Saturday to see what happens next.

Cut Here: Coloured.

And so on to the colour version of this pin-up. The black and white version can be found below this post.

I actually had less of a plan going into colouring this one, then I usually do when colouring up an image. But I think that actually worked in my favour this time. It gave me room to play around a little, and try out a couple of ideas.

I ended up going for a less is more approach to this image. I usually try and build up a little bit of dread by using morbid colours, but this time I went with a more limited palette, and aim more for a sterile and bleached out kind of tone. The red of her lips and the blood on the buzz-saw are the only sharp colours going on.

I also tried to get a little bit of discrete lens-flare going on in there. I know a lot of people dislike the use of lens-flare in art, but hopefully it’s subtle enough it doesn’t take anything away from the final image, or draw too much attention to itself.

Over all I’m pretty happy with the ideas I tried out in this pin-up, and the final look.

Again… a massive thanks to Amy Crosby for modelling and photographing herself for this pin-up. You can find her very cool photos, which are really worth checking out HERE.

Cut Here: B&W.

So the biggest thing that happen in 2016 was I started doing a side-project where I work with models on horror\scream queen type pin-ups. This is actually something I’d been wanting to do for a while, and made a nice change from working on Babayka-Lives, and I really enjoyed getting to collaborate with other people, rather than working solo.

So it was nice to start the year in the same manner, working with photographer and model Amy Crosby on this new pin-up, as she finds herself prep for some unnecessary surgery by a sinister looking surgeon. Can she free herself and escape the buzz-saw in time?

There are lots of sub-genres in horror I’ve never tackled before. Mad Doctor is one of them. I was a big fan of movies like Re-Animator and Dr Giggles growing up, so this is my little homage to those.

The pin-up itself really come from me thinking it was cool and menacing to have an image where you know the bad guys intentions, because of the surgery markings. I think this pin-up was about building up tension, as both the viewer and girl know what he has in mind, thanks to his cruel pen marks. I would have loved to have drawn him drawing on the dotted lines, too. It would have been a good, creepy scene.

A massive thanks to Amy for taking time out of her super busy schedule recently to model for me. You can find Amy’s photos HERE, which are well worth checking out. She’s also one of the best Harley Quinn cosplayers I’ve ever seen.

Tune in very soon to see this Pin-up in colour.

Return Date.

Just to show this blog is the best place for Babayka-Lives info and updates, I’ve decided to post Babayka Land’s return date on here first, five days before it goes up on the weekend on the main site.

I’ve also included a tiny sneak peek of things to come.

Uncle Gnaw Coloured.

What you currently losing in Babayka Land lately, you’ll be making up for in pin-ups over the next week or two. And with that in mind… it’s time for more Gnaw, as everyone’s favourite inbred, rural cannibal returns… and this time in colour.

Had time this week to give my recent Uncle Gnaw close-up image a quick colouring. I had already decided on his colour scheme in previous pin-ups, and with no real background, apart from the text, there wasn’t that much to do on this one… but I had fun anyway.

The black and white version of this pin-up can be found over on my Deviantart page.

Bonus points to anyone who can guess what horror franchise the font is a nod to, BTW.

Tomie.

While I’m personally against the idea of being another year older, the only upside with having a birthday this week, was that I got a copy of this…

Maybe the only horror comic worth giving a year of your life for.

I’m happy to say, I honestly think the Tomie stories might be my favourite horror comic series of all time.

Ease The Pain.

To those missing their weekly fix of Babayka Land, I can this week offer freshly uploaded sequential pages over on my Deviantart page. Relive the wolves vs. flamethrower action, without those pesky word balloons blocking out all the fun.

Check them out:

HERE.

HERE.

AND

HERE.

Enjoy.

And Again…

Just because a friend sent me this recently, and it made me laugh.

Doc Tease.

Just a quick reminder that this Saturday is the start of a very short hiatus for Babayka-Lives. I don’t plan for it to be a long break or anything, so watch this space for updates soon.

I also recently just uploaded another instalment of Babayka Land over on Babayka-Lives Tapastic page.

And just so this blog post isn’t all business, no fun, here’s a quick phone pic of what I’m working on right now. That’s right, I’m currently taking a quick stab at the Mad Doctor genre, in my latest pin-up. So expect some sinister medical mayhem heading your way in the near future, folks.