Surviving The Purge.

As I put Babayka-Lives to rest again this weekend until it returns (hopefully) in 2019, it’s with a heavy heart I must make this next announcement.

While I have recently witness the carnage the forthcoming Tumblr anti-nudity purge has been having on professional photographers (who I very much consider artists), it wasn’t until I recently signed in and saw some of my own work had been “flagged” that I realizes I was also gonna have to take action and make some changes. I foolishly thought anything that clearly wasn’t photography or pornography wouldn’t be caught up in this nightmare… I was sadly wrong. So from now on, all nakedness will have to be censored on the webcomic until further notices.

While Babayka-Lives isn’t really known for its nudity, and in reality this will only effect a few pages, and therefore I hope to survive the purge this coming Monday. It’s still something that has been force upon me and my art, and not something I agree with or want to do.

Anyone who knows me, knows I’m very anti-censorship. Especially when it comes to nudity. Things like this come way too close to villainizing the human body, and feel like decisions made by people who are as far away from being artists as is humanly possible to be, while forcing very strong beliefs on artists and their art and output.

Who knows if Tumblr will still be around this time next year? As it’s clearly become a platform that is no longer a safe space to be creative or express yourself in for artistic types. I am nothing short of baffled at its recent business decisions.

I hope readers will understand. And this of course doesn’t effect Babayka-Lives in printed format. I’ve always secretly considered the books the best place to read this series anyway, and this just proves it. Digital is just way too easy to be tampered with. 

I feel very sorry for those that do express themselves more fully and include sexual themes in their work. You have my sympathies if you too have been caught up in this shitty purge. It honestly feels like a win for the bad guys and taking a step backwards, if I’m totally honest.

The Best Till Last.

As the year starts to come to an end, I still have a couple more treats up my sleeves for readers.

Firstly… it’s the last instalment of Babayka Land for 2018 over on Babayka-Lives this weekend. Tune in one last time this year to see what awaits the rattled solders hunting Babayka, as they come face-to-face with a big surprise.

And lastly, here is the final Rat victim of Vampire Cat (a character James Holcombe recently created for a quick art show). This last Rat is my personal favourite, as he looks a little like he died happy, laying on his back, with a slight smile. Maybe secretly, it’s how he wanted to go… sucked dry by a big kitty…

One thing I did like about 2018 was I finally got to do some Vampire artwork again this year. I do have a soft spot for drawing bloodsuckers.

Dead Rat Returns.

Hope readers enjoyed last weekend’s instalment of Babayka Land. Just a couple more days left until we return to Krayvengrad this Saturday, as the hunt is on for the mystery girl.

Until then, and to keep people going, here’s the finish version of Vampire Cat’s victim Rat from earlier in the month, who’s just been sucked dry by an evil vampiric feline. This little guy was hung on a gallery wall with other dead rodents.

It was fun to break out the makers again and do some sketching.

Back To Babayka Business.

While Halloween might be dead and buried, just waiting in its tomb until October next year so it can rise again, for those still looking for chills this Winter, head over to Babayka-Lives this weekend for new Babayka Land action.

Tensions build, as Baransky comes face-to-face with his underdressed attacker. But who should be more afraid of who?

Also keep those suggestions for horror subgenres you might wanna see tackled by SLASH-UPS in a future pin-up coming. And hope people enjoyed our Vampire pin-up output last month. We haven’t ruled out a return to the Vampire genre down the line, but for now we’re open to hearing what other people might like to see.

Can You Guess?

Tune in this week to find out who’s throwing rocks at Baransky (the answer may surprise you), as Babayka-Lives continues this weekend.

I won’t lie, this might also be the best instalment I’ve drawn so far, where you get your finest look at Baransky’s herpes lip.

Dead Rat.

Having just finishes reading the second book in the Rats trilogy recently and enjoying it greatly, I was please to get a chance today to actually get to draw some sinister rat action myself today. Although these were not giant killer rats, more rats that had fallen foul to a Vampire cat.

Here’s a sneak peek of one in the mapping out stage.

Small Consolation.

The only good thing about Halloween being over for another year, is the day after, you get to see photos of what everybody wore yesterday online.

I do love seeing what people wore for Halloween.