Happy New Year! And plans for 2015!

Hello folks, and a special hello to all the new watchers on the account of the Bart Vs Homer favourite. I see that went down a real treat that one, many cheers for your support there.

For those new to my work, I am Thomas Tuke and I Illustrate artwork plus draw and write comics for a living. I've got tricks up sleeve in animation as well, and I'm an ambitious little bugger who wants to work in the industry. My signature work and company backbone is my series Genma Visage, an Action Horror comic that blends Oriental mysticism with Scifi-Frankenstein Demonology, and includes badass monster heroes, horrific psychic mutants, lovely ladies and a Lesbian-obsessed hobo. Apparently it's pretty good, but you'll also know me for my fun take on other peoples characters as well.

I'm not always dependent on Blogs and journals these days by the way, as I like backing up my words with deeds. If anything my uploaded artwork on here and photos of my conventions on the Facebook group is my equivalent of a blog as that includes summaries of my experiences and work process. Otherwise my journals maybe a bit quiet from time to time unless I'm going to a convention or when I've got a new book out. Still, by all means talk to me by email or messaging and I'll be all ears for conversation.

Before I continue onto my plans for this year, I do believe there's an Itch I've needed to scratch for a while. Like, how did the London Mcm October 2014 go? It was alright all things considered. It hasn't been the best year for conventions admittedly, but this one was a more than cheerful one to end the season with. I met a few regulars who have been returning to my table for the last few years. For extra laughs as well I had adorned the Corpsepaint look again and got a few photos taken with
some fellow vikings as well. Special thanks again to Tim for the tribute beer. ALSO, a big round of applause for Amanda who reviewed my work and not only was nice enough to give me the thumbs up but also saw fit to send some Home-Made Jam through the post as well. It was very nice and I wish her all the best for her teaching ventures in 2015 as well.

Onto a slightly down note. As a whole what was 2014 like? Certainly not the worst as I've so far detailed, but a bit of meh in several areas, and that's what everyone seems to be saying. On my behalf, X number of your favourite celebrities passed away (too young), the improvement \ revision processes has been as painful and time consuming as you can expect, my favourite pub got knocked down and moved to a swamp in the middle of nowhere, and sadly, I'm minus a family pet rabbit who moved on last September.
Though Conventions could have been better, I do want to thank again those who cheered me up and supported me throughout. But the Convention scene is changing nevertheless which is effecting the small press scene, and since I've had some unavoidable responsibilities at the time, unfortunately I couldn't have changed with it, so I feel a bit left out. The petrifying fear I've repeatedly faced in 2014 is whether or not everything I've done to date, past, childhood and present has been worth it and has a place in this new world. Of course, that's no way to look at your destiny, but it's been a fight in places to tell yourself it's worth it, normally a fight that you win when you shut up the interior monologue and make accomplished work a reality. Such is life.

I think things perked up a bit by Halloween time though. With 2014 out of the way I suppose mentally I've been restored with a small measure of vigour to take on another year, partly with the excitement that there will be new things on their way. To start off 2015, I've gone and done the most macho thing imaginable; Picked a Cage Fight with the Common Cold. Hoohah! 

So, my Plans for 2015? Conventions may be more laxer this year as I ponder on my plans a bit. Concurring with what I said on my previous post, each one has got to count, whichever I do. I dare say my moves will be more strategic, certainly to coincide with potential new releases throughout.

Speaking of which, regarding the new books, I do have a significant confession to make. Don't worry, I'm still working on them of course. However what you have to understand is that there is a "done when its done" policy to what I do as a self publisher and I believe I've suffered numerous times for rushing into things. Not that I haven't forgiven myself or anything, as I've learnt a lot that way too. To give you an idea of what I mean, 10 odd years ago when I was ambitious and impatient I may have boasted I was going to do this, that and the other and this was from a very "fly by the seat of your pants" perspective that had little planning ahead. These days I like to think, though I'm not perfect, the impatience as been curbed, and whilst the ambition is still there and remains materialistic, the goals as it were (e.g. ideas for projects) has certainly gone through a lot of discipline. I think this is because my best ideas and aspirations are not over-night successes, were not down to a lightning bolt hitting me during an alcohol or caffeine induced stupor, and it isn't just about exploring uncharted territory. The truth is the best works, in my view, are the ones that grow, that take time to evolve and emerge through trial, error and the interaction with the world around you.  It's only then that can you give your work the justice of an honest humanity.

That's the idea anyway, and that's why I don't just go head over heels to rush a book out these days. If you're interested on the situation of the current projects in the works though (highly subject to change or and time), the details are as follows.

Genma Visage Book 0 part 2: The drama unfolds in the Epidemic as secrets from Seker's past reveal themselves, and take their horrible toll.
Progress: A few more pages to do, then the lettering and covers is left.

Genma Visage Book 0 part 1 expanded: Basically an assortment of Bonus pages to part 1, including short tales surrounding Mantaklaw and Seker.
Progress: Will start soon.

Book 0 part 3: The final chapter of the Masked Crazie scenario and the revelations behind the Bognor Regis rehab revealed.
Progress: In its final Draft. Will start soon.

Genma Visage - The Grail Incident (Pending name): Based on the animated pilot and certain short stories in Genma Visage, this title will take the reader to this time, revealing more on Grail himself as well as the before and after of Tanya Azpiris transformation.
Progress: Currently being redrafted and designing new content.

Genma Visage Books 4 and 5 (likely to be renamed for self contained reasons): The endgame scenario regarding the Charon Virus outbreak in Los Rokuma and Ryuken's overdue Battle with Jacobi himself.
Progress: Hinging towards the final drafts. I'm contemplating knocking two into One but it'll be tricky as there is a good few questions at the end of Book 3 that need answering, which will require more pages.

Collected Comic Madness (working name): A collection of short comics and funnies done over the years, including a summary of the work done on the Tytronitek incident (also known as Shin Project A-ko to some). The main character will be everyone's favourite Maud Lesgov, and this title will involve some new shenanigans on her behalf.
Progress: I want to do one more short story to make this a self contained book. I don't have enough juice to continue this for an ongoing series. While I can keep the idea open of course, i won't be doing another for the foreseeable future unless this book takes off like wildfire.

Pagan Leers (working name): Sexy Fantasy adventure tale about ghosts from Earth's long history reincarnating on an Oriental world populated by the Ancient Ghul, a land ripe with Sorcery and Spiritual clairvoyance.
Progress: Drafting a plot and planning the art style. It has more ideas going for it for a series compared to CCM but I'll start off with a standalone first.

That's all for now. Here's hoping everyone makes 2015 a thumping good one. Many cheers.

Your Buddy
Thomas Tuke 2015. X X X X

Websites: 

Underground comic page Genma Visage: www.genmavisage.com/
UKOMIX where you can buy Genma Visage!: ukondisplay-com.mybigcommerce.…
Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Genma-V…;