Roger Langridge's Blog, page 253

Baltimore/SPX Sketch Roundup Day 4

Baltimore/SPX Sketch Roundup Day 3

Baltimore/SPX Sketch Roundup Day 2

More sketches from the Baltimore Comic Con.

Baltimore/SPX Sketch Roundup Day 1

So, as promised, here's the first in a series of posts where I'll be sharing pictures of the sketches I did on my recent American trip. I won't be posting all of them – I drew a lot of Popeye, Kermit, Beaker etc. headshots which are all more or less the same, so I've just selected one of each of those – but this should give you a pretty good idea of what I got up to. And why my drawing arm is still aching a week later.

Aaand we're back

Got back from the US yesterday and have got lots to catch up on! A big, big thank-you to everybody who stopped to say hello and/or buy something at Baltimore Comic Con and SPX - you made it all worthwhile. Double-big thanks to Jim and Rachel, my hosts while I was staying in Washington. I had a fine time.

Tomorrow, I'll start posting some of the sketches I did, which should keep us busy for a while. First, though, a plea to whoever it was at Baltimore who asked me to draw "my favourite childhood cartoon character". According to my list, you paid me money for this one and were going to bring your sketchbook along later for me to draw your picture - but you never came back! I would like to either refund your money or send you this picture which fits your brief - it's Frankie Stein, a big favourite with me when I was a lad, created by the great Ken Reid but drawn (very nicely!) by Robert Nixon by the time I discovered him in the pages of Shiver and Shake.

Public Domain Characters Day 12

Last one! I cheated here and deliberately chose this character to finish off, rather than rely on the random button. It's Thor, of course - the Fox Comics version from the '40s. Put your shirt on, Thor – you're frightening the ladies!


I should be home from my mini convention tour by the time this goes live (I'm writing this a couple of weeks in advance), which probably means I'll be sharing the sketches I did at Baltimore and SPX here tomorrow.

Public Domain Characters Day 11

The Duchess from Alice in Wonderland - supposedly John Tenniel based her likeness on Margaret, Countess of Tyrol, who was supposed to have been the ugliest woman who ever existed. The funny thing is, my brother used to know a bloke who was a dead ringer for Tenniel's picture in Alice. (Only without the enormous wimple, or whatever that thing on her head is.)

Public Domain Characters Day 10

The Bogey Man. As Spirit knockoffs go, I give them credit for not just calling him another name for "ghost", although I suspect Jack Cole's Midnight is the winner for originality in this particular game. If William Powell had played him in the movies him he could have been a smash hit.

Public Domain Characters Day 9

Britannia. The traditional version is somewhat more idealised, but I rather see the old girl as a bit more down-to-earth than that.

Public Domain Characters Day 8

Lion Boy! Apparently he thinks the lion is his brother. Shall we break it to – ? Oh, well, never mind.