MEET THE MODEL TEAM

BRITISH model Amanda Swan made her signing debut at London's KAPOW Comic Con with her new title AMANDA SWAN: THE HELLFIRE LEGACY.
Rough Cut Comics have built the action-adventure title around the performer who is best known as a photographic muse and featured artist on the Sky Arts network.
The comic portrays Amanda as a celebrity IT girl who masquerades as a masked vigilante determined to bring down a secret organisation which has originated from London's notorious Hellfire Club.
The creators amalgamated elements of Catwoman, Lara Croft and the cult fantasy film Highlander to create an original comic-book franchise.


SWAN LAKE: Amanda Swan at the Rough Cut Comics stand
at KAPOW with Stuart Gould (UK Comics) and Ed Murphy
 (Publisher and co-creator of the Amanda Swan title).
PICTURE BY LEE BARKER

The Rough Cut Comics-title is a UK first - a licensed property based upon a popular photographic model personality.There are dozens of companies in the States who produce these successful comic-books, but none has been created in the UK until now."I'm honoured to be the first," said Amanda at last weekend official launch."This is a very exciting project for me and I'm glad to be part of it."
Amanda signed copies of the comic and had her photographs taken with dozens of fans at the event held at the London Business Design Centre.
We will be posting Amanda's live appearances throughout 2012 to promote the comic ... exclusively on Rough Cut Comics' Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Rough-Cut-Comics/142598199129432
If you don't want to miss out on dates, special offers or competitions, then go "like" the page.
The comic-title will be distributed into shops through Diamond Comic Distributors and will be featured in the July edition of the company's Previews catalogue.
But don't listen to our unbiased blurb, here's industry experts DownTheTubes review of the title:
http://downthetubescomics.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/in-review-amanda-swan-hellfire-legacy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Downthetubesnet-TheBlog+(downthetubes.net+-+British+Comics+News)

ROSE BLACK ... IS BACK

EVERYONE who has read the ROSE BLACK series from Rough Cut Comics agrees it is the most original "new" take on vampire fiction.
Critically, writers from The Comics Journal to Britain's Down The Tubes have hailed the main character - a 600-year-old bloodsucker with a deeply-embedded religious zeal and a passion to rid mankind of evil - as a true original. Everyone has claimed the central twist at the end of the first book is something they just didn't see coming ... and has never been done before.
Since 2003, the Rose Black series has shifted around 10,000 copies (in its various presentations: whether it be mini-series, one-shot, collected trade paperback and recently, as an original graphic novel).Every year, Rough Cut Comics finds new readers who had never heard of the character ... and are more than pleased to make her acquaintance when they get their full pitch of the story.

SHE'S A VAMP: Rose Black at the
 Rough Cut Comics stand at KAPOW

Since launching the series, the publisher promoted the character with a live-action Rose Black model appearing at comic conventions and showcase events.As such, Rose Black has adorned the pages of national newspapers The Daily Mirror and The Sun, as well as magazines such as Naked and the now-defunct Wizard.
The latest "Rose Black" made her debut at this year's KAPOW Comic Con in London last weekend.
Celebrated British cosplay performer Jackie Kennedy (LadydChaos) took over the reigns in the Business Design Centre ... and made a huge impact bringing new readers to the Rough Cut Comics booth on Saturday.
If you attend any of the London Film and Comic Shows and the Showmasters events, as well as any in the fan-based calendar, you'll possibly know LadydChaos. She's been everyone from CatWoman to SheHulk; Battlestar Galactica's Six to Lara Croft.
Her painstaking dedication to costumes made her Chaos Comics' No 1 choice for their Lady Death character.
And the statuesque model, who is just under six-foot-tall in her flats, brought Rough Cut Comics' bloodsucking British secret agent alive with fine panache.Rose is adorned here in her standard issue M16 regalia ... a look that had been previously favoured by Dana Scully in the X-Files series and used in small portions of ROSE BLACK and DEMON SEED.The character's standard issue leather catsuit had always been a difficult image to pull off ... and the 'look' was originally favoured back in 2002 when the comic was being put together ... as a direct hommage to the old-fashion British action heroines and the Danger Girl series.

POISED: Rose Black in action
in the comic-book series.

A year after Rose Black was released in comic shops in the UK and the States, Kate Beckinsdale appeared in the big-screen in a similiar garb for the Underworld series of the movies.
We've maintained the catsuit image throughout the series, but for the next book - provisionally titled ROSE BLACK: THE GOD PARTICLE - she'll be settling more into the tightly-fitted suit we saw the live-action Rose fashion at KAPOW.We hope everyone enjoyed having their photographs taken with the character and hope all readers enjoy dipping into the series for their first time. If you're on Facebook, please feel free to share the photographs on our page. We may have a little gift for the best ones we see published.During the weekend, Rose brushed shoulders with Nick Frost and Jonathan Ross, comic writers Warren Ellis and Paul Cornell; and all our friends at SFX Magazine. (Later, as Jackie manifested as DC Comics Poison Ivy, she spent the afternoon with Avengers Tony Stark, Thor and Captain America; as well as The Thing and the Scarlet Witch).If you didn't manage to get along to see us at KAPOW, we hope you'll be able to join us at the Glasgow Comic Con on June 30 and July 1.
But if you're intrigued by what you've heard about Rose Black, take a visit to our online store and purchase any of the books currently available. We don't think you'll disappointed.Check out: http://www.roughcut-comics.com/pages/frames.html
For all details on our future appearances, follow us on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rough-Cut-Comics/142598199129432or on Twitter @RoughCutComics

THE WOMAN IS BLACK

SINCE last weekend's Free Comic Book Day, where we gave away ROSE BLACK#0 with all online sales, there's been a huge surge of interest in the company's longest running character. Rose is a 600-year-old bloodsucker … in a world where vampires don’t exist. Intrigued?
The titular character is an amalgam of Marvel’s Black Widow and 2000AD’s Durham Red; a statuesque beauty standing more than six-feet-tall who would be able to turn James Bond into a Vodka Martini Bloody Mary with a single blow
... leaving him shaken AND stirred.
But the heart of the series is reckoned to be a truly original 're-imagining' of vampire mythology … and critics believe it is unlike anything which has
gone before.
When we first encounter Rose, she has been hiding in a French monastery for two decades and is reactivated into the British Secret Service to track down the agents of a sinister cabal hidden within the Vatican … a group whose leader knows what Rose Black truly is.
And we don’t think you’ll see this coming!
The series was created in 2003 by Rough Cut Comics Publisher Ed Murphy and has been developed by a variety of writers and artists, but the key elements have been scripted by Murphy and writing partner Tom Campbell.
The character and style of the series harks back to the creators' love of 2000AD ... circa 1977. The early stories retain that true-Brit style and composition.
The first instalments were compiled into a trade paperback ROSE BLACK: BOOK ONE and last year, the publishers produced an original graphic novel ROSE BLACK: DEMON SEED.
Rough Cut Comics will be re-releasing the ROSE BLACK series at KAPOW Comic Con at the London Business Design Centre next Saturday (May 19).
Rose Black herself and creator Ed Murphy will be sited at Stand 180 in Artists Alley. For further information and more Rose Black artwork, follow Rough Cut Comics’ Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Rough-Cut-Comics/142598199129432

WORLD BOOK NIGHT

ROUGH Cut Comics celebrated World Book Night at a special event held at Meadowbank Library in Polmont.

Organisers brought us together with fellow Glasgow publishers Metaphrog, ex-2000AD editor Dave Bishop and new Scottish outfit Emancipation Studios to promote comic-books and graphic novels within this annual promotion for the written word.

Q&A: World Book Night panel (from left to right) Sandra Marrs and John Chalmers (Metaphrog) Ed Murphy
(Rough Cut Comics Publisher), James Lundy (Emancipation Studios) and Dave Bishop (ex-2000AD Editor).

The event attracted an enthusiastic crowd on a Saturday evening … all of whom were keen to get a ‘behind the scenes’ view of comic publishing.

Metaphrog creators John Chalmers and Sandra Marrs always provide a fantastic peek behind that curtain with their highly imaginative workshops surrounding the creation of their hugely successful Louis books – Louis: Red Letter Day, Louis: Lying To Clive, Louis: The Clown’s Last Word and Louis: Dreams Never Die.

Metaphrog were commissioned to adapt The First Men of Mercury, a poem by Edwin Morgan into comic-form, and their work was distributed to secondary schools in Glasgow … and this emphasises their commitment to educating youngsters in the merits of the comic-book format as a means of communication.

Since 2008, Rough Cut Comics has concentrated on producing its artwork in the format of graphic novels … the cumulative effects of manufacturing comic-books for ten years now.

But it’s not only our collected works in its trade paperback form. We chose to produce ROSE BLACK: DEMON SEED as an original graphic novel; and although we missed out a three-issue mini-series in the marketplace, the book has made a bigger impact in terms of graphic novel presentation.

The World Book Night event gave us a unique opportunity to talk with “book readers” as opposed to “comic readers” … and unfortunately, there’s still a distinction.

But thanks to the influence of the library (Polmont has a large and varied selection of graphic novels) and Waterstones (who also had a stall at the World Book Night event) that distinction is becoming a little more blurred.

The Q and A at the end of the evening underlined the ever-growing influence of comic-books amongst library users.

And that’s something that must encourage further growth within the UK’s comic-book market.

Great new companies like West Lothian-based Emancipation Studios, run by lifelong ‘fan-boy’ James Lundy who also operates the Heroes and Idols site, is a perfect example of its growing form in the marketplace.  It was great to see youngsters get a ‘behind the scenes’ glance at the workings of comic-book writer/publisher … as James has just penned his company’s first title Wired.

Rough Cut Comics introduced many new readers to our graphic novel THE SURGEON, which received an introduction from Ramsey Campbell on its recent reprinting. In light of the new Avengers movie, youngsters also grappled on to our FREEDOM COLLECTIVE comic-book; a direct tribute to the legends of creators Stan Lee and Jack Kirby.

These events are great opportunities to discuss the books we make with the people we are pitching to … and there are so many we haven’t yet reached.

I’d like to thank the organisers/staff who ran this hugely worthwhile comic-book event. They provided a great environment to talk “comics” and we were thankful to get the opportunity to promote Rough Cut Comics.

BRITISH model Amanda Swan is being presented in her first comic-book title AMANDA SWAN: THE HELLFIRE LEGACY, published by Rough Cut Comics.

Amanda is known mostly for her sensational photographic work produced all over the world. She also featured as the ‘Modigliani’ model on the Sky Arts series in which notorious art forger John Myatt teaches aspiring artists how to paint in the style of the greatest artists.

For the new comic title, Amanda is recreated as a mysterious vigilante whose origins appear to date back to the Hellfire Club of Victorian London.

The dark thriller has been pitched as an amalgam of Highlander and From Hell … featuring an iconic heroine who is crossed between Cat Woman and Lara Croft.

Here, we interview Amanda about her work on the comic-book and her comic influences …

                                         

So Amanda, how did you manage to become a comic-book heroine?

 I was initially approached by Rough Cut Comics to portray one of their own comic-book characters at photographic shoots and live events. I’ve always thought of myself modelling ‘in character’, so this was something which really interested me. But during discussions for this, we brought up the idea of allowing me to be portrayed as a character in my own comic. We spoke about what kind of character I’d like to be and what my interests would be. They showed me a script, which I loved …and then, we were off and running.

How does it feel to be a comic-book character?

I’m used to seeing photographs of myself in all kinds of dynamic poses. But it’s really strange to see yourself drawn and coloured. I suppose if I was acting in a movie, I’d have been involved in ‘recreating’ these big action scenes in the story. So it was strange seeing me riding through the streets of London on a motorcycle at high speeds; climbing up tall buildings and fighting with guns and knives. It was wicked.

Did you read comics as a child?

You know, I was really more into books than comics. I was never out of the public library and if I had one wish as a child, it would have been to have my OWN library with thousands of books. I loved Enid Blyton and Hans Christian Anderson … lots of childhood folklore stories. But I used to get those comic-book annuals which would have been a collection of the weekly comic-book stories. They were always popular at Christmas-time.

What did you read? Anything we’d know?

I never read Marvel or DC Comics, which were very popular. I wasn’t really interested in the likes of Spiderman or Wonder Woman. I think my favourites would have comics which names like Bunty, Mandy and Judy. I liked ‘girlie’ comics, but there was one called Misty, which were slightly more supernatural stories. But these reminded me a lot of the Famous Five stories, which were a favourite of mine.

You definitely have a comic-book heroine’s figure. How do you maintain it?

Honestly, I don’t do anything. I think this is just my natural physique. I don’t exercise much these days, but I try to eat the right foods and maintain a healthy living. I’ve always been well-proportioned and when I do put on any weight, it seems to go to the right places. I think I am very lucky that way.

What would you like to see your character doing in future comics?

I like the idea of being a crime-fighter and standing up for the rights of the under-privileged. I think that’s something I really feel strongly about. But certainly, in comic-book terms, I’d like to perform more outrageous stunts and visit more exotic locations. The first one was set in London, but like a great James Bond movie, I’d like to see me somewhere like exotic India or Vienna. After all, it’s much cheaper to do these things in comics, isn’t it?

To purchase copy of AMANDA SWAN: THE HELLFIRE LEGACY priced £4.99, go to: http://www.amanda-swan.com/

2012 ... WE'VE BEEN EXPECTING YOU

Ed Murphy, Publisher of Rough Cut Comics, writes:

I NEVER ever believed I’d be in line for any big awards after publishing comic-books for ten years in 2011 … so it came as a total surprise when I discovered I’d be receiving the honour of the ELEVENTH YEAR trophy for completing the decade successfully.

And I’ll certainly be accepting this prestigious statuette and running with it for the duration of 2012.

At this stage, I’d like to thank the writers and artists I worked with in 2011 (Joel Carpenter, Derek Dow, Dom Regan, James Ferris, Colin Barr and Jane Docherty); the designers and printers who pulled our books together with ruthless efficiency; and most importantly, our legion of readers who gave us a substantial foundation for this coming year.

So, what’s going to be happening in this eleventh year?

Well, I HAD hoped to be producing all 2012’s titles in 3D IMAX … but I’ll just have to make do with the technologies currently available.

As a well-known technophobe who point-blank refused to pander to any kind of digital release, Rough Cut Comics will FINALLY have a presence on your smartphone or tablet in the coming months.

We have been successfully re-printing our main titles over the past two years; and now, that back catalogue will be made available to download. There will also be a number of special projects from newcomer writers and artists which will be sold exclusively in the digital medium.

But don’t for one minute run away with the idea we’re giving up on print.

Our first major release of the year will be our big-budget, mega-run return to the 32 page format – AMANDA SWAN: THE HELLFIRE LEGACY, a gothic adventure title produced in conjunction with the British model/actress who featured in The Don of 42^nd Street.

This is just the kind of high-profile project Rough Cut Comics was established to produce … and for this; we will be collaborating with Amanda and her specialist team of photographers and stylists to create a huge range of photographs and posters to tie-in with the comic-book.

With the help of her promoters and publicists, I hope you’ll be picking up Rough Cut Comics on your electric razors and hairdryers in the morning … and this certainly will be another key change for the company in 2012.

Our new investors are keen that we grow substantially during this coming year, working with more established writers and artists and building our public prominence.

And this is where YOU can help.

Next time, you’re “talking” about comics to someone you know, simply mention Rough Cut Comics and ask them to go look us up on the web; on Facebook and on Twitter. Encourage them to “follow” us on the social networks.

And they’ll be given the opportunity to see what we’ve contributed to the comics market over the past decade.

Right now, I’m finalising copy for a new-look to our official website and number of press releases which should be going out over the next few weeks.

It’s hard not be excited about the goings-on in the British comic-book industry at the present time. There are a myriad of newcomer publishers joining the medium this year; and the most ambitious new development is the work of UK Comics’ Stuart Gould who is expanding his printing repertoire into a distribution network in 2012.

This year, I’m looking forward to Hi-EX, KAPOW, Glasgow Comic Con, Thought Bubble and the Canny Comic Con (where I may continue to appear as ‘a punter’).

I won’t be giving too much more away at this first blog of the year. But I will tempt you all by promising that they’ll be more tributes to The Man and The King this year … Nuff said for now my friends.