Mainstream media still doesn't 'get' comics

The news that the wonderful Dotter of Her Father's Eyes by Mary and Bryan Talbot has won a Costa literature award for best biography has spread throughout the mainstream press, and with this news comes the depressing realisation that people still don't understand comics.

Above video: Channel 4 News report 

Channel 4 News ran the story, complete with a cheesy comic book skit that felt more awkward than all of Hugh Grant's acting roles combined. Bizarrely, they start going on about comic strips for some reason, which is like a story about a new production of Hamlet being compared to a Fast Show sketch - it's wrong and out of place. I love comic strips, but to compare something like The Far Side to Watchmen is ridiculous. They then go on to say that comic 'strips' have never been about literature in the past despite citing V For Vendetta as one of these past comics. The reporter asks Bryan, who is a legend in the comics industry, when comics stopped being just a thing for 'spotty teenagers', in which he deftly responds by talking about The Dark Knight Rises and Watchmen which took off in the mid-eighties. 

Don't get me wrong - it's good that the press is reporting on 'serious' comics but they still haven't shaken this image of comics being for kids. Go into any comic store now and leaf through the books sat on the rack. You will find very few comics that are actually marketed towards children. Sure, you have Marvel Superhero Squad and the wonderful The Phoenix, but most superhero comics aren't aimed at children. Their stories are usually complex, their themes mature and their nature is somewhat violent. 

As the Forbidden Planet blog points out, the press tends to look at comics as a bit of a dirty word, like something you're not sure you should be saying to your grandmother. The Guardian used all sorts of weird variations in their report, like 'graphic work', 'graphic medium', and 'comic genre', without realising that it's okay to think that comic books can be read by fully grown adults with mortgages and marital problems just like any other book. 

So, mainstream media - please stop talking about comics like they are all for pre-pubescent kids and geeks. Serious comics dealing with heavy issues have been around for a long time now and it does the creative people that work on them as a living a disservice to paint them with one brush. However, do talk about comics. The more you do it, the more 'normal' it becomes and the more people will start appreciating how fantastic they are. 

The new Fighting Fantazine is out and chock full of awesome

I love it when a new Fighting Fantazine is released. Issue 10 has hit the web and you can read your copy for free. This edition is absolutely stuffed to the brim with great content, from the 30 crowdsourced reasons why we love Fighting Fantasy, to some great articles by friends of mine, like Stuart Lloyd and David Walters. Of course, you have the usual FF adventure to embark on as well as a news section that will leave you in no doubt that gamebooks are back, baby!

Download it here - you'd be mad not to.

Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls is live on Kickstarter!

Today's the day, boys and girls! I woke up to an email from creator Ken St. Andre informing me that Deluxe T&T is a go on Kickstarter and as of writing this has already got $9,395 with a goal of $26,000.

There are absolutely loads of incentives for pledging your hard earned moolah, including coins, character portraits, getting to name an island and playing a game with the team.

So what's Deluxe T&T all about then?

Well, it's T&T as we all know and love but with more. For the first time ever we're getting full details about places in the Trollworld, meaning we now have a default campaign setting. Furthermore, the new hotness with be backwards compatible, meaning all the Trollish Delver Games books you own won't become defunct. Oh, and there's a ton of new art by Liz Danforth to ogle at.

If you're a T&T fan already, Deluxe is meant to be the definitive edition, which means you should totally donate. If you've never played or even heard of T&T, where have you been? It's only one of the best systems out there, a game that has a sense of humour and one with an excellent community.

I'll keep you updated with the funding - but tell your friends. Tell everyone! Get this funded.

Deluxe T&T has been submitted to Kickstarter

We're edging ever closer to being able to fund Deluxe Tunnels & Trolls, as the team has announced that they have submitted the project to Kickstarter for approval.

They have released a sneak peek at one of the possible incentives for funding, including these coins from Trollworld, which are pretty nifty. Steve Crompton has also given a preview of the new map of Trollworld which looks equally great.

I'll be announcing if and when the game goes live on Kickstarter, so put some money aside because you're going to want to fund this piece of fried gold. Delicious.

YOU ARE THE HERO has funded, gamebookers rejoice!

Here's some great news to kick off the new year - Jonathan Green's Kickstarter, YOU ARE THE HERO, has met its funding goal of £15,000 with five days to spare.

The book will document the history of Fighting Fantasy, with contributions from writers and artists who worked on the series as well as some famous fans. I backed this as soon as I saw it go live because it sounds damned tasty and Green is a great writer who I believe will craft a fantastic tome.

Now I'm very excited for Christmas.

Happy New Year from The Trollish Delver

I hope however you decided to celebrate (or didn't) you had a great end to 2012. I just wanted to wish you all a happy and prosperous 2013, a year that's going to bring a whole load of geeky goodness, from Star Trek Into Darkness and two new Marvel movies to a plethora of digital gamebooks.

Over here I've got some cool stuff cooking, like a new Peryton project for mid-year, the Blackstorm gamebook for Adventurer and some USR goodies.

Finally, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who reads my little blog - you've made 2012 the biggest year for The Trollish Delver so far and I really appreciate all the comments and emails I get from you guys. I've been lucky to have made so many great new friends this year in the blogosphere and the gaming industry, so here's to more of that sort of thing in 2013.