Wednesday, January 29, 2014

MY DEATH'S HEAD II PAGES FOR THAT THERE MARVEL COMICS

That's a fun heading to write.

You are hungry. Destitute. Cold. All who have ever loved you have turned against you. All who have ever hated you no longer remember your name.  But existence smiles upon thee. What light! The unlettered preview for 'REVOLUTIONARY WAR: DEATH'S HEAD' is floating around like a welcome aroma from a well-heated soup kitchen, replete with clean toilet facilities! Follow its waft here: http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=19865

Sustained? Invigorated(re)? Well, here's something you rarely get in a homeless shelter: DESSERT!

Behold, True Believers, (Marvel freelancers are allowed use that phrase for two weeks either side of something they've worked on going on sale. Gonna be a long four weeks) for I gift thee with THE LINE ART! This is what it looks like before writers Andy Lanning and Alan Cowsill inject it with their molten gold dialgue. This is what it looks like before colourist Veronica Gandini flavours it with her sumptuous hues. This is what it looks like when doves cry.

The comic is out on February 12th. It's a gift to be allowed work for this company, and especially to do it with my favourite character of theirs. If you only know me from my Transformers work, please check this sucker out. I think I'll keep you happy with what I've done. And for this to lead to more Marvel fun, it needs to sell a little, so spaff your loose change this way, and tell everyone (especially the nice folks at the House of Ideas) you liked what you saw.

Enjoy!

REVOLUTIONARY WAR: DEATH'S HEAD out FEBRUARY 12th 2014
 



Thursday, January 9, 2014

COVERS UP

Happy New Year, Rochearounds! In light of the excellent taste and moral values held by the listeners of the Transmissions Podcast (Listen to their end of year round-up here: http://www.transmissionspodcast.com/2013/12/transmissions-episode-21/) who voted me as best Transformers Cover Artist 2013, here is - more or less - a year in robot covers, in a higher resolution than my previous mosaic depicted them. Your favourite's #17, isn't it? ISN'T IT?

This also ties in with the fact that, as of #29, I will no longer be one of the 50:50 A/B covers to More Than Meets The Eye. I'll be providing the subscription cover, and if you want my variant, you'll have to ask your retailer (NICELY) to order my cover specially. I'll try and make the artwork available nice and early, so you can chose for yourself if it's worth the punt or not, but if you're happy to take a risk, place a standing order with your supplier, and let the good times Roche (WHAT).

Oh, more to come, but my Marvel one-shot, REVOLUTIONARY WAR: DEATH'S HEAD II hits on February 12th. PLEASE, non-Marvel, TF-only readers, buy the heck out of that one. I think you'll all like it, but I know I'll love you forever if you can back me on that one. 

Also arriving in the middle of the year is my top-secret project with professional funnyist Brian Lynch. It features, without doubt, my favourite, and I think, strongest work of my career. and it's SO different from Death's Head and Transformers, it's unreal. More soon on that. 

Thanks for all your support in 2013. Already, there's more from me this year than the last, as the hard work of 2013 finally sees the light of day. If you like giant robots, smaller, grittier ones or something really flippin' different, I will provide thusly for you in the next twelve months.

Be seeing you.
















Friday, October 4, 2013

NYCC 2013 And the Non-Attendance Of Nick Roche

I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps. Unfortunately, I won't be doing much sleeping anywhere in the forseeable future. But hey...

So, I regretfully inform you that I will NOT be attending  the New York Comic Convention next weekend. Yeah. I KNOW. Don't even...DON'T! I'm gutted. It's not been an easy decision (Rarely does one buy flights, pay for a table, secure accommodation and then pronounce, "Nah, don't fancy it.") but it's one that has been made for ultimately good - great, even - reasons.

Nick Roche's sadface, yesterday.
Some of you may be aware that last weekend at the incredible DICE convention here in Dublin, it was revealed that I am to take on my first work for a little company you and I like to refer to as Marvel Comics. Not only that, but the gig is working on an iteration of one one of my favourite characters in all of fiction, and one I had a huge connection to (visually, at least) during my teen years. I'm to be the artist on a Death's Head II one-shot, tentatively scheduled for release in February 2014. Yeah, I know! A dream gig and a company I've always wanted to work with. I'm a lucky sod. But it does mean that my workload has increased somewhat. So, in order to the best job I can - and not just on this project, but on another, equally exciting, all-new concoction already in production - I've had to step back and remain tethered to my drawing board.

I was so looking forward to my trip to the States, and not just because there are no cats there, and the streets are paved with cheese (important to me due to my allergies, and lactose-dependency). Hopefully, I can make it out sometime in 2014. And hopefully you'll come see me too.

For those who had pre-ordered commissions, and would still like them completed and mailed out, please contact me at nickrocheart@gmail.com and we can sort something out. I'm so sorry I
won't get to meet you all in person. My erstwhile tablemate Andrew Griffith will still be doing some amazing sketches and some equally impressive signatures at table CC3 at Artist's Alley. He'll be the impractically handsome one with twice the legroom he was expecting.

Massive apologies then, folks. Hopefully the pay-off will be the cracking comics available from me in 2014. See you then?

Nick

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

DICE PRE-CONVENTION SKETCH LIST!

Stand firm, Rochearounds.

This coming weekend, I'm gonna be at DICE! The Dublin International Comic Expo (https://www.facebook.com/dublincomicexpo) run by The Big Bang comic shop out in Dundrum Town Centre. If you check the link above, I think you'll agree (or be forced to by me) that it truly is a comics gathering of international standing. A host of world class Irish creators standing shoulder to shoulder with the VERY best the world's comics stage can muster. We're very lucky indeed to have it a tram ride away from us.

Anyway, I'll be doing me usual: signing, sketching, and selling. (I also may be doing something very unusual, and vaguely newsworthy, but we'll see how the weekend passes...)
So, very briefly, I'm taking on a small sketch list. And just Head & Shoulders/Bust shots this time, gang. (Examples below; forgive the dodgy camerawork. Pictures are nice though, right?) The images are inked, with a touch of greytone added to make 'em look spiffy. Each piece will be €25, and you can get on the list by replying, as usual, in the comments section below, letting me know your name, your sketch request, and what day you'll be available to pick it up.. There are FIVE SPACES AVAILABLE. Sorry! But, I'll be sketching over the weekend, so come find me and get on my list.
So, come keep me company while I shudder and soak myself gently in my own juices as I share oxygen with REALLY talented folk this weekend. Ta-ra!






Thursday, August 29, 2013

NEW YORK COMIC-CON SKETCH LIST NOW OPEN!

Hi all!

This year, I'm gonna be attending the New York Comic Con for all four days - Thursday through til Sunday. I'm very excited to attend my first non-Transformers convention Stateside.

I'm sharing a table with top Transformers artist and swanky-looking SOB, Andrew Griffith, artist on Robots In Disguise. More details on where to find us in Artists' Alley shortly.

So I'm putting together a sketch list! A very limited one, I'm afraid. Currently, I'm only taking on FIVE A4 (29.7 x 21 cm) Black & White FULL SINGLE FIGURE commissions. Each illustration will be priced at $150. There are examples of what's involved below the text.

If you're interested, follow these simple instructions!

*Reply in the 'Comments' section below.
*State YOUR name, your CHARACTER request and what DAY you will be available to collect your piece.
*Sorry, NO fan characters.
*Once five names appear in the Comments section, consider the list cut off.

I hope to be able to open up a second sketch list for character busts/ head & shoulder shots nearer the time, but for now, this is it. Contact me here or on twitter.com/NickRoche for further info.

Thanks SO much for this, gang! I'm SUPER excited to make this show. Can't wait to chat and talk rot at you in person.

Ta!



*ONLY order if you are going to be in attendance to collect your artwork.

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

AUTO-ASSEMBLY 2013 SKETCH LIST

No time to pretty this up, my darlings: The cold, hard sell starts here!

I'm going to be at Transformers convention AUTO ASSEMBLY in Birmingham on the 10th-12th of August this year (Check out autoassembly.org.uk) where I'll be chinwagging and shilling my way with the sort of swagger that's best given wide berth. For the first time ever, I'm opening up a pre-con sketch list. The sketches come in two varieties and two pre-con price ranges:

£15 for an A4 Black & White HEAD/SHOULDERS shot (10 available)
                                  AND
£55 for an A4 Black & White FULL SINGLE FIGURE shot (5 available)

To be eligible for these, all you need to do is reply in the comments section below, state YOUR name, the name of the CHARACTER you want, and an idea of the day you'll be available to collect the piece. PLEASE only order a sketch if you will be able to attend to pick it up, and, you know, pay for it. The numbers available are as stated above. Once they've been filled, please don't send any more requests unless further slots become available.

So go to it! Sorry there's less razzle-dazzle to this announcement. Thanks so much for taking a punt on this. I'll have more to chat about too, including unveiling this year's set of prints!

I love you all in a very real and invasive way. X

Thursday, June 13, 2013

BUY THIS ART PRINT AND BECOME A HERO: UPDATED

UPDATE 29 July 2013: Well, it's all over! With your help, we made 131 Digital Sales! That translates as €1310 for the Irish Cancer Society. (And we flogged the rest in private sales at fundraiser events, etc...) So, you did it, Rochearounds! You added €1500 to the current €8428.32 total on my brother Paulie's NYC Marathon Fundraising page. (http://www.mycharity.ie/event/paulie_roches_event/). And that's from prints alone; I know lots of you tossed him a few coppers (and then some) along the way too. 

Thanks for your patience in me pimping this project across all social media strata, and in waiting for the merch to make it to your homes. (The last batch from this week will be dispatched before Auto-Assembly.) And the messages you sent us...man, why you make my face wet? It's been lovely to have so many stories shared, but heartbreaking that so many of them are similar to ours, and some far, far worse. So, you done a good thing. And with that, on behalf of a Ream of Roches, and Me Oul' Da, 'As The Fella Says', thank you. 

Nick


UPDATE: Due to an absolutely unprecedented demand, we are considering upping the print run from 100 to 150. We're very, very close to selling out the initial 100 - hence this late night, panicked solution - BUT...I don't want to mess anyone around who thought they were getting a more limited edition than they now might be. If anyone has any real concerns about this, please contact me at nickrocheart AT gmail DOT com. Looking at the carefully considered messages and the speed in which this order was filled in under twelve hours, I can't imagine anyone would object to making €500 more for a cancer society, but you're the ones who've parted with their hard-earned cash, so let me know if this concerns you in any way. All prints will still be numbered - now out of 150 instead of 100 - and the Free Print offer still stands to new customers who pay for shipping. But do contact me if you have any concerns, or feel you've been misled in anyway.

And from all us Roches, for your support, encouragement and kind messages, thank you so much.

Nick



Would you like to own this limited edition Art Print, and do something good in the process? Then bear with me while I get a teeny bit personal.

Last year, I lost my Dad, Mick, to Cancer. He was the man who bought me my first Transformer (Hot Rod, natch), supported me as I  mooched around his house long past the time I should have moved out, and even during his stay in hospital last year, would flick through my newly-bought pile of comics, telling me that I was "Much better than these other lads". I never believed that, but it meant the world that he did.

Since the 'Oul Fella passed away though, my younger brother, Paulie, has taken up running. Like, out of nowhere. And in that short time he's gotten quite good at it. He made his goal this November's New York City Marathon, and ever since he secured his place, has been working tirelessly to come up with ways to raise sponsorship money for the Irish Cancer Society.

This is my way of helping him raise some sponsorship money, so I hope you'll play along at home.

*I've made a limited-to-100 copies run of this A3 (29.7cm x 42cm) full-colour 160gsm print, which I call 'FASTER'. The print will cost €10, of which every penny will go to the Irish Cancer Society, with additional costs covering postage and packaging. Each copy will come signed by myself, and individually numbered. You can purchase it by clicking through below, and the prices are based on the Irish Postal website's (www.anpost.ie) calculated rates. Please indicate if you want me to dedicate the signature to you, or leave a message of any kind.

*Amongst the options are 'Print For Collection'. So, for example, if you're attending Auto-Assembly, or any other convention of which I'm a guest, you can simply pay now, and I'll hand it over to you in person. Just indicate that this is what you wish to do in your Paypal transaction, or via nickrocheart AT gmail DOT com.

*All customers who order their print shipped will receive an additional FREE SIGNED ART PRINT of my choosing. I have lots of older art prints - some colour, some black and white - that I will chuck in for free as a thank you. Again, please indicate if you wish me to dedicate the signature, or leave a message to you.

*Postage options are Standard (cheaper) and Registered (more expensive, but trackable).

*I'll be making one trip to the post office per week, so please be patient for delivery, though it should be no more than 20 days from your initial order.

*Please contact me at nickrocheart AT gmail DOT com with any enquiries, or if you wish to order more than one print.

*Once these 100 prints are gone, that's it. No more print runs.

So are you in? If so, we could potentially raise a €1000 for the Irish Cancer Society. That's kinda cool, right? I'll be pushing some of Paulie's other fundraising endeavours on Twitter. I can be found at @NickRoche and Paulie is @paulieroche. Also, if you don't fancy grabbing this limited art print, see if you can pop a few coins in the boy's hat over at his My Charity sponsorship page. It's http://www.mycharity.ie/event/paulie_roches_event/ If we manage to sell these 100 prints, you'll see Paulie's totaliser there jump by a grand, and it'll be down to you lot.

I wouldn't have de-cloaked and revealed so much personal stuff if it wasn't in support for The Child's running race, and in aid of a cause that, unfortunately, has affected everyone in the history of ever. Thank you all so, so much.