Secrets of Ceres Episode 2 Preview!

Mike and I have just completed work on the second episode of Secrets of Ceres, the Ex Astris prequel strip running in science fiction comic magazine Spaceship Away, which goes to the printers soon.

There were some last minute hiccups thanks to a glaring proofing error over one of the character's names -- Sarah Blake, our hardwired space investigator suddenly started to be called by a different name, a subconscious link between her and the Ex Astris main strip that was almost revealed by accident! Special thanks to Des Shaw and Rod Barzilay for not only spotting it at the last minute but also giving us chance to put things right.

Hope you enjoy the low resolution preview of the episode's first page, above.

The next issue of Spaceship Away includes an article by acclaimed SF author Stephen Baxter and features a new centre-spread painted by Mike Noble, perhaps best known for his work on TV Century 21 and is his first SF artwork for a while. There's also another painting by top illustrator Graham Bleathman and the magazine will also be looking at the connection between Dan Dare artists and Gerry Anderson's world. More info on the issue, on sale soon, from the Spaceship Away web site!

In other EA news, Episode 7 of the strip is now also on Clickwheel.

Ex Astris on Clickwheel

The Ex Astris strips first featured on ROK Comics are now appearing on Rebellion's iPod and iPhone service Clickwheel.

Clickwheel is a young, UK-based company with big ambitions featuring the online version of 2000AD and Active Images superb Elephantmen comic, written by former Marvel UK editor in chief Richard Starkings (the print edition of Elephantmen #15 is out in specialist stores next week).

All the strips on the service are offered in downlaodable iComics, which can be viewed on iPod and iPhones, and .cbz, adapted zip files whcih can be viewed in a .cbz reader such as Comic Book Lover.

Other strips include Sword of Dracula by Jason Henderson, featuring the art of Greg Scott, William Belk, Terry Palloy and Tony Harris and many others, encompassing a wide range of styles and genres.

• To view Ex Astris on Clickwheel click here: www.clickwheel.net/features/256

Top British Comic Creator Praises Ex Astris

In these days of media overload you sometimes miss something important, and in our case we completely missed a review of the Ex Astris strip that featured in the UK comics magazine Bulletproof #2, released earlier this year.

Over on his brilliant Blimey! It's Another Blog About Comics, cartoonist and writer Lew Stringer reviewed Bulletproof #2 at the end of November and was generous in his praise for the strip.

Noting publisher Matt Yeo's new British adventure anthology is "a rarity these days so it's good to see the second issue of Bulletproof finally appear", he offered high praise for many of the strips in the issue, arguing "the strength of Bulletproof is that it uses both new creators and established professionals. It's always good to see new talent emerging and it'll be interesting to see them develop.

Of Ex Astris, Lew wrote: "This CGI strip is my personal favourite in the issue. The computer generated art is very professsional and impressive, and John's script is tight and well told. (Readers may also be aware that a different Ex Astris adventure, also by Freeman and Nicoll, has just started running in Spaceship Away, - another UK adventure comic worth your money.)"

Coming from a British comics professional of such high standing, whose credits range from the much-loved Combat Colin to Sonic the Hedgehog and who currently draws strips for TOXIC and The Beano, this is high praise indeed for the strip. Our belated thanks to Lew for his kind words.

"All in all, Bulletproof is an interesting package and I'm looking forward to future issues," says Lew of the magazine.

• Bulletproof is not available in newsagents but can be ordered through comics speciality shops or buy it direct from the Bulletproof website here: www.bulletproofcomics.co.uk/online-store

• Check out the rest of the impressive Bulletproof site for creator profiles, news of future issues, and more: www.bulletproofcomics.co.uk

Ex Astris Episode 16

Ex Astris Episode 15

Ex Astris Episode 14

Ex Astris Episode 13