Big Star Otto now available

I can now officially announce that Big Star Otto is shipping to stores and is widely available. The third and last in the Elephants Never Forget graphic novel trilogy, this book takes Otto and Crackers to Hollywood in search of Otto's long lost childhood pal, Georgie. Will he find Georgie? Will the mysterious and sinister Man with the Wooden Nose finally make an appearance and get his comeuppance? Well - it's the last in the series so take a guess… 

For a preview and more information click here. Be patient - the preview may take a bit to load!

It's Here! (Well, for me, anyway)

I just received advance copies of Big Star Otto this week! Unfortunately, they are really advance, as the book is still not due for release until March 2015. But the good news is, it does exist and will eventually be available.
This is the third and last of the Elephants Never Forget series. It was a fun ride, and now I'm back to my art table making a living after a four year graphic novel sabbatical.

Done!

It was with mixed feelings that I concluded the third and last installment of the Elephants Never Forget trilogy this week, Big Star Otto. I sent off the cover, end pages and title page to the publisher, the last bits still needed. Now my work is for all intents and purposes done. Here is a sneak preview of the cover …

My proposed cover for Big Star Otto, the last in the Elephants Never Forget series.

It has been a long haul but a wonderful journey, a journey begun back in 2008 when I first imagined this elephant in his battered fedora and trench coat. I began blogging about the process in July, 2010, and have continued, at first enthusiastically and then more sporadically ever since. As I say, it is with mixed feelings that I now put this all aside for other projects - I have never enjoyed working on a project as much as I have this one, and that alone was reward enough. The encouraging comments and meeting the kids and adults who have enjoyed reading about Otto and Cracker's adventures has been a real pleasure.
I have learnt a lot about graphic story telling in comic book form over the last few years, and have gained a renewed respect for those artists who labour under-appreciated and often in obscurity, pouring their hearts and talent out in page after page of comic book art. Only those who have gone through the process can appreciate how much work goes into producing even a slim volume. But doing this has left me hungry to embark on another graphic novel project - not right away (I have a couple of years' work waiting in the wings, things I pushed aside in order to bring this series to a conclusion). What that new project will be I don't know, but I think it will be something quite different from Otto. I have a few ideas rattling around in the back of my head.
I'm not sure what the publishing date is yet for this book, but I expect it will be sometime this fall. Once I have more information I will post it here and keep you up to date, through this and my Elephants Never Forget Facebook page regarding breaking news on the Otto front. In the meantime, I will leave you with one final page from the next book - not to give anything away…

Drawing Otto

My good friend Rosemary captured me on video drawing Otto at the launch at Little Island Comics a couple of weeks ago. It starts about halfway through my drawing (I was taking my time because I had a captive audience) and she ran out of memory just as I finished!

Thanks for this, Rose.

Everyone Was Talking about the Elephant in the Room

Crackers' appearance at the launch was well known ahead of time, but we all thought Otto was having his nails buffed at an up-state elephant sanctuary in California. So you can only imagine our collective surprise when Otto walked into Little Island Comics last Saturday!
It was a great day, and surrounded by some of my original art, friends, family and at least one fan, I was able to send off Big Top Otto with style! Here are a few photos from the launch at Little Island Comics in downtown Toronto.

Me and two of my favourite animals.

Crackers and Otto give their trademark salute!

I had a chance to do some drawing, which was fun. A friend shot a video of this which I will eventually post.

Otto presents!

It can be hot in a mascot suit, so the pair went out on the sidewalk to cool off and hopefully lure passersby into the store.