A Christmas Conundrum

Festive greetings, dear friends and followers!

My Christmas image this year is the second in a series of digital illustrations based on my photos from the massive snowfall of 2018, a scene depicting Marine Parade in Leigh-on-Sea, overlooking the Thames Estuary. It’s not looking quite so Christmassy on the Belton Hills this year, but calendars wait for no man.

Quick Quick Slow

Yuletide comes around more quickly every year it seems, but paradoxically these last couple of years have passed interminably slowly. Lockdowns and uncertain futures can play havoc with the perception of time.

The evolving pandemic and the UK government’s mind-blowingly inept response to it has been like a high-speed, slow-motion car crash. We’re preparing for the inevitable (yet way too late) fourth lockdown here and it’s been hard to stay positive, but I should limit my thoughts on Boris’ rapid attempt to create an elective dictatorship (and my opinions on NFTs) to my Twitter feed. Because, well, it’s Christmas.

ICYMI

For those of you who have not been paying full attention, it’s been a relatively eventful year for us here at Abiogenesis Towers, and here’s what you’ve missed:

In May I announced an Option deal with IDW Entertainment to develop Strangehaven for film, television, and other media. It’s all very exciting, and you can read my original blog post here: Strangehaven Optioned for Film and TV by IDW Entertainment

I also finished building my new website, which includes an appearances archive and a shiny new blog (with posts spanning the past twenty-five years), a gallery section, and of course a well-stocked online shop.

Heartfelt thanks to everyone who’s already bought books, cards and prints from the shop since its launch, as being an independent creator is tough (especially in these strange times) and, truly, every little helps. You are beautiful people.

Strangehaven Lives!

Strangehaven itself continues to be serialised in the British anthology Meanwhile… with its issue 10 (featuring Strangehaven: Destiny episode 9) which I’m assured is now available from comic shops and direct from the publisher Soaring Penguin Press.

Also, available is The Collected Meanwhile…, containing the first four issues of the anthology (including of course the first four episodes of Strangehaven: Destiny), although I haven’t as yet personally seen a copy of either (drums fingers on desk)

Meanwhile…11 (in which Strangehaven continues to hurtle towards its long-awaited conclusion) has also been successfully crowdfunded and is in the pipeline for publication early next year.

And There’s More

This year I also found time to write a foreword for Martin Simpson’s fabulous sketchbook PIX and blogged about my small contribution to the local Lockdown Open art exhibition, as well as writing short pieces on Top Shelf supremo Chris Staros and my ceramic artist brother David Millidge.

Finally, Geen Geenie and I have been watching lots of films and bingeing TV shows, all mostly on physical media as evidenced by our Cinemmaniacs Instagram. And I’ve also begun a dedicated art Instagram to supplement my regular account. All follows appreciated.

The Outro

And that’s about it for 2021. Your continued support for Strangehaven and this newsletter is very much appreciated. I couldn’t do it without you.

After re-reading my closing comments from last year’s Christmas message, it seems appropriate – in this period of lockdown deja-vu – to simply cut and paste them here:

I will be locked down over Christmas with my favourite person in the world, a freezer full of food, stacks of Blu-ray discs, and piles of books and comics. And I honestly couldn’t wish for a better Christmas than that.

Here’s hoping you all are able to share this holiday period with the ones you love the most, and that 2022 is a happy and healthy one for you and yours.

May your Christmas be merry and bright,

Peace and Love,

–Gary Spencer Millidge.