PARAGON #19 a tribute to Stephen Prestwood

[Daveycandlish]

It feels like the end of an era.
Stephen Prestwood has been an ever present in PARAGON since #4 when he took over as artist from me on the Battle Ganesh tale. Issue 4 was the first to start looking as good as I thought it could and it's no coincidence that that was Stephen's first contribution. (The cover to this issue is taken from his Ganesh work and just blew me away when I first saw it)

Stephen was a mainstay of the small press scene for many, many years. I suggest you read the tribute by Owen Watts on John Freeman's Down the Tubes website to see how long and how involved he had been
http://downthetubes.net/?p=31490

It's an indication of the esteem the man was held in that the editors of other comics have been so willing to let me reprint their work in this issue, so my thanks go to Jay Eales and Mike Sivier for the Hard Boiled Hitler strip (imagining Hitler as a superhero!), to John Short for his unsolicited X Men strip and to Matt McLaughlin for the episode of El Bigote – the undead bandit who fires quills from his 'tache! This was (so far as I know) the last strip Stephen worked on.



Reprints from the pages of PARAGON include his sequel to Icarus Dangerous (the boy whose wings melted and fell to Earth – but was rescued by aliens!), Spencer Nero (the Civil Centurian – a British agent who finds inhuman strength when he dons the Janus mask) and, of course, Bulldog (the anthropomorphic protector of the skies above Blighty).



Bulldog was the first strip I saw drawn by Mr P back when the character had his own comic, BAM! So when Jason suggested bringing the old dog back within the pages of PARAGON, Stephen was my first choice of artist. Happily, he agreed.

He never got to illustrate an episode of the time travelling demon hunter, Jikan, but we do have pin ups of his favourite characters in these pages so we can see what he would have done with the Japanese warrior. If only.

My thanks to all those letterers (never forget the letterers!), writers and editors who have made this collection possible. I hope it does the talents of the artist justice.

64 pages for £2.75 + P&P

http://paragoncomic.blogspot.co.uk/

Overseas orders here

http://www.lulu.com/shop/paragon-comic/paragon-19-stephen-prestwood-special-edition/paperback/product-22760898.html

[Bat King]

It is a great tribute.

I will be working on a review but it might take me a while due to still being in Hospital and stuck using my phone.

Nice one Davey.

[Daveycandlish]

Cheers Bat King . Hope you're out of hospital soon.
Anyone fancy 30% off? Just quote LULU30 at the checkout on the Lulu order link!

[Daveycandlish]

There's nowt you can do about the referendum now but lose yourself in some good old fashioned adventure comics! Buy yours from the paragon comic blogspot

Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

[Daveycandlish]

I'll be sending all the orders for PARAGON as soon as I get back from my holiday tomorrow. Have you bought yours yet? See more preview pages in the downthetubes site with a link to the orders http://downthetubes.net/?p=31979


Sent from my SM-J500FN using Tapatalk

[Daveycandlish]

And for those who don't like to use lulu.com this 64 page extravaganza is now available via comicsy 

http://www.comicsy.co.uk/paragoncomic/store/products/paragon-19-stephen-prestwood-special-edition/

Everyone who has ordered so far should have theirs by the weekend.
It's a truly brilliant comic - if you haven't been tempted by small press comics because you think it's just amateurs indulging themselves, try this to see what quality can be found there.
Don't diss the small press, remember; the likes of Al Ewing and PJ Holden started there, amongst others. In fact, PJ (and writer Si Spencer and Shaky Kane) have all contributed to PARAGON and the likes of Jim Campbell, HdE and Steven Denton have been regulars over the years.
If you like Zarjaz and have ever wondered what the writers and artists could do with their own characters, try this.
It's called PARAGON for a reason!

[Daveycandlish]

Sold out of the first printing and the last of that batch were sent today so you should have them by the weekend 

If you prefer your comics downloadable you can now buy a digital edition for less than a quid!

http://www.lulu.com/shop/paragon-comic/paragon-19-stephen-prestwood-special-edition/ebook/product-22771943.html

So what's stopping you?

If you've got your copy I'd love to know what you think!

[flip-r mk2]

Received my copy this morning, lovely looking book and a fitting tribute to Stephen.

Thanks Davey


filippo

[Mardroid]

Thanks, mine came today. I've only had a quick glance through so far, but I like what I see.

[Darren Stephens]

Got mine, too. Really nicely done. 

[Daveycandlish]

IT'S SMALL PRESS DAY! Anyone ordering direct from me FOR TODAY ONLY will get an extra comic in their package! Buy one get one free! Grab a bargain!

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[Daveycandlish]

So I sold out of the second batch printing. This is a good thing.
Hope you enjoyed it 

You can still get a copy though, via Lulu.com - printed edition or download.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/paragon-comic/paragon-19-stephen-prestwood-special-edition/ebook/product-22771943.html

It's a quality piece of comicy goodness - that's why it's called PARAGON