The Life and Times of Mark McQueen

To the scum of the world...

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:02:57 +0000

So, I caught some scum-sucker on the roof of our wash house the other day trying to steal a metal flue. I mean honest to god, a metal flue. I know that people are hard up, and scrap metal is going for a bomb and all that, but if I had thought the hunk of junk up on that roof was worth something I’d have ripped it off already and sold it myself.

Just even more galling is the fact it looks like said scumbag returned yesterday morning to remove said flue from the roof, leaving a massive gap in the roof in the process. All I can say is that the asshole had better pray he gets caught by the police before I catch him, mainly as prison would be a cake walk compared to what I’d do to him.

Anyways, the picture that I posted on Sunday night is indeed something I’m working on, and hope to launch sooner rather than later. Basically, I’m relaunching ‘projectfortytwo’, which will now be known as Project 42.

What is Project 42 you ask? Well, I’ve found in recent times that any time I try to start and write and draw and complete a story based comic, I find myself drifting away from it completely in one way or another. Look at Alienated Youth last year. I find myself not really planning the story out properly and just generally winging it which makes the process much more difficult for me to complete and much more difficult to produce a coherent product. Which is where the concept of Project 42 is coming in - to help me teach myself to actually plan and work out a full story and produce a fully complete comic story. Although I’ve not fully settled on the full concept of how Project 42 is going to work, I have settled on one little rule.

Each comic story I produce on Project 42 will be 42 pages long. No more, no less.

I know that one of my New Year’s Resolutions was to fully do a 20 page comic minimum, but that felt a bit restricting. In that length it’s difficult to set up, develop and properly resolve a conflict. 42 pages means enough leeway to set up the foil, develop the characters and the relationships and resolve the story to a satisfactory level.

I have a few concepts already brewing for this little endeavour and the first I’m doing is a piece called ‘Don’t Ask For Decaf’. This is going to essentially be a reboot of my old comic ‘Coffee of Doom’, renamed as I have too much respect for certain comic creators. I did a lot of learning of the writing and drawing process when I first did COD, but I was never happy with the finished product, especially with the first couple of chapters. This is going to be my way of resolving that and pulling the story back to the way I had originally envisaged it.

I am already quite a bit in to developing the story and I’ve already started thumbnailling the first few comics. But I’m not posting anything completed until I’m happy to start. And besides, I’ve still got to pull together a home for all these new comics I’ll be drawing. More news on Project 42 and ‘Don’t Ask For Decaf’ when I have it.

Am I planning something? I think I may well be planning...

Sun, 29 Jan 2012 22:42:39 +0000

Am I planning something? I think I may well be planning something…

Today’s been an interesting day to say the very least....

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:36:02 +0000

Today’s been an interesting day to say the very least. I’ve went from having a lazy Sunday to a meltdown to a craft day (as you can see above).

For the record, I am trying to branch out a bit with design stuff, hence the custom business cards and the Thank You notes. More on that another time.

This has been a… interesting month to say the least thus far. Not completely ‘bad’ per say but definately interesting. I think I may well have to really get my head down to make it a really good year, but I think… yeah. It’s gonna be a good year, if I have anything to do with it.

2012... Come on then Mayan's - SHOW US WHAT YOU'VE GOT!!!

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 23:42:00 +0000

After recovering from the hell-virus that floored me for half of my holiday period, it’s quite irritating that I’m already back to work in about 13 hours.

*sigh*

Well, after the horrible year that 2011 was, I have decided on a couple of resolutions (revolutions?) to try and make 2012 as great as it bloody well can be. Here we go -

Try 52 separate whiskies. That’s whiskies as in Scotch, Malts, etc… - This is more a little personal challenge than anything. I’m already up to 2, but basically I have to average a new whisky a week. Yeah, I’m from a family of whisky nerds, sue me.
Draw, draw some more, post it on Tumblr and bloody well improve - I want to try and get my drawing down another level or so this year. To that end, I’m aiming to draw a lot more when I have the chance. I have a small sketchbook, and dammit to buggery I’m going to use it this year.
Complete a game or two - It’s such a shame that it feels like I have no time for gaming these days, especially when I have an Xbox, Wii and 3DS sitting about. Enough is enough, I need to sit and finish a game from start to finish this year, even if it kills me.
Actually finish the mark-mcqueen.co.uk site - You’ll notice that going to www.mark-mcqueen.co.uk just comes straight here to the blog. I need to fix that this year, especially if I want to start doing a little freelancing here and there.
Tidy up and decorate the rest of the house – self explanatory really…
Write, draw and publish a (MINIMUM) 20 page comic online - by this I mean, write out a full, cohesive story, draw every page and publish the full thing by the end of 2012. Easier said than done given my previous attempts (sigh). However I think it’ll be easier with the mind-set that I have put in place for (…in)Sanity (insanity.mark-mcqueen.co.uk) – I aim to write and finish at least one big comic piece for April/May time and I have been trying to flesh out a story for that anyways. Here’s hoping, eh?

I’m sure I could come up with more but I think the above 6 point should give me enough to fight through (along with everything else) within the next 12 months. That said, I should maybe find a way to stop those pesky Mayan’s and their supposed doomsday…

(…in)Sanity - Arthritis I’ve had problems with my...

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:00:06 +0000

(…in)Sanity - Arthritis

I’ve had problems with my right hip for the last two years and I’ve had to endure searing pain, physiotherapy, painkillers and everything else. After all that time, a couple of months ago I seen yet another specialist (about my third, by the way) who after an extensive session came to the conclusion that I have the early stages of osteoarthritis.

Naturally, I am taking advantage of this where I can (not really, but a guy can wish, can’t he?)

(…in)Sanity - Soul Patch Way, way back in the midst of...

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:01:06 +0000

(…in)Sanity - Soul Patch

Way, way back in the midst of yonder I used to do comics like this. And they were called (…in)Sanity. Partly because I thought the name was bitchin’, partly because it summed my mindset up while I was at uni.

I was doodling at work recently and found myself working in a style which was a mix between the sort of thing I do now and the older, crapper (…in)Sanity stuff. So I decided to thrash out a couple of comics for old times sake. Here’s the first of them!

Good god, it's December already...

Thu, 01 Dec 2011 12:01:05 +0000

Jesus Christ almighty, where the hell does the time go?

I think I can honestly say this has been a proper annus horribilis and definately a year I’ll be wanting to forget in a hurry. It’s nearly a year since my wife and I got flooded out of our home (week on Friday to be exact) and to say that everything has went to pot since then would be something of an understatement.

It is part of the reason that I’ve had to give up Alienated Youth. As much as I tried and tried and tried, I couldn’t get the damn comic to resolve in my head. And so when cost cutting measures came to the fore in my household affairs I had no choice but to let it go. It’s not that I wanted to per say, creative things are trying to jump out from me but, unfortunately, time and money seem to be at a rather large premium these days.

The funny thing is, not even 10 years ago, I was writing more than I was drawing. Or doing coursework. Or going to lectures. *cough*

This is why there has been a small flurry of postings here recently. And why I’ve changed the name of the blog to The Life and Times of Mark McQueen. An almost nod to my old blog the Deviant Chronicles there, my (admittedly early) New Years Resolution is to pick my sorry ass up and start getting myself back to ‘normal’. Whatever that is.

I am going to try my damndest to keep coming back online and venting. Rambling. Ranting. Whatever gets my fingers moving and my mind ticking. I used to be very good at this way back when, so I can’t see why the spark can’t return.

I aim to grab 2012 by the scruff of the neck and make it an awesome year, not just for me but for the people closest around me. Because, quite frankly, 2011 has sucked. Royally sucked. And I refuse to go through another 12 months of the same shite as last year.

Actually, know what? That wasn’t an early New Years Resolution. It’s a New Years Revolution. 2012 - here we come!

The marketing people that came up with this South African advert...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:24:33 +0000

The marketing people that came up with this South African advert for Nando’s chicken restaurants is a freaking genius!

And those idiots that are part of Mugabe’s youth front, get a sense of humour please - it’s just a laugh you know…

I read about this in the paper before I saw the video so I was...

Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:18:27 +0000

I read about this in the paper before I saw the video so I was already going to be a little prejudice. But still, damn, that’s one ignorant woman!

FYI, she got arrested the other day for this racist rant and, quite frankly, she deserves everything she’s got coming to her.

Gary Speed 1969-2011

Sun, 27 Nov 2011 16:32:36 +0000

It seems to be that I only jump on here for obituaries lately, but the shock of someone like Gary Speed, the Welsh national team manager, passing so suddenly at such a young age seems to make me want to put something down in writing.

Speed was seen to be the consummate professional throughout his long playing and brief managerial career, similar to the on field and off field presence Ryan Giggs had until his recent indiscretions. The difference was Speed was never on the front pages for any scandals, always the back pages for his skill, commitment and determination. His amazing turnaround of the Welsh national side proved his talents and 3 wins on the trot seen Wales hit the giddy highs of 50 in the FIFA world rankings.

The scenes at the football games across the country today, including the 3 top games of Kilmarnock-Rangers, Swansea-Aston Villa and Liverpool-Manchester City, are tantamount to the presence and legacy Gary left not just the game but to life in general. I personally was looking forward to the two epic games between the tartan army and the dragons with Speed at the helm. Here’s hoping the games over the next two years are fitting tributes and I’ll be keeping an eye on Wales along with Scotland in the internationals starting next year.

RIP Gary.

Indistinguishable From Magic: Rebooting DC's Villains!

Sun, 09 Oct 2011 02:05:04 +0100

Indistinguishable From Magic: Rebooting DC's Villains!:

dresdencodak:

What are heroes without villains? To follow up with my Rebooting the Justice League post, where I treated those characters to a more extreme reboot than DC’s “New 52,” I thought it would be fun to take a look at a redesigned villain team to oppose my redesigned Justice League:

Make…

Steve Jobs 1955-2011

Thu, 06 Oct 2011 10:01:44 +0100

Just woke up to the news that Steve Jobs died yesterday. Just… Wow, I’m not even sure what I can say. The way he revolutionised consumer products over the years is on a par with the greatest inventors.

Alexander Graham Bell invented the phone, Steve Jobs revolutionised it. Enough said.

(written on my iPhone)

Here’s the finished piece off of the work in progress I...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 12:05:24 +0100

Here’s the finished piece off of the work in progress I posted last night. Figure I might as well show off the three stages that I had with the ‘painting’, as it were. I’m not saying what the picture is for but I’m sure it will show up somewhere soon!

You know something? Until I posted that picture, I forgot I had an actual blog on here! I’ve...

Tue, 04 Oct 2011 00:16:34 +0100

You know something? Until I posted that picture, I forgot I had an actual blog on here! I’ve just been using it to follow other blogs and like them!

Sigh.

I actually spent a little time going back and reading some of my posts on here, and noticed one particular post where I said I wasn’t going to let 2011 kick my ass.

August and September did that in one fell swoop, regardless of the rest of the year. We have endured that much that, quite frankly, I’d love 2012 to start right now.

That said, known my luck, the world will end in December 2012. Better look at getting that Alienated Youth story finished then…

PS: Alienated Youth is off hiatus and can be found at http://alienatedyouth.project-42.co.uk. Just for your reference and all.

Just a little something I’m working on for a SEKRET...

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:46:17 +0100

Just a little something I’m working on for a SEKRET PROJEKT for myself. I’ll be showing work in progesses as we go along, and of course the final product when done…

Indistinguishable From Magic: Rebooting the Justice League!

Mon, 03 Oct 2011 17:05:28 +0100

Indistinguishable From Magic: Rebooting the Justice League!:

dresdencodak:

So, following the immense popularity of my 5 Essential Character Redesigns post, I decided to take a more thorough stab at revamping DC Comic’s Justice League. I’ve already mentioned before that I think their current “New 52” reboot, aimed at gaining new readers, is terribly ineffective,…

Photo

Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:10:44 +0100

Erika Moen's Tumblr: Today A Man Touched Me On The Subway And So I Hit Him

Mon, 19 Sep 2011 19:17:13 +0100

Erika Moen's Tumblr: Today A Man Touched Me On The Subway And So I Hit Him:

katespencer:

I’m writing this on the R train as it rattles slowly along toward Brooklyn. I’m headed to pick up my 6-month-old daughter. I’m writing because I’m still reeling from what occurred on the Times Square subway platform a few moments ago. I was walking to the end of the station as I…

Ben the Illustrator: Let's Start A New Illustration Industry!

Tue, 06 Sep 2011 20:04:18 +0100

Ben the Illustrator: Let's Start A New Illustration Industry!:

bentheillustrator:

Let’s do it! Come on illustrators! Grab your pencils and macs and stuff, let’s go start a new industry! It’ll be like Detroit in the 1950s, where industry is king, we’re talking Boomtown here! It’s going to be ace, and we’re all going to be professional illustrators on professional wages. Are you…

lifewithautoimmune: rabbleprochoice: lightspeedsound: ravengea...

Tue, 30 Aug 2011 00:55:32 +0100

lifewithautoimmune:

rabbleprochoice:

lightspeedsound:

ravengeary:

There are actual fucking physicians in this world who won’t treat ectopic pregnancies.

I want to cry.

….pretty sure this is actually illegal. Like, if someone comes in to the ER, no matter who they are, what they need, if they are in immediate danger, you have to treat them. It’s problematic from an economic/insurance standpoint (like, logistically, sometimes it is hard to figure out how to pay/who can pay for services), but ultimately, you will get treated.

Actually, most states have conscience clauses that protect doctors who would rather let a woman die from an ectopic pregnancy or hemorrhage to death because of a miscarriage and they are fully within their rights to refuse treatment because of these clauses. AND, depending on the hospital you go to (whether it is affiliated with a church like many hospitals are) they have to refuse to treat you because they aren’t allowed to do certain procedures by the board of directors/ethics committee.

The nun who was excommunicated for allowing an abortion to take place to save a dying woman is a prime example of an ethics committee allowing an abortion in a hospital where they are not allowed to be performed without permission. The church excommunicated the nun because they didn’t think saving the life of the mother justified terminating the 11 week fetus….which would have died with the mother a few weeks later if the abortion had not been allowed. So two deaths, according to the church, would have been better than the one. The 27-year old woman who needed the abortion due to pulmonary hypertension already had four children, too.

Now, doctors can refuse to treat patients due to these conscience clauses without any legal ramifications, but the odds of another doctor being called in to take care of the patient is high. The problem with this, though, is that women end up waiting while in the process of a miscarriage for the doctor to arrive and treat them. I posted a story about a woman who went through a miscarriage and another doctor had to be called that wasn’t affiliated with the hospital she went to because it was a Catholic hospital and none of the doctors would treat her. I’m having trouble finding the link, but this woman was literally bleeding to death in front of these doctors while waiting for the other doctor to arrive and no one even offered her pain medication. Instead they kept talking about how interesting of a case study she was while she was dying. She survived because the doctor finally showed up and performed the D&C she needed but she could have died while waiting for it. AND THIS IS COMPLETELY LEGAL BECAUSE OF ANTI-CHOICE LEGISLATION.

In any other case, a person bleeding to death would be treated immediately, but because it happens to be a pregnant woman (whose fetus, I might add, was already dead) there are laws in place to protect doctors who would rather let her die because they want to “preserve their conscience”. Personally, I don’t see how letting someone die in front of you preserves one’s conscience when you have all the tools available to save that person’s life, but I guess you aren’t a person if you’re pregnant, only the fetus has any sort of value, not the mother of four who is going to die.

Love,

Rabble

The OBGYN I had told me I had to miscarry naturally KNOWING that I had only had mole pregnancies before and COULD NOT miscarry and the previous Dr’s I had had to remove to pregnancies for fear of further complications to me. The result of me having to miscarry naturally? I almost hemorrhaged to death in ANOTHER Dr’s office and had to have an emergency D&C performed with no pain medication, hemorrhaging, conscious, passing clots *literally* larger then the size of golf balls (I took pictures because the on call Dr thought I was being dramatic), JUST to make it to the hospital to have the ACTUAL D&C. And I ended up needing surgery 2 months later because they left sone of the tissue in and I bled and cramped for 2 months! DISGUSTING!!! Em PS mine wasn’t an ectopic pregnancy.