AZAD

For some reason The Observer newspaper has not uploaded my story AZAD onto their website. I have now received loads of requests from people wanting to see it so here it is.

THE 2025 RACHEL COOKE PRIZE

 

There’s a bit about me and my four page short story AZAD in today's edition of The Observer newspaper. AZAD was my entry into the 2025 FABER/OBSERVER/COMICA GRAPHIC SHORT STORY COMPETITION, now known as THE RACHEL COOKE PRIZE, and I found out a couple of weeks ago that AZAD had been awarded the runners up spot. The competition has been running since 2007 but this was the first time I’d entered a story so obviously I was delighted with second place. 

I would like to thank Paul B Rainey, the competition winner in 2020, for all his invaluable advice and support. It was Paul whom I first approached when I was considering entering the competition early last year, even though I didn't have a story in mind at the time. Paul’s encouragement was instrumental in helping me get off my lazy arse and submit a story. 

I would also like to thank Nick Dimmock and Robert Wells for their feedback after I showed them AZAD before entering it into the competition. Their invaluable advice was exactly the sort of constructive criticism I needed and they both helped me improve the story no end.

Finally, an extra nod must go to Rob Wells. When I first showed AZAD to Rob he immediately predicted it would win, a view I did not share in any way, shape or form. That being said, the belief Rob showed in AZAD meant a great deal to me. And blimey! He was NEARLY right! 

Cheers Gentlemen, I very much appreciated it!

You can read The Observer article here 

THE WORLD SWEAR-OUT CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

 

Here's the cover to my new comic THE WORLD SWEAR-OUT CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL which currently being the printed. The is the second comic (of 4) in The House Of Hatch series of swearing and can be ordered here

Drawing of John Barrington OBE

 

Drawing of David Joyce

 

AZAD

 

Here's a very rough pencil drawing for the first panel from a four page short story I'm currently working on called AZAD. I hope to have the story completed by the end of next month.