Jamie McKelvie’s Workblog

I’ve teamed up with Newsarama to bring you the sold-out first issue of SUBURBAN GLAMOUR in its entirety – for free!

If you like what you see, the collection is available for pre-order now, and will be out in May.

Oh hey, so – the collection of series 1 of Suburban Glamour has been solicited. Here are the details:

SUBURBAN GLAMOUR VOL. 1 TP
story JAMIE MCKELVIE
art & cover JAMIE MCKELVIE
Life’s tough when you’re a teenager – homework, boy trouble and meddling parents. So when Astrid Johnson has to deal with imaginary friends turned real, monster attacks and faerie magic as well – that’s just not fair, is it? Collecting the critically acclaimed mini-series from the co-creator of PHONOGRAM.

MAY 7 • 104 PAGES • COLOR • $9.99

Keen-eyed readers will note that this means it will be released in the UK on my birthday!

If you want this book, it would really, really help if you pre-ordered it from your local comic shop (or Amazon!). I’ve lost count of the number of people who emailed me to say they tried to get hold of the comics and couldn’t, because their shop didn’t order in enough. Pre-ordering lets the retailer know there is a demand, so they can order accordingly!

Unlike much of Jamie’s earlier work, it’s also in colour, and a clear progression in his ability is obvious. “I’m usually most proud of the latest issue,” he agrees. “The older something is, the more I can look back at it and see what’s wrong with it. But I think that’s exactly how it should be. If I was happy with something I did a year ago, what would be the point of continuing to work?”

Seb Patrick interviews me for Channel 4’s 4Talent website.

Just updated the Original Artwork page with what is currently available. For those too lazy to click on it, here’s the list:

The following pages of Suburban Glamour are available:

Issue 1: Everything except 2, 3, 5, 24.

Issue 2: Everything except 14, 15, 23.

Issue 3: Everything except 11, 17, 19.

The following pages of PG are available:

Issue 1: 3, 4, 10, 12, 13, 17, 22

Issue 2: 3, 4, 7, 8, 10, 11, 17, 18, 19.

Issue 3: Everything except 8, 18, 19, 22.

All of issues 4 and 5.

Issue 6: Everything except 7, 8 and 9.

I’m moving house (again!) at the end of April so personally speaking, now would be a really good time to pick up a page!

McKelvie’s art, which is probably the selling point of the book, appears to have gotten better even over the course of this series. It’s stunning. Astrid is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s more than that. For instance, when she makes up her mind about her future in three silent pages, it’s amazing to read her mind simply through the way McKelvie draws her.” – Greg Burgas, Comic Book Resources

“As for the rest of the issue, well, it was excellent as usual. I’ve mentioned my affection for McKelvie’s art before and he puts it to as good a use in this one as he ever does, driving the silent sections with his phenomenally expressive faces–and fingers–that tell the story almost as well as his dialogue. In fact, I’d wager to say that it was my favorite comic about magic-using ladies that I read this week.” – Chris Sims, The ISB

Comics This Week podcast makes Suburban Glamour 3 its joint Book Of The Week – tying with the last issue of Y: The Last Man is quite an honour!

EDIT: Suburban Glamour may not have the jaw-droppingly-unmissable nature of Phonogram, and it may feel firmly like a fledgling writer just starting to find their voice. But it’s sharp, funny – and easily the most beautiful-looking comic this side of Frank Quitely. – Seb Patrick, Comics Daily