As anyone who follows this kind of stuff will know, Insomnia Publications filed with Companies House to stop trading, and left about sixty or so people with graphic novels in legal limbo. As the wheels begin to slowly turn in a bid to get the situation resolved and get the creators out of their contracts, several Insomniacs have banded together to get a brand new anthology, Survival Stories, out there. This new book is made up of work that wasn’t under contract with Insomnia, and due to appear in what would’ve been the next issue of Layer Zero, and all of the proceeds raised from the sale of Survival Stories will be donated to the Comic Book Alliance.

However, to make this book happen, they need your support.

Over on Kickstarter, a page has been set up where you can pre-order yourself a copy – digital or printed – or otherwise help out by pledging some money to help them hit their target amount. The book is around 192 pages long, and there’s a bunch of special offers there, too, depending on how much you donate.

So, you know, go and order yourself a copy!

As everyone is no doubt aware, stories have been circulating around the Internet about Insomnia Publications and them ceasing to, well, publish. Unfortunately, this isn’t as clear cut a situation as you’d expect and no one’s sure how quickly – or even if – it’s going to be resolved.

So, it is with a heavy heart that we have to formally announce Babble is being put into limbo for the foreseeable future.

Hopefully, things will be worked out one way or another and we’ll be able to back to work on Babble and get it out there on the shelves and into your hands. We’ve poured a lot of work into the project, and we’re desperately hoping that we don’t have to watch it be shelved forever. We’d like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your kind words and support for Babble. It means a lot to us that we had something people were genuinely looking forward to reading.

Never fear, though, because it’s not the last you’ve heard of us!

Coming soon[ish], we’ve got an appearance lined up for a future issue of Zarjaz, with a story called Broken Dreams, featuring a certain war robot…

A WIP panel from Broken Dreams

Later this year, we’ll be appearing in Accent UK‘s 2010 anthology Predators, with a story called Just Like You. With kind permission from the Accent UK team, here’s a sneak preview of that strip…

From "Just Like You" - click to read

We also have a slew of fresh projects in the pipeline that we’ll no doubt ram down your throats in a blaze of shameless self-publicity, both here (while we still have the hosting) and on our respective blogs.

Needless to say, as soon as we have any more information on the future of Babble, we’ll be shouting it from the rooftops. And posting it here.

Yes, we’re still alive, and to prove it, here’s some more work-in-progress pictures…

Out of her hands...

Hard at work...

Bryan lets his feelings on the story be known...

No escape...

Paul Scott’s acclaimed anthology Omnivistascope reaches #6, and features a strip drawn by Bryan!

Omnivistascope #6 (cover by Paul McCaffrey)

Paul was pimping the collection at the Bristol Comics & Small Press Expo over the weekend, so if you didn’t grab a copy there, you can hop over to the OVS shop and buy a copy directly from there. Remember to check out the new OVS Facebook page, too!

It’s been long overdue, but this here blog has finally got the facelift I’ve been promising it since… Well, since it first went up, really. I’m still figuring out a few teething problems with the new look, but nothing that will affect the browsing of the site.

As for the book itself… Well, the script is almost finished and Bryan is planning out the rest of the second chapter, and… Well, there’s not much more to report on that side of things yet. We’re in that weird phase of development where we’re keeping our heads down and trying to make sure it’ll prove to be a damn entertaining read.

In the meantime, be sure to go and check out the new Read Us page, where you can find the details of our previous collaborations (and read our very first one for free), and remember, you can follow us on Twitter, and stay up to date with what we’re up to as the production rolls on. If you want to know what we’re up to individually, be sure  to check our personal blogs (Bryan’s is here and mine is here).

For now, though, it’s back to the grindstone!

- Lee

Because everyone loves free comics, we’ve decided to offer up our very first collaboration from back in 2007: a five page short called Mindfields…

Mindfields was originally published in FutureQuake #9, which is now out of print. Not only did we pull off FutureQuake’s first ever centre spread, but we also managed so secure the cover…

FutureQuake #9 cover by Ed Traquino

Why the character on the cover looks different to the lead in the story is something you’ll have to ask Bryan about…

The ebook is now available on the right hand side of your screen, along with everything you need to know about our other collaborations for Accent UK. Also, we have another collaboration coming up on a future issue of Zarjaz. More on that when we have it.

Just a quick reminder that FutureQuake #15 and Zarjaz! #9 are now available to buy directly from the FutureQuake shop, and both feature strips drawn by Bryan!

FutureQuake #15

FutureQuake #15 features a strip called Edge Of Creation by Bryan and Dan Hill, priced £3.50.

Zarjaz #09

Zarjaz #9 features Shako! in Snack Attack, by Bryan and Richmond Clements, and is priced £3.00.

Both comics are available from the the FutureQuake shop, so go over there and buy them now!

It seems Bryan has been a busy boy…

The excellent anthology series FutureQuake hits #15 very soon, and features a strip drawn by our very own Bryan Coyle!

A panel from Edge of Creation by Dan Hill and Bryan Coyle

FutureQuake #15 is available for pre-order now from the FutureQuake shop, priced £3.50.

FutureQuake #15

FQ #15, and other comics from the FutureQuake stable, will also be available to buy at Hi-Ex! The Highlands International Comic Expo at the end of the month!

The Galaxy’s Greatest Fanzine, Zarjaz!, reaches #9 very soon, and features a strip drawn by Bryan!

The Mighty SHAKO! is back in Snack Attack, by Richmond Clements and Bryan Coyle

Zarjaz! #9, and Dogbreath #22, are available for pre-order now from the FutureQuake shop, priced £3.00 each.

Zarjaz #09

Both of these scrotnig publications will also be available to buy at Hi-Ex! The Highlands International Comic Expo at the end of the month!

Remember: it’s not called Zarjaz for nothing!

Yes, it’s true! We are still alive and working hard on getting the book together, as well as some other projects… For the moment, though, here’s some work-in-progress images for you…

Run, Forest! Run!

Contemplative Carrie

Arguments in the workplace...

Carrie in her glad rags

And those other projects we’re working on? Well, Lee’s working on a new OGN for Accent UK called Chosen, and here’s a little something from an upcoming Zarjaz! strip by Bryan and Richmond Clements…

SHAKO!!

And, Bryan and Lee are teaming up again for an upcoming issue of Zarjaz!, starring a couple of 2000AD stalwarts. More on that later.