Back from the abyss....

OK, so its been an embarrassingly long time since I updated this blog, so I should have loads of stuff to write about right? Well.... probably. I have been doing a lot of stuff in the last while, but mostly for other people so there's not too much to talk about. I did two strips for the first issue of Lightning Strike (the second issue is out now too!), and a cover for Abandoned Comics Blackstar Issue 1 (also on sale now). I've also been doing a lot of private commission stuff, which is cool to do but I don't get to show it off.
As for my own stuff? well Short Sharp Shocks is three issues old now and I'm going to start on issue four (soon, I promise!), but they are all on sale in most Dublin comic book shops. If you haven't picked them up yet, here's a link to a couple of reviews to help you make up your mind:
http://www.irishcomicnews.com/2012/05/advance-review-ger-hankeys-short-sharp-shocks-3/
http://www.irishcomicnews.com/2011/06/review-short-sharp-shocks-2/
http://comicrelated.com/news/6385/short-sharp-shocks-1
http://thefreebirdswing.blogspot.ie/2012/10/comic-review-short-sharp-shocks-issues.html

I'll be updating the blog a bit more regularly as I go along with the production of issue 4. I'm also taking down the dedicated Short Sharp Shocks blog to kind of streamline things a bit (and because typing in www.shortsharpshockscomic.blogspot.com is a pain in the wrist!). So stay tuned! And since you have been so good in reading all the way down to here, here's some pretty pictures!

Ger

Hulk

Just a bit of Hulk to brighten up the week...

Bots of Honour

Last year I got involved with a project called "Bots of Honour", which is a series of Transformers fan comic stories. It was officially unveiled to the public over the weekend, with one of the stories I worked on, "Inscription" being the first to be released. You should keep an eye on this one, all the work that has gone into this is fantastic. you can have a look at it here: http://bots-of-honor.deviantart.com/ do check it out, there a great cover design by James Biggie for this story too.

So here's the whole first story for you to have a look at. Line art is by me, colours & story by John-Paul Bove, & letters by HdE.

Short Sharp Shocks Issue 2 is ready to go, and I'll be selling it at Dublin Comic & Toy Mart, Wynns Hotel, Abbey Street, in Dublin this Saturday (21st May). I'll also have copies of Issue 1 and a few other goodies on sale too. See you there!

Nearly there!

About the last time I posted in this blog (back in December) I started work on Short Sharp Shocks issue 2. And now, after nearly five months, its almost ready to go. I have four pages of story to draw up, get it printed and thats it! I'm quite surprised its gone quite well, considering its considerable bit larger than issue 1 was (this one's a whopping 33 pages of new strips, and possibly a couple of other goodies thrown in aswell).
So if things go OK for the next couple of weeks, there is a very slim outside chance I'll have a few copies ready for the Dublin Toy & Comic Mart, which is happening in Wynns Hotel on the 21st of May. If not, it will be early June and hopefully I'll be able to arrange a launch at some point, so I can sign a few copies and do some sketches.
Unfortunately I won't be able to make it up to Derry this year, but I may be able to send a few copies up anyway.

Ger

I know its going to make me sound really old, but 2010 really felt like it flew by. Its not like in my day, when the time would drag along like its supposed to. Damn kids, yadda yadda...
I've been very busy the last few months, even though if you were looking at this blog it may have appeared that I fell off the face of the Earth. I have been pottering away on three Transformers strips, hopefully they will be seeing the light sometime in the new year.
I've also become a contributor to Sketchpaddys, a regular blog where Irish artists Robert Carey, Ciaran Finnegan, Cormac Hughes (and now me) show off their talents. Have a look, but some of the stuff is slightly NSFW (Robert Careys, er, interpretation of Brian Cowen probably isn't safe for civilised society full stop!) There's a black & white version of this Judge Dredd pic up on there too.
My plan over the Christmas break is to get as much of my outstanding artwork out of the way (though I did have a bit of a chat with Santa, so I know what my kids are getting, and I may end up getting slightly distracted!), and start work on Issue 2 of Short Sharp Shocks in the New Year. I'm hoping to have something to show by the time the next Irish comic convention comes around. So I'd better get my thinking cap on and do a bit of writing!
Thanks to everyone who bought a copy of Issue 1 this year (if you still want a copy you can buy it from Dublin City Comics & Collectibles or online at Indyplanet. Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year

Ger

Bots of Honor!

I've been pretty busy the last couple of months doing Transformers artwork for a new project. It's been kept under wraps for the last while, but they have let a little preview out so I thought it would be a good idea to talk about it.
The guys behind the Transformers: Mosaic project (a fantastic idea for fan comics, if you are anyway interested in robots or comics you should check them out) have decided to organise a massive undertaking. Here's the official low-down:

Logo by James Biggie. Art by; Ger Hankey, Kris Smith, Andrew Griffith, Daniel Light and Jenny Son.

Even in the most peaceful of times, when the people are happy and safe, there are those that would bring misery and suffering unto others. Those that would seek selfish gain. Those that would plunge the world into darkness. But, there is always a light to ward off the dark. A beacon of hope for the helpless. A symbol of justice that watches over all. There is always......a Prime.Patrolling the streets of the capital city of Iacon, the newest link in the Prime Legacy, Optimus Prime, keeps an ever-vigilant optic over the citizens of Cybertron. Armed with the power of the Matrix of Light, Optimus Prime has the ability to create any object out of pure energy, and uses the accumulated wisdom and skills of the Primes before him to battle the forces of evil, wherever and whenever they prey upon the weak. No one bot stands alone, and there are many other protectors of Cybertron who have dedicated their sparks to upholding justice. As Optimus Prime hunts down wrong-doers, he is joined by these heroes, each with their own unique abilities and talents. Together, these "Bots of Honor," strive to maintain the peace that has blessed Cybertron for many meta-cycles. But, all good things must come to an end. Although the various villains that Optimus and his friends battle, dangerous as they all are, may seem random and un-connected, there is a dark force rising that could threaten the whole of Cybertron. Will Optimus Prime uncover the truth about this hidden threat before it's too late? What will the consequences be, not only for our heroes, but for every Cybertronian on the planet if they fail? In 2011, get ready for action and adventure like you've never seen as everyone's favourite 'Robots in Disguise" do battle on a whole new level! If you want to stay up-to-date on all things "Bots of Honor," check out our deviant art site here; http://bots-of-honor.deviantart.com/ Just to get you a little bit more excited, here are the full character designs featured in the above promotional piece;

Optimus PrimeGrimlock
Wheeljack
Galvatron

Megatron

And just because the design for Optimus Prime isn't 'new,' here's a pic of his alt-mode;


So that's what I've been doing with my time lately. I'm nearly finished my part of that, then I've a one-page story for the afforementioned Mosaic project to do. When I'm finished those it will be time to sink my teeth into a really big project (for me anyway); I have written a script which I'm hoping to have turned into a comic for sometime next year. So stay tuned, and I'll keep you updated when I have some news!

Ger