John Lees
@johnlees.bsky.social
I write comics! ORLA!, SINK, GRAWLGORE & SHANKS, THE NASTY, THE CRIMSON CAGE, AND THEN EMILY WAS GONE, MOUNTAINHEAD, HOTELL.
Website/newsletter: johnleescomics.com
Online shop: johnleescomics.bigcartel.com
Patreon: patreon.com/johnlees
Website/newsletter: johnleescomics.com
Online shop: johnleescomics.bigcartel.com
Patreon: patreon.com/johnlees
Quote post with a picture of you being a dork.
January 24, 2026 at 12:44 PM
Quote post with a picture of you being a dork.
The early reviews coming out from the Sundance world premiere of Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex have me barking like a dog. Sounds like a rollicking time at the movies!
January 24, 2026 at 10:17 AM
The early reviews coming out from the Sundance world premiere of Gregg Araki’s I Want Your Sex have me barking like a dog. Sounds like a rollicking time at the movies!
The many looks of Orla Bard! Kudos to @sallycantirino.bsky.social for giving Orla a wardrobe that feels varied and authentic, complete with great colours from @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
ORLA! is released on 3rd March, pre-order now!
ORLA! is released on 3rd March, pre-order now!
January 23, 2026 at 12:56 PM
The many looks of Orla Bard! Kudos to @sallycantirino.bsky.social for giving Orla a wardrobe that feels varied and authentic, complete with great colours from @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
ORLA! is released on 3rd March, pre-order now!
ORLA! is released on 3rd March, pre-order now!
I’m really excited for the work @joemulv.bsky.social is doing on Grawlgore & Shanks. The next Kickstarter campaign is coming soon!
January 22, 2026 at 5:16 PM
I’m really excited for the work @joemulv.bsky.social is doing on Grawlgore & Shanks. The next Kickstarter campaign is coming soon!
When ORLA! - out 3rd March - is such a massive blockbuster success that it spawns its own tie-in toy line, this is what the Gwyn action figure will be wearing.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
January 22, 2026 at 12:42 PM
When ORLA! - out 3rd March - is such a massive blockbuster success that it spawns its own tie-in toy line, this is what the Gwyn action figure will be wearing.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
Been rewatching some of Paul Thomas Anderson's filmography lately, and one element that pops up quite a bit is this tightrope act he walks between "love is beautiful" and "no, wait, this is AWFUL, these people are a toxic pairing and should be kept as far away from one another as possible!"
January 22, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Been rewatching some of Paul Thomas Anderson's filmography lately, and one element that pops up quite a bit is this tightrope act he walks between "love is beautiful" and "no, wait, this is AWFUL, these people are a toxic pairing and should be kept as far away from one another as possible!"
The original character design for Orla’s love interest, Gwyn. It was an inspired choice by @sallycantirino.bsky.social to not make him conventionally romcom-attractive and instead give him the look of a friendly rat granted the wish to become a real boy.
ORLA! is released 3rd March!
ORLA! is released 3rd March!
January 21, 2026 at 3:10 PM
The original character design for Orla’s love interest, Gwyn. It was an inspired choice by @sallycantirino.bsky.social to not make him conventionally romcom-attractive and instead give him the look of a friendly rat granted the wish to become a real boy.
ORLA! is released 3rd March!
ORLA! is released 3rd March!
Tonight I’m rewatching Phantom Thread. It’s perhaps the PTA film that least gelled with me, or the one where the gulf between general audience response and my own was biggest. I said after first viewing it was like watching a Lindt Chocolatier commercial. Hoping a repeat watch unlocks it for me.
January 20, 2026 at 7:31 PM
Tonight I’m rewatching Phantom Thread. It’s perhaps the PTA film that least gelled with me, or the one where the gulf between general audience response and my own was biggest. I said after first viewing it was like watching a Lindt Chocolatier commercial. Hoping a repeat watch unlocks it for me.
Ahead of her upcoming new album, I’ve been revisiting the discography of Peaches for the first time in many years, and I think I still hold onto my perhaps unpopular stance that I Feel Cream is her best album. “Talk to Me,” “More,” “I Feel Cream,” “Mud,” all pulse-pounding bangers.
January 20, 2026 at 6:38 PM
Ahead of her upcoming new album, I’ve been revisiting the discography of Peaches for the first time in many years, and I think I still hold onto my perhaps unpopular stance that I Feel Cream is her best album. “Talk to Me,” “More,” “I Feel Cream,” “Mud,” all pulse-pounding bangers.
If you’re a fan of arse, then ORLA! - from the cheeked-up creative coalition of me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com - might be the comic for you! Bottoms up on 3rd March!
January 19, 2026 at 12:44 PM
If you’re a fan of arse, then ORLA! - from the cheeked-up creative coalition of me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com - might be the comic for you! Bottoms up on 3rd March!
There’s also this pic from the tail-end of the year. Miss you, pal. 🥹
January 16, 2026 at 9:19 PM
There’s also this pic from the tail-end of the year. Miss you, pal. 🥹
Doing the 2016 flashback thing, and it seems a decade ago the recurring theme was still me throwing myself into bodies of water in varying degrees of undress. Funny how in 2016 I was mortified over how fat I was and now in 2026 I am relieved to be getting back down to somewhere near this fat.
January 16, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Doing the 2016 flashback thing, and it seems a decade ago the recurring theme was still me throwing myself into bodies of water in varying degrees of undress. Funny how in 2016 I was mortified over how fat I was and now in 2026 I am relieved to be getting back down to somewhere near this fat.
I'm afraid I may be biased, but...
January 14, 2026 at 2:45 PM
I'm afraid I may be biased, but...
ORLA! from me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com will be released in comic shops worldwide on 4th March. Lunar order code is 0126MA0832. Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop before Final Order Cutoff on 9th February!
January 12, 2026 at 1:52 PM
ORLA! from me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com will be released in comic shops worldwide on 4th March. Lunar order code is 0126MA0832. Make sure to pre-order at your local comic shop before Final Order Cutoff on 9th February!
Mood-board for the new comics project I’ve been building out a pitch doc for this week as my first writing job of 2026.
January 9, 2026 at 9:00 PM
Mood-board for the new comics project I’ve been building out a pitch doc for this week as my first writing job of 2026.
This is the initial character concept art for Orla Bard, and I believe the first ORLA! artwork completed by @sallycantirino.bsky.social. I am so impressed by how much of the tone and personality is already conveyed here, Sally is amazing. ORLA! Is out 3rd March.
January 9, 2026 at 11:38 AM
This is the initial character concept art for Orla Bard, and I believe the first ORLA! artwork completed by @sallycantirino.bsky.social. I am so impressed by how much of the tone and personality is already conveyed here, Sally is amazing. ORLA! Is out 3rd March.
Orla Bard is an antique restorer and keen birder, navigating the Seattle singles scene while dealing with loneliness, body image issues and her little problem of turning into a giant man-eating monster whenever she gets too angry or stressed.
Meet her in ORLA!, out 3rd March!
Meet her in ORLA!, out 3rd March!
January 8, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Orla Bard is an antique restorer and keen birder, navigating the Seattle singles scene while dealing with loneliness, body image issues and her little problem of turning into a giant man-eating monster whenever she gets too angry or stressed.
Meet her in ORLA!, out 3rd March!
Meet her in ORLA!, out 3rd March!
Watching one of the GOATs tonight.
January 7, 2026 at 9:54 PM
Watching one of the GOATs tonight.
I’ve just received my stock of Grawlgore & Shanks Book One in the mail from ComixTribe, and this turned out gorgeous. I love the high-gloss finish, and this is my first time seeing the gorgeous work of @joemulv.bsky.social, @jpjordan.bsky.social & @robutoid.bsky.social on issue #2 in print.
January 7, 2026 at 4:06 PM
I’ve just received my stock of Grawlgore & Shanks Book One in the mail from ComixTribe, and this turned out gorgeous. I love the high-gloss finish, and this is my first time seeing the gorgeous work of @joemulv.bsky.social, @jpjordan.bsky.social & @robutoid.bsky.social on issue #2 in print.
People go on about how annoying the reply-guy scolds are on here but Threads remains undefeated.
January 7, 2026 at 1:59 PM
People go on about how annoying the reply-guy scolds are on here but Threads remains undefeated.
Are you a website, podcast or YouTube channel that reviews comics? We’re looking to get the word out about ORLA! ahead of its 3rd March release, so if you’d like to check it out, let me know.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
January 6, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Are you a website, podcast or YouTube channel that reviews comics? We’re looking to get the word out about ORLA! ahead of its 3rd March release, so if you’d like to check it out, let me know.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
It’s 2026! Which means I can now say ORLA! is coming out this year! A horror romcom from me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com, out 3rd March. Pre-order at comic shops and bookshops now!
January 5, 2026 at 1:46 PM
It’s 2026! Which means I can now say ORLA! is coming out this year! A horror romcom from me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com, out 3rd March. Pre-order at comic shops and bookshops now!
I’ve now completed Dispatch. I’m a bit baffled and annoyed by how one of the branching end paths worked out versus the choices I actually made in the story, but overall I loved this game, and the world and characters it introduced. I would love to see more.
January 1, 2026 at 4:26 PM
I’ve now completed Dispatch. I’m a bit baffled and annoyed by how one of the branching end paths worked out versus the choices I actually made in the story, but overall I loved this game, and the world and characters it introduced. I would love to see more.