Jon Lock
@jonlock.com
I write comics! | Tiny Hercules @macmillankidsuk.bsky.social | Afterlife Inc. | 2000AD | Toxic Crusaders | Big Punch Studios | Repped by @rachelpmann.bsky.social
My website | https://www.jonlock.com
Afterlife Inc. | https://www.afterlife-inc.com
My website | https://www.jonlock.com
Afterlife Inc. | https://www.afterlife-inc.com
Also, unless you were cool enough to get into Image, or arty enough to win accolades, there didn't seem to anywhere for you to go, or break through. And so we just kept plugging away at shows and focusing on making stuff.
But that said, maybe there'll be some changes now. I have to hope 😉
But that said, maybe there'll be some changes now. I have to hope 😉
December 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Also, unless you were cool enough to get into Image, or arty enough to win accolades, there didn't seem to anywhere for you to go, or break through. And so we just kept plugging away at shows and focusing on making stuff.
But that said, maybe there'll be some changes now. I have to hope 😉
But that said, maybe there'll be some changes now. I have to hope 😉
Oof. I feel this. A huge wave of us got into the scene around 2011-12. It seemed like an incredibly optimistic time, but we've seen so many friends fall by the wayside over the years. It became harder and harder to make money at shows, and for a lot of folks it was just too demanding to keep going.
December 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Oof. I feel this. A huge wave of us got into the scene around 2011-12. It seemed like an incredibly optimistic time, but we've seen so many friends fall by the wayside over the years. It became harder and harder to make money at shows, and for a lot of folks it was just too demanding to keep going.
No, it's a real learning curve.
December 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
No, it's a real learning curve.
I know, right? It's bizarre.
The book could honestly be awful ;)
The book could honestly be awful ;)
December 15, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I know, right? It's bizarre.
The book could honestly be awful ;)
The book could honestly be awful ;)
co-creators, rather than this being a book that I wrote and Nich just happened to illustrate. It's not malicious; we're just discovering that there's more of a bias towards the writer rather than the artist, whereas as comics are considered collaborative from the get-go.
December 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
co-creators, rather than this being a book that I wrote and Nich just happened to illustrate. It's not malicious; we're just discovering that there's more of a bias towards the writer rather than the artist, whereas as comics are considered collaborative from the get-go.
Thanks PJ. Yeah, it's weird. We've met some lovely people from the 'book world' these past couple of years, but to them I do think it seems as though we've teleported in from another planet :)
Also, we're working on getting them to change how they credit us. We really want us to be listed as...
Also, we're working on getting them to change how they credit us. We really want us to be listed as...
December 15, 2025 at 2:29 PM
Thanks PJ. Yeah, it's weird. We've met some lovely people from the 'book world' these past couple of years, but to them I do think it seems as though we've teleported in from another planet :)
Also, we're working on getting them to change how they credit us. We really want us to be listed as...
Also, we're working on getting them to change how they credit us. We really want us to be listed as...
'Eloquent?!'
Oh heck, you've raised their expectations, Nick. I'm doomed!
(But thank you, that's very kind of you.)
Oh heck, you've raised their expectations, Nick. I'm doomed!
(But thank you, that's very kind of you.)
December 15, 2025 at 11:59 AM
'Eloquent?!'
Oh heck, you've raised their expectations, Nick. I'm doomed!
(But thank you, that's very kind of you.)
Oh heck, you've raised their expectations, Nick. I'm doomed!
(But thank you, that's very kind of you.)
Cheers JP. I've not forgotten that I need to get Afterlife Inc. Volume 7 actually out into the world at some point as well 😉
Hope you're keeping well!
Hope you're keeping well!
December 15, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Cheers JP. I've not forgotten that I need to get Afterlife Inc. Volume 7 actually out into the world at some point as well 😉
Hope you're keeping well!
Hope you're keeping well!
Real world problems creeping back in from the edges 😉
Hope to be back in 2026, however!
Hope to be back in 2026, however!
December 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Real world problems creeping back in from the edges 😉
Hope to be back in 2026, however!
Hope to be back in 2026, however!
I heard really good things from friends about the number of publishers at Thought Bubble. I really hope we're witnessing a sea change.
Ironically enough, we haven't done TBubs in a few years as it's not our highest-selling show and we hadn't been able to justify it financially.
Ironically enough, we haven't done TBubs in a few years as it's not our highest-selling show and we hadn't been able to justify it financially.
December 15, 2025 at 10:51 AM
I heard really good things from friends about the number of publishers at Thought Bubble. I really hope we're witnessing a sea change.
Ironically enough, we haven't done TBubs in a few years as it's not our highest-selling show and we hadn't been able to justify it financially.
Ironically enough, we haven't done TBubs in a few years as it's not our highest-selling show and we hadn't been able to justify it financially.
We're very good as an industry at rewarding new faces. Less so at celebrating the folks who are just DOING IT, day in, day out.
I made a rod for my own back by committing to make a nine-volume graphic novel series (Afterlife Inc.) You don't get many medals for reaching the middle of a series 😉
I made a rod for my own back by committing to make a nine-volume graphic novel series (Afterlife Inc.) You don't get many medals for reaching the middle of a series 😉
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
We're very good as an industry at rewarding new faces. Less so at celebrating the folks who are just DOING IT, day in, day out.
I made a rod for my own back by committing to make a nine-volume graphic novel series (Afterlife Inc.) You don't get many medals for reaching the middle of a series 😉
I made a rod for my own back by committing to make a nine-volume graphic novel series (Afterlife Inc.) You don't get many medals for reaching the middle of a series 😉
It's getting to the point where I can honestly understand why a young creator, staring down the barrel of making comics by themselves, might choose any other pathway just to survive. It's a hard road.
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
It's getting to the point where I can honestly understand why a young creator, staring down the barrel of making comics by themselves, might choose any other pathway just to survive. It's a hard road.
Comics are enormously hard work to make - even with a massive company behind you. Imagine how hard it is to do it alone, in an environment that's increasingly hostile to creativity and originality. No wonder we're seeing fewer comics at shows.
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
Comics are enormously hard work to make - even with a massive company behind you. Imagine how hard it is to do it alone, in an environment that's increasingly hostile to creativity and originality. No wonder we're seeing fewer comics at shows.
"We go to shows, we get to know our peers..."
This is it, exactly. It's not just the dedication to telling a story - it's the dedication to showing up, year on year, and selling it. You have to be everything: creator, publicist, salesperson. I don't think anyone fully appreciates the toll.
This is it, exactly. It's not just the dedication to telling a story - it's the dedication to showing up, year on year, and selling it. You have to be everything: creator, publicist, salesperson. I don't think anyone fully appreciates the toll.
December 15, 2025 at 10:48 AM
"We go to shows, we get to know our peers..."
This is it, exactly. It's not just the dedication to telling a story - it's the dedication to showing up, year on year, and selling it. You have to be everything: creator, publicist, salesperson. I don't think anyone fully appreciates the toll.
This is it, exactly. It's not just the dedication to telling a story - it's the dedication to showing up, year on year, and selling it. You have to be everything: creator, publicist, salesperson. I don't think anyone fully appreciates the toll.
No, no. It's good! It can be our mantra. WEALTH for days!
December 15, 2025 at 10:44 AM
No, no. It's good! It can be our mantra. WEALTH for days!
This is encouraging. I might be able to turn this around!
December 15, 2025 at 10:34 AM
This is encouraging. I might be able to turn this around!
Thank you! And yes, seeing it written down like that... quite the ride 😉
December 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Thank you! And yes, seeing it written down like that... quite the ride 😉
Imagine the good they could do if that infrastructure was put behind creators... 😉
There's a wealth of talent on their doorstep, just waiting to be discovered.
There's a wealth of talent on their doorstep, just waiting to be discovered.
December 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Imagine the good they could do if that infrastructure was put behind creators... 😉
There's a wealth of talent on their doorstep, just waiting to be discovered.
There's a wealth of talent on their doorstep, just waiting to be discovered.
Thanks Chris. I really, REALLY hope with every fibre of my being that publishers start looking closer to home for talent. More traditional 'book publishers' know how to get a book seen and out into the hands of a wider audience - something that comics have always struggled with.
December 15, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Thanks Chris. I really, REALLY hope with every fibre of my being that publishers start looking closer to home for talent. More traditional 'book publishers' know how to get a book seen and out into the hands of a wider audience - something that comics have always struggled with.
Just tagging in the good folks at @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social directly because I'm bad at BlueSky. Apologies.
December 15, 2025 at 9:28 AM
Just tagging in the good folks at @schoolreadinglist.bsky.social directly because I'm bad at BlueSky. Apologies.