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rasputinzero.bsky.social
Ross Hopkins, Commissions Open
@rasputinzero.bsky.social
330 followers 52 following 820 posts
Writer, artist, creator of the webcomic "String," Londoner, malnourished leftie and kind of a crank. He/him until such a time as I get bored with heteronormativity. Taking commissions at: https://rosshopkins.co.uk
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rasputinzero.bsky.social
Keeping the hype train going for Thought Bubble this weekend and WIP Comics’ Infinity anthology, I thought I’d share my first attempt at a contribution that didn’t quite fit the theme but still resonates with The Current Moment. Introducing Varví Dušek, terrible painter but excellent sleuth.
Panel 1: Varvara Dušková, an extremely awkward young Jewish girl in 1920s Prague, is staring at herself in the mirror. An easel and canvas are next to her, and she’s barely touched it with her pencil. Her face is slightly off, as is usual for faces, and she seems very uncomfortable about this. Outside her field of vision, her teacher Pane Klatz is providing artistic direction in one of the most creativity-draining ways imaginable. Panel 2: Klatz, a thin and lanky presence obscured in shadow, drifts between the pupils of his art class like a spectre. The other pupils are swathed in shadow, diligently following their teacher’s instructions without question. While Varví...poor, wonky Varví...is cringing from the withering gaze Klatz is laying on her. Every pupil has a mirror and easel. This is self-portrait class and the teacher will absolutely not brook interpretation. Panel 3: Closer in. Klatz is moving on, but Varví is mono-focused on the canvas, beginning to apply herself with vigour and purpose. And not a little concentrated wrath. Panel 4: Same perspective, but a decade later. A grown Varví, breath frosting in the depths of winter, is putting paint to canvas with the same focused ire as her childhood self. She is wearing a coat and scarf, fingerless gloves and a flatcap, standing in a garret with flaking walls and bare floorboards, papered with sketches and canvases stacked in a far corner. The voice of her art teacher still haunts her. Panel 5: We catch a glimpse of the canvas Varví is working on in the extreme cold, an abstract surrealist work. Technically competent but revelling in ugliness and chaos, symbols of various ideologies squishing between iron and corpses. She signs it “Varví Dušek”. Panel 6: Outside, Varví’s attention is drawn by an ominous shadow cast over the window. The shadow takes the shape of a massive predatory wing. Panel 7: Close up of the plane’s fuselage. It’s a Heinkel He 111, sleek and vicious, sporting a perfectly symmetrical iron cross on the side. Panel 8: Varví slumps, staring out the window, watching the Luftwaffe plane coast over the summit of Prague Castle.
November 12, 2025 at 5:30 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
I'm with WIP Comics! We'll have a table at the Thought Bubble festival this weekend! Some of my comics will be there! We're selling an anthology with tons of stuff in it!

It's in Yorkshire! England Yorkshire!
The first two issues of my debut comic zine M.O.D.S. will be available to purchase at the WIP Comics table. Nada and Seon wander through a magical forest arguing in "Spiralling", my contribution to the physical version of the Infinity anthology. Lily faces off against The Crow in "What Do I Do Now?", my contribution to the digital version of the Infinity anthology. Find WIP Comics at table F11 in the Bubbleboy section of the Harrogate Convention Centre, and all these other friends as well.
November 11, 2025 at 6:25 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Come pick up this year’s WIP Comics anthology at Thought Bubble in Harrogate this weekend (table F11 in the Bubbleboy section) featuring a physical AND a digital contribution by yours truly, two comics in one package! There you’ll also find the first two issues of my debut mystery comic, M.O.D.S.!
Nada and Seon wander through a magical forest arguing in "Spiralling", my contribution to the physical version of the Infinity anthology. Lily faces off against The Crow in "What Do I Do Now?", my contribution to the digital version of the Infinity anthology. Find WIP Comics at table F11 in the Bubbleboy section of the Harrogate Convention Centre, and all these other friends as well. The first two issues of my debut comic zine M.O.D.S. will be available to purchase at the WIP Comics table.
November 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Oh I see how it is. Years and years of diligent creative work and I might get a couple likes by accident, yet one throwaway The Good Place meme and I'm suddenly the most popular man on the internet.

I don't even watch the show!
My profile, with 30+ notifications, an event unprecedented in the history of this account.
November 11, 2025 at 12:55 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Adapted scene from The Good Place. Jason: "I think we're in a bubble economy!" Michael: "Softbank figured it out? Softbank?!" Michael: "This is a real low point. Yeah, this one hurts."
November 11, 2025 at 8:43 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Drew this as a birthday gift, returning to a favourite subject of mine, the Bembridge lifeboat station on the Isle of Wight, encased in an early morning mist.

#isleofwight #digitalart #bembridge
Bembridge lifeboat station, early morning. The air is so crisp it freezes halfway up the nostrils. It's possible there's a beach party clearing up its debris in the woods behind this point of view, the crushing of Heineken cans is drowning out the lilting sound of the waves.
November 7, 2025 at 12:32 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Artists! Quote with your night art.
The Monty Oaks Detective Squad, consisting of The Failure, The Princess and The Bully, stare at each other in the dead of night, stumped over something.
October 29, 2025 at 8:51 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Happy #portfolioday boys, girls and nb-tykes! I do comics, I do prints, I write, I script, whatever creative wotsit you need I'm more than happy to plug myself in like a wiggly doorstop.

rosshopkins.co.uk

Available for commission or hire if you jibe with my "Quentin Blake meets Tank Girl" style!
My business card, featuring characters from my various stories and the styles they're drawn in from the moody to the colourful, still sticking close to a Quentin-Blake-meets-Tank-Girl aesthetic. From left to right: Varvi Dusek, Czech-Jewish modernist painter from 1930s Prague who's also a sleuth. Kyte, Prince Nadeen and Amrita, reincarnations of Hindu gods thwarting the machinations of the East India Company. Nancy Brilligan and Simar Qareen, fearless defenders of relativity against the malign forces of randomness plaguing modern London. Nada, a work-for-hire adventurer in a meta-fantasy world with her pixie minder, Seon. And last but not least my darling niece Rosie in a whimsical fantasy of her own holding aloft Twig, a loveable mascot character. Front cover of Monty Oaks Detective Squad Issue One, featuring young versions of the tiny detective trio investigating a tomb and their older selves bickering with each other. The Ditz, The Cool and The Brains are the little tykes in the front row. The Failure, The Bully and The Princess are their hormonal teenage versions in the back row. Second edition in CMYK colours, demonstrating my commitment to ensuring my products are legible in print and pleasing to the eye! The main characters of "String", an urban fantasy web comic. Nancy Brilligan, Fearless Defender of Relativity against The Malign Forces of Randomness, monitoring London for quantum threats with her trusty instrument, her cricket bat, and the talents of Simar Qareen, her kid sidekick/kidnap viction blessed (or cursed) with strange violin powers. Amy Rose and Tekno from Fleetway's "Sonic The Comic", a variant of Sonic from the nineties published from the same house that created 2000AD and employing many of the same artists and writers. Amy and Tekno are blasting Oasis lyrics into a karaoke machine that appears to be a tower-of-power Megadrive with the Mega CD, 32X and Sonic & Knuckles cartridge slotted in. Cuz nineties. Don't judge me.
October 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
I am proud to announce that a SECOND EDITION of my debut comic zine M.O.D.S. Issue One is available now!

Improved colours, backgrounds and print quality galore!

You can order a copy of this newly improved 32-page supernatural mystery comic here: rosshopkins.co.uk/product/m-o-...
Front cover of the second edition of M.O.D.S. Issue One, featuring the detective trio of the Monty Oaks Detective Squad in the halcyon past and the cantankerous present. Comparison between the first and second editions of M.O.D.S. Issue One's earliest pages, featuring considerably more legible print quality and linework. Comparison between the first and second editions of M.O.D.S., highlighting improvements in backgrounds and colour, shifting from eye-searing RGB to physical page-friendly CMYK. Further comparison between first and second editions of M.O.D.S., across panel types and scenes.
September 28, 2025 at 8:15 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
"WFH assassin in her pyjamas" is so inspired an idea that I just had to oblige.
Based on a sci-fi concept by Bolt451, a sniper assassin in her jim-jams is chiding her cat, Mister Shnookums, for interrupting her Netflix-and-crisps-fuelled stakeout.
September 22, 2025 at 3:43 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Lemme know if you'd be interested in having one of these designs decorating your lunchbox and I'll see what I can rustle up.
Nancy Brilligan from String whirling around and monitoring for threats with her trusty Instrument and cricket bat. Simar Qareen from String manipulating reality with her violin. Floating heads of Si and Nancy as well as mockup of a String logo button badge.
September 22, 2025 at 10:14 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
I've come to realise a crucial element missing from my attempts to market my comics is moichandising. Badges! Keyrings! Stickers!
The Bully from M.O.D.S. flashing a smile and striking a pose reminiscent of Sonic Adventure boxart. The Princess from M.O.D.S. reclining and flashing a peace sign at her loyal backers. The Failure from M.O.D.S. making the best of a bad situation and giving a little awkward wave. Floating heads of The Bully, The Princess and The Failure, as well as a mockup of a M.O.D.S. membership button badge.
September 22, 2025 at 10:11 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
My moment!

It has arrived!

This experience has left me far more familiar with Farage's facial anatomy than I ever intend to be again for some time.
Nigel Farage in the uniform of Marshal Philippe Petain. Also featuring a framed photo of Elon Musk in the same outfit as Klaus Barbie. Easter eggs include a Union Jack emblazoned with a Reform-branded axe and the slogan "Family, Community, Country", although we can only see the first five letters of Country with a strategically-placed fly blocking the letter O. Incidentally, the Union Jack is upside-down.
September 15, 2025 at 12:43 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Really giving the game away that I'm jumping on a bandwagon when I call her "Silksong" in the alt text instead of Hornet.
Cowboy BeBop at his computer. I mean, what else could it be?
September 4, 2025 at 8:47 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Hey readers! If you enjoy the urban fantasy web comic "String" and want to see it continue, you can chip in a few pennies to my Patreon!

patreon.com/rasputinzero

For just a fiver a month you will receive high resolution versions of every update! Plus exclusive posts with behind-the-scenes gossip.
Nancy Brilligan informing dear readers that "currency is an artificial construct to control the masses!" while Simar Qareen busks with her violin next to her adding "that said, pleaz gizzus money..." under a "DONATE TO OUR PATREON" sign.
September 1, 2025 at 5:25 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Just imagine her saying "nyerrr!"

#silksong #hollowknight
Silksong throwing her clown makeup in the bin now it has been definitively announced her game is in fact coming out September 4 2025.
August 21, 2025 at 3:32 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Only one of your FFXIV OCs can canonically be the Warrior of Light, which may be a rough deal for whichever of your other FFXIV OCs draws the short straw at a crucial narrative moment.

Unless, of course, you decide to get a bit creative with the metaphysics.

#ffxiv #stormblood #shadowbringers
My FFXIV OC Rain Draconis is left to defend the inert body of my other OC, No'zaya Storm, as she's called away at an innopportune moment mid-fight with Elidibus, in the body of Zenos yae Galvus at the Battle of Ghimlyt Dark. Rain and No'zaya from the perspective of Elidibus, able to discern the aetheric signature of Azem in Rain's body, as well as the faint essence of a duplicate Azem seemingly being drawn in pieces from No'zaya's body by an invisible crystal hand.
August 20, 2025 at 7:43 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Oh hey, FFXIV 7.3 spoiler embargo over yet?

Okay, cool.

My considered opinion on patch 7.3's story developments is that if Shale isn't a trust or a boss in the next expansion I'm cancelling my subscription.
Shale greets my FFXIV OC No'Zaya Storm with the prompt at the end of the 7.3 expansion: 'Ready for a cot and a fluffy pillow?' Suggestively enough that No'Zaya immediately ponders 'okay, Zaya, what are the chances that this is ALSO an unintended double entendre?'
August 19, 2025 at 4:09 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Hey doods! Sending the word out that I'm a comic writer and artist available for commission or hire via Etsy, Ko-Fi or my own website.

rosshopkins.co.uk

I do pages! Prints! Character portraits! Infographics! Writing! Proofreading! Whatever creative services you need, I'm happy to supply.
My business card, featuring characters from my various stories and the styles they're drawn in from the moody to the colourful, still sticking close to a Quentin-Blake-meets-Tank-Girl aesthetic. From left to right: Varvi Dusek, Czech-Jewish modernist painter from 1930s Prague who's also a sleuth. Kyte, Prince Nadeen and Amrita, reincarnations of Hindu gods thwarting the machinations of the East India Company. Nancy Brilligan and Simar Qareen, fearless defenders of relativity against the malign forces of randomness plaguing modern London. Nada, a work-for-hire adventurer in a meta-fantasy world with her pixie minder, Seon. And last but not least my darling niece Rosie in a whimsical fantasy of her own holding aloft Twig, a loveable mascot character. Front cover of Monty Oaks Detective Squad Issue One, featuring young versions of the tiny detective trio investigating a tomb and their older selves bickering with each other. The Ditz, The Cool and The Brains are the little tykes in the front row. The Failure, The Bully and The Princess are their hormonal teenage versions in the back row. The main characters of "String", an urban fantasy web comic. Nancy Brilligan, Fearless Defender of Relativity against The Malign Forces of Randomness, monitoring London for quantum threats with her trusty instrument, her cricket bat, and the talents of Simar Qareen, her kid sidekick/kidnap viction blessed (or cursed) with strange violin powers. My FFXIV OCs, Rain Draconis and No'zaya Storm, joining in the main cast of Stormblood in a stirring rendition of The Measure of His Reach. Rain is getting really into the part.
August 17, 2025 at 5:17 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
I often feel the biggest reason I create fiction is to pack a bunch of dysfunctional goobers in a blender and see what happens.
Work in progress of a section of M.O.D.S. Issue Two, in which The Bully takes issue with The Failure's attempt to raise everyone's spirits. The Princess tries to break up an impromptu headlock and Linda, The Failure's mother, carries on driving the car they're all in with bemused detachment.
August 11, 2025 at 6:19 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
An old-timey gentleman seeks to explain to Everett True the nature of Homestuck. Everett, naturally, is not interested.
August 9, 2025 at 9:50 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
A sneak peek at my contribution to WIP Comics' latest anthology! Back it on Kickstarter to find out what has these two goobers arguing in infinite circles. Link in @wipcomics.bsky.social 's profile!
Nada and Seon argue with each other in a bizarre magical forest.
August 6, 2025 at 5:58 PM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
I'll also be sneaking about Doujin Con London on Sunday 3 August (at Novotel London West in Hammersmith)! Again, as a visitor rather than as a participant, but I'll be lugging along a satchel of comics just in case.
Doujin Con London: Sunday 3 August 2025 at Novotel London West.
August 1, 2025 at 10:36 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Hey peeps! I'll be showing up to the Cubitt Community Zine Fair tomorrow (Sat 2 August)! Won't be tabling, but you might spy me shuffling between the stalls and sampling everyone's wares.

My good pal Squid Horse Comics IS tabling there and you should definitely check his stuff out, it's mint.
Cubitt Community Zine + Publishing Fair: Saturday 2nd August 2025 12-6pm
August 1, 2025 at 10:32 AM
rasputinzero.bsky.social
Hey all!

I (and a bunch of other extremely cool people) am contributing to this year's WIP Comics anthology! If you want to support independent artists and get some neat stories out of the bargain, you can throw a few pennies at our kickstarter!

www.kickstarter.com/projects/mik...
An ouroborous of me, in doodle form, informing you, the public, of the following: "Hey, you like comics?" "Wanna see what a group of talented artists can do with just 8 panels to work with?" "Then check out WIP Comics' "Infinity" Anthology!" "You can back our kickstarter now!" "Support promising new artists!" "Wrap your heads around mindbending and beautiful stories!" "And receive all kinds of perks and trinkets!" "Just follow the link below!"
July 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM