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Pond Life by Martin Conaghan #9 – Harker Harker Hey!

Over the past few months, I've covered the basics on obtaining an endorsement for your comic, the importance of getting the right logo and I've also looked at the fundamentals of writing and artwork – then I went into the practicalities of writing a comic-book script and attending conventions.

I've also covered getting your comic promoted, and last week, I talked about pitching your work, so this week, I want to give you an example of a very fine small press comic I've picked up recently that could be viewed as a benchmark you might want to aim for.

While working my way around the Bristol Comix Expo bar on the Friday night before the convention itself started, my colleague Will Pickering introduced me to two chaps he referred to as "the Harker guys"; namely, Roger Gibson and Vince Danks, the writer and artist creative team behind the popular Harker series from Ariel Press.

I'd heard about Harker before, having never picked it up, but I chatted with Rodger and Vince for a few minutes (about what, I can't quite remember – although, at one point I remember we discussed the Eagle Awards), and I made a mental note to pick up one of the Harker comics or collections before the weekend was out. As luck would have it, the guys were situated directly opposite Will and I in the Small Press section of the convention, and I took an opportunity to chat briefly with them about how their weekend was going. I also picked up a copy of Harker: The Book of Solomon (the first collection of the individual floppy titles), and made a point of reading it over the past week.

Firstly, Roger and Vince did something all aspiring professional comic-book creators did at a convention; they were neatly presented with a professional setup including metal stands for their comics, posters, and visible pricing for the various wares on offer. Both stood (instead of sitting down) for most of the time they were manning their stand and properly engaged with their customers. So, there's that, for a start; they both looked and behaved like total professionals. Every time I looked up, they were chatting with a customer, signing copies of their comics and discussing Harker in a friendly manner – and it paid off; they sold plenty of comics over the course of the weekend (I missed out on getting #1 in the series by a few minutes, so I purchased the collection instead) and they genuinely seemed to enjoy themselves.

Secondly, the comics they've produced are quality products – not just the print quality or the presentation, but the actual material inside. In a way, I was glad that I picked up a collected edition, as purchasing one or two of the individual titles would have left me wanting more. The series itself follows the exploits of two British detectives, DS Critchley and the eponymous DCI Harker as they weave their way through the a series of brutal cult murders in a whodunit that echoes sentiments of The Sweeney, Morse, Taggart and even Life on Mars. Of course, one of the great ironies of the series is that the two main characters bear a striking resemblance to Roger and Vince, undoubtedly adding to the overall appeal of the story – and almost certainly making the illustration duties somewhat easier.

But Harker is much more than all of this; it's an independently-produced comic with professional production values, featuring expertly-illustrated picture-postcard scenes of famous streets and landmarks and tightly-paced dialogue coupled with snazzy action in all the right places. From the cover art to the lettering – and even the smell of the print – it oozes pure quality and authenticity. Put simply, it is the work of two creators who fully understand comics, who know their market and who have produced a comic worthy of praise and credit. And it's a right good story too.

So why am I saying all of this? Is there anything in it for me? No. Have Roger and Vince bribed me for a glowing review of their book? If only. Do they have photographs of me in a compromising position? Possibly.

No folks. The reason I'm writing about it here on Pond Life is because it's exactly the kind of book you should be reading if you're an aspiring comic-book writer or artist. The subject matter, story and dialogue may not be to your liking or suit your well-refined comic-book tastes, but "the Harker guys" know exactly how to package the real deal; from their related website, to their choice of printer for their book – right down to how they meet and greet the paying public at conventions.

You would do well to learn from them – if you want to be like them, that is.

Martin Conaghan is a journalist and broadcaster at the BBC and a freelance comic book writer. The views expressed here are his own. He is also the writer of Burke & Hare.

Are you a small press publisher, writer or artist? Do you have something you think might be worthy of mention on Pond Life? If so, tell Martin about it at pondlife@copydesk.co.uk

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