I have sources deep in the heart of government. Also, I used Alien's Time-travel hat. ;)

I've been thinking about something. You Phantom and Alien fans may be interested. As My brother and I have been making volume three (he's doing the pictures because I physically can't do the stuff I'd need to in order to tell the story well), I've decided to do a prologue. It will start with my artwork and slowly fade into the new style.

Now, for this prologue we'll have Death getting drunk in Burnt Burt's Bar. He will be talking to someone. Who should it be? I think some sort of contest is in order, don't you? ;)

You're going to come to our house and murder one of us, aren't you? :eek:

Oh, that sounds lovely. I'd most definitely be willing to fight to have a beautiful blue butterfly-girl included in P&A. :D;)

Here's the latest Phantom and Alien. It's one of my favourites. :D

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20078.JPG
Look! The rest of the STORY! :eek:

Well, I hope you're enjoying it.

I loved it when Phantom shoved that newspaper into the news-blokes mouth.

Friday's Phantom and Alien here for your inspection! Just 21 episodes to go! :eek:

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20079.JPG

Read the rest of the story and it might make a bit more sense...

In just a few episodes we'll start to see a bit more of The Fish Man's plans. Let me tell you, they're very, very silly. And be sure to pay close attention because from now on there are going to be little hints about things that will pop up in volumes 3 and 4. ;)

Great! :)

And I like the story. Just hoping to see Alien doing something cute again soon :D

Okay, I've been trying to draw some people for the prologue. I did try several Downers, but these three were the best ones I could make. So, it's now up to you to decide who it should be.

You cannot vote for yourself. ;)

http://i41.tinypic.com/os6cxu.png

Keep voting until April, then I'll see who's most popular / appropriate. :smokin:

Hahaha. Wonderful.

++Legate

That picture captures him rather well. Squatter, on the other hand, looks too kind. Also, I think Greenie should be a cute little frog instead of a penguin. :cool:

Although she looks quite good :D And she actually looks a lot like herself :p

But oh my, I like myself too, mainly, I have priceless expression :D

She is supposed to be Lommy's sister. :p
Besides, I was planning on using Greenie at some point in volume 5, the fact that she and Lommy are related is sort of important. Alien gets them mixed up all the time. :D

Aye aye sir!

...but an itty-bitty Greenie-frog would be so cuuuuute!

Oh but both the Greenie and the Legate are incredibly cute. :D

I like Legate! Greenie is nice too, though.

I think I will use all the characters. I'm pretty certain I'm going to have Squatter in a drinking contest with Death at some point. ;)

Anyway, for now...
Thanks to Oddwen for the second story. It's GRAND!

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ah/Week141.png

The Phantom is back on the Downs, but someone is in the Great Barrow...

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20080.JPG
Comic Archive

Keep your eyes open in the coming weeks. Who knows what might happen?

This is hilarious. Wonderful job with the drawings!:D

++ Legate

His expression doesn't fit the way I imagined him (where are the pointy ears?;)), but it will have to do. I almost voted for Squatter with his cut googly eyes.

Groin, elves do not have pointy ears! *raises a sword*

I'm afraid the Downs has room for only one frog position and that was taken early on by Rimbaud. ;)

One can have only one set of pointy appendage. Look at his nose.

That might be the death of Death. ;)

It's difficult to choose between two such gracious gentlemen--six of one, half a dozen of the other--but it's even more difficult to resist a cute lil penguin. :D

+ + Greenie

Is that a technical term, Jiggery-pokery?

So, what kind of sandwiches were those? Gravel-mustard-bread sandwiches?

Oh, use your imagination. ;)

We shall see. I've not decided how the contest will end yet. Or what they'll be drinking. Probably mead in insane quantities.

Oh noes! Mead! That's more deadly, a hundred times more deadly, than port. If only I had taught the lad the Cardinal Puff drinking game when we met briefly.

Of course, I have to suspect that 'splody beans come into any drinking game.

And, and, I want to know if Legate walked on any of that pudding from the contest, in a serious effort to improve upon Legolas' pudding walk that Lalwende investigated.

The mystery deepens, the pudding thickens and The Phantom is taken to a secret shed. What more could you want from a silly comic strip adventure? Shoes? Well, I can't help you there, I'm afraid.

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20081.JPG

Read the rest of the story and it may start to make sense.... Possibly.

We're getting ever closer to the end, people! Who knows what will be the epic climax? Well, I do. But never mind that...

Just so you know, we've only got the first 25 episodes of volume 3 done at the moment. The plan is all written out, but the individual strips are taking longer to draw than these ones did. The art is much better and the story much more complex and slightly funnier; there's stuff my brother puts in the background that is highly amusing.
Anyway, as a result of this, for the first few episodes I may go back t the once-a-week format until we think we're nice and far ahead to go back to two and maybe three. We shall see. Still, I hope you'll think them worth the wait.

So, as a little teaser, here's some information about volume three;

- We'll see some more of Death
- Alien teams up with Formy :eek:
- JOHN FILLIS
- The Phantom's glowy eyes are explored.
- JOHN FILLIS
- Alien wears a cute little bow tie!
- Alien's mother makes a plot-relevant appearance.
- JOHN FILLIS
- The Phantom gets drunk.

Can I still vote? I vote for Legate. :D

Certainly. :)

The current standing;

Legate = 4 votes
Squatter = 0 votes :( (Although, as a consolation prize / punishment, I think he's going to team up with Alien for a large portion of Volume 4)
Greenie = 2 votes

All of them will be used at some point, I assure you. I think Greenie will be involved in Alien's acquisition of the Time Hat (which probably won't happen until late in volume 5 :eek: )

How scandalous!:p

Great, says I :)

Great, says I!!!

Great, says I... :)

By the way, can we also look forward to some Fungoltch and Shcmurt? I like them :D

Yes... No... Sort of... It's complicated. ;)

So, seeing as it's technically Firday, here's your latest Phantom and Alien...

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20082.JPG

Keep track of this very silly story.

The story will soon be getting much, much weirder. Sorry.

Saying this makes me feel rather upside-down, but the final frame of Alien is adorable--and Lal's expression is awesome in that panel too.

The news is dramatic, enigmatic and automatic...?
Well, whatever it is, it is here;

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ah/Week142.png

Mister Underhill explains some Fish Man history to our beloved hero. There are cakes involved.

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20083.JPG
Comic Archive

I'm going to start planning the special challenge episode in the next week, so if you want to draw a P&A, just let me know and I'll draw up a list of artists. :)

If that headline is a welcome to the Barrowdowns, than I must detest to be placed in a magazine of ill-repute such as The Downer. :p

I do love the name play, I actually have to renew myself every 5 years or something terrible will happen.

Being included in the 'Downer is kind of like hazing or at least an initiation.

Or Hookbill's running out of ideas.

Yeah, it's probably the latter. :p

I've been found out! :eek:

Being in the Downer is a great honour! Even if Hookbill is running out of ideas.

*whips out best Frodo voice*

If that is your idea of honour, then I pity you.

I did have plans for an April fool's P&A, but I forgot to make it. Sorry. It was going to have Fungoltch and Schmurt alongside John Fillis. :eek:

Anyway, here's your Phantom and Alien for this Wednesday...

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20084.JPG

Keep up with THE STORY!

Do you remember where The Black Room went? ;)

I think for volume 3 I'm going to revamp the website a bit. I may even get around to making 'phantomandalien.com' or something. We shall see. What would you like to see?

Oh, what a pity, what a pity... But you can still make one for us later as a compensation ;)

Cool! We don't care. Alien-is-cool!

(And I like his new outfit. It's obvious that the fish man does not look as cool as him.)

No, it's really not. I like being in the Downer, but it does not change how "honourable" I am.
Sorry for making you so very unimpressed.

Either or, it's an honour to be dishonoured. :D

2nd'ed

Phalian time!

http://www.freewebs.com/joelcornah/Episode%20085.JPG

Keep track of this silly little story; HERE! Woo!

If you can remember why the floor is wet, then I'll be very impressed.

Right, the votes are in and it seems quite clear that Legate will be the one to appear in the prologue to volume 3. I'll get started on that soon. Just so you know, the break between series will be a few weeks long, and I'm going back to the once a week update for a while. But here's what's coming up;

8 th May - The last episode of volume 2!!
11th May - A special three-part Phanston and Ailsbry
1 st June - Special comics drawn up by other Downers.
22nd June - Volume 3 prologue
29th June - Volume 3 episode one!

So, as of now, I am officially opening up the place to artists who want to draw P&A comics. I've left a three week gap for you, so that's a maximum of nine people, but I can work with less. So, sign up now! The earlier you say yes, the more time you have to draw.
Good luck to you all...

Oh, and by the way, on 25th May it will be the 150th edition of The Downer, after which I will be putting it on hiatus for a while. I may, but it is by no means certain, start it up again to coninside with the beginning of volume 3. So, look out for that. Moreover, I'm hoping to rejig it a bit and will be wanting more stories send in from you Downers.

Double post fun.
You see, this is why I'm thinking of taking a break. Sometimes it feels like no one is reading this. :(

Anyway...

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i2...ah/Week143.png

Here's one of my favorite episodes from this volume. Hope you like it!

http://i41.tinypic.com/29qmo3l.jpg

Keep up with The Comic Archive

More revelations will come through the weeks, folks.