The Village Gossip has a bag of 64 questions...every visitor who comes past must answer a totally random selection of these, the first twenty pulled from the bag.
This week Phil Elliott stops by. Phil has been creating comicbooks and comic strips since 1981, and has been published by all of: Fleetway and Marvel comics in the UK; L'Echo de Savanes and A Suivre in France; Dark Horse Comics, DC, Image Comics, Slave Labor Graphics and Fantagraphics Books in the USA. His superb graphic novel Illegal Alien (written by James Robinson) was well received on this website a few weeks ago, and his upcoming book with Thomas Behe, Contraband, will be out on Feb 27th. More details on all his projects at http://www.elliott-design.com/
What are you working on at the moment?I'm pulling together some comics reprinting work that I've done with Glenn Dakin, and will be starting drawing the second Tupelo book soon.
What is the best comic you've ever read?"Abe - Wrong for all the Right Reasons" by Glenn Dakin
Downloading illegal torrents will kill comics, discuss.What's an "illegal torrent"?
Do you throw like a girl?Only since I broke my arm.
Have you ever seen a ghost?No, but I've seen a dead man.
How clean are your hands?At the moment, very clean.
What is your favourite TV show?The One Show, with Adrian Chiles. Did you know that he was once a serious TV reporter?
What hobbies did you have as a child?Collecting and drawing comics of course.
What was the last book you read?I don't read.
When was the last time you had a taste in your mouth that you couldn’t quite place?I had some Worcester cheese imbued with apricot the other day that I thought wasn't quite right...is that what you mean?
What’s the best party you’ve ever been to?The White House in East Malling, circa 1980.
What’s the strangest thing that’s ever arrived in the post for you?It wasn't that strange, but I once had some 200 letters in response to an advert I placed in Mighty World of Marvel's swapshop section. I was about 13 at the time and had never seen so many letters! I couldn't reply to them all and sent a letter to MWOM thanking everybody, which they printed.
The scariest package I ever received contained a piece of original artwork by Dave Gibbons - a painting of The Comedian from Watchmen for the cover of a UK magazine, Arkensword 22 that I had to do the lettering separations for. I'd never done anything like this before and was shit-scared that I was going to ruin it all. Turned out okay though.
What's the most ferocious argument you've ever had?I've had a few with my wife.
When have you been most scared?Apart from the episode with Dave Gibbons' a/w, every other night.
Which part of your body would you most like to change?My teeth
Would you drop everything to travel through time with a complete stranger?Maybe when I was younger. But I could travel back in time now, and BE younger, and then be able to travel through time with a complete stranger with impunity. Hmm, interesting dilemma.
What is your favourite colour?Bluey-red. Or is it reddy-blue?
What do you think of the likes of talent shows such as X-Factor/American Idol?Not fussed. 90% of everything is rubbish anyway.
What was the last text message/email you received?From my daughter inviting me to lunch tomorrow/From Thomas, sending me these questions.
If you weren't answering these silly questions, what would you be doing instead?Watching Jurassic Park, Lost World with my wife, for like the umpteenth time!
If you'd like to drop by the Village to answer the Gossip's questions, email craigjohnsonesq@aol.com to chat. Similarly email if you have a question you'd like the Gossip to include in his bag.
Craig Johnson