Mark Andrews Concept Sketch for "lost" Spy 96 Annual Comes to Light!!!

By Bob Barnes
Special to DFG ONLINE
With all the buzz surrounding the return of superstar artist Mark Andrews to DFG Comics, a previously unknown concept sketch for the never-completed Spy '96 Annual has come to light. The sketch features a montage of scenes from the unpublished annual. When reached for comment Mark Andrews noted, "Wow, I'd completely forgotten about that sketch. That certainly is a sterling example of my Dali-esque surreal phase." Asked if he had any plans to complete the issue, he noted, "Well, as I understand it, Frank Daniels is collating the whole damned mess and trying to make something out of it. It was really quite good work, but I did it somewhat piecemeal and there are gaps." According to DFG publicist, Selina Silvurtungdevul, the annual is scheduled to finally be released later this year, but DFG production manager (and writer) Frank Daniels is finding the material quite challenging, "Frank is basically taking the thing panel by panel and creating a prose script that will accompany it so that it has much the feel of a pulp magazine. Another problem is that some of the panels are only pencilled, some are inked, while others are completely pencilled, inked and coloured. Frank hopes to have things tied up on this by Christmas." DFG fans are anxiously awaiting Mark Andrews return to DFG Comics!

DFG President Comments on Todd Abbot Letter

By Bob Barnes
Special to DFG ONLINE
(the above image is taken from SPY Classics #1, and courtesy of Mr. Todd Abbot).

"I was shocked..." were the words of DFG president and co-publisher, Dan Graves, earlier today when asked to comment on a letter by Todd Abbot, posted on the DTA Comics website (click here for the text of the letter), in which Mr. Abbot claimed that Captain Nepto Prime was coming to and end after only four issues and that he had been reassigned to other work. "After all that we went through to get Prime up and running and honour his contribution to the early Captain Nepto era, I'm really quite frustrated that he continues to grand-stand like this," said Mr. Graves. Mr. Graves was, of course, referring to the drawn out-legal battle with Mr. Abbot after he registered the defunct DTA label, under which Captain Nepto had originated, and announced that he would launch his own classic Nepto series to compete with DFG's Captain Nepto Prime. Through the herculean efforts of Sir Milton Goldfarbstein, QC, DFG legal counsel, an agreement was reached to bring Abbot and DTA back into collaboration with DFG's Darryl Andrews. "We were moderately pleased with the results of the new series," added Mr. Graves, "but Todd came to me and said that he had other projects that he wanted to pursue. Being the stand-up fellow that I am, and being committed to offering the 'the best in Canadian comics,' Darryl and I brainstormed a new direction for Prime, thus allowing Todd to continue on other projects. What really frustrates me, though, is that Todd would make a public announcement before details have been confirmed. The media frenzy has been out of control and the phones ringing off the hook. Sometimes I just wish Mr. Abbot would keep his own counsel and leave the promtional work to our DFG professionals." Mr. Graves also took the opportunity to introduce DFG's newest staff member, their new publicist, Selina Silvurtungdevull, who will be handling such press releases in the future.