It’s party time!

A centesimo is a unit of currency in Nova Venezia (named after the coin used in Italy in pre-Euro days). 100 centesimi = 1 tribuno (which I just made up).

And all without spilling a drop - that’s how you can tell the Doge has class.

A technical hitch meant this comic didn’t post at the usual time - apologies.

Doug Frey drew some fantastic Tozo fan-art - take a look!

Tin and Tom = the Itchy and Scratchy of Nova Venezia.

Attention US readers! This week the UK pound reached its lowest level against the dollar for six years! It’s gone back up a little since then but it still means that the print versions of Tozo chapter 1 and 2 now cost about 25% less than they did several months ago. Hooray for the global recession! Better order them fast, as I hear there could be an upturn any day now…

It’s the James Bond premiere this week, so a suitably Bond villain-style lair for Lady Magdalene. I think I might pop along to the West End to gawp at Mr Craig and the princes and see whether I get shaken or stirred.

Recommended reading: Elephano the Magician by various. Elephano, an elephant conjuror created by catoonist David Yoder, stars in a small press anthology in which a number of creators have presented their own take on this engaging character.

The book is anchored by Yoder’s own story where an unconfident Elephano is roped into performing at his boss’s son’s birthday party. In another tale by Jason Rainey, a young Elephano accompanies his mentor on an archaeological expedition to uncover the secrets of a sorceror’s sarcophagus. Another highlight is Doug Frey’s time travel story, illustrated with characteristic rich inks. A fun collection and probably the most consistently good anthology I’ve seen in a long time.

104 pages. Available from Lulu for $12.95 or $6.00 as a download.

I’ve a short report on last weekend’s Birmingham International Comics Show here.

Next week - whatever did happen to Borello? And whilst we’re on the subject of Borello, here’s Warwick Johnson Cadwell’s spectacular version (amongst interpretations of other comic characters).

I’m at BICS this weekend. A full convention report will appear next week.

Next weekend is the Birmingham International Comics Show where I have table - I’ll be selling Tozo comics and posters, as well as some of my minicomics and prints. I’m really looking forward to it and catching up with comics people from around the UK. Do come and say hello if you’re there. I’m table-sharing with Will Kirkby who produces some amazing minicomics so make sure you check his stuff out (after buying my comics first, of course).

Don’t forget, if you can’t make it you can also buy Chapter 2 (and Chapter 1) from the shop.