Bannockburn: A Mythic History Of The Battle Which Shaped A Nation

Note: I planned on introducing Bannockburn on St. Andrew's Day for quite some time, before the events of 29th of November came to pass. As of writing, eight people perished with a dozen more wounded in a horrendous disaster at the Clutha Vaults in Glasgow. I will still publish the post, albeit a bit later than originally planned, because of one thing: every news report mentioned that when the crash happened, when the plumes of smoke issued from the roof, when the screams from inside the bar broke out - everyone nearby ran towards it. Towards the crash, the smoke, and the screams. Countless bystanders rushed to lend a hand, forming a human chain, desperate to help. And that statement about the people of Glasgow is something which is central to the comic, and testament to their courage.

The full post will be up soon.

To A Cone

I'd said I would occasionally post on wee bits of Scottish news and issues, so I figured the recent reports that Glasgow City Council are planning to spend £65,000 on raising the plinth that supports Carlo Marochetti's famed 1844 statue of the Duke of Wellington in order to combat that most pressing and grave of civic concerns...

The weegies cannae stop putting a traffic cone aun 'is heid.

Of Brownyis and of Bogillis full is this Buke...

This Hallowe'en marks a full year since the publication of my first comic, so it seems appropriate to mark the occasion with some sketches of some beasties which may or may not appear in the comic.

I was raised on Scottish folklore: tales of witches, monsters, bogles, fairies, and ghosts filled my brain. And, being a dreich place and country in the Autumn, it's natural that Scotland is host to a fair number of very sinister and frightening supernatural beasties. There are plenty for each region of Scotland: even my home country of Inverclyde is populated by Wee Nasties.

Let's have a keek at some of them, shall we?

Better Together When Standing Apart; Or, Why I'm Voting Yes

In the Wednesday 25th September issue of the Greenock Telegraph, Council leader Stephen McCabe wrote a piece explaining his reasons for supporting the union. It is presented without a counterpoint, though readers are invited to send in their opinions to the paper via mail.

I thought instead of merely sending it in to the Tele where the people of Inverclyde may or may not read it depending on the will of the editorial staff, I felt it would be productive to post my response online, as well as explaining in more detail exactly why I'm voting Yes next year. Wings Over Scotland has been publishing a fascinating series of insights from a wide range of Yes votes, and I thought I might as well join that chorus.

All Of Scotland Is Calton Hill

So the big rally at Calton Hill has been and gone. Estimates for the number of attendees range from 8,000 (if you ask the BBC) to 30,000 (if you ask the police). Dozens of Scotland's best and brightest spoke at the event. Thousands of Scots converged together in the spirit of a shared vision for an independent Scotland. It eats my heart out that I wasn't there, but in a show of solidarity, I was determined to do a wee march of my own.

The Road to Bannockburn

Slainte, travellers of the aether, and welcome to the Bannockburn Comic Blog. I'm Al Harron, proprietor of The Blog That Time Forgot, contributor to The Cimmerian Blog, member of the Robert E. Howard United Press Association, and com!c artist.*

And proud companion of an inquisitive tortoise.

On the 24th of June 2014, the 700th anniversary of the second day of the Battle of Bannockburn will come to pass. It is doubly auspicious not only for the anniversary, but that it takes place in the year of the most important decision the people of Scotland have ever been asked to make. To commemorate the occasion, I felt it was a good time for me to finally engage in the world of comics as a solo writer/artist. I have learned a great deal in the year or so since my first professional publication in a comic hit the stands, and I'm starting to get there in terms of confidence. Since I've also been getting more politically active, and ached to start talking about political matters, it also offered an opportunity to start a new blog.

Hence, the Bannockburn Comic Blog.  Here I'll be posting anything related to the comic, and the upcoming events of the year: the anniversary, the referendum, politics.  I had long mandated that I would refrain from talking politics, religion, and other such sensitive subjects on my personal blog, but that's become more and more difficult over time.  So while this won't be a political blog in itself, I will comment on current issues if the fancy takes me.