Milestone alert: Noisy Valley is being sent to the printer today! Emma at @selfmadehero.bsky.social asked what paperstock I preferred, on a day when I happened to be in London. I was just opposite @waterstones.bsky.social Piccadilly so I went in and had a look/feel of their previous publications.

@ilyagraphic.bsky.social is now speaking live with @panelborders.bsky.social - tune in on www.youtube.com/live/lnfmXxa...

What did I do this weekend? Glad you asked: I lost myself in the glory of colour, ie did some painting and decorating.

Being a journalist is sick: I just contacted a pre-eminent jaguar conservationist in Argentine with a question that has been weighing on me for ages and he wrote back right away with an informed answer.

Hey it's me, your favorite Social Media Cryptid! I'm running a flash fundraiser for our local anti-ICE community network in Ventura County. These postcards are going out for $5 a pop. I'm @Lucy-Bellwood on Venmo. DM me with how many you'd like and a good mailing address and we'll make it happen 💛

Haggis (vege), neeps and tatties. It might taste nice but there’s no making that look like anything more than three plops on a plate.

Every day in 2026 I've woken up mad, without fail. Fuck ICE, fuck this whole fucking Administration. Bunch of evil evil evil dirty little liars. WE SEE THROUGH YOU!!!! *screams* what absolute scumbags. #art

Do not miss this. Absolutely fascinating for anyone who loves political cartoons.

in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today

www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/... SIXTY new graphic novels coming out in spring - and Noisy Valley is one of them!

ALTHOUGH this does make me think that if I DID need to get rid of human remains, dropping them into roadworks by the side of a graveyard would be the way to do it.

I love every single thing about this.

You ought to know you live on a big ball.

Hooray! We dunnit!

If you can’t be bothered to write it, I can’t be bothered to read it.

I just wish the people making this stuff were reading the same posts I do.

If you enjoy #comics chat and would like to help @cartooncounty.bsky.social’s monthly interviews reach a wider audience, please subscribe to m.youtube.com/@PanelBorder.... We need 50 subs before we can livestream!

Our 1st meet-up of ‘26 has @ilyagraphic.bsky.social talking Romo the WolfBoy (out from @selfmadehero.bsky.social in Feb) with @panelborders.bsky.social Learn about the wonderful book and how #kickstarter meets the mass market Mon 26 Jan The Walrus Ship St Brighton from 6.30pm edilya.substack.com

Please subscribe to Alex Fitch's YouTube so that we can get Cartoon County livestreaming again. Making the Arts accessible is a worthy and important cause. I can't attend in-person events because I'm bedridden, so appreciate it. Thank you! #virtualEvents #Comics #Disability

If you enjoy #comics chat and would like to help @cartooncounty.bsky.social’s monthly interviews reach a wider audience, please subscribe to m.youtube.com/@PanelBorder.... We need 50 subs before we can livestream!

I find it quite fascinating that my dad put these pieces of pottery (probably found during an archaeological dig) into a plastic tub, and they have stayed the same while the tub has decomposed around them.

My parents really did have belief in the power of a small notecard. Just found these - this time they were my father’s.

In tribute to Mark Longair: www.mysociety.org/2026/01/15/a...

But there are still a few there with disturbing responses. The UK authorities should ask YouGov for the details of those purple people, then at the very least go and check they’re ok/find out how they grew up that way/why they hate women and minorities.

“Show me what comic you loved when you were 13”… In stark contrast to the superhero and action comics dominating this thread: Jackie magazine true romance by Arthur Ranson, and Madge & Beryl by Malcolm Bird.

Here's to good food, good friends, and following your dreams: The Pass by Katriona Chapman is out 1/20! https://ow.ly/Vg9a50XUtsQ

In Noisy Valle, we hear of protest in the form of community activism; creative dissent, songs, beautiful banners and persuasive speeches - a positive societal phenomenon rather than a threat. The book depicts true stories told to me by #Rhondda residents. uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nois...,

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j... Protest is not a threat if you address the issues it is raising. All this legislation is the equivalent of trying to fix a leak by putting another layer of tape over the pipe.

I got this book about the Hackney Mosaic Project for Christmas, and as well as the images being so inspiring, the ideas expressed by co-founder Tessa Hunkin ring so true. The project employs volunteers, many of whom are recovering from addiction.

it’s come to my attention that my tumblr post has been crossposted to bluesky, so I’m posting it on my account here #AntiAI #GenAI

Libraries are so nice

Noisy Valley can’t come out soon enough! (14 May, and you can pre-order now) uk.bookshop.org/p/books/nois...

The 2022 law granted police authority to impose conditions on public assemblies on grounds such as causing “serious unease” or being “too noisy”. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/j...

How do we get this in front of the publishers who need to see it? @karriefransman.bsky.social @jamesspackman73.bsky.social @thebookseller.com

Vote now in the Broken Frontier Awards 2025! Nominees for 'Best Artist' are: @abscomics.bsky.social, Anna Readman, @donyatodd.bsky.social, @keezyyoung.bsky.social and @decassette.bsky.social. #BFAwards25 Online voting form here: www.brokenfrontier.com/introducing-...

Listing Nigel Farage on theyworkforyou.com is probably a violation of the Trades Descriptions Act

Snow! And a melted patch that I guess reveals the road around the manhole is warmer?

Will it eventually have ads though. Because…

Came for the cute story about a cat in politics; stayed for the Belgians’ effortless speech balloon/thought bubble literacy: www.theguardian.com/media/2026/j...

If we’re collecting the many small ways in which AI is making life worse, I’ve just been prompted to reply with a peppy “You got this!” on a FB post breaking the news of a terminal illness.

Lots to put on my reading list here!

Despite that choice, that very specific choice, I've had that agency ripped away from me. With a single fuckin sentence some shitbird can make an image of me wearing whatever, doing whatever, and I have no way to prevent it. This is just life for any woman who dares to exist publicly now.

My take on Marty Supreme: strangling Gwyneth Paltrow as a hot sex act stuck out as an anachronism. Pretty sure that choking came into widespread popularity much more recently, through online porn.

Finished all 570 pages of Margaret Atwood’s gripping memoir, and am relieved to see that a love of shortform social media hasn’t removed my ability to read a whole book. (Atwood’s readable style doesn’t hurt)

Feeling seen

I saw this wallpaper, which features OTTERS, and am now in the grasp of a mania. But which walls need papering? None! And yet! *paces room*

Sitting a stewing in frustration isn't nearly as cathartic as just designing a poster. Let's see how often I remember that in 2026.

bleedingcool.com/comics/the-a... Most interesting bit of this for me, is the half million Euros that the mayor is paying businesses who are losing out due to the cancellation of the traditional Angouleme festival. Demonstrates how the economic benefits of comics events flow beyond the event itself.

You too can download Sarah Mirk’s free template and make an end of year contemplation zine (pic shows hers) www.patreon.com/posts/145941...