“I tried to write something that felt emotionally real, even if the events weren’t particularly grounded.” John Allison’s Giant Days, student societies and digital comics
John Allison’s Giant Days is the tale of 3 misfit female students and was originally conceived as a plan b in case his main book, Bad Machinery, didn’t work out. However now on it’s 3rd issue it has become a superb comic slice of life that will resonate with anyone who misses those heady days of youthful exuberance from their student days, as well as those are really glad they’ve put those socially awkward years behind them. We offer to buy John a pint from the student union bar before we head down to the indie disco.
Giant Days #3 is released on ComiXology this week, you said in issue #1 you conceived it as a back up plan in case your main book Bad Machinery didn’t work out, do you still feel like that about Giant Days or is it becoming it’s own thing now?
JA: My confidence wasn’t sky high when I started Bad Machinery. I really felt like I’d hit the peak of my popularity three years earlier and couldn’t give people any more of what they wanted. I just wasn’t the same person who’d made those comics. Initially, Giant Days was a back-up plan, but not a replacement – it was just another attempt to see if I could make something that people liked. I started a second issue soon after I finished the first, but didn’t really know where to go with it. A year or so later, I picked up the five pages I’d made and saw where to go next. The second issue suggested a third so I just kept going. I was tempted to run on to a fourth but in the intervening years, Bad Machinery had picked up steam and I wanted to pick up those threads.
The last two books have been released in much less time than previous issues, any plans to develop this into your main book? Or is Bad Machinery still your priority?
JA: Most people who make webcomics make one thing and just soldier on with it non-stop. The more I’ve dabbled with side-projects, the more I appreciate them as palette cleansers that let you use ideas that wouldn’t fit elsewhere. There would be more Giant Days if I wasn’t the artist on it. I can’t do much more than one page a day and that limits my output. But since I did Giant Days, I’ve had ideas for lots of other things too.
JA: I just took a popular character from Scary Go Round, my old series, and built a cast around her. I figured that most floors in halls of residence are single-sex, and she made friends with her next door neighbours, so it was an all-girl cast. When I was at university, people moved in little unisex squads like that.
Do you find it easier to write female characters than males and do you ever second guess your characters motivations? Do you have a ‘gender editor’ to keep you in line?
JA: This will sound awful, I but I don’t think about it at all. You could gender-swap the characters and I think the stories would still work. I just feel my way through stuff. I’m sure all my prejudices are on the page but there’s not a lot I can do about it.
Although the girls occupy the stereotypes of ‘head girl’ ‘outsider’ and ‘nerd’ you give each one very distinct personalities and make them much more than just those cliches, was that an important part of developing the characters or did the stories just evolve around them?
JA: It’s hard to think back four years to when I wrote the first book! I find that characters just develop naturally, the more space you give them. I thought about people I half-knew at university and the two or three facts I might have known about them, and built outward from there. The plots then suggest new ways to go. I try to keep my eyes and ears open, and there’s always new things to add if you pay attention to life.
In the current issues the girls get caught up in Indie Soc and also have dabblings with the Black Metal Society, was that based on your own experience of societies at uni, or did you steer clear of such groups?
JA: My girlfriend was in Indie Soc. She reeled off everything she could remember, I wrote it down, and used that as a starting point. I had no experience of societies, the only society I was in was the Journalism society, and I don’t remember ever attending a meet-up. I was music editor of the university’s online magazine, but that was just a chance to get free records and pretend I worked for a real music mag. I met a lot of people at university but it was only ever by freak accident that they happened to be like minded.
How much of the story as a whole is based on your own uni life and/or that of friends? Do you think that familiarity with uni life is what helps it resonate with people?
JA: I hope that Giant Days resonates! I tried to write something that felt emotionally real, even if the event in it weren’t particularly grounded. I went to university nearly 20 years ago so I can only hope to make that part of it relatable.
The first issue had a real Scott Pilgrim vibe to it (especially the night club punch up scene) what are your influences as a writer and artist? And which comics and web comics do you currently rate and recommend?
JA: I have so many influences at this point that listing them is hard. At the moment I really enjoy Brandon Graham’s work, and Luke Pearson, and Michael DeForge. I’m a huge fan of Eleanor Davis and Jose Luis Agreda’s illustration – such control of form, such design! When I was younger, I’d see something I loved and really try to absorb it into my work. There’s less of the shock of the new now, and I find myself trying to refine what I’m doing instead. But you do need to be a vampire your whole career, I’m sure that soon I’ll head out in search of fresh blood.
JA: ComiXology is something that’s very new to me. I don’t read many comics digitally – I stare at a screen all day and I’m desperate to escape it by the end of the day. I don’t have an iPad. But I think it’s prudent to give people work through the channels they want to use, and ComiXology is a platform that pays the creators, helps readers find new work, and makes good use of the available technology. Through Submit, it’s open to anyone. I don’t think that can be bad.
JA: The current Bad Machinery story only has a couple of weeks left to run, after that I have a two-part story in the traditional US comic book format, set in the mid-nineties. And after that, who knows! I still want to do more Giant Days. We’ll see.
Purchase Giant Days #1-3 for £1.99/$2.99 per issue from ComiXology or you can read Bad Machinery via John’s website scarygoround.com. You can also follow him on twitter @badmachinery
August 19, 2014 @ 3:18 am
It’s interesting and surprising to hear John say that he thinks his characters could be gender swapped without much difference. One of the things I enjoy most about his work is that the female characters feel very developed and realized (the personalities of the Bad Machinery girls in particular), which is uncommon when written by men. I could just be generalizing though.
I was one of those big Esther fans from the Scary Go Round days, and was delighted to see her return for a couple of short stories in Giant Days.
I’m looking forward to what’s coming up next!
August 19, 2014 @ 7:28 am
We were surprised by that comment too. The girls are so brilliantly realised that you can’t imagine them in the opposite genders. It would lose a lot of the charm and subtlety – plus the awesome Ed Gemmell wouldn’t be quite so tragic if he was a girl!
December 20, 2025 @ 6:56 am
Teste hier die Slots kostenlos aus, die in Österreich in den letzten drei Monaten am häufigsten gespielt wurden. Bei uns finden Sie alle klassischen Casino Spiele kostenlos
sowie regelmäßig Neuerscheinungen von Merkur, Novomatic,
Pragmatic Play und vielen weiteren Spiele Herstellern. Deshalb sind kostenlose Casino Spiele so wichtig.
Hunderte Games warten darauf, von dir entdeckt zu werden, und viele von ihnen ermöglichen Freispiele oder andere spannende Features.
Neuer Titel mit klassischem Gold Thema und Bonus Features wie Freispiele
und Multiplikatoren. Beim Start der Freispiele bringen Super Scatter sofort 100x bis 50.000x und pushen die Spannung spürbar.
Und es sind nicht nur Vegas-Slots, die du nach Herzenslust spielen kannst – du kannst dich auch an einigen der umfangreichsten Casino-Tisch- und Kartenspiele versuchen. Du musst kein Spielkonto eröffnen, um unsere Premium-Slots
zu spielen – aber dann verpasst du unsere fantastischen zusätzlichen Boni!
Von modernen Online-Slots mit Minispielen, Bonus- und Gamble-Features bis hin zu
klassischen, nostalgischen Slots – alles im
coolen Look, um deinen täglichen Weg zur Arbeit zu versüßen! Social Casino Spiele dienen der
reinen Unterhaltung und haben keinen Einfluss auf mögliche künftige Erfolge bei Glücksspielen mit Geldeinsatz.
Kostenlos spielen ist auch eine Frage der persönlichen Freiheit, auf die wir
alle Wert legen. Mehr und mehr Spielerinnen und Spieler beantworten diese Frage mit Ja
und spielen unzählige Gratis-Spiele ohne Anmeldung
über unsere Casino-Datenbank.
Erst für das Spiel mit Echtgeld Gewinnen ist die Registrierung und Einzahlung
in einem Online Casino erforderlich. Probieren Sie spannende Casino Spiele direkt
auf unserer Seite aus, kostenlos und unverbindlich.
Jedes Spiel kann von jeder Art von Spieler gespielt werden, ob nun Neueinsteiger oder bereits erfahren.
References:
https://online-spielhallen.de/sugarcasino-deutschland-suse-unterhaltung-wichtiges-auf-einen-blick/
December 20, 2025 @ 6:34 pm
Ich habe meine Freispiele für Gates of Olympus verwendet (das ist mein Lieblingsspielautomat, ich empfehle ihn jedem!)))) Es ist
erfrischend, ein Casino zu finden, das echte Freispiele nur für die Anmeldung anbietet.
Das ist nicht viel, aber es reichte, um an einigen Spielautomaten zu spielen. Ich habe gesehen, dass sie ein tolles Willkommenspaket für neue Spieler anbieten, aber
ich bin schon seit einiger Zeit Mitglied und würde gerne Bonusgelder
oder Freispiele nutzen. Deshalb bieten wir ein großzügiges Willkommensbonuspaket, ein tägliches Cashback-Programm und
ein exklusives VIP-Treueprogramm.
Wir bemühen uns, die Gebühren so gering wie möglich zu halten, um Ihnen die bestmögliche Erfahrung zu bieten. Eine Einzahlung bei BDMBet ist schnell und unkompliziert.
Bei BDMBet bieten wir eine Vielzahl von sicheren und bequemen Zahlungsoptionen, die Ihren Bedürfnissen entsprechen.
References:
https://online-spielhallen.de/meine-stake-com-erfahrungen-ein-jahrzehnt-auf-der-plattform/
December 26, 2025 @ 11:55 am
Considering these factors will help you find a
casino that meets your needs and enhances your gaming
experience. Reliable customer support is crucial for quick
issue resolution, so choose casinos offering 24/7 assistance through various channels.
Knowing these regulations is crucial for a safe and enjoyable online gambling experience.
These cards enable quick deposits and are safe to use,
making them a favored choice among Australian players.
ThunderPick Casino provides 100 free spins upon the first deposit,
making it a competitive offer.
Yes, Australians can play real money online casinos without
any issues. While claiming a casino bonus or exploring the latest
online casino bonuses can add excitement to your gaming, it’s essential to play responsibly
and keep your experience safe and enjoyable.
These exclusive online casino bonuses often include free spins,
bonus cash, or no-deposit rewards, giving you extra value just for playing
on your birthday. Understanding the different types of online casino bonuses can help you find the best offers
and maximize your real cash play. The best Australian online
casino offer a wide variety of casino bonuses to attract and reward
players. Baccarat is a popular game at the best Australian online casinos,
offering both standard digital versions and live dealer options.
December 26, 2025 @ 6:14 pm
However, no casino is flawless – so here’s a well-rounded look at where Clubhouse Casino excels
and where it could take things up a notch. Like any top-tier platform, Clubhouse Casino shines in many areas while leaving room for a few refinements.
Clubhouse Casino also promotes responsible gaming, offering tools
to help punters stay in control. Your safety is a priority at Clubhouse Casino, and every measure is in place to keep your gaming environment secure and fair.
The bonus comes with fair wagering terms, and you can use it on popular
pokies right after signing up. Yes, Australian players
are welcome at Clubhouse Casino. But it’s important to understand that online casinos are not a
way to earn income. Clubhouse feels fair and responsible, which is all I really ask for
in a casino. I always set a spending limit, and I reckon anyone playing
online should do the same. The welcome bonus helped stretch my deposit
a bit, which was nice.That said, I don’t gamble to get rich.
The Clubhouse Casino offers a vast selection of games that keep me entertained for hours.
Bunch of scamers don’t play their games The world’s most premium online casino experience
December 26, 2025 @ 7:58 pm
Easy logins from no KYC casinos are extremely convenient as well.
But where they really nail it is the live dealer section. That’s as strong
a hook as you could ask for, and with the very reasonable rollover, even casual players should have no problem grinding out their wins.
Newbies can get up to A$5,000 in bonus cash and 50 spins on the Fortune Wheel,
which can pay out a variety of bonuses — including up to A$1,
000,000.
Alternatively, you can make transactions in cryptocurrencies, which some of the best Aussie
casinos accept. Therefore, go only for trustworthy casino sites like the ones we have picked for you.
Most casino games require no prior experience, and your success depends mainly on luck.
It is about trust, security, variety, and a smooth player experience.
The bonus structure is generous, and the focus on fast withdrawals
gives it a big edge over competitors. If you’re a high roller, this casino rolls out
the red carpet. When it comes to VIP rewards and high-stakes
gambling, King Johnnie is in a league of its own.
References:
https://blackcoin.co/mobile-casino/
December 27, 2025 @ 8:30 am
Enhanced by high-definition graphics and responsive interfaces,
the software integration not only elevates gameplay
but also fortifies the casino’s commitment to technological excellence
and customer satisfaction. Utilizing software from industry-leading providers, the casino
ensures each game runs smoothly across various
platforms. These regulatory bodies are stringent in their requirements, involving regular
audits and checks that guarantee fairness and transparency in all casino operations.
The ville Casino Townsville operates with utmost adherence to legal and regulatory frameworks, ensuring all gaming activities are conducted in a secure
and ethical manner. This approach ensures that all
players can manage their funds efficiently and
securely, according to their individual preferences.
Ask our friendly gaming team on the Casino main gaming floor and they’ll give you a hand.
Need a little refresher on some of your favourite games, or trying your hand at something new?
We can cater for large groups and private events.
Held on special occasions or during themed nights, the event creates
an exhilarating atmosphere where participants can win a variety of prizes, such as
up to $500 in free play credits, cash prizes up to $1,000, or $50 dining credits.
The “Ardo on Us” promotion is tailored to reward patrons who engage in specified gaming activities on designated days.
“The only money that had really been spent on it is the gambling facilities.” The Computershare
chairman’s Colonial Leisure Group entered into an agreement to buy Echo Entertainment Group’s Jupiters Townsville casino for $70 million in January.
Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time.
Its simple, modern styling make it perfect for medium sized conferences, weddings
and cocktail-style events. Ask us now about our dining
and beverage packages. Ardo® is a hotel byMorris Group
December 28, 2025 @ 10:48 pm
online slots paypal
References:
jinbang.co.kr
December 28, 2025 @ 11:25 pm
online blackjack paypal
References:
https://capitalplacementservices.com/employer/best-paypal-online-casinos-in-the-us-2025/
December 29, 2025 @ 5:54 am
online casino usa paypal
References:
https://adremcareers.com/employer/paypal-casinos-2025-best-paypal-slot-sites-in-the-uk/
December 29, 2025 @ 6:17 am
online casino for us players paypal
References:
https://main.shuwb.com/bbs/board.php?bo_table=free&wr_id=22184
December 30, 2025 @ 12:54 am
online casino paypal
References:
https://skillrizen.com/profile/regenahooks192
December 30, 2025 @ 1:15 am
online casino mit paypal
References:
https://dreamyourjobs.com/employer/best-payid-pokies-in-australia-2025-pokies-that-use-payid/
January 24, 2026 @ 11:49 am
Great article.