From the DreddCon 6 convention.

After getting the great Cougar sketch from Jock and chatting away I realised this was probably my last chance to finish off my Losers sketch collection from him before emigrating to Australia so I re-joined at the back of the line.

Jock had been a star and sketched all afternoon turning out some phenomenal work. I'd watched him do a brilliant Dredd on a red paged sketchbookwhile I waited, some great Batman's and then a young lad (about 8 or so) who was just in front of me got to Jock. Jock was shattered but smiled and asked the little lad what sketch he wanted, the lad pulled out a tradepaperback of the Dark Judges epic from Judge Dredd and pointed at the cover, "That!", he said, indicating the whole cover!

Jock smlled but you could see how tired he was, "How about if I just do Judge Death, eh?", he asked. The little boy seemed slightly downhearted but compromised. So Jock turns out a great Death sketch for him despite being knackered. Except as he gets to the end the boy leans foward and says,"Can you put him in?", pointing to Judge Mortis.

"Okay", says Jock, and begins sketching a smaller Mortis figure behind Death.

"And him", says the boy pointing at Judge Fear.

"Okay", says Jock, his shoulders starting to slump as he sketches in a Fear figure behind Death's other shoulder.

"And him", says the boy pointing at Judge Fire, as Jock is again almost finished.

"Okay", says Jock, now realising that he is indeed going to end up sketching the entire cover featuring the four Dark Judges for the little lad.

Jock finishes, presents the boy with the sketch (whose Dad was so impressed he said he was going to get it framed for him) and gives him some free comics as well! What an absolute star!

After that I felt so guilty getting a second sketch and keeping him working when he was so obviously wiped out I just asked him for Clay or Pooch, whichever would be easier or quicker for him to do. Knowing I was going to Oz and probably wouldn't get a chance to see him again (and finish off my Losers collection) Jock does an amazing sketch of both characters for me!!!

In an industry that sometimes seems to celebrate the average rather than the exceptional Jock is a truly great artist, but more than anything else he is a genuinely great bloke.

Thanks Jock!

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