John Lees
@johnlees.bsky.social
I write comics! ORLA!, SINK, GRAWLGORE & SHANKS, THE NASTY, THE CRIMSON CAGE, AND THEN EMILY WAS GONE, MOUNTAINHEAD, HOTELL.
Website/newsletter: johnleescomics.com
Online shop: johnleescomics.bigcartel.com
Patreon: patreon.com/johnlees
Website/newsletter: johnleescomics.com
Online shop: johnleescomics.bigcartel.com
Patreon: patreon.com/johnlees
Pinned
John Lees
@johnlees.bsky.social
· Nov 8
I see we're doing (re)intros here as more comics folk migrate to BlueSky, so here goes. I'm John Lees. I'm a writer based in Glasgow, Scotland. Credits include Sink, And Then Emily Was Gone, Hotell, The Crimson Cage, Mountainhead, The Standard, Oxymoron: The Loveliest Nightmare, TMNT and The Nasty.
I had the grand plan that I would limit myself to one chapter of Dispatch a day so that the game would last me through to New Year’s, but it’s proving a challenge. The story and characters are so good I’m having to fight the temptation to keep going and tear myself away from the PS5.
a cartoon of a pig reading a book called crypto hustle
ALT: a cartoon of a pig reading a book called crypto hustle
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2025 at 3:14 PM
I had the grand plan that I would limit myself to one chapter of Dispatch a day so that the game would last me through to New Year’s, but it’s proving a challenge. The story and characters are so good I’m having to fight the temptation to keep going and tear myself away from the PS5.
Me every time I fight Marisa in Street Fighter 6.
a man with a beard is talking to another man with the big woman still here
ALT: a man with a beard is talking to another man with the big woman still here
media.tenor.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:02 PM
Me every time I fight Marisa in Street Fighter 6.
Reposted by John Lees
Beano #597, December 26, 1953
December 25, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Beano #597, December 26, 1953
Merry Christmas! I can’t get enough of these Street Fighter little guys I picked up.
December 25, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Merry Christmas! I can’t get enough of these Street Fighter little guys I picked up.
Reposted by John Lees
December 25, 2025 at 1:51 AM
Merry Christmas from Team ORLA! I’m very grateful for the gift of being able to share this story with you. ORLA! #5, from me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com is out NOW!
December 24, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Merry Christmas from Team ORLA! I’m very grateful for the gift of being able to share this story with you. ORLA! #5, from me, @sallycantirino.bsky.social, @dearbhlala.bsky.social, @letteringbear.bsky.social & @madcavestudios.com is out NOW!
Reposted by John Lees
The world is very stressful.
Get the expensive vibrator.
Get the expensive vibrator.
December 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
The world is very stressful.
Get the expensive vibrator.
Get the expensive vibrator.
Reposted by John Lees
It was an unforgivable dereliction of duty that the majority of elected congressional Republican office holders were not in prison for open insurrection by March 2021.
I think it’s a reflection of their own attitudes. Both Biden and they were trying to live in a fantasy where those 4 years were a return to normalcy as opposed to the most urgent moment in American history to preserve what was left of democracy.
December 24, 2025 at 4:35 AM
It was an unforgivable dereliction of duty that the majority of elected congressional Republican office holders were not in prison for open insurrection by March 2021.
Reposted by John Lees
Reposted by John Lees
ORLA! #5 @johnlees.bsky.social @sallycantirino.bsky.social @dearbhlala.bsky.social @robutoid.bsky.social @letteringbear.bsky.social @jerderferster.bsky.social is a GREAT MATCH! A top comic series this year!
-A fan animation I made based on the cv, but I am open to work @madcavestudios.com
-A fan animation I made based on the cv, but I am open to work @madcavestudios.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:13 AM
ORLA! #5 @johnlees.bsky.social @sallycantirino.bsky.social @dearbhlala.bsky.social @robutoid.bsky.social @letteringbear.bsky.social @jerderferster.bsky.social is a GREAT MATCH! A top comic series this year!
-A fan animation I made based on the cv, but I am open to work @madcavestudios.com
-A fan animation I made based on the cv, but I am open to work @madcavestudios.com
Perhaps the only time these words will be placed together.
December 24, 2025 at 9:03 AM
Perhaps the only time these words will be placed together.
Reposted by John Lees
If A Christmas Carol was set in Glasgow...
December 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
If A Christmas Carol was set in Glasgow...
Reposted by John Lees
Top Comics to Buy for December 24, 2025 www.comicsbeat.com/top-comics-t... @kellythompson.bsky.social @cleanlined.bsky.social @johnlees.bsky.social @brianmbendis.bsky.social @oeming.bsky.social @zandercannon.bsky.social @christophcondon.bsky.social @sallycantirino.bsky.social
Top Comics to Buy for December 24, 2025: Visions of good comics releases for Christmas Eve
This week's top comics to buy for December 24 features Absolute Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Powers, Orla!, and much more!
www.comicsbeat.com
December 23, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Reposted by John Lees
My favorite historical costume designer is Sandy Powell, and she has an amazing trick that it took me years to realize: Be conservative with color and lean into modern shapes with your hero, and put your villain in the most outrageously period-specific costume you can.
December 23, 2025 at 12:13 AM
My favorite historical costume designer is Sandy Powell, and she has an amazing trick that it took me years to realize: Be conservative with color and lean into modern shapes with your hero, and put your villain in the most outrageously period-specific costume you can.
Reposted by John Lees
annnnd that's a wrap on year eight (!!) of my weekly comics recommendation column ... next week I'll have a list of the books I thought were the most fun to follow in single issues in 2025
and then back to normal 1/7
and then back to normal 1/7
Top Comics to Buy for December 24, 2025: Visions of good comics releases for Christmas Eve
This week's top comics to buy for December 24 features Absolute Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Powers, Orla!, and much more!
www.comicsbeat.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:49 PM
annnnd that's a wrap on year eight (!!) of my weekly comics recommendation column ... next week I'll have a list of the books I thought were the most fun to follow in single issues in 2025
and then back to normal 1/7
and then back to normal 1/7
ORLA! #5 appears in @comicsbeat.bsky.social's Top Comics to Buy list for Christmas Eve!
www.comicsbeat.com/top-comics-t...
www.comicsbeat.com/top-comics-t...
Top Comics to Buy for December 24, 2025: Visions of good comics releases for Christmas Eve
This week's top comics to buy for December 24 features Absolute Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Powers, Orla!, and much more!
www.comicsbeat.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
ORLA! #5 appears in @comicsbeat.bsky.social's Top Comics to Buy list for Christmas Eve!
www.comicsbeat.com/top-comics-t...
www.comicsbeat.com/top-comics-t...
Look, I prefer to be a supporter of cinema and all creative work, and so don’t like singling out my “worst” anything. I recognise the hard work and commitment it takes to make all-
Wait. I saw Emilia Pérez this year. That’s the worst, easy, without a doubt. Fuck that movie.
Wait. I saw Emilia Pérez this year. That’s the worst, easy, without a doubt. Fuck that movie.
What was the best film you saw this year? (and what was the worst?)
Out of the 107 films I saw in cinemas this year so far, I've got a list of 22 contenders for my 'best of' list (usually about 10 or 12).
I'm expecting Marty Supreme to shake things up a bit but it's going to have to be a belter to earn its place.
I'm expecting Marty Supreme to shake things up a bit but it's going to have to be a belter to earn its place.
December 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Look, I prefer to be a supporter of cinema and all creative work, and so don’t like singling out my “worst” anything. I recognise the hard work and commitment it takes to make all-
Wait. I saw Emilia Pérez this year. That’s the worst, easy, without a doubt. Fuck that movie.
Wait. I saw Emilia Pérez this year. That’s the worst, easy, without a doubt. Fuck that movie.
I'm writing Friday's newsletter early, listing my Top 10s for the year. The plus side is this should mean I get to enjoy Christmas free of all writing obligations. Though the negative is I've had to give up getting round to the likes of The Chair Company, Drome and more that might have made the cut.
December 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I'm writing Friday's newsletter early, listing my Top 10s for the year. The plus side is this should mean I get to enjoy Christmas free of all writing obligations. Though the negative is I've had to give up getting round to the likes of The Chair Company, Drome and more that might have made the cut.
I just had the misfortune of stumbling down a rabbit-hole of posters who still share adoration for Biden, Harris and the Clintons in Big 2025, Hakeem Jeffries fans. I may actually understand the MAGA cult more. At least they think they get something out of it, other than a love of eating shit.
December 23, 2025 at 1:51 PM
I just had the misfortune of stumbling down a rabbit-hole of posters who still share adoration for Biden, Harris and the Clintons in Big 2025, Hakeem Jeffries fans. I may actually understand the MAGA cult more. At least they think they get something out of it, other than a love of eating shit.
Reposted by John Lees
the biggest lie the british press tell about trans ppl isn't actually about trans ppl.
it's their claim that 'gender critical' is a grass roots movement.
it's a ruling class bigotry sparked and spurred on by the american religious right. it's a media and political class bigotry.
it's their claim that 'gender critical' is a grass roots movement.
it's a ruling class bigotry sparked and spurred on by the american religious right. it's a media and political class bigotry.
December 23, 2025 at 9:47 AM
the biggest lie the british press tell about trans ppl isn't actually about trans ppl.
it's their claim that 'gender critical' is a grass roots movement.
it's a ruling class bigotry sparked and spurred on by the american religious right. it's a media and political class bigotry.
it's their claim that 'gender critical' is a grass roots movement.
it's a ruling class bigotry sparked and spurred on by the american religious right. it's a media and political class bigotry.
Reposted by John Lees
Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a sign opposing genocide.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
🚨BREAKING: GRETA THUNBERG ARRESTED UNDER TERRORISM ACT FOR SUPPORTING 'PALESTINE ACTION PRISONERS'
December 23, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Greta Thunberg arrested for holding a sign opposing genocide.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
When peaceful protest is a crime, democracy is in deep trouble.
Happening under a Labour Government.
It’s all been building to this.
The final chapter of ORLA! arrives TOMORROW!
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
The final chapter of ORLA! arrives TOMORROW!
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
December 23, 2025 at 1:07 PM
It’s all been building to this.
The final chapter of ORLA! arrives TOMORROW!
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
The final chapter of ORLA! arrives TOMORROW!
Art by @sallycantirino.bsky.social, colours by @dearbhlala.bsky.social.
Reposted by John Lees
"City of London Police said a 22-year-old woman has been arrested for displaying a placard in support of proscribed organisation, Palestine Action, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000."
Read her sign again:
Read her sign again:
December 23, 2025 at 11:44 AM
"City of London Police said a 22-year-old woman has been arrested for displaying a placard in support of proscribed organisation, Palestine Action, contrary to Section 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000."
Read her sign again:
Read her sign again:
I’m no political expert, but what I take from data like this is Reform is a dire threat, but they are stagnating. They have hit a plateau, and their main boon now is less voters gravitating from Labour to them than it is voters sticking with Labour rather than jumping ship to the Greens.
YouGov have Reform on 25% in both their first poll of 2025 and their final poll before Christmas. The only significan sustained gain across 2025 was Green Party +7, at expense of Labour
Reform 25% tp 25% (-)
Labour 26% to 20% (-6)
Cons 22% to 19% (-3)
LibDems 14% to 15% (+1)
Greens 8% to 15% (+7)
Reform 25% tp 25% (-)
Labour 26% to 20% (-6)
Cons 22% to 19% (-3)
LibDems 14% to 15% (+1)
Greens 8% to 15% (+7)
December 23, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I’m no political expert, but what I take from data like this is Reform is a dire threat, but they are stagnating. They have hit a plateau, and their main boon now is less voters gravitating from Labour to them than it is voters sticking with Labour rather than jumping ship to the Greens.
The thing about the “this piece is incomplete and missing context without the other side getting a say” is it isn’t even true. So much of the CECOT footage here comes from CECOT themselves, they boast about the torture. And the Trump regime soundbites are all over this, endorsing CECOT, touring it.
December 23, 2025 at 9:50 AM
The thing about the “this piece is incomplete and missing context without the other side getting a say” is it isn’t even true. So much of the CECOT footage here comes from CECOT themselves, they boast about the torture. And the Trump regime soundbites are all over this, endorsing CECOT, touring it.