Tony Cliff
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tangocharlie.bsky.social
Tony Cliff
@tangocharlie.bsky.social
2.6K followers 420 following 2.2K posts
Author/illustrator: the DELILAH DIRK series, LET'S GET SLEEPY, BUBBLE.
Currently making an epic tale of 19th-century adventure, PRACTICAL DEFENCE AGAINST PIRACY, or #PDAP

🎨 tonycliff.com
⚔️ delilahdirk.com
✨ patreon.com/tonycliff
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tangocharlie.bsky.social
Tony Cliff @tangocharlie.bsky.social · Sep 27
Hello New Folks!
I made the DELILAH DIRK BOOKS (for everyone), LET'S GET SLEEPY (for kids), and illustrated BUBBLE (NOT for kids).
Currently making an ambitious, full-colour, full-throated, no-slop new GN which I am sharing online as I go.

Behold, a webbed site:
👉 www.tonycliff.com
A photo of the three Delilah Dirk books: DD1 (THE TURKISH LIEUTENANT), DD2 (THE KING'S SHILLING), and DD3 (THE PILLARS OF HERCULES) Cover art for the book LET'S GET SLEEPY Cover art for the book BUBBLE WIP Cover art for the book PRACTICAL DEFENCE AGAINST PIRACY
Reposted by Tony Cliff
tangocharlie.bsky.social
New DD4/PRACTICAL DEFENCE Production Diary up now!
Including:
- the purpose of teenagers (to shake you up),
- why I'm so grateful for Patron readers (one example of many),
- the completeness of pencil drawings for Chapter Six (very),
- and THAT'S ALL! (No it's not!!)

www.patreon.com/posts/143098...
photo of a blue-pencil drawing on paper. Why is it all shaded like that? What a strange thing to do.
November 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
New DD4/PRACTICAL DEFENCE Production Diary up now!
Including:
- the purpose of teenagers (to shake you up),
- why I'm so grateful for Patron readers (one example of many),
- the completeness of pencil drawings for Chapter Six (very),
- and THAT'S ALL! (No it's not!!)

www.patreon.com/posts/143098...
photo of a blue-pencil drawing on paper. Why is it all shaded like that? What a strange thing to do.
November 8, 2025 at 8:45 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
I only recently learned that when people talk about “their deck” in the context of a presentation or pitch, it actually just means “PowerPoint presentation.”
November 7, 2025 at 10:27 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
In his newsletter this week, @austinkleon.bsky.social unintentionally captures the spirit of my current project. It’s comforting to not feel like I am alone in believing this.

austinkleon.substack.com/p/even-the-m...
Photo of a handwritten note, saying, “It's the JOB of TEENAGERS TO ANNOY, FRIGHTEN, AND BEWILDEA you, TO CALL BULLSHIT ON THIS SILLY, MEAN, STUPID WORLD THEY DIDN'T ASK TO BE PART OF, AND TO POKE HOLES IN the ARMOR yoU PUT ON TO SURVIVE IT”
October 31, 2025 at 4:14 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
I laughed, I cried.

I remember having one of these arguments with a relative, about the value of Wikipedia. They decried it, identified it as a threat. I was ambivalent-but-in-favour. Now, though? Haa ha ha ha ha wooo ugh

www.mcsweeneys.net/articles/hi-...
Hi, It’s Me, Wikipedia, and I Am Ready for Your Apology
“Wikipedia, the constantly changing knowledge base created by a global free-for-all of anonymous users, now stands as the leading force for the dum...
www.mcsweeneys.net
October 31, 2025 at 1:51 AM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
It blows my mind, the fact that the current discourse and hype around "AI" exists alongside the continued practice of sending emails with a footer that says, "PLEASE CONSIDER THE ENVIRONMENT BEFORE PRINTING THIS EMAIL"
October 30, 2025 at 7:37 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
Seeing a new bsky app icon made me realize I forgot to turn off Automatic Updates for the App Store on this phone, something I recommend if you don’t want to be one of those people posting, “aww they ruined the thing I liked.”

(bsky ruined the reply button, somehow.)
October 28, 2025 at 3:17 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
New PRACTICAL DEFENCE AGAINST PIRACY / “DD4” Production Diary up now! Drawings, drawings, drawings!!!

⚔️ 🏴‍☠️ www.patreon.com/posts/141988...
tangocharlie.bsky.social Tony Cliff @tangocharlie.bsky.social · 16d
… oh, and also, lots of nice pencil drawings from the current Chapter-in-Progress.
blue-line pencil drawing of some comic book sword-swinging business blue-line pencil drawing of some comic book sword-swinging business
October 25, 2025 at 7:00 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
A new PRACTICAL DEFENCE AGAINST PIRACY Production Diary is up, touching on:
- who has the best Hallowe'en costume ideas,
- staying vigilant against the same stupid compositional mistakes,
- and why are those big glue bottles ganging up on the little one?

✂️👉 www.patreon.com/posts/141988...
a photo of three bottles of glue and a crank-handle pencil sharpener arranged on a green cutting mat.
October 24, 2025 at 10:48 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
This WAS a fascinating article, thank you @ryannorth.ca !!!
aresluna.org/the-hardest-...
The hardest working font in Manhattan
A story of a 150-year-old font you have never heard of – and one you probably saw earlier today.
aresluna.org
October 24, 2025 at 5:42 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
Is there a reason a book designer would specifically choose NOT to use ligatures? It was an option. This font (“Archetype”) has them.

(A ligature is a special character designed to make - for example - the lowercase letters “f” and “i” look nicer when they’re next to each other.)
Photo of text on a page, focused on the word “fisherman,” where the top of the letter f is bumping into the dot of the letter i
October 18, 2025 at 9:26 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
I Laughed Out Loud.
ryannorth.ca Ryan North @ryannorth.ca · 24d
some guy just left the airport bathroom urinals chuckling and saying "that went well" to himself. what is his story
October 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
On our way out the door to school,
Kiddo: “Before we even go I need to say goodbye to our beloved pumpkins”
Kiddo: <kisses pumpkins goodbye>
October 15, 2025 at 5:00 AM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
Why can’t anything just be simple
The upc sticker on this pencil does NOT want to peel off cleanly
October 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Reposted by Tony Cliff
rosemarymosco.com
Spooky bird stories. Last year's Halloween comic.
A comic titled Spooky Bird Stories. In panel 1, a turkey vulture is telling stories to other vultures, and it says, "She walked toward the source of the terrible smell. She got closer and closer, and then, to her horror, she saw... No dead body." A black vulture says "No!" and a turkey vulture says "Did someone already eat it??" In panel 2, a northern cardinal is telling a story to some songbirds. It says "They peered through the windows of the house at the gory scene. Zombies had smashed through the door in the night. The homeowner was dead. But worst of all... He hadn't refilled the feeders." An eastern bluebird says "Aaah!" and an American goldfinch says "It can't be!". In panel 3, a screech owl is telling a story to other owls. It says "And then the ghost fluffed itself up really big to appear scarier." A saw-whet owl gasps, and a long-eared owl says "Horrifying!". In panel 4, a downy woodpecker is telling a story to other woodpeckers, and says "The eerie sound rang through the dark woods. Tap-tap. Tap-tap. It was the distinctive two-part knock of the Ivory-billed Woodpecker. The species had returned from the dead... FOR REVENGE." A red-cockaded woodpecker says "Yesss".
October 14, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Reposted by Tony Cliff
bifanoland.bsky.social
They look very cute side by side.
October 11, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Reposted by Tony Cliff
tangocharlie.bsky.social
It's time for an update to the DD4 / PDAP Production Diary,
looking at pencil drawings for Chapter Six, with eyes that haunt me (with their being hard to get right), difficult hand poses, and problems with perspective.

✏️ 👉 www.patreon.com/posts/rough-...
Blue-line drawing, three panels of a comic (with pigeon) Blue-line drawing, a tall, tall tower in an Eastern Mediterranean mode.
October 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
It's time for an update to the DD4 / PDAP Production Diary,
looking at pencil drawings for Chapter Six, with eyes that haunt me (with their being hard to get right), difficult hand poses, and problems with perspective.

✏️ 👉 www.patreon.com/posts/rough-...
Blue-line drawing, three panels of a comic (with pigeon) Blue-line drawing, a tall, tall tower in an Eastern Mediterranean mode.
October 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Reposted by Tony Cliff
katebeaton.bsky.social
I have letter to the editor this week in our local paper.
Our community is, once again, facing a developer who wants to turn public, protected coastal land into a golf course. We've been here before. This time, it's shadier. And God knows it was shady last time. www.invernessoran.ca/top-story/co...
October 8, 2025 at 1:13 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
This seems like a VERY handsome font

astronef.typofonderie.com/index.html

cc @wardjenkins.bsky.social
Astronef | Typofonderie
astronef.typofonderie.com
October 6, 2025 at 4:26 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
While scooping coffee beans, one fell, and I worried it would land on our coffee-bean coloured floor (frustrating). But it fell straight into the coffee grinder instead (convenient)!
Anyway we have to look for good omens wherever they present themselves, is all I’m saying.
October 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
Oh hellooo
kottke.org/25/10/quenti...
Quentin Blake: How I Draw
Illustrator Quentin Blake, who is most widely known for his energetic drawings for Roald Dahl’s books, generously shares h
kottke.org
October 5, 2025 at 3:00 AM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
I rarely go to thrift stores and I never flip through the vinyl records.
But I was there today and I found an old copy of an album I set out only HOPING I MIGHT find at the actual record store,
and now I’ll be chasing this high for the rest of my life, I guess
🤷‍♂️
October 5, 2025 at 12:36 AM
tangocharlie.bsky.social
🇨🇦 CANADIANS:
Sign this House of Commons petition to withdraw bill C-2!
The bill is bad, the petition is quick and easy.

Thank you, @jennykwan.bsky.social

👉 ✒️ www.ourcommons.ca/petitions/en...
Screenshot of the linked page, text below: Petition to the House of Commons Whereas: - Bill C-2, titled the “Strong Borders Act”, contains provisions that threaten fundamental rights and freedoms protected under Canadian and international law; - The Bill would grant law enforcement and national security agencies warrantless access to Canadians’ historical associations with organizations and businesses; - It would allow authorities to compel the disclosure of sensitive personal information, including geolocation data and contact details, based merely on suspicion of relevance to the investigation of offences under Acts of Parliament, regardless of individual involvement; - The Bill is designed to facilitate Canada's alignment with the United States' CLOUD Act and the United Nations Cybercrime Convention, raising serious concerns about foreign access to Canadians’ private data, including by regimes with poor human rights records; and - Bill C-2 undermines Canada’s obligations under international human rights instruments, particularly in relation to privacy rights and the fair treatment of migrants and refugees. We, the undersigned, citizens and residents of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Immediately withdraw Bill C-2 in its entirety; 2. Reaffirm Canada’s commitment to privacy, civil liberties, and international human rights standards; 3. Reject any legislative or policy initiatives that would enable foreign states, including the United States, to gain undue access to Canadians’ personal information; and 4. Ensure that national security and border-related legislation upholds the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and is subject to meaningful judicial oversight.
October 3, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Reposted by Tony Cliff
chappelltracker.bsky.social
Just look at how Phil de Guard rendered a hutch in this background painting for Bewitched Bunny (1954). Absolutely perfect level of fidelity for a quick pan. Absolutely obsessed with that dude
A cartoon witch with green skin, messy black hair, and a long crooked nose wears a teal dress and tall black hat while carrying Bugs Bunny in her arms. Bugs appears annoyed, his arms folded and ears drooping. Behind them is a light-green cabinet with white silhouettes of dishes and teapots, and a vase of red flowers on top. The wooden floor contrasts with the flat, pastel background.
October 3, 2025 at 12:18 AM