2012 in Review: Ben Stenbeck

Ben Stenbeck cover illustration for North & South

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

I got to spend another year drawing funny books. I had 3 weeks in Europe a few months ago with a bunch of kiwi comic artists.  It took flying to the other side of the world for most of us to find out that we all had a lot in common and got on really well.  Also I started drawing covers this year which i was nervous about but its been fun.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

James Harren.  Holy crap. His work simultaneously makes me want to give up comics altogether and make more comics. And hes only 25. Massimo Carnivale maybe my favourite painter of all time. Heres his blog with paintings from movies  http://sketchesnatched.blogspot.com

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

'Adventure time' I cant get enough. And the soothing Viking death metal of 'Amon Amarth'. Dont you judge me, its fun music if you dont take it seriously and just enjoy it. And the game Skyrim, but dont tell my Wife or my editor about that one.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I set up a new desk just for Inking.  spicing things up.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I get to draw some stuff later in the year that will be significant for anyone whos been following Baltimore. Ill be doing More covers, Vol 3 Of Baltimore will be released (which might be the best one yet). And another year of drawing funny books! Also hearing all the explanations as to why the world didnt end on December 21st. My money is on no-one considering the possibility that it was all bullshit from the start. It'll be a gas. Merry Christmas.

http://benstenbeck.com/

2012 in Review: Pat Grant

Pat Grant

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

My first book came out, got reviewed all over the place and sold pretty well. That was a highlight. Also, going to America with the Caravan of Nerds was amazing. Michael Hawkins taught me how to eat doughnuts like a man and I came home with this massive belly. I've never done conventions before because fandom creeps me out a little bit, but I found it really interesting. I discovered some neat things about my drawing after being forced to draw in each book I sold. Doing this fast, high pressure, disposable art that I will never see again somehow liberated me from the clenched anus approach to drawing that I've always had.
 
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
I met some cool people in America. We met Sam Sharp and Jeremy Tinder in Chicago. They really do some great comics and I don't know that I would have met them had I not been in the States. Oh yeah, I've been enjoying watching my friend Sam Alden become this amazing comics ninja with every piece he finishes. I also had my honeymoon at his Mum and Dad's house in Portland which was strange but wonderful. Annie Koyama is possible the most fascinating person in comics. Who is she? Is she real? Or is she like, an angel sent down by the god of nerds to help up takeover the world?
 
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Breaking Bad, really surprised me. I just popped out of the cliched trope , you know, the "unlikely suburbanite flirts with the underworld" and has become something entirely more interesting. My favourite thing about it is the setting in Albuquerque, this amazing blend of  ghetto, desert border town, and leave-it-to-beaver suburbia.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Normally I draw big, sometimes three times the size of the reproduction, but this year what little drawing I have done has been at the exact size that I am reproducing the work.Here's what I've learned: It fucken sucks balls. Comics are supposed to be drawn large, as large as possible, and don't let any silly miniaturist tell you otherwise.

I've also been writing for an hour every week day. A sprawling crime-adventure comic that may or may not ever get drawn. Sure is fun to write though.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

World War Z? Nah, kidding. I just want to finish of my stupid PhD so I can get a brainless job and devote more time to the next book.

 http://www.patgrantart.com/

2012 in Review: Daniel Reed

Daniel Reed

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
I think Pat Grants 'Blue' was a great achievement, those spreads where the kids are on the rail line amongst all of the crazy vegetation were just amazing. I also liked Sam Wallman's 'Being Born is Going Blind' and lots of others.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012? 

I had seen bits and pieces of Charles Burns work before, but I read 'Black Hole' for the first time this year. Has to be said that it stuck in my head for ages. The line work is so clean, dark and emotive. The weird story marries perfectly to the images.

I also read 'Safe Area Gorazde' by Joe Sacco. It was certainly not as easy to read as 'Black Hole' but succeeded in many other ways. I think the reporting (of the war in Eastern Bosnia 1992-95), in comic format had a much greater impact on me than it would have done had I seen it in a documentary format. Not sure that I can put my finger on why...
 
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Was introduced to "The Game of Thrones" TV series, which is cool. Gigs by 'The Mountain Goats', 'Bonnie Prince Billie' and Robert Forester were all really enjoyable. "Graphic Novels! Melbourne!" documentary was a hoot!

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
Working a lot in colour at the moment. Compositing together water colour, ink and pencil images in PhotoShop.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?
 
Getting to as many book launches, drawing nights and meet-ups as I can. Writing and drawing as much as I can. Seeing Hawthorn beat the Cats for the first time since 2008. Other than that, my title "Grubby Little Smudges of Filth" is due out in limited release hard cover sometime in 2013, so I'm looking forward to that too.

Grubby Little Smudges of Filth

2012 in Review: Colin Wilson

Colin Wilson

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Undoubtedly, for me the highlight of my year was attending the Frankfurt Book Fair in Germany during October, along with Dylan Horrocks, Ben Stenbeck, Greg Broadmore, and Roger Langridge. Who would have thought that such a gang of comic reprobates would be included in the Official New Zealand Delegation to the biggest Book Fair in the world? NZ comics were invisible 35 years ago when I published the first issue of Strips, and look where we've got to now! If things carries on like this, in another 30 years we'll probably be considered part of mainstream publishing.........

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

For a variety of reasons, I don't actually read a lot of comics these days, but thanks to the internet I recently discovered a couple of European artists that have both really impressed me a lot. At a recent Supernova Con here in Australia Greg Gates introduced me to the work of Italian artist Corrado Mastantuono, who's work on Tex and other Italian comic stories I was completely unaware of, and, while i guess he is not strictly speaking a comic artists, everything I find by Marcos Mateu-Mestre just blows me away. He's an Spanish artist who has worked for, amongst other, Dreamworks and Sony Pictures Animation in the States.... check out his website at http://marcosmateu.net/.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

There's life outside of comics?
 

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

The biggest change to my working method this year is that I've finally had the chance to slow down a little. Most of my comic work from the last few years has been for mainstream US Comic Publishers, and while it has been a lot of fun, I've found the constant deadlines really started to wear me down. About 12 months ago I decided that I needed to step off that runaway train, at least for a while, and started to accept more offers for European work. It is where my comic heart lies anyway, and my recent book signing tour of France, Germany and Belgium convinced me that I've made the right decision. The quality of comic work being produced over there these days is really impressive, and it was refreshing to discover that their biggest problem appears to be the sheer volume of books being published each year.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

World peace? Well, clearly that ain't gonna to happen, so I guess the highlight for me in 2013 will be starting work on my new series for Delcourt in France. Over the last couple of years I've worked on a couple of Jour J books for Delcourt, and I've recently signed on for a completely new project that is currently being written for me by the two writers of that series, Fred Duval and Jean-Pierre Pécau. I haven't had the chance to work on something entirely original for France for about 20 years, and so this is going to be a real challenge for me. I can't wait to get started.....

http://wilco4400.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Paul Mason

Paul Mason

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Highlights? Oh man, 2012 has been very big, and extremely kind to me, so I hope I don’t bore you with my rundown. I “soldiered on” (yes, you’re damn right that pun was intended) with two more issues of ‘The Soldier Legacy’, plus a volume 1 trade paperback, published by Black House Comics. I also continued with my back up story with Christopher Sequeira in ‘Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes #8’, and another collaborative story that we’re hoping we can spin off to something larger in 2013, which I’m excited about. A sketch book also produced for my second trip to SDCC, which helped kick some goals. That trip, with the people and companies that Chris and I met with while we were over there, was a massive boost to the cartooning morale. At the very least, it was a strong validation to me that I’m not wasting my time scribbling, despite not being the most photorealistic of comic artists. (I won’t name drop; I’ll sound even more like a douche bag.) But at the very least, thank you Chris and Baden.

My other highlights were thanks to the good people at Supanova Pop Culture Expo, who had me as a guest in Melbourne, Gold Coast and Brisbane. The tours were fantastic, and chatting to the top guys of current mainstream comics was a blast. My last biggest highlight was thanks to the good folks of Oz Comic-Con, who very kindly had me, and a great line up of other Australian comic book makers, as guests at their Melbourne event. Chatting to Stan Lee about ‘The Soldier Legacy’ was very surreal.
 
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
I didn’t get a lot of regular comic reading in this year. But, there are a couple of creators: Tristan Jones, a Melbourne writer and artist (TMNT, Ghostbusters for IDW, and upcoming Sebastian Hawks), was also a guest at the cons I was at, and I got to see much of his illustration output as well as more of his writing. His digital illustration line has this lovely, “inky wire frame to hyper realistic” layered effect: a building of blacks, spatter, “grit” and lines that overlay and piece together these highly detailed, dark and disturbing, shadowy images.... I’m hopeless at describing them, google it. I finally got to read the complete volume of ‘The List’ by Paul Bedford, Henry Pop and Tom Bonin - I’ve been mates of Paul  for a while, but wanted to wait until I had the intended completion. I really enjoyed it; it’s the sort of book that dwells on your thoughts hours after you’ve put it down. Though I think I was more disturbed by the fact that I didn’t find it disturbing. I need some therapy, I think... ;P Bobby N’s “No Map but not lost” was fantastic.

The rest for 2012 are mostly older published stuff: I picked up Essential Rawhide Kid and discovered some of Jack Davis’s westerns for Atlas/Marvel. At the time I thought his figures in motion reminded me of Frank Robbins, until I was put on to Harvey Kurtzman; specifically his stories from Two-Fisted Tales and Frontline combat, during at conversation/portfolio review from Howard Chaykin (which would rival Alex Toth's review of Steve Rude. It’s almost word for word, just throw in a few “bullsh**”s ;P). I can see where I think Kurtzman’s figures, poses and ink line had influenced Jack Davis’s stuff. I’m wondering if Kurtzman did the layouts for the EC artists in some of these stories (?). And yes, Kurtzman would be another one. His stuff is fantastic- deceptively simple in detail, but thick line gives his drawings a very expressive look- contrasting with the more realistic styles that feature in the title (like Severin and Wood). The storytelling is very emotive, and layouts, much like Kirby post 1940’s,  show you can still have big impact through pose, camera choice and simple panels over flashy layouts of some modern books . Corpse on the Imjin is probably my favourite, Rubble ticks all the boxes re: layouts, story, passage of time, empathy etc.
 
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Again, I was chained to the drawing table, so didn’t get to the cinema much. I did manage to see a few pics, which I enjoyed:  ‘the Avengers’, ‘SkyFall’, ‘Argo’, and ‘The Dark Knight Rises’.

I began lecturing in semester 2, so got to pick up a few classics on DVD that I always wanted to see, and show as parts of the class. Really though, I’m just a sucker for war and westerns, so any excuses was good enough. I enjoyed ‘The Magnificent Seven’ (not often a Hollywood remake is good, right? ;P), Clint Eastwood’s ‘Pale Rider’, and Steve McQueen’s ‘Hell is for Heroes’.

I also managed to drag myself away from the drawing board, and dipped my toe back into one of my old hobbies- Taekwon-do. Specifically, tournament fighting. I honestly thought I was Danny Glover when I did my first lesson back, just before the NSW state titles. But I managed to remember enough to take out the division, then rinse and repeat at the Australian titles, and earn a place on the Australian team for my 4th stint at the World ITF Championships next year in Korea. As long as I don’t bankrupt myself or break my drawing hand on some poor competitor’s face, I’ll be ok.
 
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Hmmm, not really. I guess if someone’s interested in my nonsense, I did try to experiment with a different production method for every issue I do, if that counts. So what I mean is, for instance, with issue 4 I experimented with the Shitagaki method of writing a comic, from Colleen Doran’s Master class talk late last year (basically, post-it note sized thumbnail page layouts- no script). It’s a little Marvel method-y, but for a solo dude: thumbnail the thing, including balloon placements etc. With issue 5, I took onboard John Barber’s comments to me re: trying simplified layouts, so much of the pages contain horizontal “storyboard style” panels, rather than vertical, or diagonal layouts I tended to use for action pages. Trying to show what is needed in 1 panel, rather than 3, was another consideration I tried from talking with W. Chew Chan (so being more concise with camera choices); That sort of thing. Nothing drastic, just tune-ups based on talking it out and learning, try to take onboard as much advice as I can to hopefully improve.
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I’m looking at 2013, and it already has me wincing :P

Comic book wise; failing an apocalypse, my current story arc will wrap up in 2013, so I’m looking forward to that.  A new TPB of the last couple of issues will probably be on the cards, a possible issue of this new project maybe? Yes. Let’s stay open-minded. I think a one-shot of the ‘Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes’ back up story is planned once I wrap up the last chapter. I’m looking forward to finishing this damn Doctoral thesis- I struggled this year to balance the drawing commitments with the reference reading, writing and typing commitments this thing demands.

There are a couple of things collaboratively that I’m waiting on, and hoping to hear news of. But in the meantime, I’m not struggling to find something to do. And travel. Lots and lots of travel planned in the diary.
I think ultimately, I’m just looking forward to seeing what 2013 can do for me; I figure all we can ever do is “stick to the plan”, whatever that may entail in your or my case (unless your plan is “sit around, doodle, and pray.” That plan sucks. Don’t do that plan). Work hard.

http://pm-comic.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Scarlette Baccini

Scarlette Baccini

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Being a part of the Big Arse 2 launch was really special. I launched Zombolette, which is a collection of my comics about a zombie and her mutant guinea-pig best friend. Over the years I've come to care deeply for these characters, and I was really proud to see it all finished and in the hands of real-life nerds.

Watching Graphic Novels! Melbourne! at Readings with the good vibes of the local comic book community was also a mega highlight. I've always been a bit of a hermit in comic book land, but there's a real buzz in Melbourne comics at the moment, and finally being a part of it this year has been wonderful. The film kind of summed it up for me.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

This year I discovered Warren Ellis, who created such a massive and wonderfully realised world that I felt totally lost in the landscape. I also very happily discovered about a zillion local creators. Tim Molloy's It Shines and Shakes and Laughs was so moody and delicious, I
can't wait to see more of his work. Ben Hutchings' Lesson Master killed me, and I think Walking to Japan is one of the loveliest creations I've seen. Discovering the prolificacy of Frank Candiloro was also really inspiring.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Seven Psychopaths! Possibly my favourite film of 2012. I'd been having conniptions over drawing a lot of violence in a new comic I'm working on, and that film helped me to sort out my feelings on the matter.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I used to be very haphazard about drawing, and so years of strangling pencils whilst sitting awkwardly on the floor has given me pretty awful RSI. A few months ago I got my hands on a proper drawing board, started sitting at a desk, and learnt how to use brushes. It's been a bit rough learning to use all these new tools, but I'm sure I'll thank myself later.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Finishing a Zombolette graphic novel, and a few other shorter projects that are a bit out of my comfort zone.

http://scarlettebaccini.com/

2012 in Review: Rebecca Clements

 Rebecca Clements

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

It must be just coming back to comics. I hadn't worked on any for so long and then with all my fresh motivation, I came back to Melbourne, got an exciting, rad studio in the middle of the city and suddenly had the freedom to work on comics and illustration again. Just that has been the best.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

I don't think I've discovered any cartoonists. Sounds terrible but I just had no time for it this year, and enjoyed and needed mentally the distance from comics for awhile. Since I've been back, I've been just working on my own stuff constantly so no time for reading comics! Perhaps next year.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Game of Thrones season 2. Over and over.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
Working at all. But yes, compared to how I used to work last year, I have cut out a lot of crap. I got rid of a lot of excuses I used to find to not work, got rid of the crappy bits of my ego, and I work on projects I really like, that are manageable, and I keep working, and work some more, etc. Part of it is being FAR less social. But it's marvelous for productivity.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?
 
Hopefully working a lot more! Producing a couple of books would be nice. And improving and pushing myself more and more. And maybe going in some new career directions.

http://kinokofry.com/

2012 in Review: T-Rex Jones

T-Rex Jones ( Photo by Bruce Moyle - Joffre Street Productions)

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Two highlights -- I finally started writing AND drawing my own stuff. It's been a long time coming and a lot of confidence issues booted in the arse thanks to the tremendous support of other professionals (and great friends) out there in the industry, but I'm finally doing it! The second highlight is meeting those folks and finally finding myself connected to like-minded individuals, many of whom (as I said) are some of the best friends a guy could ask for.
 
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
There are a few. Rob Paolucci's a dude from Western Australia living over in New York now who has a really great sense of style and design. His layouts are particularly impressive and sense of movement from one frame to the next is something I find myself trying to emulate a fair bit now. He helped layout a fairly prominent book this past year and I got to see a bit of it. He's also got a real eye for dynamic movement in characters.

Guiseppe Camuncoli is an artist I'd been reading in Hellblazer for ages now, but really only just switched onto earlier in the year. I really love the way he details features -- hands, faces -- it's extremely emotive stuff. REALLY emotive stuff.

I've really only just started stepping outside of my safety zone recently, so a lot of the newer stuff -- the different stufff -- I've been getting has been from creators most people already know, but in doing that I've started finding new people and new things. I really like want Brent Schoonover and Jason Copland are doing. I really only got a solid look in on Emily Smith's work this year, too. All three of them are on to big, big things in the future, you watch!
 
 What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Adventure Time has basically validated my somewhat ridiculous thought processes. I'm loving X-COM: Enemy Unknown. I've been buying up a lot of film scores on vinyl. I always like having things to listen to when I work, and it's usually film scores, but over the years I found that there were soundtracks and scores that were only ever released on vinyl or were better on vinyl so I've been slowly accumulating a nice little library of obscure film scores.
 
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
Yeah, I switched mainly to digital, then switched again and went from digital pencils to inking traditionally. The range of experimentation I get working digitally is amazing and it's really made me much more aware of what I'm doing and how I can achieve certain things visually in other ways, particularly traditionally.
 
 What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Getting my first creator owned material out into the wild! I'm also planning a fairly dramatic shift in geographic placement sometime next year, so it should be interesting... See how it all goes.

http://t-rexjones.deviantart.com/?rnrd=43299

2012 in Review: Andrew Fulton

Andrew Fulton

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

My 2012 highlight would have to have been travelling to Mocca and TCAF with the Caravan, meeting up with cartooning weirdos on another continent. That was a good time in so many different ways. Getting the Minicomics of the Month club back up and rolling again has been fun too - I'm really enjoying what's been coming out of that.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

I have been getting right into Steven Weissman - his Barack Hussein Obama was something pretty special in a way I find difficult to articulate. It's just the right blend of magic and nonsense, and the surface quality of his ink and zipatone combination is a wonder. I am shamelessly copying his whole deal.

I don't think he has put out any actual comics, I've been following Andrew Schick on instagram. He has this interesting, loose way of putting a drawing together that I like a lot. Instagram is a pretty fun place to follow cartoonists

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

My experience of things that aren't comics is sadly slim. I have enjoyed a *heap* of tweets. I have been really getting into Homeland, the Clare Danes terrorist tv show. I also got an rdio subscription, so have been listening to a lot more music than I have previously. I really don't know much about music at all.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I don't think my working method has changed all that much at all. I think maybe my drawing has become looser? I've been trying to plan and edit things a bit better too - I usually just start drawing on the top left of a piece of paper and hope that I can get at least a hint of somewhere by the time I get to the bottom right. There's been a higher percentage of strips I've made this year where I have made actual, considered decisions, and reworked things rather than just abandoned them.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 
I have literally no clue what is going to happen next year.

http://mumblier.com/

2012 in Review: Darren Close

Darren Close (photo by Bobby N)

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Getting a new Killeroo book out after about 7 years hiatus was pretty good, but returning to the collaboration side of things for a BIG book next year would probably be the highlight - so much talent in this country that hasn't been given its due thus far. And continuing to develop my own artwork has been particularly rewarding as well.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

There's probably too many to name that fall into this category, mainly due to their entries to the OzComics Drawing Challenge on Facebook. Sacha Bryning, Steve Boyd, Rob O'Connor, Louie Joyce, Adam Rose, Arthur Strickland, Louisa Ginivan, Gee Hale, Mark Lauthier, David Follett, Aly Close, Greg Holfield... and that's just a few of them! Such a variety of great artistic styles too.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

What is this "non-comics" you speak of?

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Brush pens. My style has changed dramatically since I discovered Kuretake brush pens (thanks Sacha!), they're fantastic. I'm happy to have introduced many other artists to these great pens too, most of which have also enjoyed the difference they have brought to their own work.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

More Killeroo! I have an enormous amount of Killeroo material building up at present, and I'm very driven to re-establish the character with a series of one-shots, appearances in other comics, and the mammoth GANGWARS ANTHOLOGY book/s due for release in mid-2013. I'm also looking forward to seeing Australian creators continue to produce their own comics, the level of quality has really been stepped up over the last couple of years - it's very inspiring!

www.killeroo.com

Darren is also the founder of the weekly drawing group Ozcomics

2012 in Review: Roger Langridge

 Roger Langridge

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

I guess the biggest highlight for me was winning an Eisner award for Snarked! I was first nominated for an Eisner waaay back in 2003 when I was doing Fred the Clown - so I've been banging my head against that particular door for a decade. It was especially gratifying to finally win it for something I originated myself rather than for a corporate property, too.

It was also a blast to finally get to do something with Tom Neely. Tom and I had talked about doing something together for ages, and this year we finally got to do an issue of Popeye together - the perfect vehicle for us both, as it turns out. I'd love to work with Tom again.

2012 is also the year I decided not to do any more work for Marvel. There are issues over the way Jack Kirby's heirs have been treated which tipped me over the edge, but really, I was heading that way anyway. I don't think I have anything Marvel wants, and Marvel don't really have anything I want, so I think we're both quite happy with the arrangement.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012? 

 Pat Grant's Blue was pretty wonderful, I thought. Really solid command of craft in the service of a compelling and personal story. Luke Pearson was another new discovery for me this year - I liked his book Everything We Miss for similar reasons. They're occupying similar aesthetic territory, I guess - it seems to be the territory that I find I want to explore lately. Measured, immersive storytelling and a kind of controlled restraint, with a fully-realised, polished style that still allows a degree of humanity. (If that makes any sense.)

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012? 

I saw Daniel Kitson's stand-up for the first time earlier this year, that was great. There was some excellent comedy on TV - Sharon Horgan and Holly Walsh's Dead Boss, the second series of Simon Amstell's Grandma's House, Stewart Lee's Comedy Vehicle, The Thick of It, Dirk Gently, all pretty terrific. On the literary side, Dave Shelton's children's book, A Boy and a Bear in a Boat, has the makings of an all-time classic.
 

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Yes - with writing, I've recently been doing little thumbnails in a notebook before typing up my scripts. I started doing it when I found myself getting blocked with writing The Rocketeer and it freed things up somehow, so I've carried on doing it.

On the artwork side, I'm trying to move away from digital trickery - I've had this bee in my bonnet lately about having the artwork look as much like the printed work as possible, so I'm moving back to hand-lettering and cross-hatching, and away from digital lettering and mechanical tones. I'm much happier with the pages I've done this way. Next is to get back to brushes and nibs; I switched to markers halfway through Snarked! to keep it on schedule, and the printed work looks fine, but I can tell the difference, even if nobody else can. So - back to traditional media. What can I say?... I like having inky fingers.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 
Seeing my Mum and Dad. I'm visiting New Zealand in February for their 50th wedding anniversary - my Mum's currently recovering from cancer, so we're lucky they got this far. Counting a lot of blessings this year.

On the creative side, I'm looking forward to doing some personal work! Right now I'm doing Popeye and The Rocketeer, both of which I'm enjoying immensely, but nothing compares to putting your own creations down on paper and setting them loose into the world. More of that, please.

http://hotelfred.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Mandy Ord

Mandy Ord

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

 

Travelling with the Caravan oc Comics to NY MoCCA and Toronto TCAF to attend both festivals. Meeting a few canadian comic heroes of mine.

 

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?            

 

I discovered a wonderful graphic novel by Joyce Farmer...called Special Exits. The story of her aging parents reminded me of the scope for storytelling that comics possess. I found more Julia Wertz books....in particular The Infinite Wait...great stuff...very funny and insightful...honest..and well told....can't put it down once I've started.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

 

I recently read Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E Frakl...a memoir of a Psychiatrist and holocaust survivor. Inspiring and eye opening. Also Stephen Crane....a writer published in the 1890's...wrote a short story called ' Maggie A Girl of the streets'. A candid piece of writing about the harsh lives of the poor living in the slums in New York. I recently saw the new Ken Loach film...The Angel Share...gritty drama with awesome humour and a happy ending- phew!. Boardwalk Empire has been an addictive TV series as well as watching detective Lund in Forbrydelsen..a Danish thriller/TV series.

 

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year? 

 

I've been inspired to read more and write more to improve my storytelling.

 

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 

Starting and finishing a new project with Finlay Lloyd. Educating myself more about visual literacy and comprehension.

 

http://mandyord.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in review: Toby Morris

 Toby Morris

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

I've had a great experience working on my book about my son, 'Don't Puke on your Dad'. That's been a really cool time and I've had a lot of fun translating that into drawings. I had a couple of exhibitions this year which were a good experience - gotta do more of those. And I moved back to NZ which has been a huge change, but a lot of fun to catch up with all the good stuff going on here, lots of good stuff happening here, it's exciting.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

 
The first half of the year I was living in Europe and before I left I got really into the art of Bastien Vives, a young french guy. He has a lovely loose expressive style which can be quite different from book to book - I love 'Dans Mes Yeux' where he does this quite frantic loose coloured pencils thing, very human and beautiful, then in a book like 'Polina' its all black and white, blobby and sort of stilted. Quite primitive.

I'm told he's great writer too but my french is really basic so I'm 90% looking at the pictures really. But he is certainly a good storyteller, you can see that.
 

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I've got a young kid now so I'm developing a new appreciation for children's books. I loved 'Where Is My Hat' by Jon Klassen - really simple and funny.
 

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I've been trying to be looser and more expressive I guess. Less rigid, make sure I'm only drawing things I'm enjoying.
 

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I want to have a proper crack at doing a kids book at the moment. I've done bits and pieces but never really gone for it. Try to get my 'Don't Puke' book publishers. More exhibitions. Getting married. Enjoying an NZ summer.

http://xtotl.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Joshua Santospirito

Joshua Santospirito

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
Finishing drawing the Long Weekend ... which took me many years! And in November I had an exhibition of crazy comics that spread across an entire small room in a gallery - I worked on them for about a year so that was tops too.
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
Anders Nilsen's "Big Questions" com...plete...ly turned my world upside down. I can't really put it into words though why. I KNOW why ... I just don't know quite how to put it into words ... other than to say it was quite breath-taking ... and perhaps I shouldn't even try any further to put it into words as it might cheapen the experience for me ... just read it.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Ryoji Ikeda's multimedia (possibly the weakest noun for what I witnessed) performance at the MONA FOMA in Hobart in January was mind-blowing. It was like he opened up your skull and placed the entire universe inside it and then shut it with a loud *clunk*.
 
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Yes - the exhibition that I did involved me designing comics that were designed to be spread across the wall and read on the wall, as opposed to on the page in a book or even one single sheet. So that was quite radical for me! The Sleuth exhibit at Inflight Art gallery was all about surrounding the reader with the world so it was really fun and liberating - John Retallick pointed out that it was sort of related to McCloud's infinite canvas.
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Doing Chris Downes and my performance of The Shipwright and the Banshee at the 2013 MONA FOMA in Hobart - it's a comics-related performance. AND Printing and promoting The Long Weekend in Alice Springs.

http://joshuasantospiritoart.com/

2012 in Review: Tim Gibson

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Launching my Online Graphic Novel www.MothCity.com has been massive for me. It’s a story that I’ve wanted to tell for many years, and it’s exciting to have it up there for people to read. It’s a project that I really love doing, and that I’ve poured my soul into for many years, so it’s really a giant sigh of relief that it is out there and readable, but also so great looking forward into 2013 and where the story, characters and website will go.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012? 
 
I’ve been delving into some old EC comics via a great book called ‘Four Color Fear’, and have recently been enjoying the art and stories of Hugo Pratt, via ‘Corto Maltese – The Ballad of the Salt Sea.’ I’ve enjoyed both books for their old fashioned yarns and beautiful art work. For more recent modern work I enjoyed reading a short series called ‘The Cape’ written by Jason Ciaramella and Joe Hill, with art by Zach Howard and Nelson Daniel.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I just went to the exhibition of ‘The Gloaming’ which is the sculptures and art of an old Weta Workshop friend of mine, Johnny Fraser-Allen. It is a beautiful combination of Johnny obsessions; film sculpting, fantasy art and storytelling. You can learn more about it on its facebook page http://www.facebook.com/JohnnyFraserAllensTheGloamingTrilogy

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I’ve been working predominantly for myself this year, which is a big change. I previously had a central city studio at the start of the year before setting up in my apartment, where I’ve been steadily working. This, combined with the fact that I’ve working more hours on my comic than I ever did in 3D animation means I’m not getting out a lot…

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

The continuation of the Moth City story I’ve got a solid buffer of pages in my back pocket, and they’re being published every week published online at www.MothCity.com, so I’m really looking forward to the reactions to that work.  I’ll also be getting back into some freelance illustration, animation and graphic design work to keep my ‘Clark Kent’ career ticking.
 

www.MothCity.com

2012 in Review: Marijka Gooding

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Being introduced to the Melbourne comic book scene and all its lovely people. I think because the Melbourne scene is still quite young there is this stronger feeling of camaraderie and support amongst its members.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012? 

Early this year I discovered the Nobrow books. Nobrow are a small, independant publishing group from the UK, started in 2008, who specialize in beautifully crafted, one off comics and publications. Their work hit home for me the importance of looking at books as physical objects and as commodities to be kept and admired.  This pushed me to see my own work as a final, packaged product and take into consideration basic aesthetics like the weight and feel of a book.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

Mostly due to the comic book (Gooding's debut graphic novel, Strange Behavior.), I've been a bit of a shut in this year so my most enjoyable moments have been mostly small wins, like the day I found a slightly squished Caramello Koala wedged in between the couch cushions.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I am happy to say that this year I finally become friends with typography. After undergoing, and almost failing, first year typography classes at Uni, I had written myself off as never being any good at it. I found the whole thing so intimidating with its strict conventions and anal retentive specifications that I completely avoided using type in any of my work. It wasn't until I started to collecting examples of type myself (old tins, on the side of old trucks, wrappers, vintage signage, comics) that I started to really love it.
 
I noticed that the work of the comic artists I admired (particularly Dan Clowes, Chris Ware and Charles Burns) all had this strong, graphical consideration of type and I think that all stems from their mutual respect for both the written word and image. I wish someone had shown me sooner how exciting and varied type could be.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 

The Big Arse 3 comics launch scheduled March next year.

 http://www.marijkagooding.com/

2012 in Review: Dylan Horrocks

Dylan Horrocks

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

I'm currently drawing the last two chapters of 'Sam Zabel & the Magic Pen' volume 1, which is pure pleasure. Also: drawing a whole lot of watercolour commissions earlier in the year; hanging out with fellow NZ cartoonists Colin Wilson, Roger Langridge, Chris Slane, Ben Stenbeck, Greg Broadmore and Rufus Dayglo in Italy and Germany.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012? 

Simon Hanselmann. Requires no elaboration. His brilliance is self-evident: http://girlmountain.tumblr.com/

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012? 

Mad Men. Been watching it obsessively (all 5 seasons) and it's become a serious addiction.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I now adore using watercolour, after years of being scared of it. So far, I've only been using it for sketches & commissions, but we shall see...

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Finishing 'Sam Zabel & the Magic Pen' volume 1. Starting volume 2. 

 http://hicksvillecomics.com/

2012 in Review: Jason Franks

Over December I'll be running some brief year in review interviews with Australian and New Zealand cartoonists and comic folk. Kicking things off today with a good friend of mine, Melbourne writer/cartoonist Jason Franks.

Jason Franks

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?

Without question, the highlight for my own work has been McBLACK TWO SHOT. It's not the first time I've worked with Bruce Mutard but it's the first of our work together that's seen print. Putting his highly polished and traditional art style next to Luke Pickett's brilliant crayon-and-notepad sequence, then Rhys James' super-modern digital painting and J. Stew's atmospheric, underground nightmares... I am ridiculously proud of this combination of artists.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

This year has been all about Image for me. I've been mates with Justin Jordan for many years, so Luther Strode probably doesn't count, but a lot of my favourite new mainstream books have been Image stablemates. Green Wake by Wiebe and Rossmo. Who Is Jake Ellis? by Edmondson and Zonjic. Also this is the year I finally cottoned onto Locke and Key by Hill and Rodriguez.

My other big find has been Naoki Urasawa. I tried Pluto a couple of years ago and it wasn't my cup of tea; but this year I discovered that three of the manga books I was most interested in (old and new) are by Urasawa. Monster and 20th Century Boys are every bit as good as they are reputed to be, and I'm dying to get my hands of an English version of Billy Bat.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed this year?

I've probably found myself reading more prose than I have for the last few years. This year it's been a lot of Richard Morgan, John Steinbeck, Greg Palast, Evan Wright, China Mieville and Richard Stark. Some of these are old favourites, some are something new. On TV the only thing I've really cared for has been Breaking Bad.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

I'm trying to put out a bit more prose fiction than I have in the last few years. Publishing my first novel has sort of opened my eyes to the opportunities in that world and the comics business is a bit sickly right now. I mean, when using Kickstarter to avoid the entire traditional marketplace is the great white hope for original comics you know there are problems. That said, I have a LOT of comics projects in the works and hopefully a lot more of them will drop in 2013 than we've seen in the last 2 years. I'm focusing on longer work--graphic novels and miniseries, as opposed to short stories and anthologies--and it takes a lot of time to get these bigger projects up and running.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Putting out more comics. There should be more McBlack and more Sixsmiths, but also, if things go well, a bunch of completely new stuff in a variety of genres. Hope to sell my second novel, too. I'm also looking forward to watching the continued growth of the local scene and to reading awesome new comics from local publishers. 

http://www.jasonfranks.com/