Happy Belated Birthday (Yesterday) Tim Danko

I'll put the lateness of this post down to spending a large part of yesterday on planes, buses and trams.

Places To Put Your Money

Chromacon, the upcoming New Zealand Illustration and Comic Art Festival are five days out from the end of their crowdfunding campaign on Pledgeme. As of this writing they are about $200 short of their target.
 

Ben Hutchings is primarily known as a musician but he does have a sideline making comics. Ben's publisher Milk Shadow Books have a Hutchings sale on at the MSB store.


A fine cover by Hutchings' band Tootleg Boy of Limahl's sublime classic The Never Ending Story. One time I listened to this for two hours straight and came out a better man for it.

Ive Sorocuk's latest mini comic Everybody Comics Face is available to order online.

Bathwater Books have two recent comics by Scarlette Baccini.

The Silent Army Online Store offer comics by a fine selection of cartoons including Tim Danko, David C. Mahler, Jase Harper, Simon Hanselmann, M P Fikaris and more.

Confessions Of A Rookie Film Maker & Comic Book Virus

Clint Cure launches the first three issues of Confessions of a Rookie Film Maker this Friday at the Silent Army Storeroom,110 Franklin Street, Melbourne City. Cure will be screening three of his short films: The Lecture, Retribution and Hanging at Picnic Rock, an '80s B-Grade action take on an Aussie classic featuring zombies and lesbian bikers.

Facebook it.

All six parts of Clint Cure's Comic Book Virus documentaries about Melbourne comic book artists made in collaboration with Garry Donnellan, Dave Rhodes and Craig Rideout are now online at youtube. Comic Book Virus was originally aired on Optus Local Vision in 1997. Cartoonists featured include: Fred Negro, Aaron O'Donnel, Michael Fikaris, James Dunlevie, Tim Danko, Neale Blanden, Gregory MacKaye, Gerald Carr, Bruce Mutard, Greg Gates, Sal Lima, Scott Stuart, Phil Wlodarczyk, Ian Gunn, Edo Fuijshot, John Petropoulos, John Weeks, Athonk, Amber Carvan, Mick Wilson. Dillon Naylor, Wyin Law, Jason Badower, Alice Mrongrovious, Nicola Hardy and Peter Savieri.

Comic Book Virus - Melbourne Comic Scene

A two part document of the Melbourne comics scene in the late 1990's condensed down from a six part documentary produced by Clint Cure, Garry Donnellon, Dave Rhodes and Craig Rideout. Originally aired on Optus Local Vision in 1997, artists featured include Fred Negro, Aaron O'donnel, Michael Fikaris, James Dunlevie, Tim Danko, Neale Blanden, Gregory MacKaye and Dillon Naylor.

Comic Book Virus Part One

Comic Book Virus Part Two

Thanks to David Blumenstein for the Hat-tip.

Paper Trail

Some of this edition of Paper Trail goes back a few months as I play catch up with old bookmarks and various scraps of paper.

Jerome Bihan interviews contributors to his Radio As Paper anthology on the Awry Comics blog. Tim Danko here and Ralphi here.

Peter Jetnikoff reviews Graphic Novels! Melbourne!. Emmett O'Cuana reviews the Melbourne comics scene doco here.

Graphic Novels! Melbourne! Co-film maker Bernard Caleo writes about his serialised mini comic Mongrel and taking Graphic Novels! Melbourne! international.

Bernard Caleo portrait by Gina Kalabishis

Sam Wallman previews work from his forthcoming Australian history anthology.

  Luke Bren

Html Flowers shares pages of Bright Threadz #2 here and here.

  Chris Slane reveals the truth about comics and art.

  
Sam Wallman discovers the work of mid nineteenth century Melbourne artist Edward Wilson in the National Library of Victoria here.

 
Roger Langridge shares his cover design process for the last issue of IDW's Popeye.

Lunchtime monster portraits from Toby Morris

  
Bruce Mutard previews his contribution to the multiple artist, Jason Franks written The Sixsmiths vol. 2.

 

The Watcha podcast review a pile of 'fun' Australian comics.

Sam Orchard is in the last few days of an original art sale here.

Joshua Santospirito shares his design process for the cover of his forthcoming graphic novel The Long Weekend in Alice Springs.

 
Steve Holland at Bear Alley shares The Vulture, a parody of The Eagle from the pages of mid twentieth century English magazine, Lilliput. The Vulture features work by Australian cartoonist Arthur Horner, later the creator of Colonel Pewter which ran from 1952 to 1970, in England and Australia. The complete 18 year run of Colonel Pewter featured in Melbourne's The Age.

 
Parenting cartoons, The Little Things, by Peter Lole and Matt Lawrey.

Ness at Aggressive Comics interviews Tim Molloy.

FEC Comics feature on Guy Fi podcast

 FEC Men Steve Sparke and BMB

Go buy some Clayton Noone and Stefan Neville comics here.

Simon Hanselmann shares some more pages from his forthcoming anthology Victoria Drugs Scene. Sam Gaskin in conversation with Simon Hanselmann here. Robin O'Connell talks to Hanselmann on Inkstuds.

Jason Franks writes about his series McBlack.

 
Coming up from the Pikitia Press blog WIP folder:

Illustrations of Wynne W Davies.

Ray Wenban's The Story of ANZAC

 Underground Comix in Australia

More Russian illustration and cartooning.

Nevile Lodge and "Convoice".

2012 in Review: Tim Danko

Tim Danko
 

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
Continuing confidence in my work and processes, it is the gift that keeps on giving.

Dylan Horrocks giving me a by-line I will use for all eternity “one of Australasia’s leading experimental cartoonists”. Possibly a by product of my piss poor scant on detail self-penned bio for the N.Z. comics and graphic novels guide, Dylan had to fill in to give it some stature. But it’s out there and I will take it gladly.

It is a marathon, so steady sub 6 minute miles this year which is quite good for the second half of my race (I started slow). Nothing fancy just good honest progress. I  liked having comic work to do all year.

Feels like we are running with the internationals as a group and as part of the comic conversation, which is a long cherished dream becoming a reality.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
Tatang Suhenra was an Indonesian cartoonist a little shrouded in mystery who drew for the Indonesian rental comic market and after initial success with martial arts comics (and subsequent disgrace? decline? Not sure) he had a comeback with a run of mythological Punakawan figures/titles (Gareng, Petruk, Semar, Bagong). He died in 2003, “According to a number of rumors circulating, he died because of diabetes. The disease is suffered because Tatang, who often work at night, drinking carbonated beverages addiction.” (Thank you, Google translate.)

His later comics have an easy surreal mix of the everyday and monstrous surprise occurings. Where the character chases carnal desires (food, women, acclaim) only to have the object of his desire turn into some unspeakable monster. With the odd kung fu fight. And appearance of popular American cartoon figure rip-offs (teenage mutant ninja turtles, batman). Kind of like a randy Jim Woodring in his realist/dream comics. Of course it helps that the comics I possess have passed through many rental hands and strange reproduction processes. Awesome.  

Jessica “Phlegmbot” Dews a local artist (cartoonist? Up to her!). Thanks to Mr Horrocks I had found Jessica’s ‘phlegmbot’ tumblr bristling with her shivery psyche energy images. Much imagery, much media, much fun. Who is to say that a tumblr site is not the futures next digital ‘meta’ meta-comic? I think it is, already. Can’t wait to see what comes next.

Yoshiharu Tsuge. Every year is a Tsuge discovery year. I’m up to 12 years of Tsuge discovery. Keep on discovering. Thank you, Tsuge.

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

I have enjoyed finding out about Masao Adachi, a Japanese film maker (and seeing his film ‘A.K.A serial killer- 1969’, a film about a serial killer - without any trace of the serial killer in it).  I have been enjoying my longing to see the Philippe Grandrieux documentary/conversation with Masao  “It May Be That Beauty Has Strengthened Our Resolve - Masao Adachi” , sometimes the waiting and finding out is the pleasure. Both film makers have methods that reaffirm my approach to cartooning.

Finding ‘Love Patrol’ a Vanuatu made 4 series TV show that is a cross between first series Shortland Street production values / the wire in its cross society scope / and  public service announcement social messaging. But you know… set on an unnamed Polynesian/Melanesian island. Visiting the company who made it, Wan Smolbag Group, who also put out public service educational comics.

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

Trust and faith, lost a fair amount of fear of falling and failing whilst drawing. Drawing and marking to get something new out, rather than for a pre-determined result.  Results come later, with hindsight. It is an ongoing struggle, to forget to look at what you are putting on the page and stop thinking about what it will be.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?
 
Seeing the Philippe Grandrieux documentary “It May Be That Beauty Has Strengthened Our Resolve - Masao Adachi”

learning French at high school.

Grabbing the Neomad.

Crowd funding my 4 year 48 page full colour completed comic. (low resolution sneak peak tumblr here).

Catching up. Going to something I am in, either an exhibition or a book launch. It’s been six years since I’ve been to something I am in.

“Revolution is also an image. The question is how one turns that image into reality.” (Masao Adachi)

http://www.deadxeroxpress.com/

Funtime Comics

Christchurch comics collective Funtime Comics have sent their latest anthology to the printers with contributors from across New Zealand and abroad. Issue #26 Zines, Zines, Music Hall Fruits sports a cover by Lee-Yan Marquez and comes almost two years after the previous issue. Artist's featured in this issue are: Ned Wenlock, Bob McMahon, Jason Franks Mike Athey, Daniel Brader, Ari Freeman, Debra Boyesk, Isaac Freeman, Marc Barnes, Tessa McLaughlin, Kurt Lewis, David Piper, Tim Danko and Steve Saville.

Check Funtime's Facebook for more details and information about regular drawing workshops in Christchurch hosted by Funtimes Editor Isaac Freeman.

Dailies

The first edition of a new comics anthology, Dailies, was recently produced by the Silent Army publishing concern. Contained within the pages of the striking 32 page tabloid newspaper format are sixty artists from Australia, New Zealand and Indonesia producing their takes on 'newspaper strips'. Established cartoonist's such as Tim Molloy, Tim Danko, Mandy Ord, Glenn Smith, Ben Hutchings and more feature alongside emerging young talent. Cartoons are presented in a variety of forms from abstract art comics to riffs on popular newspaper strips as well as dense multi-panel narratives.

Excerpt of Mandy Ord's Desperate Times

Each release will feature different versions of contemporary views of the comic art strips presented in black and white, two colour, and full colour spreads.

I asked Dailies Editor M P Fikaris a few questions via email about his latest project.

What was the impetus to publish Dailies?

There were a few really. But mostly, as with all anthologies I have published, to show the fine talents of my friends. Also, with dailies it is a little bit of an idea on doing things quickly and without too much pre design and study as most comics tend to be). I asked the artists to submit something in a short time frame, hoping not only to get us doing something without too much thought but also to get something that could be repeated and continued like the daily comics of old newspaper cartoonists.

 Excerpt from The Pox Girls Plan 9 From Outer Space

Some of the material in Dailies seems far removed from the concept of  'the comic art strip', some perhaps more in the realm of art comics, were there editorial guidelines for Dailies? Were you involved in editorial guidance with any of the contributors?

I asked a lot of friends, some with a more traditional comic strip making background and others who I thought were doing things that are very similar in nature to the comic strip. My mind is very open to comics in many mediums and I certainly don’t restrict a comic to squares on a page with characters talking.

 Excerpt from Leigh Rigozzi

 What was the print run of Dailies? Are you satisfied with the finished product?

The print run was 3000 copies. I am satisfied that it is complete, but there are certainly a lot of pips in it. It is the first time I have laid something out for newsprint and I have learnt a bunch of things. My budget was pretty low (but very gratefully it was covered by a fellow artist who wants to remain unknown) so I did it with a printer that was possibly less helpful than I could have hoped. The first issue is not about perfect layout for me but more about getting it complete and making it a progressive thing. The next issue is due in May this year and the following to come out in August, then again in November.

Were there any difficulties in assembling an anthology with this many creators spread out over the globe?

Yeah, a little frustrating – but that was the challenge.

 

Excerpt from 'Megg's Coven' by Simon Hanselman

Where is Dailies available from?

With this collection I plan to take it to the streets and sell it  like a paper – but with a twist. Combining my background as an artist on the streets and doing work with local theatre companies I am very excited to try something a little different … to have unadvertised ‘happenings’ each month in a Melbourne laneway… each will be plastered with the papers contents on the walls(done the night before) and myself and another dressed to impress with paper in tow ‘performing’ a selling technique I hope will make the paper a more interesting and mysterious collection of stories and artworks for all sorts interested in ‘culture’.

I have plans to do this next week and will be recording it for future reference.

Currently I am also selling it on the silent army website - www.silentarmy.org. and successfully at various art fairs/stalls and markets. The plan with this has always been to glue into laneways of the city and distribute through other less traditional comic outlets. Flexing creative flare instead of bending to the needs of the stores.

 

 All cartoons copyright 2012 their respective creators.