Sunday Gem: My Sister's Voice by Alexis Sugden

2013 in Review: Paul Mason

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2013?

Being able to travel around the country and meet/catch up with the enthusiastic and genuinely appreciative readers of my nonsense as a comic guest of Oz Comic-Con/Supanova (Perth and Adelaide for the first time, Melbourne, Gold Coast) and locally at ZICS, Brisbane Supanova, and onstage talking comics with Eddie Campbell, Dylan Horrocks and Zac Smith-Cameron at the Brisbane Writer's festival, Free Comic Book Day scribbling for comic fans with Paul Abstruse at Gifts for the Geek at Geelong, being part of 'The New Adventures of The Human Fly #1' anthology released at San Diego Comic-Con (humbly sandwiched in the book between Al Milgrom and Bob Layton), knock-my-socks-off feedback and support from some comic book heroes of mine at SDCC regarding my scribbling, scoring something big at SDCC (to me anyway) to work on with Chris Sequeira next year with a different scope, recruited by GRAPHIC festival to interview Len Wein onstage at the Sydney Opera House...and hopefully knock over my QCA Doctorate before the end of the year.

What are some of the comics you've enjoyed in 2013?

Sadly, I haven't had time to get or read much this year, apart from books and interviews related to the research.But the bursts I did get were great:  I enjoyed the reprint of Will Eisner's 'Last Day in Vietnam', Minor Miracles which I grabbed at a table at SDCC, and a handful of Joe Kubert, Russ Heath and Bob Kanigher's 'Sgt. Rock' reprints. 'Hicksville' by Dylan Horrocks. Oh, and 'Lives', illustrated by the awesome Fillbach Brothers for 1st issue comics: possibly the best 22 page comic story I've ever read.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2013?  

A trip to the UK midyear to represent Australia in the Open World Taekwon-do Championships in Hatfield/London. Good fights, close friends, a lightening bolt, and generally just good to get away from here for a while. Now training for the 2014 Worlds in Korea, as both a competitor and an Assistant/Sparring Coach for Team Australia. Humbled to be onboard at that capacity. Also non-comics, but kind of comics, Lecturing again at the Queensland College of Arts as part of the Griffith Film School. 

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

Squad training for Korea, and Korea itself. Maybe the UK again. More drawing time, more lecturing. A social life. A big chapter of 'The Soldier Legacy', the can't-announce-yet project. Being Happy. Or at least, content.

 http://pm-comic.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Alisha Jade

Alisha Jade

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

Definitely publishing the first book of 'Seven'. It's been kicking around for a while now so it's great to finally get it out there.

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

I would have to say getting back into my roots was the best thing this year - I nabbed the set of Nausicaa by Miyazaki, and discovered it was drawn entirely with pencil, no inks. The results are fascinating and the fact that the comic doesn't only feature attractive people is always a plus. Also had a lot of fun with Akiko Higashimura's Kuragehime and some new local groups like Canberra's Beginnings and the emergence of Squishface.

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

Well I've really gotten back into film recently, watching a lot of things I never thought I would. I've also vastly enjoyed my relatively recent obsession with Richard Armitage which I'm SURE will culminate in spectacular form with The Hobbit. Watching the production diaries and getting into the buzz has really been an interesting study in crowd building and lead up.

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

Significant changes - Several - I've switched my pencils officially down to A6, switched my inking up from A5 to A4 (ugh my wrist feels it) and also switched from nib to brush pens, the BEST inking tools ever. If you've never tried a Kuretake you are missing out.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 

More Seven (book two is part way through inks yay!), more Hobbit, more doing stupid things to my appearance for fun and definitely as much hanging out with my comic fellows as humanly possible.

http://www.ajadeart.com/