Happy 30th Birthday T-Rex Jones

Happy 33rd Birthday Simon Hanselmann

Happy 38th birthday Andrew Fulton

Happy 29th Birthday Frank Candiloro

2013 in Review: Dean Rankine

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

2013 has been HUGE!

Continuing to get work with Simpsons Comics has been superb and has opened a lot of doors for me.

I was a guest at Armageddon Expo, Supanova and Oz Comic Con in Melbourne, then got to fly to New Zealand twice for 3 cons (Hamilton, Wellington, Auckland) thanks to Armageddon Expo and Arkham City Comics.

I did a number of in-stores; Heroes For Sale and Arkham City Comics (Auckland), Kings Comics (Sydney), Impact Comics (Canberra) and All Star Comics (Melbourne). And presented at the CREATE Conference in Canberra.

I also got interviewed on JOY fm and New Games Plus as well as radio, podcasts and TV in NZ and a radio thing for France.

AND my comic Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land was released digitally.

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

I generally like my comics low-brow and this year I started getting into digital comics. I've enjoyed Suicide Squad, Batgirl, Aquaman, Batman '66, Red Sonja and I'm in the middle of reading Dr. Who Prisoners of Time. 

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

I got to see His Holiness the Dalai Lama (with 2000 of his closest friends) that was pretty cool!

We decided to give our son a 'bonus year' before sending him to school. Best thing we ever did. And I've loved reading him books and playing Lego Batman together on the XBOX. 

I got to take my daughter with me to New Zealand. That was a really special time which I think brought us closer together. I just loved being with her for her first plane flight. AND we got to sit next to Spiderman writer Dan Slott!

And earlier in the year my wife, kids and I did a driving holiday to Queensland and did the theme park thing. We all had a ball!

What are you looking forward to in 2014?

Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land #1 comics out in print (thanks to the fine folk at Action Lab Comics)!!!!

I'm in the middle of working on the next twisted story as we speak. And I'm really looking forward to showing people. 

And I'm going to Perth and Adelaide for Oz Comic Con which is going to be a hoot!

 http://deanrankine.deviantart.com/

Deep Park Comic Book Launch

Pikitia Press is proud to announce the debut graphic novel by David C Mahler, Deep Park, debuted a week ago at The Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, Washington with the Melbourne launch party, 6pm this Friday 27th Sept at The Silent Army Storeroom, 110 Franklin Street, Melbourne.

Deep Park launch Facebook Event page.

David C Mahler's tumblr.

About Deep Park
'The beloved amusement park with it all: carousels, drop rides, a hallucinogenic water slide, an orgasm inducing roller coaster and the cult that worships it. Join a colourful cast of characters wasting a day in the sun, exploring the thrills, and terrors, Deep Park has to offer.'

Deep Park is a brand new Australian graphic novel from a fresh young voice. An equal parts amusing and uncomfortable exploration of repercussions and human failings, the story of Deep Park is presented as seemingly separated vignettes; we follow characters for two or four pages before moving on to another scenario. Only as the book progresses is it revealed how interconnected and co-dependent these stories are, all leading towards a climactic clash between a crazed, genocidal Disney-like figure and a roller coaster worshipping cult of desperation! The fun never stops at Deep Park.

About David
David C Mahler was born in Vancouver, Canada, and after a few formative years in Belgium moved to Melbourne at age ten. Raised on a diet of Calvin and Hobbes, Tintin, Archie and Astroboy, drawing was second nature from childhood. He released his first self-published mini-comic at age nine.

After years of experimenting and developing in the Melbourne small press scene, his quarterly short story comic collection Coracle debuted at the 2013 Melbourne Zine Fair. As well, he has contributed to magazines and anthologies such as Voiceworks, The Lifted Brow, Naturegraffix, Victoria Drug Scene, Dailies and the upcoming Paper Trail.

A current film student at the Victorian College of the Arts, David has also completed a number of short films and animations. Outside of his course, he is currently at work on a weekly web comic, Greyvid, a follow up graphic novel and a mini comic for the Andrew Fulton organised Mini Comic of the Month Club.

  

Deep Park Preview - David C Mahler

Pikitia Press are proud to announce David C Mahler's Deep Park another of our ye olde format comics coming hot of the press to you this September. We've been digging on David's prolific output of mini comics for a few years and we're looking forward to sharing his new work with folk everywhere. Please consider supporting David's cartoonist 'lifestyle' by purchasing something from his online store. David details his current fundraising efforts below along with some ringing endorsements from his peers.

 

  

Sunday Gem: Mandy Ord's City Tales

Mandy Ord's monthly comics at the Goethe -Institute City Tales blog.

Created by Mandy Ord ©Goethe -Institute

2012 in Review: Arthur Strickland

  Arthur Strickland

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

It would have to be discovering the Ozcomics page on Facebook for sure (Courtesy of Ms Fiona Freestone). It just opened so many doors and helped me meet the most amazing local writers and artists. I had pretty much fallen out of the whole art and comic book scene but this totally re-inspired my passion for drawing. Working with Matt Kyme, Clint Hammill and Darren Close has been  amazing and its so humbling getting such positive feedback from such a talented group of guys.

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

I live in a small town outside of Melbourne so I was really amazed at the comic scene there. So much talent and so many to mention but standouts off the top of my head are Zed Mercury by Steve Boyd, The Dirt Nap by Brendan Halyday, Killeroo by Darren Close, Collateral and 'Our love will never die, but we will' by Matthew Nichols. Frank Candilloro's work Blood across Broadway and Viddy well, Brother is amazing and his style is totally unique. Matt Kyme also released his solo project The Ace which he wrote and illustrated and I was just blown away. We only recently had a comic book store open up in my home town, so I also went back and caught up on old stuff that I'd been meaning to read including- 100 Bullets, Preacher, Kick Ass, The Walking Dead, Lobo, Swamp Thing to name a few. All amazing.

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

 

Stephen Kings The Wind Through the Keyhole was delightful. I really loved Prometheus and Cabin in the Woods. Both stand outs. Battlefield 3 expansion packs have also kept that disc almost permanently in my PS3. Music wise I've really enjoyed Noctourniquet by The Mars Volta, Book Burner by Pig Destroyer, the new Testament and Deftones albums were good too. Breaking Bad and Face Off are both television highlights.

 

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

Too many too mention haha. Since taking on the role of penciler, inker and colourist on That Bulletproof Kid, plus working on a short Killeroo story for Darren Close as well as the odd commission and weekly Ozcomics entries, I'm almost constantly changing and fine tuning work methods and techniques to increase output speed and save time. Inking for example went from digital to pen to dip pen and ink to brush and ink then back to digital (laughs).

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

 

Really just looking forward to creating more art and stories. I may possibly even have a crack at writing. Matt Kyme and I are also looking into one of his other stories for a possible 2013 release. Being a big gaming fan I'm really looking forward to the next generation of games consoles. I'm expecting them to be mind blowing haha.

 

 http://thatbulletproofkid.com/wordpress/

2012 in Review: Ben Michael Byrne

Ben Michael Byrne

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

Getting another four (40 page) issues of Kranburn out there, obviously a huge thanks go out to FEC comics/Steve Sparke for that. Starting work on an amazing project titled Job Dun with the very exciting writer Mark Hobby, when I first got the issue #1 script, I was scrolling faster and faster to read it and couldn't wait to get my teeth into it. Having short stories I wrote and illustrated in Terra #1 and Home Made #1 and Velocity #2. Also doing art duties on a short story for Futurequake in the UK. Cover for Spitfires #3. Sorry if I've forgotten anyone. :P

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
100 Bullets. Over a decade ago I was in Ireland and a friend there urged me to read it, but I was still pretty much sci-fi/anthologies only at that point (2000AD etc) and didn't follow up. But now I'm happily chewing my way through the 100 Bullets trades, got another three or four waiting for me under the Christmas tree, yippee. :-D

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

Reading and re-reading Terry Pratchett's Discworld novels, pure bliss. I can have a pile of unread books waiting, but I'll still end up picking up one of his and opening it for the 50th time.

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

Nothing drastic I think, but I'm always tweaking it here and there, as my child get older (she's approaching three) I have to adapt my schedule etc. The biggest change would probably be streamlining my work a little more and getting more 'German' with my efficiency (are positive racial stereotypes still naughty? Meh :-D ). My wife and I purchased a house about a year ago and I'd always wanted a cork board in my study, so now I have this well laid out timetable, with all current and future projects on it, each page of a job etc represented by a rectangle that I fill in as I go etc so I can at a glance see what needs tending/what's getting a bit close to deadline. I'm in anal heaven. Readers may interpret that however they wish, guffaw!

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

For myself: more Kranburn. Seeing Job Dun in print, its being coloured by Noelle Dreeves and will be longest coloured work I've ever been a part of so far, very exciting.

Outside of comics, owning the new Dredd movie, owning the new Metro: Last Light game (as well as Suvarium, Wasteland 2, Nuclear Union but I'm not sure exactly when those are due).

Birth of our second child and the pooey nappies that brings with it. :-D

And if I grew and extra arm or two maybe starting another of my longer running projects that I've been cooking for a few years. There's a pretty big project I've been writing for a long time now called NSEW and I'm really keen to grow it further.

http://kranburn.thewebcomic.com/

2012 in Review: Marc Pearson

 Marc Pearson

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

I made a book called 'Mr. Ray's Grave Thoughts' and it took me a while to make it, but then after I finished it, it was done. If you wanna buy it, it's in stores around.. the place, but also here.

That's the first all me comic I've ever put out, so it was a pretty big deal emotionally. there was a lot of listening to pop songs and making finalising statements while sighing like "Well... *sigh* There you go." or "*sigh* Yeah, I guess I DID do it."

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
Okay, so yeah, like everyone else there's that Simon Hansalami guy he's a-grade. he's like a slap in the butt when it's good. Then Michael Deforge is pretty great, and I just read these comics by Jesse Moynihan that were amazing and dreamy, and then there's Melissa mendes, she did this comic called Freddy Stories, and it's really great and it made me feel real emotions that I still feel today, even though I didn't read it today, it's like it travels with me, like a backpack or a rucksack, and I like it. There's Chuck Forsman, he's doing this comic called the end of the fucking world, and it's a real nice comic to read, and it's getting a Fantagraphics release next year, and I would highly recommend it, and then he also runs Oily Comics, which i would also recommend people check out. 

There's a guy called Walker Mettling from Rhode Island, and he's doing these comics with kids under the name PROVIDENCE COMICS CONSORTIUM, and if you don't like it, you're not exciting or interesting, and no one likes you, and the smell of rotten meat is starting to get to everybody else here, and they're starting to say things like "It's a little much, don't you think?". He runs these classes with these kids, and he makes them do all these drawing exercises and stuff, and then at the end they've made their own comics and he prints them up into books so the kids can have them, but even if you aren't a kid, you can have them too! I have them, and I'm not a kid. I'm a man.

Mickey Z, does a comic called RAV thats really great. I got that collection of Kevin Huizenga comics called CURSES and thats like... the perfect comic book.
If you're looking for the perfect comic book, look no further, than CURSES... by Kevin Huizenga.
....
My friend ELLIOT LAMB, just made a book called SWEAT #1 and it's real hot and slow like what I imagine a sting album is like.
 
What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2012?

I read this Lynda Barry book called CRUDDY, because Melissa Mendes said it was good, and I, like everyone else should, trust her implicitly (-and it was real special). I went and saw Hannibal Buress do standup and that changed the way I talk a little sometimes because it was so funny, Lashna's moving back into my house, I've been talking to Alyx again and she's thinking about moving to Melbourne in April next year, which might be weird, but above that I just think it'll kind of be cool. Our relationship has always kind of been in the shadow of how far away she always is, so this is kind of like a new beginning, you know? like I'll get to regularly spend time with her.. which should be cool.  I don't know if that makes sense, but you don't need to get it, you're an email message. 

So, I've enjoyed those conversations, and I gueesss, I've been seeing Elliot Lamb heaps and he's been pretty great. I read this Oliver Sacks book about hallucinations, and there's a whole bunch of stuff about SLEEP PARALYSIS that was pretty interesting, and I was in Massachusetts, and I'd just read a whole bunch of stuff about it, and then it happened to me for the first time ever! and there were auditory hallucinations and everything! I was sleeping in this room, and I couldn't move at all, and could hear this woman moaning behind me, but it wasn't a sexy moan, it was kind of a husky moan... that was like.. maybe a struggly moan? i don't really remember now.. but yeah, i tried to move my arm, but i couldn't! and so iI tried again and again, and then on the third or fourth try, I was able to lift my arm fully up, but it wasn't my actual flesh and blood arm, it was like a ghost arm, with the opacity turned down... or something.. and so that lifted up, and then sank back down into my real arm again, and then I fell asleep. Isn't that weird? Man. so yeah, I enjoyed that.

I saw The Master, but I don't really know if I enjoyed it... ummm... oh, every John Swartzwelder book makes me feel better when I feel bad. He was a writer and a consultant for the Simpsons... ummm.. there's this one Marx Brothers movie that didn't make me feel good, it made me feel terrible, and I'll mention it here because if you've read this far, you'll obviously read anything. It's called THE MARX BROTHERS spend A NIGHT IN CASABLANCA, and it made me feel really bad. usually I watch Marx Brothers films to make me feel better cause sometimes I feel bad, but this one made me feel worse. It made me feel terrible.
 
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Nope.
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

The new Dash Shaw book, Sam Wallman's Australian history comic anthology, the continued adventures of Megg, Mogg and Owl, getting a bike and becoming a nightrider, Katie Parrish comics, whatever Hamishi is doing, the parking lot experiments album... ummmm... theres a new Jim Woodring book coming out? called Fran, I think, which is about Frank's girlfriend. that should be cool. reading the end of THE END OF THE FUCKING WORLD by Chuck Forsman... and I think thats it... I wanna see more rusty brown, hopefully some angsty teenage Rusty Brown... errr... Arsene Shrauwen 2 by Olivier Shrauwen.. that'd be interesting... ummm...

http://marcstorewatchout.bigcartel.com/

2012 in Review: Michael Hawkins

Michael Hawkins

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

My comic highlights this year were threefold.  Mid year I went to the states and Canada on a comics tour, met heaps of awesome talent like Pat Aulisio, Lale Westvind, Conor Stechschulte, Mollie O’Brien and others whose amazing work I was previously ignorant of. Second highlight would be watching the rising star of my good buddy and favourite cartoonist ever Simon Hanselmann. Thirdly meeting on a weekly basis with a steady group of drawing buds (Sam Wallman, Marc Pearson, Elliot Lamb and so forth) has made a great difference to my quality of life.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
Best books? All of the above people. Also locally Grant Gronewald (HTML Flowers) and Katie Parrish and overseas Michael Deforge, Patrick Kyle, Leslie Stein and Derek Ballard. Seems to be a lot of people working at a peek level of inspiration and producing things in individual styles that seem extreme in their newness. Find it easy to point to a general vibe than individual books.

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

Massively into Dennis Potter at the moment, starting with the Singing Detective and working through all his series and teleplays. Best book I read was We have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson. Favourite five songs this year: My Time by Roberto Cacciapaglia & Ann Steel, In High Places by  Mike Oldfield, A Matter of Trust by Billy Joel, Myth by Beach House, Pyramids by Frank Ocean.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
Swapped from photocopying to digital printing. Started a Tumblr. Also used to try and have one major comics series or project on the go at once, this year decided to just start a bunch and let them vie for my attention.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?
 
Organising an erotic art show with some of my favourite local cartoonists. Hopefully going to Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival.

http://comics-by-hawkins.tumblr.com/

2012 in Review: M. P. Fikaris

M. P. Fikaris

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
Starting up a little store room in my studio and printing up a new periodical DAILIES while pushing through my inhibitions of medium and painting some comics.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
There's a bunch, best to get look for DAILIES 3 in early 2013 to see some of them! Pre-order one with me in January.

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

Local theatre, dance, poetry, live music, graffitti, film, performance, art, happenings and all other things seen in Melbourne- we are spoilt!

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

My work is mostly about implementing changes I think...though I have almost finished my second longer formative comic story (oh I mean graphic novel) but the guys who asked to print it are no longer wanting to, so I think it will stay in the files with the other one from 11 years ago... or I may do something I have never really done much before and -  ask for help..
 
What are you looking forward to in 2013?

More web comics, killer bees, and an event every month at Silent Army store room at 110 franklin street Melbourne city. Hope to see u there!

 http://fikarisart.tumblr.com/

http://www.silentarmy.org/

2012 in Review: Dean Rankine

Dean Rankine

 

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

Continuing to contribute the occasional comic to Simpsons and Futurama has been an absolute blast. Starting my own project, 'Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land' has been long overdue heaps of fun.

Also being a guest at both OzComic Con and Armageddon Expo were definite highlights. I was treated extremely well by the organizers and I got to me some really great people who've been very supportive of my work.

And just generally feeling pretty proud of the artwork I've made of the year.

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

I had the pleasure of meeting Agnes Garbowska earlier in the year. And I have to say her work is pretty damn adorable - http://www.facebook.com/agnesgarbowska?fref=ts

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

I've been lovin' Dr Who at the moment.

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

I bought one of those cintiq wacom tablets (either late last year or early this year. I can't quite remember). But I swear, that thing has changed my life. I do all my 'inking' on it now and just love it.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I've got about 8 more pages to go on 'Itty Bitty Bunnies' and I'm looking forward to exposing them to an unsuspecting public.

I'm really hoping to be doing more Simpsons stuff. And I'm working on some try-out pages for Spongebob. So wish me luck!

The official announcement hasn't been made yet but I'm coming over to New Zealand mid next year! Woo-Hoo!

http://deanrankine.deviantart.com/

2012 in Review: Doug Holgate

Doug Holgate

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

It's been another pretty busy year, but I think having a book I worked on for Harper Collins, Planet Tad, featured briefly on the Daily Show, winning gold in a category of the Illustrators Australia awards and the Oz Comic-Con events in Perth and Melbourne were all standouts.

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

I seem to find new cartoonists and illustrators every couple of weeks, it's kind of part of my process I guess, to keep inspired and connected to what is going on in the world, so it's hard to list them all. But the people I've come back to numerous times this year (as well as in some cases formed some new friendships with) would be Jez Tuya (Brilliant, inspiring up and coming cartoonist and character designer from NZ), Rebecca Dart (Everything she touches is amazing, incredible character, energy and fun).

Tristan Jones (Probably one of the biggest inspirations for me this year in pushing myself to get a little looser and quicker with my own work) and Tony Cliff (Artist on one of my favourite comics/webcomics from the last decade I think, Delilah Dirk). I haven't really read much in the way of comics, but of what I have read Craig Thompson's Habibi stayed with me for weeks after reading. The new Prophet series (Brandon Graham and Simon Roy) from Image comics is a great big ridiculous space opera and Infinite Kung Fu by Kagan Macleod was a fantastic love letter to the history of kung fu in pop culture.

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

Lots of great movies, Looper, Cabin In the Woods, Dredd, Argo. My one major love outside of cartooning is history and politics, in particular the United States, so i was pretty consumed by the 2012 US election the last 12 months. I've been reading a lot of crime fiction this year especially a number of George Pelacanos' novels plus a lot of visits to the Zoo and the Melbourne Museum this year with the 3 year old.

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

Most of my freelance work is very clean and tight and as i said earlier, inspired by work the likes of Tristan Jones, Simon Roy, Toby Cypress, I've tried to play around with being a little looser with my personal work. So playing around with more blacks, textures and freeing my line-work up a little bit. Hopefully i can take a few more steps in that direction next year.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Getting my all ages graphic novel, Clementine Hetherington and the Ironwood Race, co created with and written by Jen Breach further along and to hopefully find her a home (Clementine, not Jen). Completing the Rombies: Ex Legio Mortis graphic novel, written by Christian Read for Gestalt Comics and some other comics and book illustration projects I can't really talk about just yet. The release of the first and second books in the Case File 13 series from Random House and hopefully another Planet Tad will be out next year. I also missed out on a number of planned OS trips this year due to timing and finances so hopefully carving out some time to get to TCAF, SPX or NYC con as well as some more local shows would be great!

 www.skullduggery.com.au

  http://clementinehetherington.tumblr.com

2012 in Review: Simon Hanselmann

 Simon Hanselmann

 
What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
It's been a pretty surreal year for me... the biggest highlight I can't even talk about yet. but yeah, getting asked to be in Smoke Signal was pretty big for me, and the response to Truth Zone has been really awesome (big shout-out to Frankie Santoro). Also: getting asked to pitch shit to frederator was pretty flattering... the whole year's just been one big highlight pretty much.

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

Currently i'm really into Dane Martin (superhuman depression gag writer), Aidan Koch (dream weaver), Lala Albert (not human), Royce Icon (sweetheart), Heather Benjamin (disgusting)... that's just the tip of the iceberg... there's so much shit going on right now...

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

My whole year has pretty much just been about comics, I find it difficult to focus on anything else...

I was reading the new Murakami (1Q84) and digging it a lot but i still haven't finished it. Rupaul's Drag Race is still the best thing on television, nothing else even comes close. my favourite movie I saw was young adult. best music: BROTHERS HAND MIRROR.
 
Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?

Nah. still just set up in the living room, hanging out with my girlfriend, pounding shit out, trying not to have a nervous breakdown.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I'm working over summer on a new 60ish page Megg and Mogg book that should be out in march from space face books, then HTML flowers and I have a show in Madrid in may, then I'm finishing up my big 200 page Megg and Mogg book and getting it print-ready, then going to NYC in October for Halloween and BCGF... Oh, and i'm putting together an anthology in February called VICTORIA DRUG SCENE. And a million other little things. And more therapy.

http://girlmountain.tumblr.com/

2012 in Review: Bobby N

Bobby N

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

 
Starting again after a year hiatus.

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

 

NEW: Richard Thompson's collection of strips CUL de SAC (great simple cartooning and observational humor)... OLD FAVORITES WHO'VE BROUGHT OUT NEW COMICS: Thomas Herpich's WHITE CLAY (nice brush style, page design and mood)... and Derf Backderf's MY FRIEND DAHMER (Original 'punchy' cartooning style, combined with an auto-bio story about Jeffrey Dahmer. Gold).

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

Dorothy Porter's verse novel EL DORADO, and Charles Bukowski's novel HAM ON RYE.

Have you implemented any significant changes to your working methods this year?
 
Thumb-nailing using a grid exercise book. It's a bit more organised (visually) for me.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Releasing two issues of DIGESTED, taking more photos, and immersing myself back into the scene.

http://www.bobbyn.com/books.html

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: 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.

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