English Comics Diversion: Tip Top February 25th 1950

Leonard Cornwall Mitchell 1901-1971

Leonard Cornwall Mitchell (1901-1971) was born in Wellington and completed a signwriting apprenticeship in Palmerston North, before commencing work for the Government Publicity Department on tourism paraphenalia. Mitchell designed posters, booklet covers, coins and over 90 NZ stamps. Mitchell's son Victor Leonard William Mitchell (1925-1980) became an artist in his own right and was the owner of Wellington's mid century Lambton Art Galleries. The colour images below come from a tourism booklet that combined Mitchell's bold colour depictions with black and white photography showcasing early twentieth century New Zealand.

I found a couple examples of Mitchell's work as a cartoonist in the New Zealand edition of Aussie magazine dated June 14th 1924. The New Zealand edition of Aussie featured a New Zealand section edited by journalist Pat Lawlor who also edited a series of New Zealand Artist's annual that featured many of fine cartoonists of the era in the late 1920's/early 1930's. Other New Zealand cartoonists featured in Aussie included Noel Cook, Geoffrey Keith Townshend, Unk White, and George Duncan.

Grateful thanks to Geoff Harrison for supplying the Aussie Magazine images.

Paper Trail

Aniqa Mannan writes about the production of Blood & Thunder #2

Aaron Hawkins interviews Spencer Hall.

Melbourne launch for The Long weekend in Alice Springs at 8pm May 30th Readings, Carlton.

Nat Karmichael writes about the comics of his childhood and the 50th anniversay of the publication of John Dixon's Air Hawk.

Christian Pearce blog.

ENDLESS MANSION featuring Simon Hanselmann and HTML FLOWERS opens may 30th at galeria watdafac, Madrid, Spain. Pre-order catalogues here.

Danny Stanley comics.

Chromacon comic art competition winners.

Amy Louise Maynard reviews Mirranda Burton's Hidden.

 David C Mahler's My True Love (Not for Kiddies).

Good luck to Jason Chatfield this weekend hosting the 67th Annual Reuben Awards.

 

Elf-Fin Trailer.

Before they stuffed her in a yellow leotard and cat whiskers, Ruth Atkinson's creation, Patsy Walker was the star of popular teen comics. Here's a pile of Australia editions of Patsy Walker, all conforming to the A.G.P. teenage code of approved reading.

Paper Trail masthead courtesy of Toby Morris.

Heiress To Tangurau Part Three

Read part one of Heiress To Tangurau from Princess here, read part two here.

 

English Comics Diversion: Tiny Tots and The Sunbeam September 29th 1951

Interview: Dean Rankine

 

One of the friendliest cartoonists I've met in Melbourne scene, I've been pleased to see Dean Rankine prosper in recent years. Five years ago we both tabled at a sparsely attended comics fair in Melbourne with more tumbleweeds than public in attendance. The last year has seen Dean a regular guest at Australian conventions where he keeps his head down and his pen constantly moving to keep up with commission requests. Dean's profile has expanded substantially with regular gigs on the Bongo Comics' Simpson's titles and prolific contributions for various local and international publishers. Next week Dean attends his first of two conventions outside Australia with appearances at Armageddon in Hamilton and Auckland, I asked him a few questions via email late April.

Read Dean's Armageddon profile here.

When did you start creating comics?

I've basically drawn my whole life. I remember making my own comics as a kid. I don't recall actually finishing many of the stories. But I started a lot!

In recent years you've worked for various international publishers, at what phase of your career did you commence professional work? Do you still hold a day job outside of comics?

After high school I did an Art and Design course at TAFE in 1989/90. And I've basically freelanced since then. I've done okay but never made enough that I'd feel comfortable about quitting my 'day job'. So, for a number of years to support my comic creating addiction I've been a Community Development Worker. I've worked with homeless people, been a Drug and Alcohol counselor and for the past 12 years I've worked on a Needle/Syringe Outreach Program. Which basically means I drive around at night and hand out clean injecting equipment to injecting drug users. It's a job I really enjoy and can imagine continuing doing for sometime to come.

 

What has been a favorite piece of work from recent years?

That's a hard question. I really love doing work for Simpsons comics. And the more pages I do I feel I'm getting a better handle on the characters. Also earlier in the year I completed issue #1 of 'Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy'. Which was an absolute blast to do. And BTW appears to now have a publisher. So I'll keep you posted about how that pans out. 

Are you involved in any forms of cartooning communities? is this important to you?

It's rare that I get to any of the local comic meet-ups. But I enjoy it when I do. So my main interaction with comic peeps is over the interweb. And I cannot begin to tell you how important that is to me. The friendships I've made and the support I've received online over the years has been amazing. And to be honest I don't know how I'd cope without it.

 

Do you have any highlights from recent conventions you'd like to share?

Going out for tea together at the last Melbourne con was pretty good! 

But the last couple of cons have been fantastic! Being a guest has been cool. Because you score a free lunch and get to go to the 'green room' and having awkward conversations with famous people.

But my absolute favourite part is sketching for the punters who come up to my table and getting to see other comic creators in the flesh.

Have you been to New Zealand before?

No. I haven't. And I am super-stoked that Armageddon is giving me the chance to come over. I think the shows are going to be an absolute hoot! And I'm looking forward to just having some time to check the place out.

Dean Rankine online.