The Sun-Herald Comic Section February 17 1974

Thirty eight years ago comics were plentiful in Australian newspapers with the Sun-Herald containing an eight page supplement of Australian and international cartoons. The following pages are from The Sun-Herald Comic Section February 17 1974.

 

John Dixon's Air Hawk and the Flying Doctors ghosted by Hart Amos as featured in Australian papers from 1959 to 1986, commencing in the Sun herald on 14 June 1959. Over the years Dixon was assisted by Paul Power, Phil Belbin, Mike Tabrett, Hart Amos, and Keith Chatto. Nat Karmichael has recently published a significant collection of Air Hawk strips available from Comicsoz.

The Potts is said to be the longest running strip produced by one artist. Originally created by Stan Cross as You & Me in Smith's Weekly who worked on it for nineteen years eventually passing it on to his colleague Jim Russell in 1940 who worked on the strip for the next sixty-two years.

Comic Life #656 - Colonial Edition

Comic-Life The Amusing Picture-Paper for The People was an eight page tabloid companion to Lot-o'-Fun and published by James Henderson and Son's for 1,465 issues from 1898 to 1928. This edition is labeled a 'colonial edition' with the back cover indicia stating it was printed by the London Colour Printing Co. Ltd in North Kensington. Presumably a print run of 'colonial editions' were produced and shipped out to the colonies. present day distributors of comics to Australasia, Gordon and Gotch, are listed as distribution agents for Australia and New Zealand. This issue is undated but the reference on the mast head to it being a 'supplement to 'Lot-o'-Fun No. 254 would indicate it was published around 1910.

Combining cartoons and prose, Comic-Life featured new material and reprints from another Henderson title Young Folks' Weekly Budget.

Click to enlarge

 Page two click to enlarge

 Detail from page two

 Page three click to enlarge

For a comic paper that is over a hundred years of age this one is in delicate condition although still intact.  Despite circulations in the hundreds of thousands, comics papers from this era are now very scarce. Early twentieth century collector and scholar of bloods and penny journals, Frank Jay, wrote a few months after Henderson's publications had been purchased by Almalgamated Press for the London Journal in 1920,  'It is remarkable that considering the enormous number sold and put into circulation so very few of these old books are now seen.  They were very popular and commanded a huge sale.'

Lew Stringer's Blimey! blog has more information about Comic-Life here.

The center spread pages contain cartoons over pages four and five.

 

Page six click to enlarge

Detail from page six

Page seven click to enlarge

Page eight

Detail from page eight

Sources: http://ukcomics.wikia.com/wiki/Comic_Life, http://lewstringer.blogspot.com.au/2008/11/flashback-comic-life-1916.html, http://peepsintothepast.wordpress.com/about/

Armageddon Melbourne 2012

Some of the cartoonists in attendance at this years Armageddon convention in Melbourne.

Frank Candiloro

Jason Franks

Richard Fairgray

Jin Chan Yum Wai

Henry Pop

Dean Rankine

 Sorab Del Rio and Paul Bedford

 Milk Shadow Books - Grizzly Adams, James Andre and Ben Hutchings

 Brendan Halyday

 Tom Taylor

Helen Maier and Fil Barlow

Space Pyrates - Caitlin Major and Matthew Hoddy

 Fred Atkins

 Bruce Mutard

 Pedobear

Treviso Comic Book Festival Roundup

Dylan Horrocks' promotional illustration for Treviso Comic Book Festival 2012

Italy's Treviso Comic Book Festival 2012 was host to a New Zealand comics contingent with several New Zealand cartoonist's in attendance and various New Zealand comic events conducted during the festival.

New Zealand cartoonists congregate at Treviso. (photo courtesy Roger Langridge)

 

 Sketching at Treviso, Greg Broadmore (Beard) Colin Wilson (Hat) Roger Langridge (Glasses). (Photo - Dylan Horrocks)

New Zealand comics exhibition (photos courtesy Roger Langridge)

Left To right: Rufus Dayglo, Alberto Corradi (Curator) Roger Langridge, Ben Stenbeck, Chris Slane, Dylan Horrocks, Greg Broadmore, Colin Wilson.(Photo - Treviso Comic Book Festival Facebook)

The New Zealand comics exhibition is featured in Treviso Comic Book Festival Facebook Galleries here and  here.

Roger Langridge blogged about Treviso here.

 Irish cartoonist and one-time Wellington resident Rufus Dayglo blogged about Treviso here and here.

 Tank Girl sketch by Rufus Dayglo

 New Zealand comics panel (Photo -  Black Velvet Editice)

The Frankfurt Bookfair starts today with New Zealand comics amongst the New Zealand literary presence with Dylan Horrocks, Colin Wilson and Roger Langridge in attendance and dozens of New Zealand comics and graphic novels on display in the comic zone for prospective foreign publishers. New Zealand is the Guest of Honour at this years Bookfair providing an exposure and opportunities for a worldwide audience.

 Greg Broadmore

Greg Broadmore writes about New Zealand comics for Bookfair blog here. (Chris at the last remaining Mark One store in the land in Hamilton is a very nice man just perhaps a bit cautious, comics retail ain't an easy business these days.)

Dylan Horrocks' 100 page guide to contemporary New Zealand Comics and Graphic Novels is being distributed at Treviso and Frankfurt and is available for download here.

Pussy Willow - Kam Taverner

Pussy Willow was a full page comic serial featured on the back page of Australian sex paper, Ribald, during the seventies. Scant information is available about these comics other than a copyright notice on one credited to Kam Taverner. The inclusion of a 'Modesty Blaise-esque' character and London setting would indicate these originated in England with Kam Taverner possibly being a pseudonym. Amazon UK has listings for three out of print Pussy Willow collections by Taverner, Pussy Willow and Doctor Libido, Pussy Willow on Lesbos, and Pussy Willow: Night of the Rats. (click pics to enlargen)

Ribald #35 March 2nd 1973

Ribald #53 July 11 1973

Ribald #30 Jan 26 1973