2012 in Review: Richard Fairgray

Terry Jones and Richard Fairgray

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

Finally being able to release Blastosaurus in print after having no control over the rights to it for so long. Also, launching the book in London was cool, it was strange being at a convention where such a huge percentage of attendees were there specifically to look at comics instead of video games or whatever else.

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

I'm embarrassed to say it but until this year I had never read anything by Dave Sim. It's still all new to me (and surprisingly hard to track down) but Cerebus is just incredible. I really admire his dedication to that project and willingness to have it drive him to such a point of insanity to get it finished.

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

Finally got around to reading The Secret History, Slaughterhouse V, The Virgin Suicides and a handful of other books that had been sitting in a pile in my office for a long time taunting me.

In terms of film, I sort of liked Looper but not enough to rant and rave about it. I'd like to go on record here as saying that Dark Knight Rises was literally the worst film I have ever seen in a cinema.

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

I've begun a few new projects in 2012 which have been fun to work on. The most interesting for me is the Blastosaurus spin off 'No Added Color.' It's a comic specifically designed to be in black and white (the stories rely on it and the art is driven by shadow). It's been fun for me because usually my scripts are so defined when I begin drawing (a 70 page script for a 24 page comic with full panel by panel breakdowns already figured out) and with these stories I'm not limited by issue format or page numbers or worrying about the main continuity (the stories are all canonical but are set in between the significant events of the color series).

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Two new volumes of Blastosaurus, 2 new volumes of No Added Color, 4 new issues of Ghost Ghost, the 20th book of I Fight Crime, the first Ghost Ghost picture book...maybe taking a day off. of No Added Color, 4 new issues of Ghost Ghost, the 20th book of I Fight Crime, the first Ghost Ghost picture book...maybe taking a day off.

 http://blastosaurus.com/

2012 in Review: Jase Harper

Jase Harper

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

I’d have to say collecting and printing my comic strips at this year’s Sticky zine fair, was a lot of fun and I got lots of positive feedback which is always nice. Another highlight was visiting the Small press Expo in the states and getting to see comic Gods, Ware, Burns and Clowes all in the same room.

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

Joseph Lambert. I picked up his book ‘I will bite you!’ at SPX this year. His stories are playful, beautiful and surreal. ‘Turtle keep it steady’ from that book is probably my fave thing this year.

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

I saw a retrospective of the Quay brothers at Moma that was amazing.  After pouring over their animations at art college it was mind blowing to see their stop motion sets first hand, So beautiful and creepy.

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

I came to a realisation that doing super clean artwork is painful and I just don’t enjoy it anymore, for my personal work at least. Swapping to brush pens was a big step, It gave my line work a bit more of a lively feel, plus I’m able to produce a page much quicker now.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

For those who are members of the Mini Comic of the Month club I’ll be releasing my 16 pg mini in January. I'm a few pages in and really enjoying it. I also have a chapter in Jason Franks next Sixsmiths book, which I’m pretty chuffed about. I’m also looking forward to finishing my long form comic sometime next year as well, it’s well overdue. As for other people’s work. I’m super keen to see Tim Molloy’s next book as well as more of J Stew’s Giants.

 http://www.jaseharper.com/

 http://guhcomics.com/

2012 in Review: Jerome Bihan

Jerome Bihan

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2012?
 
Most certainly going to the Angouleme festival. I had a stall at a side event  (as in called the Festival Off) with pretty much all the local and international small press. Great time to meet people and check out the HUUUUGE independent scene going in Europe. I actually made a full comic out of it. Also went to some other small press expo such as ELCAF in London (organised by NoBrow) again another overwhelming event.

Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?
 
I could not really isolate one. Firstly there are people I have been in contact with and who I asked to contribute to Radio as Paper such as Ludmilla Bartscht, James Turek, Anna Hailfisch, Sharmila Banerjee, Martin Ernstern, Alexandre de Mote and many more.
 
There is a lot going on in Europe at the moment for independent comics.I don't think there has been as many indie publishers as there is now. There is a lot of books coming out in France every year (I think there is about 5 thousand titles a year) but I guess to name a few 'established artists' I could name Jc Menu, Mattt Konture, Jonathan Larabie, Max de Radiques who's latest comic called Moose is available through Oily . Also Joseph Lambert who I discovered though his website and oh, yeah, I think Simon Hanselmann is pretty rad.

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

Short stories and essays I guess. 'A Dreary story' by Anton Chekhov, Inside the whale by Orwell, Barjavel. I have been watching Treme also by David Simon , the walking dead tv show is also on my list for 2012...what else, hum, Nite Jewel, Bill Callahan, Prinzhorn dance school.That's about it for music. And eating proper French bread again, I fucking missed it man!

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

Yeah, I am getting slow (haha). I've been trying to layer pages a different way, I try not to fill them too much. Embracing the greys. If there is a sentence to define my method in 2012 it would be that: embracing the greys.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Not been turned into a zombie or to ashes, been the end of the world and all. A lady tried to give me a magazine on the street this week end, the front of it said: 'are you scared about the end of the world?'. I later found out she was a Jehovah witness.Even them are cashing out on the Walking Dead. I guess I'll keep 2012 rolling into 2013.Meet more comic folks, make more comics, eat more bread, you know...live the life.

http://awrycomics.blogspot.com.au/

2012 in Review: Karl Wills

Karl Wills

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

I managed to find enough time to complete the first two Princess Seppuku books, something I haven't done in about 5 years.
 
Who are some of the comics creators that you've discovered and enjoyed for the first time in 2012?

I really like the work of Josh Bayer (Raw Power) and Michael Deforge (Lose), Josh's work reminds me of Weirdo, it feels like it really belongs in there, it's dark and funny and the drawing is confident but loose, it looks like it's drawn fast, I'm totally envious of it. Michael Deforges comic is far more controlled but tidy and minimal, also a dark story, his design work is deceptively simple and exquisite, I love that cover Lose #4.

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

I've been enjoying the films of Takashi Miike, I went through a period of watching everything I could get all at once, and while his stuff is almost always very violent, it was films like "The Bird People in China" that I liked the most, a lot of great characters and lot's of heart.

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

Just more focus on getting stuff done and out there, I haven't been doing any comic work for a few years and really miss it.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

I'm working on a few animation projects that should be ready sometime in 2013, getting back into writing and directing my own stuff again.

http://www.comicbookfactory.net/

2012 in Review: Brent Willis

Brent Willis

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

 

Starting my zine (Wark) and getting three issues out within my self-imposed deadlines would be my main achievement this year. Also being at two very successful zinefests in Auckland and Wellington, both very well organised and profitable.

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

 

In March this year there was an exhibition showcasing the works of some very young Wellington comic makers producing some very original and imaginative comics. Watch out for the names of Esther Galloway, Zora Patrick, Theo MacDonald, Sadie Galloway, Joel Spencer, and Michael Sanders. They are already highly prolific and are going to be making significant comics in the future.

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

Have been enjoying watching Breaking Bad, Embarrassing bodies and anything involving Guy Williams (officially the funniest guy on television at he moment). Haven't seen any memorable new movies this year but at last I have got to see Tokyo Gore Police and For Your Height Only. Favorite music at the moment is the box set of the almost entire collected works of the legendary post-punk-prog-rock group This Heat, (Google them you must.) which I bought for just one dollar from the library when they were doing their annual collection cull. One dollar!? What were they thinking?  And I also had a really nice holiday in Brisbane too.

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

I still pretty much work the same way as I've always done, although due to my limited spare time, I have stopped doing long comics and I'm just doing shorter stories so can make the two-monthly deadline for Wark. And I bought a small foldable table to draw on, so now I don't have to draw on a piece of paper on a thick book balanced on my lap like I have done for the last twenty years or so.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Doing more comics, More issues of Wark, and doing something for Pikitia Press. Each new year is like a blank piece paper.

http://werewolf.co.nz/2012/06/cartoon-alley-brent-willis/

2012 in Review: Anton Emdin

Anton Emdin

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

Joining the MAD Parody Club has been a major one.  There are only a handful of us, so I was pretty chuffed (and amazed) to be asked.  (I drew an eight page Twilight parody for US MAD.)

I also received the Stanley Award for Illustration (and a nomination for Cartoonist of the Year).  That was pretty cool.

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

I've really been enjoying work from some of the European artists I've met through social networking; Wouter Tulp, Otto Schmidt, Sergey Kolesov, and a heap more.

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

I've been trying to get a bit more balance in my life this year, as it's been a little too cartooning-centric.  All my spare time has been spent with family; teaching my son to ride a bike (and subsequent rides around the bay) have been my happiest times.

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

I'm constantly tweaking the way I work - every job is a little different.  I guess I've done a little more digital painting over the past few months, which has been fun to experiment with.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

A new diary.  I promise I'll keep it neat this time (yeah, right).

http://www.antonemdin.com/

2012 in Review: Philip Bentley

Phillip Bentley's Word Balloons - Australian Magazine of the Graphic Story Arts

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

The “Station Wagon of Comics” mini tour to Adelaide with Bruce Mutard. Met up with a host of comic types including some I hadn’t seen in 20+ years like Darrel Merritt, Dave Hodson and Brendan Boyd, and some I met for the first time like Greg Holfeld and Dave Follett. Unfortunately comic fans were significant by their absence at the Adelaide Supanova.

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

Greg Holfeld, in particular his Captain Congo books written by Ruth Starke. Although technically children’s books they seem to have all ages appeal to me much like Tintin. They are amusingly written and lavishly drawn.

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

City of Vice DVD: a BBC drama series showcasing the seamier side of London in the 18th Century. Too strong for our sets apparently.

What are you looking forward to in 2013?

Big Arse III.

  http://secondshore.blogspot.com.au/

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