Friday, April 19, 2013
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Marriage Equality in New Zealand
I can recall when The New Zealand Homosexual Law Reform Act was passed in 1986 and yesterday marked another historic piece of legislation with the passing of MP Louisa Wall's bill to legalise gay marriage in New Zealand. Several New Zealand cartoonists provided commentary on the Marriage (Definition of Marriage) Amendment Bill being passed into law, making New Zealand the 13th nation to allow same-sex marriage.
This gallery was compiled from online sources and all images are copyright of the respective cartoonists. Any cartoonists who wish to have their work removed please email me.
This gallery was compiled from online sources and all images are copyright of the respective cartoonists. Any cartoonists who wish to have their work removed please email me.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Productivity and Motivation: David C Mahler and Darren Close
Part two of talking with self-publishing/small press cartoonists about productivity and motivation.
David C. Mahler is a young prolific Melbourne cartoonist, he seems to have a new mini comic out every few month, in a variety of formats, as well as featuring in recent anthologies Dailies and Victoria Drug Scene. David's tumblr.
Do you experience a drop in productivity upon completing a comic?
Not exactly. I'm a bit of a workhorse; at any one time I'll have 5 or so books in the works, which can range from 6 - 30 pages. As I work on a large number of projects at once, they do take quite some time to see completion, so maybe that's how I get around the dreaded productivity drop; I just take so long to complete any one thing. As well, I'm constantly noting down new concepts and dream projects…I'm starting to get worried I'll never have a holiday ever again. Generally if I finish a longer work I'll have a few days of rest where I'll work on more scratchy 1-2 pagers before starting the long uphill push once more. Oh, I will admit, I've actually caught myself taking mid-project breaks more and more. I'll wake up in the morning, sit at my desk with a stack of inked pages, a stack of panelled pages, and catch myself watching Bob's Burger's an hour later. And then it's lunchtime, and of course you have to eat lunch in front of youtube…I mean, that's just common sense…I never really acknowledged it before, but I guess my weakness is indeed the mid-project lazies!
Have you developed methods to deal with creative lulls?
Definitely just piling the projects on. If I know there's more to do I'll push myself harder to finish off the current comic, so I can go onto that next exciting project. I also make a point of discussing projects with, well, everyone. I'm worried it comes off a bit like boasting, but really it's a tactic I've found to commit myself to my work - I don't want to let anyone down! Every now and then a friend will ask something along the lines of "so did you give up on that 20 pager you mentioned last year?" and I'm basically always reassuring, "no no, it's sitting on my desk, the pencils are tight, any day now!!"
As far as the sneaky tv breaks, it generally gets to a point where I say "alright, I've finished one page in the last three days, yet I've finished two seasons of Lost. Time to get back to work! …After this episode…"
What do you consider the primary obstructions of your productivity?
Well, TV no doubt…I'm not the most social person - I've been shamefully known to cancel plans last minute because I'm just too deep in the zone. Really the only other obstacle I can recognise would be food, which makes me pretty darn tired. I realised a while ago that my most productive periods are the days I don't eat! What an awful double edged sword…don't worry, I don't starve myself for my art, but if I need to I can contentedly rock out a solid, meal-scarce 40 hours where I'll just whizz through 10-15 pages. I really do not recommend it.
Via his creation Killeroo, Darren Close has collaborated with a wide line up of Australian writers and cartoonists since it's initial appearance in the university magazine The Third Degree. Close has been active in fostering comics communities with his Ozcomics weekly draw-off and prior to that Ozcomics the magazine, co-edited with Mark Selan.
Do you experience a drop in productivity upon completing a comic?
Yeah, there's a period when you switch to "create mode" to "pimp mode" and everything else goes on the back-burner for a while - at least that's how it was with the GANGWAR one-shot last year. I moved heaven and earth to get it ready for Big Arse 2 - and then straight into online orders and gauging interest of stocking it at local comic shops. The next book didn't really get a look-in until most of the stock was sold.
Have you developed methods to deal with creative lulls?
Well for one I'll never rush a book to meet a deadline again. The GANGWARS ANTHOLOGY book has been a slow burn, generating and gauging retailer interest whilst it's still coming together, much better planning and NO rushed pages. Not soliciting the release date until it's READY is another handy tip.
What do you consider the primary obstructions of your productivity?
Probably facebook (and ozcomics). It's a great marketing tool but also a big drain on time and energy if you don't monitor it.
David C. Mahler is a young prolific Melbourne cartoonist, he seems to have a new mini comic out every few month, in a variety of formats, as well as featuring in recent anthologies Dailies and Victoria Drug Scene. David's tumblr.
Do you experience a drop in productivity upon completing a comic?
Not exactly. I'm a bit of a workhorse; at any one time I'll have 5 or so books in the works, which can range from 6 - 30 pages. As I work on a large number of projects at once, they do take quite some time to see completion, so maybe that's how I get around the dreaded productivity drop; I just take so long to complete any one thing. As well, I'm constantly noting down new concepts and dream projects…I'm starting to get worried I'll never have a holiday ever again. Generally if I finish a longer work I'll have a few days of rest where I'll work on more scratchy 1-2 pagers before starting the long uphill push once more. Oh, I will admit, I've actually caught myself taking mid-project breaks more and more. I'll wake up in the morning, sit at my desk with a stack of inked pages, a stack of panelled pages, and catch myself watching Bob's Burger's an hour later. And then it's lunchtime, and of course you have to eat lunch in front of youtube…I mean, that's just common sense…I never really acknowledged it before, but I guess my weakness is indeed the mid-project lazies!
Have you developed methods to deal with creative lulls?
As far as the sneaky tv breaks, it generally gets to a point where I say "alright, I've finished one page in the last three days, yet I've finished two seasons of Lost. Time to get back to work! …After this episode…"
What do you consider the primary obstructions of your productivity?
Well, TV no doubt…I'm not the most social person - I've been shamefully known to cancel plans last minute because I'm just too deep in the zone. Really the only other obstacle I can recognise would be food, which makes me pretty darn tired. I realised a while ago that my most productive periods are the days I don't eat! What an awful double edged sword…don't worry, I don't starve myself for my art, but if I need to I can contentedly rock out a solid, meal-scarce 40 hours where I'll just whizz through 10-15 pages. I really do not recommend it.
Via his creation Killeroo, Darren Close has collaborated with a wide line up of Australian writers and cartoonists since it's initial appearance in the university magazine The Third Degree. Close has been active in fostering comics communities with his Ozcomics weekly draw-off and prior to that Ozcomics the magazine, co-edited with Mark Selan.
Do you experience a drop in productivity upon completing a comic?
Yeah, there's a period when you switch to "create mode" to "pimp mode" and everything else goes on the back-burner for a while - at least that's how it was with the GANGWAR one-shot last year. I moved heaven and earth to get it ready for Big Arse 2 - and then straight into online orders and gauging interest of stocking it at local comic shops. The next book didn't really get a look-in until most of the stock was sold.
Have you developed methods to deal with creative lulls?
What do you consider the primary obstructions of your productivity?
Monday, April 15, 2013
New Zealand Comics Shop Master list
The following list of comics shops in New Zealand was compiled by Kelly Sheehan, April 2013. I'll try and keep it up to date and a permanent page link on the right side menu of this blog for easy access. Updates are welcome from anyone in these localities.
North Island Shops
Arkham Comics, email, facebook, twitter, website, 09-625 6537 , Royal Oak Mall (upstairs near McDonalds) - Shop 45a/691 Manukau Rd, Royal Oak, Auckland,
Hours: Mon-Wed 9am - 5.30pm, Thurs - 9am - 8pm, Fri - 9am - 5.30pm, Sat - 9am - 5pm
Sun - 10am - 5pm, Closed - Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Christmas Day
Graphic Novel Cafe, email, 09-303 3445 , 99 Shortland Street, Cnr of Shortland & Princes St, Auckland 1010 website, Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am - 7pm, Sat: 10am - 6pm
Retrospace, email, website, 09 486 0791 , 112 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna.
Heroes For Sale, email, website, 09-378 8414 , 582 Karangahape Road, Auckland, New Zealand 1141
Mark One Comics, email, website, twitter, facebook, 07 8393729 , 551 Victoria St Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, Hours: Monday – Thursday 9am – 5.00pm, Friday 9am – 6pm,Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm
Iconix, facebook, website, twitter, PO Box 654, Hastings. 4156 New Zealand
The Bad Cave , email, facebook, 06 3566779 , 86 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North, Hours: Tuesday 1pm- 6pm, Wednesday - Friday 11am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
Graphic, Wellington , email or email , 04-384 2691 , 106 Cuba Mall Te Aro, Wellington 6011
South Island Shops
The Comic Shop, email, website, 03-684 9060 , 42 Stafford Street, Timaru
Comics Compulsion, email, website, 03 379 7866 , 58 Main North Road, Papanui,Christchurch. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10am-5.30pm, Friday: 10am-6pm, Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 10am-4pm
Dunedin Comics, email, website
North Island Shops
Arkham Comics, email, facebook, twitter, website, 09-625 6537 , Royal Oak Mall (upstairs near McDonalds) - Shop 45a/691 Manukau Rd, Royal Oak, Auckland,
Hours: Mon-Wed 9am - 5.30pm, Thurs - 9am - 8pm, Fri - 9am - 5.30pm, Sat - 9am - 5pm
Sun - 10am - 5pm, Closed - Good Friday, Easter Sunday & Christmas Day
Graphic Novel Cafe, email, 09-303 3445 , 99 Shortland Street, Cnr of Shortland & Princes St, Auckland 1010 website, Hours: Mon-Fri: 10am - 7pm, Sat: 10am - 6pm
Retrospace, email, website, 09 486 0791 , 112 Hurstmere Road, Takapuna.
Heroes For Sale, email, website, 09-378 8414 , 582 Karangahape Road, Auckland, New Zealand 1141
Mark One Comics, email, website, twitter, facebook, 07 8393729 , 551 Victoria St Hamilton Central, Hamilton 3204, Hours: Monday – Thursday 9am – 5.00pm, Friday 9am – 6pm,Saturday 9am – 5pm, Sunday 10am – 4pm
Iconix, facebook, website, twitter, PO Box 654, Hastings. 4156 New Zealand
The Bad Cave , email, facebook, 06 3566779 , 86 Broadway Ave, Palmerston North, Hours: Tuesday 1pm- 6pm, Wednesday - Friday 11am - 6pm, Saturday 10am - 4pm
Graphic, Wellington , email or email , 04-384 2691 , 106 Cuba Mall Te Aro, Wellington 6011
South Island Shops
The Comic Shop, email, website, 03-684 9060 , 42 Stafford Street, Timaru
Comics Compulsion, email, website, 03 379 7866 , 58 Main North Road, Papanui,Christchurch. Hours: Monday-Thursday: 10am-5.30pm, Friday: 10am-6pm, Saturday: 10am-5pm, Sunday: 10am-4pm
Dunedin Comics, email, website
Jim Shepherd 1933 - 2013
Cover of the first Australian produced Phantom story written by publisher Shepherd with art by Keith Chatto.
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