Supanova and your comics

Hopefully I'm not leaving this too late, but next weekend I'm sharing an Artist Alley table with Daniel Reed at Supanova. And I'll be more than happy to sell comics for people who aren't there or can't get a table.

For instance Owen could provide me with copies of his How to save the World comic.

If you are interested send me an email, mark_selan@hotmail.com and i'll provide a mailing address, but be quick - time and space is limited.

Allotta comics

I used to keep my comics in A4 display folders, about 40 per folder. It was handy for awhile because they could be kept on shelves and easily flicked through. Then i ran out of shelf space so stuff got archived into boxes (still in their folders). then i ran out of space for boxes, so i've been slowly taking everything out of folders and putting them in your regular comic short box. I have a wall of about 20 cartons behind me and whilst making "i'm building a fort!" comments may of made Emma smirk early on, i believe that ship has sailed, or more appropriately that comic has shipped. What's worse is i still have all more Xmen stuff to work through (xmen, uncanny, xfactor, new mutants, excalibur, xforce, wolverine).

About 180 per box x 20 boxes. E-gads - how sad.

In the process i'm making a list of gaps in the collection (i'll sell a kidney for Sandman mystery theatre #25) as well as figuring out what i can donate, sell and hang on to.

So if anyone has any runs of comics (i'm not desperate enough to sell single isues yet) they are interested in, let me know. (for example kyle rayner green lanterns, or the Texira ghost riders or the death of superman run) I'll offer stuff here first and then try my luck on ebay.

On a similar note of sorts, michael turner isn't going to be at Supanova - whilst i'm not a fan (not that i dislike his work either) i recognise he has a profile which would get some people excited. Replacing him is Scott Lobdell, who i only know of as the writer who was writing Xmen when i dropped Marvel titles and who was responsible for the Charest issues of Wildcats (2nd volume) (which i'm tracking down actually). So has he done anything of note?

Operation Funny Bone

According to the Aussie Comics forum, there's a charity comic being put togther for a Cancer Centre. It seems quite prestigious and ambitious, the organiser is looking for 200 artists and the end product will be some sort of coffee book.

There's an email address for those interested.

Challenge Poster Winner

Jase Harper has won the Ozcomic 24 hour Challenge poster competition



Congratulations!

Commercial vs Mainstream vs Art

I had a couple of people comment on my call on Paul Abstruse being the best australian artist not working for the big 4 (the big four being Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse) (For those playing at home; the little 4 being IDW, ONI, Slave Labor and AIT/Planetlar).

Now does this mean that Paul is the best artist in Australia? Not really - i enjoy the art of Jase Harper, Matt Hyunh and Chelsea Fritzlaff a lot more. However, in comic book commercial reality that revolves around men punching each other and 'splosions, Jase's Hewlett/Barks, Matt's Mignola/Vasquez or Chels' Bode/Vess/Keith styles don't really suit Spiderman or JLA. It would be great to see - a Huynh Batman would be pretty cool - but in the end, it would be a waste, their talents are better used on something else.

Paul's work is much better suited to something produced by Marvel or DC. Wolverine fans woukld probably warm to Paul's interpretation of the character than Jase's.

But its a funny thing, artists that are deemed underground by comic fans; creators like Tomine, Clowes, Brown have probably had more people see their work as spot illustrations in Rolling Stone, Spin and GQ. The magazine audience in the millions would outstrip the 100,000 buying Ultimate Spiderman.
Or locally, more kids are buying Kzone and seeing Megahappy Pet Fun Music time and Batrisha (You can see an online version here) than seeing Nicola Scott's work in Star Wars tales.
'What's mainstream?', needs to be answered before 'who's mainstream'. In comic land, mainstream is Marvel, DC, Image and Dark Horse. In reality though? i thinking archie and disney sell more, locally i'm guessing Simpsons probably does better than Xmen.

Its horses for courses and what floats your boat.
It's all relative and no offense was meant or judgement passed on the quality of work.

Issue 6

Echoing a sentiment being expressed here, the next issue of the magazine will be about collaboration and cooperation.
The cover for the next issue of OzComic magazine

By Paul Abstruse, the best artist in Australia not working for the big 4 but deserves to be.

24 hour challenge Poster Poll

You can go vote for the poster to best represent the Ozcomic 24 Hour Challenge

More obligatory comics controversy.....

Over in Doug's blog, he laments the lack of Australian comics on the shelves for this year. While i'm sharpening my pencil, getting ready to draw 'Black bear finds Timmy before Lassie' (I'll win best inker for sure.) i don't think its that bad.
In the past couple of years, the two conventions have brought a couple of books out of the woodwork; knee pockets, Tales, Finch, Diabla, Killeroo all got launched at Supanova. This doesn't seem to happen anymore, besides Sporadic #5 and the new DeeVee no new comics are being released for Brisbane. Possibly people are holding back for Sydney.
Or maybe, distributing books at a convention is not that cost effective by the time you count table costs and whatnot. I don't know.

But is it that bad? I'm not talking quality, i'll leave that to reviewers and Doug.
According to www.phasetwocomics.com Oztaku #3 came out, something called Stoole.
For sure, there's "something wicked" being put out by Troy Kealley and Pirates by Tonia Walden. Though I fear hell my freeze over, WitchKing should be out; as well as Eldritch kid and Azerath (both from POC's creatorline). Then hopefully the Foolproof crew's Suburban Knights Anthology Falling Forward, Weber has just finished Alien Circus and hopefully will be doing something else. Hopefully Platinum Grit #14 is online this year as well. And I see Daniel Reed is going to be at Supanova, hopefully that means he's finished another Crumpleton Experiment. Plus if memory serves me correctly, Dillon is releasing some stuff celebrating 10 or 20 years of Dillondon/Dillitopia. I think there will be some Cardigan Comics released, and a new Silent Army comic/anthology/group effort of some sort. And if mention Weber's efforts on Alien Circus, then Doug has a whole bunch of stuff this year from publishers; Flight 2,3 but also in the selfpublishing world hopefully the reemergence of Toon Buggy.

So in terms publishing, its not that bad - the driving forces and most visible creators of the new wave (post 2000 australian comics) Tang, Baez, Phllips, Close aren't doing anything this year.

But the year is only young....

Ozcomic 24 Hour Challenge Poster competition - 2 days to go

Monday 5pm, the competition ends, so a day and a half to get your entries in to win a stack of graphic novels (invisibles, transmetropolitan, crab allan, preacher) or $100. Post you entries here (as a comment) or email me mark_selan@hotmail.com


Dean Rankine


Troy Kealley


Avi - Egofreaky


Jase Harper


Gavin

The winner will be decided by poll, on www.pulpfaction.net

Charas and Me

Well, not really. i've got an uncle visiting from California and have spent a lot of time drinking, carousing and shooting the breeze.

Last time he was here, i discovered that in the 70s, while travelling through India he appeared in a bollywood film. It was Charos - I now have to track this film down, because he "played a bad guy, who has his way with the girl, in song and dance".

This led to a discussion with my cousin's wife, who appeared in Dirty Dozen III, with Telly Savalas.

Who loves ya baby!

Comic hate

Just as much as i hate when journalists use Wham, Bam, kapow or derivatives in their articles, it also annoys me when they describe Maus as Jews as mice and Germans as cats or Holocaust with animal characters.
It so smuggly simplistic; what made Maus good was that it cute animals. Not the writing, the brutal honesty, not the characters, but because its had bad kitties and poor mouseys.

Bugger Comics - Talking DVD

Movies i like - not on DVD but should be;
Chocolate War
I think its the quintensential teen rebellion movie.

Boy on a Dolphin
Not for me really but for Emma. Honest.

Le Samorai
Classic French noir. Little seen it's influence can be seen here and there; Woo's Killer for example.

Bam, Ow, Ahhh - Bugger Comics

Standard piece on check out what the kids are reading, though it seems a bit out of date, who the hell likes Lobo, these days? (Though the Bisley Issues were Kewl!). Who admits to reading Garfield, no matter the age?

And its not even saying this is what the kids are reading, its what the 20 and 30 year olds are reading. No mention of manga, either, which is odd these days. Because kids love manga! Everyone else love -
"Suicide, depression, incest, black magic, terrorism - no matter how sleazy or dark - you can now find it in some comics," Mr McCredie said.

Oh what a feeling - Bugger comics

Toyota is using a 32 page comic in K-Zone to advertise its cars to 8-13 year olds.

When i was a young lad, my father wouldn't have even considered asking my thoughts on the family car, besides "Do you think it needs a wash? Well then, don't stand around get the buckets!"
And i fear the day when i have spawn, they'll return from their boarding school "Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Please buy the Mitsubishi Wiggly Giggly with built in Freezie dispensers and laughing seats! Please Daddy!"

Of course this isn't the first time a car manufacturer has used comic books to sell cars - but we can't talk about that. Shame though.

Speaking of k-Zone - Vote Dillon.
Jase Harper has his Happy Moo Moo Rawk n Roll Animal Crazy Fun Fun comic in the latest Kzone and I believe Dean Rankine as well - i think, though i thought his stuff appeared in the other one, D-Mag. And Alex Major has also appeared in K-Zone, with his Phat Monkey, which I believe is a comic and not something dirty, but its always hard to tell with Alex.

I wish Kzone wasn't polybagged so i could peruse it while i waited for my groceries to be scanned.

Comics Robot, where are you?

In the course of my incessant googling for web stuff on australian comics I came across

http://fourcolouredfancies.blogspot.com/

I saw this site awhile back, i think from Weber's very much missed blog, not sure who put it together but i have my suspicions.....

Anyway, its funny and at least some one is going to the effort. (the effort being using the word minge and refrences to horse whipping).

Of course it lasted awhile and then died.

On a related note Blog Shares is a fantasy stock market on blogs. You people's eyeballs are viewing $2667 worth of web real estate, just wait till i fix up the bathroom.

Autohead

On sunday, during a commercial break in North by Northwest (which followed the brilliant Mister Roberts, only needed a episode of the Monkees and it would be the best sunday tv ever!) I flicked over to channel 2 and saw Ward 13.
The credits referenced Sam Young.

Sam Young, under the moniker of Autohead, was the publisher of Issue One, which was my, and I'm guessing many others, first exposure to Australian comics and talent.

A bit of googling led to
http://www.nescafebigbreak.com.au/career/
where Sam talks about Hollywood, writing and comics.

"I think every artist, every writer, every creator on the planet gets to the stage where they actually have to sell what they do."

Prizes for the Ozcomic 24 Hour Challenge Poster Competition

There's just under 2 weeks before entries are due, if you think you need more time email (mark_selan@hotmail.com) or PM me and let me know.

Anyway for prizes, the winner gets a choice of $100 cash or a selection of Graphic Novesl; Preacher Vol1, Sin Sity: Booze, Bullets and Broads, Invisibles; Bloody Hell in America, a Transmetropolitan Trade. All in Good Condition.

Check this blog for any new details or news about the challenge

Discounted comics

With the value of the dollar strong against the US Dollar you may want to take advantage of US Based retailers, like www.milehighcomics.com who are having 40% off sale on graphic novels and if you order over $100US you get free international shipping.

They don't have much in the way of indy stuff, but mainstream DC, Marvel, Dark Horse stuff is available and it figures out to about 11 trades for $150 which is pretty much paying cover price.

Or Amazon have a decent discount and shipping isn't that much if you get 4 or 5 items.

Then you can spend your savings on other more experimental stuff.

How does he stay on that cross like that?

Spidey and the Bible - well there was that weird cruxifiction scene in Spidey 2.

Comics aren't for kids - without library cards

Buffy graphic novel forces librarians to fall down but really happily

A library in the Blue Mountains is using comics to interest new readers, which is all well and good. i hope the children won't need saving though.

Egg story, was written in the Blue Mountain region, by J. Marc Schmidt and i think the Cult Fiction guys are based there. So....how about that.

Egg story is pretty good for about $10, search it out.

whooosh

Small shiny gritty gods

Jason Rand gives a nod and a thanks to Platinum Grit, in his Image series, Small Gods, issue 7 to be exact.

It's a good series, the current storyline isn't as great as the first, especially issue 7 which reminds me of that Cindy Crawford film, Fair Game which has the scene; "i'm being stalked by violent men - do me from behind Billy Baldwin!"
And i don't think car chases work in comics (Initial D aside). It's also a matter of preference but i like the pencil work (uninked and grey toned) of the back up story in issue 7 than the more 'finished' art in the feature story (both by the same artist, Juan E. Ferreyra).

Minor quibbles aside, Small Gods is an entertaining read.

Jason will be at Supanova. Also noticed that Nicola Scott will be there as well.
Star Wars trumps you Campbell!