Comicpalooza #2

Guess where and when this year's Comicpalooza #2 was held...



On a hot afternoon, four great books were launched in a cool air-conditioned pub in Melbourne's CBD. Launched on the day were books from Chris Gooch (Very Quiet, Very Still), Dale Miccanti & Tennille Owens (The Misadventures of Peter Pumpkinhead featuring artists from the web comic), Tom Garden (System Earth 5) and SCAR (The Fuglies).




Chirs Gooch signing copies.


Matt Emery & Brenan Halyday.


Brendan Halyday selling behind the table.


The local scene turned out in numbers to support the four new books.


The creators of the four books.

Debbie's Inferno

Grabbed Anne Emond's 32 page comic DEBBIE'S INFERNO from Matt Emery at the last Melbourne Comics Meetup. The cartooning style caught my eye. Reminded me of Mandy Ord's work.

It's a quick read but very good. I really enjoy comics like these that make the reading experience like you're taking a walk on the beach... a nice change from all the usual fragmented angst and fury of other comics. From a visual point-of-view I like the grid structure Anne's used, and the cartooning style has a very 'R.Crumb' feel to it. Story-wise, I thought it was ok on first reading... but I re-read it again this morning over a cup of tea (with nowhere to be) and I liked it a lot. Just goes to show how time/place/mood can effect one's appreciation of things. Really good stuff.

Withheld - (review)

WITHHELD has a special place in my heart. It was the first book I published as my own. It's when I jumped in with both feet and said, "This is mine." Thanks to the guys at Melbourne Comics for featuring WITHHELD as the first review in their series called 'Small puddle. Big waves'. Click here to read the review.

Squishzine Brunstown

Yesterday afternoon (26th-OCT-2014), Squichface Studio launched their FREE comic book called Squishzine Brunstown.


David Blummenstein & Ben Hutchings unboxing the gorgeous comics before the launch.


The day was a pretty hot and sunny one. Better than it raining all over the comics I suppose.


And it gave people the chance to chat and drink in the sun.




A cool little jazz band was cranking out some nice tunes to set the mood.


The ring-leaders of the wonderful free comic... David Blummenstein (left) and Ben Hutchings (middle)


Ive Sorocuk (red shirt)




Jase Harper (black t-shirt & sunnies)







It's an absolutely beautiful A5 colour comic, and it's FREE no less. So what are you waiting for? Get down to Squishface Studio and grab yourself a copy!

Armageddon 2014

I had a great time sitting behind the Milk Shadow Books booth yesterday at Armageddon Expo (Melbourne Showgrounds). As I walked from my car to the event, there was the usual costumed hoards of teenagers (and not-so-teenagers) walking to the entrance like ants.


As I got there, I was greeted by my high school friend (Emmanuel), and his kids.


I had the privilege of sitting next to the talented Jase Harper.


One of Jase Harper's beautiful prints that was on sale.


In between talking to people, I doodled in my sketchbook.


A Ben Hutchings (Hutcho) poster.






Jason Franks and Paul Bedford. Aside from the joy that the actual comics 'craft' gives me (alone behind paper)... the social aspect of the scene is all about hanging out with mates like these... This shot, however, does little to alleviate the 'geek' stereotype from our medium, Paul.


An old work/studio colleague, Ben Stock, dropped by. He's the only person I've worked with in my design career that's actually 'into' the comics scene.


Melbourne Comics had a very interesting panel discussing comics, distribution and all related aspects concerning getting our work out.






The Gestalt booth.


FEC Comics


John Petropoulos ( Bug&Stump) & daughter.


Where I sat during the day... The Milk Shadow booth.


Melbourne Comics.




Neville Howard (Melbourne Comics/Velocity)


Troy Varker ( All Star Comics ).


Harrison Chua.


This is the great thing about the comics scene... everyone is so friendly and gets along. No one really covets information, nor is afraid of mixing with (so called) competition. It's all very friendly... unlike many in the photography field.


Jase Harper.


A fairly good turnout, as usual.


Fanboy.


Brendan Halyday and Darren Close.



It was a humid afternoon, but otherwise, our booth good sales. Thanks to Milk Shadow Books for having me behind their table. I had fun sitting with you all and sketching for customers.

This weekend...

I'll be sitting behind the Milk Shadow Books stand at the Armageddon Expo this Sunday after 1pm at the Melbourne Showgrounds. Come by, say hello, and get a free sketch from me with any book of mine you buy.

Visualising a story.

I tend to do these 'test' pages when I'm excited about doing a story. I just play with format. The below is an idea in 2006 that never went anywhere.



I don't tend to just write the words, sketch some characters, and off I go to the drawing board. No. I like to gauge the book as a whole in my head. I like imagining how the pages in the book will be. The text. The page borders. The panel/grid structure... basically the 'feel' of the pages being looked at when/if the story becomes real. It helps evoke a mood for the work. Helps convince me, "Yep, this is working."... Helps me visualise, stoke the fires, and move forward knowing that it all makes sense to me.

sketchbook

Fleshing out...

There are a few comic creators that have moved to my neck of the woods in the last year-or-so. Darren Close is one of them, and yesterday he dropped by and we spent the day working on our comics and chatting. A lot of fun. Below is one of the sketches I fleshed out for the next chapter of OXYGEN.

DIGESTED #7

While the story is already outlined, I spent a little time recently finalising the story of DIGESTED #7 before penciling/inking the pages.

sketchbook...

When you see a comic style done well by another (and it touches on the effect that you're aiming for), it's natural to want to 'test' it yourself... Sometimes this can be a breakthrough, and sometimes it can confuse you even more. It can stop the momentum you had and make you a tad uncertain.



In this case I'm trying to experiment and see whether subtle hatching or bold black works better on cloth folds in my own style... it's a pleasurable way of frustrating myself.

SPX in America this weekend

My book, NO MAP BUT NOT LOST is being sold (along with many other wonderful Milk Shadow Books) at tomorrow's big American SPX indie comix expo.



If you can't get to the expo, don't worry, you can still buy all the books online at Milk Shadow Books' website.

Sketchbook