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Armageddon. It's over. It was great... and I feel like hammered shit.

You see, I've averaged about 5 hours of sleep in the weeks leading up to this convention as my new book (DIGESTED.02) had to be completed in time for it. Late nights were standard. With black swollen eyes, I'd go to work looking like an addict. In many respects I was. Finishing this book on time was a must. No two ways about it. Quit whining and just get it done.


As for my new book DIGESTED.02, it arrived from the printers the day before the convention. I had no idea what I was going to do if the book didn't get to me before Saturday morning, but thankfully Gestalt (the publisher) did their best to make sure it did. It's always the way just before these conventions. Stress and anxiety.

This year, I split the cost of a table with my fellow author friend Jason Franks. Similarly, he also couldn't remember what 'sleep' was leading up to this event. I was in good company. We both had a brand new book to sell, as well as a slew of our other previous creations to foist onto the public.

I arrived slightly late on the Saturday morning due to roadwork delays on the Westgate freeway. Jason had already set up and was waiting for me to arrive. It took me 20 minutes to lay out my stand, and I was ready to rock 'n' roll.

Sitting there in exhausted anticipation, I was suddenly hit with the dreaded feeling of 'Will my hard work mean anything to these people?" It's a bitter pill to force down, but you just have to remind yourself of why you do it. It's always for yourself... Always.


Matt & Brendan selling their books.


My main man Paul always sells a truckload of books. This is a guy that's doing it right.


Of the independent stalls, the pinups and sketches of fairy-looking manga characters seemed to do really well. The very talented girl to our right was selling sketches for $25 a pop, and did very well.


The dynamic duo working their 'Star Wars' crowd.


Colin Wilson... one of the most humble and gracious professional illustrators there is.


A few locals dropped by our table to chew the fat...




.. including Brendan, Trev...


... and even 3CR's THE COMIC SPOT radio host John Retallick bought a copy of my new book.


Jason's not only a great writer (check out his latest offering KAGEMONO - Tooth & Claw), but he's an amiable guy as well. It sure takes the sting out a grueling day to share it with your comic-buddies.


Sprung hoofing down some grainwaves chips.

As I talked to other exhibitors, it seemed that they were finding the Saturday utterly tiring (as I was). It was very hard to stay energised (let alone awake). Don't know why, but most felt that way... and considering the event went from 9am-8pm that evening, it just compounded the heavy feeling. I think we did well not to fall over. With a good night's sleep, and a conscious effort to 'have fun' (damn it!), I was determined that the Sunday was going to be better.

The final day of a convention is always enjoyable for me. The jitters are gone. I've given a solid effort on the previous day, and now I just want to make the most of what's left. I walked around, chatted to a few people, and bought some books.

MEMORABLE MOMENTS:

• DIGESTED.02 arriving in my hands.
• Sharing a table with Jason Franks.
• Zora's food. Thanks babe - x.
• The peculiar mindset of cosplayers.
• Bill Sienkiewicz's sketches for fans.... amazing.
• Exposing my work to new people.
• Chatting to buyers and my comic buddies.
• Sunday.
• The ridiculous safety rules at the convention (don't ask).
• Sleeping afterwards.

Despite my nervous apprehensions before the event, it actually turned out to be extremely rewarding for me. I'll definitely aim to do it again next year. But next up is Supanova (which I'm not sold on just yet), as well as the upcoming Doujicon (which I'm definitely attending.)

Also...
This Thursday (well, tomorrow actually) is the book launch of a few local authors and their great books. Namely... Jason Franks, Matt Emery, Brendan Hallyday, & James Andre.

BOOK LAUNCH (3 Books released!)
Loop Bar
Meyers Place, Melbourne 3000
Victoria, Australia.
Thursday the 22nd of October 2009
7.30pm

... be there!

And the next event after that is the always popular....

MELBOURNE 'COMICS' MEETUP:
Prince Alfred Hotel
Grattan St, Carlton
Sat-November-7th
2pm - 6pm

Come along, and enjoy a casual drink with folks that read, talk, and make comics.

-Bobby.N

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These coming weeks are ramping up for me. Not long now before Armageddon (a week and a bit to go). And while the book has been sent off to be printed, I still have to prepare for the convention, as well as start stories for the next issue. I'm excited, as well as a little nervous. Some momentum has kicked in, and I just want to keep it steam rolling ahead.

Anyway, after waking early to see about some cheap black work shirts (nice), I spent a lazy morning strolling around the Werribee mall eating my pizza roll and sipping a BigM. The meet was a few hours away as I stopped in the sunshine and enjoyed the relaxed pace. Haven't felt this in months. Usually Im racing somewhere trying to be on time. Now that DIGESTED.02 is finished, I can really breathed some fresh air. Have to do this more often.

Well, after driving down into town to check out some comic book shops (Alternate Worlds (Chapel St), and then to Minotaur (City))... I slowly made my way down to the monthly comics meet. I agot there about 2.30pm to see (as usual) the regulars. They teased me again for being late. Usually I was always the 'seat warmer' as everyone rolled in. Now I've lost my title.



An intense debate. Who says comics is kids stuff?



Jason Franks was looking at Jason Franks being interviewed. This video interview (along with other local creators like myself and Paul Bedford) will soon be up at OzComics. Stay tuned.


While Greg Gates was looking over the new Robert Crumb 'GENESIS' comic that I brought in (hot off the shelves of Minotaur)...


...I was flicking through Greg's beautifully inked/sketch book. Done on various stocks of paper, it really was a joy to drool over his artwork.



Paul NOT drinking alcohol as this glass of Coke can prove. Paul is doing it sober for 'Oc-Sober' this month. Basically, you're suppose to sponsor him to lay off the booze for 30 days... yeah, right... nice try.




This may be the only photo of Jen reading a 'Superhero' comic.


Click on this great panorama provided to me by Colin Wilson (yes, THE Colin Wilson)... to see a bunch of us fanned around the table.

HIGHLIGHTS THIS MONTH:

• Picking up Crumb's new book GENESIS. (His first graphic novel!)
• Looking over Greg Gates' inks.
• Chatting to various people.
• Paul's joke.

See you all at Armageddon on the weekend of the 17th-8th October in a week-or-so. I'll be sharing a table with the prolific Jason Franks. Come past, say hello, and get a sketch when you buy any of our books.

DIGESTED.02 will (finally) be on sale there too!

See you there.

-Bobby.N

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• -

Exciting news! The second issue of the DIGESTED series is complete. The book is assembled and about to go out to the printers. It will be available at the upcoming Armageddon Expo here in Melbourne, so drop by, get a sketch, and buy it!

It will then be available online (as well as through stores, and other places... more news to follow)... but rest assured, its very exciting, trust me. People will be able to get it at a lot more places than just my website from now on. And I've already started on the next issue.

Watch this space.

DIGESTED.02
Size: 6.625"x7"
Cover: Colour
Inside: B&W pages
Pages: 64. (square bound).

-Bobby.N

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For those who aren't locals... Saturday-26th-September was the AFL Grand Final for football in Australia. (The equivalent to NFL or NBA to people in America). It was a windy, rainy & COLD day. The upside was the roads were relatively clear of traffic as the 'Paper Lifeboat' exhibition was at 2pm (just on the start of the football grand final) and so it was a good run on the roads. Virtually everyone was either at the MCG stadium or glued to a television set indoors somewhere watching the event. Anyway... after stopping by a shopping centre with my woman for some errands, we made our way down in quick time to walk into the exhibition just as Bernard Caleo was in the middle of his theatrics playing the parts of Charles Darwin & Germain Greer...


I know its hard, but try to guess which was which.

Following Bernards performance of how comics changed the lives of these people... it was time to take a closer look at the fine artwork hanging on the walls and talk to some of the folks.

Jo Waite



Pat Grant



Bernard Caleo


M.P. Fikaris


Mandy Ord
(My personal pick of the exhibition. Great story and, as usual, beautiful artwork). I should have taken a closer photo.


My contribution...


..and a detail of the artwork.


The crowd was nice in size. It was obvious that comics were more important than beer and football to these people today. Godbless'em.


We all sat down and doodled a few drawings relating to the event. A lot of fun chatting and scribbling. Zora & I left early, and I forgot to take a detailed photo of the drawing that people were doing on the large green 'Wattle' horse (oh you noticed it in the photos?). Sorry Jen.

See you comic nuts at the next weeks monthly meetup:

WHERE: Prince Alfred Hotel on Grattan St, Carlton (across the road from Melbourne Uni.)
DATE: Saturday 3rd October '09
TIME: 2-6pm

-Bobby.N

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I had my Godson's birthday party the Melbourne Zoo in the morning (Happy B-Day Athan!), which wound up just in time to make me fashionably late to Melbourne's Monthly Comicbook Meetup at 2.30pm. I was greeted at our usual corner table by the regulars..

In the corner of the bar, there was Trev Woods filming Jason Franks for a group of online interviews that should be online at Oz Comics soon. Keep an eye out.


Here's Jason Franks being interviewed

I was interviewed also, but don't let my ugly mug put you off... the other interviews should be good. Some interesting questions and insights of local comicbook authors were asked and answered. Great stuff Trev!

I was only away from the main area for 15-20 minutes, and upon my return the place was packed! I understood what Trev meant when he said, "I got here first and had the best seat at the window and now someone's taken it!"

But who cares!?... this month's meet was packed full of like-minded comic nuts. I'll gladly trade my seat for that.












Yes, you're not seeing things... even the Bernard Caleo attended!


Lots of discussion on comics were had, as well as people's new projects shown...


Bernard looking gobsmacked over some amazing work by Renan Le Bolloc' h. Really great stuff!

MEMORABLE MOMENTS THIS MONTH:

• The chats with various people
• Bernard's preview copy of the upcoming 'best of' TANGO' anthology.
• Trev's filming/interviews... & his funny convention story.
• The amazing artwork many people brought along. Some wonderful stuff.

Geez, what a fantastic meetup we had this month. For no special reason, the turn out was huge. Next month's meet will be a week-or-so before the Armageddon expo. Make sure you get along.. as I'll be releasing the next issue of DIGESTED. It'll be 60 pages packed full of Bobby.N goodness. I'll be sharing a table with Jason Franks & J. Marc. Schmidt. Along with our own books, we'll be selling books by Trev Woods & Tom Bonin also. Come by and say hello and even a sketch in any book you buy!

-Bobby.N


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