News From Earth's End: December Edition

Above: Dr. Grordbort's Exceptional Exhibition currently on in Wellington.

Hot on the heels of his latest graphic novel, Triumph, Greg Broadmore has recently opened a Dr. Grordbort's Exceptional Exhibition in Wellington. Almost more of a museum than an exhibition, this event displays the full depth of the universe that Greg has created around this character, including: concept art, character portraits, ray gun prototypes, statues and much more!

Located at 48-50 Cuba Street in Wellington, the exhibit is open now till January 26th, 2013. Exhibition hours are: Tues to Sat – 12 -7 pm, and Sun – 12 - 4pm. After it finishes up in Wellington, the exhibition will travel around the world to Germany, France, China and Hong Kong. So make sure you see it while you have the chance!

Above: Cover of Fresh Volume 2 by Michelle Bai & Kay See Yan. Copyright the respective creators 2012.

Following on from Fresh Vol. 1 a few years back, the students of Alfriston Collage have produced a second anthology of comic stories. The comics in this volume are largely manga inspired, reflecting the huge influence this style continues to have on young people, and will no doubt deliver exactly what that audience is looking for! Edited by Steve Saville, the creators include: Michelle Bai, Ahmed Rajeh, Gabby Westerlund, Kay See Yen, Ryan Thuker, Tracy Tsai and many more.

Fresh Vol. 2 is $8 per copy, and can be mail ordered by check made out to Alfriston Collage, from Steve Saville, 166 Seddon Street, Pukekeohe. Or look for issues to be available from Gotham Comics in the near future.

Above: Art from Princess Seppuku: The Lower Depths. Copyright Karl Wills 2012.

The second volume of Karl Wills' exceptionally crafted, and darkly funny Princess Seppuku series is also out now. Titled The Lower Depths, you should be able to pick it up from all good comic shops (or directly from the Comicbook Factory HERE for $10 (plus postage and packaging).

The series has also inspired some neat pin-up art from other comic creators including Ant Sang and Cory May!

Above: Princess Seppuku by Ant Sang.

Above: Princess Seppuku by Cory May.

And for some bonus nice art, here's some classic New Zealand comics character appreciations by Jason Winter: Chop Stick from Ant Sang's Dharma Punks, and one of the villains from The Inhabitants by the Sheehan Bros.

Above: Chop Stick from Dharma Punks and a character from The Inhabitants by Jason Winter.

Above: The cover of Czepta: The Prophet Rides Again #0. Copyright Czepta Gold.

Here's a sneak peek at the cover of Czepta: The Prophet Rides Again #0, by Czepta Gold. A print and online edition of the comic should be available from 21st of December, so keep an eye on the official website HERE for more details!

Above: Manu Bennett and Slade Wilson aka Deathstroke the Terminator. Copyright DC Entertainment.

In comics related casting news: local actor Manu Bennett, previously of the locally filmed TV series Spartacus and soon to be seen in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, has been cast as Slade Wilson/Deathstroke the Terminator in the new TV series Arrow (based on the DC Comic book character, Green Arrow).

Created by Marv Wolfman and George Perez, the formidable mercenary/assassin first appeared in New Teen Titans #2 in 1980. A master tactician and weapons expert, he's one of the few comics characters who can hold his own against the Justice League single-handed (read: major badass!). Since crossing paths with Green Arrow in the mini-series Identity Crisis (where Ollie stuck an arrow in his eye socket..ouch!), he's regularly turned up in the archer's adventures looking to even the score.

Its unclear yet how similar Bennett's appearance will be to the comic character (who is traditionally in his 40s with white hair and a goatee), but physically he certainly fits the bill! Arrow screens on the CW network in the US, and I expect it will debut on TV2 here in New Zealand sometime over the summer.

-AK!

News From Earth's End: September Edition

Above: The cover of New Zealand Comics and Graphic Novels, published by Hicksville Press. Cover illustrations going clockwise: Akira Atsushi, Mat Tait (x2), Toby Morris, Greg Broadmore, Ant Sang, Andrew Burdan and Dylan Horrocks.

Hi everyone, sorry for the length of time between posts, it's been a busy year here at Earth's End Central; but there's plenty of exciting NZ comics publishing developments on the way in the next few months, so your patience will be rewarded!

In fact, here's some FREE stuff for you right now: Dylan Horrocks has edited a guide to New Zealand comics and creators for distribution at the various publishing events taking place in the next few weeks, including the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Treviso Comic Book Festival. As it's a promotional publication, you won't find it available at retailers, but the good news is you can download it for FREE HERE.

It highlights over sixty NZ comic creators, as well as a full listing of their available and upcoming projects, and features a brief historical overview of New Zealand Comics by Tim Bollinger.

Above: Wulfpak by Ed Butler aka Czepta Gold. Copyright Chronic Shock Entertainment 2012.

Back in 2009, before he became Czepta Gold, comic creator Ed Butler produced a kids manga hip-hop mash-up, Wulfpuk. A fun combination of Dragonball with a decidedly local street flavour, the complete 40 page comic is now available for FREE on Graphicly HERE.

Above: A preview page from Adventure Time #8, featuring a special story from Frank & Becky. Copyright Cartoon Network 2012.

In other news, Tiny Kitten Teeth creators Frank Gibson & Becky Dreistadt are making big inroads in the US, with a back-up in the latest issue of Adventure Time, a comic published by Kaboom, based on the hugely popular animated series. You can view an eight page preview of their contribution HERE via Comics Alliance.

Above: Mr. Unpronounceable returns! Copyright Tim Molloy 2012.

Tim Molloy has a forthcoming collection of his Mr. Unpronounceable stories coming out soon, so here's a first look at the cover...

Above: The cover of Snarked! #12, by Roger Langridge. Copyright Roger Langridge 2012.

Sadly, it seems Roger Langridge's Eisner Award-winning comic series Snarked! will be coming to an end with #12. Over on his blog Roger says the book will reach a natural conclusion, but he'd like to revisit the characters again in the future if there's enough interest. The best way for you to show your support is to buy the trade collections: Snarked! Volume 1 is available now, with Volume 2 hitting in late October, and the final volume landing in February next year. Roger will still be keeping busy though, with the ongoing Popeye comic for IDW and he's also working on another more 'action-orientated' title for them in the near future.

Stat tuned for information on several upcoming NZ comic events in the next few weeks!

-AK!

News From Earth's End: July Edition

Above: Czepta: The Prophet Rides Again webcomic announcement art by Czepta Gold. Copyright Czepta Gold 2012.

Today sees the official launch of Czepta: The Prophet Rides Again, the new webcomic by Czepta Gold. Formally known as Ed Butler, creator of the comics Wulfpak and Hell Bound, he's taken on this new persona to completely embody the spirit of his new creation, a heady mix of: 'Astral Projection, UFOs, Egyptology, Giant Robots, Hallucinogenic Substances, Surfing, Islamic and Christian references, Rastafarianism, Buddhist Wizards, Virtual Cybernetic Cities, and Cyberpunk Villains'.

He's how Czepta Gold describes the series over at his website:

'The story of Czepta has been manifesting itself in my mind for about two years now. It has become the means for me to express my views on the world and human society today and where I would like to see us go. The story has grown organically, feeding off many of the experiences and lessons I’ve accumulated during this time. Some small and some dramatic. I’ve been wanting to do this my whole life, create my own stories, specifically in comic book form. This is my Dream. My childhood dream, which also happens to be the main theme of 'Czepta', Dreams. What they are, why they are important, and how they are the key to saving ourselves and this world we call home. Dreams are the essence of enlightenment and unless we start living like enlightened beings, our problems both personal and global, are only going to get worse.

The title of this comic, and of the main character is 'Czepta'. This is a word I created during a time when I was looking for a new name to go by as an artist. I was looking for something that described and represented all I hoped to achieve and become. So, in effect I would have to rise and embody it. Like Clark Kent, the weak newspaper reporter, I felt I needed to create a Superman persona that could beat my personal weaknesses into submission. Imprisoned by my own personality, I had (and have) many bad habits and methods that were blocking my path to success. Often it seems like only Superman could break through the barriers between me and my goal.  To get all the things done that I wished to achieve, I needed to become someone stronger than my current self.'

He's clearly set himself some lofty goals; and while I'm not quite sure how all these influences will mix, the art is polished and slick, promising to be something clearly unique. There will be two new pages to view each week at his website HERE, and you can join the Facebook fan page for updates HERE.

Above: A Judge Dredd fan appreciation, as drawn by local cartoonist Jason Winter.

The trailer for the much anticipated new Judge Dredd film, simply titled Dredd, has finally been released (view below). It features kiwi actor Karl Urban under the helmet, for this back-to-basics approach to the character from director Pete Travis (Vantage Point) and screenwriter Alex Garland (28 Days Later, Sunshine). 

With a much more modest budget than the Stallone miss-fire in the 90s (around 30 million), this version focuses on Dredd taking down drug queen Ma-Ma (Lena Headey), a former prostitute who now controls a 200-story slum tower with a dangerous new drug called 'Slo-Mo' (which allows its users to experience reality at a fraction of its normal speed). Judge Dredd creator John Wagner has given the film his blessing, so now its up to the film going public to decide its sentence when its released here on October 4th in 3D and 2D.

Above: Poster for Simon Morse's new tattoo studio Dr. Morse Inc.

Cartoonist Simon Morse, creator of such cult comics as Straightjacket Ninja and Toolbox, has opened his own tattoo studio in Wellington, Dr Morse Inc. Known for his fine lined artwork and illustrations, you can now have the artist personally use you as the canvas for his next creation or for whatever work of art you have in mind! Here's some great examples from the studio's Facebook page:

Dr. Morse Inc. Tattoo Studio is located in the James Smith Building, Level 4, Cuba St, Wellington. Ph: 04 472 0270. You can join the studio's Facebook page HERE.

Above: A preview from Popeye #3, artwork by Tim Neely.

Via Comicbook Resources, here's a 7-page preview of Popeye #3 from IDW, written by NZ cartoonist Roger Langridge and illustrated by Tim Neely. You can read this extract of classic comics mayhem HERE.

Above: A comics flyer from PASO, created to promote eco-tourism and awareness for travellers visiting New Zealand. Artwork by Matthew Kelly.

PASO is the creation of German couple, Patrick Grossmann & Sonja Heydorn, a small organisation dedicated to promoting eco-tourism and green sustainable living. They are currently traveling around the world, and at each location they visit they contact local cartoonists to create comic flyers to promote eco-tourism guides for travellers visiting that region. For the creation of their New Zealand flyer, they got in touch with Matthew Kelly, creator of the satire comic Kiwiman, via a link from Earth's End. Financed through crowd funding, this flyer has been printed and distributed to I-sites throughout New Zealand.

You can visit the PASO site HERE for more information and an update on Patrick & Sonja's travels, as well as some other cool comics promoting eco-tourism from their travels in different countries. And don't forget to check out Kiwiman comics HERE for more of Matt's work!

Above: Eric Resetar's Crash Carson and Richard Fairgray's Blastosaurus by Jason Winter.

And finally, cartoonist Jason Winter is at it again, with some cool artist appreciations of Eric Resetar's Crash Carson, and Richard Fairgray's Blastosaurus! You can check out more of Winter's artwork HERE.

If you want to find out more about the current happenings in the New Zealand Comics scene, you can join the discussion HERE at the official Facebook page, and visit the newly re-vamped New Zealand Comics website HERE.

-AK!