Upcoming Releases: Princess Princess: Ever After, Mr Unpronounceable, Mansfield and Me

Above: The cover of Princess Princess: Ever After by Katie O'Neill.

There's some great graphic novels coming out in the near future from some of our best NZ comic creators, making a name for themselves, both locally and on the international publishing stage.

Christchurch based cartoonist/illustrator Katie O'Neill has built an international audience for her work online via social media and blogging at her website, Strangely Katie. Her comics have featured in the Faction and High Water comics anthologies, and she’s also illustrated the series Crystal Cadets for American publisher LionForge Comics.

Above: Two pages from Princess Princess: Ever After by Katie O'Neill.

Her most popular self-published graphic novel, Princess Princess, first appeared online as a webcomic in 2014, and features two very different princesses - Amira and Sadie, who meet and decide to take their happily ever after into their own hands. A thoughtful story of love and friendship for all-ages, this graphic novel will now be published in September by American publisher Oni Press in a beautiful Hardcover edition as Princess Princess: Ever After!

Here's the official synopsis:

When the heroic princess Amira rescues the kind-hearted princess Sadie from her tower prison, neither expects to find a true friend in the bargain. Yet as they adventure across the kingdom, they discover that they bring out the very best in the other person. They'll need to join forces and use all the know-how, kindness, and bravery they have in order to defeat their greatest foe yet: a jealous sorceress, who wants to get rid of Sadie once and for all.

Join Sadie and Amira, two very different princesses with very different strengths, on their journey to figure out what "happily ever after" really means--and how they can find it with each other.

Princess Princess: Ever After will be available September 7th, 2016 in all good comic shops and bookstores, and online through Amazon, Google Play, Comixology, Nook, and iTunes.

Princess Princess: Ever After HC by Katie O'Neill

56 Pages, colour

Publisher: Oni Press

ISBN: 9781620103401
RRP: $12.99 US

Above: The cover of Mr Unpronounceable and the Infinity of Nightmares by Tim Molloy.

Tim Molloy returns to the surreal world of Mr Unpronounceable with his third graphic novel in the series, Mr Unpronounceable and the Infinity of Nightmares.

Here's the official synopsis:

As reality itself dissolves in the tears of the Sect Of the Bleeding Eye, Mr Unpronounceable sets off on a multiverse-spanning quest to retrieve the Sacred Godstone from its shrine on a distant planetoid. Meanwhile, The Synthetic Sorcerer has designs of his own, shadowing our hapless hero’s delirious journey across an increasingly warped spacetime continuum. Join Mr Unpronounceable, wandering Necromancer, in this third volume of his insane adventures from cult author, Tim Molloy.

If you would like a taste of what to expect, you can read some short segments over at Tim Molloy's art Tumblr HERE.

Above: A page from Mr Unpronounceable and the Infinity of Nightmares by Tim Molloy.

Mr Unpronounceable and the Infinity of Nightmares will be released June 25th 2016 by Milk Shadow Books (distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Madman Entertainment).

Mr Unpronounceable and the Infinity of Nightmares
190 pages
Black & White, paperback
RRP: 23.86 AUS (available for pre-order HERE).

Above: Mansfield and Me by Sarah Laing.

2016's a busy time for Sarah Laing: earlier this year she co-edited the well received NZ woman's comics anthology 3 Words, and in October Victoria University Press will publish her first complete graphic novel, Mansfield and Me. Coming in at 336 pages this will no doubt be the biggest local comics release of the year. I've had the privilege of seeing some of the original artwork for this in progress, and if you're a fan of Katherine Mansfield or Sarah's previous novels or comics - you're in for a treat!

Here's the official synopsis:

Katherine Mansfield is a literary giant in New Zealand - but she had to leave the country to become one. She wrote, 'Oh to be a writer, a real writer'. And a real writer she was, until she died at age 34 of tuberculosis. The only writer Virginia Woolf was jealous of, Mansfield hung out with the modernists, lost her brother in World War I, dabbled in Alistair Crowley's druggy occult gatherings and spent her last days in a Fontainebleu commune with Olgivanna, Frank Lloyd Wright's future wife. She was as famous for her letters and diaries as for her short stories. Sarah Laing wanted to be a real writer, too. A writer as famous as Katherine Mansfield, but not as tortured. 

Mansfield and Me charts her journey towards publication and parenthood against Mansfield's dramatic story, set in London, Paris, New York and New Zealand. Part memoir, part biography, part fantasy, it examines how our lives connect to those of our personal heroes.

Mansfield and Me will be released by Victoria University Press in October 2016, and available in all good bookstore. For more details visit the VUP website HERE.

Mansfield and Me by Sarah Laing

ISBN: 9781776560691

336 Pages

Paperback, colour

160x245mm

RRP: $25 NZ

So mark these dates on your calendar, and prepare to increase the shelf space for your New Zealand Comics collection!

- AK!

NZ Cartoonists and Community Respond to the Charlie Hebdo Attack

Above: UK/NZ cartoonist Rufus Dayglo photographed attending a silent vigil in Trafalgar Square, London.

On January 7th, twelve people were killed in an armed attack by two masked gunmen on the offices of French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris. The victims of this horrific act of violence included five cartoonists: Stéphane Charbonnier, also known as 'Charb', the magazine's editor and chief cartoonist; Jean Cabut, aka 'Cabu'; Georges Wolinski, one of the founders of Charlie Hebdo; Bernard Verlhac, aka 'Tignous', and Philippe Honoré, a staff cartoonist.

The attack was believed to be in response to the satirical magazine's use of Muhammad-related cartoons and material. Police officers were stationed at the offices of Charlie Hebdo after previous death threats and a fire-bombing incident in 2011, and sadly two officers were killed during the initial attack and the armed exchanges that followed.

Above: Photo from the Auckland vigil held at Aotea Square on Friday evening. Photo by Amy Baker.

Following the tragedy, there have been vigils held worldwide to morn and remember the victims of this attack, taking place in Paris, London, and many other cities around the world, including here in Wellington and Auckland. Signs bearing the phrase "Je suis Charlie" (I am Charlie) were created and held aloft along with pens and pencils in a tribute of solidarity with the staff of Charlie Hebdo to champion their right (and others) to express themselves through art without having to live in fear of reprisal. Over 300 people filled Auckland's Aotea Square yesterday evening, leaving their signs and messages of support with candles that continued to burn long into the night.

Above: "Je suis Charlie" by Dylan Horrocks.

Dylan Horrocks, Rod Emmerson and others responded to the news of the attack in an interview with the NZ Herald that you can read HERE.

UPDATE: On the 13th of January, Horrocks was also interviewed on 95b-FM's The Wire, you can hear the full interview HERE.

Above: "Je suis Charlie" by Toby Morris.

Local political cartoonist Tom Scott, whose cartoons have previously been featured in French newspaper Le Monde, was interviewed by Radio NZ HERE.

Above: "Je suis Charlie" by Tim Molloy.

Saturday morning the news broke that the two wanted gunmen were located hiding in a printing plant north of Paris in Dammartin-en-Goele, and were later killed in a shoot out with police, bringing this tragic series of events to an unsettling end.

The surviving staff of Charlie Hebdo have moved to the offices of Liberation magazine, where they will continue to publish, with the print run for next week's issue expected to be one million copies.

- AK!

Above: Photos from the Auckland vigil held at Aotea Square on Friday evening. Photos by Amy Baker.

VIDEO: Tim Molloy in Conversation with Tristen Harris

Readings bookstore in Melbourne, Australia, recently hosted an author talk with former Auckland cartoonist Tim Molloy. He discussed his latest comics collection, Mr. Unpronounceable Adventures with Triple R presenter Tristen Harris.

Published by Milk Shadow Books, it collects the complete adventures of the mysterious Mr Unpronounceable: a homeless necromancer or complete madman, Mr Unpronounceable seeks out the truth - no matter how twisted or bizarre - on the streets of The City Of The Ever Open Eye. You can currently buy it at a bookstore near you, or online in New Zealand HERE or it's available from Amazon everywhere else.

The good folks at Milk Shadow Books have made the video of the talk available to view via Youtube, enjoy!

- AK!

The Mighty NZ Comics Digital Update: Part 1

Above: The cover of Rena's Journey by Karl-Heinz Schradt. Copyright Karl-Heinz Schradt 2013.

The global audience for digital comics continues to grow exponentially, thanks to the ever increasing affordability of e-Readers, tablets and other digital viewing platforms. Over the last 15 years, webcomics and digital downloads have grown from a curious side development to an essential component of the comics industry. This development has offered huge opportunities for upcoming cartoonists to get their comics seen without the high costs of printing; a particularly great development for cartoonists from countries like New Zealand - which are too small to support a local print industry, offering the potential to court an international audience by sharing their work online.

There's such a growing wave of NZ digital comics available that I'm going to have to make this a multi-parter!

Above: A trailer for Rena's Journey by Karl-Heinz Schradt. Copyright Karl-Heinz Schradt 2013.

First up, Karl-Heinz Schradt spent several years completing his first graphic novel, Rena's Journey. The 148 page graphic novel is an adventure story set in modern day New Zealand, drawing on the rich history of Maori mythology. You can read the  complete story on Schradt's website HERE, and if you'd like to enjoy the story in print form, you can order it HERE for $29.99NZ or at participating Auckland booksellers.

Above: The return of Kiwiman, by Matthew Kelly. Copyright Matthew Kelly 2013.

Kiwiman, the Wingless Wonder returns! Matthew Kelly's satirical take on a local superhero goes weekly, starting today with the first page of 'Crossover on Finite Islands'. Check back in every Friday for the latest update from the Kiwiman website HERE.

Above: A promo piece from The Aegean Era: Origins, by Mark Holland with Brad Goff. Copyright Mark Holland 2013.

If you're a reader of Faction Comics, you may recall the short intro piece for Mark Holland's The Aegean Era: Origins that appeared in issue #1. The first chapter of this mythology based 'Mythpunk' adventure is now completed and available to read HERE.

Above: Sarah Laing looks back at her time as a radio DJ. Copyright Sarah Laing 2013.

Over at he blog Let Me Be Frank, Sarah Laing has produced a four part series on her experiences working as a radio DJ. You can read them here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4!

Above: More unsettling adventures for Mr. Unpronounceable! Copyright Tim Molloy 2013.

Tim Molloy's Mr Unpronounceable Adventures collection was a sleeper hit when it was released last year, and he's an opportunity to read a brand new story via Molloy's Tumblr page HERE.

There's plenty more local comics material out there in cyberspace, so read up and I'll have another update for you to check out next week!

- AK!

Go Read: Over My Dead Body by Ben Stenbeck & Tim Molloy

Above: Over My Dead Body cover by Ben Stenbeck. Copyright Ben Stenbeck & Tim Molloy 2013.

Back in 2001, Ben Stenbeck collaborated with fellow NZ cartoonist Tim Molloy on an atmospheric zombie comic, Over My Dead Body.

Set in a bleak post-apocalyptic setting, a long gun slinger faces down the undead, as the forces of heaven and hell test his resolve. Scripted by Molloy & Stenbeck - with art by Stenbeck, it should also be noted this was a full decade before The Walking Dead cornered the market in zombie drama.

Above: The Cowboy, by Ben Stenbeck. Copyright Ben Stenbeck & Tim Molloy 2013.

It was samples from this 51 page story that first caught the eye of Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz, leading to Stenbeck's first professional art gigs, before graduating to major projects like Living with the Dead (written by Dark Horse publisher Mike Richardson), and Baltimore (written by Mike Mignola & Christopher Golden).

Above: Zombies on the move! Copyright Ben Stenbeck & Tim Molloy 2013.

You can read the entire story for FREE at Ben's website HERE.

For more of Stenbeck's art, there's also his art blog, Monster & Stuff HERE, and you can follow him on Twitter: @BenStenbeck.

- AK!

News From Earth's End: February Edition

Above: Mr Unpronounceable Adventures by Tim Molloy. Copyright Tim Molloy 2013.

Tim Molloy will be releasing his next comic collection Mr Unpronounceable Adventures, at the 'Big Arse 3' comics launch taking place in Melbourne on March 2nd. Other NZ comics launching at the event include: Awakenings #2 by Jesca Marisa, and Adversaries by Matt Emery. You can find more about Big Arse 3 HERE. Tim also has an art tumblr that you can check out HERE.

Above: Former Gotham Comics employees Jeremy Bishop and Michel Mulipola rise from the ashes....

The end of January saw a major shake-up in the management of Auckland's much-loved comic store, Gotham Comics. This resulted in a mutual parting of ways between the store owners and long serving manager Jeremy Bishop and employee Michel Mulipola. While the future of Gotham Comics may be uncertain, Bishop and Mulipola aren't going dwell on the past and already making plans to set-up their own brand new Auckland store, Arkham City Comics! 

More details are still to come, but you can join the inmates at their Facebook group HERE (over 300 inmates strong in just over a week!). Here at Earth's End we wish them the best of luck with their new endeavour, and I'll be updating with any news of the opening when it happens.

Above: Thor: The Mighty Avenger by Roger Langridge and Chris Samnee. Copyright Marvel Comics 2013.

Despite a parting of ways last year on the issue of creator rights, Marvel Comics are releasing a paperback collection all of Roger Langridge's Thor: The Mighty Avenger stories in one volume. This should be available now from your local comic store, or book retailers/Amazon etc in early March.

Above: Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror #1, variant cover by Roger Langridge and J. Bone. Copyright IDW 2013.

Langridge is currently writing a four issue mini-series based on Dave Stevens' Rocketeer for IDW. With art by J. Bone, the first issue of Rocketeer: Hollywood Horror is in comic stores now.

Above: New guests added to the Chromacon artists line-up. Top row: Paul Tobin, Chris Slane, Henry Christian-Slane. Bottom row: Michel Mulipola, Richard Fairgray and Kayla Oliver.

The line-up for May's Auckland illustrator event, Chromacon 2013 continues to grow with some impressive new additions in the last few weeks. Paul Tobin, artist and editor of the White Cloud Worlds books will be in attendance, along with award-winning cartoonist Chris Slane, and Chris' son Henry Christian-Slane proves talent runs in the family, fronting his own impressive artwork.

Michel Mulipola will be on hand, as well as Blastosaurus creator Richard Fairgray, and Hawkes Bay illustrator Kayla Oliver. Chromacon is a FREE event which will be taking place at the Aotea Centre, Auckland on the 12th of May. For more updates visit the Chromacon website HERE.

Above: An illustration by Tony Renouf. Copyright Tony Renouf 2013.

One of the major figures in the Dunedin comics scene in the 1980s and 90s, Tony Renouf has a new online presence at his blog HERE. He's posting new work and mussing about his life and times working at a second-hand record store.

Above: Sci-fi stickers from Tip Top's Galactic Bar Ice-cream range, featuring artwork from Colin Wilson. Copyright Tip Top Ltd 2013.

From the depths of the internet comes this nugget of rare NZ comics memorabelia: a set of stickers featuring sci-fi artwork from the great Colin Wilson! Created in 1977, the set of 10 stickers and game poster could be collected with each purchase of the Galactic Bar Ice-cream. The Galactic Bar featured a similar promotion tied into the release of the first 'Star Wars' movie.

 

More images of the Galactic Bar posters and wrapper. Copyright Tip Top Ltd 2013.

Its likely that this set was created to continue the success of the promotion without the expensive royalties attached to a tie-in product. In any case, the stickers are very rare now and can only occasionally be sighted on TradeMe.

To address the lack of resent updates: I'm currently very busy working on a publishing project that is taking up a great deal of time, but will make readers of this blog VERY happy...so keep your eyes peeled for a big announcement in early May.

-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!

GO READ: Under The Bridge by Tim Molloy

Above: A panel from Under The Bridge by Tim Molloy. Mr Unpronouceable is copyright Tim Molloy 2012.

While you're waiting for the imminent release of Tim Molloy's upcoming strip collection, It Shines And Shakes And Laughs, here's a brand new Mr Unpronouceable strip! I understand a collection of this cult character's complete adventures is also in the works sometime in the future, but until then here's a squirming taste of things to come! 



For the full story, check out Tim's Deviant Art page, as well as his blog HERE (where you'll also get to see a colour treat from this story!).

Now join everyone's favourite homeless Necromancer as he encounters a Bridge Troll, Demonic inter-dimensional entities and some very questionable reading material! Grim Hilarity Ensues...

-AK!

Coming Attractions: It Shines And Shakes And Laughs

Above: The cover of It Shines And Shakes And Laughs by Tim Molloy. Copyright Tim Molloy 2012.

Making it's debt next month, It Shines And Shakes And Laughs collects the silent and surreal comics of Tim Molloy! This covers his work from 2007-2012, as Tim describes it, "its a collection of all my silent work for the last five years or so. It's very esoteric and experimental in it's entirety and reflects a big transition period in my life... On the other hand, it is very eclectic and very much a 'collection." Published by Australian indie-press specialist Milk Shadow Books, it comes with an introduction by Dylan Horrocks. 

Above: A silent strip by Tim Molloy. Copyright Tim Molloy 2012.

Look for it next month, and I'll keep you posted on where you'll be able to pick this up in New Zealand. For more updates check out the Milk Shadow Books website HERE.

-AK!

EXHIBITION: Monkey Shrine: New Works by Tim Molloy

Above: The exhibition poster by Tim Molloy. Copyright Tim Molloy 2011.

If you're currently in Melbourne, Australia, tomorrow night you should make sure you're at this gallery opening! Featuring new artworks from Tim Molloy, creator of Mr. Unpronounceable and other mind-bending comics goodness! The exhibition opens at 6pm and is located upstairs at The Old Bar, 74-76 Johnston St, Fitzroy, Melbourne.

If you're geographically challenged and can't make it, you can see more of Tim's artwork at his blog HERE.

-AK!

New NZ Comics: Autumn Edition 2010

Above: An otherworldly advert for Tim Molloy's 'Saturn Returns'. Copyright Tim Molloy 2010.

In this new feature I'll be taking a look at the latest NZ comic releases, with exclusive artwork and details on where you can get yourself a copy!

First up is 'Saturn Returns', the latest offering from Tim Molloy. It's a portal to a surreal but perfectly constructed world that Tim has created through his imagery, which literally has a language all of it's own. It both reflects the world we know, and the strange customs our popular culture trades in. Highly engrossing, and a bargain at $12 for 48 pages! You can pick this up at The High Seas in Auckland (click HERE for address details).

Next up is 'Vigl' by Tim Danko. It's a beautifully screen-printed comic, which at $4 is well worth your time to check out. I'm not sure what the story is, but when it looks this nice...as Jack Kirby would say, "don't ask, just buy it!".

'Vigl' is also available from The High Seas.

Above: A page from 'Vigl' by Tim Danko. Copyright Tim Danko 2010.

Progress #8, the latest issue in Jared Lane's award-winning series is out now.

As you've come to expect from Jared, it features slick artwork and well polished stories, making it one of the New Zealand's best on-going comic series.

Above: Artwork from 'Progress #8 by Jared Lane. Copyright Jared Lane 2010.

It retails for around $10 and is available at Comics Compulsion in Christchurch, Graphic in Wellington and Gotham Comics in Auckland. Or you can order it directly from the author, by sending $10.00 NZ +postage and packaging (within NZ) to: Jared Lane, c/o AP Design, 55 Retreat Road, Christchurch.

I recently posted about the book launch, and now it's available to buy: 'Alledaags: A Year in Amsterdam', a comics diary by Toby Morris. It's a handsome 354 page hardcover collection that you can order through Toby's website HERE for €30.00 Euros.

A page from 'Alledaags: A Year in Amsterdam' by Toby Morris. Copyright Toby Morris 2010.

That is a chunk of NZ change, but the profits from this book are going to a very worthy cause: the Guy Champney Memorial Fund. Named after a cartoonist and friend of Toby's, Guy Champney passed away at the all to young age of 34 from a heart condition. In honour of his memory, his family and friends started the fund to raise money that will be donated to a children's charity in his name. So by purchasing this book you get to partake in this great cause and receive an exceptional comics collection!

Bristle #5, the latest issue of the Wellington comics anthology, is available now.

It features stories by: Ned Wenlock, Claire Harris, Jason Winter, Carlos Wedde, Renee Lyons, Ari Freeman, Grant Buist and editor Brent Willis. M. Emery also featured and provides the cover. It's only $5 and is available from The High Seas in Auckland and Graphic in Wellington. You can also mail order it for $5 + postage, and back issues of Bristle #1-4 still available for the same price. Send payments to: Brent Willis at PO Box 27-258, Wellington.

And last, but certainly not least: 'Silver' is the new abstract comic collection by Draw, one of the artists featured in the Eisner nominated collection 'Abstract Comics' from Fantagraphics. It features an intriguing series of comics created using found photography slides. It's full-colour for $19.00 + postage and packing. To order, email Draw at: info@drawingsilence.com

Above: A page from 'Silver' by Draw. Copyright Draw 2010.

There's plenty of great NZ Comics out there, so I hope this has brought some new comics to your attention, and give you some ideas for reading material to seek out and enjoy as the winter months close in.

-AK!