EVENT: Shaolin Burning Book Launch & Exhibition!

The first new original NZ graphic novel in over a decade, Shaolin Burning by Ant Sang hits bookstores this coming Tuesday.

To celebrate the book's release, Ant is launching it in style with an exhibition at the Gifthorse Gallery, 24 Graham St Auckland, running from the 4th - 18th of February.

The book launch/preview night will held on Thursday 3rd of February, from 5.30pm. Come along and meet the author, see some of the original artwork, purchase a book or two, plus get your hands on some limited edition prints!

You can RSVP for this event at the official Facebook page HERE, or just rock up by following the directions provided in the map below. If you can't make it on the night, the exhibition will be opening six days a week till the 18th of Feb, Mon-Friday: 10am - 5pm and Sat: 11am - 3pm.

Will see you there!

-AK!

EVENT: NZ screening of Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods

If you're in Wellington this Thursday the 27th of Jan, you might be lucky enough to catch the NZ premiere of Grant Morrison: Talking With Gods, an 80 minute documentary by director Patrick Meany focusing on the cult comicbook writer.

One of comics most celebrated authors, Morrison has written character defining runs on such diverse titles as: Animal Man, Doom Petrol, Batman, All Star Superman, New X Men, JLA and many more. Whether it's redefining the superhero icons that populate the mainstream market or exploring the limits of the medium in his own creator-owned series like The Invisibles and The Filth, Morrison continues to take comics to new heights, both bizarre and wonderful.

He's also a practicing Chaos Magician and claims to have once been abducted by aliens while traveling in South Africa (an experience that informed his work on Animal Man). He's never short of a great story, and you can expect many of these legendary yarns to be discussed in this doco, which features interviews with more than 45 of his colleagues, collaborators, family and friends, as well as the man himself.

The screening will be held at Time Cinema, 119 Sutherland Road, Lyall Bay, Wellington. Doors open at 6.30pm, it's $15 a ticket including free Popcorn and the venue is BYO. All proceeds (after cost of venue hire & pop corn) goes to the makers of the film who've kindly provided a copy of the documentary.

There's a limited number of seats which are selling fast, so to book your ticket email: talkingwithgods@gmail.com.

-AK!

FIRST LOOK: SHAOLIN BURNING by Ant Sang

Above: The official cover for Shaolin Burning by Ant Sang. Copyright Ant Sang 2011.

Firstly, Happy New Year everyone! I'm going to kick things off with a reveal of the first big New Zealand graphic novel for 2011: Shaolin Burning by Ant Sang!

Coming out on the first of February from HarperCollins, it's 192 pages of epic adventure for only $24.99, available from all leading bookstores (ISBN: 9781869508135).

Here's the official synopsis:

Old China like you've never seen before. SHAOLIN BURNING is an exciting, modern take on kung fu mythology; a fusion of punked-up street culture and Chinese tradition. When the Shaolin Temple is destroyed by the Emperor's army, only five monks manage to escape alive. Or so the legend goes.

But few know the story of the sixth, Monk Who Doubts, who turns his back on the Buddhist path and embarks on a bloody trail of revenge, culminating in a devastating showdown with the Emperor's forces. Fewer still know the story of Deadly Plum Blossom. Unwanted at birth, she is rescued and raised by a Shaolin nun. Trained all her life in a new fighting style, she is determined to prove herself, and sets off to challenge the most dangerous man in China.

SHAOLIN BURNING is a graphic novel about two very different kung-fu fighters, whose lives intersect as they are offered self-discovery through the wisdom of martial arts, in a masterful interweaving of kung-fu myths and legends.

About the Author:

As one of the original key creatives of bro’Town, ANT SANG was responsible for designing the characters and locations of the show for its entire five series. In 2006 and 2008 he won the Achievement in Production Design award at the Air New Zealand and Qantas Screen Awards for his work on the show. His previous comic book series, The Dharma Punks, received awards, rave reviews, and a cult following in New Zealand. Ant Sang lives and works in Auckland.

Stay tuned for more exclusive coverage of this book in the next few weeks, and you can also catch-up by reading some of my earlier behind-the-scenes interviews with Ant, looking at his creative process and the genesis of this project HERE and HERE. For more updates, be sure to join the official SHAOLIN BURNING Facebook page found HERE and visit Ant Sang's website HERE.

-AK!