News From Earth's End: September Edition

Above: The cover of Faction #2, by Christian Pearce.

The second issue of the latest NZ comics anthology, Faction #2 is out now! It's 90 pages of kiwi comics goodness, featuring: Allan Xia, Cory Mathis, Damon Keen, the Sheehan Bros, Rachel Royale, Michel Mulipola, Ned Wenlock, James Squires, Mukpuddy and myself!

It's available from selected retailers and the Faction website HERE for $24.95 (+ postage).

Above: The cover of Moth City: Volume 3 Part 1, by Tim Gibson. Copyright Tim Gibson 2013.

Tim Gibson's webcomic Moth City continues to draw great reviews and industry attention, with it's fifth issue dropping on ComiXology next Wednesday HERE.

Above: Let Me Be Frank #4: Celebrity by Sarah Laing. Copyright Sarah Laing 2013.

As a part of the Auckland Libraries' Comic Book Month, author and cartoonist Sarah Laing will be giving a talk about he latest novel, The Fall of Light, and comic books in general at the Point Chevalier Library, this Saturday Sept 28th from 2.30pm -3.30pm. She has currently released four issues of her excellent comic series Let Me Be Frank through Pikita Press, that can be purchased online HERE.

Above: Issues of Let Me Be Frank on the Earth's End Spinner Rack!

Overload, the annual NZ Comic & Manga convention returns in 2013 with a much larger venue, the ASB Stadium, Kohimarama road, Auckland. The event features a range of comic creators and illustrators selling their work as well as a cosplay contest, and special guest manga artist Range Murata. It takes place this Saturday 28th of September, from 10am - 6pm. Entry is $5, with FREE parking available!

For more details on what to expect from Overload this weekend, visit the website HERE.

The From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics collection is on the way; I'll have news in the coming weeks for the exclusive book launch in Auckland and signings taking place in November! For more updates and exclusive content make sure you LIKE the Facebook page HERE, and follow me on Twitter: @adriankinnaird. More to come soon...

-AK!

From Earth's End Spotlight: Barry Linton's comics report of ICONZ '94

Auckland cartoonist Barry Linton produced this illustrated report of New Zealand's first comic convention - ICONZ, published in the NZ Listener, 7th of October 1994. The convention took place at the Avondale Racecourse in Auckland, August 1994. Organised by promoter Dwayne Lucas, the event was a success and spawned three more events in successive years before giving way to a rival event Armageddon Expo - initiated by William ‘Bill’ Geradts, which continues to this day.

You can check out more of Linton's work on this Tumblr HERE.

And as a bonus: here's a rare TV report on ICONZ 2, from July 1995. Featuring brief interviews with Cornelius Stone (Knuckles the Malevolent Nun) and Craig Petersen (Southern Tribe).

-AK!

EVENT: The Kiwi Comics Experience - A Panel Discussion

Above: A page from the comics anthology Faction #2, artwork by Damon Keen. Copyright Damon Keen 2013.

As a part of Auckland City Libraries annual Comic Book Month, there will be a panel on New Zealand comics and culture taking place at the Auckland Central Library from 6.30 - 7.30pm.

I'll be moderating the panel which will be a free form discussion on New Zealand comics, the unique local comics community and its many avenues of creativity.

I'll be joined by a diverse panel line-up, who have all approached creating comics from a different perspective:

Damon Keen: Editor of the crowd-sourced comics anthology Faction, and an accomplished designer and filmmaker.

Alex Wild Jespersen: Writer of the innovative novel The Constant Losers, she currently teaches writing studies at the University of Auckland. She has also self-published a variety of zines and contributed to the NZ/Australian comics anthology Dailies.

Sam Orchard: Has been drawing since he was a little girl. He is an artist, activist, queer transman and geek. He spends his spare time drawing comics about being queer and transgender, especially for his comics blog www.roostertailscomic.com.

Ant Sang: Author of the bestselling graphic novel Shaolin Burning and the cult comic series, The Dharma Punks,  Sang has illustrated numerous children’s books and also worked in television, achieving awards for his designs on animated show Bro’Town.

This free event will be taking place at the Central City Library, Whare Wananga on Level 2. There will be drinks and nibbles available from 6pm, with the panel getting underway at 6.30pm.

So come out and enjoy a rare private audience to discuss the local comics scene!

-AK!