EVENT: Auckland Zinefest 2012

Auckland Zinefest returns this year as a part of First Thursdays, taking place this Thursday, 2nd of August on K Road.

First Thursdays is a community-conscious collaboration of artisans and art lovers whose ultimate goal is to showcase new and exciting talent in the fields of visual arts, music and performance. The DIY themed festival taking place from 6pm-9pm, features a variety of free art events taking place at shops, galleries and creative spaces along Karangahape Rd. Some of the activities include: a handmade craft & zine market, zine making and screen printing workshops, light installations, live music, fashion shows and theatre productions. The Zinefest will take place in St Kevin's Arcade with around 30 stallholders, including a great line-up of local comics talent!

Sarah Laing, cartoonist behind the Let Me Be Frank webcomic. She's going to be selling a selection of her autobiographical/fantastical comics, some of which have appeared in her blog. She's also going to be selling some one-off, hand-painted and bound books and her son Otto's book of monsters.

Each of the handcrafted books are 12 pages long and bound with embroidery thread. They are arranged into five groups: eighties pop icons, toys made for my children, significant women, my tea cup collection, and cans in my cupboard. She'll be selling them for a bargain price of $15, so be in quick!

Marc Streeter is the creator of the weekly ActionMan Adam webcomic, which follows the hilarious mis-adventures of a young Canadian looking for love in Christchurch.

He'll be debuting his latest collection at the event, ActionMan Adam: Things Change. Last year Streeter chose to acknowledge the events of the Christchurch earthquakes in the webcomic, and incorporate their effects on the characters in the on-going story. It was a bold creative move which has payed off handsomely for readers. Its sensitively handled, and adds a much greater depth to the characters and proceedings, making the laughs that much more welcome. Highly recommended!

Brent Willis, Wellington cartoonist and editor of the Bristle anthology will be there with his latest creation for the event: Wark! #1. Brent Willis has steadfastly stuck to the DIY ethic and self-published for the last 15 years (because he likes it). Expect to discover a wide range of his other titles at his table: there's just about a comic for every occasion!

Sam Orchard, creator of the Rooster Tails webcomic will be there, representing himself and the Dunedin Comics Collective. Rooster Tails features Sam's charming comics about being a trans and queer dude in Auckland. The Dunedin Comics Collective have so far produced two issues of the comics anthology DUD, featuring comics and a CD of Dunedin music. A third issue is currently due for release soon...

Richard Fairgray, creator of Blastosaurus will be present with a host of new material, including collections of Ghost Ghost and I Fight Crime!

And lastly, the Sheehan Bros creators of The Inhabitants and Into The Woods will be there, along with myself, representing the New Zealand Comics Collective: selling locally produced comics from creators across the country, including newly arrived stock from Toby Morris and the latest issue of Radio As Paper!

The Zinefest market will be taking place Thursday 2nd of August, 6pm-9pm in St Kevin's Arcade on K Road. You can find out more information about Auckland Zinefest HERE and First Thursdays HERE.

-AK!

New Comics: DUD: The Dunedin Comics Revue #2

Above: The cover of DUD#2, by Tony Scharer. Copyright Tony Scharer 2011.

The second issue from the Dunedin Comics Collective is out now, with a fantastic line-up on comics and tunes!

The comics section contains contributions from: Mat Tait, Robert Scott, Barry Linton, Tim Cornelius, Tokerau Wilson, Ary Jenson, Tom Garden, Garry McLachlan, Chris Stapp, Don Ferns, Scott Savage, Stu Medley, Corn Stone, Dylan Horrocks, Dan Brader & Yi Lang Chen, Alex Gilks, Spencer Hall, Ben Carroll, Roger Langridge, Sam Orchard, Glen Ross, Maria Brett, Barry Linton, Chris Stapp, and 'A History of Dunedin Comics' by Wellington comics historian Tim Bollinger.

The tunes section features songs from: Psychic Maps, Opposite Sex, Sonic Smith, Swampy, Left Or Right, Silo, Thundercub, Mr. Biscuits, Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!, Robert Scott, John White, The Dark Beaks, Shakes and the Swell Guys, Brown, The Communist Rainbow Relationship, The Doyleys, Onesie, The Old Psychiatrists Club, Physicks, Idiot Prayer, TFF, Sewage, Crude, Black Yoghurt, Tim Cornelius, Glasgow, We Aeronauts of the Spirit, $noregazZzm feat Tha Sick Sensei, Mental Health Triangle, Lontalius and The Puddle.

DUD#2 is $20NZ and can be ordered online HERE or you can look for it at these select comic stores around the country: Heroes 4 Sale & Gotham Comics (Auckland), Mark One Comics (Hamilton), Graphic (Wellington) and Comics Compulsion (Christchurch).

If you're an aspiring cartoonist and would like to feature in a future issue (issue #3 is coming together as we speak), check out the Dunedin Comic Collective Blog HERE to find out how you can be involved!

-AK!

EVENT: DUD: The Dunedin Comic Collective Revue #1

Above: The cover of DUD: The Dunedin Comic Revue #1.

Proving that the NZ comics revolution isn't just restricted to the major city centers, a Dunedin comics collective have being busily working away on this very promising showcase: a new 40 page comics/CD package!

Above: A page by Dunedin cartoonist/musician Tim Cornelius. Copyright Tim Cornelius 2010.

DUD: The Dunedin Comic Revue #1 features comics by locals and some special out-of-towners including: Spencer Hall, Tim Cornelius, Fane Flaws, Chris Knox, Tony Renouf, Dylan Horrocks, Glenn Ross, Sian Hannagan, Ben Carroll, Danny Brisbane, Tom Garden, SJ Orchard, Daniel Blackball Alexander and more. The accompanying CD features tracks from: Black Yoghurt, The Communist Rainbow Relationship, Deidre Newall, God Bows to Math, The Living Hamsters, Mountaineater, Old Psychiatrist Club, Operation Rolling Thunder, Sewage, TFF and Tim Cornelius.

Above: A contribution from Dylan Horrocks.

There's a grand book launch this coming Thursday, 25th of November at the Dunedin Public Library from 5.30 - 8.30pm. You'll be able to purchase this great package for only $15 on the day, with live performances from some of the featured bands and a motion comic on show for good measure! If you're like me, geographically unable to attend, you can mail order it directly from the Dunedin Comics Collective Blog HERE for only $20 including postage! ($25 for foreigners).

For more information on the book launch, future updates and art previews, check out the Dunedin Comics Collective blog HERE.

-AK!