Last Stop: Auckland Armageddon Expo 2014!

Above: Ant Sang and his new graphic novel collection of The Dharma Punks.

This is a late breaking announcement due to all the work surrounding the launch of Earth's End Publishing, but if you follow this blog and live in Auckland, chances are you already have your tickets for this long weekend's Auckland Armageddon Expo! It all kicks off with a preview night on Friday 24th (tomorrow) - from 6pm-9pm, and then three full-on days of pop culture madness, from Saturday 25th - Monday 27th of October!

This will be one of the most well attended conventions by local creators in several years, so I wanted to take this opportunity to spotlight the many great local comics releases you can get your hands on this weekend!

As seen above, Ant Sang will be attending Armageddon to sign advance copies of The Dharma Punks collected edition, the first graphic novel offering from Earth's End Publishing! (booth 95).

I'll also be there with copies of From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics, along with Damon Keen from the Faction Comics Anthology (3 issues available), and the Sheehan Brothers - creators of The Inhabitants, who also happen to have a new mini-comic debuting at the Expo.

Above: The latest Morgan children's book, Morgan Goes To Sleep, by Richard Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones.

Square Planet will once again be attending with a variety of new comics and creators, which you can discover at Mega-booth 100! Richard Fairgray - best known for Blastosaurus, Ghost Ghost, Anoraks & Acolytes and now the Morgan series of children's books, will have new entries available for all of his titles, as well as some more surprises.

Above: Ralphi by Richard Fairgray.

Above: Robyn Kenealy by Richard Fairgray.

Above: Tara Black by Richard Fairgray.

Square Planet will also be launching exclusive cartoonist sketchbooks this year, featuring artwork from some of their upcoming collaborators, including Ralphi - creator of Ricky & Lyle, Robyn Kenealy - creator of American Captain, Tara Black - creator of I Fight Crime.

Above: Nothing Fits by Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone.

New this year at the NZCC booth 169, we will have the graphic novel Nothing Fits from Christchurch creators Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone, as well as the latest edition of NZ's longest running comics anthology Funtime, edited by Jason Lennie. We'll also have the latest Bristle Annual #2, edited by Brent Willis.

Above: THRUST JUSTICE! by Brent Willis.

Speaking of Brent Willis, he has a new comic launching at Armageddon courtesy of Pikitia Press booth 153, the irreverent THRUST JUSTICE! Get a copy before it gets you!

Above: Moonbeard by Squires.

 Pikitia Press will also be selling Moonbeard by Squires - a 132 page comics collection, as well as titles from Sarah Laing, Barry Linton, James Davidson and more!

Above: The Time Traveling Tourist from Beyond Reality Media.

BRM will have a host of graphic novels and comics available from the Mega-Booth 100, including: Prepocalypse Vol.1, Warden Vol.2, The Time Traveling Tourist, and many more! Artist Alan Robinson will also be in attendance.

Above: Copies of the graphic novel Headlocked: The Last Territory by Michael Kingston & Michel Mulipola.

One of our friends Michel Mulipola has a new graphic novel out, Headlocked: The Last Territory - set in the world of professional wrestling. You can pick up a signed copy from him at the Arkham City Comics booth 95. Darick Robertson - artist of Transmetropolitian, The Boys and many of US titles will also be signing at the Arkham City Comics booth throughout the weekend.

Above: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as illustrated by co-creator Kevin Eastman.

Other international comics guests appearing at the Expo include the legendary co-creator of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Kevin Eastman (Sunday only); the writer of Chew - John Layman, and James Tynion IV & Kyle Higgins, co-writers with Layman of the weekly series, Batman Eternal.

So if you love comics, this weekend make sure you get along to Auckland Armageddon Expo, held at the ASB Showgrounds Greenlane, from October 24th - 27th. For more information visit the Armageddon Expo website HERE.

- AK!

EVENT: Auckland Libraries Comic Book Month 2014: Comics in the Digital Age!

Above: The panel line-up of comic creators: Li Chen, Richard Fairgray, Sarah Laing and Dylan Horrocks.

Comic Book Month is currently taking place at Libraries across the Auckland region, celebrating the ever-growing interest in comics and graphic novels available through libraries. To find out more about what events are happening at a library near you, check out the Comic Book Month events page at the Auckland City Libraries website HERE.

Highlights include: Librarycon, a one-day comic convention happening at Onehunga Library & Community Centre on Saturday, 27th of September, from 11am-4pm. You'll be able to browse stalls featuring local comics, zines, art and craft displays and more (Cosplay is welcomed!), more details HERE; and there's also a 'Create a Character' competition HERE.

Above: The latest comic strip from Extra Ordinary Comics by Li Chen. Copyright Li Chen 2014.

On Tuesday evening at the Auckland Central Library, there will be a special comics discussion on 'Comics in the Digital Age'. 

To discuss this topic, I'll be joined by an all-star line-up of local comics creators - Dylan Horrocks, author of Hicksville, and Incomplete Works; Li Chen, author of the webcomic Extra Ordinary Comics; Richard Fairgray, creator of Blastosaurus and Ghost Ghost; and Sarah Laing, author of Let Me Be Frank and The Fall of Light - we'll discuss the impact of digital technology on comics. How has it advanced and improved the way we create, distribute and share our comics? Is there still a place for printed comics in the ever-evolving world of digital reading devices and file sharing?

Above: A panel from Blastosaurus by Richard Fairgray, Terry Jones & Tara Black. Copyright Richard Fairgray 2014.

This FREE panel event will be taking place at the Whare Wananga room on Level 2 at the Auckland Central Library (44 - 46 Lorne Street), from 6pm - 7.30pm. There will be light refreshments before the talk begins, and the authors will have copies of their books available to buy and sign after the talk, so bring some cash along if you'd like to pick up some great local comics!

There are plenty of other Comic Book Month events happening across the region, so check out the events page at Auckland City Libraries HERE for more information.

- AK!

Digital Comics Watch: Nothing Fits Kickstarter and ComiXology updates!

Above: Nothing Fits, a webcomic by Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone. Copyright Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone 2014.

Crowd-funding platform Kickstarter has recently extended its global reach to include New Zealand, an exciting prospect for New Zealanders seeking assistance for their creative projects, especially the comics community. In 2012, Auckland based cartoonists Li Chen raised over $66,000US to print two collected volumes of her webcomic, Extra Ordinary Comics. More than doubling her target goal, Chen's project was the forth most successful comics project in Kickstarter history. Made possible with the assistance of a US based host (to comply with Kickstarter's eligibility requirements at the time), it teased the possibility for NZ based cartoonists to tap into the vast global comics audience to support and publish their work.

Now that the international Kickstarter boarders have extended to include New Zealand, one of the first local projects to seize this opportunity is Nothing Fits, a webcomic by Christchurch-based art students, Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone.

Nothing Fits features "a group of unlikely heroes: a girl, a clone and an undead mummy attempt(ing) to make sense of the strange world they've been thrown into". All captured in McCrone's very appealing ink, watercolour & gouache illustrations - with a hint of illustrators like Quentin Blake and Tove Jansson in its style. They are seeking to raise $5000NZ to cover the printing costs for the complete graphic novel (over 100 pages). As of this writing they have raised $1416NZ, with 24 days to go.

Above: Nothing Fits, Page 101, by Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone. Copyright Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone 2014.

For more details on Nothing Fits, I talked to writer/creator Mary Tamblyn:

AK: How did the comic originally come about? I understand you and Alex met at school?

Mary Tamblyn: We did meet at school, we met in Year 12 Painting, but we really got to know each other in Year 13, especially at the end, when we both knew we'd be doing the same thing at University. I already had the characters and the setting, I'd been thinking about it for about 8-10 years before I asked Alex if she wanted to make it into a comic. Then it kinda just went from there.

AK: Can you give me a brief overview of the story and characters?

MT: The story is told through six point-of-views, with three main groups. The group that can loosely be called the 'protagonists', which consists of Charlie: a woman who has been transported to a strange world, Algae: a gangly clone, who isn't really sure about anything and has a mysterious life coach that only he can see, and Mummy: the undead mummy of a young boy, who isn't entirely sure why he's been brought back, but he's happy that he's back. The group of 'antagonists', and that's antagonists in the loosest of terms, is made up of Solemn: whose unclear motives are even a bit unclear for himself, and Mez: a clone who wants to define herself as an individual. There are also the perspectives from the royalty of this land, and the issues surrounding those, but those story-lines interlock with the protagonists and the antagonists a lot. The third group... well, that'd be spoilers~ The story itself though, follows the interaction between this odd set of characters, who are trying to work out what is really happening, along with the reader.

AK: If your Kickstarter is successful, what are your publishing plans for Nothing Fits going forward?

MT: Well, once we are funded we can afford to print 200 copies. Those will be taken up mainly by backers, probably, but hopefully they'll be some left to sell at conventions? If not we will eventually do another print run if there is demand for it. We were always going to do sequels, but this initial story took so long, and it's not really fair on Alex to keep on working on my story, when she has her own projects she wants to work on. Eventually I'm going to have novel-like sequels to continue the story, because I really like the characters and setting. Alex said she would stay on as a plot consultant, because she is a good friend and I'm very good at getting carried away with things. We balance each other out creatively like that. SO YEAH. HOPEFULLY, all goes to plan.

I'm starting another comic project with a different friend soon too - can't stop doing comics. But Nothing Fits in its comic form, is complete.

Above: Nothing Fits, Page 108, by Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone. Copyright Mary Tamblyn & Alex McCrone 2014.

To help fund Nothing Fits, visit the Kickstarter page HERE and offer your support! You can also read the webcomic for free HERE.

Above: Moth City Preludes #1: The Reservoir by Tim Gibson. Copyright Tim Gibson 2014.

Over at digital comics platform ComiXology, two NZ creators are releasing comics today. Tim Gibson's Moth City prequel, The Reservoir, a western which explores the back-story of Governor McCaw. It's designed specifically to be read on digital devices, and is only $2.99US, available HERE.

Above: Blastosaurus #2, cover by Richard Fairgray. Copyright Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones 2014.

The second issue of Richard Fairgray's Blastosaurus is also now available on ComiXology, featuring Blasto's first showdown with the deadly Raptors, and a visit to the museum! 30 pages of downloadable content for only $1.99US, available HERE.

More news on local webcomics soon, as I get to part 2 of the Mighty NZ Digital Comics Update!

- AK!

Coming Attractions: NZ Comics to watch out for in 2014

Above: The cover of Incomplete Works by Dylan Horrocks. Copyright Dylan Horrocks 2013.

It's been another banner year for local comics publishing, and the future continues to look brighter with a very promising line-up of titles already announced for next year!

Recently Victoria University Press announced that in March they will be releasing Incomplete Works, a collection of short stories by Dylan Horrocks. Assembled together for the first time, these stories span the length of Horrocks' career, from early contributions to Fox Comics like 'Little Death (1986)', to rare Pickle gems - 'Letter from Catwoman (1991)', and other memorable stories like 'There Are No Words In My Mouth' (2000), 'The Physics Engine' (2006) and many more. It will come in at 192 pages, for an RRP of $35.00.

Horrocks' other major project, The Magic Pen (which you can read online for free HERE), is also nearing completion, with an eye to publish later next year.

Above: Morgan Goes to Nowhere, by Richard Fairgray, Terry Jones & Tara Black. Copyright Richard Fairgray, Terry Jones & Tara Black 2013.

Blastosaurus creator Richard Fairgray and his team of collaborators have recently turned their attention to publishing picture books, with their well received first effort, Morgan, the Moreporks and the Moon currently out now. Co-written by Fairgray, Tara Black and Terry Jones, Morgan's night-time adventure will surely be a hit with any child who enjoyed the picture books of the late Maurice Sandak (In the Night Kitchen would be a good comparison here). Morgan's next adventure, Morgan Goes to Nowhere, is due out in April.

Above: Moa #4, by James Davidson. Copyright James Davidson 2013.

Over at Pikitia Press publisher/blogger Matt Emery has just announced an exciting line-up of forthcoming NZ comics for 2014. This includes a new issue of James Davidson's Moa and Sarah Laing's Let Me Be Frank; a collection of Tim Bollinger's Wellington Stories, Barry Linton's Lucky Aki, MVH's webcomic Die Popular, and Bob McMahon's Claire Melody.

Above: The New Supreme #2, by Harry Bennett (1940s). Copyright the Harry Bennett Estate 2013.

For NZ comics history buffs there will also be The Art of Harry Bennett, by Tim Bollinger, Geoff Harrison and Matt Emery, which will finally piece together the story behind one of NZ's most enigmatic cartoonists; and New Zealand Reprint Comics, a survey and catalogue of New Zealand's rich history of reprinting foreign material from the 1940's - 1970's, compiled by comics historian and collector Geoff Harrison.

There's still plenty more titles to look forward to in the New Year, but we are clearly already off to a great start.

- AK!

EVENT: Armageddon Auckland 2012

Above: Iron Man by Bob Layton. Copyright Marvel Comics 2012.

Armageddon Expo is back in Auckland this Labour Weekend, with its usual mix of pop culture madness - celebrating everything from comics to video-games, films, television, wrestling, and everything in between. The event will be taking place at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane, Auckland from October 19-22nd: with a special preview night on Friday 19th from 6 - 9pm, and opening hours from 10am - 6pm Saturday to Monday.

Focusing on the comics front, there will be a healthy presence of local and international comics creators at the event.

The international guest list is headed by Bob Layton, best known as one of the definitive Iron Man artist/inkers. His significant runs on the title include: Demon in a Bottle, in which Tony Stark becomes an alcoholic; and the time travel adventure Doom Quest.

Above: Marineman by Ian Churchill. Copyright Ian Churchill 2012.

Artist Ian Churchill came to prominence in the mid-90s illustrating Marvel titles like Cable, and has continued to work on mainstream titles for Marvel and DC Comics like Uncanny X-Men, Supergirl and the Teen Titans. Recently, Churchill has put aside his gritty superhero art style to develop his own more whimsical creator-owned title, Marineman, published through Image Comics.

Above: Green Arrow as illustrated by Harvey Tolibao. Copyright DC Comics 2012.

Auckland comic store Heroes For Sale have brought over Filipino artist Harvey Tolibao for the Expo. A ralative new-comer to comics, Tolibao broke into the US industry with a 2007 Iron Man Annual for Marvel, and is currently the artist on the new 52 version of Green Arrow for DC Comics.

Above: The cover of Funtime Comics #26, cover by Lee Yan Marquez. Copyright Funtime Comics 2012.

New Zealand Comics will be well represented at the event, with the New Zealand Comic Creators booth and several independent booths.

New this year will be the latest issue issue of the Funtime Comics anthology, featuring new work from: Ned Wenlock, Tim Danko, Bob McMahon, Isaac Freeman and others! You can also expect to find a wide range of NZ comics and graphic novels at the NZCC booth, including favourites like Shaolin Burning, The Inhabitants, ActionMan Adam and first looks at upcoming comics like the Faction comics anthology and Moth City!

Above: Moa #3 by James Davidson. Copyright James Davidson 2012.

Issue three of James Davidson's excellent all-ages series Moa is out in time for the convention, and James will be at the NZCC booth on Saturday to sign copies!

Above: Nice Day For a War by Chris Slane and Matt Elliot. Copyright Chris Slane and Matt Elliott 2012.

Fresh back from the Treviso Comics Festival in Italy, Chris Slane will be at the booth on Sunday with copies of the award-winning Nice Day for a War, and the last rare copies of Maui: Legends of the Outcast (grab them while you still can!). He'll also have some of his artwork on display too.

Above: Saurian Era, by Cory Mathis. Copyright Cory Mathis 2012.

Its been a while since we had a new comic from Cory Mathis, but this year Saurian Era makes a welcome return, with more dino action than you can shake a prehistoric stick it!

Above: White Cloud Worlds Vol. 2. Copyright Paul Tobin/White Cloud Worlds 2012.

A new volume of White Cloud Worlds featuring the fantasy art of some of New Zealand's finest artists will be available exclusively at Auckland Armageddon, well ahead of its official release date on November 2nd.

Richard Fairgray will have the first full-colour Blastosaurus Hardcover available at Armageddon, along with new collections of the all-ages series Ghost Ghost and the comic strip I Fight Crime.

Armageddon organiser William Geradts has been cultivating his own line of webcomics very successfully for over a year at www.beyondrealitymedia.com, and now has a classy range of print collections available to buy, featuring the first volumes of the comic series: Attica, The Inspiration Duncans, and The Warden, exclusively at the Beyond Reality Media booth.

Above: Jeremy from Gotham Comics takes a quiet moment out with his stock for the event...

And for all your other comic needs, NZ's leading comics supplier Gotham Comics will be there all weekend with specials galore! For preview night only, if you spend $100+ you'll get a $20 credit! They'll have nearly 5,000 comics priced between $2 - $5 and all blue bin back-issues at $5 each!

This will be plenty more to see, do and buy this weekend at the Auckland Armageddon Expo, so visit the official page HERE for more details!

-AK!

EVENT: Blastosaurus Book Launch!

Above: The cover of Blastosaurus Vol. 1, by Darick Robertson.

Its been a long time coming, but the first collection of the new, fully-coloured Blastosaurus series is here!
Richard Fairgray's dino-detective with a big gun has come along was since its rushed debut in 2008. While a former US film producer promised to make him and the property a star, Fairgray went about producing two years worth of comics material, proving he had the dedication to make the comic book a cult favourite without any 'Hollywood help' (that company has since collapsed).

Above: A page from Chapter Four of Blastosaurus by Richard Fairgray and Terry Jones. Copyright Richard Fairgray 2012.

Since 2011, Fairgray has been publishing the series online at Blastosuarus.com in a re-mastered version as he had originally conceived it. Co-written with his former English teacher, Terry Jones, it now also features striking colouring by Tara Black. The first collection will be available in a limited edition Hardcover, exclusive to Gordon Harris Art Supplies stores for only $29.99, and a regular paperback available from all good booksellers.

This Wednesday there will be a Blastosaurus book launch and discussion on creating comics, taking place at Gordon Harris Art Supplies Albany. Located at: 3b Northridge Plaza, Don McKinnon Drive, Albany, Auckland.

The talk will kick-off at 5.30pm, followed by a book signing, general mingling. For more information, you can find a link to the Facebook event page HERE.

-AK!

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!

EDUCATION: Creating Comics: From Webcomics To Graphic Novels

Above: Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones by Richard Fairgray.

If you live in the Auckland area and have always wanted to give comics creation a go, here's your chance: a five week night class with the creators of Blastosaurus! 

Taking place at Rangitoto Collage from Tuesday 29th of May, the course will fill you in on everything you need to know about creating comics. A look at the conventions of the comic book from the past to the present; learn how it has developed through history, and apply this to the production of a comic/graphic novel or comic strip. With practical exercises during each class.

Above: A page from the Blastosaurus webcomic, by Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones. Copyright Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones 2012. 

The tutors are Richard Fairgray, writer/artist of Blastosaurus, and his co-writer Terry Jones. Together they have been publishing Blastosaurus for over four years, as a comic and a successful webcomic which you can view HERE. Fairgray has also co-written the webcomics The Inspiration Duncans and The Darwin Fairies for Beyond Reality Media, which you can read HERE.

The tuition fee for the complete 5 week course is a very reasonable $159.00 incl GST, which includes material costs. Registration closes soon, so to enroll or find out more, visit the Rangitoto Collage website HERE.


-AK!

Above: The recently released Blastosaurus Issue 00, by Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones. Copyright Richard Fairgray & Terry Jones 2012.