REVIEW: Incomplete Works by Dylan Horrocks

Above: Incomplete Works by Dylan Horrocks. Copyright Dylan Horrocks 2014.

Here at Earth's End, the work of Dylan Horrocks hardly needs an introduction: celebrated author of Hicksville, Eisner Award winner, New Zealand comics ambassador extraordinaire. And yet, outside of a copy of Hicksville, gathering a sizable collection of his comics is tough going - tracking down early issues of Pickle, a few mini-comics here and there, or clippings from decade old back issues of the NZ Listener. So this collection comes as a great relief to local readers and collectors everywhere. Thanks to the arm-twisting from VUP publisher Fergus Barrowman, we now have a handsome collection of some of Horrocks' rarest work to add to the growing bookshelf of classic New Zealand graphic novels, and it's a fine addition.

Above: A page from 'Little Death' (1986) by Dylan Horrocks. Copyright Dylan Horrocks 2014.

This collection of stories spans Dylan's comics career, from early efforts in 1986, to recent diary comics in 2012. Together these stories form a visual diary of sorts, or a 'stealth autobiography', as the events of Dylan's own life are never far from the surface. The earliest entry, 'Little Death' reflects on Auckland's cafe/bar scene from 1986, in which our protagonist spies a woman across the room, much like Dylan did while drawing this strip, where he met his future wife Terry (there are echoes of this meeting in other strips, like 'Summoning'). 

The thin line weaved between Dylan's fiction and personal life has always been a real strength in his work, and I feel it's that layer of truth behind the fiction that strikes a chord with readers. 'Captain Cook's Comic Cuts' (1994) may well convince you that Cook had a sideline in cartooning because Horrocks' essay feels so genuine, acting as a sort of prelude to Hicksville it takes you on a detour to a world where comics played a more important part in our national history - and why not?

Above: A page from  'The Last Fox Story' (1990) by Dylan Horrocks. Copyright Dylan Horrocks 2014.

Other stories are more openly autobiographical, as 'The Last Fox Story' (1990) takes us inside one of Dylan's biggest turning points, as he struggles to reconcile his relationship to comics while living in England. The reproduction of the mini-comic format (two small spreads a page) feels both intimate and appropriately claustrophobic, as Dylan works through a phobia of comics and rediscovers his own creative voice as a cartoonist. This mini comic became the first issue of Pickle, which in turn lead to the comic series that gave birth to Hicksville. In a very real way his current career is built on the catharsis of this story, and anyone who has gone through a creative or personal crisis can appreciate just how special this story is.

We also get see his cartooning style mature and grow throughout the collection, into the assured creative voice we know today, currently hard at work on his forth-coming second graphic novel, Sam Zabel and the Magic Pen - due out later this year, but serialized weekly over at his website HERE.

Above: A page from  'A Cartoonist's Diary' (2012) by Dylan Horrocks. Copyright Dylan Horrocks 2014.

As it's published locally by VUP, Incomplete Works is also a particularly kiwi collection, featuring strips like The State of Things and Maungarei, with points of reference that would probably be lost on foreign readers. There are also helpful author notes at the back of the book to put these stories into context. It's a minor quibble, but I'd have liked to have seen these formatted with the stories to avoid flipping back to read them after each entry - but this would take away from the diary feel of the reading experience, so it's a forgivable trade-off.

This collection is a great road map of Horrocks' comics career to date, and I'm sure I'll be adding plenty more of his works to my bookshelf in the future.

As an added bonus, you can also listen to my audio review of the book on National Radio's Nights show.

If you are in Auckland, there will be a launch event for the book this Tuesday evening at the Auckland Central City Library, 44-46 Lorne St, Auckland Central, from 6pm-7pm. Dylan will be discussing the collection with cartoonist and author Sarah Laing. So come along to purchase a signed copy and enjoy drinks and nibbles! For more details you can join the Facebook event page HERE.

Incomplete Works by Dylan Horrocks is published by Victoria University Press, RRP $35NZ and is available in bookstores now!

- AK!

Sam Orchard's Family Portraits Kickstarter!

Above: Family Portraits promo image. Copyright Sam Orchard 2014.

Sam Orchard has been a stand-out talent in the local comics scene for some years, producing the much loved webcomic Rooster Tails - an autobiographical series about his life and relationship as a queer transgender guy. He has regularly appeared at Zinefest events and contributed to various local and international anthologies, as well as a number of human rights education and advocacy campaigns.

Produced as a part of his Master of Creative Writing degree in 2011, his auto-bio comic series Family Portraits interweaves Sam's own story as a queer-identified transgender man with vignettes of other queer individuals living in New Zealand. It explores and celebrates how age, history, gender, and ethnicity shape our experiences of ourselves, and how we live in the world. How the stories of others can reflect and affirm our own stories, either through connections or differences.

 

Above: the covers of Family Portraits #1-2 by Sam Orchard. Copyright Sam Orchard 2014.

As the series was produced in full-colour, high printing and shipping costs have prevented Sam from making his comic available in print, so he has turned to crowd sourcing platform Kickstarter to make this happen!

Sam is looking looking to raise $6300 which will pay for the printing of the first two issues of the series (60 pages of full-colour comics in each issue!) and fund a limited tour of the US - where he can connect with his dedicated US reader-base and attend some small press/comic conventions.

So without further ado, he's Sam to talk about the campaign in his own words:

You can pledge and support the Kickstarter project HERE. There are some great rewards available, so please throw your support behind this very worthy cause!

- AK!

Rose Mclver becomes iZombie

Above: Actress Rose Mclver and artwork from the comic series iZombie by Mike Allred.

From Earth's End's media watch, The Hollywood Reporter has announced that local actress Rose Mclver has been cast as the lead for the TV show adaptation of the Vertigo/DC Comics series iZombie.

Created by writer Chris Roberson and artist Michael Allred, iZombie follows the adventures of Gwen Dylan, a gravedigger in an eco-friendly cemetery…who also happens to be a zombie detective. Once a month, she has to eat a human brain – both to keep from becoming a zombie herself, and to keep her own memories intact. As a result, Gwen's mind is crowded with the dead person's thoughts. And lately, she feels compelled to fulfill their final requests.

The TV adaptation for the CW network will be produced by Rob Thomas (creator of the cult TV series Veronica Mars) and Diane Ruggiero. At this stage it is just a pilot commitment, and depending on how it is received it may go to series.

Rose Mclver's breakout role came in the Peter Jackson film The Lovely Bones and has been keeping busy lately with appearances on TV shows Masters of Sex and as Tinkerbell in Once Upon a Time.

- AK!

EVENT: A Night with Alison Bechdel

If you missed seeing her at the NZ Festival Writers Week, you're in luck - as Alison Bechdel will be making one Auckland appearance, brought to you by the Auckland Women's Centre in association with the NZ Festival Writers Week. Bechdel is best known for the comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For and her two acclaimed memoirs Fun Home and Are You My Mother?

Taking place on Sunday, 16th of March at 7pm at the Freeman's Bay Community Centre, Bechdel will be in conversation with Carole Beu, giving insight into her work and discussing the issues surrounding gender and sexual identity that are explored prominently throughout her books.

Tickets are $25, available from The Women's Bookshop (09 376 4399) 105 Ponsonby Rd, Ponsonby, and the Auckland Women's Centre (09 3763227), 4 Warnock Street, Grey Lynn. They are selling fast, so make sure secure your tickets now!

- AK!

EVENT: Comics at Writers Week 2014!

The New Zealand Festival is currently underway in Wellington, with the Writers Week section kicking off tomorrow. 

Above: Let Me Be Frank #1, by Sarah Laing. Copyright Sarah Laing 2014.

This year's event features a variety of comics related panels, starting on Saturday 8th of March with 'Reading For Writers' at 9.30am. This two hour panel features Linley Boniface, Beattie’s Book Blog author Graham Beattie and Commonwealth Short Story Prize winner Emma Martin discussing their reading habits, and Let Me Be Frank cartoonist/writer Sarah Laing provides a confidence-boosting briefing on how best to absorb a comic!

Tickets are $45, and you can find more information on the talk HERE.

Above: The cover of Incomplete Stories by Dylan Horrocks. Copyright Dylan Horrocks 2014.

Later that evening, Dylan Horrocks will be celebrating the launch of his new comics collection, Incomplete Stories, with a release party - along with fellow Victoria University Press author Caoilinn Hughes' new poetry collection, Gathering Evidence. This is a FREE event, taking place Saturday, 8th of March at the Exchange Atrium, 24 Blair St, Wellington Central, from 7.30pm. See the event page HERE for more details.

There are also plans for a Incomplete Stories launch in Auckland later in March, so keep an eye out for that.

Above: American cartoonist Allison Bechdel.

The Festival will also be hosting acclaimed US cartoonist, Allison Bechdel. Creator of the widely published comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, she has also produced two bestselling graphic memoirs, Fun Home (2006) - which chronicles her childhood memories and her difficult relationship with her father, and Are You My Mother? (2012) - an exploration of her relationship with her mother and her time spent in therapy. Bechdel will be discussing her work and more, with community art space director Moira Clunie. The panel will be taking place on Sunday, 9th of March at 1.45pm at the Embassy Theatre.

Tickets are $18, check out the Festival page HERE for more details.

Above: The 'Comicsville' line-up: (from left) Adrian Kinnaird, Robyn E. Kenealy, Dylan Horrocks and Jonathan King.

Next up, From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics will be spotlighted in the 'Comicsville' panel, on Monday, March 10th at 10.45am at the Hannah Playhouse (formally Downstage Theatre). I'll be joined on stage with three of the featured cartoonists from the book: Dylan Horrocks - author of Hicksville; Robyn E. Kenealy - author of Roddy's Film Companion and the webcomic American Captain; and cartoonist/film director Jonathan King - author of Threat Level. We'll be discussing the exciting developments and growth of the New Zealand comics scene of the last few years, including the publication of From Earth's End and Dylan Horrocks' latest collection, Incomplete Stories.

Tickets are $18, check out the Festival page HERE for more details.

Online ticket sales are available now through the Writers Week events page HERE or Ticketek HERE. Some events are selling fast, so book you tickets now!

- AK!

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!

EVENT: Everything and Everyone: Art, Craft & Zine Market

Everything and Everyone is an art & craft market with a difference, taking place this Saturday, February 15th at St Kevin's Arcade on K'rd, from 4pm-7pm.

Organised by cartoonist Sam Orchard - author of the wonderful queer & transgender webcomic Rooster Tails, this eclectic market celebrates DIY arts, crafts, comics and self-publishing, with a particularly queer flavour. 

Taking place during the Auckland Pride Festival, this is an event for people wanting to buy or sell art, craft and comics celebrating: creativity, queerness, sexuality, gender, feminism and everything in between. In short, it's an art and craft market for Everything and Everyone!

Above: Some subversive cross-stitch produced by 'Glitter and Things'.

Stall holders and creators at the event include:

- Kakelake: selling zines and crafts by Alex Wild and Eli Orzessek.

- Ash Spittal: selling zines and art prints.

- Molly & Lulu: selling zines, crafts and illustrations.

- Glitter and Things: selling subversive cross-stitch, sparkly glittery leathery things and zines.

- Book Crossing: BookCrossing is a worldwide movement of making the world a library by releasing books into the wild…or giving them away at events such as this one. Kirsty Win has hosted BookCrossing stalls at a few community events in her hometown of Greymouth and thought this would be the perfect opportunity to do the same thing in Auckland.
- Triple Spiral: Selling some fun homemade soap.
- Victory Road: Will largely be vending cutesy prints and possibly some jewellery.
- Square Planet Comics: Will be selling comics, badges and prints - and maybe some other craft type things.
- Waywin: Will feature literary crafts, hand-made books, Lyrical Brooches, small press books and related items.
- Forrest Creative: will feature whimsical illustrated prints and cards with a rainbow flavour.
- Rainbow T-Towel Love: Will be selling a range of T-Towels, hand-made screen printed Pillow slips and T-Towels with Rainbow designs, as well as Flax wristbands, and Rainbow biscotti.

- And of coarse, Sam Orchard Comics!

Above: Rainbow T-Towel Love shows off their Rainbow T-Towel!(to be loved by potential buyers...).

And stick around afterwards for some music, as the Romp Project's MixTape Sessions will kick off at 7pm!

For more info visit the Everything and Everyone website HERE.

- 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!

From Earth's End and Alison Bechdel come to Writers Week 2014!

The New Zealand Festival is on once again in Wellington this February & March, with the Writers Week section taking place from Friday 7th - Wednesday, 12th of March. And I'm pleased to report there will be a very healthy showing of comics related events this year!

Above: The 'Comicsville' line-up: (from left) Adrian Kinnaird, Robyn E. Kenealy, Dylan Horrocks and Jonathan King.

From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics will be spotlighted at the 'Comicsville' panel, on Monday, March 10th at 10.45am at the Hannah Playhouse (formally Downstage Theatre). I'll be joined on stage with three of the featured cartoonists from the book: Dylan Horrocks - author of Hicksville; Robyn E. Kenealy - author of Roddy's Film Companion and the webcomic American Captain; and cartoonist/film director Jonathan King - author of Threat Level. We'll be discussing the exciting developments and growth of the New Zealand comics scene of the last few years, including the publication of From Earth's End and Dylan Horrocks' latest collection, Incomplete Works.

Tickets are $18, check out the Festival page HERE for more details.

Above: The cover of Incomplete Works by Dylan Horrocks.

As mentioned, Dylan Horrocks has a new comics collection on the way, Incomplete Works, which will be launched at the Festival with a party celebrating its release - as well as Caoilinn Hughes' new poetry collection, Gathering Evidence, hosted by publisher Victoria University Press. This is a free event, taking place Saturday, 8th of March at the Exchange Atrium, 24 Blair St, Wellington Central, from 7.30pm.

See the event page HERE for more details. There are also plans for a Incomplete Works launch in Auckland later in March, so keep an eye out for that.

Above: American cartoonist Alison Bechdel.

The Festival will also be hosting acclaimed US cartoonist, Alison Bechdel. Creator of the widely published comic strip Dykes to Watch Out For, she has also produced two bestselling graphic memoirs, Fun Home (2006) - which chronicles her childhood memories and her difficult relationship with her father, and Are You My Mother? (2012) - an exploration of her relationship with her mother and her time spent in therapy. Bechdel will be discussing her work and more, with community art space director Moira Clunie. The panel 'Drawing From Life' will take place on Sunday, 9th of March at 1.45pm at the Embassy Theatre.

Tickets are $18, check out the Festival page HERE for more details.

Online ordering for all of these events is available from February 7th. So lots of great comics events to enjoy, so start saving and if you aren't based in Wellington, make your travel plans now!

- AK!

A Life with Comics, Chapter 3: Escape To New York

It's been a long time coming, but the third chapter of auto-bio comic strip, My Life with Comics is here! Since it's been a while, I've included the first two chapters here to get everyone back up to speed.

In this chapter I discover Marvel Comics, specifically The Amazing Spider-Man. I was getting these issues from a second-hand store, so there was a good mix of current (early 80's) and older issues (70's and 60s reprints like Marvel Tales), so I got to really experience some of the best Spidey comics created - from the classic Lee/Ditko material, to John Romita Sr. (who I'm channelling for this strip), Gerry Conway & Gil Kane, Ross Andru and more.

This strip is also dedicated to my grandmother, May Kinnaird, who passed away last year at the age of 93.

- AK!

EVENT: Dr. Grordbort's Exceptional Exhibition

For the second time in New Zealand, the science fiction world of Dr. Grordbort comes to Christchurch, with an exhibition of artwork, sculptures and memorabilia. The brainchild of Wellington artist/conceptual designer Greg Broadmore, the Dr. Grordbort universe takes the classic colonial explorer/hunter to deep space for an intergalactic safari of discovery - to encounter new forms of life...and mount their heads above the mantlepiece.

Broadmore has so far produced three Dr. Grordbort graphic novels, Dr. Grordbort’s Croudbort’s Contrapulatronic Dingus Directory (2008), VICTORY: Scientific Adventure Violence for Young Men and Literate Woman (2009), and TRIUMPH: Unnecessarily Violent Tales of Science Adventure for the Simple and Unfortunate (2012), as well as a series of collectible replica rayguns. “I wanted to satirize pulp fiction that spans the era from the 1890s to the 1940s”, Broadmore explains, describing the Dr. Grordbort graphic novels as, “basically propaganda aimed at children in Grordbort's world”.

Above: The '4th Law' raygun! Copyright Greg Broadmore 2013.

The exhibition opens today at The Colombo, 363 Colombo St, Sydenham, Christchurch, and will display many of Broadmore's original paintings and concept art, along with sculptures and an impressive collection of Dr. Grordbort rayguns. Entry is from $10, with the exhibition open daily from 10.30am-6.30pm, January 23rd - 28th of February.

You can check out the Eventfinder page HERE for more details, and find out more about the world of Dr. Grordbort at the official website HERE.

-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!