Australian Comics! Comicoz: SHARING our Comics with the World.

The Worst News Possible??

19/8/2018

Could this just end up being the worst news possible? On Friday I received an email from my book distributor, Dennis Jones & Associates, to inform me that they are going into voluntary liquidation. I admit being stunned. They had only just agreed to carry Bold Ben Hall, Trundle, The Men Behind Superman and the work-still-in-progress, From Sunbeams. And had let me know that any book I publish, they would be interested in getting into bookstores around Australia.

Of course, the first thing I had to do was to let all the creative personnel involved know. The second thing was to work out where to go from here!

Following that, the most important thing is to share those future plans with my loyal readers and supporters (you!). Which is why I am writing today. Although tentative plans for publishing future books might be temporarily placed in limbo, I plan to go ahead with the plans to publish From SUNBEAMS by Graeme Cliffe. The book is just too important to be let go.

As a sign of that commitment, Designer Ryan McDonald-Smith and I have been in conversation this very morning, and we are - yet again! - working on the author's corrections to the text draft this weekend. The book will be printed. The book needs to be published. Seeking out another Distributor will be one option, keeping you informed is another: Stay Tuned!

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What's next...

12/8/2018

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I'd like to invite everyone reading this to The Bunker Cartoon Gallery in Coffs Harbour on Friday 31st August where we plan to launch Monty Wedd's Bold Ben Hall. That will start the whole weekend of activities in that northern New South Wales town! On the Saturday night, there will be the 30th Anniversary of the Rotary Cartoon Awards, and Sunday will feature Australia's first Cartoon Festival. So, if you want to be a part of history, you know where you ought to be that weekend!

Some of the history of the Bunker Cartoon Gallery, and of the Rotaries have been covered in the latest issue of Inkspot that I have edited. I don't do it solo, though, so thanks need to go to Steve Panozzo (layouts, proofreading and sub-editing), Phil Judd (who runs some of the regular features in the magazine) and Jules and Mary Faber (who get the copies out to the members of the Australian Cartoonists Association). It's a great magazine -- even if I say so myself -- and the first five people to comment that they have read this far can have one for free!

Inside the magazine there's great coverage of the Ledger Awards. There was a special surprise (that I talked about last post). Graeme Cliffe and I were able to talk about Graeme's upcoming book "From SUNBEAMS To Sunset: The Rise and Fall of the Australian Comic Book (1924 - 1965)" on stage, and it would be remiss of me to not thank Ledger Director Gary Chaloner for allowing us that honour. While we were on stage, I pre-arranged with MC Bernard Caleo to bound on and interrupt us, to present Graeme with a proof copy of his book! He was really surprised! I'd like to thank everyone to date who has pre-ordered a copy of the book, and I'd especially like to acknowledge the people interested in the special limited editions of the book. The discount rate ends today, but the preparation of the book doesn't. We've had a set back in so far as our Designer, Ryan McDonald-Smith, is having to take some time out for some personal matters, but we know he'll be on track soon. Which gives Graeme and I time to continue re-working on how we would like to see the internal pages....

I picked up a copy of "Giants, Trolls, Witches, Beasts" at the Gold Coast Supanova. It's great! Craig Phillips well deserves his Gold Ledger.

Chris Gooch was another Silver Ledger winner. "Bottled" is a great read! Top Shelf Productions published it.

Safdar Ahmed self-published "My Struggle with Crohn's Disease was another worthy Silver Ledger winner. One of my picks for last year.

As far as the Ledger Awards themselves go, I've illustrated some of the winners (above). The number (of winners) were less than in previous years (not that that mattered), and the event was an even greater success (even if some found the venue difficult to locate). In case you weren't there, haven't been told, or yet read Inkspot, the winners were:
GOLD:
Reported Missing by Eleri May. This is a cracking good read (especially because it is true). I was alerted to this story when I was working out who I was considering for my own 'Comicoz Award' earlier this year, when I invited nominations on Facebook. The story is not available physically, only on line, and fortunately it remains in cyberspace. Here's a link:
https://thenib.com/reported-missing
Giant, Trolls, Witches, Beasts by Craig Phillips. Craig is a friendly guy and was really interesting to talk to at the Gold Coast Supanova, where I picked up a copy of his book. It has a professional feel about it and, in my opinion, a well-deserved winner. You can obtain your own physical copy from the publisher (Allen and Unwin) by clicking here:
https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/books/childrens/Giants-Trolls-Witches-Beasts-Craig-Phillips-9781760113261
Craig has another book out called Jack Scratch that is at the moment, I think, between publishers. One to pick up if you can for the little ones (Craig made it for his daughter)...
SILVER:
Black Magick (issues #6 to #10) by Nicola Scott, Greg Rucka and Chiara Arena came out via DC Comics. To be honest, I read the first series but have yet to read this, so I can't really comment. Similarly, Tom Taylor's Injustice 2 (also by DC Comics) is another I have not read. Which I now must do... Both are, most likely, available at your local comic shop. It's great to see Chiara Arena doing well in the comic field. Where do we know her? Ahh, as the cover artist on Oi Oi Oi! Issue number 5, no less!
Home Time by Campbell Whyte was published by Top Shelf Productions, and was another book recommended to me by me Facebook Friends earlier this year. And I have it ready in my bookshelf... waiting for the time I can give it some time! Here's where you can read some of the loveliness: http://www.campbellwhyte.com/comics/
My Struggle with Crohn's Disease by Safdar Ahmed has already been mentioned on my Blog, and it was rewarding to know that perhaps my tastes are not so eclectic after all! This remains a most powerful story, rivalling Safdar's Walkley Award-winning look at life inside the Villawood Detention Centre from 2015. Both are available for viewing on his personal website by clicking here: https://safdarahmed.com/my-comics-and-zines/
Finally, another winner already nominated on my Blog earlier in the year, was Chris Gooch's Bottled. Published by Top Shelf Productions. Well worth the read. Available by clicking onto this website: http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog/bottled/973

Photos taken from the Ledger Awards' Facebook site. For some reason, I took few photos on the night...

Of course, there are other celebrations at the Ledger Awards, including one I proudly take part in. The Ledger of Honour, whereby we honour those artists who have either retired or have since passed. This year, the winners were announced earlier in the year, at the Australian Comic Arts Festival in Canberra. My role, as Lead Judge, is to simply get all my fellow Judges involved in discussions before making our selection. I must say it was a much smoother process this year, with the decision made reasonably early and painlessly. How wonderful to see the families of Yaroslav Horak and Moira and Kathleen Bertram there to see these Australian comic pioneers so rightly honoured!

Fellow Judge Daniel Best listens intently to David Geraghty, accepting on behalf of the "Dead Set" Ledger winners, Moira and Kathleen Bertram.

Jacie Horak accepts on behalf of her husband, Yaroslav. The rest of us look on in wonderment.

Finally, the night came to a close, with the Platinum Ledger being awarded to an astonished and deserving Tim McEwen...

Tim's win! Proudly introduced by his wonderful children Samuel and Annabelle...

So, where to next? I am working with Graeme to get his book ready for the printer. (It is taking much longer than I think we all anticipated.) Carlene is soon returning from an extended 'holiday' down south looking after some of the grandchildren, before we head off to the Rotary Cartoon Awards. Margaret, the Manager of the Bunker, and I are going to be in some in-depth discussions about a well-loved Australian cartoonist (see clue below). Then, before long, the Stanley Awards will be upon us (it's in Canberra again), and I am looking forward to hosting American cartoonist Jeff Keane as he explores some areas of this part of the country that were familiar to both of his parents. There are some exciting new projects (plural) that need working on (one of whom I have left a clue, below), and I really need to do some more promoting of the books I already have out there. Getting this website updated hasn't happened, and I tend to get behind in updating my news (apologies, dear reader). My wife will want to see some of the comic items in the garage sold, so the office looks a little tidier. All things said, it looks like it is going to be a busy tail-end of the year...

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For those who get in quick...

5/7/2018

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I am going to place this here. Some people read my web-page, although most do not. Some people wait until I announce something on Facebook to discover my books. So, this is for the True Believers. For a very limited time, you can pre-order Graeme Cliffe's book, From 'Sunbeams' to Sunset: The Rise and Fall of the Australian Comic Book for only $50. Check out the Store page on my site. It's the only place you will find it for this price, and only for a short while. Tomorrow, I am flying off to Sydney for the Ledger Awards, where more surprises shall unfold. I'll tell you about it later, if you cannot make it....

Oh, and an extra 10% off to all members of my beloved Australian Cartoonists Association....

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Pre-Orders start in about a week....

2/7/2018

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Want to be the first to learn how to pre-order your copy? Come along to.....

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Win CASH! Win MONEY!

19/6/2018

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Everyone who reads this is invited to the 30th Anniversary of the Rotary Cartoon Awards, to be held at The Bunker Cartoon Gallery in Coffs Harbour on the first weekend in September. PLUS there's more! On the Friday night (on 31 August), Comicoz will officially launch the Bold Ben Hall book to the world at The Bunker!

But wait! There's even more! In just about two weeks' time, at the Ledger Awards in Sydney (6 July) at the Bryan Brown Theatre and Function Centre - that's at 80 Rickard Road, Bankstown, Graeme Cliffe will be talking for the very first time about his book From SUNBEAMS.... It's a FREE event: so you ought to come on down for this evening of Australian comic history!

And the excitement doesn't stop there! Comicoz' other book, The Men Behind Superman, is due to arrive from the printer on 23 May..... less than a week away! Who says this isn't the age of Australian comic excitement ….??!

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'From SUNBEAMS'... the official cover revealed...

14/6/2018

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This is the first viewing of the official cover to the book Comicoz is publishing, From 'Sunbeams' to Sunset: The Rise and Fall of the Australian Comic Book (1924 to 1965) by Graeme Cliffe. Pre-orders will be taken really soon, and there will be a special signed Limited Edition available, featuring the autographs of some of the artists featured in the book.... more information soon!

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Celebrate Australian comic talent with Comicoz!

2/6/2018

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Want a chance to obtain an absolutely FREE copy of one of Comicoz' books? To celebrate three brand-spanking new books from Comicoz being released in the upcoming months, we're going to allow you to grab all the bargains!

Since my last posting, Monty Wedd's Bold Ben Hall has returned from the printer! Copies are now being sent to those who kindly supported our Kickstarter campaign from November-December. Numbered, signed copies (by Justin Wedd, a representative of Monty's family, our designer Ryan McDonald-Smith, and yours truly) are now available from this website...but only for a limited time! Jump in quick!

The historical graphic novel Truth, Justice and the American Dream: The Men Behind Superman (by Thomas Campi and Julian Voloj) is also soon due from the printer, and a special numbered edition of only one hundred copies is now available for ordering - and only from this web-site. Pre-order now to ensure you obtain your copy!

Finally, there have been some delays with our most anticipated book to date. From 'Sunbeams' to Sunset: The Rise and Fall of the Australian Comic Book (1923 to 1965) researched by Graeme Cliffe has had some design issues that are being fixed as we speak. We had hoped to have this released at the 2018 Ledger Awards, to be held in Sydney in early July, but that opportunity (sadly) seems to have passed. Keep reading this web-site for further updates!

I admit I have had a few work and family things going on that have been distracting of late (working night duty just destroys any opportunity to lead a normal life, as all I do is work and sleep), so I have not been able to keep this site as current as I would like. And there are also the plans of trying to get this site re-designed to make it more visually appealing. Facebook seems to be such an immediate medium, and it is so tempting to post something there, as opposed to writing here that I tend to go for an easy option all too often. (Although a lot of the time, things going on - especially in my private family life - will never get an airing in either place!)

One of the things I do want to share here, is that all three books above and Neil Matterson's Trundle have all been accepted for national distribution by Dennis Jones & Associates. This was - and still is - such a great thrill, to know that all four books are going to be available in all great Australian booksellers! So, to celebrate, I thought it might be an opportunity to offer Australia! to all my loyal readers of this website! Check out the Store page for more details...

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What can this mean??

15/5/2018

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I haven't heard from Cover Boy Jim Bridges since this issue (the tenth I have edited), was released.... Brilliant artwork by Paul Harvey....

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What I've been up to on my holidays...

16/4/2018

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I've had some time off work for the past three weeks (with one week to go). We were planning on going on a trip in our new campervan, but unfortunately it is not quite ready (and, besides, we were given a surprise when son Will came to visit us). Still, the time has been a productive one...

Early in the holiday, I was able to finish editing another issue of INKSPOT (my tenth) and, with the help of caricaturist Steve Panozzo, we were able to work on it and still hope to have it out for next weekend's Supanova in Melbourne. *I'll share the cover once it arrives from the printer, because the person on the cover has no idea they are ON the cover!

I've also had a bit of time to begin cleaning up what is called "the music room" in our home. In its former lifetime, it was a garage. These days there is not too much music being played in there; it also doubles as my 'publishing empire'. I must confess, the place has been a bit of an embarrassment, due to the state of untidiness of the area. So, I have spent a considerable amount of time in there tidying it up....to the point where music now can be played there! And it now looks half decent!

And I am really pleased I did tidy it, for in the meantime, see what is soon coming from the printer....

Also about to soon go to the printer soon will be From SUNBEAMS to Sunset, and the book about Superman's creators. This book was to be called "Truth, Justice and the American Way: The Joe Shuster Story" until it was discovered that "Truth, Justice and the American Way" has been copyrighted by DC Comics. The American publishers are planning on still calling it "The Joe Shuster Story" and are already seeking orders from Diamond (the comic book distribution company).

I admit I feel I am a bit behind the eight-ball in getting the local version out; but then the local version is going to be much improved on the American version. For starters, the Comicoz version will be larger. At 210 x 290 cm it will be a reasonable size, but the Americans - for some reason - are going smaller, and cruelly harming artist Thomas Campi's work, as far as I am concerned. There are also going to be more 'extra' pages in the book, with Thomas describing his artistic process, and writer Julian Voloj providing some additional text pieces that will beef the book up.
The title will now be: "Truth, Justice and the American Dream: The Men Behind Superman"....sounds better, right?

I've also decided to give this website a bit of a spruce-up. At the present, although it is easy for me to work on, there are a lot of factors that seem to mitigate against it. A google search of (say) "Australian comics" does not list Comicoz within the top ten, as many Indian web-designers have been emailing me to tell me. Sales need to improve to justify the space I am taking up in our home, after all!

Now that the 'music room' is tidy (or tidier?), I have found many doubles of books and comics. I plan to sell many of my books and comics from my collection (the ones I did not publish). Besides offering some of my books at cheaper prices, I also plan on listing my publications at Ownaindi. Have you heard of it? It's a web-site that specialises in the sale of Australian-owned comics and books. Click here for the link.

And what else? There is one other bit of news. But I may leave that until next posting. After all, this is a holiday from work, and it should be time spent away from comics and certainly time to spend with my lovely wife. So, perhaps I ought to wind up here and take her to the movies, as I promised her I would...

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A month later....

23/3/2018

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Here I am, a month later, writing an entry in my Blog...

What do you reckon that means? That I have been doing NOTHING?!

You jest!!

First of all, I have managed to send the Bold Ben Hall book to the printer! Want proof? Here are actual photos of the Bold Ben Hall printing process presently taking place...