COMICOZ! Sharing Australian Comics with the World.

The end of "Iron Outlaw" ...

16/7/2021

"Iron Outlaw is a minefield of commentary waiting to be misconstrued.
"We may not be sued but there would be definite attempts to shut it down and a name and shame campaign for those involved.
"We have a 1970 curiosity of a couple of young blokes attempting social engineering that has no place in today's world.
"I realise Nat that you ... would like to bring it to life and give it a new sense of place and value.
"I must say that the cost to our lives and reputations could far outlay [sic] the benefits.
"For these reasons I cannot have anything to do with a reprint of Iron Outlaw."

Sad and disappointed. That pretty-well sums up how I feel. For the third time this year, I've been denied permission to reproduce a property that I felt would have added to our collective comic history. The history of Ginger Meggs' cartoonists over the past one hundred years ("A Little Bit of Ginger" by Lindsay Foyle), the collected "Us Girls" by Syd Miller, and now "Iron Outlaw" by Graeme Rutherford and Greg Mac Alpine.

Still, I am always one to respect all creator's wishes (or the copyright holder, if it's the family of the creators). "No" means "No". Without permission I just have to let it go. Sad and disappointed I may be, I'll simply have to move on to other projects ...

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Emile Mercier Book - The Cover is Now Ready to Share!

14/7/2021

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Can the Kickstarter campaign be far away now?

I wanted to share this with you, my Blog Readers first, before Facebook, Twitter, and everywhere else. So, thanks for reading!

Cover designed by my great Designing Mate, Ryan McDonald-Smith. You want him to design your next project? Here's a link: youniquecreation.com/

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Since Returning from Cairns ...

13/7/2021

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Since returning from Cairns, I've been getting into the swing of a lot of comic-related activities -- so many, to be honest, that I have not had time to record them here or elsewhere. Time to rectify that here!

This year on my Comicoz Facebook page (click here for a link) I had been trying to record on a daily basis all of my comic-related plans and activities. One thing that I found a little difficult in that recording, was trying to keep some items that hadn't quite been announced private. And, thus, they were not recorded. For example, some years ago on these pages, I announced that I had planned on publishing a book on the history of the cartoonists who had worked on the Australian comic strip, Ginger Meggs, written by former editor of The Bulletin, Lindsay Foyle. With the red-headed prankster due to celebrate his centenary in November, it seemed as good time as any to begin working on the book. So, to that end, I paid a well-known Australian artist to work on the roughs for the cover artwork without telling Lindsay (as a bit of a surprise) ...

Sadly, the surprise was all on me! Seeking his opinion on which image would work best for the cover, Lindsay had to share some hard truths with me. Thinking I had "forgotten about the project", he had signed a contract with another publisher. Ah, well, such is the publishing game.

There is so much uncertainty in our society at the moment, especially in relation to COVID-19. Lockdowns are becoming the new norm, with different states imposing different restrictions at differing times. And even within different states. Carlene and I had planned on welcoming some of our granddaughters from regional Queensland to our home during the school holidays, only to see the virus raise its ugly head locally. So we called the visit off. Which turned out to be the right call -- our local community went into lockdown, and if the girls had arrived, they would have been bored silly at our home with no Playstation, and missing all the comforts of their home.

Also having to be called off last weekend was the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (formerly known as the Ledger Awards) in Perth. I understand from organiser Dr Bruce Mutard that the book detailing all the recipients from the past two years has been published (see below), and while I may be privy to knowing who has been awarded the Ledger of Honour for 2021, I won't know who has been honoured with the year's Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards until I can get my hands on a copy of the book.

As a Committee member of the Australian Cartoonists Association in 2020, I had proposed that the organisation publish a magazine of comic stories and features (highlighting COVID-19). Sadly, the idea was supported by some, but rejected by the majority (even though some of the membership were willing to supply material for the magazine). At the time, I assumed then-President Jules Faber would be running for the position again and I had thrown my hat into the ring. For the purpose of historical record (and for a bit of fun), I thought I'd share the proposed illustration for the magazine's cover -- tentatively called "Funny Lines" -- here (drawn by Danny Zemp).

And, as history shall recall, Jules didn't run for President, and I didn't win the majority of the votes either. Cathy Wilcox is the new leader of the Australian Cartoonists Association. Still, I was honoured to be selected as a member of the new Committee. Unfortunately, presenting the same proposal resulted in the same outcome, so perhaps it's something to take further on my own bat a little later on...

In recent years I've chosen to support the National Cartoon Gallery with a small regular donation, and beginning this month I've done the same thing by pledging a small amount to a few creatives' Patreon pages. (For more information about this site for creatives, please check out this link.) By becoming a supporter, you can learn some wonderful "behind the scenes" processes from some of your favourite artists and cartoonists. Here's an example of one I have chosen to support ...

After publishing a few books over the past few years, I'm keen on getting into comic publishing again. To that end, over the past few months I've been speaking to a few cartoonists whose work I see as world-class. I'd like to be able to present their work to the world, and to that end I have asked a couple to each supply me with a 20 to 24-page story. Given that Diamond Distributors accepted 10% of the print-run of Graeme Cliffe's book, would they be interested in some local Australian comics? It's a risk I think should be taken! So that's where my attention is focused in going forward from this space on ...

Not to forget some of the other artists, whose works (in books) I have already expressed an interest in working on and that I have already been talking about on my Facebook pages: Iron Outlaw by Fysh Rutherford & Greg Mac Alpine, Emile Mercier, a John Dixon retrospective, Gary Chaloner's Flash Damingo and the Jackeroo (although that one's on hold for now), Bridgette by Gerald Carr (no, I haven't forgotten Gerald!), and I still hold out hope for Verity Aloha by Michal Dutkiewicz. Then, there's those artists and families in the very early stages of discussions: Syd Miller, Ian Eddy, and more from Monty Wedd (hopefully).

Geez: where am I going to find the time~??!

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Back in the swing of things again ...

10/6/2021

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I've been on a forced hiatus from comic-publishing work lately as there has been a family matter needing attention up in North Queensland. But now I have managed to do all I can do there (for now), I can return to my comic activities. Today I have spent a small part of the day working on a Comicoz advertisement for the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (formerly known as the Ledger Awards) in exchange for my sponsorship of the event. I was concerned that the Australian Cartoonists Association was not going to do the same thing, but was pleasantly surprised when the Committee agreed to do so at our last meeting. (I'm not speaking out of line here, as all the sponsors have now been named to the public.)

The advertisement was due to be inhouse some time ago, but today's been the first time I've really been able to get in front of my computer to work on any projects. (Many thanks to Dr Bruce Mutard, the new director of the Comic Arts Awards of Australia, for allowing me the latitude to be a little late in sending the finished work.) I can't show you the completed advertisement as it's a PDF file (and this website only allows me to upload jpg files), so instead I'll share with you the photograph I didn't use in the ad. Within the page, I decided to list each and every person who has written and/or drawn (or helped produce) a comic story or book I have published since I first began publishing under the Comicoz banner in 1987 ... a total of 93 people to date!

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Margaret Cameron's Announcement...

13/5/2021

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Margaret at the 2018 Stanley Awards, when she accepted the Jim Russell Award on behalf of the National Cartoon Gallery. Photo: Nat Karmichael.

I often use this website (and the Comicoz Facebook page) to highlight some of the comic-related books I am working on or events I am taking part in, occasionally I review some of the other cartoon or comic events taking place or books being published. But I rarely talk of someone who is not a cartoonist or who does not draw comics. Today, I'll make an exception.

I've been working on the Emile Mercier book for the National Cartoon Gallery for some time now (and presently have the pages in the hands of the two designers working with me on the project), and part of this has involved contacting Margaret Cameron, the manager of the National Cartoon Gallery. Margaret and I spoke about the project last week, and she told me her of news. Today she has made it official, with her announcement "that the time has come for [her] to move on and let new blood take the Gallery forward from here".

Margaret has been an amazing powerhouse behind the Gallery's recent refurbishment and extensions. She has ensured that it will be the most significate bricks and mortar structure dedicated to cartoons and associated (comic) arts into the future. She says she has moved from "knowing little about cartooning apart from [her] childhood Sunday newspaper readings" to being aware of just how important cartoonists (and, thus, comic creatives) are "in recording and reflecting contemporary life".

I don't think I have known anyone (perhaps with the exception of Jim Bridges) who has been such a passionate supporter of the medium. Certainly no-one has been able to bring this cartooning vision into such a tangible reality. So while Margaret plans to still be involved at "this year’s Rotary Cartoon Awards and Stanley Awards and also the November exhibition to celebrate 100 years of Ginger Meggs" her greater input is going to be greatly missed in cartooning circles. All the very best to you, Margaret!

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Working on the Emile Mercier book....

24/4/2021

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Yesterday, I gave an undertaking to Margaret Cameron, Manager of the National Cartoon Gallery in Coffs Harbour, that I would present her with the layout plan for the Emile Mercier book I am working on for them. I've decided on the cartoon to appear on the front of the book, and (as depicted here) the cartoon for the back. Just thought I would share here....

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Ginger Meggs competition.

18/4/2021

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Is there anyone who doesn't like entering competitions? When Jimmy Bancks died before finishing his last Ginger Meggs comic strip (back in 1952), he left behind this incomplete gag. The Ginger Meggs website is seeking creative people to complete the strip, as part of the early celebrations when the feature turns 100 later this year. Here's where you can find the details, by clicking here: Competitions — (gingermeggs.com)

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Easter thoughts.

3/4/2021

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I'm hoping Jeff Keane will allow me the liberty of sharing this cartoon from his calendar.

The older I get the more I tend to reflect on things past and society's current directions. I remain concerned that as a society we are not kind enough to one another, and I'm not really sure why that is. There is certainly a loss of the sense of community in areas where we now live, and if communities are not connected, then the country as a whole is not. And as a result, further from there, countries are not: already we see countries becoming more suspicious of each other. Discord is sown, sometimes to the point of not being able to go back. As I reflect on recent past history, we know where that leads to, and I remain concerned that people (well, especially those in the West) have forgotten the horrors of war. It remains something foreign to us, but unless we start working on first improving relations between our neighbours I (sadly) fear that that may be the direction more communities may experience. I hope not, and I remain committed to ensuring as best I can that it does not happen.

It was World War II that brought American cartoonist Bil Keane to Australia. He was a serviceman, stationed in Scarborough, Queensland (not far from where I now live). He met his sweetheart while here, and they married and settled in the United States. Eventually, Bil created the comic strip The Family Circus, which detailed his family life. In the late 1980s I communicated with Bil, and spoke of commonalities: living nearby where he had served, and having a family. One of my daughters was called Penelope Joy, but she asked to be called "PJ" (perhaps because it was easier to 'spell' at school!) -- and she still is called that name today.

I met Bil's son Jeff, who now carries on his Dad's newspaper strip, just a few years ago now when he came to Queensland to meet his Mother's side of the family. What a wonderfully generous man he is: in January a calendar arrived in the mail, sent by Jeff. The calendar details some of the exploits of his Family Circus, still with his Dad's gentle humour. Some find it a little too sentimental, but perhaps I see it as a reflection of where I'd sometimes like to see where we, as a society, could be. In a kinder, gentler place. Writing to Bil, having a loving daughter PJ, meeting Jeff: these are just some of the highlights of my life. Today, I have reproduced this month's cartoon that appears on Jeff's calendar. I hope you like it. Be kind to each other.

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Facebook's limitations

27/3/2021

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I've been recording on Comicoz' Facebook page this year, a near-daily record of my life in the Australian comic community. (Feel free to check it out! You don't need to be a 'Friend' to do so!) I had hoped to be able to share the fact that the half-page scans of the original Iron Outlaw artwork pages have now been been made into complete, full pages. But the size of the files were and are too big for Facebook, so I shall now share one page here instead.... and the poor Facebook Friends will just have to miss out. For a change.

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Sometimes you win, sometimes...

20/3/2021

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Sad to relate, but Syd Miller's family have decided to pull the pin on publishing some of their Grandfather's Us Girls works. It's not my call, after all, and I shall respect the decision. I spent one on my days off duty heading to Graeme's place and photographed some of his Syd Miller originals.

"Archbishop Kelly. Head of the Church in Australia on his 60th Anniversary of joining the Priesthood. Nov. 12. 1932."

"The Jersey Jacket. 1885"

Joseph Lyons caricature by Syd Miller. (Former Prime Minister of Australia.)

Syd Miller Caricature of William Lister Lister, President of the Royal Arts Society, 1932.

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Comicoz...

...acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all First Australian peoples.

Photo by Charlotte

Nat Karmichael

Over the past decade (2011 - 2020) Nat has self-published ten comic-related books and was Publisher-Editor of Oi Oi Oi! - the last nationally-distributed comic book of original comics stories to appear on Australian newsstands. He edited Inkspot, the journal of the Australian Cartoonists Association for 14 issues from late 2015 to 2019 and is a current member of the ACA's Committee. In his spare time, he is a husband, a father (to six) and grandfather (to fourteen), and works in the Psychiatric Emergency Centre in Queensland's largest public hospital.

Comicoz is Nat Karmichael's publishing imprint. Nat is committed to preserving a permanent collection of Australian comic and comic strips. He feels that there is a need to recognise comics' contribution to and depiction of Australian culture.

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