However, as in previous years, I did contribute to their Pozible campaign (although not to the financial degree of past years) and I am pleased to report that they got over the line and the Event now going ahead for its fourth year. Despite all the above listed reasons (or excuses) I am also going to be involved in a bigger way than I have been in the past, which is personally pleasing. It is a comic Event that is in my backyard and it is one that I whole-heartedly support, even with my limited past involvement.
I have been asked to convene a Panel discussion, and with my contacts from the local comic scene I have now made arrangements to do just that. So, if you care to, yet another reason why you should attend ZICS this year. The topic up for discussion and perhaps debate: "What are the Opportunities for the Modern Comic Strip Artist?" Whilst I am moderating the Panel, the event can only be as good as the participants, and I am pleased to announce a really top-notch, high-quality team. All of the participants are local cartoonists, each one of them has a comic strip currently being published, and all of them have worked in the industry over the past twenty years, so they speak from a position of experience.
The team: co-creator of the comic strip Beyond the Black Stump and Courier-Mail cartoonist Sean Leahy, Swamp creator Gary Clark, Ian Jones, the creator of Bushy Tales, and my fellow INKSPOT Editor, creator of the comic strip Pet Therapy (that runs in Sydney newspapers), and an over-all great guy, Phil Judd. Together, we will all be appearing at The Edge, Southbank (Brisbane, near the State Library) between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. on August 20th as part of ZICS. Hope you can join us!