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Here we are again! With so many personal projects on the go, I'm worried I won't do this post justice. But let me give it a fair crack! Once again, for the fourteenth year in a row, I will announce what I believe to be the "Best Australian Original Comic in 2024". Of course, if you have not been here before, there are things I must tell you. (And, for those who come back annually to read my writings, my apologies for repeating myself! Simply skip to the paragraphs after I list all the past 'winners'...) I make this purely subjective selection based on Australian comics/comic books that I read over the past year. Of course, I don't read everything, and I am not aware of everything published. The lucky people at the Comic Arts Awards of Australia have PDFs and Original comics sent to them. I don't have that luxury. (Feel free to send me copies of your comics if you wish, although Australia Post may not deliver them to me on time!!) I make the selection on the birth date of one of Australia's greatest comic writer/artists, Monty Wedd. I like to honour Monty that way. Monty's family have no say in choosing the 'winner': it's my own subjective decision. The 'winner' receives no financial reward, not even a trophy, just the acclaim of being mentioned in this listing. And I refuse to allow one of my own publications the honour. So, Rob Feldman and John Dixon (the people I published in 2024) both miss out. It's only fair, right?! Past winners are grinners, and these people have been grinning since being selected in the past: 2011: Insanity Streak - Striving for Quantity by Tony Lopes 2012: Kinds of Blue (anthology) Karen Beilharz (editor, contributor) 2013: The Long Weekend in Alice Springs by Josh Santospirito 2014: The Anzac Legend by Dave Dye 2015: Struggle by Darren Close 2016: These Memories Won't Last (interactive web comic) by Stuart (Sutu) Campbell 2017: Post Traumatic (anthology) by Bruce Mutard 2018: A Week in Warrigilla (web comic) by Teloka Berry and Pricilla (Pi) Wu 2019: The Phantom (Issue #1850) by Matt Kyme (writer/artist), Graeme Jackson ('digital special effects') and Roger Stitson (editor); Frew Publications (publisher) 2020: COVID-19 Diary (web cartoon-'article') by Jason Chatfield 2021: The Riddle of the Grey Malkin, by Glenn Lumsden (writer), Jason Paulos (artist), Glenn Ford (editor); Frew Publications (publisher), running in Issues #1899-1903 and #1905-1907 of The Phantom comic 2022: Flock (Chapter 1) Created, written and illustrated by Paul Mason, Edited by Amanda Bacchi, Lettered and designed by Wolfgang Bylsma; published by Gestalt Publishing Pty Ltd. 2023: Adventure Illustrated (Number 2). (Anthology). Edited and produced by Gary Chaloner. Issue features a Cyclone Force story with Killeroo (by Gary Chaloner, Darren Close, Graeme Jackson), Greener Pastures (by Tim McEwen, Michael Michalandos), Red Kelso (by Gary Chaloner). Published by Cyclone Comics. I've had more time on my hands since not working full-time in March, which means I have been doing more reading. More than comics to be honest. Classics. Novels. Some old. Some new. I've also been watching more streaming services than ever. (I have to do something to ensure Carlene, or Mrs K as she is sometimes known, continues to wish to be married to me!) I've also had to do those things that make up a happy marriage: cooking more, cleaning the home (including TRYING to get my music-come-comic room into better shape!), working in the yard, and even some 'handyman' stuff. (Those who know me would be amazed!) But that's not why you are reading...  With twenty-one (yes, twenty-one!) issues of Burger Force under her belt, Brisbane-based Jackie Ryan stands tall in Australian comic circles. How many other comic series have reached even double digits? And, at her most recent comic launch in late 2024, Jackie confessed that she was only just getting started: she has mapped out, that is planned, a total of 42 issues to this title! So, she's only half-way there!! And I don't want to get started either - although there might be a future Inkspot article I ought to write - because very few Brisbane/South-east Queensland comic creators and cartoonists get the credit I feel they are due. At the Australian Cartoonists Association's annual convention a month ago there was a panel detailing their research into local Australian comics from 1980 to 2000. Yet no one from the panel has talked to anyone from Brisbane! There's so much creative work going on here and Jackie's a prime example. Burger Force is such a unique comic: the artwork is a "combination of software and hand retouching" of photographs (taken from December 2008), Jackie's writing has improved over the course of the series, with her panel placement and selection exceptional. She self-produces an exemplary comic series that you really ought to check out. Here's a link to her website (click here) to allow you to do just that.  Shane "Sizzle" Syddall is another Brisbane local that doesn't get his fair share of kudos. His Comx Studio imprint (click here) has released no less than twenty-two comics in the past year. Furthermore, his infectious enthusiasm for and organisation of the local (and national) comic scene needs much wider recognition. I can't say I have purchase all of his comics in the past year, but there are some that just stand out and need mentioning as among the year's best. No Man's Land by Shaydin Dew is an indie, slice of life comic by this talented South Australian creative, and is well-worth your look. Leigh Chalker falls under Shane's Comx umbrella by running an almost-weekly "Chinwag" session with Australian creatives. Here's a sample! ;) Click here. But Townsville-based Leigh's also a comic creator himself: I've just purchased his comic Battle For Bustle, a Dystopian Sci-fi tale worth your while. However, Stellarlands by Max Ferrada (writer) and Ben Worrell (artist) is my pick of all of the Comx Studio publications released in 2024. Two issues were released in 2024 (the second came out last month), with plans for eight in the series. Essentially a Science Fiction tale of epic proportions (and I'm not one for using that "e" word), the comic is professionally presented and kept my interest throughout its forty pages. There was an added bonus (in Issue Two) of a few "Gallery" pages, that showcased the artist's process and proposed work for the following issue. I'm always a sucker for those sorts of things!
Kickstarter remains a means by which I discover new Australian comics. Now that I am soon to become a pensioner, my financial support of comics via this means is going to be severely curtailed. For the main, I find that the added postage to the costs of the comics featured can sometime dissuade me from supporting these campaigns, and the added bonuses that are of no interest to me (posters, enamel pins, postcards, bookmarks, playing cards) don't tempt me to spend further, unless of course they are genuine bonuses. I'm here for the comics, people! There are two creatives that I did return to support in 2024, however. I have always enjoyed Rene Pfitzner's use of colour and his sense of fun. He's been financing his comics via Kickstarter almost annually for about the past five years, and this year's offering Goblins verses Trolls ("Issue 1") was, I felt, worth supporting. Rene first came to my attention when I read a story written by Karen Beilharz that Rene illustrated for her Kinds of Blue anthology (way back in 2012). Even though Rene doesn't mention that - or his appearance in Issue 8's Oi Oi Oi! - on his website (click here), he obviously still maintains a friendship with Karen, who edits this volume. It's colourful. It's fun. The 34-page story is to be continued. (Even with Rene's successful track record, this fills me with fear, given the history of Australian comics that have fallen by the wayside following such a statement.) But the bottom line? It was worth supporting. Last year, Killeroo appeared in Gary Chaloner's Adventure Illustrated comic to my loud acclaim. This year he appears in Stuart Black's The 4Horsemen in a tale entitled No Remorse. The indicia indicates this is a co-production between Stuart's Furious Monkey Fist Comics and Darren Close's OzComics imprints. I'm not sure who's marketing the comic (it's not on Darren's website here), but maybe it will be by the time you read this. All the other Killeroo books seem to be there. This 80-page (plus) full-colour comic is full-on action all the way! As I have said before, Killeroo remains one of the best modern Australian comic creations around, so it's good to see him featuring in other character's adventures. I like Darren's handling of his own character best, so his "selected inks" (and the artwork to "Cover B") were the highlights for me in this issue. Once again for me, the comic event of the year was Comicstreet. In the middle of Brisbane city's busiest thoroughfare, the Queen Street Mall in the middle of winter, with creators selling nothing but comics. No cosplay. No American comics. (Dr Paul Mason selling his copies of Frew's The Phantom the only acceptable exception!) Most pleasing of all: the number of interstate exhibitors attending among the Brisbane creatives. Which allowed me the opportunity to view works from out of the state. (Even though Carlene and I also attended Woolongong's Comic Gong, I don't think I spent much time viewing other people's work as much as I would have liked.)
When does a comic 'qualify' for my selection and when does it not? Well, this is my list of comics that I saw last year, and if I say a comic is in, it's in! George Rex (sometimes known by Georgina Chadderton) published this second edition of Tidbits in 2024, so I say it's IN. Sadly, because 'George Rex' was in Adelaide (perhaps preparing the next Papercutz Comic Festival?), she wasn't in attendance at Comicstreet. But her partner Owen Heitmann was. He suggested I try this comic. Some may argue it's a zine, at only 24 pages and a zine-like size. But, to my mind: it's a comic! And a lovely one too. Humour (including the self-depreciating kind), references (I'm sure you noted the Daniel Clowes homage on the cover), descriptions of creative block, and more. I loved it's gentle humour. Short and sweet; and one of the year's best...irrespective of what year it was first published! Here's where you can buy a copy (click here). Talking (as we were) about Owen Heitmann: he was at Comicstreet. And he recommended this self-published comic, Sun Sand & Self-Doubt. My only doubt about including it here, was it was published in 2023 (or so the indicia says); but please read what I said about this matter earlier. Again, zine-sized and 28 pages (plus cover) with a limited colour palette, one just mustn't judge a book by its cover. The story is well-written for a much younger audience (pre-teens perhaps), and even though the illustrations are simply drawn it has a positive message which comes through loud and clear. Owen admits it's not strictly autobiographical (although it wouldn't have mattered if it was) and it was a well-deserved Silver recipient at the recent Comics Art Awards of Australia. It gets my vote for being one of the best comics I read in the past year. Give a copy to someone you love. (Click here.) Neale Blanden's talent was recognised at a previous Ledger Awards (now the aforesaid Comic Arts Awards of Australia) ceremony. His work is not to everyone's taste. Some would see it as scribbles, some see the art in it. All praise to Gary Dellar and his Reverie imprint for taking a punt on what some would think commercial suicide. Although short (28 pages, including covers) and predominately black and white (except the cover), the themes of life as a cartoonist are ones that many creatives know and experience, but are usually unwilling to share. Until now. I found Bland! funny in a Robert Crumb-sort-of-way. It's not really like any other comic. Recommended for those who are willing to try something new and unique. Click here, but only if you are the adventurous type.  I have recently mentioned this volume on my Facebook Page, where I waxed lyrical about it. (Because I need a bit of a break from this typing, maybe I could reproduce what I wrote then?!) Matt Emery and Marty Trengove together have published a limited (100 copy) edition of this oversized paperback that deserves to be in the library of everyone who has a passion for modern Australian comics. Running well over an impressive 100 pages — I’m not sure exactly, as the pages are not numbered — this book documents Marty’s more personal comics works mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Marty is best-known for his brilliant Roscoe the Dawg, Ace Detective miniseries from US publisher Renegade Press, from 1986-1987. Some of that material from the era, in the form of breakdowns of Roscoe's first issue are included within this book. And that’s the spirit of this publication: it’s intended as a raw overview of Marty’s personal world. Don’t expect polished artwork here. In his extensive notes within the publication, Marty clearly feels anyone reading this work will be “eavesdropping”! And he’s quite right, you know. None of the works here were intended for publication, but the collection of these works gives an insight into an important Australian comics artist who documented his life during that time in this art form we call comics. It’s simply an important record of the era. Indeed, Marty’s reflections on his history in a short four page “interview” with Matt Emery are an essential component to Australia’s comic story. I bought the book from Matt on Facebook and copies of the small print run are still available. If you have a passion for Australian comics, make sure you grab your copy through Matt here via Messenger. Then, your next problem: where to place it in your library? I’d suggest next to your copy of Bonzer — it’s just a little shorter, but it’s equally essential.
Some quick Honourable Mentions: Walking the City of Literature was drawn by Judy Horacek and produced by the Melbourne UNESCO City of Literature Office. It's not a comic as such. I'm even unsure when it was published. It's more a map of Melbourne City and surrounds, showing the location of all (or most) of the bookshops in that city. An invaluable treasure for those of us who love doing this. Every city needs one of these! Poo-Heads is a hardcover book "written by young people (Carter and Marlow Wright) for young people" and illustrated by Stu Thornton. While the fact it's in many, many bookstores (admirable), the 'To Be Continued' at the end of its 173 pages was a disappointment. For me at least. Stuart McMillan is only young. And talented. This minicomic was originally published online in 2012 (that long ago?!) and it is still available here. Yes, it's FREE to read. There are others as well. Later this year, Stuart will have his first Graphic Novel published. He is "One to Watch" as they say on the professional book review sites, and I for one am waiting... A Work in Progress was written, drawn, produced by Aśka in 2023. She/they live in Western Australia, which is why I am saying it took me so long to be able to read it! It's ideal for anyone wanting to break into making comics. This small publication was on the recent Comic Arts Awards of Australia's shortlist, but it's on my recommended reading list. Make sure her/their webpage is on your reading list...!  Q: How long has it been since we saw a full-blown Greener Pastures comic? A: Too long! Writer Tim McEwen, in his editorial to Issue #8, muses that it's a good 26 years since he and co-creator Michael Michalandos worked on an issue! Last year, it almost seemed that Tim was trying to be "the hardest working man in Australian comics"! He seems to have been at every festival and every show in the country (well, maybe except Comicstreet) in order to promote this comic. Which shows both his passion and pride in Trevor's latest episode. And with good reason! Greener Pastures #8 is a delight. Not only is it a great jump-in introduction for newer readers, but it's also a showcase for just about everyone in the comic industry to join in and celebrate the character's return/30th Anniversary. 36 black and white pages of pure fun. (With colour cover.) If you don't already own a copy, you just haven't got out enough in 2024! Here's where to hunt Tim (and/or Trevor) down... Click here.  How many creatives work in isolation, away from the maddening crowd of the comics community? I'm asking rhetorically, of course. How can we know? At the Australian Cartoonists Association's annual conference*, Dr Richard Scully introduced me to an Australian comic creative's work totally unknown to me. He supplied me with this comic (right). It's a large (210cm x 295cm) graphic novel format, almost with the same printing qualities of, say, an Asterix volume. The copy I was given had no indicia, no contact details, not a thing to indicate where it came from. How frustrating! To add to the puzzle, the pages were numbered (in the volume pictured) from 399 to 475! Old comic expression: "What th--?!" The comic is well-written, with humour overtones, and 'good girl' artwork (ie some might find it sexist in this day and age). Dr Richard eased my curiosity (somewhat) and gave me a postal address to contact the author. Just after the Christmas holiday, a small parcel (with Issues One and Two inside) arrived in the mail. Grant Barlow is the author from country Victoria, Ben Sullivan the artist. Grant says the plan is "to write Australia's biggest comic". Although he acknowledges "biggest doesn't necessarily mean the best", he's now completed about 12 volumes and is now up to "about 1000 pages so far". Grant insists that Jackie and Tiffany is a comic and not a graphic novel, and "part fiction, part memoir". We've only had one lengthy conversation on the phone, and I am sure there will be more. I'm looking forward to being able to read the other volumes and adding this series to my list of essential Australian comics. *You learn so much from ACA Conferences. If you are not a member, please consider. Get in touch and I can sent you a Membership Application Form now that I am the ACA's new Membership Secretary! Finally, the time has come to announce the 2024 Best Original Australian Comic.... One thing I like to see in comics is innovation. Or an ability to reflect the mood of a particular era. Even a willingness to expand the medium. In the past, when making this annual selection, I have chosen webcomics that I felt did that, or interactive comics that I felt spoke in human terms to me as a person, and even comics that reflected a different issue to topics normally covered. Or that educated me. The comic medium's potential remain limitless. This year, I found a special comic that struck a resounding chord with me. It also posed a dilemma. It was funded via crowd-funding, yet I didn't see it. (It chose to raise funds via Pozible rather than Kickstarter.) Another dilemma. It's indicia indicates it was published in 2023. Yet, by the time I had a copy in my hands, in early January 2024, I had already made my selection for Comicoz' Best Australian Original Comic for 2023. Not only that - dilemma upon dilemma! - by the time I had begun to formulate ideas of who to include here and who to exclude, this comic had already been placed on the Comic Arts Awards of Australia's shortlist for comics published in 2023. I felt there was no way I could ignore this publication. There is so much variety in comics being published in Australia today. Sure, there's not the ease of accessibility that the newsagents once offered. The discovery of a new comic and the reading of the wonderful array of different stories being told fills me with hope for the medium. This comic that I selected this year proved that comics can appeal to both young and old. And this one underlines the fact that it is the young people of today who are going to ensure comics continue as an artistic medium. This year's best comic encouraged that continuum. The Comicoz Award for Best Original Australian comic that I first read in 2024 is... Drum-roll, drum-roll, drum-roll....  SQUISHBOOK published by Squishface Studio and edited by David Blumenstein. Here's what the editorial page said: "Squishface Studio is a collective of comic book artists in Melbourne, and Squishbook is our first big fat book: a collection of comics, and advice about making comics for kids. We collaborated with Melbourne comics artists , writers, and Grade Two's from Kensington Primary School to put together an 'annual-style' book full of stuff any kid who loves drawing will enjoy." And that's exactly right! The large (210cm x 295cm) 84-page book contains comics, drawing tips, writing ideas, wild suggestions ... and just shares the total joy and fun in getting young people excited and engaged in the whole process. AND ... it came with stickers, a small pencil case, with pens, and more! The book covers all manner of things that even a ten-year-old Nat Karmichael would have loved!! Because that's the thing: to get more people interested in writing, drawing, creating comics, there's a need to engage with young people. Sharing comics with young people, making comics for young people, showing young people how the process works. This is THE best 'how to' book on the process of making comics. EVER.  Editor David Blumenstein just before the Avid Reader, Brisbane session in June 2024. The whole team needs to be congratulated on an exceptional comic book. I'm going to ignore the fact that the indicia states the book was published in 2023. I don't care that the book didn't win a Bronze, Silver of Gold at the recently held Comic Arts Awards in Canberra. Not only did the book share the joy of the making of comics, but there was the personal interaction with young people. Editor David Blumenstein was travelling the country sharing with the young people his book was aimed at. He arrived in Brisbane in June... perhaps disproving my earlier rant that Brisbane gets forgotten!
So, a great big Thank You to all at Squishface Studios, and all these wonderful people: Editor/Writer/Artist: David Blumenstein. Contributors: Ben Hutchings, Sarah Howell, Jo Waite, Scarlette Baccini, Briar Rolfe, Alex e Clark, Patrick Alexander, Jin Hien Lau, Ive Sorocuk, Alex Pavlotski, Nicholas J. Johnson, and Warwick Holt. (I hope I have not forgotten anyone!) While Squishbook may have 'won' the Comicoz Award this year, it's the fact that the fruits from this book won't be seen for another ten or so years, when the young creatives who have taken part in these workshops start to produce their own comics for more Australians to enjoy. That's a legacy that this comic will leave. That's why Squishbook is one of the most important comics to have been published in recent times...Australian or otherwise. Want to know when the Squishface crew are coming your way? Click here! Agree with this article? Disagree? Happy to hear your opinions! |
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.
Nat Karmichael.
In 2024, the Australian Cartoonists Association bestowed Nat the honour of The Jim Russell Award for his "outstanding contribution to Australian cartooning". He is available for public speaking. Since 2011, Nat has self-published over twelve comic-related books and many more comics. He is presently the Membership Secretary of the Australian Cartoonists Association. He is the Lead Judge in the Ledger of Honour Awards for the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (formerly the Ledgers). Nat has now retired and spends most of his time with his long-suffering wife, occasionally seeing their six children and fourteen grandchildren. He still plans to publish more comics and comic-related books, the details of which you should see here on this website in the coming months... 
Nat by Charlotte
Comicoz acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay respects to elders, past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all First Nations peoples.
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