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2018 Stanley Awards - here are all the details!

19/10/2018

It's an absolute honour to be able to speak at this year's Stanley Conference (open to the public) with Justin Wedd, as we tell the world - well, those who are interested, at least! - about his Dad's works and the Bold Ben Hall book we have just published!

If YOU are interested in attending either the Stanley Awards and/or the conference, here are the details about where you can book:
Click here: www.cartoonists.org.au/stanleys/register/public

I'm also getting pretty excited about Jeff Keane arriving in Brisbane soon...!

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An unpaid advertisement...

15/10/2018

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If anyone gets a chance to go to this, please let me know. I was asked to shout out about it, which is what I am doing. Even though it is too far away for me to be able to attend...

MEDIA RELEASE

Comic Book Sale of Awesomeness returns to the glee of collectors and fans alike

Penney’s House of Awesomeness is hosting a one-day super sale with vintage comic books and graphic novels up for grabs.

CANBERRA, 15 October 2018 – Canberra comic book and pop culture store, Penney’s House of Awesomeness at Gungahlin Village is throwing their second annual Comic Book Sale of Awesomeness this Saturday, 21st October.

With an impressive and eclectic range of comic books and graphic novels from the 1960’s to now, fans can get their hands on these unique pieces of history. There are around 30,000 comics for sale, with 30-50% off almost all of them.

Owner and collector, James Penney, says, “The highlight of last year was setting up for our first sale, and seeing buyers drive all the way from Sydney and Newcastle. We’ve got lots going on throughout the day, with displays of extremely rare first appearances and giveaways for the kids,”

Enthusiasts will be blown away by the opportunity to see (but not purchase) rare Mega Key comics including first editions of Avengers, Green Lantern, Justice League of America, Ironman, X-Men and Hero for Hire in the flesh. There’s also first editions of Incredible Hulk and Fantastic Four (the first appearance for these characters) and Incredible Hulk #181 – the first full appearance of Wolverine.

Mr Penney has been collecting for over 30 years before deciding to sell vintage comics 18 months ago. He said, “We have investment grade books with tonnes of first appearances so you can see where the real pop culture started.
You’ll be able to see some amazing books.”

Shoppers can also snap up bargains with 20% off board games, 20% off POP! Vinyls (with the exception of Gold dot POP!, which will be 10% off) and a massive 50% off Pokémon boxes and tins.

The nostalgia doesn’t end with the impressive array of vintage collectables, as an old-fashioned jellybean jar guessing competition will see one punter go home with a $100 store voucher (and, of course, an impressive amount of jellybeans).

Customers are invited to dress up for the event, with an exclusive POP! Vinyl from Toys R Us up for grabs for the shopper deemed best dressed.

For more information, head to:
https://gungahlinvillage.com.au/whatson/comic-book-sale-awesomeness/

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When is the next AIR HAWK coming out?

7/10/2018

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Nat,
I have discovered in the past month or so that you published two Air Hawk reprint books in the past few years and I have gotten copies of both. I look forward to reading and enjoying. (The copy of the first one has an inscription and autograph from you, which is a nice bonus).
Like most comic strip fans in the USA, I discovered Air Hawk through the Menomonee Falls Gazette (I have a complete somewhat dog-eared set) and enjoyed it there; it became one of my favorites, which is saying a lot given the line-up over the years. I don't think any of the stories in your two books were reprinted in MFG; if so, they will still feel new to me now.
I even bought a daily original art many years ago from story 35 "Kamikaze" and still have it, framed.
Are there any current plans or availability of a third book? Comments both in the back of book two and on the Facebook page imply so, but those comments are two years old. Or sources to access other reprints?
Thanks for the effort put into these and into Australian comics history and preservation.

One of the many possible covers that we might use in any future volume of AIR HAWK. This one by …. can you pick who illustrated this?

Thanks for your email.
A couple of things have prevented my moving forward towards a third volume in 2019:
1) My book distributor went belly-up just over a month ago, and,
2) My agreement with the late John Dixon has expired (although I am hopeful his son and daughter - who presently own the copyright - would likely allow me to proceed).
Given time, I will publish a third volume, although I cannot say when just yet.
Out of total curiosity, I'd love to know which original of "A Dove Named Kamikaze" you obtained - John very rarely sold his originals, so your reply will be interesting.
You now have, I am sure you will agree, some of the finest examples of comic strip artistry in your possession!
I thank you for your interest, and do encourage you to follow my web-blog, because I am most likely to make the announcements here first.

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Modern day reflections on the cartoon and comic medium...

1/10/2018

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I have always wanted my Comicoz web-blog (this page, here) to be a representative recording of the modern-day Australian comic scene. With the advent and immediacy of Facebook, and some of the events happening in my personal life of late, the blog has become more reflective than a record of what's been going on. The past month, in particular.
Certainly, Dennis Jones and Associates going under really took the wind out of my sails... and my sales! It was so unexpected and totally soul-destroying for a while. And, at time of writing, I have still not found an alternative book distributor.
A great part of the reasoning for that is that my wife Carlene returned from her almost-annual southern sojourn unwell. Last year, she ended up in (Bendigo) Hospital just before her 1st November return, and this year on her arrival (in late August) I drove her straight to the Redcliffe Hospital where she had to be admitted. Earlier in the year, we had purchased a motorhome, and had made plans to take our first trip together in attending the Rotary Cartoon Awards....

As it was, I chose to drive down in my car (with much residual anxiety, knowing Carlene was not 100% well, and realising she would have to fend for herself). I felt some obligation to do so, given the Wedd Family would be present for the Friday launch of Monty Wedd's Bold Ben Hall. Even though the event wouldn't have set any world records for attendances, it was pleasing to launch it at the Bunker, now the National Cartoon Gallery.

Thanks to Lindsay Foyle for recording the events of the weekend. Photo used with permission pending. This is Justin Wedd speaking about his father, Monty Wedd at the BOLD BEN HALL launch.

The work this organisation does in promoting the cartoon arts is amazing. That they do it mostly with a band of volunteers is even more astounding and something that my beloved Australian Cartoonists Association somehow needs to emulate. I shared a room with life-long cartoon-fan Ian McCall and stayed for the Rotary Cartoon Awards, held on the Saturday night. It was pleasing to see so many members of our Association there, and being able to share the evening with some of the winners was an experience I won't quickly forget.

Out thanks to Lindsay Foyle for being thoughtful enough to preserve the memory in a photograph. The afternoon before the Awards. Left to right: Steve Panozzo, Nat Karmichael, Ian McCall, Bob from Rotary, Warren Brown, Denise Rose, Al Rose, Marie Fletcher, Roger Fletcher

I'll deliberately choose not to list all the winners here. That's a role the next Inkspot can fill. Let me say, however, that it was lovely to be able to witness first hand, Phil Judd's reaction to his wins! The cartoon of the year was topical, well rendered ...and very funny: a deserving winner! As I was mindful of Carlene being unwell, I chose not to remain in Coffs Harbour for the Sunday, even though it might have been useful to recoup some of my weekend costs at the inaugural Coffs Coast Cartoon Festival selling some of my books.

I'm pleased to report that Carlene has improved in health over the course of the month. My activities in the world of cartooning and comics has, however, been unhealthily absent. In my paying job, my Boss has suffered an accident (outside of work) and has been out of commission. As a senior staff member -- and I am not referring to my age here! -- I have had to share the leadership role with two of my other colleagues. As Carlene has improved, my work role has assumed a Monday to Friday schedule. Ideal, one would think, for being able to enjoy the fruits of the end of season football finals: but it has also meant long working hours throughout the week (from leaving for work at five in the morning to some days arriving home just as Home and Away begins at 7 p.m. in the evening).

The controversy surrounding Mark Knight's cartoon on Facebook and Twitter has been intense to say the least, and posting the cartoon on my Facebook page (and commenting on how I felt people's opinions were better vented on things that I thought more deserving of vitriol) brought many quick responses of condemnation that took me by surprise. Some people's threats to Mark and his family were totally unwarranted, and I remained (and remain) disappointed that the Committee of the Australian Cartoonists Association (of which I am a member) did not quickly rally to support a fellow cartoonist (as was done, even somewhat hesitatingly, for the late Bill Leak).
Indeed, my stance in our debates in the Committee of late have become more of the minority, and I don't know if that is because I am out of touch with modern thinking and I am no longer genuinely representing the rank and file of members' viewpoints. I did want us to canvas views of the membership about the nature of the Annual Stanley Awards Night, but my motion was vetoed and I am beginning to feel increasingly isolated in my opinions. Even Inkspot is being subjected to decisions that I am having difficulty accepting. But maybe if I can't stand the heat, I ought to get out of the kitchen? Well, that's one saying. There's also another that I subscribe to: "I pray for the strength to change what I can, the inability to accept what I cannot, and the incapacity to tell the difference!" Perhaps it's about time I started working on the next issue...if I can find the time.

One reason to keep working for the Committee: seeing Bil's son Jeff Keane at the Award Night this November.

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2018 Stanley Awards - here are all the details!

An unpaid advertisement...

When is the next AIR HAWK coming out?

Modern day reflections on the cartoon and comic medium...

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Nat Karmichael