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BIG Thanks to our Pozible Supporters

23/12/2015

The great news to share today is to let you know that the Pozible target has been reached.
For the next TEN DAYS (at least) I want to publically thank all who contributed.
Some have chosen to remain anonymous and others selected not to take any Rewards.
Some asked to remain anonymous AND refused rewards....!
I accept that, but I know who you are; and my thanks reach out to you as well.
So, GREAT BIG THANKS to:

Jeremy Macpherson.
Trevor Clark.
Glenn Jones, Danny Nolan, Gary Chaloner, Wayne Turner, Stuart Medley, Steve Towson, Olivier Walgraffe.
Bruce Mutard, Mark Sexton, Don Mooney, Jarryd Sargent, Alan Rose, Anonymous,
Sorab Del Rio.
Cameron Davis, Ken Best, Ken Dove, Joe Douglas, Alex Hammond, Greg Gates, Matt Mcgrillen, Alyce Sarich, Don Ticchio, Anonymous, Rose Rigley, John Retallick, Martin Gammon, Lawson Peters, Dave Dye, Roger Stitson, Bernard Caleo, Ramise, Karen Beilharz, Sarah Murray, Pepi Ronalds.
Mike Cooper, Anthony Smallwood, Ian Thomas, Jackie Ryan, Daniel McKeown, Brenton Pascall, Marie Mour, Caleb Maxwell
and Frank Winter.

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In a Nostalgic Mood...

20/12/2015

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I'm presently working on a Special Nostalgia Edition of Oi Oi Oi! that will ONLY be available to Subscribers or those who committed to the Pozible Campaign. (Click here for details.) Although the Campaign has reached it's target, there are still three days to go until it closes. Still, all the work I am putting into the Special Nostalgia Edition, probably accounts for the nostalgic feelings that seems to be creeping in my bones lately. Or it is simply because it is my birthday tomorrow? Certainly a time to reflect and review the events of the past twelve months....

In the process of working on the issue, I have had to dig through my filing cabinet. This in turn, has lead to some personal discoveries, one of which I should share now (above). I have made a previous posting about Bil Keane (1922 - 2011) and his ties to my local community. This time I thought I would share a lovely letter I re-discovered last night. It's one he sent in response to a copy of my Air Hawk Magazine I sent him (given that he mentions Trundle, it would have to be Issue Four, with a five page Trundle feature inside).

I was actually in the filing cabinet trying (unsuccessfully, as it turned out) to find a self-portrait of Jim Stratmann for the magazine I am presently working on. Jim drew the illustration in 1983. I wonder how he has changed? It was only last week that - after a period of over thirty years - I was finally able to locate and get in touch with Jim. He has given me permission to use some material he supplied me all those years ago for this particular issue! I'll enclose a page below for you to read (one that I have shared with all Pozible Pledgers already).... I should keep working on it: and continue to enjoy the nostalgia it's evoking within me...

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Is Bill Leak racist?

16/12/2015

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There has been a bit of controversy about the above political cartoon that appeared in The Australian last Monday, with people suggesting the cartoonist, Bill Leak, is a racist. Here's my two cents.
I met, observed and conversed with Bill in the late 1980s when he invited me up to the newspaper studios where he worked in Sydney City. (This was in the days when cartoonists and artists worked from the offices of the newspapers they worked for, before computers were common place and certainly before cartoonists enjoyed the present-day 'luxury' of working from home.) Bill was charming, affable and had the streak of the Australian Larrikin running through his veins.
Bill related his story (no doubt told to many others) of his delight of school groups coming through the offices of the artists to see them at work. Like many cartoonists (then and now), he was a fan of Ralph Steadman's work, and whenever Bill could he used to incorporate some splatter into his cartoons. He did this by means of blowing the ink off the end of a medical syringe and onto the paper; but he told me he would often wait until the schoolchildren came in with their teacher, so that he could casually bring out his needle and syringe from his desk. He would casually draw up the ink, and all designed to horrify the teacher (and perhaps a few students too, one would hope) into believing that many Artists were (or at the very least, Bill Leak was) working for the newspapers under the influence of illegal substances injected intra-venously. Needless to say, Bill added, many teachers hurried their charges most quickly out of the Art Department....
On another occasion, at an Australian Black and White Artists Club Award Night, a fellow-Artist (and I can no longer recall who it was) had been looking forward to receiving a caricature of himself, that he had clearly commissioned Bill to draw and that he had hoped he could frame and place in his study. The work was large and in great detail, and was a magnificent representative of the person in question. Bill was just about to present it to the subject when he stopped and asked if he would like it autographed (for Bill had forgotten - intentionally or not, who knows? - to sign it). Of course, the answer was "Yes, please". Bill, with a flourish, signed it in full view of all present: "Get Fucked, Bill Leak"! The subject was stunned, no doubt somewhat disappointed by the profanity, but still took it from Bill with grace...
Is Bill racist? I doubt it. He will endure the controversy of the above cartoon with a general sense of the continuing importance of cartooning in our country, and a personal sense of having caused some mayhem. No, Bill is more a shit-stirrer than a racist.
I include another of his cartoons (below), to demonstrate my case. Or am I adding fuel to the fire? In any case, I have to go and meet Neil Matterson this morning, so I can present him with and he can sign some of his Trundle books...

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Sad New, Glad News...

14/12/2015

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The proof to Australia! -- the book to benefit beyondblue -- arrived in time for Brisbane's Supanova, and was well received by all who saw it. It is wonderfully printed, the colours look great, it is a fine looking publication. (Yes, I know I am biased: but this is really true!)
Here's the sad part -- the ship carrying the book docks in Brisbane on December 20th. My Customs Agent has told me that due to both Customs requirements and the Christmas holiday period, I should not expect to have the books delivered to Comicoz Headquarters until after the Christmas holiday period. Naturally, this is disappointing; as I really hoped everyone who wanted a copy would have one in their hands before Christmas....

The only person NOT happy that Trundle has arrived: Mrs K, who has found our garage (which doubles as her sewing room) suddenly filled with boxes of the little fellow!

Glad News Now.... The Trundle books have arrived. They are ready to ship. But before I ship them, I will be sharing the excitement of the published result with Cartoonist Neil Matterson. Neil has yet to see a copy of the proof or the finished book, so my meeting with Neil next Thursday morning will be charged with extra excitement! I may even be able to convince Neil to sign a few copies of the Trundle book! So if you'd like a personalised signed copy, better order quickly and let me know. That way I can get it to you before Christmas and you can share in all this excitement.... Click here to order.
Another means of getting your book quicker -- Brisbane readers only! -- I am appearing at the Comic Book Meet-Up at Brisbane Square Library this Friday at 5 p.m. and I shall have (signed) copies of Trundle available for sale. A great Christmas Idea: I will be selling copies there for only $20 each. Click here for more details of the event.

NOTE: If you have already ordered the combination Trundle and Australia! pack, please let me know if you would like the Trundle book sent before Santa arrives... I had advertised both would be sent together, but due to the delay in Australia! arriving, I am able to post them separately... Better one gift arrives rather than no gift, if you are sending to loved ones....

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TRUNDLE book ready for release...

8/12/2015

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Cartoonist Neil Matterson relaxes in a Friend's home....

Just in time for Christmas! Australian cartoonist Neil Matterson's hardcover book Trundle is now slated for release and available. (It is expected to be delivered from the printer ... this week!)
With over 170 pages of this nearly-forgotten pantomime comic strip feature from the late 1980s, this book will make a great Christmas gift for people of all ages. Cartoon fans, Golfers, Gardeners, Surfers, Little Australians -- All Australians!
Neil has written a fourteen page essay especially for the book, and it gives a great insight into this wonderful cartoonist: from his early pre-cartoon days, his reflections on Trundle and a whole lot more! I have yet to pass on copies of the book to Neil, so I am not going to reveal who has written the Introduction just yet!
In the next couple of weeks, I am going to seek a Distributor. (Dennis Jones and Associates, who have Distributed Comicoz' Ned Kelly by Monty Wedd book, have declined to carry it.) In the meantime, for your copy, Click on to the Comicoz store (here) to be taken to our secure Payment site...

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2015: The Year I Gave Up Sex and Began Loving My Wife....

6/12/2015

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I trust I now have your attention?

Art Copyright Frantz Kantor

Our Pozible Campaign to raise funds for a Nationally-Distributed Australian comic magazine is almost in its last two weeks. Have you made a Pledge? Have you checked out the latest Update? See the full-page work by Frantz Kantor (Art) and Andrez Bergen (Words) and see why you need to ensure you pick up this soon-to-be Classic Aussie Comic Series. Click here for more exciting details http://www.pozible.com/project/201241

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BIG Thanks to our Pozible Supporters

In a Nostalgic Mood...

Is Bill Leak racist?

Sad New, Glad News...

TRUNDLE book ready for release...

2015: The Year I Gave Up Sex and Began Loving My Wife....

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Nat Karmichael