There are so many Life backstories that go behind the publishing of any particular comic book, that sometimes there just doesn't seem to be the time to find to share them all here ...or on my Nat Karmichael (comicoz) Facebook page. Since I headed off to Adelaide's Papercuts Comic Festival, I've been meaning to share some of the adventures Life has thrown at me (and some that I have thrown myself into!). I wanted to share the stories of the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (my acceptance speech for Steve Carter and Antoinette Rydyr's Ledger of Honour Award), my presenting it to them when I visited Melbourne soon after for the Australian Cartoonists Association's Stanley Awards (where I got to make another speech, when I announced the recipient of the Comic Strip Cartoonist of the Year*), and ... oh, so many other things! But, time waits for no man. And anyone reading these pages seeking enlightenment - or at least photos of these events - will be sorely disappointed. I feel to dwell on the past, limits the opportunity to speak of future projects. *It was Gary Clark. So today, tonight I thought I would at least share with you, dear reader, something I have not yet shared elsewhere or to anyone ... until now! On my birthday (three days ago), I received a phone call from Justin Wedd. It seems that the family have now agreed that if Justin wants to engage in any further publishing of his Dad Monty's works, that he can now do so. What does this mean? It means that there is a good possibility that the following series ... ...may yet see print. HOWEVER, it seems there are no original art pages available. This is a great pity, as the comic was highly censored when it appeared in the newsagents of the day. Which may mean, the book will have to carry all hallmarks of that less-than enlightened age. I was hoping a page showing the original artwork (perhaps alongside the published page) might have proved educational. But, alas, it may not be. Still, better to see the book in print, than never at all (as I was contemplating earlier this year)...
I'm also working (still!) on the Air Hawk comic, one by Rob Feldman, and the Complete Iron Outlaw, and the Complete *TOP SECRET* book (I have yet to pay the royalties for this one, so I don't want to announce this one until ... a little later). This *TOP SECRET* book marks a bit of a departure for my publishing arm, but more of that later. I'm also hoping to work with another publisher on an anthology of female cartoonists, that I feel I have dropped the ball on (due to other things that I didn't even mention in the first paragraph**). **There are so many personal things that never seem to get mentioned in these pages. And, for once, I suppose, I am pleased I can gloss over them so easily here. It wasn't so easy to do so in real life, I must say! You can read about one such public venture (adventure?) by clicking here. In the meantime, it's that time of the year when I must start contemplating what Australian comics I ought to consider for the Comicoz Best Australian Original Comic of 2023 Award. I'm a little blessed this year: I have had more time to read more comics, and presently am off sick (*Sigh* Influenza A) from work. So, I have more time to contemplate my decision that I shall make on the 5th January. There have been a lot of books published over the year, a lot of nice work, and (I am certain) many that I have not had opportunity to read... So, until I come back, I trust you all have a Merry Christmas and here's to a great publishing year in 2024.... |
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.
Since 2011, Nat has self-published over twelve comic-related books and was Publisher-Editor of Oi Oi Oi! -- the last series of nationally-distributed comic books of original stories to appear on Australian newsstands. He is a member of the Australian Cartoonists Association and edited the Association's journal Inkspot for 14 issues from late 2015. He remains the Lead Judge in the Ledger of Honour Awards for the Comic Arts Awards of Australia (formerly the Ledgers). Nat has now retired from his former occupation as a Clinical Nurse in the Psychiatric Emergency Centre in Queensland's largest public hospital, so that he can spend more time with his long-suffering wife and 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 in the coming months... 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.
Archives
October 2024
Quick LinksAustralian Publications since 1976:
1 x Poster 19 x comics (one a co-production with Cyclone Comics in 1988/9, one a co-production with Cowtown Comics in 2022) 2 x Paperback books 10 x Hardcover books All Australian! |