Best Original Australian Comic: 2025

I'm sitting down writing this blog post in somewhat of a hurry. It's not long before January 5th, when I release this page to the reading public! It's being written hurriedly as -- once again -- I am heading down south (to Victoria) to attend to family matters that won't be talked about here. (It's got nothing to do with comics.) For those who do not know, and who have never visited this blog before, I must offer an explanation...and for those who do know and have returned again (thank you!), you will have to skip a few paragraphs or just put up with my ramblings...

Every year on this date (January 5th) I share my thoughts on the comics I have read and liked over the past twelve months. Can you believe it? This is the fifteenth year I have announced my "Award" for the Best Original Australian Comic! Fifteen years! Why January 5th? It's the birth date of Monty Wedd (1921-2012), one of Australia's greatest comic creators from the Golden Age of Australian comics, and my way of remembering him. What is the Award? Well, it's a bit like Marvel Comics' "No-Prize": there's no official award, and no monetary pot of gold for the recipient. It's merely a personal subjective accolade to the creative/s within Australia's comic community to acknowledge the work they have done and that I have discovered over the past twelve months. Sometimes I 'discover' a work late, and occasionally early, so the twelve months isn't worked on a strict 1st January to 31st December 2025 timeline. Do I have biases and are my 'judgements' inconsistent? Of course! I have not been to every showcase of Australian comics (I was saddened I was not able to attend Adelaide's Papercuts Festival in September), even though Festivals and crowd-funded sites are the place I mostly learn about new comics. I also confess to not having read every comic published in Australia (I'm still waiting on my copy of Will Eisner's collection of John Law, written & illustrated by Gary Chaloner to arrive, for example). To remove some biases, however, any comic published by me (or my imprint Comicoz) is ineligible to 'win'. So, Dillon Naylor fans, or those who liked The Compete Iron Outlaw, will be disappointed.

So, who were the lovely recipients of my 'awards' in previous years? Okay... here's my list...!

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), and Red Kelso (by Gary Chaloner).  Published by Cyclone Comics.
2024: Squishbook (anthology) David Blumenstein (editor, contributor), with other contributions by 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. Published by Squishface Studio, Melbourne. ​

First of all, I feel I ought to get my most controversial selection out of the way. I'm going to 'award' the best reprinted comic to a limited-edition mini-comic that was sold in only small quantities at SCAMP (the recent Sydney Comic Arts Market Place). Now, confession: creator Rob Feldman and I shared a table at SCAMP, and I have recently published Rob's comic Fridge Boy From Space. I have also previously published works by Rob (the black and white hardcover and now-out-of-print Cartoons, Comics, and Cows in Cars way back in 2014). Within those madcap pages, you would have come across an eight-page feature called Elvis Shintaro - Samurai Detective. So, while I have published Rob's work previously, I had no hand in the printing of this publication. This is the best reprinted comic over the past year in my opinion...and sporting a brand new colour cover too to boot. (Please note: you do not need to have any working knowledge of Japanese to enjoy this comic!) Available via Rob on Instagram at @comic_Rob_art or via email at [email protected]

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My favourite overseas comic in 2025 was the first story in Issue #1100 of DC's Detective Comics, "Lost and Found". Written by Aussie Tom Taylor (and illustrated by Mikel Janin), this wordless tale was the first comic I have been able to get Mrs K -- who is not a comic reader -- to read in years. And we both agreed it was an entertaining 'read'. Highly recommended. Copies should be available (if not sold out) at your local comic shop.

There's also another comic that was originally published overseas that came to my attention in the collected trade paperback version. Godzilla: Skate or Die was published by IDW Publishing over five issues. Four best friends (and mad skaters) find a great spot to build their own skatepark. Then!... Who should make a bee-line for their park? Action aplenty in Central Australia in a fun series written and drawn by Louie Joyce. I found in this book a wonderful way to introduce young people to the joys of comics and graphic novels. I shared the collected volume as a birthday present to one of my granddaughters (age 13) later in the year. Available via all bookstores that sell Penguin Books.   

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It's pleasing to see many more publishers willing to publish longer graphic novels, and I hope the practice continues. I was late in learning about Allen & Unwin's 2024 release The Sweetness Between Us, but I could have missed it altogether. Despite the market clout that some of these big publishers have, why are so few graphic novels not publicised more widely? Or am I simply not party to the mediums that do promote this type of book? Sarah Winifred Searle has created a large (over 230 pages) story that will no doubt appeal to the teen plus audience, but one that I found appealing too. The story revolves around Perley (a recently diagnosed diabetic) and Amandine (part of a "respected vampire family"!) and the implications therein. I enjoyed this book more than I expected to. Which just goes to show, you can't judge a book by its cover (or the blurb on the back)....! Available from most book stores or from the publisher here, this book has already won some awards (none of which influenced my selection when I added it to my list of favourite books I read in the past year).

An example of how not to judge a comic by its cover!
Language Warning!

Here's a comic by "a Brisbane cartoonist and 2D animator" who always seems to find interesting things to share stories about! Matt Rice has produced a small (20-page) comic called "In Defence of a Decent 'Fuck'. I must confess that the fact it's a local product and talks about locations familiar to me and recollection of younger days (Rocking Horse Records and 1989 Brisbane), ensured that I had a bias towards this comic. Comics are, after all, a personal thing. What I find relatable, someone else may find bizarre. Still Matt, who I would imagine was not born at the time of this true story's telling, does know how to tell an engaging tale; the subtitle to the comic (A Brisbane History Comic) sums the comic up succinctly. I'm filing my copy along side the trilogy of Fitzgerald-era books by Matthew Condon, as it's an essential read for people who are concerned about the present-day increasing encroaching censorship in our lives. I'm not sure where you can pick up copies of this, and when Matt tells me I shall let you know here!   

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I want to acknowledge Frew Publications here. Rene White, Glenn Ford, and Dudley Hogarth continue to publish and have comics distributed on the Australian newsstands. While I am not a great fan of their main comic character, The Phantom (*gasp*, it's true), I do like the fact that the 'Frew crew' are supporting Aussie talent, and I often succumb to the temptation to purchase the comics when I know it contains works by Jason Paulos (whose artwork has reached another level this year), Shane Foley, Glenn Lumsden, and all. I was going to nominate a story written by Matt Kyme in this year's listing, but by the time I got around to the local newsagent the copy had already sold out. (I read it in the store and should have bought it straightaway!) I must do myself a favour in the new year and look for a copy in Frew's back issues department...

Another creative who deserves acknowledgement for his long-standing comic book work is Grant Barlow. Grant has, without fanfare or fussing, now published twelve volumes of his comic ("don't call it a graphic novel") Jackie and Tiffany and has recently reached the milestone of his 1000th page!* Certainly an achievement! The artwork throughout the series has ben carried out by Ben Sullivan, and the teamwork between the creatives has progressively become more and more seamless. I understand they collaborate on a regular basis in discussing the direction of each issue (although the impetus of the creation is driven by Grant). The individual volumes are the size of a European graphic novel (think Tintin or Asterix) and the size is the ideal size to highlight Ben's great artwork. Grant's scripts are filled with visual and literary puns (as you may see if you study the image supplied!). He plans to make the completed work read as one complete comic, and more volumes are due for release in 2026. It was a pleasure to have met Grant, this quiet, unassuming creator in his home last year. Above, I've added the back cover of the latest (twelfth) edition, which shows all the covers of the preceding eleven issues. I'm afraid that all comics in the series are not available for sale. Grant welcomes expressions of interest in his work, and you can contact him via email to talk about his work at the following email address: [email protected] 
*As I typed this, Grant informed me that he and Ben have now exceeded 1100 pages, with Volume 14 due out in about March 2026!

With Diamond Distribution going belly-up in early January (2025), there have been a noticeable increase in the number of Australian comics being available via crowd-funded sites, principally Kickstarter. There are two comics that I am going to give special mention to today. I'll discuss Knight, Volume Two first. Written by Stephen Kok, and with artwork by Razz Tsolman (illustration) and Wilson Go (colours), this is a visually lush production. Stephen has established himself as a "main man" in supporting crowd-funded projects within this country, and anyone interested in exploring this means of fundraising for a comics-created project would find themselves in good hands with his knowledge and expertise. The blurb on the back "The Owlers have taken the children to the nest as their next meal. Can Ranger make it in time to save them from being devoured?" tells it all: this is all-ages action aplenty! It's extremely well done. Gripes? A couple. Having to wait for the next installment, for one! And the lack of space in the gutter (middle) of the book (near the spine). It's something that whoever is managing production control (Stephen?) ought to be more mindful of in future. (I think I have griped about this in other Australian comics in the past; but it is a bug-bear of mine!) Information on obtaining copies can be found by contacting the publisher on [email protected]

Nightside, Issue 8. Darren Close is another Australian creative who gets enthusiastically involved (and is similarly knowledgeable) with comics crowd-funding within Australia. The credits in this issue list Darren as the "letterer", but I wouldn't be surprised it he didn't have further creative input into this 32-page comic. Written and Illustrated by long-time creator Beaumont Jardine, this black and white comic is a visual delight. (The colour cover featured was illustrated by Graeme Jackson.) Australian comic readers with good memories may remember the three-part mini-series Niteside and the Rock from the late 1980s. Beaumont (then Bodine Amerikah) always had a knack of telling a good story; these days his artwork is what drags you into the work. These clean, crisp lines are a visual treat. While some may quibble about the continued storyline (as I did with Knight), Beau has been releasing these issues on Kickstarter on a very regular basis, so that anyone can pick up back copies reasonably cheaply and read all the storyline to date. The run is planned as a nine-issue mini-series, meaning there is only one issue to go (a "double-size issue" according to the editorial notes!), presumably available on Kickstarter sometime in 2026. Something to look out for! Search out Beau's history (and PDFs of his earlier works) can be found by clicking here.

And so, here we are at the end of the day (for me), and the end of the blog (almost, for you, dear reader). As I mentioned earlier, comics are at times a very personal thing. Mrs K and I have spent more time away from home this year than in any other in recent memory. Most of the time we have been looking after other people's homes. And their dogs. It was probably made a little easier after we had 'gotten over' the loss of our little dogs, Max and Moo. Anyway, for your edification, here are all the dogs we have looked after this year:

There's something about dogs. I won't list the cats we looked after! They are not as interesting. (Cat lovers, don't be upset!) During the course of the year, I learnt of a comic that somehow allowed me to feel an emotional response to the artist's work. The comic was published in 2024. I only read it this year. It was such an emotional read, and conveyed the emotion in the illustrations within. I thought it a brilliant piece of comic writing, that all other comics I read didn't come close to hitting me with the same impact. Without further ado, the Best Original Australian Comic that I read in 2025 was....

Fanfare...

Fanfare...

Fanfare...


Kobi Dog by Fionn McCabe.

I was drawn to Fionn's work at SCAMP, where I purchased a copy of his comic "Leathery Little Saints". Unfortunately, he was having a quick break at the time, so I didn't have the opportunity to chat with him. Sadly, I didn't pick up (or read) Kobi Dog on the day either, and his website indicates the comic has now sold out (sadly). Perhaps if there is enough interest in the work, he will consider re-printing it! Of course it's a personal choice: the comic resonated with me!

Kobi Dog is a short, 20-page mini comic which tells the tale (no pun intended) of his dog Kobi, or more specifically, Fionn's reactions and thoughts at the loss of Kobi. The emotional weight of the story rests with deft brush strokes that convey the emotion (and that only a comic could convey). Does it sounds lightweight? It's not! It's one of the most powerful comics I've read in a long time. By the end of the comic, the reader almost feels as if he has known Kobi. Fionn adding an actual photo of his dog towards the end of the narrative adds further impact to the narrative. And the ending on the back cover: "He was a bit of a dingaling, but he was my dingaling." added an extra sense of poignancy to the works. 

​In short, Fionn teaches Animation and Visual Communication schools at the University of Technology in Sydney. He is a co-founder and co-producer of Read To Me (a live visual storytelling event that has now showcased the works of hundreds of local Australian artists). Details about all of Fionn's comics (and about Fionn himself) can be found on his webpage which you can access here. 

Feel free to discuss and debate or offer alternative suggestions (it's still a free country!). My Comicoz Best Original Australian Comic for 2025 is Kobi Dog by Fionn McCabe.