I've just completed a review of the Emile Mercier Exhibition-Book Launch at the National Cartoon Gallery, Coffs Harbour for the Australian Cartoonists Association's next issue of their Inkspot journal. There are also some pretty pictures that I sent with the words.

In the early evening of Friday 27th July, a casually dressed man of slight build, was wandering alone in the National Cartoon Gallery. His warm brown eyes were examining the many framed Emile Mercier cartoons on the wall and was clearly a little emotional.

Michael Mercier, son of the famed cartoonist, was reflecting on some of the times he was able to recall his late father drawing some of the cartoons on display. “I can remember him clear as anything, sitting at the table at home illustrating this one”, he told me as I approached, pointing to an original. “And nearby, a small glass of whiskey!”

Michael and his wife Donna had flown up from Melbourne to attend the opening of the Exhibition of these cartoons (and on display at the NCG until 3rd October). Michael was so overwhelmed with memories of life with his father, Emile Mercier (1901-1981). He shared with all who were willing to listen of his many recollections of his dad’s work and the type of person he was, from the time he took to draw an individual cartoon (about three hours) to the antics of a passionate North Sydney rugby league fan!

A few years ago, Michael donated almost two thousand of his father’s cartoon originals to the National Cartoon Gallery, with the hope that they would be shared with the Australian public. Although there was not enough room for them all to be displayed in this exhibition, the selection at least gave an idea of the breadth of Emile Mercier’s cartooning skills. From 1949 to 1968 when he worked for the Sydney newspaper The Sun, Mercier was able to depict a way of life that no other cartoonist has since: from the inner-city Sydney wives sharing life over a fence, to the Australian preoccupation with sport, and so much more. His New Caledonian heritage clearly gave him that unique perspective.

Choosing the cartoons for a book to commemorate this exhibition was no easy task. ACA members Gary Clark, Ian Jones, Phil Judd, and Dr Richard Scully (and others) were able to pick and comment on a selection, and these cartoons were all displayed on the night. The book Emile Mercier: A Selection of Cartoons was published by Nat Karmichael’s Comicoz imprint (www.comicoz.com) with the express purpose of raising funds for the National Cartoon Gallery. The book was launched on the opening night of the exhibition.
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Lindsay Foyle, who also wrote an introduction to the book, formally opened the exhibition, and launched the book. Nat Karmichael and Margaret Cameron gave speeches, both acknowledging Michael Mercier’s generosity and Emile Mercier’s wonderful talents. As the evening wore on, Michael’s earlier emotions were overtaken by an immense sense of family pride. And rightly so. 

After a couple of problems with my web-page for a couple of months (even up to yesterday), I'm pleased to report that ... as far as I know ... things are now back to normal and working well on this site. In just over a week's time, I'm heading off to Coffs Harbour to attend the National Cartoon Gallery's launch of their book (my boook?), Emile Mercier: A Selection of Cartoons. It's going to be held on the evening of Friday, July 22nd. Yes, of course, you are invited! If you are able and would like to come, click here to obtain your tickets! Only $10 for adults (and less for seniors and children over the age of five).

​It's with great sadness that I learnt this morning of yesterday's passing of Australian comic great, Peter Foster. I wrote extensively about Peter's contribution to the comic world in a previous blog entry (you can read it by clicking here), so I won't repeat myself again here. Today, I have more personal memories, of the man he was away from the comic book history pages.

Knowing he was back in Australia, way back in the 1980s, I approached Peter with a (hair-brained?) idea of making a new newspaper comic strip, based on a character I published in one of my earlier comics - Hero Australia! I'd written the plot synopsis for about three weeks' worth of strips and was seeking someone to illustrate it. Peter politely declined. He was forever the gentleman. With his letter (because that was how we communicated in those days!) he enclosed some preliminary pages of a character he wanted to publish: The Eagle.   

​Peter's passing, in some ways, seems to be the culmination of my reflections over the past three months. My wife has not been well. Probably for the first time in many years, I have began to enjoy more of my time away from work (both my place of employment and the work that I do in front of this computer). My paid work has, in this post-COVID world we are entering, been even more busy: double shifts, overtime shifts, staff shortages. So, I suppose it's no surprise that I am enjoying time away from it.

Further, I've begun to make a conscious decision to walk away from parts of the Australian comic scene medium that I have for so long been involved in. Earlier this month, I decided to 'resign' from my position as Lead Judge in the Ledger of Honour Awards (a section of the Comic Arts Awards of Australia). I've been involved in it annually for quite some years now. I first let Dr Bruce Mutard know, before informing the others on the judging panel. And although it's some months away, I've decided not to stand on the future (2023-24) committee of the Australian Cartoonists Association when the nominations are called later this year. While it would be good to be still involved in both collectives, especially during the ACA's centenary in 2024, I feel it's time to make other plans. (You've read it here first. No-one except Carlene knew of these plans!)

I've also had to (perhaps with more reluctance than the other two positions) decided to decline the offer of curating an original comic art exhibition for the National Cartoon Gallery in 2023. I was offered this wonderful opportunity earlier this year. Most of my reasoning is because Carlene is not well. But there's also been other reflections behind these decisions. I'm now 64 years of age. Some of my comic contemporaries (and I won't name them here) are also unwell. I'm 65 years of age this year. It's time to stop - or at least slow down - and smell the roses. Relax. Enjoy life without pressure. To feel what life might be like were I retired. Read some comics. Sell some comics I know I won't read. Buy some that I have wanted to read. Spend less time on Facebook. I want to find some way of slowing down and enjoying being in the moment (although that hasn't happened at work yet).

Will I stop publishing comics? Perhaps not yet. Some of my plans still involve working on some future projects. But someday soon, I know I shall have to stop there too. 
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And perhaps that is where I should leave this post. For today, at least. 

​Comic Strip: Jason Chatfield, Gary Clark, Ian Jones, Tony Lopes, Al Rose
I was really hoping Ian Jones would win this one, this year, to break the Gary Clark-Tony Lopes domination of the last ... um, many years. Still it was not to be...
Recipient: Tony Lopes.
At least Ian can say (and did say) that he's been a finalist for the past seven years in a row...

​Editorial/Political Cartoonist: Mark Knight.

Event Cartoonist: Paul Harvey.

Illustrator: David Rowe.

Single Gag Cartoonist: Peter Player.

Jim Russell Award: Kaz Cooke.

Cartoonist of the Year (the "Golden Stanley")....
And the Finalists were: Paul Harvey, Mark Knight, Judy Nadin, David Pope, David Rowe, Cathy WIlcox.

Montague Thomas Archibald (“Monty”) Wedd (1921-2012) was an Australian comic book artist and writer (and animator) who was passionate about Australians maintaining their cultural identity, particular through the comics medium where he loved to share aspects of our country’s history, both fictional (The Scorpion, Captain Justice) and non-fiction (Captain Cook, Ned Kelly, Bold Ben Hall, The Making of a Nation).
Comicoz is a comic-centric boutique publisher, specialising in publishing both new and reprinted Australian artists’ comic works. Although most titles have been published since 2010, the publishing house – run by comic aficionado Nat Karmichael – has been releasing comics since 1988 (John Dixon’s Air Hawk Magazine, Oi Oi Oi!). Comicoz’ books are now nationally distributed to Australian booksellers and Libraries by Novella Distribution.  
The Wedd family welcome having Monty’s name associated with this publishing project, open to all Australian graphic storytellers. All details of this project will be released on 5th January (which was Monty’s birthday) 2022 by Nat Karmichael.
The idea behind the project is to select an unpublished Australian graphic novel by a local graphic storyteller. This is an ideal opportunity for an Australian graphic storyteller to realise their dream, by getting the necessary professional assistance in seeing their story published. The plan is to offer mentorship of the work by other Australian comic professionals, from the development stage right through to the final publishing and distribution of the completed book. The selection of the work chosen will be by current working Australian professionals in the comic book medium (an announcement of those selecting the work will be announced shortly) and will include an interview process.
 
What is being sought:
Australian graphic creatives willing to submit either a full script or a precis of a full script outlining a story idea that can translate into a commercially viable stand-alone 100-page graphic novel, that tells an unique tale about an aspect of Australian life.
Accompanying the above, six pages of art that will demonstrate that the graphic storyteller/s has/have an ability to artistically tell a sequential story related to the story idea proposed. (The project welcomes submissions from both artists and writers working in combination, or singular creatives who feel more comfortable writing and illustrating alone.)
Creative/s who has/have the temperament to see that the comic medium can be a marathon, and not a race quickly won.
 
What is being offered:
A date will be set to allow the creative/s time to work on a script and six pages of art based on the script.
Following which, a date will be set to select one project to be chosen by a panel of Australian comic professionals for future publication. Part of the selection process will include an interview, that may be conducted electronically or in a manner suitable for all parties.
A contract being signed by both parties to clearly enunciate the expectations and responsibilities of both parties. This may include a designated period of time to allow both parties time to complete their obligations to the other.
The ownership of copyright and all matter of intellectual property associated with the project will be owned by the creative/s. If more than one creative is involved in the project, there will be an expectation that the copyright is shared between all who work on the project (and that this is clearly documented prior to the contract being signed).
There will be up to twelve (12) hours free mentorship to the creative/s to assist in the developmental stage of the project to be taken within the first year. The payment to the professionals assisting in this mentorship for that year will be paid in full by Comicoz.
The one-time reprint rights to the completed project will be first assigned to Comicoz for a negotiated period, and aspects of the publishing will be overseen by the professional assisting the creative/s if requested.
Comicoz will publish the completed project and distributed nationally around Australia, with an initial minimum print-run of 1,000 copies.
The creative/s will not be expected to financially contribute to the project, and there will be no charge to the creative/s for professional advice offered to them by the comic professionals during the first year of the creative process to a maximum of twelve (12) hours.
 
Requirements:
Three copies of the same completed full script or three copies of a precis of a full script outlining a story idea that can translate into a commercially viable stand-alone 100-page graphic novel that tells an unique tale about an aspect of Australian life.
Three copies of six pages of art from the submitted script. Do not send original artwork.
Full name, postal address, phone, and email* contact details of all contributors related to the submitted project, with clear specifications of the division of labour within the project (that is, specifying who undertook the writing, the pencils, the inking, lettering, et cetera).
*An email address is not essential, but alternative means of being able to contact each individual creative will be required.
All material submitted must be each individual contributor’s original and not previously published work.
All contributors must own or hold the license to all necessary rights (including copyright, trademarks, intellectual property) of all materials within, and do not impinge on the copyright, trademarks, right of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property or other rights of any other person or entity.
Send all material clearly addressed to:

Comicoz-Wedd Storytelling Project
Post Office Box 187
MARGATE BEACH 4019
Queensland

​Material must arrive before last mail on Thursday, 30 June 2022.
Arrival of all material received by the deadline will be acknowledged by mail.
Material that arrives after that date will not be considered for this year’s Storytelling Project. However, given that the Comicoz-Wedd Mentored Australian Graphic Storytelling Project is (at time of writing) planned to extend annually beyond 2022, any material arriving after that date will be considered in the following year.
 
Selection:
This year’s judging panel will include Dean (Itty Bitty Bunnies in Rainbow Pixie Candy Land) Rankine and Dr Bruce (The Sacrifice, The Silence) Mutard.
The short-list of story ideas being considered is planned to be announced on the weekend of the 2021 Comic Arts Awards of Australia (presently slated to be held in Perth, Western Australia from Saturday, 6 August 2022).
The final selection will be made following online interviews with all short-listed creatives at mutually suitable times.
The creative project selected will be announced at a time to be decided (at time of writing), although it is anticipated that the decision will be made before Thursday, 5 January 2023.
The creator/s of the selected project will be offered a contract, signed by both Nat Karmichael of Comicoz and the creative/s, with the aim of clearly enunciate the expectations and responsibilities of both parties to each other as detailed earlier in this document.
The contract will be written external of Comicoz, to ensure that there is an independent and transparent process in working relationship between both parties. At time of writing, Julie Ditrich, principal of Comics Mastermind (a professional development service for Australian comic creators), has offered to write the contract.
 
Enquires:
If you have any further enquiries about the Comicoz-Wedd Mentored Australian Graphic Storytelling Project, please contact me, Nat Karmichael, by email comicoz@live.com.au or via the contact button on this website.