The Comic Spot

The Final Countdown!

2012-01-27T19:59:00.000+11:00

Come along to BATMAN PARK in Northcote tomorrow at 3pm to see us record the final ever ComicSpot radio program for 3CR.

I am moving to Tassie and am super excited that we are able to say goodbye to 3CR and Melbourne in this fashion. Can't think of a better way to go out.

Details below or here, here, and here.

Hope to see you there.

PS: Don't forget to check out the older eps that have been going up at the archive at www.thecomicspot.podomatic.com

We want your 2011 Favourites? And some news...

2011-12-25T11:20:00.000+11:00

It's that time of year. Feel free to answer some or all of the following queries.

Who've been your favourite Australian cartoonists of 2011?
What've been your favourite Australian comics of 2011?
Who have you discovered in 2011?
Most memorable comics related event in 2011?
Looking forward to in 2012?
Favourite international comic and creator in 2011?

We will be PRErecording our end of year wrap up on the afternoon Wednesday 28th Dec to go to air on the following Thursday afternoon. If you would like to contribute your thoughts please do so in the following ways...

- leave a comment on thecomicspot facebook page
- tweet them to @thecomicspot
- comment at the bottom of this blog post
- send an email to thecomicspot@hotmail.com

Looking forward to hearing your views.

***********************

Also...

We are going weekly in Jan 2012 (sort of) before wrapping up Volume 1 of TheComicSpot. There will be programs on Jan 5, Jan 12, Jan 19 and finally on Feb 2 2012.

I am moving to Tasmania in a few weeks and TheComicSpot won't be continuing in it's current format. I hope to return, after settling in, to producing radio about comics in Autralia but at this stage i'm not quite sure what form the future editions will take. Keep in touch via this blog and facebook for more detail as it comes.

The final program will go to air on 3CR on Thursday Feb 2. This program will be recorded LIVE in front of (hopefully) an audience at this amazing event on Sat 28th Jan.

The Home Cooked Comics Festival

Date: Saturday 28 January
Time: 3-7pm
Location: Batman Park, corner St Georges and Arthurton Roads, Northcote.
The Home Cooked Comics Festival is a free celebration for those who loves comic books and graphic novels. There will be live music by Animaux and Squid Squad, fight choreography and comic making workshops, Kamishibai (Japanese ‘paper drama’) and the Allen & Unwin Comics Quiz Show.

Special Events

The ComicSpot!
3pm. A live podcast. Come and be a part of a 3CR radio program about Australian comics and comics culture in Australia.
The Comic Parade
6pm. Dress up as your favourite comic book character (or make one up) and take part in a parade.

Squishface, News & Stuff - 16.12.2011

2011-12-16T10:35:00.000+11:00

Squishface!!

Ben Hutchings has set up Squishface Studio in Brunswick. I went along for a chat (listen at link below in News & Stuff) and took some pics. I posted them on the TheComicSpot facebook page. Go on... i'll be here when you get back.

309 Victoria St, Brunswick.

If you can't get along yourself you can see this video I took...

News & Stuff!!

1 - The latest episode of TheComicSpot featuring Ive Sorocuk talking comics and Ben Hutchings talking Squishface downloadable here.

2 - Other archived episodes from earlier this year have been added to the TheComicSpot arcvhives. Catch up here.

3 -Paul Gravett has a long chat with Shaun Tan. A pleasure to read both gentlemen. I wish i was as erudite and educated as PG.

4 - Into Mario cart? Bragging? Making comics? Putting down others who are crap at thumb driving pretend cars? There's soon to be a comic for you.

5 - The Beginnings Anthology raised all the money they need to print the book. Well done. Look forward to getting my copy.

6 - Have you read Academaesthetics? Shane W Smith's comic is a really engaging investigation of how comics and essays can work together. I first read it a few years ago but it's been on my mind lately. This has lingered.

7 - I just discovered Red Tails. I like what I see and hope to find out more.

8 - Filka has posted some beautiful sketches lately.

9 - Jen Breach and Arran McKenna present Emelia: Year One. Bookmark it.

That's no way to treat a lady.

10 - Toby's drawings make me want to have baby.

That;s it for now.

Also some big news to announce soon. Will do in the next week or so.

News and Stuff - 28.11.11

2011-11-28T22:27:00.000+11:00

1 and 2 and a 1 2 3 4

Tim Molloy new collection. Out in Feb 2012.

1. It Shines and Shakes and Laughs! So will I when i get my hands on it.

2. Introducing Lani Fernance. A nice start on her blog and good to see more women posting comics online.

3. TRAILS is happening on December 2. Go along and draw.

4. At Lines on Paper Matt Emery clues us all in on Kiwi legend Russell Clark.

5. Mirranda Burton prints a 'self portrait with a beetle'. The residency at Dunmoochin is going well. Check out Mirranda and Dunmoochin in this article with gorgeous images.

Queenie Chan previews some new work.

6. Queenie Chan must be one of the best selling comic artists in Australia. Her collaborations with Dean Koontz fly off shelves. She shares some art from another new non Koontz work at her site. She also crochets!

7. Go and support the Beginnings Anthology at indiegogo by preordering a comic. This looks like a great initiative from the regulars from the ACT comics meet. Good luck getting the backing guys. More tidbits about Beginnings at their blog.

Brunswick will never be the same. Australia's First Open Comic Artists Studio.

8. Ben Hutchings has put his money where his mouth is and started Squishface Comic Studio. It has a shopfront too i hear. If you want an affordable studio space to draw comics in then contact Ben and find out all you need to know. Huge congrats to Ben for biting the bullet. We'll talk to him on an upcoming episode of the program and get the goss. This is a big deal.

9. Uncle Neale lets us all know about Aftershock. As the Big Issue always used to say, 'not just a good deed but a good read'.

10. David Blumenstein on the art or indeed the artlessness of shilling through social media.

11. Mumblier is having guest strips. Very good lineup so far with more to come. YAY!

12. Sam Wallmans 'Being Born os Going Blind' will be launched on Satuday 3rd Dec but if you can't make it then BUY ONE NOW. You'll hate yourself forever if you miss out on one.

13. The final 2011 Melbourne Comics Meetup is happening this Saturday 3rd Dec too. Say Fare thee well to Greg Gates before he jets off to Adelaide. You can hear TheComicSpot in conversation with Greg here too.

That's all folks.

News and Stuff.

2011-11-21T19:10:00.004+11:00

1.Anton Emdin won the GOLD STANLEY!!! Well done and well deserved.

2. Other people won Stanley Awards too.

3. Bobby N faithfully records the Melbourne comic meets. Well done Bobby. The final meet for the year is Saturday November 26. Get along.

4. Food Funnies from Ben Juers. If I did eat duck I wouldn't eat Dapper.

5. Matthew Dunn has another book of his art out. Really makes me want to look at Lonely Monsters again.

6. Maude Farrugia on the way freedom is used to reduce freedom. Nicely put.

7. I've starting posting archived episodes to TheComicSpot's podomatic site again. Subscribe to the archives on iTunes for an episode every few days for the next few weeks.

8. Paul Gravett on David B. Ahhhhh.... sigh. Epileptic is a mastepeice.

Cheerio.

Weekly linkage.

2011-11-14T18:58:00.000+11:00

In an effort to keep this blog regular let's start a weekly linkage list that i've come across in my virtual travels.

If you have anything of interest then leave a comment or send it to thecomicspot(at)hotmail.com.

1. NZ expat Toby Morris (whose Great Gran comic I loved) has a collection of his Amsterdam drawings back in print. Latest pics of life with a new baby here and products for sale here.

2. Sam Wallman has a new book on the way. Sign me up already.

3. FEC Comics is having a bash on 25th November. Go along to by a copy of Kranburn. And listen to the next show of TheComicSpot or 3CR on the 24th of Nov for an interview with the managing editior of FEC.

4. Bernard Caleo (Melbourne comics MC and ComicSpot co-host) is blogging of the events of the writers festival. His blog is always worth a look.

Bower Bird by Ben Juers. Visit his blog.

5. Thanks to Pat Grant I've just discovered Ben Juers. We will talk to him on the show before the year is out. Looking forward to it and his POV on CCS in particular. Thanks Pat.

And that's your lot.

Cheerio.