THE CARTOONIST #10
Cartoonland news
* In this year's Good Taste Awards run by the exclusive Comics@ mailing list, Dylan Horrocks won first place in the Best Short Piece for his "There Are No Words In My Mouth" in COMIX 2000 and Roger Langridge placed second in Best Web-Published Comic for Fred The Clown. Roger does a weekly emailing of the strip for those that don't surf too much.
Just e-mail him and he'll put you on the mailing list. [email protected] www.hotelfred.com
Dylan Horrocks has just got his website www.hicksville.com up and running.
* Cornelius Stone is working on a hew anthology project called Roundabout. It involves a revolutionary attitude to small press comix production, with the contributors expected to pitch in with the dough for the production. Each contributor then gets copies of the anthology to sell, thereby ( in theory) recouping their investment.
*Lars Cawley has just released his Check the BlinkerII. It is in A4 on 100% recycled paper and with a heavy card (50% recycled) cover. It is availablein good comic shops around the country.
*Moonrocket distribution has doubled the number of New Zealand comics that they stock. For a full list of what is available go to http://rocket.samizdat.co.nz. you can also leave a review of comix that you have read.
*Officer Pupp, a new Wellington based anthology is due out soon. It will contain a mix of comix and articles. Issue one will contain works by Dylan Horrocks, Roger Langridge, Karl Wills, Martin Molloy, Jared Lane, and Glen Stewart. One of the articles will deal with the fate of the proposed anthology Linoleum.
*Karl Wills' Jessica of the Schoolyard comicstrip is now available online in 3D.
*If you have 3-D comicbook glasses you may like to "experience" the new Jessica of the Schoolyard strip now available on
www.comicbookfactory.net/comicstrips.htm Karl plans to have a fresh 'Jessica' strip up fortnightly.
*Trace Hodgson has published a collection of his "Underbelly" cartoons from the Wellington 'City Voice' They are available in a collected book though the Nelson Needle Exchange P.O. Box 1400 Nelson for $5. The cartoons look at punks, pushers, dope fiends and others in the 'underbelly' of our society in a light and affectionate way. But like all good cartoons they still take a hard look at our faults. The needle people have put little safety and health tips under each cartoon, which is a bit disconcerting, such gems as; "If you are using AA, cook it all off slowly and cool the spoon before you sniff it."
(you wouldn't want a burnt nose.)
"The more types of hepatitis you have, the worse off your liver and other body organs will be" (I did not know that).
* Lee challis has exhibited some of his comic strips in the Alleluya Cafe's front window in Kararangahape Rd, Auckland. The owner of the cafe installed the window for the purpose of displaying local art. Lee displayed the strips at the suggestion of the owner.
* The NZCC Millennium Project is virtually wrapped up. The cover is printed. We hope to have it out to people hopefully in March.
* Saul Fonos has created a model of Peter Johnstone's Earwigman. Beautifully sculpted and painted, Saul presented it to Peter earlier this year. Peter has loaned it to the NZCC to display at our meetings.
* New comix for the nzcc library include Check The Blinker II by Lars Cawley, Adult Issues by Debra Boyask (see interview and review), Little Dead Riding hood by Simon Adams (see review), Endless Plain II by Tim Molloy, Dogs by Brendon Philip and Random Licks II. Apologies to those who asked for comics from the nz collection and haven't yet received them, some titles are VERY much in demand.
SPOTLIGHT On...
Kim Casali
Hands up those that remember the "Love Is" cartoons. You still see them occasionally on old posters or trinkets in secondhand shops. These cartoons were done by New Zealander Kim Casali, Kim started drawing the cartoons for her boyfriend Roberto, in the 1960's during the 'all you need is love' era. In the 1970's she sent her cartoons to an American syndicate. The cartoons were totally different to anything being produced, and the syndicates accepted them. The cartoons were and still are syndicated around the world. Currently they appear in 100 newspapers, mostly outside the US. The sickly sweet cartoons are loathed by many but still have their legions of fans. Kim has sometimes drawn 'love is' cartoons especially for fans who have written to her. Kim Casali died last year. 'Love Is...' is now being produced by a ghost writer under the direction of her son, Peter Oakley.
INTERVIEW WITH DEBRA BOYASK
MO-Your new comic is a major departure from your previous comix- deeper, and more thought provoking
DB- No message.
MO -this could be a quick interview.
DB- It has a THEME.
MO- Oh, and what is that?
DB- It's in the title.
MO- Oh? And what was the title again?
DB- ADULT ISSUES.
MO- So the theme is...it's not a porno comic is it?
DB- No, it's not. I wanted to expand on the meaning of 'adult' issues to include all the stuff that goes with being an adult, like insurance and workplace interactions, etc.
MO- Some of the stories based on your own life are very personal, like choosing underwear, leg waxing, your own relationships, how do you feel about portraying such intimate details?
DB- I exercised restraint. It's within my comfort level. Actually it's mostly about other people. Rob was horrified that I was doing a comic within in it, mind you, my flatmates loved it, they suggest more details tout in about him. He was a bit of a liability was Rob.
MO- Some of the images are reminiscent of Robert Crumb (another Rob), are you influenced by his work?
DB- No, how do you think it is similar to his comix?
MO- Well, on the woman in 'Hair', the small head, the long strong legs, and the little trousers... what are they called, short things?
DB- Shorts?
MO- Yeah, that's it, shorts. (I meant 'hotpants', couldn't think of the word at the time though)
DB- Maybe I should send him a copy.
MO- Yeah, he'd like that, especially this story with the hairy legs. Don't give him your address though...where were we, oh yes...you are working more with other writers in this comic, why is that?
DB- I like working with other people's stories. I'm impatient, it's not so much that I have a shortage of ideas, but I find it really hard to finish things, it's like the 'Work' story , I couldn't wind it up, so I just ended it with a bang.
MO- You certainly did. Your artwork is much more controlled now, how has your style changed?
DB- I'm trying to make it cleaner, better line work. I love using my new grey pens. I'm trying hard.
MO- In 'Babies', a mysterious man with a beard gives the baby to the woman on the couch, is that meant to be God?
DB- Well, not necessarily God, but some sort of patriarchal authority figure.
MO- Your 'Soft Porn Elves' from Ancient Geeks make another appearance, are they a popular feature of your comics?
DB- Yes, apparently some of my readers would like to see a whole comic on them alone.The idea for this story came from Darren Schroeder.
MO- In 'Work', is that a cameo appearance of your famous 'Spunky' character?.
DB- Hmmm, no, it's not Spunky, if it looks like him, it just illustrates my lack of drawing variety.
MO- Maybe it's your ideal male.
DB- No, it isn't.
MO- Are you aware your initials are the same as a popular alcoholic beverage?
DB- what?
MO- never mind.
Reviews
Adult Issues $3
by Debra Boyask PO Box 1961 Christchurch.
Not 'Adultxxx' issues, but the things that truly are issues for an adult. However as these are issues seen through the eyes of Debra, they are obviously going to be femininely orientated. Buying a bra and dipilation are things I hope never to have to endure but it does give an interesting insight into the female psyche, albeit a very individual one. Debra investigates her subjects with a detached honesty and a relentless kind of logic. Other subjects tackled are religion, work, insurance and babies. 'Religion' is a four page story written by Hamish Noonan and illustrated by Debra. Most of the stories are interesting, quirky and resolve nicely, the only story that doesn't really work is, oddly enough, 'Work'. Perhaps the fact that it makes little sense is a statement on the total meaninglessness of working in an artificial environment.
My favourite story in Adult Issues would be "Babies" which is a single page strip, with a woman being given a baby by a briefly glimpsed 'authority' figure ("oh, if it were only so simple" cry all our readers that have endured childbirth) the character goes on to ... well that would spoil the story, as I'm sure everyone will be buying a copy. But it was funny, well paced, and lighthearted with an underpinning of social comment. The drawing style is clean and easy to interpret, with some use of grey. The cover features a cool chick with Bart Simpson eyes seemingly bewildered by six different people all wanting her attention to fill their needs. I guess life is like that.
Little Red Riding Hood $2.50
by Simon Adams PO Box 11283 Ellerslie Auckland.
Obviously a 'retelling' of the classic children's story Little Red Riding Hood, a cautionary tale about talking to strangers. Simon expands on the tale and empowers the little girl to defend herself when accosted by strangers and to rely on her friends and family, not some strange woodcutter. Simon also adds a little magic and weirdness along the way. The artwork is as beautifully designed as we've come to expect from Simon and has a sense of lighthearted slapstick missing from his Mobiustrip series. The story is coherently and well put together with the action scenes heavily influenced by Japanese comics. My favourite character is the little turtle guy with the big grin who 'Little Dead' discovers in grandma's bed doing something unmentionable. The back cover is nice too, with all the characters, the good guys and the bad guys, enjoying a lively gathering around the groaningboard chowing down on the 'goodies' LD had in her basket..
Retro-review
MAIDEN NZ by Peter Johnstone
This 24 page comicbook features as it's title story 'Maiden NZ' a female 'superhero', which on the surface is a pleasant simply drawn NZ tribute to standard DC and Marvel superherodom but it is also an astute social commentary, jammed with jokes, puns and witty asides, most of which fly untouched over the heads of the few punters that bother to look at comix that aren'yt full colour glossy male fantasies. Maiden NZ herself is ruebenesque amazon with hairy armpits clothed in the nz flag. In a prelude to the main story she defeats a testosterone charged GI Joe with a smack in the gob that she calls a 'chastity belt'. She then defeats an overbearing Calvinistic 'motherfigure' with a chunk of 'censorite' her home planet. In the main story, after a murder she asks 'what sort of demented fiend would poison a perfectly good cuppa !? Made in New Zealand indeed.Other stand out stories are 'River in the Kingdom Of Spiders.' this is a poignant little tale of a part of a river seperated from the whole, which takes on human shape and tries to get home and 'Observation Post Marlene' a reality challenging 'alien' story. The artwork in MAIDEN NZ is very simple and often rushed. If you use your imagination 'River' gleams transparently on a hot slinking nz summers day and you can almost smell Maiden NZ's pungent unscented odour. As Peter says on the back cover "I make no claims to "art"! I just draw because it is necessary in order to tell the story! He does so without embellishment. I would call this Peter Johnstones best. It is available for borrowing from the NZcCC library.
INTERNET STUFF
Jim Alexander of Algernon's Dilemma is setting up an event for May 5 where participating webcomics run a strip about webcomics -- the details are up to you. It could be something to make readers aware of how much work gets put into comics with no real financial gain, or about why you enjoy making webcomics, or what got you interested in webcomics, or artistic philosophising about web vs paper comics, or whatever. Just something meta where your strip that day talks about webcomics. And you'll need to put a link from your comic that day to a central links page (created by Jim) which links to all participating comics. It is not a secret event; indeed Jim hopes to get some publicity for it at non-comic websites. May 5 was chosen since it's several months away, and it's Nat'l Cartoonists Day in Yankeeland (or some such).
The event is free to all webcomics.
(info at this URL):
www.algernonsdilemma.cpm/WebAwarenessStrip.html
Jim's sample strip is about the financial aspects of webcomic making, but the subject really can be anything meta about webcomics at all.
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www.blambots.com
free fonts and balloons for small press comics
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Vincent Cleppe has a new humour site : www.humorandfun.com
It's goal will be to promote cartoonists and joke sites.
Subscribing can increase hits to your site
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COMPETITIONS
New to cartooning? The New Zealand institute Of business Studies are still sponsoring our New Cartoonist competition. Send us a cartoon and win a $55 art equipment package. Nobody sent anything last time so no winners. NZCC PO Box 13335 Christchurch.
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THE PACKAGE
My name's Steve Kerr, I'm one half of the team who do The package down in Christchurch. We're a weekly free gig guide. We feature comic art every week as well as reviews and other pop cultural type stuff.
Here's the guts:
**We'll take pretty much anything we like - there are no taboos as far as subject matter goes.
**Black & white A4 hard copies are the best - we can scan them in here in our office on Hereford Street.
**We can't offer $$ but it's pretty good exposure (2500 copies in CH, read by many more than that, plus the possibility of your art being used in Wellington as well - another 3000 copies). And we'd be happy to run an ad for the next anthology or similar publication as thanks.
Anyway, give me a ring here or and email me if you're interested. Steve
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T h e p a c k a g e
Phone: 03 3775994
Fax: 03 3775993
PO Box 13075 Christchurch
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TIN TIN IN THAILAND
Tin Tin, who is used to tracking down forgers, bootleggers and other villains has been forged himself. In a sting operation Tin Tin himself would have been proud of, three men were arrested with 600 copies of a counterfiet book called "Tin Tin In Thailand". the book depicts Tin Tin and his friends visiting gay bars in Bangkok.
The book was actually printed in Thailand in the thousands, many of which are in circulation. Moulin Art, the copyright holders of Tin Tin are looking at possible procecution.
This is not the first time an unofficial Tin Tin has appeared. Amongst others, he was parodied by Viz in 1999. Unless the authors of Tin Tin In Thailand have passed the book off as an original work, which is doubtful, given the content, then presumably 'parody' will be their defense.
THE BOUNDARIES OF SOUTHPARK
The popular animated cartoon programme Southpark is well known for it's fearless atitude to society's taboos. It has often been stated that it's the cartoonists job to expose hypocrosy for ridicule, challenge our belief systems and prick the bubble of pomposity. Much of the appeal of the show is it's shock value, but there is a lot of wit behind the bad language. So is there anything off-limits to Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the creators of southpark? Apparently, yes. In an interview last year the pair revealed they will never be making fun of Scientology and Islam. Many religions have been the the subjects of the crude and caustic cartoon but Scientology is off limits out of respect to Isaac Hayes, the voice of 'Chef' in the show. it's nice to know Parker and stone have at least heard orf the word 'respect'. As for Islam, it appears the terrible twosome are afraid a fatwa may be ordered against them. Salmon Rushdie must have told them it's not as much fun as it looks.
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The Eighteenth Aydin Dog International Cartoon Competition
organised each year by the Aydin Dogan Foundation,
will be celebrated with an award ceremony on Thursday 8th November 2001.
1)The deadline for entries is May, 21st 2001. 2)Each participant is requested to submit at least two cartoons.It is possible to participate with four cartoons maximum. The Jury,however, with the first elimination will select only two of them for the final participation.
3)Previously published cartoons may also be submitted.However, previously published or not, the cartoons must be original. Photographs, photocopies etc.will not be accepted.
4)The cartoons may be in black and white or in color.
5)The size of cartoons will not exceed 35x50cm. maximum.
6)Participants will take the necessary measures to avoid damage during the forwarding.The Foundation will not be responsible for damage which may incur in the mail.
7)The competition is open to professional and amateur cartoonists from all over the world.
8)The choice of subject is free.
9)Participants are requested to send,together with their cartoons, a short curriculum vitae and a photograph.Otherwise applications will not be accepted.
10)The Jury composed of Turkish and foreign cartoonists will meet on June,27th 2001 Wednesday.
11)The cartoons which have advanced beyond the pre-election stage shall be judged by the jury with the identities of the cartoonist and the country closed.The elimination process shall continue until only 15 cartoons are left.
12)These 15 cartoons first shall be numbered from 1 to 15.Each member of the jury shall assign a sequential score to each cartoon, 15 being the highest possible score. The cartoon with the most aggregate points shall win the grand prize. Other prizes shall be ranked in accordance with the score.
13*)The Foundation, will meet the travel expenses of the first three prize-winning cartoonists and holders of the awards of success and will accomodate them in Turkey, during the award ceremony.
14)Award-winning cartoons will not be returned to the artists.
15)The Aydin Dogan Foundation holds the right to publish, print and exhibit all cartoons sent in for the competition.
16)Cartoons which did not win awards will, upon written, be returned to the artists.
17)Participants may, if they wish to do so, leave the cartoons to the Cartoon Museum,which will be established by the Foundation. Deadline for the 18th Aydin Dogan International Cartoon Competition: 21th of May 2000 The Prizes First Prize:8000 US Dollars and the First Prize of the Aydin Dogan Foundation Second Prize:5000 US Dollars and the Second Prize of the Aydin Dogan Foundation Third Prize:3500 US Dollars and the Third Prize of the Aydin Dogan Foundation
Award of Success:300 US Dollars and the Award of Success of the Aydin Dogan
Foundation In case of equality cash prizes will be shared, furthermore, a minimum of 5 and a maximum of 12 awards of success will be granted.
AYDIN DOGAN VAKFI
Hürriyet Medya Towers 34544 Günesli Istanbul Turkey
Telephone: 0(121)-677 0760 /61 Fax: 0(212)-677 0762 e-mail: [email protected]
INTERNATIONAL SALON OF CARICATURE
This contest is open to all Cartoonists
Theme: HUMAN BEINGS AND ANIMALS Entries: max. 3 drawings. The works must be original,not exhibited or published before, without titles or subtitles and accompanied by the author's entry-form, photo and biography Size: min. A4 (210 x 297 mm) - max. A3 (297 x 420
mm) Deadline: April 1, 2001 Jury's meeting: April 24, 2001 Prizes: First Prize - 1.500 DM + trophy; Second Prize - 1.000 DM + trophy; Third Prize - 500 DM +trophy Exhibition and prize distribution: June 5,2001 . Each selected artist will receive a copy of exhibition catalogue . The works will not be returned and will be included in the "Caricature Museum of Zemun" The works should be sent to:TRAG Sindjeliceva 20 P.O.B. 74 11080 ZEMUN / YUGOSLAVIA