Over the moon to have Kid Phantom (an Australian comic) front and centre of the Animation department for Griffith Film School.
Since I've trained ten hours over last night and today, and I have to fight tomorrow, I'm tired, so this is all I have to document right this moment. Cheers :)
Recently spoke on a panel as part of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art "Marvel Cinematic Universe" exhibition:
Professor Jason Bainbridge - Head of the School of Communication, University of South Australia
Ryan Griffen - Creator of the sci-fi television series Cleverman
Dr Naja Later - Sessional Lecturer in Culture and Communication, University of Melbourne, and Sessional Academic, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne
Dr Paul Mason - Lecturer in Art Direction, Griffith Film School, and comic book illustrator on Kid Phantom (Frew Publications)
Chair: Scott Stephens – Presenter The Minefield and the ABC Religion and Ethics Editor, ABC Online
For those 'Kid Phantom Phans' curious, there are 2 x Lee Falk era comic strip stories that chronicle 'The Childhood of the Phantom', for which Kid Phantom is "respectfully" based (along with the Avon novel "The Story of The Phantom", which Falk declares the definitive origin of the 21st Phantom), and of course, our own updating and expanding of the stories (written by Andrew Constant). Much of this you began to see in 2, and will see more of in issue 3, which is one story told between the journey from Bangalla to the US)
For the completists, Frew Publications have for sale the annuals that contain both Sunday strips. The first (1944 - 1945)can be found in #1063, and the second (which follows the events of the novel a little closer) in issue #1280 (from the 1959 story). There have been a few reprints over the years, some feature Young Kit in full costume, not actually depicted in the stories at all, past the 6 year old running in the fields.
Both stories have various interesting differences in events, characterisations, even Kit's haircut :P No Spoiler, suss out and see for yourself, and read Kid Phantom #1 and 2 to see where we've paid our respects, and updated for an all-ages audience.
I was lucky enough to pick up the Hermes Press US hardcover colour version of the 1944 story, will hopefully find a 1959 colour version one day.
Check out www.phantomcomic.com.au for all the available Frew Phantom latest stuff and back issues!
Did not realise until an email, Kid Phantom comic news in the local last week, was front page #slownewsday Another bird photo, basically :D pic.twitter.com/K2HxP2C2mW
Was a pleasure to see all the kids and parents getting onboard with The Phantom, and reading the comics. Thank you again to GM Moore and Taekwon-do Lutwyche for the great Saturday morning.
Also earlier in the month:
Liverpool Library coverage from Chronicle Chamber website:
These are the same, but you get the idea. Very kind words from Griffith University, and many thanks to the Griffith Film School, Queensland College of Art, Louise Crossen, and the GU media team, plus Sophie and the Blue Planet team for all of the recent coverage related to Kid Phantom. It's very kind.
Here's the article, and no, I clearly know Jack Kirby didn't draw The Phantom comics (he did do concept art for a never-aired Phantom cartoon though.) :P
Looking forward to my boss, and editor Glenn Ford's curated talk, on the night of the Sydney launch of Kid Phantom. I've seen all the pieces at my recent trip to Frew HQ, and they're fantastic! Not to be missed.
Rather than 6 separate, obnoxious posts, here's one big one. I attempt to counter-act the douchebaggery with a picture of my office supervisors, Rosie, and Cheesel...
Ok, didn't work. Never mind. Just an onslaught of various press-coverage to help my boss sell books, and allow me to keep paying the rent. Ans when I'm old(er) and grey, I can look back and go "What's a podcast?"
Anyways....
Click on a link if you're curious to listen or read, for all of your Kid Phantom-related behind-the-scenes, stuff etc. in the lead up to issue 2 dropping this weekend.
"In the lead up to Melbourne Oz Comic-Con this weekend, I chat to Pete and Dan of Game On Australia (episode 38) about Frew Publications KID PHANTOM, by Andrew Constant and I. (My jibberish starts about 26 mins. in, after all the great gaming news).
Special thanks to Pete, Dan, OCC and Blue Planet :D
The podcast is also available on iTunes, and also on QANTAS and Jetstar domestic and international flights. So, if you're having trouble sleeping on your journey, I suggest listening to me for a moment. Problem solved ;D "
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Article: Chronicle Chamber re: Kid Phantom creators at Melbourne OZ Comic-Con:
[Podcast] Chronicle Chamber X-Band: The Phantom Podcast (Episode 68): Recap of the Lee Falk Memorial Bengali Expoloers Club Dinner:
"Ep 68 of the X-Band Phantom podcast is up, with the Gents recording my waffle...err...Speech at the Lee Falk Memorial Dinner (LFMBEC) (about the 13:05 min mark).
I must echo Terry's words of thanks again to Richard and Dr Di Dio's, and everyone involved in organising the annual charity event.
But as a Frew team member, and a "phan" of the Phantom, I absolutely loved and empathised with Frew Publisher Dudley Hogarth's passionate 5min comments on the night that kick off from the 40:10 min mark.
Cheers everyone, and Dan, Jermayn and Stephen's efforts in covering Phantom news around the world."
"Where I try, and somewhat fall, to *NOT* sound like a d*** :P Anyways, Many thanks to David Hunter at The Iris @The AU Review for his hard work in conducting and transcribing this interview in the lead up to this weekend's Melbourne Oz Comic-Con, and launch of Frew Publications KID PHANTOM #2, with writer Andrew Constant and I."
A post shared by Josiah McGarvie (@josiahmcgarvie) on
Big thank you to Josiah McGarvie for his cool series of short doco subjects, touching on creatives. Here's one where I talk nonsense and scribble Kid Phantom covers. Cheers!
Just a quick one, it's 2:30 am and I have pages to draw and uni admin to deal with (so the usual). I really just wanted to give a huge thank you to a stream of people for the previous weekend. If I miss names, I apologise- I'm great with faces, not so good with learning so many names in such a short space of time, without much sleep. Rest assure, you're all fantastic. Thank you.
Thank you to all the attendees of the LFMBEC annual dinner, for putting up with my stammering thru the dinner speech (which clearly didn't have an exit plan by the end of it), and being so open and warm to me, my partner Amanda, my proud Mum and my cousin Barry (and thank you to them for coming along to show their support and love. Very grateful to share that with them). My brother-from-another-mother Matt, from Australian team TKD days, surprised me on the night and made me tear up; fantastic to see you too.
To the Frew crew, and fellow Phantom scribblers such as Antonio, Shane, Jamie, Jeremy, Jason, Christopher, Chewie, and my collaborator Andrew Constant, cheers for the laughs, and those who came to the dinner, support also. My bosses Glenn and Rene were fantastic all weekend, and I'm also thankful to them for having me along at the Frew booth this weekend, allowing me to support them, the Phantom products and Kid Phantom (and shout outs to Dudley, Frank and (spelling test!) Shia.
To Cath Brinkley, I know you put a good word in for me with the organisers too, very kind, and those that decked the place out with Kid Phantom-themed napkins, coasters and table mats (Joy and Bradley Peach; and the Gifts! So, so kind. Cheers mate!).
To Richard Fry and Dr. Antonio Di Dio for inviting me to speak at the dinner, and being warm and gracious hosts, as well as Bronwyn and her lovely dinner guests on the Friday night, who travelled as far away as New Zealand, WA, Darwin, NSW; good people. Thank you for the chats and lovely to meet you. To the loyal phans of the Phantom who attended the Dinner on Saturday with your kind words of praise and acceptance of the book; was great chatting with you all, and meeting you briefly. I'm sure we'll talk more in the future as we go. Cheers to you ladies and gents, such as the long-supporting gents from Chronicle Chamber; Dan and Jermayn (thanks as always gents!), as well as Terry, Simon, Gary, Jon, Kezia, Lisa, Keith, Chris, Steve, Jules, and at the show, Phillip, Sean, Frank, Paul...man, too many to mention. Everyone that I spoke to who visited the booth or I talked to at the dinner was fantastic. I'm going to assume it's the values instilled by the Phantom. Special mention too my my friends Tom Taylor, Queen Chan, and Dean Rankine who yelled at me hello as they walked by, apologies to Wolf Byslma and Ryan Griffen who I said I'd try to visit, but just couldn't with the time, and Ryan Lindsay and his boy Parker who came by for a Comic and sketch. Very cool of you all, and looking forward to catching up proper soon.
I'm going to cherish that weekend as long as I can remember, as I'm guessing in relation to anyone caring about what I scribble on my drawing board at 3am most days, it's the most positivity I've ever gotten for what I do, and odds are, perhaps the most I could ever hope for again.that 15 minute clock is ticking away fast, so all I can do is return to work and continue on.
Anyways, Thank you! Together with the sketches we raised quite a bit of money- I have no idea the final total, but a few of my sketches in the main auction went for $300-$400 each, so I'm touched, and I hope the Westmead Children's hospital appreciates your generosity as much as I do.
That's enough out of me, I gotta keep motoring. Cheers all!
As well as USQ Bookcase/Writers' Festival in Toowoomba next month, I'll be flying down to Sydney to Liverpool library to conduct a series of workshops and panels, culminating with a Frew panel, and the Sydney launch of KID PHANTOM #2, alongside writer Andrew Constant and editor and co-director of Frew Publications, Glenn Ford.
The events I'll be participating in are as follows (and thank you to organiser Julie Diritch and Judith Ridge of Liverpool library for inviting me)
BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL EVENTS (FREE):
Tuesday 11 July 2017 from 6:00 – 7:30pm Suitable for 13+.
The Continental Divide: Visual Storytelling from Around the World
THOMAS CAMPI Thomas Campi is an award-winning Italian graphic novelist, residing in Sydney, Australia. Thomas has been drawing comics for over 17 years, and his work has been published in Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Canada, Brazil, and Korea. He is currently working in collaboration with Julian Voloj on Joe Shuster a graphic novel about the creators of Superman, which will be published in seven languages at the end of the year.
QUEENIE CHAN Queenie Chan is an Australian manga-style comic book artist based in Sydney. Her published works include The Dreaming, the Odd Thomas graphic novels (illustrator, written by Dean Koontz), Small Shen (illustrator, written by Kylie Chan), and the Fabled Kingdom series.
PAUL MASON Dr Paul Mason (DVA) is a comic book illustrator, writer, and lecturer in art direction, animation preproduction and visual story at the Griffith Film School, Griffith University. He is the illustrator of Kid Phantom—a new, national newsstand comic book series for Frew Publications, featuring an all-ages take on the classic comic strip character, The Phantom. Paul is also the creator of The Soldier Legacy—an Australian action-adventure comic book series.
Wednesday 12 July 2017 from 2:00 – 3:30pm Suitable for 8 – 12 year olds
COMPETITION: Comics Sketch-a-thon
Four teams of kids, headed by Aussie comic artist coaches Brenton E McKenna, Dr Paul Mason, Marcelo Baez and Matthew Lin, compete against each other in a series of comics drawing challenges.
Biographies:
MARCELO BAEZ Marcelo Baez works as a professional freelance illustrator and comics artist in Australia and overseas. His clients include international companies such as Marvel, Time Inc, Event Cinemas, Frew Publishing, Hardie Grant Egmont, Microsoft, Scholastic, Stone Arch books, and many more. Marcelo is represented in the US by Shannon Associates New York. www.instagram.com/marcelodraws
MATTHEW LIN Matthew Lin is an accomplished illustrator and graphic designer who illustrates books, comics, and cartoons. Matt has illustrated and designed books/magazines/comics for Australian publishers Blake, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillian and Scholastic, as well as for US publishers Trillium and McGraw-Hill.
PAUL MASON Dr Paul Mason (DVA) is a comic book illustrator, writer, and lecturer in art direction, animation preproduction and visual story at the Griffith Film School, Griffith University. He is the illustrator of Kid Phantom—a new, national newsstand comic book series for Frew Publications, featuring an all-ages take on the classic comic strip character, The Phantom. Paul is also the creator of The Soldier Legacy—an Australian action-adventure comic book series.
BRENTON E McKENNA Brenton E. McKenna is a young Yawuru artist and writer from Broome, WA, best known for his graphic novel trilogy – Ubby’s Underdogs – Heroes Beginnings and The Legend of the Phoenix Dragon, which were pubished by Magabala Books. He is nearing completion of the third book Return of the Dragon, which will be published in 2018.
Thursday 13 July 2017 from 10:30am – 12:00pm Suitable for 13+
Kapow! Biff! Boom! How to Create Action Scenes in Comic Books and Graphic Novels
Learn how to make action scenes come alive in sequential art with martial artists and graphic novelists Brenton E McKenna and Dr Paul Mason.
Biographies:
PAUL MASON Dr Paul Mason (DVA) is a comic book illustrator, writer, and lecturer in art direction, animation preproduction and visual story at the Griffith Film School, Griffith University. He is the illustrator of Kid Phantom—a new, national newsstand comic book series for Frew Publications, featuring an all-ages take on the classic comic strip character, The Phantom. Paul is also the creator of The Soldier Legacy—an Australian action-adventure comic book series.
BRENTON E McKENNA Brenton E. McKenna is a young Yawuru artist and writer from Broome, WA, best known for his graphic novel trilogy – Ubby’s Underdogs – Heroes Beginnings and The Legend of the Phoenix Dragon, which were pubished by Magabala Books. He is nearing completion of the third book Return of the Dragon, which will be published in 2018.
Highly acclaimed comic book writer, Andrew Constant, is now leading Kid Phantom in his travels in an all new all ages comic book. Andrew also has many other critically praised comic book titles through Gestalt Publishing, with other books soon to be released through well-known overseas publishers. Andrew currently has several film and TV projects in development.
Glenn Ford is a graphic designer, illustrator and comic book artist. Since 1990, Glenn has drawn multiple The Phantom covers, including the first digital comic cover in the world—Issue #1000. Glenn has also worked in television and film as a designer, animator, producer and director and worked on the 1996 Phantom movie. He is now the co-owner of Frew Publications that publishes The Phantom comics in the Australian market.
Dr Paul Mason (DVA) is a comic book illustrator, writer, and lecturer in art direction, animation preproduction and visual story at the Griffith Film School, Griffith University. He is the illustrator of Kid Phantom—a new, national newsstand comic book series for Frew Publications, featuring an all-ages take on the classic comic strip character, The Phantom. Paul is also the creator of The Soldier Legacy—an Australian action-adventure comic book series.
Meet the publisher and creators behind the new Kid Phantom and Phantom by Gaslight comic book series: Glenn Ford, Jason Paulos, Dr Paul Mason and Andrew Constant.
Highly acclaimed comic book writer, Andrew Constant, is now leading Kid Phantom in his travels in an all new all ages comic book. Andrew also has many other critically praised comic book titles through Gestalt Publishing, with other books soon to be released through well-known overseas publishers. Andrew currently has several film and TV projects in development.
Glenn Ford is a graphic designer, illustrator and comic book artist. Since 1990, Glenn has drawn multiple The Phantom covers, including the first digital comic cover in the world—Issue #1000. Glenn has also worked in television and film as a designer, animator, producer and director and worked on the 1996 Phantom movie. He is now the co-owner of Frew Publications that publishes The Phantom comics in the Australian market.
Dr Paul Mason (DVA) is a comic book illustrator, writer, and lecturer in art direction, animation preproduction and visual story at the Griffith Film School, Griffith University. He is the illustrator of Kid Phantom—a new, national newsstand comic book series for Frew Publications, featuring an all-ages take on the classic comic strip character, The Phantom. Paul is also the creator of The Soldier Legacy—an Australian action-adventure comic book series.
Jason Paulos has been writing, drawing and publishing comics since 1989 with professional credits including Green Lantern, Australian Mad, Judge Dredd Megazine and Heavy Metal. He’s the creator of Hairbutt the Hippo and The Harlequin, as well as his horror graphic novel anthology entitled EEEK!.
More Kid Phantom-related stuff now available online via Frew Publications, including Poster, signed copies of Kid Phantom #1, and signed copies of the 52 page 'Work in Progress" Book for the comic book process junkies that want to see how the series came together.
That book is printed by long-time 'Soldier Legacy' printers JEFFRIES PRINTING SERVICES: You're nuts if you use anybody else.
