Comics Workshop at State Library of Queensland!

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/whats-on/calevents/children_and_families/children/CAM2013/comics

On the January school holidays in 2013, I be taking 2 x 2 hour Comic Making workshops, thanks to the good people at the State Library of Queensland, as part of their annual Cartoon, Animation and Manga workshop series  :D The 2 week period also has my friend Paul Lalo of OzAnimate taking Animation classes too.

Re: my stint, from the SLQ website:

"Ever wanted to make your own comic book or graphic novel? Learn the language of visual storytelling in comics and develop the skills it takes to put together a comic book. Take your ideas from scribbles to panels on a comic page!

Workshops will be held on:

• Tue 15 Jan, 2pm-4pm – for ages 12-16
• Fri 18 Jan, 2pm-4pm – for ages 9-12

All materials are supplied. Comics workshop participants also take home a sketch pad, pencils and pencil case.

Workshop presenter: Paul Mason
Paul is a comic book illustrator and creator of The Soldier Legacy comic series, published by Black House comics. Paul also lectures ‘Visual Story’ at Queensland College of Art as part of the Bachelor of Animation program for the Griffith Film School.

Download information for parents and a consent form. The consent form is to be handed in when you sign your child into their first course.

This workshop is part of SLQ’s Cartoon, Animation and Manga workshop series. There are two workshops each day and discounts are available for full day bookings. Check out the full program."

Starts:

15th Jan 2013 2:00pm-4:00pm

Runs:

Every 3 days, until 18th Jan 2013

Venue:

State Library of Queensland, Stanley Place, South Bank, South Brisbane

Cost:

$28 (includes all materials)

Bookings:

qtix.com.au 136 246

More information:

Literacy and Young People's Service
07 3842 9021
lyps@slq.qld.gov.au

Shanna the She-Devil commission: Process-ish

Not normally a cheese cake artist, but since I draw plenty of dudes with shirts off, (albeit, bandaged, bloody, dirty, and under gun fire), I thought it would be ok if I took on a "cheese cakey" commission for Shanna the She-Devil. I like the "Olympic-level athleticism" characters of the Marvel U, so tried to make her Amazonian-looking, and like she could actually do some damage. Whether it sells like that, I dunno. But comic poses with an incorrect context, and super-impractical body types is a pet peev of mine, so hopefully, I did the character some justice.

"Gone, gone, the form of man..." Etrigan the Demon commission

Etrigan Commission. You can't go past a request for a Jack Kirby character ;D

Thanks to Jason Garrattley of the awesome 'Kirby-Vision' blog for uploading it, via the Jack Kirby Museum and research centre. Stoked!

http://kirbymuseum.org/blogs/kirby-vision/2012/11/26/the-demon-7/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=facebook

I try to make sure the image is still "readable" by knocking the lines out. Also, setting it to black and white to check values helps heaps. Still learning, still practicing, soldiering on :)

On this day: November 24th, 1943- an inspiration to 'The Soldier Legacy'.

On this day, November 24th, 1943, Lt. Thomas "Diver" Derrick, of the 9th Division A.I.F, was awarded the Victoria cross in Sattleberg, New Guinea; the highest military award a soldier can receive in the Commonwealth, for acts of bravery in war time. http://www.pacificwrecks.com/valor/vc/derrick.html

Reg Saunders and Thomas Derrick

When originally researching for a type of character, and war time period/setting to base my comic book, Sgt. Derrick drew my attention, for his long service in the 9th, and his distinguished military history in the Battle of El Alamein, and in New Guinea. His citation in the London gazette read:

"Government House, Canberra. 23rd March 1944.

The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS to:-

Sergeant Thomas Currie Derrick, D.C.M., Australian Military Forces.

For most conspicuous courage, outstanding leadership and devotion to duty during the final assault on Sattelberg in November, 1943.

On 24th November, 1943, a company of an Australian Infantry Battalion was ordered to outflank a strong enemy position sited on a precipitous cliff-face and then to attack a feature 150 yards from the township of Sattelberg. Sergeant Derrick was in command of his platoon of the company. Due to the nature of the country, the only possible approach to the town lay through an open kunai patch situated directly beneath the top of the cliffs. Over a period of two hours many attempts were made by our troops to clamber up the slopes to their objective, but on each occasion the enemy prevented success with intense machine-gun fire and grenades.

Shortly before last light it appeared that it would be impossible to reach the objective or even to hold the ground already occupied and the company was ordered to retire. On receipt of this order, Sergeant Derrick, displaying dogged tenacity, requested one last attempt to reach the objective. His request was granted.

Moving ahead of his forward section he personally destroyed, with grenades, an enemy post which had been holding up this section. He then ordered his second section around on the right flank. This section came under heavy fire from light machine-guns and grenades from, six enemy posts. Without regard for personal safety he clambered forward well ahead of the leading men of the section and hurled grenade after grenade, so completely demoralising the enemy that they fled leaving weapons and grenades. By this action alone the company was able to gain its first foothold on the precipitous ground.

Not content with the work already done, he returned to the first section, and together with the third section of his platoon advanced to deal with the three remaining posts in the area. On four separate occasions he dashed forward and threw grenades at a range of six to eight yards until these positions were finally silenced.

In all, Sergeant Derrick had reduced ten enemy posts. From the vital ground he had captured the remainder of the Battalion moved on to capture Sattelberg the following morning.

Undoubtedly Sergeant Derrick's fine leadership and refusal to admit defeat, in the face of a seemingly impossible situation, resulted in the capture of Sattelberg. His outstanding gallantry, thoroughness and devotion to duty were an inspiration not only to his platoon and company but to the whole Battalion."

"We could see Diver standing in the carrier, Tommy gun in hand, the top half of his body exposed. It was like a chap riding a horse into a hail of fire. You could hear the bullets splattering off the metal sides of the carrier. I thought, "God, he'll never come out of that."

Private Joe Ratta" 

Macklin, Robert (2008). Bravest: How some of Australia's war heroes won their medals. Crows Nest, New South Wales, Australia: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 978-1-74114-882-4.

A true hero from our history, and one of so many. Lest we forget.

Lol- I'm a comic strip character- thanks to X-Script Fiction

http://cosplayercomic.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/cosplayer-113-local-spotlight-soldier.html

Thomas Tung, artist for X-script fiction web comics, wrote some kind words about 'The Soldier Legacy' series, and based a recent strip on the comic, including inserting my boof head into the fun (see link above).

Thanks Thomas, great work. 113 comics in this series alone (let alone the several other interweaving series he does) is a lot of work and commitment. Kudos!

And, not the first time we've seen a female cosplayer wear 'The Soldier Legacy' mask ;D


youi comic shop guy from bryan cawood on Vimeo.

Commissions, orders and post-con updates

Just a quick update to folks waiting on orders, email answers etc., these will be sorted shortly.
I'll be hitting the post office early/mid next week, so those books/commissions will be on the way.
To answer some of the other questions; yes, once I get through the rest of the post-con commissions, Soldier  Legacy #6 will begin, along with a long -overdue finishing of a Chris Sequeira concept thingy, which could possibly see a new comic property to toy with in 2013. Folks with the 2012 folio book, and who actually give a damn about anything I post in general ;D,  will see the beginnings on this thing. More as we go.

For now, it's overdue thesis work (cry), tidying my war-zone of a house, and trudging through the rest of these scribblings to do. I hope you guys like them as much as I enjoy getting the requests. It's very nice, considering there's many capable people out there, more with an over-inflated sense of their work too :P
Enjoy the dodgy scans, and thanks all :)

T-Rex Jones's OzComic Challenge: Sebastian Hawks

Soldiers!

Tweeked version. Only slight, but a bit happier with it than what features on Facebook. Lesson? GO TO BED.

If you haven't seen on the Soldier Legacy facebook page, I recently plugged a link to the Pozible Crowdfunding project of Greg Mclean (Director of 'Wolf Creek')/Tristian Jones (good friend and writer/illustrator on IDW's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ghostbusters etc., and upcoming Silent Hill), Christian De Bari (IDW artist)'s upcoming Australian comic book 'Sebastian Hawks': Creature Hunter, to be published by DiezelPunk/Gestalt Publishing. http://www.pozible.com/index.php/archive/index/11289/description/0/0

Check this video out if you haven't seen it:

Sebastion Hawks Pozible Campaign from Cameron Oliver on Vimeo.

Having a soft spot for period action/adventure myself (and Victorian Era at that- remember the Chris Sequeira/Paul Mason back up feature in this year's 'Dark Detective: Sherlock Holmes' #7 and 8 by Black House Comics, featuring the 1880's Victorian Era 'Soldier Legacy' vs the mysterious Dr Nikola, and the "Hulk-like" Cold-stream Officer? Yes? No? Anyways, expect the conclusion in Dark Detective #9 early next year.)...hang on...gotten off track ;P

Anyways, Darren Close of OzComics has given Tristan aka. 'T-Rex': https://www.facebook.com/tyrannosaurusjones the keys to the Facebook page, to run a challenge that might snag the lucky winner a place in the upcoming book. So, digging the character, but having limited time up my sleeve, I scribbled out a page. Although, I wasn't 100% thrilled with the outcome, and only began to realise where I could tweak it, once the page was already up....ahh, well. Live and learn. Anyways, follow all the links to check out all the details to how you can get a copy of the upcoming book, 'like' the images from the illustrators doing their take on the character/s, and/or think about scribbling something yourself.

Details on the comp: http://tyrannosaurusjones.tumblr.com/post/36063415805/many-of-you-are-probably-aware-of-the-book-im

OzComic Entry. I think I'm OCD...

My entry here: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=497431973621315&set=a.497055146992331.113828.241043559260159&type=1&theater

Original Scribbles

'Soldier Legacy Wallpapers'- Thanks for the support :D

 For your desktops, just a tiny token for those interested, thank you for the support this year. Click on these, right click to download.

"Whatcha" talkin about, Willis? ;P Whatcha podcast interview and review of Soldier Legacy #5

http://whatchapodcast.podomatic.com/entry/2012-11-17T23_55_36-08_00

The kind folks at 'Whatcha podcast' tracked me down via twitter just before Brisbane Supanova last weekend. Their roaming reporter Mandy stopped by the table and put up with my stuttering and jibberish about 'The Soldier Legacy', and then Nath and the gents surprised me by chatting about the latest issue and giving it a review. Very kind of them indeed, and I appreciate the feedback and support.

A great overall podcast, thanks again for making me part of this episode. Listen to all the show folks, you'll hear the beginning of 'The Soldier Legacy' chat around the 55 min 30 sec mark.

Brisbane Supanova 2012 Recap :D

(Ok, So I'm managed to absolutely butcher the formatting of this post, thanks to this not-so-user-friendly system. Enjoy! :P)

The Albert and Logan News had a little mention in their 'What's On' section of the Friday 9th November edition.

Man, an awesome weekend :D

(From left to right): Stewart McKenny, Michelle Delecki, Paul Mason, Howard Chaykin, Shane Davis, David Yardin, Royd Burgoyne, Cordie Phemister, Wendy Keulemans, Tim McEwen and Sarah Ellen.

As you probably know, and are sick of hearing about, I was an official guest of last weekend's Brisbane Supanova Pop Culture expo, held at the RNA showgrounds. Above and below are a bunch of pics from the weekend, but I recommend if you want to see a good chunk of 'the Soldier'
 fans and some cool cosplay, suss out the photo album from "Brisnova" on The Soldier Legacy facebook page.

Firstly, I want to thank the fans and my friends who came by the table, came to the panel, and/or bought a copy of the books or prints. I appreciate you continually supporting my work (or for the new fans, becoming a recruit ;D), and I'm so pleased to be able to have to opportunity to chat to you. You guys, plus the publishers and close mates/mentors, the Supanova team, and the family and friends that pay attention, encourage and spread the word of what I'm trying to pump out, are the ones that help fuel this venture and help me continue. There's a bunch of you who got your photo snapped in front of 'The Soldier' on the weekend, so I hope you dig being on the FB page, and up on the website here: http://thesoldierlegacy.com/?page_id=231

"Quinny", or "Q-Dog" lookin' cool. I just look like a fool. I'm a poet.

Secondly, there's a number of people I want to thank for making the weekend enjoyable. The Supanova team of Daniel Zachariou, Tim McEwen, Royd Burgoyne, plus Bruce, 'Quinny', Chris, Felicity, Missy, Dion, Alf and all the crew and volunteers who helped get my to locations over the weekend, looked after the comic guests, and made the show run smooth for us. Had a great time catching up with you all, and thank you again for having me onboard.

A man I admire greatly: Australian Comics Godfather, Supanova co-founder, and friend, Tim McEwen.

Thumbs up fail. Oh well. Hanging out with good mates Bruce and Royd.

Hard working Supanova crew- Alf, Royd, Felicity and "The Boss", Daniel.

Ok, it looks like someone has just insulted us. Alf is like "You didn't just say what I think you said...?", Dion is like "****! You're a dead man, cuz", and I just look pleased that my knuckles get to dance ;P

Comic Artist/Writer Tristan Jones chills with  Artist David Yardin. Cheers, Gents. Thank you for putting up with my nonsense.

Sarah Ellen, thank you for all your help this weekend- the person who bears the brunt of my nonsense. Would not have been able to juggle all the weekend's commitments, cash and ticking off stock without your assistance, and I thank you greatly. xo
Although, I am sorry to say, the Schwarzenegger voice will continue. Suck it up :P

James Brouwer, the fantastic illustrator of Tom Taylor's 'The Deep' graphic novel series. It was great to spend a bit of time with you, absolutely love the Spider-man print, and thank you for not hitting me across the back of the head with a chair during our crazy panel ;P

James was a graduate of QCA's Bachelor of Animation program too; what a small world :D

Yes, we gave 'Quinny' a bit of drama during our panel :P We endeavoured it to be the best  panel most people would miss. Sucks to be them! I'm sure it will podcast in a number of months. Be warned- I was sleep deprived, and therefore a bit manic :P

This was a big highlight of the weekend: going to Howard Chaykin's Masterclass on the Friday, followed by a great, entertaining dinner, than after asking permission from Howard on Saturday night, he gave me a 'no B.S' folio review, where I learned a great deal. I was absolutely torn to shreds, but that's how you learn. False praise and smoke blowing is not going to teach you anything, and I'm pleased he trusted the fact I could take it. I still laugh when I think to myself the expression on his face that he gave me when he turned to the next page: "Seriously?" hahaha. I'm learning, I'm learning! I stated at dinner on Sunday night, you don't expect to get into the ring against Ali and not get hit. He told me that was "Bull s***". Thankfully, we agreed to disagree, and settled on Archie Moore, before moving onto boxing talk :P A knowledgeable guy, great to have that privilege to spend some time with him.

Amanda Bacchi, host of Geek Speak TV, along with Todd, Wade and the massive film crew dropped in on Saturday. Thank you guys so much for stopping by to chat, and for doing the interview. Loads of fun, and I very much appreciate the support you continue to give me. There's only a handful of comic-based media in our sporadic scene that seem to acknowledge my existence, and I am grateful for the coverage, that's for sure.

You've got to love a family that not only dig old school 'Luke Cage", but also roll with Jack Kirby
'Captain America'. Pleasure meeting you all.

Ronny Ron! 

Melbourne-based Australian Cartoonist and comic-making robot, Frank Candiloro. Great to see you and your happy, smiling face ;P Seriously, so I appreciate your support, bro (and great catching up with your table mate and comic creator, Alicia Jade too, who didn't get a picture! :O), and your latest gear in on the table, ready to be consumed.

 More pics below, featuring some cool Fans, hidden Geek Speak crew, and friends. More on the website/FB page.

Shout out to the awesome 105th Division, whose services I may use in the future...Thanks gents! Awesome stuff. 

Hey! Uni students, whose minds I corrupt...I mean, nurture :P

...and more!

The crew from 31 Digital, filming on the weekend, where I was interviewed by the good doctor here ;P
Great catching up post-LNS *Fist bump* Ka-Boom!

Yes, Shogo channels one of my biggest heroes: Bruce Lee, from 'Game of Death'. 

Darren for the awesome "Gifts of the Geek" store; great to see you boys up here (and Cordy of course ;D) , am so looking forward to coming down next year, and thanks for the assist with the shirts. May have to order more, as I really love the baseball style tops now ;)

There were some really cool moments not captured on camera here: Chatting to Malcolm-Jamal Warner and talking Uni stuff, John DiMaggio, having a laugh or two with author Joe Abercrombie, being introduced to "Triple Brie" and some other nutty/fig thing you stick on a cracker (yes, I'm not that sophisticated), meeting Shane Davis, my next door "neighbour" and guest Jeffrey "Chamba" Cruz (his friends/helpers and the most epic moustache on the planet ;D), catching up briefly with Gemma Duffill, Cameron Davis (funnywebcomics) James Gilarte, Sorab Del Rio, my good mate Paul Abstruse, Stewart McKenny and the lovely Wendy, Jame's partner Adrienne, Mandy from Whatcha podcast/Geekxpectations https://www.facebook.com/Geeekxpectations?fref=ts ( good to meet you, thank you for the interview and the attention, guys. Very touched), Libby and Kate, and Dave, Fez, Julie and Amy, Brent, and all the long supporting fans; Dave Hornsby, Wayne, Shogo, Ben Small, Saxon, The true life soldiers who buy the book (lest we forget).Oh, and my brother in Red and Green Arms, Paul Bartlett from Aussie Fake Tattoos. Ummm, I' m terrible with names and I'm just getting a swirl of faces here...look, I'm starting to run out of steam here. Too may late nights working. I just want to stress how much I enjoyed the weekend, and you were all a part of it. Thank you :D (There were a couple of people who stressed that the Soldier book was one of the things they came to the con for, and I want to thank them: names escape me, but I know all your faces. That's very touching.)

Anyways, I'm out. Thank you, Brisbane! A full year recap to come soon. In reflection, it's been a big year. Thank you for sharing the journey with me, Soldiers.