Thursday, June 27, 2013

Naaw, kids are awesome... Scribbles and comic readers at Extreme Martial Arts/Authentic Taekwon-do Central Coast Gym

Some of the Adults and Juniors from the training weekend. Fantastic junior fighters too. Well done, kids!
Some Australian Taekwon-do team training last weekend on the Central Coast, a shotgun trip to get some more training in before London next month. The event became a bit comic-orientated at the end,  thanks to head trainer at Extreme Martial Arts, Sabum and Assistant coach Gary King. Gary has promoted and sold copies of 'The Soldier Legacy' at his school, and a bunch of the juniors really enjoy the Aussie-themed heroics.

Thanks for smiling, Deeyon ;P

Some awesome kids were keen to come by afterwards to get their copies signed, grabs some cheap prints, and also get some head sketches as there favourite Superheroes. One mum said "Your comics encourage my boy to want to read", and I'm totally bragging when I say this, but f*** it: I was so proud of that. It might mean absolutely nothing on the grand scheme of things, but the world to me. And, that's comics, man. They did the same thing for me as a kid, and I do wish more comic books remembered their audience isn't always the die hard, continuity-loving older audience. Another kid had googled details mentioned in the book like the war, the places etc. to learn more about it- mission accomplished ;P (though it's a mental note to keep bleeping the language- he thought the "swearing" was awesome, too :P I guess hash tags and squiggles aren't enough for the imagination and new world playground talk of primary school kids hahaha.)

Anyways, some pics snapped from the tale end of the sketching for those who stuck around.

Thanks again to Senior Master Jamie Moore, Sabum and Head Coach Scott Bower, Sabum Gary King, Sabum Penny Childs-King, Sabum Robert Graf, Boosabum Paul Daniels, and the rest of the team members who attended, the juniors, and those that came alone for some extra training.

God bless Hollywood action men like Bruce Willis or Jason Stathom, otherwise I'd have a serious complex :P #Balding




Gary and student Josh: the boy with 1000 questions :P Love it!
Josh likes Aquaman! A first! ;P

Melbourne Oz Comic-Con Schedule now Online:

For the Ron Perlman fans, available for Melb OCC.
All your Melbourne Oz Comic-Con Panel info. The ones I'm lucky to be a part of are below in Bold Red. Sound Good?
Easy to remember. 12 Noon Both days. Sweet :)

Talk soon, gotta run.
Paul.

Details via the Official website: http://www.ozcomiccon.com/schedules.aspx

Opening Hours - Melbourne 6th and 7th of July 2013
Saturday 9am to 6pm
Sunday 9am to 6pm

Stage 1 Schedule
Saturday
9:30am – Madman presents Robot Chicken DC Comics Special screening
10am – Animation general panel w/Rodger Bumpass, Debi Derryberry, Bill Farmer, Erin Fitzgerald & Rob Paulsen
11am – J. August Richards general panel
12 noon – Jeffrey Combs general panel
1pm – Tia Carrere general panel
2pm – Raphael Sbarge general panel
3pm – Cosplay Parade
4pm – William Shatner general panel
5pm – Cary Elwes general panel

Sunday
9:30am – Madman presents Robot Chicken DC Comics Special screening
10am – Tia Carrere general panel
11am – Shannen Doherty general panel
12 noon – Holly Marie Combs & Brian Krause general panel
1pm – Colin Ferguson general panel
2pm – Rocky Horror picture show general panel w/Nell Campbell & Patricia Quinn
3pm – Ron Perlman general panel
4pm – Cosplay Contest
5pm – Cosplay Contest

Stage 2 Schedule
Saturday
9:30am – Madman presents My Little Pony screening
10am – Tim Rose general panel
11am – International Comics general panel w/Phil Jimenez, Tom Raney, Nicola Scott, Jon Sommariva, Freddie E. Williams II & David Yardin
12 noon – Keegan Connor Tracy general panel
1pm – Eureka VIP panel w/Colin Ferguson, Neil Grayston & Niall Matter
2pm – Rocky Horror picture show VIP panel w/Nell Campbell & Patricia Quinn
3pm – Crawlspace general panel
4pm – Charmed Exclusive panel w/Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty & Brian Krause
5pm – Ron Perlman Exclusive panel

Sunday
9:30am – Madman presents My Little Pony screening
10am – Nickelodeon general panel w/Rodger Bumpass, Debi Derryberry & Erin Fitzgerald
11am – Once Upon a Time VIP panel w/Raphael Sbarge & Keegan Connor Tracy
12 noon – Aussies in Comics general panel w/Paul Abstruse, Queenie Chan, Doug Holgate, Ben Hutchings, Tristan Jones, Ryan K. Lindsay, Paul Mason, Stewart McKenny, Dillon Naylor, Dean Rankine, Nicola Scott, Jon Sommariva & David Yardin
1pm – Jeffrey Combs VIP panel
2pm – J. August Richards VIP panel
3pm – Neil Grayston & Niall Matter general panel
4pm – William Shatner Exclusive panel
5pm – Cary Elwes VIP panel


Stage 3 Schedule
Saturday
9:30am – Madman presents Adventure Time screening
10am – Gestalt Comics Portfolio Review
11am – Gigi Edgley general panel
12 noon – Aussie Comics general panel w/Paul Abstruse, Queenie Chan, Doug Holgate, Ben Hutchings, Tristan Jones, Ryan K. Lindsay, Paul Mason, Dillon Naylor & Dean Rankine
1pm – 3D Printing Sci-Fi Props hosted by April Staines
2pm – Robert Maschio general panel
3pm – Craig Parker general panel
4pm – Gestalt Comics general panel w/Wolfgang Bylsma, Andrew Constant, Bobby.N, Justin Randall, Christian Read, Tom Taylor & Colin Wilson
5pm – Melbourne Robot Workshop panel

Sunday
9:30am – Madman presents Adventure Time screening
10am – 3D Printing Sci-Fi Props hosted by April Staines
11am – International Comics general panel w/Tom Raney & Freddie E. Williams II
12 noon – Craig Parker general panel
1pm – International Comics general panel w/Phil Jimenez
2pm – Voice Acting Masterclass w/Bill Farmer & Rob Paulsen
3pm – Gestalt Comics Portfolio Review
4pm – Tim Rose general panel
5pm – Robert Maschio general panel

Saturday: Comic & Literature Guests (Signing & Sketches)
Paul Abstruse, Queenie Chan, Doug Holgate, Ben Hutchings, Tristan Jones, Ryan K. Lindsay, Paul Mason, Dillon Naylor & Dean Rankine – 9am to 12 noon, 2pm to 6pm
Wolfgang Bylsma – 9am to 10am, 11am to 12 noon, 1pm to 4pm, 5pm to 6pm
Andrew Constant, Bobby.N, Justin Randall, Christian Read, Tom Taylor & Colin Wilson– 9am to 11am, 1pm to 6pm
Phil Jimenez, Tom Raney, Nicola Scott, Jon Sommariva, Freddie E. Williams II & David Yardin – 9am to 11am, 1pm to 6pm
Stewart McKenny & Jason Palmer – 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 6pm

Sunday: Comic & Literature Guests (Signing & Sketches)
Paul Abstruse, Queenie Chan, Doug Holgate, Ben Hutchings, Tristan Jones, Ryan K. Lindsay, Paul Mason, Stewart McKenny, Dillon Naylor, Dean Rankine, Nicola Scott, Jon Sommariva & David Yardin – 9am to 12 noon, 2pm to 6pm
Wolfgang Bylsma – 9am to 12 noon, 1pm to 3pm, 4pm to 6pm
Andrew Constant, Bobby.N, Justin Randall, Christian Read, Tom Taylor & Colin Wilson– 9am to 12 noon, 1pm to 6pm
Phil Jimenez – 9am to 12 noon, 2pm to 6pm 
Jason Palmer – 9am to 12pm, 1pm to 6pm
Tom Raney, Freddie E. Williams II – 9am to 11am, 1pm to 6pm

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Editor Michael Aushenker previews the cover for 'The New Adventures of The Human Fly #1'!



Editor Michael Aushenker has previewed the full cover to next month's San Diego Comic-Con release of 'The New Adventures of the Human Fly #1' on his blog: http://cartoonflophouse.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/the-new-adventures-of-human-fly-debuts.html?showComment=1371570599684

"Here is a variation of our cover for issue #1, drawn by the Maestro himself, Rafael Navarro, with lettering by Janice Chiang and a logo and corner illustration by Steven Butler. Navarro also illustrates our lead story inside. But we've also got the talents of Steve Kriozere, Jason Baroody, Tony Babinski, Javier Hernandez, Jim Rugg, Paul Mason, and UNKNOWN SOLDIER artist Gerry Talaoc.

Not to mention (but that means we will mention...) ORIGINAL Human Fly artists Steve Leialoha, Bob Layton, Don Perlin, and Al Milgrom."

It will be the first book featuring the "Real Life Superhero" since the 1970's short lived Marvel Comic Series.  Thank you again to the Human Fly film producers, writer Tony Babinski, Michael Aushenker, and Chris Sequeria for my involvement with the Fly family. Can't wait to shoot to LA next month to see it in print :D
Original B &W house Ad for the Marvel series waaaaay back in '77.
The real 'Human Fly'.

Original Editorial by writer Bill Mantlo in Marvel Comic's 'The Human Fly #1'.

Inspiration: Arnold Schwarzenegger. "Who do you want to be? What makes you happy?"



I grew up on a healthy diet of Mr Schwarzenegger's action films. When other primary school kids loved "Mighty Ducks" and "Richie Rich", I loved "Predator" and "Terminator 2". A self-made man with passion, drive, determination and character.

When I hit the point early in the year where I had the day job, plus the comic book work, plus the Doctorate degree work, plus training for the next World Championships beginning this August, convention appearances, around the country flights, interstate squad sessions, 3rd degree black belt grading, commissions etc.etc. I thought I would fold.

Then I got "Total Recall"- Arnold's recent autobiography. Even better than 'Fantastic', the earlier bio released a number of years ago.
His life lessons and words were like a mental switch, or the proverbial lightening bolt.

Up on my fridge covered in Muhammad Ali quotes, I also have Arnold's rules, quotes and life lessons.  "The day has 24 hours".
"There are no shortcuts".
"The limit is in your mind".
"Don't be an amateur". etc.

Here's a recent tweet I made (via http://www.twitter.com/pmason83), and something I've always tried to have in my philosophy. Was really happy when Arnold mentioned it in his video:


'State of Origin' night in early June, arguably one of the biggest Rugby League game nights on Australian TV. A week night, and an empty gym. And I train, while most would be partying. When Arnold says "When you're out there partying, horsing around...Someone out there at the same time is working hard...", *I* want to be that someone. Try, improve, learn. 
Drawing, training, fighting, whatever.

This video a close mate posted online recently (via https://www.facebook.com/OneLifeEducation), helps me when I feel like the weight of the world is going to break me. When I'm running on fumes, working a full day, driving home and drawing in the night, training either before work when the gym opens, or after work just before it closes, 5-6 hours sleep if I'm lucky, rinse and repeat, this reminds me of why I'm doing all this Bulls*** in the first place.

Next month, it will be my 6th Comic guest appearance this year, as a guest of the awesome OZ Comic-Con in Melbourne, then San Diego Comic-Con where my first US story will be published using the old school Marvel character/real life stuntman 'The Human Fly', talking on the panel, then shooting to London for the World ITF Taekwon-do Championships where I attempt to bring home Gold. I might be tired, I might be broke, I might only have the support of close family, close friends and kind loyal readers, but screw it. That's all I need.

Do I come off sounding like a wanker here? Maybe. But then all I can do is forget the haters and trolls, and trust myself, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Push harder, stay hungry.

So, Who do you want to be, Soldiers? Keep working hard, I believe in what you choose if it improves you, others or makes you happy.

And remember;

"You can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets."- Arnold Schwarzenegger.

See you at a convention some time ;)

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Some Soldier colour stuff, and lame attempts to fund-raise!

A bit of colour added to this Mignola/Kirby inspired scribble.
This may become a print which will be available at Oz Comic-Con, Melbourne in July for those who are keen. Keep you posted on others.


In the meantime, I'm almost at begging-level prices for my ill-fated attempts to fund-raise for the Unified  ITF Taekwon-do World Championships in the UK July/August 2013. Free sketches and almost giving away prints and comic books just to peak interest in helping me out! 
I should have picked a better career and a government sponsored sport or something. It seems you do the hard work getting ahead and then have to make your own way across the globe to fufill the goal. In my case, for both the panel/comic book release at San Diego Comic-Con, and my individual Hyper-weight Sparring spot on the Australia team. Fingers crossed the price-slashing brings a few more bucks in. Many, many thanks to the kind folks who have bought some goods so far- the sketches are almost done and the parcels will head out next week :D Any issues with the price slash for pre-existing customers, I'm happy to throw in another character sketch. All I can give right now is a piece of time, if you let me :)


Take a look here: http://paulmason.bigcartel.com/ and feel free to email me at pmason83@gmail.com with questions/Commission/con sketch requests like a person already did ;) Cheers! Much appreciated.

   
Head sketch examples: Darkseid and The Human Fly.

Gotta run, hope you're all well :)

Monday, June 10, 2013

The latest very kind media stuff, with 'Soldier' ties.


Just a quick one; The ANZAC DAY edition of 'The Late Nite Show' used a little bit of art and my tribute in 'The Soldier legacy comics' for their program. Check out part 1 of the episode, and click here to check out the rest of the episodes: http://www.youtube.com/user/Mrlateniteshow?feature=watch

Just to finish up:
The guys at Geek Speak talked up 'The Soldier Legacy's Strange Tales #1', and Todd seemed to dig 'The Maleficus Seven' back up story. Cheers, guys.
http://geekspeak.podbean.com/2013/05/20/geek-speak-live-56-batman-legozombiesjulie-mcnivenbatman-ghostbusters-cgi-filmsironman3/

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Friday, June 7, 2013

I hate warm ups. But...

A Mike Mignola-inspired 'Soldier Legacy' image (with a dash of Jack Kirby "dots"- the best smoke and fire in comics ;) ).
I'm going to throw some colours down and see what I can do with this. Maybe a cover for issue 6, or new print? Aussie team fundraiser print? I dunno. Just had the urge to try some mediums that I wasn't comfortable with. Particularly before I dive in on a sequential page without crash testing it first. I'm usually not a "warm up sketch" guy. To me, I don't have the time to screw about, and warm ups feel like "Stuffing about before starting work" guy :P But in this instance, I felt it necessary.

I also started a mini-fundraiser to aid to pay my way to compete in the Open World ITF Taekwon-Do World Championships in London in July. July is a big month- a guest at Melbourne Oz Comic-Con, a trip to SDCC in LA to talk on the Human Fly panel (!), and see some of my stuff released in the US for the first time (a bucket list item-very stoked), and then shoot to the UK to prep for the fights. All great, all life memories, all bank account draining. Broke, but we'll see what happens. Here's the link, plenty of cheap stuff and freebies too: I'm giving away a tonne of time on sketches, so I hope if you're keen, you get in before stocks run out :D http://paulmason.bigcartel.com/ Please spread the world, and many many thanks to the kind readers and supporters who have touched base/ordered so far. (Mostly from Perth by the way, I love you W.A!)

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Tarantino scribble


Blowing off steam post-'Human Fly'. Fun :) The hard part was picking the characters. Could easily do another pic one day, with Mr Pink (or Mr White), Vincent (or Butch), Bill (or Elle Driver), Hans Landa (or Hugo Stiglitz), and Dr. King Shultz. One day...