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."
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!
I just wanted to say a heart-felt thank you very much to the Chronicles Chamber crew (Jermayne, Dan and Steve) for embracing the Kid Phantom concept, and putting together this podcast with thoughts on the book from a wide range of sources. Especially heartening was to hear from all the young kids who read and enjoyed it. YOU were who I cared about liking this book the most, and I’m so happy to hear from you. The older ‘phans’, I thank you too; either for encouraging your kids to read, sharing your love of ‘The Phantom’, or even just digging it and appreciating what it’s trying to do and enjoying the fun; much like my enjoyment of Pixar movies and the like.
So hopefully I don’t spell your names incorrectly, but I’d like to thank Tom, Angus, Jessica, Kye, and Shaun, and also Tristan, Jamie Johnson, Callum, Jules Faber, Trevor, Terry, and of course, thank you for the heart-attack-inducing guest cameos of comedian Sammy J (!) and Phantom comic royalty Sy Barry (!); all of your comments, thoughts and well-wishes filled me with pride and honour, and I’m certain the whole Frew Crew and Henriquez feel the same way. From the drawing point of view, I forget that outside of paying the bills and keeping food in the cupboard for my partner and I, that people would actually have an opinion about my job and my scribbles from the office. Cheers for giving book 1 a chance, including everyone else out there who grabbed a copy or two.
Much like most of the popular characters in pop culture, this is something that while aims to be as inclusive as possible, is primarily a young audience approach, with art direction not unlike the many iterations of characters in animation such as ‘Ben 10’, ‘Batman’ etc. I don’t expect the audience who loves the dark and gritty ‘Dark Knight’ Nolan film is going to show the same love for ‘Batman in ‘Batman: Brave and the Bold’ for instance, nor do I believe the producers expect them to. I had the good fortune of spending some time with Executive producer James Tucker a few years ago, and he stated the target audience for that cartoon show was “kids, and their parents who remember the bronze and silver age comics.” Basically, giving the opportunity for the parents to share their characters with their children. I see this as being no different to the KP series. Not everything is made for every fan. It can’t be; otherwise, it ends up pleasing no one. As Sammy J kindly points out “The other phantoms are still there, this just adds to the wide variety of stories out there”.
With the help of great Phantom-loving parents (some of which I heard in the podcast- cheers :D), here was something that hopefully allowed the spark of curiosity to grab hold. Thank you, and I hope you enjoy the journey as it unfolds. Come June, you’re in for a treat ;D
Above: The 1 hour KID PHANTOM Q&A podcast with my writer/collaborator Andrew Constant, and I, outlining a bit of our background, our love of the character, and outlining our intent with this upcoming, ongoing All-Ages series.
Below: Chronicle Chamber was also kind enough to get some recent details from the publisher surrounding the release date and some sneak preview images of what to expect from the first book.
Andrew and I had a great time chatting to Dan and Jermayn, and I hope some people's minds have been put at ease regarding where the Frew series intends to go. And if we can't win you over by issue 2 or 3, then we tried.
NON-SPOILER Sneak Peak review of 'Kid Phantom #1' by the gents at Chronicles Chamber. Discussion kicks off around the 1hr 22min. mark in relation to the upcoming stories from Frew Publications.
I also appreciated the nod to 'The Soldier Legacy' too.
Flat out as usual. Signed on contract lecturing (Art Direction) at Uni this year, keeping me frantically busy, plus Phantom, XCT commitment etc. etc. Was very thankful to have two good friends guest lecture in my classes this week; Storyboard Artist Mark Sexton skyped in for Animation Preproduction, and James Brouwer (Art Director and concept artist) shared his work on his series 'The Deep', which started as a Gestalt comics graphic novel with writer Tom Taylor, to the Art Direction students. Thank you gents. :)
http://www.ozcomiccon.com/guests/paul-mason-2/
Briefly, OZ Comic-Con next week in Perth, then Adelaide; doing 'Kid Phantom' panels in both cities with collaborator Andrew Constant.
Saturday 11am in Perth, and Sunday 11am in Adelaide. Will have some Phantom stuff at the shows.
