Optical Sloth seems to be reviewing a lot of the cartoonists I enjoy. (i.e. Robert Boyd, Lark Pien, Dylan Horrocks, Gabrielle Bell, John Pham, Kirrily Schell, Ms. Lasko-Gross, etc.)

I should probably send some stuff to them.

What are the two most widely distributed newsstand comics anthologies, that have endured the test of time?

Heavy Metal, and World War III Illustrated. You can find ‘em both at any decent place that sells magazines, heck even most Borders outlets.

There’s some message there, I’m sure. I like aspects of both. Heavy Metal introducted me to Moebius, while WW3 featured Kate Evans and Fly. If these anthologies can survive, why not more?

Watched Hayao Miyazaki’s ‘Kiki’s Delivery Service’ last night. The story equates magic with creativity…which might explain why mainstream comics writers like Alan Moore and Grant Morrison are reinventing themselves as magicians. Even Dylan Horrocks makes some noises in that direction…

And I can see where the connection is made…what could be more ‘magical’ than creating music, theatre, comics where there were none before? Where does this stuff come from?

ComicsAustralia.com and OzComics.com are mooting the idea of a national 24 hour comics drawing sesh like it’s a new thing. Don’t they know Malvern Stars were doing this on a regular basis in the late nineties?

It was almost-monthly, often near the full moon. There was usually at least one group migration to 7-11 during the experience. Usually about half the group would crash out. Managed to last through them all so far.

One of our alterations to the original McCloudian idea was to not set a page limit. And jam strips became a regular part of the agenda. Some great moments: Kieran Mangan quietly drawing 24 pages in 18 hours, putting his pen down and retiring to bed like it was something he did every day. Q-Ray drafting the strip that would become the lil’ chix.Shags doing a whole issue of Geek Overload. The mysterious appearance of Tung (Dex Comic) who has not been seen again to this day.

Hmm….October 12. I may be as wrinkled as Nick Nolte’s balls, but I’ve still got my stamina. If any of the old school wanna throw down, I’m definitely in. Like Athonk, I’ll scan and send.

Comics Australia Announcement

Oz Comics 24 hour forum

Rewriting Ozbloglet into a proper narrative trip journal. Since this was a productive trip, that involves a lot of comics, and a lot of scanning. Gimme about another week to unleash the ‘Gallery of Pissed Cartoonists’.

Pleased to see you can now order Silent Army via the Comics Australia online store. They’ll probably get like five orders, but I like the fact that it’s available. (Along with Pox!)

Now if someone could just cook up a nice juicy scandal that would get lots of press attention, we’d be all set.