Saturday, 5 March 2016
Pay Attention: THIS Is How It Works Now
Regulars on CBO will know that I reviewed and promoted comics by the German company The Next Art like crazy? And even though I then received no further news or responses to my emails I still mentioned them.
Today I received this:
"Hello Terry,
maybe you remember me and my small publishing company THENEXTART and our
project Hades-Syndrome.
Now we want to publish our first comic in english with kickstarter.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/548406120/hades-syndrome-hunting-season
Maybe you and your friends and customers want to read our story in
english you can promote us with kickstarter and get a lot of original
artwork and stuff.
Please help us to get this book in english. It's our last season from
Hades-Syndrom, Hunting Season.
Thank you and all the best.
Sebastian"
This was my response:
No."
It's that simple. I've pushed and promoted people, companies and events and every time my reward is....silence.
Until the next time they need something FROM me.
No excuses. You treat me like shit do not expect me to jump up and down on the spot panting like some trained puppy. Fuck you.
Today I received this:
"Hello Terry,
maybe you remember me and my small publishing company THENEXTART and our
project Hades-Syndrome.
Now we want to publish our first comic in english with kickstarter.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/548406120/hades-syndrome-hunting-season
Maybe you and your friends and customers want to read our story in
english you can promote us with kickstarter and get a lot of original
artwork and stuff.
Please help us to get this book in english. It's our last season from
Hades-Syndrom, Hunting Season.
Thank you and all the best.
Sebastian"
This was my response:
"Hello.
No.
I promoted The NextArt on Comic Bits Online and my various groups and
then I heard no more from you. I have sent a number of emails as well as
Face Book IMs and I have not received a single response. Now you WANT
something from me you can actually use my email.
It's that simple. I've pushed and promoted people, companies and events and every time my reward is....silence.
Until the next time they need something FROM me.
No excuses. You treat me like shit do not expect me to jump up and down on the spot panting like some trained puppy. Fuck you.
Friday, 4 March 2016
Psst! The Germans Are Checking Me Out Again!
Just checked the stats, which I don't do often and saw a LOT of views from Germany (again). So what were they all checking out?
"On German Super Heroes And Why I Am STILL The "Daddy"! ego! ego! ego!"
http://hoopercomicart.blogspot.co.uk/2013/08/on-german-super-heroes-and-why-i-am.htmlIt's odd, my postings on UK comics and the current state of the UK comic scene get very high views from the UK but few if any comments. I post something on German comics and -same thing!
There in itself is clear proof that there is interest in these comics amongst German comickers.
Case proven.
Sticky Institute: Internet trolls sparks resurgence of zines -GOOD!
Yes, I am SERIOUSLY thinking about doing the photocopied fanzines again. Screw the internet trolls (you know who you are and the fact that you and your mates are STILL fixated on me after more than twenty years must mean you have a low IQ and no work).
Opinions?
Thanks to Gail Carter for pointing me in the direction of this item: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/internet-trolls-spark-zine-resurgence/7138636
Photo:
Zine resurgence ... Thomas Blatchford says some people have been scared away from online publishing. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
While
the internet has democratised publishing, allowing anyone to
potentially reach a global audience with the click of a button,
vitriolic internet comments are pushing some writers back to a medium
last popular in the 1990s.
Zines, or fanzines, are self-published, handmade magazines usually produced in short runs on photocopiers or home printers.
Thomas Blatchford volunteers at Melbourne zine store Sticky Institute, which is preparing for its annual Festival of the Photocopier later this month.
He said zines had "definitely become much more popular recently" with a surge of interest in the festival's Zine Fair — a one-day zine market held at the Melbourne Town Hall.
"We've had a lot more people apply for spaces so it seems to have ballooned, particularly in the last year," he said.
He said this year's zine fair would be the festival's biggest "by quite a long way", with more than 150 stalls.
Photo:
Sticky Institute provides resources for zine makers including typewriters, staplers and a photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
While unsure of the exact reason for the resurgence of zines, Mr Blatchford said it was more than just a "weird nostalgia thing".
He said some zine-makers had been scared away from online publishing because of unkind comments from people on the internet.
"There's some horrible people on there," he said.
"People like to know that when they're sharing something, there are often going to be like-minded people reading."
While someone reading a zine may not share the author's point of view, he said, "they won't start berating them in the way that sometimes can happen on internet comments sections".
"One of the things about publishing, particularly very personal content, is that people feel a sense of trust within the zine community," Mr Blatchford said.
"They're sharing things with people who will be more sympathetic than they would be if you just put it on a blog."
Photo:
Thomas Blatchford (right) helps zine producer Morris Anthony Nguyen with Sticky Institute's photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
While the Free Dictionary defines a zine as an "inexpensively produced, self-published, underground publication", the Sticky Institute is literally underground, operating out of a small shop in Flinders Street Station's Degraves Street underpass.
Mr Blatchford said the volunteer-run space, which this year celebrates 15 years in operation, was more than just a shop.
"It's a space where people who make zines are welcome to sit and use our facilities — photocopier, staplers etc," Mr Blatchford said .
Sticky Institute volunteer Bianca Martin said helping at the space gave her the opportunity to meet other zine-makers.
Photo:
Bianca Martin volunteers at Sticky Institute and produces a zine about women in the entertainment industry, (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
Ms Martin produces a zine called Fangirl, which celebrates women in the entertainment industry, and said she enjoyed the physical process of making a zine.
"I really like scrapbooking and cutting and pasting," she said.
She will be holding a stall at the zine fair with her band The Girl Fridas, who have produced a zine about being women in the music industry.
"For some reason people just don't want to book female bands," she said.
The Festival of the Photocopier starts on February 11 and culminates with the Zine Fair on February 14.
Opinions?
Thanks to Gail Carter for pointing me in the direction of this item: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-04/internet-trolls-spark-zine-resurgence/7138636
Sticky Institute: Internet trolls sparks resurgence of zines ahead of Festival of the Photocopier
Updated
Photo:
Zine resurgence ... Thomas Blatchford says some people have been scared away from online publishing. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)
Photocopied zines are making a comeback, with some young self-publishers keen to escape the attention of online trolls.
Zines, or fanzines, are self-published, handmade magazines usually produced in short runs on photocopiers or home printers.
Thomas Blatchford volunteers at Melbourne zine store Sticky Institute, which is preparing for its annual Festival of the Photocopier later this month.
He said zines had "definitely become much more popular recently" with a surge of interest in the festival's Zine Fair — a one-day zine market held at the Melbourne Town Hall.
"We've had a lot more people apply for spaces so it seems to have ballooned, particularly in the last year," he said.
He said this year's zine fair would be the festival's biggest "by quite a long way", with more than 150 stalls.
Internet has 'horrible people'
Photo:
Sticky Institute provides resources for zine makers including typewriters, staplers and a photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)While unsure of the exact reason for the resurgence of zines, Mr Blatchford said it was more than just a "weird nostalgia thing".
He said some zine-makers had been scared away from online publishing because of unkind comments from people on the internet.
"There's some horrible people on there," he said.
"People like to know that when they're sharing something, there are often going to be like-minded people reading."
While someone reading a zine may not share the author's point of view, he said, "they won't start berating them in the way that sometimes can happen on internet comments sections".
"One of the things about publishing, particularly very personal content, is that people feel a sense of trust within the zine community," Mr Blatchford said.
"They're sharing things with people who will be more sympathetic than they would be if you just put it on a blog."
Underground space connecting underground publishers
Photo:
Thomas Blatchford (right) helps zine producer Morris Anthony Nguyen with Sticky Institute's photocopier. (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)While the Free Dictionary defines a zine as an "inexpensively produced, self-published, underground publication", the Sticky Institute is literally underground, operating out of a small shop in Flinders Street Station's Degraves Street underpass.
Mr Blatchford said the volunteer-run space, which this year celebrates 15 years in operation, was more than just a shop.
"It's a space where people who make zines are welcome to sit and use our facilities — photocopier, staplers etc," Mr Blatchford said .
Sticky Institute volunteer Bianca Martin said helping at the space gave her the opportunity to meet other zine-makers.
Photo:
Bianca Martin volunteers at Sticky Institute and produces a zine about women in the entertainment industry, (774 ABC Melbourne: Simon Leo Brown)Ms Martin produces a zine called Fangirl, which celebrates women in the entertainment industry, and said she enjoyed the physical process of making a zine.
"I really like scrapbooking and cutting and pasting," she said.
She will be holding a stall at the zine fair with her band The Girl Fridas, who have produced a zine about being women in the music industry.
"For some reason people just don't want to book female bands," she said.
The Festival of the Photocopier starts on February 11 and culminates with the Zine Fair on February 14.
WARP ZERO HITS LONDON!
Well, beyond my travel expenses! But if you are in to any of this stuff check out the Face Book page!
https://www.facebook.com/
https://www.facebook.com/
It Is Too Late: The Green Skies. You Were Warned: Kathatakathalaka The Many-Eyed One IS Close
The current page count is up to 397.
On to "Genocide On Mars".......
On to "Genocide On Mars".......
If You Never Bought Any Of These At The Time -It's Too Late Now!
And these things are now very "investable" as one person put it.
But there is, I am told, a new Browner Knowle with colour cover due out so be forewarned!!
But there is, I am told, a new Browner Knowle with colour cover due out so be forewarned!!
Thursday, 3 March 2016
Was Russ Heath Ripped Off By Lichtenstein (the painter NOT the country)?
On Comicsalliance.com you can find the full story http://comicsalliance.com/russ-heaths-comic-about-being-ripped-off-by-roy-lichtenstein-will-give-you-a-new-appreciation-for-the-hero-initiative/?trackback=fbshare_top_flat_4 but the introduction goes:
"With
six decades of work under his belt, Russ Heath is arguably one of the
most important creators in comics. It was his art that was, to put it
charitably, “adapted” by Roy Lichtenstein for the pop art pieces that
made him famous. Of course, as is unfortunately so often the case for
hard-working creators in comics, while Lichtenstein made millions
lightboxing panels Heath had drawn in the pages of DC’s romance and war
comics, Heath himself never saw a dime, despite continuing a career that
saw him become one of the most respected elder statesmen of the
industry.
Now,
at the age of 84, Heath has written and drawn a short comic (with
colors and lettering by Darwyn Cooke) about his experience not only with
Lichtenstein, but with the Hero Initiative and how they’ve helped his
life as well."
The question to ask is whether this is just someone bitter at his lot in life or whether you really believe that he was ripped off? If the latter, then I hate to tell you that some of the biggest names in comics have been ripping people off since the 1930s.
"Swipe files"
Photographs of aircraft, ships, people in costume, flowers, buildings, animals -all taken by photographers or even sketched or painted by other artists outside of comics. Movie stills. Images from TV shows. All stored in boxes or drawers by comic artists.
Comic
artists call this "swiping". Most artists have reference photos, etc., in their swipe files
that they can use. After all, someone writes "She looks like a young Lucille Ball" or "dead ringer for John Belushi" then you need a reference to base that character on. In UK comics radio, TV, music hall and movie celebrities were featured heavily -and LOTS of photographs were used.
Now that is work that someone else -uncredited- did. According to Joe Kubert ( "Montclair Man's Life as Colorful as the Comics He Draws". Chuck O'Donnell, The Montclair Times ,22nd December, 2011(Montclair, New Jersey).)
" ...He (Heath) could illustrate mechanical things like rifles and
tanks in a realistic way that few other artists could. He would build
models of the things he would draw prior to drawing them and his stuff
would come out right on the button. Other artists used to keep what they
called a swipe file – pictures of things they may have to draw someday
that they could use for reference. Russ' work was so good, other artists
used it as reference."
Now, according to Wikipedia: "Various Heath drawings of fighter jets, in DC Comics' All-American Men of War were the basis for pop artist Roy Lichtenstein's oil paintings, notably Blam"
It was seen as "Pop Art"
Surely the time to complain would have been when the painting was unveiled? You see, much as I think it is VERY over-rated, Lichtenstein used the Heath art as the "basis" for his oil painting. It was a swipe reference.
Look at how comic creators -especially independent ones- use famous comedians or actors in their strips -Kevin O'Neill used such references to utter boredom in the later volumes of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. So when everyone rushes around shaking their fists and shouting "First Ditko and now THIS!!" they are talking out of their asses. Ditko....let's not go there.
The Indie comic book boys who scream and shout because of a "hard luck story" -invented or not -in 60 years was Heath never paid for his work? And remember comics were seen as throw-away entertainment. He created great work and got paid. Someone was inspired to do a painting or two based on a war comic. That person, Lichtenstein, moved in the seedy art world where comics are looked down on as toilet paper.
But whatever the inspiration, Lichtenstein did the oil painting.
In an issue of Alter Ego there is a feature on Wally Wood and
it is stated that an "English guy" who worked in the studio left "lots"
of British war comics when he left and Wood, uh, "borrowed" from these
regularly.
So should Russ Heath be so bitter?
Hey look -a page from a British war comic.....or is it?
Original splash page by Wally Wood from Two-Fisted Tales #23, published by EC Comics, September 1951
In Swung Tarzan Followed By The Mighty Crusaders!
Yes, I now have UK Annuals 1968-1980 this hot little number arrived this morning!
http://hoopercomicart.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/a-rough-guide-to-collecting-uk-tarzan.html
And so did this. £4.39 THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS - NO.3 EVIL LURKS AMONGST US 1966 MIGHTY COMICS GROUP. This is in near perfect condition -no smell, no yellowing pages and cover looks brand new.
I'm more than happy!
http://hoopercomicart.blogspot.co.uk/2016/02/a-rough-guide-to-collecting-uk-tarzan.html
And so did this. £4.39 THE MIGHTY CRUSADERS - NO.3 EVIL LURKS AMONGST US 1966 MIGHTY COMICS GROUP. This is in near perfect condition -no smell, no yellowing pages and cover looks brand new.
I'm more than happy!
I just need #1 which is not
that expensive in the US (I have it in the collected book) but in the UK
-£30-60. Feck that. You sellers are rip-off merchants of the worst kind.
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Kotar & Sabuta....A Quiet Night In
Kotar & Sabuta the Third Level Sorcerors have been with me since....1969! Wow. Anyway, here is one of those "quiet days at home" adventures by the inimitable Ben R. Dilwrth!
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