Abstract Comics? An interview with NZ artist Draw.

Still ness #01

As a comic fan and creator I stay within the safe confines of what a comic book or comic book page is "supposed" to look like. We have the panels and then the speech bubbles and text. But New Zealand comic creator, Draw has taken a different view of what a comic book page should or could be. 

Because its something new and fresh, I had been meaning to discuss Draw's comics and so it was interesting that he approached me when I asked for submissions from New Zealand Comic Creators on the Facebook site.

COMIC ADDICTS: Tell us a bit about yourself, as most of our readers wouldn't know
who Draw is.

DRAW: Draw is my pen name; I've been making comics since the early 1990s. I
live in the North Island of New Zealand. I try to spend as much time as
I can making comics. Some influences and inspiration: Blakes 7; Harry 
Clarke; Guido Crepax; Arthur L. Guptill; The Dead C; Chris Foss; Charles
Dana Gibson; Jandek; Pre-Raphaelites; Dick Whyte; Lebbeus Woods; and 
Jean Rollin.

Samurai Manga Madness!

Ah manga. The gift that keeps on giving. The inspiration that has now started inspiring. The original sin and also the original sinner.

Too dramatic?

Perhaps, but the mark of the mangaka is unmistakable and undeniable in our lives. Japan's mainstream comic book industry which started as the smallest of the small was an attempt to give the identity starved Japanese people heroes of their own, like the Americans had theirs. It was a humble attempt and was long ridiculed by the more powerful film companies of Japan who, at the time, ruled the entertainment industry. Serious directors/writers/artists kept their heads down and stayed away from manga/anime lest they incur the producer's wrath.

Today its impact cant be felt worldwide. 

Even in India we see kids gush over Naruto and collect a myriad of toys and collectibles while making "pika pika...pikachu" noises. It has in due course overtaken and overthrown the giant shadow of the American Comic book industry and today casts it's own shade upon the world. Being no stranger to manga (and by it's extension anime) I believe the stars to have sufficiently aligned and the time to be sort of right for new readers of comic books, namely you, to follow me into the great mysteries of the Orient.

Coast City Comic Con; I Love It When A Comic Con Comes Together

We geeks certainly love a good comic con. The vendors, the guests, the artists, the events, and of course being able to congregate with fellow comic enthusiasts. Have you ever wondered what goes into putting on a comic show? Well we here at Comic Addicts had a chat with Tristan Gallagher and Ross Kearney at Coast City Comics (CCC) in Portland, Maine about what went into their comic con happening next week starting November 11.

A little background on CCC: Coast City Comics is located on Congress Street right in the business district of Portland. They are actually two shops in one. They also have Monster Fun Box Emporium which sells unique t-shirts that they make themselves, retro video games, and most importantly, toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Of course also being a comic shop the have the latest figures, hero clix, and other comic merchandise as well as the latest issues of the weekly comics.

(Ross Kearney [left] & Tristan Gallagher [right])

EVENT REVIEW : FEAR ITSELF

“There is nothing to fear but Fear Itself”

Men of Strategy

Not often will you come across comics of this style. Even in manga, this particular type of manga is rare. I have encountered very few of its ilk, and have greedily sought out other works which I might consider similar. The reason for my vagueness shall be made clear, for this style of manga that I am talking of is not really an existing genre. The artwork is unique, in its duplication of the real world. Not a manga of handsome heroes then. Come on, take a walk down any street. How many movie star beautiful people will you see out there?

Read more »

The Beautiful People...Beautiful people...aaaaAAA

Humans are many, and not all get to be pretty. The main protagonist of this manga looks a beggar monk. And not a handsome young man clad in a beggar monks clothes, no. An actual beggar monk. It deals with the warring states period in China's history. A time which is fascinating to me, it was the kind of conflict that breeds a lasting Empire. And it did. The story deals with the Qin (Pronounced Shin I think) Emperor, founder of the Qin dynasty. And it deals mostly with the time he was just another king amongst many. Ruler of the state of Qin. All the kingdoms of the time were at war with each other, competing for supremacy. However Qin revolutionized the war, and conquered one kingdom after the other.

Locust style

It deals with a fictional (Or possibly derived from folk tales) clan of martial artists/scholars. I say scholars cause thats pretty much what they are, some are scientists and yet deadly assassins, Inventors are also killers and the main protagonist is deadly in all arts of war, yet looks a Buddhist monk. These deadly skills however have been accrued for one reason only. To prevent war. They are the Clan of Bokk. And they have just agreed to aid the tiny city of Ryo from an invading army of the Zhao empire. The army sets up camp across the river from the city and begins to amass. With no standing army and only peasant conscripts to rely on, the King of Ryo is left clueless. The Bokk send one man to aid the city. Kakuri the Sage of War. But what can one man do against an entire army? Can sheer intellect and the power of strategy truly turn the tides in a war already lost? Well, you will have to read it to find out.

Click and be amazed. Also gasp, spoiler!!!

The arts style is monstrous in its detailing, reminding me in some panels of early Berserk. Some pages will simply hypnotize the reader with the level of detailing, as the mangaka strives to display war in all its glory. Nothing is spared to the imagination. Blood and gore, are clear and present although never used as a crutch. The storyline is topnotch and filled with quite a few twist and turn. And the manga itself runs short enough to be completely satisfying by the time it ends.

And I mean completely satisfied.

So indeed, lovers of stratagems and the many arts of war, brothers and sisters sworn to the Red God, manga lovers from all walks, and just anyone who likes comic books. Read Bokko, its a classic manga from start to finish. It will change some of your pre set notions about manga. History buffs will have gala time, and once you have read it. You will be searching for more manga of its type. Same ugly faces, realistic yet highly detailed art. Art you can get lost in, and a storyline that is tight and complete. You wont find many like it. Cause as I said before, its not really a genre. They are mostly historical, though some like in fantasy, others in horror. You will have to do some looking.

Who knows they might make a genre out of it soon.

A Big Halloween Treat: An Interview with How It Should Have Ended

Since most everyone who reads Comic Addicts is too old to go trick or treating we decided to give a big ol' treat anyway. We were able to have a chat with the folks at How It Should Have Ended (HISHE). They were really cool folks who were happy to chat with us.

For those unfamiliar with HISHE it's a couple of guys, and a gal, who decided that movies didn't always end the way they felt they should have. So they started doing their own parody endings much to the amusement of many people. We here at Comic Addicts were curious about some of the things over at HISHE and here is what they had to say:

Rajat Reviews: Muhmmad Ali: The King of the Ring by Campfire

Who on earth has been alive anytime in the last 50 odd years and hasn’t heard of the King of the Ring? Muhammad Ali, the one true champion of the masses.

Campfire brings to us the legend of Ali in the form of a captivating graphic novel written by Lewis Helfand and beautifully illustrated by Lalit Kumar Sharma and it was launched in the Comic Con Express along with Jungle Book.

Ali is considered to be a true champion and one of the greatest sportsmen ever by many critics.

He was not only a Boxer but also a philanthropist and a social activist. Ali, as most of us would know, was born Cassius Clay, but converted to Islam after joining the Nation of Islam out of protest against racial discrimination, which was predominant and popular in the 60s in America, despite several laws and social protests against any form of racial prejudice.

Ali has been a legend and an inspiration to people of all ages and era, and not without reason.

Lewis Helfand has done a fantastic job of compacting the immensely colorful like of Ali in a slightly less than 100 page comic, which was then brought to life by none other than our very own resident genius, Lalit Kumar Sharma.

Click on the image to view full size