A guide to Brisbane comics in 2012

A guide to Brisbane Comics in 2012

There isn't a lot of information regarding the work being done by comic creators in balmy Brisbane, but by no means is there nothing going on in the scene.  In the following posts i'll try and describe to you a comprehensive list of the works in the Brisbane small press scene during 2012.  If i've missed anything let me know.

Anthologies

Phatsville Comix #17
Phatsville, the brainchild of Giles Kilham, John Stewart, Ben Constantine, Glenn Manders and Tom Scarlett, is now ten years old and at it's best.  Ten years makes them some kind of institution in the Brisbane comics scene, they're not big self promoters and they don't go around telling people they're Brisbane's best comic, but in their own way they've become just that.  A reliably interesting anthology of ideas from Brisbane's warped cartoonists, submissions are welcome and if you're published you get a copy of the comic you appear in.  This one has a beauty of a cover by Ben C and the return of Simon Pitter; Pants Shitter and Ernie Andrews
 You can buy it here

Groovy Gravy #14
I don't know if Bjelke-Peterson was still in charge when Groovy Gravy issue 1 came out. it's been a long time.  In it's hey-day the Groovy Gravy anthology had legends Mike Mungus, Brett Williams and Mr J involved and was a melting pot of 90's Brisbane comics talent.  Mr J remains and it's still helmed by Brad Daniels and now features a whole new crew of Brisbane up and comers.  Maybe it's lost it's grunge era, share house vibe that was characteristic of Brett Williams off the wall style but the grand daddy of Brissy comics is still full of funny stuff and still a place for Brisbane comics people to publish their work.

Ashcan #'s 4-7
The new kids on the block when it comes to anthology comics in Brisbane are enthusiastic and prolific.  These guys are really earnest in getting themselves out there and establishing a community of Brisbane comics creators with regular meet ups and social networking.  They often try to team up writers and artists to varying effect, definitely worth keeping an eye on these cats.

More Brisbane Comics

Best of Bad Teeth Comics
by Bad Teeth
Bad Teeth's crowd funded behemoth is a thing of beauty.  Candy wrapper colours, and repetitive design somehow go hand in hand with weirdo photos and oddball comic strips to create an idiosyncratic vision.

Holiday USA
by G-man and J-Stew
These mates from Phatsville, take us on their holiday to San diego Comic con and we cant help but be charmed by these symbiotic battlers from Brisbane as they confront the weird that is America.  Well executed, well written, these guys are at their best here.

The Incredible Love
by Brett Weekes
The radioactive colours on this baby, coupled with big black silhouetted dong on the title character shouldn't make you, but you do end up falling in love with this book.  Old Brett Weekes' first comic book in a long while is part love letter, part hulk parody.  Warning: Brett has now grown a beard.

Giants#1(of 5)
by J-Stew
If German expressionist cinema did Game of Thrones as a comic book it would look a lot like this vicious mag.  J-Stew's long awaited post apocalyptic tale about Giants and a man named Jack  is a great book and just the start of what looks like will be an epic adventure. 

Plump Oyster #9
by Ben (sea) Constantine
The demented genius of this book must have legions of fans by now, so i won't carry on.  Ben's stuff just keeps getting better and better and if you haven't tried Plump Oyster i highly recommend it!

Space Pyrates #1-5
Only just discovered this one at Brisbane Supanova.  It's a webcomic but i've included it because they've also printed five issues of it as real honest to gosh comic books.  Having read the first one, i'm keen to see more.  Like It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia by way of Monkey Island 3.

Heroic Heroes Special Issue 3
By Will Kelly
Of course i was going to put my work out there in this list.  Heroic Heroes Special #3 features the very first appearance of The Heroic Heroes: West End.  Also has the Seven Year shit and Stocking Licker's Mum stories.

Heroic Heroes Compendium
This is the collection of all of the Heroic Heroes mini comics that make one epic storyline.

Heroic Heroes Adventures
And this one collects the short stories from Phatsville #9-15

Turbo Supermax #1
by Ryan Vella

This homicidal superhero comic from Ryan Vella isn't necessarily a Brisbane comic, but we'll take it. (he's up near Mackay apparently)  Turbo Supermax, a well drawn hate letter to Spider-man, is a sprawling 52 page cacophany of invention, violence, drug use and weird sex. 

BurgerForce
by Jackie Ryan
This fumetti has been going on for a while now and has a really interesting premise and some nicely designed covers.  

The Soldier Legacy
by Paul Mason
The Soldier Legacy is a popular book put out by Black House Comics about an Aussie soldier superhero.  Nicely drawn and written, very much in the style of the American Mainstream.

Bubble Babes
by Mel Stringer
This one is a colouring-in book, but the creator of Girlie Pains is one of Brisbane's best comix people and it would be a crime not to include her work in any list of Brisbane books.

Despicable Man 1 &2
by Cam-El
Depraved comic strip by Cam, wrong on so many levels there are over 100 pages of this humorous and depraved strip.

EDIT*
Funny Web Comic and Blow The Cartridge
by Cameron Davis
Cameron kindly pointed out that he has been working hard on his own comics for years.  And yes he has, and indeed his comics are funny!  Cameron has been contributing to Groovy Gravy for some time now.  You can keep an eye on his web comics here and here.

No new titles from Shaun Craike but he's been working hard on a story for the new Blackguard.

Eddie Campbell lives around these parts too and i would encourage anyone who hasn't to try some of his work.

So that's 2012 in Brisbane comics in no particular order and no preference.  Apologies to mainstream comics guys who come from Brisbane, just trying to spotlight alternative and independant stuff here.

Nothing critical from me either, this is about promoting the work of fellow comics crew.  If you're looking for something more critical check out The Australian Comics Journal , or start your own comics review site, or post in the comments section.

If i've missed your work it's through ignorance or stupidity, not because i don't rate your comic.  So let me know if i've missed you.  Or do your own Brisbane comics summary!    

Thanks for reading and go and support your local comics community.

Where to buy Brisbane comics
Rocking Horse Records
Comics Etc
Ace Comics
Milk Shadow Books

P.S A bunch of Brisbane comics just arrived at Pulp Fiction Comics in Adelaide, so check it out South Australians.