#23. How is it April already?!

Welcome those interested in my comic book work and stuff. Hope you're well. A bit to catch up on some news of things recent, and coming up, some free sneak peaks at stuff, and thank you for following along.

For a look at the work Jakub does to promote Australian Comics overseas, check out the link to the exhibit here:

https://www.illustrateyourlife.com/ace-china

Thought-streams, final words and jibber jabber:

As always, thank you to the O.G subscribers to this newsletter, and hello to the new subscribers. Welcome too if you got here from the masoncomics website direct, social media, or any friends and family still hanging with me here, following my stuff.

Still contemplating Patreon...if anyone is interested?: I'm still grappling with the idea of what people might want to see; W.I.P of current pages? Serialised past issues of comics? More extensive sneak previews? Video sessions of me drawing and chatting? Small tutorials?...???

Projects on the burner:

1. As mentioned above, on the drawing board currently is The Phantom in 'Nam. Getting this Phantom series to a (hopefully still on the cards) trade paperback is my "white whale". It's progressing, I'm at the 11th story currently, 8 have seen publication. I don't wish to compromise the natural unravelling of the story, but at the same time, I'm aware the clock is ticking, and my dutiful assistant editor Amanda encouraged a rethink. So I recently took a machete to some concepts in the outline, in efforts to still include the ideas I had in mind, but save on pages, and start ramping up to the finale. Probably better in the long run re: price point/production, and my sanity, which will be tested when I then have to decide on the colour treatment for all the pages. Watch this space. (Would the work in progress be something that people would be interested in seeing and hearing about as it develops via Patreon? Let me know.

    

2. A "How to" Comic Book Manual: the cumnination of my doctoral research paper and my comic book university course, all in one volume; including sample scripts, sample designs, thumbnails, roughs, inks, colours, lettering, the works. I'm also doing this as a series of kids volumes: first one I'm currently writing is how to draw characters & creatures. I'll follow with How to draw pictures which is all the visual story/comic panels essentials, but without all the technical language, and more pictures.

    

3. The above, but to present as an online course eventually available from my website. Putting pieces into place. Course content first.
    

4. After handing in a recent Academic research book chapter on Australian action/superhero comics past and recent, I've also been accepted to write a chapter in an American university call for papers re: Methodologies of Australian war comics past and present. Due in June, it's getting there, amongst the juggle.
    

5. Also slowly chipping away at FLOCK #2, (and storyboards for a short film based on FLOCK). It's moving forward. Slowly, but forward.

    

6. So a while ago I was asked by a local publisher with an emerging comic line to resurrect the Soldier Legacy series I started my comics studies with back in 2009. As much as I'd love the idea of just handing over 6-7 issues of the comic (and wrapping up the final issue I started but stopped for Eldritch Kid, and Kid Phantom), the original first few issues I can see all the errors (with good cause; I was learning as I drew them as part of my doctoral research). I hate the idea of having wider distribution of work I'm not happy with. So, slowly (really slowly), I've started to redraw the first issue. I'm in no hurry (as you can see, I'm stretched thin everywhere else in terms of projects), BUT, it's happening. I'm trying not to be so pedantic with it, and maybe doing it in a looser style like a poor-man's Darwin Cooke Parker series, might be an approach I take? I don't know. I REALLY want to finish the 'nam series, and FLOCK, and those are the projects in that order are helping to pay bills the most in the short term, so that's where I'm at. But when it's all eventually done, it will make for an interesting comparison: the original stuff, verses THE SOLDIER LEGACY: REDUX. Again, watch this space.

7.  

Recent shows we've enjoyed:

SHOGUN: Solid.You should be watching this.

And if you're a Wolverine fan, you'll see what inspired Claremont and Miller to write the Wolverine in Japan stuff for Marvel in the 1980s. Amanda and I have enjoyed the weekly drop.
 

THE GENTLEMEN: Great series. Grew up on Ritchie films, I remember convincing friends in high school to go watch "Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" immediately. "Snatch" is still S-Tier level, and endlessly quotable. This series was fun. Good to see Vinnie Jones is a support role and Ray Winstone being Ray Winstone. You don't have to see the original "The Gentlemen" movie to watch the series (it is its own thing), but I found it helped in getting the gist of the overall premise.

X-Men '97: Nostaliga kick. I drew stuff from the o.g cartoon in primary school CONSTANTLY. It was my gateway into Marvel comics (albeit I was a Spider-man kid). In year 5, I caught a bus on the weekend to go from one end of the Gold Coast to the other, just to go to the newly opened "Toys R Us" in Southport and buy a wolverine action figure with pocket money.
Watching the original cartoon series now as an adult, it doesn't really stand up- I think the first episode is still solid, but quality was haphazard in terms of animation and keeping characters "on model".
But this current series is really enjoyable. Looks dynamite, and pulling no punches.
Wolverine needs to stab more things. I guess the creators felt Hugh Jackman has that well tapped, so is letting other characters shine in the cartoon.

Looking forward to: THE SYMPATHIZER: Dropping mid April, based on the award-winning book (Currently reading, but it's a tricky read so far.). Given the subject matter, you'll understand why it's my wheelhouse.

Recent Comic Books/Books I've enjoyed:

Richard Stark's PARKER by Darwyn Cooke: The Complete Collection (IDW): WOW. Amazing. I WISH I could tell comic stories like this. Looks like it's dashed out, but with the training of a Master storyteller and cartoonist behind it. It's Influencing most things I'm trying lately, except I feel like I have to slave over something in order for it to look effortless, and I'm too anxious for just dashing something out and expecting readers to like it.

Sadly, Cooke passed away before able to completing all of the Parker Novel adaptations, but the ones he did are amazing. "The Hunter" is solid (If you've seen Mel Gibson's "Payback" from the mid 90s, it will be familiar to you. I'm also on the hunt for Lee Marvin's Point Blank, which is also "The Hunter". Shout out if you have a DVD copy I could borrow :D). I also dig "The Man with the Getaway Face", "Slayground", and "The Score". You can get these in single paperbacks, but the collected edition is fantastic.All done in one stories of the bad guy with a code. If you like Michael Mann's "Heat", you'll dig Parker. I am convinced "Heat 2" is just channelling a Westlake/Stark crime story.

https://www.comicsetc.com.au/products/richard-starks-parker-the-complete-collection

 Firepower vol 1: by Robert Kirkman and Chris Samnee (Image): I picked this one up on sale at Comics Etc. for $5. I don't normally go for Martial Arts comics (ironic, right?) I mean, they usually feel like every other martial arts thing. Dragons, Mystical monks, magic powers, "chi". Kung-Fu Panda without the Panda etc. etc. etc.
This kinda has elements of that, but it's done with some humorous/light-hearted elements, mixed in with the serious nature of the plot and character, throws you into the story and moves at a good pace, plays with the cliches, leaves vol1 (prelude) at an interesting point. I'm mainly here for the visual storytelling and art by Chris Samnee, and knew Kirkman's work (The Walking Dead, etc.), so expected a good read. Samnee's work is stunning as always. The colours by Matt Wilson are also excellent.
Liked it more than I thought I would. I'll give the next volume a go, eventually. https://imagecomics.com/comics/releases/fire-power-by-kirkman-samnee-vol-1-prelude-ogn

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Before I sign off, I'd like to acknowledge the passing of my Granddad who I had heard passed sometime in mid April and who I miss very much. It's been a few years since we've spoken, and I lost touch, but I think about almost daily. Families are complicated, but despite what transpires between them, I choose to remember the good memories and note that in life we do our best to get by with our immediate family and loves ones, and aim to preserve our own mental health as best as we can. Sometimes life pulls people in different directions. I still remember with great fondness when I was growing up, talking and watching action movies, football, martial arts, cameras and whatever tech he'd gotten ahold of, and everything else in between, when I would stay with him and Nanna on trips, or when they use to visit long ago. "You can't go home again", as they say. I went thru my things and found some photos of us together; before I went off to my high school formal in 2000, and during my 1st degree Black Belt taekwon-do grading in 2001. I remember those days well. I will miss our conversation about things we thought were cool. I love you Granddad, and will continue to miss you.

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I sincerely hope you and your family are safe and well wherever you are and whatever you're doing. Thanks for your ongoing support, and appreciation for the comics and drawings. Share the website address for newsletter sign ons if you think you might know someone who would be keen to see this stuff or catch some news and comic info.
 

Warm regards,

Paul.
pmason83@gmail.com

P.S: This month's sneak peek: A story page ;D

Oh, and since I realised he's 15 this year, here's some work in progress on the Soldier Legacy redux, as mentioned above. A long way to go, but in progress nevertheless.