Jan-March '23 NEWSLETTER masoncomics.com.au |
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#20. A quick hello All quiet and busy here, just a couple of things, including new Phantom short story out in March. |
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The Phantom #1940 Out NOW! March 2023 saw the next short story of The Phantom: Vietnam drop in issue 1940. Currently out across Australia in newsagents, or direct to order from Frew Publications, this story sees an old Lee Falk & Sy Barry character in the Mekong Delta. The image on the left is the front cover by Lauren Marshall, and the image below with The Phantom on a 'Nam-inspired Skull Throne, is the back cover by me, based on a commission sketch I did for a friend and longtime superphan of the Ghost who Walks. (I also did a similar one for another Friend and superphan, maybe for a trade paperback gallery appearance in the future.)
This is one of a handful of stories I wrote and drew for Frew last year after the "greenlight" recommenced on this series after pencils were halted at the beginning of the pandemic. I hope people like them. Given the unknown frequency of publication (or order of appearance), I write this series with the goal to have each story a "done in one", but an overarching thread to those following along. The first one appeared in The Phantom 2019 annual, and we have a while to go before the series wraps with each story a different theme, locale, character or event of the War. More news and tidbits as we go. | | |
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FLOCK #1 Digital Comic now available! If you missed the kickstarter to FLOCK #1, and the physical book is not your go, Gestalt Comics have made available FLOCK #1 via Global Comix: | | |
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ComicOZ's Best Australian Original Comic for 2022 is... Just wanted to say thank you to Nat Karmichael for the kind words on FLOCK #1, and The Phantom: Until the Final Bell (The Phantom #1925), and the kind words about my cartooning in general. It's very much appreciated :D
A nice recap of other Australian comic books out there for people to check out too: | | |
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Thanks Chronicle Chamber and readers :D I would be rude not to point out that each year the gents at ChronicleChamber.com do a Phantom "Phan" callout for their best issues and comic makers working on the character for that publishing year and I appreciated their efforts at highlighting their favourite stories, writers, artists and issues. Fan efforts in comics have been documented in books and academic papers as the only way we keep track of moments and moments in this invisible niche media, so any attempt to be positive about what's out there and keep the torch burning for this classic comic strip character is admirable.
They did a "recent" (Over Christmas 2022/January 2023) recap of the year and though internet polls are a dicey thing, it's always appreciated to hear people's thoughts on the writing and scribbling.
Cheers gents. | | |
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Griffith Animation Short Film Corner #1 THE HUNT (2018) This week my 3rd year Animation preproduction class is about to pitch their film ideas to see what the animation production slate will be for 2023. Each year about 50-70 students pitch 20+ stories and animatics (moving storyboards) in groups of 2-5 and some overlap, and via a process of input and careful selection by me, the program convenor and the other full time animation department staff, these are whittled down to 8-10 2D/3D/Stop Motion animation concepts to go into production. It's a tough few weeks from everyone involved; students vying for films to go thru, students working on preproduction tasks to put their best foot forward and meet assessment requirements, me reading scripts and attempt to give advice on stories, cram/revise theory etc. in lectures in a short space of time, plenty of questions and a lot of work from everyone invested. It's not for the faint-hearted and I praise everyone for their diligence and work in this time.
To that end, I'd like to attempt to share from time to time some past student films that are available online to view. Case in point, this first one is one that I was able to also supervise thru production and post-production; by Olivia Rea and produced by Naomi Hurrey, The Hunt (2018). Worth a few minutes of your time. | | |
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TX! Mag 41: Latest medical comic short online: Always an interesting exercise in scribbling dramas. For the completists out there that are curious to see medical comics, here another 8 pager for TX! Mag, written by Charlie Foster, and scribbled by me, with one of my panels blown up for the cover.
If you've seen the other half a dozen I've done in the last couple of years, you can play "Spot the Phantom reference".
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Final words, thought-streams and jibber jabber: Hello to the O.G subscribers, and hello to the new subscribers, and welcome too if you got here from the masoncomics website direct, or any friends and family still hanging with me here, following my stuff. Apologies for the radio silence, were just trying to take care of things here a day at a time, and though my time is limited around work and commitments, we are safe and doing our best. Much love to Amanda and the family while we march on, and thanks too to Amanda for her assistant editing efforts for my work at Frew.
I hope you too are safe and well wherever you are and whatever you're doing.
Warm regards, Paul.
pmason83@gmail.com P.S: Like last time, I'd like to share a peek just between you and me, at another black and white ink drawing of something maybe out later this year. You'll see a colour version, but here's an early look. Cheers all. |
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