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Just a quick post to let you all know about where to get Knight-Edge comic books, including the latest released issue #4:

Stockist/Retailers (as of current writing):
- Alternate Worlds (Windsor, VIC)
- Minotaur (Melbourne, VIC)
- Ace Comics & Games (Brisbane, QLD)
- Kings Comics (Sydney, NSW) also available to online from them here
- Pulp Fiction Comics (Adelaide, SA) hopefully they'll have them this week
- Phase Two Comics (online) will depend when they get listed on the site

Of course, all comics including issues #1, #2, #3, #4 and the limited Shiranui are also available from the official website, knight-edge.com.

End of plug. Apologies for the spam. We now return you to normal programming.

Last Saturday, 28 July, was Doujicon Z (2) and we had a great time! I think given our previous experience from last year and the familiarity with the place and whatnot, held in again at Monash Uni, Caulfield campus, we had less anxiety. No new comic book ready for launch this time either but Shiranui hadn't really been sold publicly since Supanova Sydney last year. Felicity, my gf, also decided to make and sell some really delicious home-made peanut brittle. In terms of sales, we sold about 31 comic books, which is more than double what we sold last year at the inaugural Doujicon. It was also always great meeting and catching up with familiar faces as well as new ones at the con.

This entry is a response to my friend, Kevin Patrick, Comics Down Under's entry about how I got hooked on comics.

For those who don't know already, I am originally from Hong Kong and moved to Australia when I was 9 years old. My mum and grandpa used to buy me manga like Doraemon, Dr. Slump, Game Center Arashi and Ngau-chai 牛仔 (Cow Boy) to keep me occupied and/or distracted. In terms of creating comics though, I used to create my own little flip book comics featuring Spider-man or Bugs Bunny cartoon series characters like Road Runner. I got a Captain America action figure from a Kris Kringle at my dad's work on Children's Day (April 4 in Hong Kong) one year and used to love watching Spider-man & Friends on TV amongst other anime series.

When I came to Australia, I was really into Garfield and then MAD Magazine because my friend, Terence, had brought an issue and had shown me all these funny short parody comics of popular movies and celebrities, Spy vs. Spy and that fold 'em up inside back cover. I brought MAD every now and then but it wasn't until when I went to the Royal Melbourne Show around when I was 12 years old that I was really hooked by comics. From memory, I was given a limited allowance to buy whatever showbags I wanted and I remember going around comparing the contents of different showbags making sure I picked the right one. One important factor I was looking out for, was it had to have a comic in it. The comic I got was What the --?! #5 from Marvel Comics. I really liked it because it was similar to MAD magazine where all of the stories were parodies of super-heroes I had heard of before but never really read about. It had a really funny opening story about Wolverine vs. the Punisher, a pin-up of Colossus and Magneto by Jim Lee, a L.E.G.I.O.N story by Whilce Portacio an Incredible Hulk story. I was really hooked and wanted comics to read, so I went to my local newsagent about a few weeks later and choose two that I really liked visually. They were Amazing Spider-man #325 (drawn by Todd McFarlane, conclusion to the Assassin Nation Plot storyline) and Spectacular Spider-man #157 (drawn by Sal Buscema, featuring Electro & Shocker). After this, I pretty much rode my BMX to the newsagent looking for new comics at least once a week. I started collecting Amazing Spider-man because Erik Larsen just came on board from issue #327 as well as Spectacular Spider-man, Web of Spider-man, and Uncanny X-Men.

Transformers to me was a pretty significant part of my childhood. While it wasn't the best tv cartoon series for me (I rate Astro Boy, Macross/Robotech and Gatchaman above it), the toys themselves provided hours of entertainment and a good ice breaker for new friendships for a boy who hardly knew any English when I first arrived in Australia. It's amazing what pieces of plastic that transforms from vehicles to robots could break all sorts of language barriers.

Was somewhat hesitant when they first announced the new live-action movie of Transformers because, well, this was a pretty important part of my childhood and although I don't specifically own the property of Transformers, I'd prefer if my wonderful memories weren't tainted by an awful Hollywood revision. However, after seeing the movie over the weekend, I'm happy to say that I was not disappointed but the movie far exceeded my expectations!

Transformers the movie is going to be massive. I predict it will break all kinds of box office records and reintroduce the toys to a new generation of kids. It's been a while since I've seen a movie that makes me want to see it again and again before it even gets on DVD.

( Read more... )

Above image: RevolTech series 004 - EVA-01 Test Type.

This year's Comikaze 24 hour Challenge came and went already. I gave it a go once again and here's my entry. I finally got to 24 pages but the result definitely wasn't at the top of my game in terms of art or story-telling. Great stuff to the organisers, sponsors, supporters, all those that participated and all those that read and made comments! Thanks, see you all next year!!

Been really quiet on the work front though. Almost nothing coming in freelance dept. but the good news is that I finally found a permanent full-time job as a Graphic Designer at an IT company. Yay! I start next Wednesday, so I've got my fingers crossed that it'll be a good role and I'll be working with nice people.

Haven't found the inspiration to draw much lately as well. So no progress to report on Knight-Edge #4 I'm afraid. Still working very slowly on those storyboards for that Aussie biker movie that I can't talk about but otherwise, nothing in terms of personal creative projects which I hope to rectify soon.

Wow, looks like it's already coming to that time of the year. It's got a name change this year, it's now known as the ComiKaze 24 Hour Challenge. I've entered the 24 hour comic challenge for the past 5 years and I'm going to make a go of it this year as well. Hopefully I'll finally get to finish that elusive 24 pages.

Also want to plug a new internet sitcom (a webcom?) made by a bunch of very funny and entertaining guys based in New York. The show is called 72nd to Canal and is about the adventures of Lorin and Ray. The pilot is up live on the site now. Although a little bit rough around the edges, I think the show is absolutely hilarious and well worth the price of admission (it's free!). Check it out.

Here are some upcoming anime that I reckon will wet some undies!