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Issue 19 of my original comic Manta is here! Available to purchase physically through my online store as an A6 zine, as always. Once issue 20 is done I will be putting together books (and digital releases) for issues 16-20, and eventually 1-20! With this issue the "third act" is officially underway. What do you think this city could be? Who peoples it? Is this the end of the journey? Also, say hello to Manta's first (and maybe last 😅) double page spread!

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We be late night posting Some more sketches from a while ago. Tons like this go unshared (at least online) but I like to make an effort every now and then.

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Manta #18 out now

Copied from Instagram Issue 18 of Manta is here, and available to purchase on my web-store! I usually only show the first two pages of my zines as previews, but I had a couple of stand out pages which I was pretty happy with and am just excited to share honestly. I have started using almost-A4 sized page areas for ongoing pages of Manta so we'll see how that goes. . So much for my one zine a month idea - life happens... though this is a particular issue where I had to really figure out what the things that come immediately next look like. We will see if issues in the new year come faster. . If you are new to Manta, and don't mind paying for a $5 zine and shipping, then this is a great time to get into the story - stuff is about to amp up. Otherwise I only have two more issues until I can collate bigger volumes - I'm thinking like 16-20 (latest five issues), 11-20 (latest ten issues), and potentially even 1-20! Until next time.

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Ripped from my Insta post because I'm lazy and it's late " It's been about two and a half weeks, but better late than never... You may recall that at some stage I made a post about Manta (Issues 1 - 10) making the Comic Art Awards of Australia @comicartsaust Shortlist, which meant it was up for an award. The fact I made the Shortlist at all is huge for me - so I was not expecting to actually get an award! Which is what happened - Manta got a Bronze, along with three other Bronze winners, a swathe of Silvers and two Golds. Shame there weren't more awards to go around, as many (WA) comics I love made the Shortlist but were not awarded. Anyway, in terms of thanking people - Firstly, thank you to the CAAA Judges for picking and voting for me! I am greatly honoured, and please know that this has lit a fire under me anew. So thanks again! Thank you to my friends and family for their support and encouragement (especially my dear friend Stella for volunteering her time at all my market tables, champion), to @perthcomicartsfestival for putting on the Market Day every year, @theilloclub for making a space for the local young artist community to grow (though I'm 27 now, so no longer a Young Adult), to everyone who has looked at or talked to me about my comic or just art in general, and most importantly everyone and anyone who has ever purchased a comic, print, or sticker at my market table - even if its just a kind word you shared. Just featured a bunch of preview pages just because! . It's getting late. I need to finish this up. Manta 18 is on its way, one more page to go. Life happens and progress has been slow - but steady. I have been putting extra effort into my pages. What's the point in rushing things? It's already been three years xD Anyway, goodnight!

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Some sketches from my sketchbook

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THE KNOCKOUT KICK

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Manta #17 Cover preview

The cover for Manta 17, which is being worked on right now. Hopefully will get released this month. I don't think I have any markets booked for the rest of the year but I'll let you know if that changes! Otherwise you can always buy stuff on me website. How is the twilight look? Is the landscape too dark? Was hard to get looking ok, and will likely have to reduce the value for printing.

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chapter 1

welcome and thank you for reading cloud guy :) a diary comic from the perspective of a cloud ☁️☁️☁️

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This is how I make my individual Manta/Curse Birds issues, as well as one off mini-comics! Starting with an A3 sized piece of paper will yield an A6 sized comic.

Zines :)

A/N: this has nothing to do with anything. After today’s debacle, I remembered that I used to work at a place that made zines years ago. Wanted to dig more into their history etc. this is for anyone who is interested.

What are zines?

Self-published, DIY fan magazines (zines for short) made often using basic materials like a copy machine and paper.

Where do they come from?

Primarily, fan culture! A way to distribute fan art, writing, etc in small circulation. Though they can also often include original work, pictures, etc.

They were very popular in amateur science fiction communities in the 1950s and 60s.

Often made by hand, using carbon paper to make copies, it is a way to distribute art and ideas and connect with people beyond your immediate surroundings.

Their content can be wide ranging. From comic strips, art, to feminist theory!

Where The 1975 draws from

DIY subcultures are largely intertwined with the Punk scene. So I imagine that’s what the boys were exposed to. Also, Matty is known to collect zines from the 70s. That’s when zines were most popular in the UK, actually.

However I’d note that what the boys call a “zine” is def more high maintenance than what it originally meant to DIY zines!

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Friend convinced me to make a Little Guy fancam. I assumed there was an automatic thing I could put it into, turns out that shit is hand made. This is the best I could do with two hours of work.

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In a madness-induced Manta mania, I inked and completed Manta issue 15 in something close to a week, in time to not only get individual zines of it printed, but also an A5 booklet containing the latest five issues - number 11 through to 15. All 30 of them sold out at PCAF! I am looking into getting more #11-#15 booklets in time, but for now at least issue 15 as a zine is available to buy on my webstore, link in bio.

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This is a long overdue sharing of my contribution for @tokyoalleyperth 's JAM Zine, 2024 edition (the theme was 'Adventure'). I decided to cast my hypothetical non-existent DnD party into a perilous situation somewhere in a deep catacomb. The central figure, Tam Tarlin, is a hedge wizard who's not very good at magic, but can be seen here summoning one hell of a fireball (or something else?). Top left is the human hired muscle, Robert Broad, who is too old for this kind of thing. Bottom right is Mazdakka Monril, fabulous and resplendent dwarf warrior. The only thing more well-kept than his golden armour is his hair. Lastly, we have an unnamed orc-elf, hailing from a far-off monk enclave, seeking the same artefact that our party is. . The Jam Zine book is beautifully made and contains tons of awesome artwork by local artists. I believe it is still available to purchase via Tokyo Alley's bio link but only digitally. I am lucky enough to own a physical copy.

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Bioweapon Megafauna

For Visions Unveiled funding NOW on kickstarter!

If you're a specbio person, I promise you you'll be into this book and should check it out.

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I will be at the Perth Comic Arts Festival! Specifically the Market Day (28th July), which is where you can buy comics from a ton of local Perth artists. It's also a free event! (Table C18)

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I'll be at #supanova Perth at the end of June!

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Curse Birds 4 is free to read - right here! Physical zine copies will be available to purchase soon on my webstore. They will also be sold at my table at Perth Supanova, 29 and 30 of June!

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social media post *screams into abyss*