Sydney Armageddon 2011

Some fool peddling his wares

Jason Paulos busts out a quill

Jason did this great sketch of Charlton Horror host Winnie the Witch

Phil Cornell sketches Sherlock Holmes

J. Scherpenhuizen, Baden Kirgan and Bruce Mutard discuss the fine art of Comics

Jason Franks and Haden Fryer

Bruce Mutard and Jason Paulos

Noah Van Sciver and lady friend

Noah drew me this great sketch of cartoonist Joe Matt, a favourite of both of us.

Me and Bruce Mutard basking in the warm afterglow of comics

Cuteness Orgy

People

The First full Armageddon event at the Superdome in Sydney this year was a quieter affair than the Supanova events held there every year. I was invited to share a booth with the various creators published by Blackhouse Comics, publishers of my recent book, The Guzumo Show. Although it was a quiet weekend sales-wise I did get to meet some really nice people, some had bought my work at previous events and were eager to see new material, one guy from Tasmania had heard about my work from the Melbourne comics podcast NON CANONICAL , I swear those guys have helped fund my meth habit for the next six months.

Lance Henrikson swung by and also Patricia Tallman who was a really nice down to earth lady. I really dug her in Savini's Night of the Living Dead remake and she bought a bunch of comics after telling us how exciting Comic Con is every year. The one guest I really wanted to meet was Noah Van Sciver, an indy cartoonist from America. I think the event was a bit underwhelming for him, but he entertained me by doing me a sketch of Joe Matt. I picked up his latest work Blammo #6 and #7 which are fantastic reads. Also looking forward to his in-the-works graphic novel about Abraham Lincoln, who I have been fascinated with ever since I read about an android facsimile of him in Philip K Dick's We can Build You.

The best part of the convention was hanging out with folk like Chris Sequira, Jason Paulos, Jason Franks and Bruce Mutard and just blabbing about comics. It is such a solitary activity it is interesting to find out how other people fit comic making into their lives.

I also briefly spoke with Daniel Zachariou organiser of competing event Supanova and he was very friendly and gracious, stating that he expected Armageddon would grow as it established itself. I have spoken to Daniel a few times previously and he is always very generous with his time and supportive of my work even though it's not his 'thing'. From what I have heard he is a genuine comics fan.

Big thanks to Blackhouse for having me, my Aunty and Uncle for accommodating me and Miss Mai for the photos.

Sydney Armageddon Haul

Picked up 4 charlton comics for $20, An issue of Steve Bissette's Tyrant for $1, $5 for an old Kirby Cap America comic that I remember buying from a spinner rack in the late seventies and an issue of Red circle Sorcery with some great Gray Morrow work. I knew Gray Morrow had passed but EEEK! man, Jason Paulos, clued me up that he had taken his own life in the vein of Jack Cole and Wally Wood. The First time I ever came across Gray Morrow's work was in Edge of Chaos #3 from Pacific Comics, I later enjoyed a run of his on the original Jonah Hex series.

A couple issues of Blammo, #6 and #7 which had only come off the press a couple days ago from the visiting indy cartoonist Noah Van Sciver. He mentioned #7 is not even available in the States yet! Scoop. I hope they can bring more indy cartoonists out. The latest issue of Kagemono, Horror Anthology presided over by my pal Jason Franks , The Fuglies #1 for $5 from Steve Carter, Antoinette Rydyr (Scar) - crazy hyper violent psycho sexual mutant comics, gorgeously illustrated by the masters of Australian horror.

I used to go spending mad at these things but my tastes have luckily become a bit more discerning. Luckily for the sake of my wallet.

The Blue Mountains

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