August 2011 – Doctor Comics

Today, 28 August 2011, is International Read Comics in Public Day! This celebratory, public reading of comics is being staged for the second time. It began last year and was created, sponsored and promoted by The Daily Cross Hatch. I take pride in participating in this event and have done so on both occasions (see photos below). I chose the location outside my local library in Sydney. The City of Sydney Library branches carry an increasing range of comics and graphic novel titles including some manga. Being comics artist Jack Kirby’s birthday I read the giant X-Men Omnibus that he created with writer Stan Lee. Last year I read early issues of Peanuts by Charles Schulz. I love reading comics in public!

_{Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics seen reading comics in public, Glebe 2011. (Photo by Louise Graber)}

_{Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics participating in the inaugural Reading Comics In Public 2010 event. (Photo by Louise Graber)}

UPDATE 2012. I participated in this event for the third time in 2012 when I read ZAP Comix No.4 on front the front steps of the Art Gallery of NSW in Sydney (photo below). In the full sunshine what a perfect place it was to enjoy comics art! This particular comic features a dazzling psychedelic cover design by Victor Moscoso which the morning sunlight illuminated. I often read comics in pubs and cafes, on public transport and in parks and gardens. I love reading comics…always have…thanks to my Dad!(see my first blog post).

_{Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics can sometimes be seen Reading Comics In Public, even on the steps of the Art Gallery of NSW. (Photo by Louise Graber)}

UPDATE 2013: At the beach!

Reading Brian Ralph's Daybreak at the beach at dawn. — _{Reading Brian Ralph’s comic Daybreak in public near the pool on the beach at dawn. (Photo-© 2011 by Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

UPDATE 2016: VIVID Festival, Sydney Harbour Bridge

Reading Comics-Unflattening — _{Reading the graphic novel Unflattening by Nick Sousanis in public under lights with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background. (Photo-© 2011 by Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Have you ever read comics in public…on a bus, train, plane, outside a gallery whilst waiting for a friend, or in a waiting room? How did it feel? Not that it is much of an issue these days…but back in my Primary and Secondary School days, my teachers the Dominican Nuns and Christian Brothers respectively…both banned comics from the classroom and the reading of them by their students…let alone the public reading of them! I would love to hear of your experiences. What was your choice of title and the location for your reading? Did you get any public response? And, if it was at school, did you ever have the comic you were reading confiscated and never returned? What happened to it? Was it burnt, or shredded, or torn? Let me know. In the meantime enjoy your comics reading wherever you are…in the park, on the bus, in the waiting room, at the opera or home in bed. Till next post, Michael.

Production of the first issue of my comic Blotting Paper continues despite delays from my ongoing academic commitments. However, my intention of having the first chapter finished by the end of the year remains. Comparing research to production I have discovered the enormous amount of time it takes to design and create artwork. I can write a thousand word critique of a comic in just over an hour…but creating one page of comics art will take me several times that. Many of the comics creators that I have interviewed say their rate was “a day per page”. I wish!…but I don’t really mind as I love the feeling of being deep in creative space. At the moment, besides printmaking, I am also doing some drawing. I love it and the mental space it takes me into. I like the feeling of getting lost in there.

_{My ink sketch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first chapter of my comic…it could use a little more detail, perhaps? (Pen and ink drawing-© 2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

The bridge and Doctor Comics, pen and ink drawing collage #1(© 2011 Michael Hill) — _{Rough collage of Doctor Comics out walking and contemplating near the Sydney Harbour Bridge…a rough draft design, including corrections, in pen and ink.}
_{(© 2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

I am experimenting with a range of image-making media to produce the artwork and text. Below are some of the images that have been generated through printmaking at Studio Buljan, in Sydney. (My thanks to Katharine Buljan for the access to her studio). These prints appear in the first chapter of my comic The Ingurgitator. The chapter begins in sunshine in Sydney then things take a dark turn into the subconscious terrain. There is also the evening ritual wherein Doctor Comics cooks dinner…then drinks wine whilst reading his recent comics purchases. During this time he converses with his feline friends. The evening often ends in a dream state that is a melange of art, thought, taste and reflection.

_{Doctor Comics has his evening proverbial swim in a sea of sumi ink.}
_{(Monotype print-© 2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

_{Losing one’s footing and feeling out-of-depth and the fear of ‘going under’.}
_{(Monotype print-© 2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

_{Struggling for breath and sinking into the blackness.}
_{(Monotype print-© 2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

These images are monoprints, so called for their singularity…only one of each is made. However, by re-inking the block and marginally alterating the images, a degree of continuity is maintained. This enables a sequential element to come into play. I have learned this approach in creating the artwork for animation projects. For me, working in printmaking, comics and animation is both labour saving and exhaustive. The images come up quickly but the act of re-inking and printing the block destroys the originals. There is no going back. I enjoy working with the inky element of printmaking. It is so graphic! Any thoughts? Comments about this and my posts are welcome, Michael.

Doctor Comics

Month: August 2011

READING COMICS IN PUBLIC

BLOTTING PAPER The Comic: Production Report No.3