About

Michael Hill, PhD (a.k.a. Doctor Comics). (Photo by Sarah Borsellino)

Michael Hill, Ph.D. (a.k.a. Doctor Comics)

Artist and Scholar

Former co-creator and founding Director of the Master of Animation course at the University of Technology, Sydney, Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics) has loved comics since his mother bought him some Disney Donald Duck titles by Carl Barks to read when ill as a child. Later, as an academic, his Master’s degree in animation and PhD in comics studies, prompted his introduction on ABC Radio as “Doctor Comics.” A member of the editorial advisory boards of the International Journal of Comic Art, The Comics Grid Journal of Comics Scholarship, and the Q-Collection Comic Book Preservation Project, he has lectured at the Art Gallery of NSW, Electrofringe, DiGiT Expo, Japan Foundation and Powerhouse Museum, has published several research articles, presented papers at local and international conferences and been interviewed many times by the media. At UTS he held course directorial positions in Animation, Interdisciplinary Studies, Postgraduate Design and Visual Communication. Previously, he was Lecturer in Film and Video at Sydney College of the Arts where he made animated and experimental films and videos and learned traditional printmaking techniques. His experience in Art and Design education ranges from technology and management to research. He has also worked as a consultant to educational and cultural institutions including the NSW HSC curriculum study of Anime in Japanese Language and Culture.

Having donated his collection of research materials, the Michael Hill Collection of Australian Comics, to the National Library of Australia he has retired from academia to concentrate on his own creative art projects. He has exhibited at Silicon Pulp Animation Gallery, DAB LAB Research Gallery, Bunker Cartoon Gallery, GAUGE Gallery and the Bald Archy Prize touring exhibitions, and is listed in the Japan Art Directory in Australia. In 2012 he self-published the first issue of his alternative comic Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics. This was followed by a further four issues from 2013 to 2016. All five issues have been compiled into graphic novel form and published on this site. His recently completed project The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi will be added to the Blotting Paper graphic novel as the final chapter.

For his academic profile see the CRITIQUING page and for his creative profile see the CREATING page.

Comments 10

  2. wewerenothing's avatar

    Kay Rodriques says on July 25, 2016

    Oh wow! You are retired an working on your art — doing the thing you like, that is, creating! Awesome!

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    • Doctor Comics's avatar

      Doctor Comics says on June 24, 2019

      Hullo Bruce,
      and my apologies for the late reply to your comment. I haven’t been so active around here for awhile. I remember meeting Dean, possibly at that Sydney exhibition you mentioned, but never got round to interviewing him for my research. He is listed in my thesis, however, as one of the 150 or so identified Australian alternative comics creators, circa 2002, and I vaguely recall arranging to send some of his artwork back to his family, via Anna Brown, after his passing. Good to see you keeping his flag flying.
      Michael

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  4. hoddy1951's avatar

    hoddy1951 says on March 7, 2019

    In search of Spiro’s Xenos

    I’m writing a biography of Carole Rheinstrom (1904-1983). Rheinstrom represented DC Comics from about 1950 to 1983 in selling the company’s products around the world.

    I believe that Xenos has some information about Rheinstrom and I would like to communicate with him.
    Would you kindly help me to do that?

    I would, of course, welcome any information that others have too regarding Rheinstrom.

    Howard Blue, memrevs at sign Gmail dot com
    Forest Hills, NY

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    • Doctor Comics's avatar

      Doctor Comics says on July 22, 2019

      Hullo Howard,
      and my apologies for the late reply to your comment. I haven’t been so active around here for quite awhile.I have also lost contact with Spiros Xenos. I used to meet him once in a while when he visited Sydney, from Melbourne, but we have not met up for years. I shall hunt around and see if I can locate him. I have no information on Carole Rheinstrom, sorry.

      Kind regards,
      Michael

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  5. Gary Dellar's avatar

    Gary Dellar says on December 20, 2025

    Hi Micheal. Can we chat as I produce a Australian Comic Fanzine. Can send you the first two issues as a PDF, they are free to all.

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