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.
Doctor Comics 
Graham Rendoth says on October 28, 2015
Hi Michael … If you haven’t seen it yet, thought you might be interested in a comic by x-SCA Reg Lynch (i know u know):
http://www.xoum.com.au/shop/jim-of-a-particular-part-of-the-jungle/
I think he’s working on a second one.
Doctor Comics says on October 28, 2015
Thanks Graham, I shall take a look.
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!
Doctor Comics says on July 26, 2016
Exactly. Apart from writing the odd article and making the odd presentation I am pretty much involved in creative projects of my own making.
Bruce Taylor says on November 20, 2018
Hey Doctor Comics, so nice to see Dean Tarjavaara’s name on the internet. Thanks. Dean was a dear friend and collaborator on our comic Bump and Snore. We put out 8 issues in the mud 90’s and then slacked off, until now. http://www.bumpandsnore.com for more news and check out Dean’s long lost post: http://www.bumpandsnore.com/blog/2018/11/19/a-history-of-comics-in-canberra-part-one-by-dean-tarjavaara
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
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
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