Category: comic art

RESEARCHING COMICS ART: Fifth Reading

Archive of Australian Alternative Comics, Art, comic art, Comics November 4, 2023

Welcome to another visit to my little library collection of comics, books, journals and associated comics art paraphernalia. These are related to my research, study and enjoyment of comics art. In this series of posts I intend to focus on a particular creator, series, book, art or event.

A painting by Louise Graber of a page from her comic Black Light Angels…a comic by Jis & Trino…a Halloween pumpkin card by Yayoi Kusama…skeleton doll and sculpture The Cloud by Richard Black are grouped for Halloween and Day of the Dead!

In a decorated corner of the art studio for a previous Halloween we set up a thematic grouping. This included of an actual Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) skeleton doll from Mexico. It had been split into two halves. The skull and torso are on the left and legs to the right. These are positioned on a sculpture by Richard Black called The Cloud. The comic by the Mexican comics artists JIS & TRINO is open on the title page. The skeleton doll has shed its legs and is relaxing on the wooden Cloud sculpture. There is also a Dancing Pumpkin postcard by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Behind this is a painting of an after-death scene from Louise Graber‘s Gothic comic Black Light Angels. (Photo-© 2012 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).

Here is that ‘moment after death’ scene in Issue X of the BLACK LIGHT ANGELS by Louise Graber. The version of this panel at the top of this post has been enlarged, coloured and framed for gallery exhibition. (Photo-©2023 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)

This photo of an interpretation of Edvard Munch’s “Scream” painting…as a decorated, demolished cake in a shop window in Tokyo somehow comes to mind at this time. Perhaps it is picking up on the cheeky attitude apparent in the work of those two Mexican artists.

The other book featured in this post is the large format comic El Santos y El Peyote en La Atlántida…created by the Mexican cartoonists Jis and Trino (see photo below). I met them at ICAF (Fifth Annual International Comic Arts Festival: “Culture, Industry, Discourse,”) Georgetown University and Bethesda, Maryland, USA. The conference was presented in association with THE EXPO (Small Press Expo), September 16-18, 1999. It was the first overseas comics art conference that I attended. I presented a paper based on my own research into comics art. What a magical experience it turned out to be! Meeting overseas colleagues then attending a Comic-Con was a rewarding juxtaposition. Then dining on Mexican food, a culinary rarity in my home city of Sydney at the time, was a treat!. (Photo-© 2012 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).

The International Journal Of Comic Art, or IJOCA for short. I always carry an issue of this in my brief case.

At this event I first met  Gene Kannenberg, Jr. along with several other American comics based academics including Professor John A. Lent. The good professor was launching the first issue of his International Journal of Comic Art or IJOCA…(see later issue of journal that I carry in my brief-case in photo above)…other academics included Charles Hatfield, Jeff Miller, Ana Merino, Mark Nevins, Michael Rhode, Marc Singer, Guy Spielmann, Jeff Williams, Joseph “Rusty” Witek, and Pascal Lefevre from Belgium. Above is that first ever issue of the journal from 1999. It is now nearing a total of 50 published issues, having chalked up 25 years of continuous publication. It also seemed to grow steadily in size over subsequent issues. It turned into the solid block that I affectionately named “THE BRICK”, a metaphorical building block for comics art studies. Go John! (Photo-©2023 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)

The guest Mexican artists, Jis and Trino, made a playful presentation of their comics art work at the conference. They also each did a drawing of me in my copy of their book (see photo below). Their comic El Santos y El Peyote en La Atlantida is humorous, satirical, risqué in parts and in Spanish. Above is a cover shot of Issue 4, the one I bought from them at the EXPO in Maryland. To see more of their work both Jis and Trino are quite active on social media these days…search for: trinomonero on Instagram, @trinomonero on Twitter and jis_monero on Instagram. (Photo-©2023 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)

Above are the drawings of me by Jis and Trino. They took me by surprise with their flamboyant cartoons and their playful conversation. They even offered me a glass of tequila…at a morning session of the conference. (Photo-©2023 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)

The artist, Louise Graber, at an exhibition of her work. She is standing alongside an enlarged and painted panel from her comic BLACK LIGHT ANGELS. (Photo-© 2012 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).

I reiterate the importance of my attendance at ICAF (Fifth Annual International Comic Arts Festival: “Culture, Industry, Discourse,”). It assisted the development of my research into comics art. I was fortunate in being introduced to, and seeing the presentations of, a group of international researchers into comics art. I also obtained the first ever issue of the International Journal Of Comic Art from 1999. I eventually became the Australian representative on the International Editorial Board of the journal. The journal enabled me to read a plethora of research articles on comics art by international scholars. I also had my own articles on research into Australian comics published. Along with my acquisition of it at the conference, it has proved an inspiring and motivating experience.

My LIBRARY posts form part of my graphic based material. This includes painting, printmaking and cartooning…including artwork for my comic and graphic novel BLOTTING PAPER: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics.

 (Original text, photos, artwork and scans-©2024 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).

MY COMICS ART TRAVELS: Japan

animation, character design, comic art, Comics, Japanning, printmaking, Travels November 1, 2021

This post features one of my many visits to Japan to study and research anime, manga, comics and cartoons…not to mention fashion and food!

Doctor Comics in Japan, outside of Takadanobaba Station…under the railway tracks (see steel girder supporting a section of the tracks above the mural at top of photo). Here, near his former Tokyo Studio, is a memorial mural to the anime and manga artist, Osamu Tezuka, October 2016. (Photo by Louise Graber)

Japan is sometimes referred to as the Character Kingdom. This is due to its massive merchandising of manga, comics, film and anime figurines and collectibles. (Photo by Louise Graber)

Doctor Comics recognises Anime and Manga characters designed by Shigeru Mizuki, in the toy store, Yamashiroya, in Ueno, Tokyo. (Photo by Louise Graber)

Doctor Comics studies an original scroll in a window of the bookshop area of Tokyo called Kanda. (Photo by Louise Graber)
Another print shop in Kanda… (Photo-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
In a shop window in Kanda Doctor Comics finds figurines of characters from Shigeru Mizuki’s manga and anime KITARO. (Photo-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
A beer ad with cartoon figures (Doctor Comics often enjoys a beer whilst reading manga).
(Photo-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
…and D.I.Y. printmaking, at Ogawamachi Railway Station. Here one can print the station logo on a post card at the stamp desk provided for passengers -see below.
(Photo-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).
Stamp and stamp pad plus work desk await.
(Photo-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).

The ON MY TRAVELS… posts form part of my graphic based material. This includes painting, printmaking, cartooning and scrapbooking plus the odd bit of animation.

(All text, photos and artwork-©2021 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).

 

MY COMICS ART HISTORY AND RESEARCH.

art postcards, comic art, Comics, graphic novels, printmaking May 21, 2018

Although not initially included in my published posts I wish to add further details of my background story…how I arrived at my present moment celebrating and researching comics art…acquiring my DOCTOR COMICS moniker…detailing aspects of my teaching, research and passage from technical work into academia…and subsequent research, publishing and the writing and presenting of conference papers based on that research…as well as a series of supplementary creative projects.

Doctor Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics (Photo by Alison Van Hees).

ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS

PROFILE: Subsequent to my artistic work in theatre and film, I have nearly 30 years tertiary experience in academia. This involved teaching, research, publication, course design, management and direction…plus consultation, working within the art and design and humanities disciplines…at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels and on both a local and international basis.

My Ph.D by virtue of the thesis:…A Study Of Contemporary Australian Alternative Comics 1992-2000 With Particular Reference To The Work Of Naylor, Smith, Danko And Ord…Division Of Society, Culture, Media And Philosophy, Macquarie University, 2003.

On completion of my Ph.D. at Macquarie University in Sydney I donated my collection of comics art research materials…including my collection of more than 500 comics…to the National Library of Australia, as the Michael Hill Collection of Australian Comics.


Master of Arts by virtue of the thesis…Slave To The Rhythm: Animation At The Service Of The Popular Music Industry…Faculty of Humanities And Social Sciences, University Of Technology, Sydney, 1995.
Graduate Diploma in Media, Australian Film and Television School, 1986.

Certificate in Group Work, South Australian Institute of Technology.

ACADEMIC POSITIONS

Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building: University of Technology, Sydney…as Lecturer in Film and Video, Visual Communication Department, Faculty of Design

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY, SYDNEY

Course Design and Management

Co-creator and first Director of the Master of Animation Course, spread across three Faculties of the university.

Director of Postgraduate Design

Director of Visual Communication Design Department

SYDNEY COLLEGE OF THE ARTS

Lecturer in Film and Video

Technical Officer in Art and Design

RESEARCH

In the comics art area and previously in the fields of film, video and theatre. Australian representative on the International Editorial Board of the International Journal Of Comic Art, 2000 to present, 2025.

An issue of the International Journal Of Comic Art…I always carry the current issue in my brief case.

PUBLICATIONS

List of published articles on comics art. (NOTE: Work in progress: details to be added.)

PRESENTATIONS

Lectures, Tutorials and Panel Participation-multiple, local and international. (NOTE: Work in progress: details to be added.)

EXHIBITIONS

Participating in Group show on comics theme at KNOT GALLERY, Sydney.

(NOTE: Work in progress: details to be added.)

AWARDS

(NOTE: Work in progress: details to be added.)

CREATIVE WORKS

My design work, an animation storyboard, was selected for and exhibited at the International Design Exhibition in Osaka ’87.

Professional involvement in Fashion Industry in the role of fashion video director…this was one of many I made for the fashion designer Katie Pye and others.
A conceptual illustration of mine for the academic design journal FORM/WORK.

(NOTE: Work in progress: further details may be added.)

My cover illustration on design theory for an issue of the academic journal FORM/WORK.

Poster for launch of first issue of my comic BLOTTING PAPER: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics… and exhibition of creative prints at Hondarake Bookshop in Sydney.
My exhibition was launched by Gene Kannenberg, Jr. on a live cross from New York.

(NOTE: Work in progress: further details may be added.)

The bookshop launch took place under a canopy of torn wood-block prints…that I had made for my experimental animation Toxic Fish that was screened at the Art Gallery of NSW.

(NOTE: Work in progress: further details may be added.)

My calligraphic brush painting portrait of Professor Stephen Lee for the cover of his biography.
My illustration on the cover of the book.

(NOTE: Work in progress: further details may be added.)

FILM

I have made a few independent art films…this is one of them, BLACKING OUT A BLONDE…screened at the Sydney Film Festival and the 1980 Australian Film Awards…that’s Jane Campion playing one of the many blondes in my film. She’s not too happy about the guy trying to kiss her on the knee…so she is going to whack him on the head with her bag!
My film BLACKING OUT A BLONDE was screened at the Sydney Opera House..in competition for the 1980 Australian Film Awards!

(NOTE: Work in progress: further details may be added.)

IN THE STUDIO

A postcard printmaking session in the small studio…

(NOTE: This is a work in progress: further images and details to be added.)

THEATRE

That’s me front and centre, kneeling and bowing to Romulus in a Sheridan Theatre production directed by Colin Ballantyne.

Initially, back in the day, I thought I was headed for a career in theatre. I enrolled in some drama classes in Adelaide at the Sheridan Theatre…but quickly realised that I would rather work in production than in acting and performance. Anyway those acting classes led to a walk-on part in the play ROMULUS THE GREAT…by Swiss playwright Friedrich Durrenmatt…(that is me down on my knee in the photo above…there is an umlaut in his name but I can’t quite work out how to insert it)…that was staged as part of the 1968? Adelaide Festival of Arts. After that I concentrated on writing and direction…directing and co-writing the play ENTH with Des Rutherford and subsequently both writing and directing the play BECOMING. These two productions received good reviews…that got me into NIDA, the National Institute of Dramatic Art, in the Production Course in Sydney. This led to jobs in professional theatre in Sydney. Then I headed off to London, as you do, thinking I would work in theatre in London…but at the time of my arrival there were around 12,000 stage workers unemployed…so I ended up seeking temporary work through a an employment agency…and ended up on an assembly line at the GEC factory in Wembley. This helped me pay my rent…anyway by the end of the week I was promoted to the head of the row…noting and filling in gaps in the assembly caused by lax workers…who were slow to respond to the passing unit on the conveyor belt or who has simply fallen asleep. Talking about sleep I had set my alarm for 4.30 a.m. to get from South Kensington to Wembley for the 6.00 a.m. start. Little did I know that within a month I would be working at Harrods selling refrigerators…and the walk from my home base in South Kensington to Harrods only took around 20 minutes! And I met a few famous actors who wanted to buy a fridge. Then I was transferred to the Toy Department for the busy Summer Sales season where I was much happier. And I met a few more famous actors who wanted to buy toys for boys and girls. But I didn’t stay there long. I had registered with an employment agency for temporary work. First stop was a betting shop where I was board boy…writing up the names of the horses for each race…and then the results and winning dividends. I was up and down all afternoon taking advantage of the white board with my felt tipped pen…doing the odd little doodle and drawing of cartoon horses with whipping jockeys. It was fun…but didn’t pay so well…not nearly as much as what settlers got…the ones who worked out payments for winning bets…this was way before computers. It turned out…that as I had the mathematical skills…I was able to change my job in the betting shop to that of a settler. Better pay! Hooray!

(NOTE: Work in progress: further details to be added.)

(APOLOGIES: The addition of further details to this and some other of my posts is on my TO DO list. I am slowly making progress with this and I thank you for your patience! Michael)

(All text, photos and artwork-©2018 Dr. Michael Hill).