Category: Japanning

RESEARCHING COMICS ART: Sixth Reading

Art, Comics, Japanning February 5, 2024

Welcome to another visit to my modest library collection of comics art…with selected books, journals and associated paraphernalia related to my research, study and enjoyment of the comics art medium. This previously published post…from my now deleted ON THE COFFEE TABLE series…has been re-edited and transferred to the new FROM MY LIBRARY series as the Sixth Reading. It documents items from my comics art library and research collection that pertain to manga and mangaka.

It was looking likely that I would have a yōkai themed Xmas…with master mangaka Shigeru Mizuki (1922-2015) material on my reading list. Due to a backlog, these manga readings did not get underway until after the New Year period. It proved well worth the wait as it was a wonderful read! This industrious creator of both autobiographical and fantasy manga…with his gekiga approach to graphic storytelling…placing cartoon style characters over realistically drawn backgrounds…has reached legendary status in Japan but needs to be better known in the rest of the comics world. Here’s my modest contribution.

Mizuki GARO cover. — _{Mizuki’s cover illustration for GARO magazine of his character Kitaro carrying a basket crammed full of yokai characters.}

After serving in New Guinea for the Japanese army in World War II Mizuki got his start in graphic storytelling…first as an apprentice artist in kamishibai, or paper theatre. Here successively shown painted cards…accompanied with vocal and musical narration by a street performer…told a story to audiences gathered on street corners in Japan. Mizuki moved on to the print media making manga for the rental market…and participating in the emerging gekiga form of alternative comics developed by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. From his interest in the ghosts and spirits of Japanese folk tales…he developed his Kitaro character in a series of stories…based on a popular kamishibai play by Masami Ito called Hakaba Kitaro from 1930s…inventing the yōkai genre in the process.

Early shape and form of Mizuki 's popular character Kitaro. — _{Early shape and form of Mizuki ‘s character Kitaro with his father Medama Oyaji, the small figure with eyeball head.}

Mizuki found an outlet for his stories in GARO magazine, an eye-catchingly creative, comics art anthology publication of alternative manga. There he gained an assistant, Yoshiharu Tsuge, the developer of nejishiki, or Screw Style manga. In these stories Kitaro’s deceased father, Medama Oyaji, reanimates himself as an eyeball…and, with the eyeball as a head, grows a new body…hangs out in Kitaro’s hair and his hollow eye socket(Kitaro had lost one eye)…and tries to help his son with his adventures.

Early shape and form of Mizuki 's character Kitaro. with Ratman. — _{Kitaro with father, Medama Oyaji (eyeball shaped head on small body figure) and Nezumi Otoko.}

Shigeru Mizuki 's popular character Kitaro. — _{One of Shigeru Mizuki ‘s manga featuring his popular one-eyed character, Kitaro…with with his father Medama Oyaji, the small figure with eyeball head, on his head.}

An increasing number of Mizuki’s works have been translated into English and published by Drawn & Quarterly. This publisher publishes comics, graphic novels and textual studies of the comics art medium.

The Mizuki manga about the old woman who taught him yokai. — _{This is the Mizuki manga about the old woman who taught him all about yokai.}

Autobiographically based war comic. — _{Autobiographically based war manga on Mizuki’s time served in the Japanese army in the Pacific in World War II.}

In Onwards Towards Our Noble Deaths (originally published as Soin gyokusai seyo! in 1973) based on his own experiences in the Japanese army in New Guinea during World War II,…Mizuki portrays the sadistic officers who, driven by their ideological beliefs, were cruel to their own troops. This English translation from Drawn & Quarterly has an introduction by manga analyst and critic Frederik L. Schodt.

Japanese history gets the Mizuki mix of cartoons and realism-Vols.1 & 2

_{Japanese history gets the Mizuki treatment in SHOWA1926-1989…a four volume history of Mizuki and his family…presented in his juxtapositional mix of cartoons and photographic realism in manga form. It’s an impressive work.}

_{Title page of Chapter 5 of my graphic novel BLOTTING PAPER showing manga influenced illustration.}

Inspired by Mizuki and other mangakas is the title page, above, of a chapter of my graphic novel. It points to my visits to Japan…and the particular resonance that country has had on my comics art research and creation. This manga influence and my appreciation of it led me to reference it in my graphic novel…here attempted in the graphic style of the illustration for the chapter’s title page.

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.

BLOTTING PAPER The Comic: Production Report No.29

Art, Blotting Paper, Cats in Comics, Comics, Germania, Japanning, printmaking November 7, 2018

It has taken me some time to finish wrapping up production of this title but things are finally taking shape. The latest development in my comics creation and production scheduling is that two of my titles will now be merged. These two titles are my most recent project working title…The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi and my longer, earlier work Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics. The former, that took the form of some of a sequel to the previous title,…now becomes an additional chapter…actually the final chapter of the Blotting Paper graphic novel. My initial thoughts were to make it a stand-alone comic…despite it having some connections to the main title by virtue of sharing some of the same characters…however, I have now opted for closure of the production period…and time to wrap it all up in one bundle. This means that The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi will cease being a proposed stand alone comic title…and instead become a chapter title of Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics. Despite this manga merging, their blog posts that were completed with the different title of The Kappabashi Cat Nos. 1, 2 and 3…will remain as existing blog posts, retaining their original title and date and history, and accessibility on this site. Sorry about the changes but I hope that has clarified matters.

The above image shows a rough cover design of the proposed comic The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi…that is now being merged with Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics as Chapter 6…the final chapter of the intended 300 page graphic novel. Although the Doctor Comics character does not appear in this chapter one of his cats, Cohl, does. Living in the Kappabashi area of Tokyo…Cohl learns the Japanese form of woodblock printmaking called sosaku hanga. This is the same method that Doc had employed…and demonstrated to his cats at their home in Sydney whilst making a series of creative prints. This edit wraps things up in terms of the story. In this final chapter Cohl becomes, as the title of that chapter infers, The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi. Wherever he was at this time, I am certain that Doc would have been impressed and offered his enthusiastic support.

_{A page from The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi …now Chapter 6 of the graphic novel Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics. (Art and Photo-©2018 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Above, a page from Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics showing Doc at work making woodblock prints…an act that Cohl would have observed on several occasions back in Sydney when Doc and the cats lived together…and that would have possibly inspired Cohl to take up printmaking on his arrival in Japan.

Above, yet another page from Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics…showing Cohl being impressed by examples of the the art of celebrated Japanese printmaker Shiko Munakatta… whose exhibition Cohl’s new Japanese friend Moto takes him to see…and below, another page from the same title…showing Cohl’s visit to an art supply shop in the Asakusa area of Tokyo…where he purchases woodblock printmaking tools, again thanks to his knowledgeable art school friend Moto. _{(Art and Photo-©2018 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Yet another page from The Cat Cooking Comics In Kappabashi…now Chapter 6 of Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions of Doctor Comics…showing Cohl’s artistic development with his manga mixing…his printmaking and his creative layout of prints…with panels and pages from the randomly found manga during his travels in Tokyo.

I hope these edits will bring these separate units together under the one title of…Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics. It seems the best solution at the moment.

BLOTTING PAPER The Comic: Production Report No.28

Art, Blotting Paper, Cats in Comics, Comics, Japanning February 27, 2018

I am beginning to feel that I am nearing the final post documenting the production of my graphic novel/artist book/comic…Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics…as I tie the ends of the storyline together and head towards the conclusion. Initially I thought that this would be a sequel with a different title…but after having second thoughts I decided to make it the final chapter of the graphic novel…with the same title…Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics. Owing to the absence of the Doctor Comics character in this new chapter, it contains less of his anecdotes…and fewer human characters as it drifts more in the direction of the funny animal comics genre. This seems to be a good move.

_{The work book with the working title-©2017 Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

The chapter begins in Berlin…where Cohl, having heard no word from his friend Busch for almost two years…decides to follow him to Tokyo and try to find him. Cohl has been very comfortable in the German city…and somewhat reluctant to leave but his curiosity and friendship ultimately awakened him from his cultural slumber.

_{Curiosity stirs the sleeping cat-©2017 Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

In addition to the restaurant supplies district some scenes take place in Kanda, the bookshop area of Tokyo. Cohl initially explores the manga shops…then extends his search to sources of traditional woodblock printed books as well as books about yokai spirits.

bpdigi-p28696

Near the end of the Blotting Paper graphic novel (page 286 above and page 287 below of 300 pages), Cohl is ultimately content to remain in Berlin despite his attempts to find his friend Busch who had left Germany for Japan with his new friend Barks.

bpdigi-p28796

Owing to the absence of the Doctor Comics character in this new chapter…it contains hardly any of his anecdotes…and even fewer human characters as it drifts more in the direction of the funny animal comics genre. The principal character, Cohl the cat from the Blotting Paper graphic novel,…has some adventures in the Asakusa area of Tokyo…to which he has travelled in search of his missing friend and flatmate, the other cat and feline friend, Busch.

_{In the Asakusa area of Tokyo Cohl searches for Busch. (page from the Blotting Paper graphic novel)}
_{©2017 Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

_{Doctor Comics researching the bookshop area of Tokyo during an earlier visit.}
_{(Photo by Louise Graber.)}

In addition to the restaurant supplies district some scenes take place in Kanda, the bookshop area of Tokyo. Cohl initially explored the manga shops…then extended his search to sources of traditional woodblock printing books…as well as books about yokai and the spirit world…as Doctor Comics had done. All good! I shall now start heading toward the conclusion of my graphic novel.

BLOTTING PAPER The Comic: Production Report No.26

Art, Blotting Paper, Cats in Comics, Comics, Germania, Japanning February 28, 2016

I have completed production and commenced publication of the fifth issue of my artist book/comic…BLOTTING PAPER: The Recollected Graphic Impressions Of Doctor Comics. The pages are being printed, collated, trimmed, bound and covered. Copies will soon be mailed to readers. Each copy will have an original postcard size print on the cover.

Original print on cover of new issue-© 2013 Michael Hill — _{Example of original print on cover of new issue-©2013}
_{Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

It has now been four years since publication of the first issue. That was launched at Hondarake-Full of Books in Sydney in February 2012 (see earlier post about the launch). A further four issues have been produced and published. I am now considering collecting these issues into graphic novel form. This will allow me the opportunity to make revisions to the story and artwork. The five issues have generated 200 pages of material. This may be altered following editing and development of the existing material. There also remains the possibility of a further new chapter! We’ll see about that!

Woodblock ink print and painting-© 2014 Michael Hill — _{Woodblock ink print of sea-©2014 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Location photograph, Germany-© 2014 Michael Hill — _{Photograph of road design in Germany-©2014 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Rough scan of artwork, Germany-© 2016 Michael Hill — _{Rough scan of artwork collage-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Rough scan of artwork, woodblock prints, handwriting, cartooning Tokyo-© 2016 Michael Hill — _{Rough scan of artwork compilation from woodblock prints, handwriting and cartooning-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

Rough scan of artwork, illustration, sketching, cartooning, Tokyo-© 2016 Michael Hill — _{Rough scan of artwork, illustration, sketching, cartooning-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill (a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Rough scan of artwork, Photography, character design, Tokyo-© 2016 Michael Hill — _{Rough scan of artwork compilation from photography, drawing, handwriting and character design-©2016 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

Rough scan of artwork of a cat scanning artwork, Germany-© 2015 Michael Hill — _{Rough scan of artwork compilation from inking, drawing and printmaking-©2015 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

_{For details of the production of all five issues and a visual history of the project read previous reports.}

BLOTTING PAPER The Comic: Production Report No.25

Art, Blotting Paper, Cats in Comics, Comics, Germania, Japanning October 3, 2015

This is the next report documenting production of my artist book/comic…and ultimately graphic novel…Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics. Creation and production of the forthcoming issue 2 Tickets to Tokyo Bay has begun. It deals with the continued adventures of the cats Busch and Cohl and their canine acquaintance Barks. Set mostly in Japan it also has some scenes in Germany. It follows these characters in funny animal cartoon style. It also includes further recollections from the archives of my alias, Doctor Comics. These refer to his visits to Japan and research of manga, his favorite form of comics.

Dirty laundry hung out to dry, ink painting-© 2015 Michael Hill — _{Dirty laundry hung out to dry, ink painting-©2015 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

A seasick cat at sea, ink sketch-© 2015 Michael Hill — _{A seasick cat all at sea, ink sketch-©2015 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

The characters Barks and Busch travel from Germany to Japan by sea, arriving in Tokyo Bay. Their passage by sea is cheaper than flight buts not without some difficulty and discomfort in cramped quarters below deck.

Choreographing a cosplay routine, pencil sketch-© 2014 Michael Hill — _{Choreographing a cosplay routine, pencil sketch-©2014 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

Cosplay costume design, ink and pencil sketch-© 2013 Michael Hill — _{Cosplay costume design, ink and pencil sketch-©2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

Disembarkation in Tokyo leads to some fun and frolicking and access to a wider range of food. They visit a manga fair and then go to Kitchen Town where they eat cake.

A Munchianesque Halloween cake design in Kappabashi, Tokyo, photo-© 2009 Michael Hill — _{A Munchianesque Halloween cake design dramatically displayed in Kappabashi, Tokyo, photo-©2009 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

Barks and Busch are on their way to Tokyo Bay-© 2015 Michael Hill

The view at sea, print-© 2015 Dr.Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics

Printmaking has been employed in the design with techniques including woodblock, linocut, rubber, bakelite and wooden stamps. There is also drawing, collage, calligraphy and handwriting plus more cartooning. The intention is to produce a comic in an artist book type format…and to have it ready for self-publication around the end of this year.

Japan, fish island, collage-© 2015 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics

And home of Otafuku, ink painting-© 2015 Michael Hill

UPDATE: 2 November 2015

This is the third report documenting production of the fifth and concluding chapter of my artist book/comic Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics. Production of the new issue 2 Tickets to Tokyo Bay is continuing with images currently being created along with some previously made works recorded during my travels in Japan and Germany. The script has first been developed in word form and accompanied by some conceptual colour coding. This was followed by a second draft consisting of roughly sketched visuals of the script with coloured pencils and associated descriptive comments or dialogue. There are examples of both of these development stages, below.

Developing a first draft script design-© 2015 Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics

Visual roughing out of the script-© 2015 Michael Hill

One scene in the script is a graphical recollection of my Doctor Comics alias. It reveals the design of one of his logo stamps/seals or chops that was roughed out on a paper napkin in a Sydney restaurant with guidance from a member of the Japanese Consulate. Here is a scan of that design development along with attachments including a photo and a Japanese photo booth print sticker.

Developing a seal design, collage-© 2008 Michael Hill

Another sequence involves Japanese sea monsters.

Seeing strange things at sea, ink and pencil sketch-© 2008 Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.

Possible print for the cover-© 2009 Michael Hill.

POSTCARD ART: First Posting

Art, Comics, Germania, Japanning August 5, 2015

This post profiles another artistic medium that I have been printmaking in recent years. This is the design of limited edition art postcards. These are some of my earliest designs. More will be added in future posts. I hand-printed these postcards that were created from a combination of drawing and printmaking. I would make random, numbered editions of say 8, 19 or 33. A print run greater than 50 was rare. The total would be determined by the amount of blank cards, ink and time available for finishing. Once I completed a session it meant the end of that particular batch as I would not repeat the design. Cards in an edition are all original prints. These are called monoprints, so-called by being similar in design but with no exact duplicates in the batch.

First postcard in my Abstract series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{Postcard from my Abstract No.1 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

The following three postcards show variations produced in the same edition. (1) the overlaid pink patch is in a different position on each card…and its shape and strength of colour vary. (2) the dragon stamp(the small curvy line) is not in the exact same position. It is on two cards but not the third. Its legs seem absent in two of the impressions. (3) the large black and yellow mass varies in colour and texture from card to card. (4) the Post Office franking machine marking is at the top, bottom or missing(only visible on reverse side of card). (5) my MH signature seal, whilst generally in the same position, is actually upside down on two of the cards…an bloody unbelievable, creative oversight! I’m sorry!

A postcard from my Abstract No.2 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{A postcard from my Abstract No.2 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

Another postcard from my Abstract No.2 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{Another postcard from my Abstract No.2 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

A third postcard from my Abstract No.2 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{A third postcard from my Abstract No.2 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

Reverse side of postcard from Abstract No.2 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{Reverse side of postcard from Abstract No.2 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

A postcard from my Abstract No.3 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{A postcard from my Abstract No.3 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

A postcard from my Abstract No.4 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{A postcard from my Abstract No.4 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

A postcard from my Abstract No.5 series-© 2006 Michael Hill — _{A postcard from my Abstract No.5 series-©2006 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

The drinking of beer, usually a bottle of stout, marked the end of an edition and celebration of completion. This was often late in the afternoon as I never seemed to print in the mornings or evenings. After a couple of years I supplemented this hand-made approach with digital printing, making copies from the scanned original. But then, lacking satisfaction…and missing the additional ink staining on my jeans, I abandoned that and returned to the hand-made printmaking process. Consequently, both my level of satisfaction and the print marks on my jeans improved, Michael.

UPDATE OCTOBER 12, 2015: A selection of these art postcards have been displayed in exhibitions. The first in 2007 titled Abstract Nos. 1-11 at the DAB LAB Gallery, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building of the University of Technology, Sydney.

Pop-Up Postcard Exhibition: Abstract Nos.1-11, DAB LAB Gallery, UTS, 2007 — _{Pop-Up Postcard Exhibition by Dr. Michael Hill: Abstract Nos.1-11, DAB LAB Gallery, UTS, 2007.}

Detail: Pop-Up Postcard Exhibition: Abstract Nos.1-11, DAB LAB Gallery, UTS, 2007 — _{Detail: Pop-Up Postcard Exhibition by Dr. Michael Hill: Abstract Nos.1-11, DAB LAB Gallery, UTS, 2007.}

Exhibition flyer designed by Michael Hill — _{Exhibition flyer designed by Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

Reverse of ABSTRACT exhibition flyer. — _{Reverse of ABSTRACT exhibition flyer designed by Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

UPDATE NOVEMBER 6, 2015: At Hondarake Full of Books in 2012…the launch of my comic Blotting Paper was accompanied by a mini exhibition of my art postcards…33 in all from 32 different designs.

An exhibition of postcards accompanying the launch of my artist book/comic Blotting Paper at Hondarake Bookshop, February 2012 (Photo by Louise Graber) — _{An exhibition of handmade art postcards…accompanying the launch of my artist book/comic Blotting Paper at Hondarake Bookshop, February 2012 (Photo by Louise Graber).}

Fukushima Kids 2013 Auction, Japan: 10 of my art postcards…each print a monoprint and thus unique…were contributed to this cause and event. The reverse side was signed and dated with my artist’s stamp. These postcards were made on machine made cardboard following the Japanese sosaku hanga method of printmaking.

BLOTTING PAPER The Comic: Production Report No.24

Art, Blotting Paper, Cats in Comics, Comics, Germania, Japanning May 8, 2015

I have still not completed this issue of my comic but I am getting there! Completion of the fourth issue of my artist book/comic…and ultimately, graphic novel…Blotting Paper: The Recollected Graphical Impressions Of Doctor Comics is near. The printing and publishing process of those pages will follow. This includes the sequential stages of the pages being printed, collated, trimmed, covered and bound. As with the first three issues the fourth one has a total of 40 pages plus end-papers and covers. For this issue the covers will feature a wraparound print that includes the title. Being an artist book there will be a limited edition of 30. Each book in this first edition will be numbered and signed by the artist.

Planned wraparound cover for Issue #4 (Monoprint-© 2011 Michael Hill) — _{Planned wraparound cover for Issue #4 (Monoprint-©2011 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics)}

The addition of some spot colour plus a few paragraphs of handwriting is needed. It may also receive a bit of a toning touch-up and a little overprinting. I have spread out the pages in sequence on the floor of the studio. This reveals some sense of the overall flow of the comic. There might be the odd alteration to the sequencing in the final edit. I try to feel a sense of rhythm from reading and turning the pages.

Pages from Issue 4 in layout spread-© 2015 Michael Hill — _{Pages from Issue 4 arranged in layout spread on floor.}
_{©2015 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics.}

UPDATE 6 JULY 2015: COMPLETION OF ISSUE #4! Although it took a little longer than expected I have now completed production of the fourth issue of my comic! The pages have been printed, collated, trimmed, bound and covered with title labels. Copies have been mailed to my supportive, personal readers. A possible launch is being looked at in Tokyo in October.

Issue 4 copies ready for distribution-photo © 2015 Michael Hill — _{Issue 4 copies printed, bound and ready for distribution-photo ©2015 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

After running past the planned deadline and being slightly over budget I decided to finish in D.I.Y mode. This resulted in a somewhat hand-crafted look.

Tabletop work-space pages and tools-photo © 2015 Michael Hill — _{Tabletop work-space pages and tools-photo. ©2015 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

Work clothes hung out to dry-photo © 2015 Michael Hill — _{Printmaking work clothes hung out to dry-photo ©2015 Dr. Michael Hill} _{(a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

Now it’s on to the likely final issue…although reprints of previously published chapters are also a possibility…as is the eventual merging of all chapters into graphic novel form…I wish!…and can’t stop thinking about that possibility. Looking ahead, the tentatively titled 2 Tickets to Tokyo Bay Chapter 5 will be set in Germany and Japan. It depicts the continued activities of Doctor Comics’ cats and their new canine companion Barks in “funny animal” comics style. It may also contain further comics related recollections from Doctor Comics’ past, particularly his research of manga. Below is the ad for Chapter 5 on the back page of Issue 4.

Teaser for 2 TICKETS TO TOKYO BAY the forthcoming Chapter 5-© 2015 Michael Hill, READING DRINKING -© 2014 Gene Kannenberg, Jr. — _{Teaser for 2 TICKETS TO TOKYO BAY which is the title of the forthcoming Chapter 5-©2015 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics. Also shown (insert) READING DRINKING Blotting Paper review of Chapter 2 – ©2013 by my American colleague Gene Kannenberg, Jr.}

BOOKBINDING THE GRAFIK GUITAR

Art, Comics, Japanning November 13, 2013

My artist book, The Grafik Guitar, has undergone a marked transformation by being bound and covered by designer Imogen Yang. This has resulted in an elegant and artistic encasing collection of the prints.

The Grafik Guitar artist book, front cover-bookbinding design by Imogen Yang. (Photo-© 2013 Michael Hill). — _{The Grafik Guitar artist book with cover and binding design by Imogen Yang. (Photo-© 2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

The Grafik Guitar artist book, endpapers. (Photo-© 2013 Michael Hill). — _{The Grafik Guitar artist book, endpapers. (Photo-© 2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

The book consists of 38 prints on the theme of deconstructing the elements of the guitar. The images were carved in lino and wood. I followed the Japanese creative print (sosaku hanga) approach using Japanese knives, gouges and chisels. The book was then printed on Chinese 2 ply paper with Dr. Ph. Martin’s water colour ink and some sumi.

The Grafik Guitar artist book, pages. (Photo-© 2013 Michael Hill). — _{Sample spread fromThe Grafik Guitar artist book. (Photo-© 2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

Imogen emboss-printed the guitar strings block onto a strip of kangaroo skin for the front cover. Then she got me add my MH signature chop. Her use of 6 thick binding strings to the front and back cover boards echoes the guitar’s 6 strings. I can’t explain the stitching pattern she has employed to bind the pages together. As an iteration of the cover design she used my separate guitar strings prints for the endpapers.

The Grafik Guitar artist book, cover and stitching, bookbinding design by Imogen Yang. (Photo-© 2013 Michael Hill). — _{The Grafik Guitar artist book, cover and stitching-bookbinding design by Imogen Yang. (Photo-© 2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

The book is currently on display at the Art Gallery of NSW. It is part of the 16th annual exhibition of the Australian Bookbinders. The exhibition runs from 7th November to 14th December in the Research library and archive.

_{The Grafik Guitar artist book on display in the Art Gallery of NSW.} _{(Photo-© 2013 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

THE MAKING OF The Grafik Guitar ARTIST BOOK This follow-up addition to the above post shows some of the printmaking. I made 38 monoprints on the theme of the deconstruction of some elements of the acoustic guitar. These included the machine head, tuning pegs, fretboard, strings and sound hole. The separate elements were carved in lino or wood then overlaid in various combinations and intensities to form composite monoprints. The Japanese creative print method (sosaku hanga) was employed. This blocks were carved with Japanese knives and chisels. They were printed on Chinese paper with water colour ink, sumi and additional hand colouring.

GrafikGuitar 3-96 — _{Linocut ink composite print layered on block print. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

GrafikGuitar 6-96 — _{Linocut ink composite print over block print.(Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

GrafikGuitar 7-96 — _{Linocut ink composite print over block print. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

GrafikGuitar 4-96 — _{Linocut ink composite print over block print. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

GrafikGuitar 8-96 — _{Linocut ink composite print over block print. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

GrafikGuitar 9-96 — _{Linocut ink composite print over block print.(Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

GrafikGuitar 1-96 — _{Single linocut ink print of strings and sound hole over block print. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill} _{a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

I incorporated elements of that design in a subsequent project. It involved the design of the cover for publication of the conference proceedings of the international popular music studies conference. Titled CHANGING SOUNDS: New Directions And Configurations In Popular Music in Sydney, IASPM 1999. (Picture below). I also presented a research paper at that conference.

Scan — _{Conference proceedings cover design. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

Scan 1 — _{A linocut of guitar elements-machine head, fretboard, strings and sound hole- arranged as visual communication design elements. (Photo-©1999 Dr. Michael Hill a.k.a. Doctor Comics).}

Other posts of my graphic based material include:

RESEARCH CARTOONS

POSTCARD-Second Series

PRINTMAKING: Fish One

Archive of Australian Alternative Comics: 2ND SEQUENTIAL ART STUDIES CONFERENCE

Archive of Australian Alternative Comics, Comics, Japanning May 1, 2013

It was ten years ago that the second Sequential Art Studies Conference took place at the University of Technology, Sydney. At the time, minicomics, having blossomed throughout the 1990s, were making an impression on the local alternative comics scene. The event was billed as A Mini Conference on Minicomics and featured presentations by comics creators as well as scholars. The conference was convened by Spiros Tsaousis (now Spiros Xenos) and I. It was a sequel to our previous and first Sequential Art Studies conference held in Sydney in 2002. That was the first comics conference held in Australia. It was also staged in association with Supanova Pop Culture Expo again. Included in the event was a minicomics market.

CALL FOR PAPERS: 2nd Sequential Art Studies Conference May 23, 2003, Sydney. The Interdisciplinary Studies Unit of the Faculty of Design at UTS (University of Technology, Sydney) http://www.uts.edu.au will again host this new scholarly conference that will be held during the same week as the Sydney Writers’ Festival. The inaugural event in 2002 attracted a small but stimulating range of papers from local academics and students. It is hoped that this year’s event will build on that. Scholars are invited to submit 250 word proposals which address alternative approaches to comics, whether local or global, recent or historical, online or offline, artistic or commercial. The conference will adopt an interdisciplinary approach and so welcomes papers from a broad range of areas. Send proposals by email to either of the conference convenors and coordinators by February 28, 2003: Michael.Hill@uts.edu.au Spiros.Tsaousis@bigpond.com

CONFERENCE PROGRAM: Scholarly Papers

4.00pm Opening of Conference and Welcome by Assoc. Professor Steve Harfield Assoc. Dean of Research Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building University of Technology, Sydney

4.05pm The Sydney Morning Hell of Glenn Smith, Dr. Michael Hill, Interdisciplinary Studies Unit, Faculty of Design, Architecture and Building University of Technology, Sydney

4.30pm Fear and yearning of “manga Japan” in Australia, Craig Norris, School of Communication, Design and Media, University of Western Sydney

4.55pm Taming the ‘Superhuman’ Shrew: Identification with Superheroes in Comics and the Popularisation of the Human Potential Ethic, Adam Possamaï, School of Applied Social Sciences, University of Western Sydney

5.20pm The Problem of The Yellow Kid: From Single Panels to Sequential Images, Spiros Tsaousis, La Trobe University

_{Craig Norris, University of Western Sydney.}

_{Adam Possamaï, University of Western Sydney}

CONFERENCE PROGRAM: Artist Presentations

6.00pm Alex Major (Naomi and Poggie)

6.20pm Komala Singh (Moshi Moshi)

6.40pm Bernard Caleo (Big Cardigan Comics)

7.00pm Katarina Knebel (Cult Fiction Comics)

7.20pm Ben Hutchings (Geeen Comix)

7.40pm David McDermott (Glitter Shy)

Bernard Caleo proclaimed his comics manifesto and promoted Tango. — _{Bernard Caleo ‘performed’ his comics manifesto…brilliantly!..and promoted his own comic Tango.}

Komala Singh talking about Moshi Moshi. — _{Komala Singh talked about her minicomic Moshi Moshi.}

David McDermott goes Glitter Shy. — _{David McDermott goes Glitter Shy and playfully ‘performed’ some of his pages live to projected images of the panels.}

_{Chloe Lyttle introducing David Maccad.}

Ben Hutchings going Geeen! — _{Ben Hutchings had fun going Geeen!}

_{Katarina Knebel talks Cult Fiction Comics.}

Alex Major describes Naomi and Poggie. — _{Alex Major describes his minicomic Naomi and Poggie.}

Minicomics market at the conferece. — _{Minicomics market at the conference.}

This conference about MINICOMICS as a form of sequential art was a sequel to the first comics conference in 2002…the first comics conference held in Australia I think! Did you attend? If so would you like to add a comment about the proceedings? Please do! I would love to hear, Michael.

This is the tenth in a series of posts called Archives of Australian Comics History. These document moments in the recent history of Australian comics, particularly alternative comics and the Australian Small Press. I started researching this subject in the late 1990s and it eventually led to my PhD thesis. That degree was awarded to me as follows: Ph.D. Macquarie University, Division of Society, Culture, Media and Philosophy…A Study Of Contemporary Australian Alternative Comics 1992-2000 With Particular Reference To The Work Of Naylor, Smith, Danko And Ord, 2003.

On completion of my research I donated the materials and comics I had collected to the National Library of Australia, as: Michael Hill Collection of Australian Comics.