Long List: 2020

Gary Chaloner, writer and artist (Cyclone Force, Red Kelso). Michael Michalandos, writer (Greener Pastures). Tim McEwen, artist (Greener Pastures) inker (Cyclone Force). Tad Pietrzykowski, plot assist (Cyclone Force). Graeme Jackson, colourist (Cyclone Force).

An anthology featuring three ongoing stories: Cyclone Force, Greener Pastures and Red Kelso.

Jackie Ryan (writer, designer, photographer, director).

In 'Burger Force Volume 5: Stone Cold', it looks like love is on the rocks. Couples are breaking up all over town – and the ones getting dumped are being turned into cold, hard statues. In their quest to crack the case, the spies of Burger Force must leave no stone unturned.

This comic refers to a 10th century Arabic fable called ‘The Case of the Animals Versus Humans Before the King of the Jinn’. It was motivated by a deep sense of grief over the climate change induced bushfires that ran through native forests in NSW during the summer of 2019-2020.

This comic reflects on the theme of 'taste', as both a human sense and a social construct. It contrasts the uses of 'taste' in western social writing to affirm various hierarchies of power and to affirm the control of a dominant class with the concept of 'dhauq' in Islamic mysticism, which is a mystical term used to described the human-Divine encounter.

Alyce Sarich

This 20-page zine is a mix of black and white illustrations and silent comics. The illustrations were drawn for MerMay 2020 drawing challenge, and the comics were created afterwards to help tell the story behind some of these images.

Dave Hodson: writer
Greg Gates: penciller/inker/letterer

20th anniversary edition of the publication put out by Paper Tableaux in 2001. This edition printed in December 2020. Originally appeared in Fox Comics 24 to 27, 1989 - 1990, and Tattoo Man Special Edition Number 1, Fox Comics/Fantagraphics Books co-production 1991. A man finds himself transported to a carnival strangely familiar to one he knows, but he is now transformed into this carnival’s resident tattooed man.

Darren Close, Editor. Daniel Best, Assistant Editor. Camillo Di Pietrantonio, Cover artist. Jamie Johnson, artist. Louie Joyce, artist. Dean Rankine, artist. Shiloh Gordon, artist. Martin Abel, writer & artist. Rob O'Connor, artist. Khale McHurst, artist. Daniel Best, writer. Tim Stiles, writer. Aaron Davies, artist. Austen Mengler, artist. Justin Randall, writer & artist. Joshua Regan, writer & artist. Dave Heinrich, artist. Alister Lockhart, artist. Mike Cooper, writer & artist. Nick Chetcuti, artist. Simon Wright, artist. Marcey Papandrea, writer. Eloise Thornton, artist. Lauren Marshall, artist. Kieran Jack, writer & artist. Ahmed Raafat, artist. Max Myint, writer. Zac Smith-Cameron, artist. Emmanuel Hernaez, artist. Antoinette Rydyr & Steve Carter, writers & artists. Queenie Chan, artist. Malcolm Semmens, artist. Gee Hale, writer & artist. Donovan Alex, artist. Craig Bruyn, artist. Daniel Watts, writer & artist. Tony Menzie, artist. Spencer Davis, artist. Matty Taylor, artist. Mic McConaghy, artist. Darren Koziol, writer. Ben Sullivan, artist. Cristian Roux, writer & artist. Ryan K. Lindsay, writer. Mitchell Collins, artist. Ben Mitchell, writer & artist. Stuart Black, writer & artist. Shane W. Smith, writer. Carlyle Seers, writer. Jon Sommariva, artist. Dale Maccanti, writer. Trevor Wood, artist. Ryan Wilton, artist. David Jaxon, artist. Logan French, writer & artist. Hayden Fryer, artist. Zakh Fair, writer. Alex Sinclair, artist. Michael Michalandos, writer. Tim McEwen, artist. Chris McQuinlan, artist. Mal Briggs, writer & artist. Brad Heitmeyer, artist. Tom Taylor, writer. Grange Wallis, artist.

Australia Burns is an anthology book of art and stories in tribute to the heroic firefighters and volunteers who have sacrificed everything to protect us from the vicious bushfire crisis, who are STILL fighting fires in many areas of Australia.

The creative team of writers and artists are some of the most talented you will find in this country, and several of the stories are written by real-life firefighters, giving a valuable insight into just what it's like on the frontlines.

Printing donated by Jeffries Printing.

Ryan K Lindsay - writer
Simon Robins - colourist
Mitchell Collins - illustrator

When the VP of KDP flies out the top floor and dives into the pavement out the front, there are a lot of questions to answer. Enter: Keene, an independent contractor brought in to help figure out how and why she died. What unfolds is a mystery spanning decades that becomes less about why one woman dies and more about why a building would conspire to make it happen.

Alexander Rodeghiero-Smith - Writer/Inks/Pencils
James Firkins - Colours/Edits

BODY JACK was published in Heavy Metal Magazine issue #298 ||| Colour Work | James Firkins ||| Lettering | Jame ||| James Firkin's work can be found at @staircasewitch (Instagram)

Tony Davidson , writer & artist

A Daily comic strip of my family and life around me.

Tony Davidson

A weekly gag comic strip from the mind of Tony Davidson

Jarrod Elvin: Writer, Penciller, Inker, Colourist.

Pinup models/mercenenaries travel to another dimension to stop a mutating virus from taking over the galaxy.
Made for the Comic Book School 8 Page Comic Challenge and published in the Creator Connections Panel One Anthology.
All of the comics in the this Anthology were made in 2020 for the 8 Page Challenge, however mine (Meatbucket MegaBabes in the Virus Dimension) was the only one made in Australia.

Manuel Bouw, writer, pencils, letters.
Steve Almanzi, cover art.

Spell Kitty issue 4 tells the continued stories of a magical kitten who, with the help of her sidekick - a mouse named Brosnan, finds the secret of what lurks in the sewers of London.

Manuel Bouw, writer, pencils, letters.
Steve Almanzi, cover art.

Spell Kitty issue 5 tells the story of a magical kitten from London who, thanks to the evil workings of a magical Jack Terrier known as The Watchdog, is de-powered and turned into human form.

Manuel Bouw, writer, pencils, letters.
Steve Almanzi, cover art.

Spell Kitty issue 6 tells the continued stories of a magical kitten from London. Through her history of saving the city from doom she has become known to the Police Commissioner, and called upon to battle a giant spider who's threatening to devour the city!

Nathan Viney, Artist and Writer

The Walpole Kids was created in 2020 as a way of making something marketable and entertaining for the local newspaper. The comic was accepted and from then on the three main characters have explored the outdoors, commented on school life and just had a bunch of silly fun. Each week the strip has been printed in the 'Walpole Weekly' and Albany paper 'Great Southern Weekender'. The characters have also appeared on the poster for Walpole's 'Thank a Volunteer Day' and in both newspapers Christmas Colouring in competitions! Which both had plenty of entries and winners. Just recently I printed a Walpole Kids Comic Zine released in Walpole and online as well as stickers! The zine was advertised with an interview with the characters in the Australia Day issue of Walpole Weekly and will be advertised in a future issue of the Great Southern Weekender.

John Hanna - writer, illustrator, print design, typesetting, 3D modeller

Limit is an adrenaline fuelled, street racing adventure about a disgraced racing car driver, who becomes a getaway driver for the most ambitious heist in local history. Cultivated over 20 years and initially pitched as an Australian feature film, vol 3 of Limit is an ongoing series.

Blake has been taken to his local street-racing-stomping grounds by his old time friend, Voltron. What Blake doesn't know though, is that Voltrons agenda is get get him into the drivers seat, and race him against local talent to see if he's still got what it takes after all these years! The battle is about to begin...

John Hanna - writer, Illustrator, print design, typesetting

You Can't Kill Us is a cyberpunk adventure set in a vivid world where corporations rule over the last remnants of humanity, and where flesh is the most valuable commodity. You Can't Kill Us is a self-published, ongoing series.

Francis catches up on old times with his good friend Marina, who urgently gets pulled back to head office for an urgent assignment - a special forces unit from Mars has arrived on the Futou orbital station with an important mission... To hunt down the murderous Francis! Meanwhile the CEO of Futou orbital industries is in a tight spot with the board of directors, with his life potentially at stake.

John Hanna - writer, illustrator, print design, typesetting

Machine//Heart is a sci-fi action drama, which tackles 'identity', and begs the question... what makes you, you? This is the final volume in the story, written and illustrated over the last 8 years.

Beth and her Father speed to escape from Voltron's clutches, in this epic conclusion to Machine//Heart. No-one will walk away without scars.

Adam Gillespie- writer and artist

A brief history of popular Mexican food, the taco!?

Adam Gillespie- writer and artist

In a story that covers many centuries, Tina and Jess get more adventure than they bargained for whilst hiking just outside Vancouver when they meet The Sentry.

Alex Rodeghiero-Smith - Creator

Circle of Blades is a fantasy webcomic focusing on Mela, a girl with a mystical destiny thrust upon her, and the dark-side of the heroic journey. A deconstructionist take on the mono myth, with talking swords, giant dead gods and weird and wonderful locations.

Rob Lisle

THE DEVIL'S TOILET #1
(W/A/CA) Rob Lisle aka Spedsy. From the grimey depths of hell come some of the most unlikely heroes. A fallen angel, a son of a slug, and a sentient toilet. Together, they attempt to escape their eternal doom by venturing to Earth - but by doing so they unwittingly bring about the apocalypse.

Join this unholy bowly and his oddball friends as they embark on a ridiculous adventure full of demons, dragons, and poop jokes.

Daniel Valenti, writer, producer
Monica Silvio, back cover artist

Issue 1

Clarence Dass

A short Batman and Lovecraft fan comic.

Danny Nolan: Writer
Dave Dye: Artist & Letterer

Part of an award-winning selection of short stories chosen for inclusion in the PLATFORM COMICS annual Short Story Anthology.

Writer: Danny Nolan
Additional
Artist: Patrick Walsh (Ireland)
Letters: Bolt0 (UK)

Part of the very popular Bi-Annual FutureQuake Sci Fi Anthology. This story was included in the Summer 2020 edition.

Mike Greaney writer/ artist.
Neighbourhood Press. Printer.

Garlock Greybeard is a wizard trying to do a good job. Mary Ellen is a farmer trying to save her home. The Night Tower is here to help. A 45 page comic about trying to do the right thing whilst locked in a system of corporate capitalism. Self published by the artist and riso printed by Neighbourhood press.

Writer: Danny Nolan
Artist: Ken Best

A story included in the popular FutureQuake Bi-annual Sci-Fi Anthology. This story was included in the Winter 2020 edition

Writer: Danny Nolan
Artists: Dave Dye, Scott Robinson, Joe Nolan, Ben Michael Byrne.
Other artists:
C.Angelli (Argentina) P.Walsh (Ireland)

A collection of short stories written by Danny Nolan and brought to life by a stellar cast of Aussie and international artists. Given away as a free download.

Mike Greaney: Writer/ Artist.

Serialised over 4 instagram posts, "A Coming of Age Story" is 'Stand by Me' for the 'Tony Hawks Pro Skater' generation. A touching, absurdist story about teenage friendships, outer suburban skateparks, growing up, and a magical corpse who loves doing stunts.

Alex Mankiewicz

Non-fiction narrative for Griffith Review #67 Matters of Trust. Questioning the truth of photographic images in media, propaganda, and on the 'net.

Alex Mankiewicz

Quarterly graphic column addressing contemporary issues. Dead artists pontificate from either hell, heaven or occasionally purgatory.

Sam B, Story & Art.

Vampires! They’re powerful, immortal creatures of the night that want nothing more but to consume the bountiful delicacy that is humanity (and drink every last drop of blood spilt in the process). The only surefire way to stop one is a hole though the heart, but who’s got the courage to get up and personal with something so ghoulish?

Enter LANCE, A cocky little guy with a hard wood head and a point to make: That any blood sucker caught within his sights is getting punctured permanently. But what drives him to fight the vampiric forces with such reckless abandon? And what IS he, exactly?

Chris Pitcairn, Artist

In ancient japan, a courtesan who revels in her vanity at the hands of an Oni King. Jigoku is the crown jewel of pleasure house she is bound to but unlike most, she does not hate her job. In fact, she enjoys the lavish attention and flattery.

But when a humble monk is caught at the doorway, Jigoku finds her darkest secret exposed. Will Ikkyu be able to save this lost soul before the Oni King comes to claim his prize?

Aaron Sammut, Writer

In ISSUE 2 the VERY EPIC journey of Maurice, a metalhead drummer turned reluctant hero, continues as he is charged with the HEAVY burden of recovering his cymbal from a gang of goth punks. With nothing but his Walkman, which has been possessed by the spirit of a Black Sabbath roadie, Maurice finds out the heights and the depths of his METAL INDUCED powers. Maurice is here to save metal!

Contributors include: Safdar Ahmed, Claudia Chinyere Akole, Lilian Yu Wen Cao, Stacy Gougoulis, Evie Hilliar, Annie Huang, Jin Hien Lau, Sophia Melika, Meg O’Shea, Will Thompson, Madi Titterington, Andrew Yee and Rei Melody Mai.

Cover by Bryce Pemberton. Edited by Chris Neill.

Steady Diet is a collection of 12 self-contained short stories. It features some of Australia’s best emerging cartoonists exploring their relationship with food.

The anthology includes topics ranging from homesick cravings, a guide to eating Korean BBQ, and the ongoing demonisation of halal certification.

Adam Gillespie- writer and artist

One page funnies about the trials and tribulations of a cinema projectionist.

Steve Stamatiadis, writer and artist

Some things were just meant to be stolen and the infamous Renard Rouge is probably the one to steal them. At some point, Inspector Rodger Roget will hunt down his criminal quarry and bring them to justice. Roget has been after the wily thief for many years... though this is probably not going to be the time he finally catches them...

Mike Greaney: Writer/Artist.

Serialised online in the summer of 2020/21 "Strange Crop Circles" is a story of legacy, climate, and human connection. In 2023 crop circles featuring a QR code appear around the planet, a QR code that leads to a facebook post with a message from the future...

Dale Maccanti, writer
Trevor Wood, artist

Firewall was published apart of the physical publication 'Australia Burns' by OzComics.

Daniel Reed, artist/writer etc.

Time is Biological!

It twists, loops and branches like fungal hyphae beneath the soil. Time travel requires no advanced technology, just a means to enter and survive in ‘The Mycelium Complex’.

A small crew of deperate scientists flee chainsaw-weilding ‘Mower Men’ in a strange and hellish future. What is their connection to the drunken backyard barbeque in present day suburbia?

Issue one is the first in what will be an ongoing comic series.

Kari Hill
Freya Rose
Jane Hardwicke Collings

Waking the Witches is a four part comic series, with our first comic: Ruby's First Blood. Our comic is a journey with Ruby, 11, who learns the power of her blood magick!

A Shamanic adventure story, Ruby meets her spirit animal, Zasha, and wise woman, Hekate and learns the truth about her Menarche: her first blood and the mission to wake up the witches.

It is a magickal adventure exploring girls’ rites of passage.

As a mother to Ruby, I felt such a calling to write about menarche; a girl’s first blood, such a powerful ‘Rite of Passage’. I really want to change the ‘story’ our society has around our blood mysteries. I feel Waking the Witches will empower us all to re-member the magick in our blood.

Greg Holfeld: artist
Ruth Starke: writer

A short story serialized in ten 2-page installments for the publications Orbit and Touchdown, published by The School Magazine.

Nathan Grixti

From award winning artist, Nathan Grixti.

In the Australian outback monsters, demons and unholy terrors roam the land. The government and the law have abandoned us. Only one gang of rebels will be tough enough to face this nightmare world and save us all from bloody damnation.

Mad Max meets The Army of Darkness as The Redback Motorcycle Club star in a psychedelic biker Ozploitation B-movie road trip to hell and back.

Are you ready to survive Redback Armageddon?

F*ck the Apocalypse. We ride.

Mike Barry, writer and illustrator.

A galaxy spanning adventure, perfect for 7-12 year olds, about how far one boy will go to get home for him mum’s spaghetti carbonara.

Ryan K Lindsay, writer

After burying her only daughter, the deadliest bounty hunter in the galaxy discovers her next job will jeopardize the only thing She has left... her secrets. SHE is an all-new large-format graphic novella about an intergalactic bounty hunter by Ryan K Lindsay and Chris Panda, published by ComixTribe.

Ryan K Lindsay, writer.

Planet Heartbreak from Ryan K Lindsay and J. Paul Schiek is a science fiction short story about love and loss that appeared in DEATH OF THE HORROR, a comic anthology published by A Wave Blue World.

Shane W Smith, writer/editor/artist.
Katie Walsh-Smith, writer.
Miranda Richardson, writer.
Big Tim Stiles, writer.
Ryan K Lindsay, writer.
Mitchell Collins, penciller.
Simon Robins, colourist.

Brett Buckley was a normal family man once. When he unexpectedly turned undead, he struggled to regain the love and respect of his wife and kids... a struggle he ultimately lost in a single moment of weakness that cost him everything.

Now, after months of estrangement, and still trapped in the limbo between life and death, Brett is propelled suddenly back into family life to face his greatest challenge yet: becoming the primary carer for his children.

More than just another zombie story, Undad Volume Three is about the challenges of facing down what REALLY scares you, while being (literally) dead inside.

Written by Michael Michalandos. Pencilled and lettered by Tim McEwen. Inked by Samuel McEwen. Coloured by Annabelle McEwen.

Created for, and published in, the Australia Burns (March 2020) benefit comic for Australian bush fire relief, this four-pager is a stand alone short story featuring Colin McGuinn from the Greener Pastures comics. I know the Australia Burns anthology is itself listed but I thought this might be of interest to the Judges in its own right.

Too many to list!

From the Facebook page description:
"So- here is the plan... Let’s create a collaborative epic comic! If you are nominated, you get to create the next page of the comic following the story from whoever nominated you. Take it where ever you want it to go, in whatever style you want to do it in. Don’t let perfection get in the way of progress. Let’s try to keep it moving fast. Once you have created your page, post it on here and nominate the next artist to follow you by tagging them."

Sorry about the Facebook page as the URL link further down on the form here but it's the only URL associated with the project and really the only way to read it well.

That being said, I'll make a PDF by snaffling the images from that page and also send that by email for the judges easier perusal. (I'll only use pages created in 2020, as the project is still ongoing.)

Eleri Harris, Features Editor and contributor. Meg O'Shea, contributor.

In less than a year, it’s killed over a million people, destroyed economies, and transformed our lives. The Nib takes a look at the COVID-19 pandemic in the next issue of our award-winning all-comics magazine.

Eleri Harris, Features Editor.

As multiple crises unfold, from a pandemic and recession to police repression and a power-mad president, The Nib takes a look at power in all its forms.

Ary M., writer.
QUSHUNG, illustrator.

A self-published first issue in the romantic comedy created and written by Ary M. of DryHumour and illustrated by the wonderful QUSHUNG.

Ary M., writer.
Adhitya Zulkarnaen, illustrator.

A self-published single issue of the sci-fi comedy created and written by Ary M. of DryHumour and illustrated by Adhitya Zulkarnaen.

Quentin D. Young: Writer, Letterer & Editor.

Dolores loves to make things up and have fun... until it lands her in hot water with Dad!

​When she accidentally melts the ice samples in his laboratory, Dolores wishes she was somewhere far away from her troubles. But her wish soon comes true, transporting her to a strange yet familiar land ruled by a terrible, oxygen-making Wizard, who gives her only one chance to return home...

​'The Wizard of O2' is a single-issue comic for kids and grown-ups alike, bringing readers back to the Land of Oz for a 21st century adventure in science and magic.

A comic completed sometime during quarantine in 2020. Let me find the words to say to you to make up for our distance. Everything is fake. Time doesn’t exist. My back hurts. But most of all, don’t deny people the chance to be kind.

Going to work during a purported apocalypse is weird. People seem to think you’re really important, even though they apparently still hate you as much as ever. You get a lot of thank you videos. But mostly you’re just alone on buses and get bored a lot. Trust you have to work during a boring apocalypse.

Ahmad Hasan

An ongoing comic series that is updated monthly. It follows the journey of Yugo searching for the 'Soul Stone'. A stone that is said to grant the user 'Soul Abilities'.

Alyce Sarich

Daemon; Book One started in 2017 and wrapped up in October 2020. It is free to read online on Tapas and Webtoon.

The story revolves around Billie Hunter, a teenager who is completely oblivious to her daemonic lineage. After a tragedy, she suddenly grows horns and finds herself swept up into the world of the daemon! She’s expected to learn magic and combat, and to work against the enemy – Angels! Unfortunately, the world isn’t as black and white as human mythology likes to suggest. Figuring out who is really good, and who is really evil might not be as straightforward as you think!

Cristian Roux, art
Lucas Testro, story

A short Doctor Who fan comic for World Animal Day 2020. Published on Facebook and Twitter.

Tim Molloy

We ongoing adventure. Publishing on a weeklyish basis on Instagram. Will publish in hard copy when ready.
Search hashtag #mru_new for all episodes

Illustrations of an impossible year, featured with Do Not Stand at my Grave and Cry, a poem by Mary Elizabeth Frye

A comic completed sometime during quarantine in 2020. Let me find the words to say to you to make up for our distance. Everything is fake. Time doesn’t exist. My back hurts. But most of all, don’t deny people the chance to be kind.

Millie Holten, Dale Anderson, James Ward, Swati Vats, Elyce Phillips, Josh Chodziesner

Heaps Comics is a a semi-regular comic magazine that collects comics from a group of Melbourne-based artists. Each issue is based around a common theme; the first two issues "Beginnings" and "History" are out now.

Tim Burden - Writer, illustrator

The debut graphic novel from Tim Burden's Morbid Sheep series. A horror adventure centred around a young girl who wakes up to a decaying world full of the undead and creatures from beyond. It's not all doom and gloom however, there's some humour to be found in its cast of strange characters with the story falling somewhere bewtween Alice in Wonderland and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

Campbell Whyte - Project lead
Elizabeth Marruffo - Painting
Fionn Mccabe - Painting
Owen Heitmann - Colour flats and Lettering
Hein Pham - Colour flats and Lettering
Stuart Medley - Lettering

Return to the astonishing world of talking peaches, magic tea, frightening wildlife, and threatening lizard tribes! The fantasy adventure too epic for one graphic novel finally reaches its conclusion.

Home Time: Under the River ended with a disastrous tea ceremony which left six kids lost, scared, confused, and even burnt. Now, the second half of the Home Time saga picks up from that nerve-wracking cliffhanger, as the children leave the relative safety of Peach Village in search of medicine, answers, and hopefully, a way home.

Equipped with a living map, a flask of hallucinogenic tea, and a plan so stupid it just might work, Lily, Amanda, Ben and Nathan will have to pull together at the very time they’ve drifted the furthest apart.

Award-winning graphic novelist Campbell Whyte is back, with his signature kaleidoscope of art styles, to cast a new spell wrapping up the most whimsically fantastical journey in ages. -- a 220-page, full-color hardcover graphic novel, 9” x 9”

Lauren Marshall - Co-Creator - Illustrator, Pencils, Inks.
Tanya Beeson - Co-Creator - Writer
Kaylene Harris - Colourist

Lana Leuka, enforcer, investigator and jackalope draws the attention of a bitter driven Detective when she stumbles upon a grisly crime that is somehow linked to her boss. Now she has to save the girl, solve the crime, keep her job and avoid the law... her epic story begins here.

Andy Drws (pen name) - writer and artist

'The Right Twin' is a fluffy LGBT+ romantic comedy in pastel colours. It deals with the humour and awkwardness of high school crushes and questioning sexual orientation. It's Andy's first webcomic project, started in May 2020 and expected to end in May 2021.

Dean Rankine (Co-Writer, Penciller, Inker,co-colourist)

A truly international team effort; the comic is based on the French animated characters, published by an North American publisher and written/drawn by an Australian.

First Dog on the Moon (Andrew Marlton)

Three teen superheroes are plunged into an hilarious environmentally-friendly adventure and learn the truth about climate change. it's a longish book stuffed with pictures, about 300 pages. For younger readers 10 to 14 but everyone loves it.

Scott Wrigg, writer and artist

This is a collection of 4 panel comics 
— which most scientists consider to be 
the best amount of panels. These comics are about the moon, 
some mountains, a bit of poetry, clouds, 
a dog and various people. All the good stuff.

Miles Davitt, writer and artist.

A 36-page zine collecting daily autobiographical comics drawn by the author over two weeks of self-isolation in rural Victoria in March 2020 and two weeks of managed isolation in an Auckland hotel in July 2020.

David Follett, writer, artist, letterer

This sequel sees Silas, Selena, Tommy and Loki take a road trip to Naracoorte to discover the source of a mysterious underground energy signal, only to discover Australia's extinct marsupial megafauna may not be so extinct after all.

Patrons can read the adventure unfolding when they get 4x full colour pages of Uncle Silas: EARTH serialised on my Patreon page every month. This 288 page graphic novel is set completely in South Australia and is the second in a series of 6.

Full of high adventure and low brow humour, this is for readers ages 8+

First Dog on the Moon

Meet our superheroes:
- Binky, aka The Monotreme!
- Worried Norman, once bitten by a radioactive croissant and now Pastry Person!
- Letitia, an occasionally bossy science-wombat and genius inventor!

Together, they are the EnviroTeens and they are about to get very, very angry. Singleuse Plastic Brendan may have an evil plan to destroy all the world's turtles with his dastardly tur-tele-pooter but, believe it or not, there is something even more sinister than an angry plastic bag on a garbage island in the middle of the ocean ... Climate change! Oh no! The EnviroTeens will do anything to stop this impending disaster: scale slippery volcanoes, scurry through forests full of poisonous armpit monsters, even meet Senator Ian, the Climate Denialist Potato. But can three teenagers and a chicken save the whole world? Why not, nobody else is! Maybe they are in with a chance? I can't look, it's too exciting!

Queenie Chan (Writer Artist, Researcher)

"Women Who Were Kings" is a series of non-fiction historical biographies about famous queens from around the world. The series has been praised for its feminist streak and well-researched look at the socio-economic conditions of the ages and cultures it addresses, and is distributed to Australian schools through Scholastic. It's also been chosen for SheSaw to be celebrated at World Square on International Women's Day (8th March, 2021).

This third book in the series depicts the Golden Age of ELIZABETH I, Queen of England, a figure well-known by many. The story depicts her rise from the illegitimate daughter of a king, to her trials and tribulations on the throne, to her death as the ‘Virgin Queen’. As a highly-private woman who learned to mind what she said even before she understood why, what were Elizabeth’s private struggles and moments of doubt?

David Blumenstein (writer/artist)

The church of Scientology has buildings around the world, but none compare to those in America’s city of dreams. So why is LA so important to Scientology?

Appeared at The Guardian (UK edition) as part of graphic narrative series The Illustrated City.

Matt Rice: Writer/Artist

In the North of England “Graft” is another word for hard work. These short stories about working in the UK during the late 90’s and early 2000’s remind the reader that sometimes the hardest graft isn’t the job, but the people.

Darren C Fisher- art and story

BLURB: The last thing I needed during this global pandemic was for the owner of our Melbourne rental home to sell up. In the rollercoaster weeks that followed, I was juggling — and balls were falling. But this crisis ended up having a pretty big silver lining.

.....................................

'Kicked out during coronavirus' uses autobiographic techniques of first-person narration and subjective perspective, couching the story within a broader context of tenancy hierarchies. It contributes to an archive of artistic response to Covid-19 and addressing a real-world problem of lack of information around tenants’ rights during the pandemic. The comic organises an unfolding series of real-time events into a recognisable story structure, balancing personal and objective narrative approaches to engage and inform readers. After publishing the story as a short serial on social media, ABC Radio National commissioned it as a collated digital story where it has been read more than 100 thousand times. The work has facilitated discussion around tenants’ rights and advocacy and led to projects with Tenants Victoria, Hope Assistance Local Tradies, CNBSafety Speakers, and most recently with Swinburne's Centre for Urban Transitions in partnership with the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. The original comic pages will be archived by the Washington Library of Congress as part of their global ‘coronavirus art collection’.

Maarten Bouw, writer and artist.
Steve Almanzi, colourist and sound effects.

A new space adventure begins! Join the Ventura family as they save the Earth from an alien invasion.
What is The Lost Signal, and how does it involve the family’s secret history?

This comic harkens back to Saturday morning cartoons, and in particular shows like Thunderbirds and The Jetsons.

For Reverie publications Gary Dellar.
Andrew Bergen: writer
Danny Zemp: writer, art, lettering, colouring

“A surreal journey through the depth of madness”.
A short story of the struggles with life and death, two headed goat and super heroes.

Australian: Anthony Christou, (Writer, Colourist, Cover Artist, Penciler, illustrator)
American: Rob C Richardson, (Illustrator, Colourist Letterer, Penciler)

Luminous Ages is a graphic novel about a young man who discovers he is a dream mage and goes on a heroes journey to discover his families past and his powers. Set in a universe filled with three types of dream wizards, the Luminaries, Captuveries and Chosen. Thirteen Dragon God and mage gods are fighting for control of the dream plane and reality. Those who can control the most god artefacts and hence the gods becomes the master of all reality and dreams.

Lola Baldsing, writer / artist. Scott Higginbotham, writer / artist

A project born out of the pandemic lockdown of 2020, Solid State won silver in the Webtoon Short Story Contest and was subsequently featured as a Webtoon Original as part of the mind bending Brain Short Story Anthology by the online publisher. It follows Anya, who hasn't seen her brother Oscar in some time. Seeking a reunion, an unusual send off raises the question of just what she is willing to do for the ones she loves.

Stephen Kok, writer. Allen Sands, artist. Chris Pitcairn, colourist.

Transhuman is a 60 page fully coloured GN. In a world where the body can be replaced with cybernetics, what does it mean to be human?

Stephen Kok, writer. Shaun Keenan, editor. Von Randal, artist. Darren Close, letterer.

Earth is a distant memory and the remnants of humanity now lives aboard the space station, Terralympus. What dark secret does it hold?

Stephen Kok, writer. PR Dedelis, artist. Peyton Freeman, colourist.

A steampunk fantasy adventure graphic novel where words come to life!

David Follett, writer, penciller, inker, colourist, letterer

Originally intended as a Sunday newspaper comic strip (but never printed in a newspaper) this science fiction adventure story for ages 8+ was published by Dark Horse Originals in 2010. That edition is now Out of Print and delisted by Dark Horse.

For the self published digital release in 2020, it was reformatted, edited, re-lettered and updated to reflect current scientific research.

'Selena and Tommy must race against time to save their missing scientist uncle Silas from his own laboratory greenhouse filled with astonishing nanotech infused plants that are rapidly evolving out of control!'

Phoebe MacDonald

Artworks and writing made during the first 3 months of lockdown in Sydney, Australia. The first issue of a two-part series.

Steve Carter, artist
Antoinette Rydyr, artist
Raúlo Cáceres, prologue and artist

Anthology of illustrations by Australians Steve Carter and Antoinette Rydyr depicting weird pulp & sci-fi and full of strange creatures from bizarre and violent worlds.

Includes a Prologue by Raúlo Cáceres and an illustration based on their style and theme.

Bilingual edition: English & Spanish. Published December 2020 by Fuzz T-Shirts, Spain.

Perri Cummings and Paul Anthony Nelson (Cinema Viscera) Concept Creators and writers, Jess Dubblu (AKA Jessica Wilson) Illustrator, penciller, inkist, colourist

With their race on the brink of total destruction, The Others must pool the last of their magic to perform a dangerous spell that will turn all but three of them to ash. Holding the survival of their people in their hands and the power of resurrection at their fingertips, Rosa, Rebecca and Scarlett spirit themselves across the globe to settle in a remote Australian country town... only to find their dream of sanctuary quickly turning into another witch hunt and binging on a battle of magical proportions.

Stuart Black, Writer & Artist.
Darren Close, Editor & selected Inks, Letters.

A crazy crossover that could only come from the mind of Stuart Black, publisher of the long-running 4Horsefemmes comic book series.

A search for an ancient artifact leads Killeroo and his friend Allira to meet up with the Supreme Justice team of idiots known as the 4Horsemen. Together, they face a large army of ex-bikers and thugs and battle across a Mad Max-like landscape, on their mutual quest for the artifact.

Renee Treml

Another hilariously funny, action-packed adventure, starring the intrepid Sherlock Bones and his partner-in-mystery-solving, Watts.

Hi there, I'm Sherlock Bones - I'm a tawny frogmouth skeleton (really) AND a mystery-solving superstar!

With my trusty partners, clever Watts and sassy Grace, I'm here to solve the mystery of the monster in the museum.

And we have a new sidekick, but he can be tricky to keep track of.

Join us for another super-fun adventure as we seek out the monster and save the museum.

You might not be able to hear Watts, because she's technically a stuffed parrot, but I always know what she's thinking.

And right now she's thinking: Can we solve the mystery of the monster in the museum?

Marc Copes, creator.

Cow Texas is a small fictional town located somewhere near the definition of funny, and just around the corner from your dad’s favourite joke. It's also an online comic strip by WA cartoonist Marc Copes, containing irresponsible humour dedicated to the child inside every adult.

This 3rd zine treasury released in 2020 contains 96 of the latest Cow Texas comic strips in cold hard print from our humble little cartoon establishment. The Tourist Bureau thanks you for visiting our tidy town (nominated 12 years running), we hope you'll stay!

Shaun Keenan - Creator/Editor/Publisher
Ben Rosenthal - Writer
Kirean Jack - Designer
Darren Close - Letters

In the year 2069, the Xtreme Champion Tournament (XCT) has cloned some of the pasts greatest heroes, villains and monsters. Caged and forced to comply, they have only one choice - to compete in the most brutal sport in the world as a part of the XCT!

After a fiery explosion rocked the XCT arena, Spartacus and his team tried to stop the bloodthirsty monsters and villains from escaping but . . failed. Now with a team member down and the rest scattered across the countryside, Khan uses this opportunity to his advantage. Will Spartacus overcome his defeat to take up arms against Khan or will he stand by and watch the world fall?

Roger Stitson, writer;
Dave Dye, illustrator, colourist, letterer;
Ben Sullivan, cover illustrator.

Comedy western with retro SF about a naive masked cowboy hero in the 1880s American west who teams up with an eccentric inventor and his helpers, and a go-getter girl newspaper reporter from the east, to tackle an outlaw gang of three brothers.
Full colour, 44 pages plus cover. Available in hard print and digital.

Idea: Ian C Thomas, Nat Karmichael
Writers: Ian Eddy, Ian C Thomas, Nat Karmichael
Artist: Ian Eddy
Layout, Lettering: Nat Karmichael
Production: Nat and Carlene Karmichael

The original story and artwork was written and drawn by Ian Eddy in 1983; it was provided to Nat Karmichael by Ian with the plan for it to be included in (an unpublished) comic anthology. The family of Ian Eddy agreed to its posthumous release as a tribute to Ian after he passed away in 2020. Presented as an insert into "Inkspot" #91 (Summer 2020/21 issue), the journal of the Australian Cartoonists Association

Simon Hanselmann, Writer, Penciller, Colourist

A daily web comic uploaded to instagram during the course of the covid lockdown featuring Hanselmann's beloved characters Megg, Mogg, Owl and Werewolf Jones.

Gaving Aung Than

The Super Sidekicks just saved the world and now they’ve been invited to join H.E.R.O. – the Heroic Earth Righteousness Organisation – an exclusive club for the planet’s most famous superheroes. But before they can become members, the team must pass the hardest challenge in the universe, a test so scary and difficult only the truly heroic can survive.

Emmet O'Cuana writer, Laura Renfrew artist, Aisling King-Macklin artist, Sarah Winifred-Searle artist and Tim Molloy cover artist.

The Beating of Wings is a fantasy horror one shot. It is set in a world where demons, spirits and the Undead are very real, and religious orders maintain a form of metaphysical order. The city of Emmanuel is threatened by hunting winged demons - Brother December is on the case.

Emmet O'Cuana writer and Tim Molloy artist.

A child slowly approaches the reader from the horizon line. Before them, an empty expanse of green vegetation. The child, tired and visibly starving, is the only living creature to be seen. Alone and vulnerable, the child suffers a painful injury in the ruins of a long abandoned city. Hurt, the child departs, receding back into the distance.

This 4 page story is absent any narration or dialogue, beyond the title page. It appeared in the Hierograph volume 4 from Twenty2Six Books.

Written and illustrated by Dave Dye

34 B&W pages. Eleven days after the landings at Gallipoli the ANZACs were called upon to support the second British attack on the village of Krithia. The 2nd Australian Infantry Brigade, the New Zealand Brigade and most of the ANZAC artillery were involved.
The battle resulted in 6,500 British, French, Australian and New Zealand casualties. The line was advanced by a mere 500 metres.
Read how nearly 2,000 ANZACs were slaughtered by callous, inept leadership.
This is the next chapter in the story of "THE ANZAC LEGEND". It follows on
from where Volume One finished.

Kieran Jack -Writer and Illustrator
Angie Strickland - Guest illustrator and variant cover Artist
Bradley Adan - Letter
Clare Jack - Editor

In Purgatory: Apocalypse Then & Now, is the third part of this series to what happens when we die told through the life of Death.

Writer, Dave Dye
Artist, Dave Dye

This 8 page story was commissioned for the Australia Burns anthology at the very beginning of the campaign and was one of the first completed. It did not see print and is only available as an attached file when purchasing the digital version of Australia Burns. It tells the story of a small town fire crew battling to save a homestead from a raging bushfire. Based on a true incident in the writer's experience.

BlackBamboo Smith (Patnaree Franklin) - Artist
Yuuha Li - Editor
Edmundo Garol (Gday Punch Manga Magazine) - Publisher

'Dear You' is currently serialised manga series, exclusively created for Australia's Gday Punch Manga Magazine. It's first chapter was debuted in Gday Punch Manga Magazine Issue #4 (Jan 2021).

'Dear You' is a story of the friendship and budding romance between 2 school students, and their interactions in class.

Meg O'Shea, writer and... picture maker?

A short work for 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art's "4A Digital" series about international adoption and language.

Meg O'Shea

A comic written for National Adoption Awareness Month 2020, exploring the narratives around adoption.

Meg O'Shea

A comic written for National Adoption Awareness Month 2020, exploring the narratives around adoption.

Graham A Chappill

The Warrior & The River is a single one-shot comic book. It is a 24 page story in black and white.

Roger Stitson, writer;
Matt Kyme, illustrator;
Graeme Jackson, letterer.

Set in two eras 50 years apart - 1938 and 1988. An old man recalls an adventure he had on a train travelling through Nazi Germany immediately after Kristallnacht, involving a mysterious masked woman and her brothers.
The story appears in Part 4 of the series by Matt Kyme, The Wrath of the Cursed. It also appears in the collected series in trade paperback format.

Ira A Francis/A Francis (same person)

This is the story of a girl named Emily who befriends Death. Together, they grow and learn and are forced to challenge everything they think they know.
A webcomic published online since 2011. First volume paperback self published in 2018 with support from a City of Melbourne Arts Grant.

Tom Taylor, writer; Darick Robertson, artist

First two issues of a Hellblazer miniseries featuring DC's John Constantine. Horror

Claire Murphy, artist. Edward Murphy, writer.

An all-ages comic set in 1930s Victoria. A girl named Coral and her trusty cat Mackenzie begin an adventure that takes in Melbourne mobsters, Trentham farmers, cruel cops, fighting families, sly grog, and a motorbike named Bessie. There's a lot of fun to be had in the Great Depression!

Mat Adams - Writer and Artist

Short Story comic; Set in Brisbane Queensland where summer seems to last all year round; only the early arrival of the shadows confirm what season it is. A young woman is determined to keep a memory from fading and convince herself that she can rewrite her own history.

Writer: Paddy Hobbs
Artwork: Smith Ejob, Bryan Legend

Skin Deep is a story of a world filled with humanoid Animals known as Fae. Due to the animal instincts and features, Fae have overtaken humans in society and employment. Humans are often lookdown on for being useless.
Trini and Mia have disguised themselves as Fae to try make it in this world. Trini works in the police department and Mia as a housekeeper. Trini is struggling to keep up with the demands of her job and without Fae features she is worried she will be overtaken or discovered. With Mia’s help, Trini has been able to stage crime and frame additional suspects, this has allowed her to rise through the ranks in the police academy. As Trini’s reputation grows additional people are starting to pay attention to her. How long can Trini and Mia continue their current lifestyle?

Skin deep is planed to by a 5 issue mini series

h falloon

this comic was written for Hallozeen 2020, and was published as a downloadable PDF on the Hallozeen 2020 website. it has since been (self) published in print.

Mat Adams - Writer and Artist

Set in Brisbane Queensland where summer seems to last all year round; only the early arrival of the shadows confirm what season it is. A young woman is determined to keep a memory from fading and convince herself that she can rewrite her own history.

Simon McKeown, writer and illustrator

'The Watcher in the Front Bar' is the fifth instalment in the ongoing 'The Bendigo Pub Project of Oscar Lago' series.
The series explores facets of the Bendigo Pub Guidebook phenomenon.
'The Watcher in the Front Bar' tells the story of Murnane Murnane writing a pub guidebook as a school project.

Caanan Grall, cartoonist

The second collection of the once Eisner-nominated, once Shuster-nominated webcomic, Max Overacts, crowdfunded through Kickstarter. After having a child and a brain tumour, the creator and the comic is finally making a comeback after many years dormant.

Written by Kieran Jack
Illustrated by Kieran Jack
Lettered by Bradley Aden
Edited by Clare Jack
Guest Artist Logan French

The Underrealm, as place of of the rest for those who have past into the afterlife, or so they thought.
Fast Forward to present day: Before Thorn can move forward a ghost of his past will return, The Clergy. Taunting him into pushing his plans forward and showing his followers the true might of the son of the beast.

Meanwhile Mischief Maker stumbles across a hidden secret that will ultimately lead to the end of the Underrealm and everyone there.

Written by Kieran Jack
illustrated by Kieran Jack
Guest Artist, Ben Mitchell
Lettering by Graeme Jackson
Edited by Clare Jack

Short story written by Tim Stiles & art by Karl Hewitt

Every journey has its beginning and Deaths path is one of pain and distrust.

After the betrayal of Pestilence our remaining riders of the Apocalypse find themselves entangled with old allies and whispers of a revolution to the crushing weight of new master of the Underrealm

But Death knows he must push forward in search of their missing leader, and his next cue will expose old wounds, he thought were laid to rest. In turn the guardians of the Underrealm, The lights hold the next clue to bringing the new way to the Underrealm.

Witten by Kieran Jack
illustrated by Kieran Jack
Guest Artist, Camillo Di Pietrantonio
Lettering by Graeme Jackson
Editing by Clare Jack

The sixth part in this comic book series finds Death now confronting his past life to deal with the oncoming storm. While Mischief Maker questions her recent affiliation with the Underrealms new leader and try to make a mends with the riders. But can all be forgiven. Meanwhile our remaining riders try to band together a resistance against the Damien and his demon army.

Written by Bradley Adan
illustrated by Luis Ergueta Roldán
Edited by Kieran Jack and Belinda Kwoka
Guest Artist, Logan French and MiJin

After the abduction of their Leader Iron and the attack on Iron Weights HQ, the members of Iron Weights were either scattered or dead.
We left off issue 2 with Infector trying his best to rescue B.A from the burning building which was the Iron Weights Community Centre, only to be gunned down by Micolah.
Then Violete emerges from the burning building only to see something strange. A transforming beast that picked up B.A's lifeless body, suddenly escaping into the night.
Down the Rabbit Hole picks up immediately afterwards. Infector has made his way home to Super Ready Industries, back to Professor Insanus.
Violete also arrives at the lab demanding answers for what she has witnessed.

And Eclair attempts to try and bring her brother B.A home and is informed of his passing by their mother.

Aaron Harvie writer.
Chris Badenoch illustrator.

The Straits: The Ghost Ship is the first instalment of Badharvie’s (Aaron Harvie and Chris Badenoch) debut, five-part graphic novel. Described as a relentless, white knuckle thriller that grabs you by the throat from the very first page and never lets you go, the graphic novel is a celebration of all things retro; of horror films and trashy novels, of synth music, comic books, pop culture and exploitation flicks. It rejoices in 8-bit video games, rock music on vinyl, video nasties, shitty sci-fi, dusk to dawn drive-in marathons, graphic novels and cheeseburgers.
The Straits is 100% independently produced and distributed and has met with critical acclaim. The book has sold out multiple print runs and is now stocked in comic shops and bookstores across every state in Australia with international distribution planned for 2021.

Khale Mchurst - author and artist

An autobiographical journey through an open-relationship - including all the mistakes made along the way.

Khale McHurst - author and artist

An autobiographical story about the artist's experiences with both being and loving Manic Pixie Dream Girls.

Greg Rucka, writer. Nicola Scott, artist. Chiara Arena, colourist

Rowan Black is a cop. Rowan Black is also a witch. Throughout her life, she has struggled to keep these things separate. Now, the walls are beginning to crumble, and Rowan—alienated from her friends, under investigation on the job, and stalked by mysterious forces who are literally hell-bent on using Rowan’s power for their own benefit—is on the verge of crumbling with them. And if these combined forces don’t manage to destroy Rowan—she might just destroy herself first.

Horror/procedural about a detective who is a witch.

Stuart Thornton

Due to the direction the Australian government was going in regarding China's political movements and the Covid 19 origins, China put recent restrictions upon Australian trade. To Australia's credit we were not to be bullied and stood firm.

Richard Moore, writer and artist

An offbeat digital comic about two queer vampire lovers negotiating one's asexuality as they share a coffin for the first time. A short ace-positive story against an unusual historic, fantastical background. Published 13 May 2020.

Chris Gooch

Under-Earth takes place in a subterranean landfill, hollowed out to serve as a massive improvised prison. Sunken into the trash and debris of the past -- gameboys, iphones, coffee cups, old cars -- we follow two parallel stories.

In the first, a new arrival struggles to adapt to the everyday violence, physical labour, and poverty of the prison city. Overwhelmed and alone, he finds a connection with a fellow inmate through an old, beat-up novel. While these two silent and uncommunicative men grow closer thanks to their book, the stress of their environment will test their new bond.

Meanwhile, a pair of thieves pull off a risky job in exchange for the prisons’ schematics and the promise of escape -- only to be betrayed by their employer. On the run with their hope for escape now gone, the two women set their minds to revenge. Yet as they lay their plans, their focus shifts from an obsession with the outside world to the life they have with each other.

Issues 2-6 (dated 2020)
Annette Kwok (Colorist issues 3-6)
Jason Badower (layouts issue 3-6, art issue 2-6)

In a realistic re-imagined Gotham, psychiatrist Dr. Harley Quinn is tasked by GCPD lieutenant James Gordon to help him track a macabre serial killer only known as... The Joker. Written by Kami Garcia. Art by Mico Suayan. Layouts and art by Jason Badower. Colored by Annette Kwok.

Aaron Blabey

I wish I'd had these books as a kid. Hilarious! -- Dav Pilkey, creator of Captain Underpants and Dog ManThey may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deeds... whether you like it or not! This New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain UnderpantsThe Bad Guys - sorry, Shadow Squad-G - have finally saved the world from butt-handed evil. And now it's time to celebrate! But when one member of the team makes a shocking discovery, the party might be over sooner than everyone thinks...

Aaron Blabey

They may look like Bad Guys, but these wannabe heroes are doing good deeds… whether you like it or not! This New York Times bestselling illustrated series is perfect for fans of Dog Man and Captain Underpants.

Seriously, WHAT is going on with Snake?! Terrible powers have been revealed! Evil allies have materialized! Inter-dimensional doors have opened! Shady-looking cloaks have been purchased! What is his deal?!

And that's not all! Why does Agent Fox suddenly have a whole lot more backstory than we'd counted on?! Dang it! We need answers! WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!

Wolf and the gang are back. And things are worse than ever. Or badder

C.S. Pacat, writer. Johanna the Mad, art. Joana La Fuente, colorist. Jim Campbell, letterer.

Just as Nicholas, Seiji and the fencing team at the prodigious Kings Row private school seem to be coming together, a deadly rival from their past stands in their way once more. MacRobertson is the school that knocked Kings Row out of the State Championships last year - but unless Nicholas and Seiji can learn to work together as a team, their school is doomed once again! And maybe those two can learn to be something more than teammates too...

For the first time, best-selling novelist C.S. Pacat (Captive Prince) and popular online sensation Johanna The Mad present the next all-new thrilling chapter in the story of Nicholas Cox's entry into the world of competitive fencing where scoring points is the name of the game-but finding out who you really are is the only way to truly win!

Trace Balla

Miri's been on the move and now she's finding her feet, her freedom, her community and her home, treading lightly all the way.

A story about spreading your wings and putting down roots in an ancient land.

James Foley
james@jamesfoley.com.au

Sally Tinker, the world's foremost inventor under the age of 12, is back with a new adventure in invention. When Sally's nemesis hatches a fowl and poultry plot, there's no room for the lily-livered. Sally and co will need all their pluck to return the world to its rightful pecking order. This is the fourth book in the S.Tinker Inc. series of graphic novels.

Holly Jayne, author and illustrator

Emerging readers and future graphic novel fans will love this picture book, told in comic book panels, about Bea an inspiring super hero whose real power is her kindness. This feel-good story will show readers what it takes to be a hero: a willingness to help and a super costume, of course.

Rene Pfitzner, artist, writer
Jake Kalsbeek, artist on back-up short story: Sophie the Spy

Ulrick, one of the royal stable hands, loves his work and demonstrates talent for taming the king's mythic creatures. It's just a pity he has trouble turning up on time. With his job on the line, Ulrick's boss charges him with making a special potion to cure a baby dragon of fever. Ulrick does his best, but his actions have far-reaching consequences that not even he could have predicted!

Claudia Chinyere Akole

'Why Black Lives Matter Resonates With Black People All Over The World: An Open Letter to Australians' is a comic originally published digitally on Going Down Swinging in August 2020.

The 42-page comic is an exploration of global Black Solidarity that compares ongoing Bla(c)k Civil Rights movements in the USA and Australia.

A self-published printed version of the comic was also available as a charity zine wherein 60% of profits were donated between Aboriginal Legal Service (AU: NSW/ACT) and US-based bail funds, mutual aid funds, and activist organizations via ActBlue (USA).

***NOTE TO JUDGES: The GDS website has been refurbished since original publication, so to avoid broken links for reading purposes I've linked to a Google Drive of comic pages below***

Claudia Chinyere Akole, cartoonist & co-writer. Ariel Bogel, writer & producer.

A 16-panel comic based on the story of ‘Nomad Lucy’ (and her dog Pixie Angel) whose son wouldn’t get a COVID-19 test because of medical misinformation he saw on Facebook.

The comic is part of the program ‘Science Friction’ on ABC Australia.

Alex Jourdain

Lonely Dogs Anthology was an anthology of short comics of varying themes and subjects in the same vein of twilight zone or black mirror. All short comics written by Alex Jourdain with art from creators from all over the world.

It's difficult to describe how it feels to live with Bipolar Disorder. Using simple primary colors and rudimentary shapes, this zine is my attempt to illustrate my internal struggles in a way that may help others understand.

CONTENT WARNING: Depictions of psychotic & suicidal ideation. Depictions of violent self harm. Depictions of vomit. DO NOT view this zine if consuming this kind of content will cause you harm.

Alex E Clark, Anthony Corrigan, Simon Wall, Kim Lam, Viet My Bui, Jess Reddi Coronell, Thom Nguyen, Emily N3ver, Angus Andersen, and Jess Kitty Parker

A collection of mini comics and art, dedicated to the Witcher 3 the game. Risograph printed, 2 colour internals, saddle stitched zine.

Claudia Chinyere Akole, cartoonist

A short autobio comic about running in the pouring rain listening to MCR during isolation. Lyrics from Thanks For The Venom by My Chemical Romance.

Claudia Chinyere Akole

A 3-page autobio comic pondering the inescapable trappings of desire.

Cai Tse, author/illustrator

A comedic series of comic strips that document the serious business that happen in and around a professional Lion Dance Team.

Daniel Valenti, writer and creator

A comic strip series parodying the Labours of Hercules.

Daniel Valenti - Writer/Creator
Monica Silvio - Back Cover Artist

Issue 1 of Goldie

Ben Mitchell

A short, non-fiction story about a Newcastle sandwich restaurant converting to a community grocer during the initial Covid-19 lockdown. The story was originally produced for Graphic Mundi/Penn State University Press's anthology Covid Chronicles, published in 2021, but first appeared on public display in the restaurant, printed on large pieces of timber.

Created by Terry Whidborne
Story by Terry Whidborne
Written by Janice Eymann
Illustrated by Terry Whidborne
Coloured by Terry Whidborne
Lettered by Terry Whidborne
Design by Terry Whidborne

This is Terry's first graphic novel and has ideas for further editions in the series. As an art director, Terry wanted The Lock to be very eclectic. From line drawings/handmade puppets and more detailed digital artwork, so The Lock has a look of its own, eclectic and rich in colour that embraces the nature of the story. At the moment Terry is talking with producers to hopefully see it on the screen in the near future.

Claudia Chinyere Akole

'Why Black Lives Matter Resonates With Black People All Over The World: An Open Letter to Australians' is a comic originally published digitally on Going Down Swinging in August 2020.

The 42-page comic is an exploration of global Black Solidarity that compares ongoing Bla(c)k Civil Rights movements in the USA and Australia.

It was drawn traditionally using POSCA markers on multiple layers of tracing paper. A self-published printed version of the comic is also available as a charity zine. 60% of profits are donated between:
– Aboriginal Legal Service (AU: NSW/ACT)
– Split donation to 71 US-based bail funds, mutual aid funds, and activist organizations via ActBlue (USA)

‘Why BLM Resonates’ was adapted as a live audio recording for All The Best Episode ‘#437 Why Black Lives Matter Resonates With Black People All Over The World’ on FBI Radio, 15 October 2020.

NOTE: Despite Claudia submitting this comic on her own behalf prior to this submission, as Claudia's editor on this piece I was keen to send through the updated link to the comic for our new website as well as indicate Going Down Swinging's support.

Nicola Scott, artist

Issues 12-16 of Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott's Black Magick series. (All issues published in 2020 - trade paperback published January 2021)

Tom Taylor, writer

Issues 1-11 of Suicide Squad (published December 2019 to November 2020) - Hardcover collection to be released April 2021

Tom Taylor, writer

Solicitation copy from Marvel - THE HULK FINDS A NEW HOST: THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN! When Bruce Banner wakes up in the middle of the night without the Hulk, he thinks he’s finally free. But the Hulk is immortal — and the night’s not over yet. If you thought he was dangerous in the body of mild-mannered Bruce Banner, wait till you see him now. Peter Parker is a man with the proportional strength and agility of a spider, capable of lifting trains on his bad days. And he’s about to get a big, green power-up — with a temper to match.

Tom Taylor, writer

Discover what the villains of the DC Universe did during the events of DCeased!

From the hit series DCeased comes a villain's story about survival during the zombie apocalypse!

Vandal Savage hasn't lived for thousands of years without being prepared. Seconds after the virus breaks out, he has already made contact and begun to assemble a team of people to help him ride out the end of the world. Some of the world's greatest mercenaries and fighters are brought to his side, all tasked to protect Savage. All Vandal can offer them is survival.

Collects DCeased: Unkillables #1-3.

Tom Taylor, Writer

Short story from The Joker 80th Anniversary 100 Page Special Super Spectacular - illustrated by Eduardo Risso

Tom Taylor, writer

The Anti-Life Equation has infected over a billion people on Earth. Heroes and villains have fallen. In the immediate aftermath of the destruction of Metropolis, Superman and Wonder Woman spearhead a plan to try to stem the tide of infection, preserve and protect survivors, and develop a plan for what’s next. In the Earth’s darkest hour heroes will bring hope! 2019’s blockbuster series, DCEASED, makes its digital first debut with stories set before the fall of Earth!

Serialised digitally May-December 2020

Andrew Constant, writer
Nicola Scott, artist

Short story starring Wonder Woman and The Metal Men from DC Cybernetic Summer anthology.

Con Chrisoulis writer/artist.

Rebel Rebel is the serialised graphic novel biography of David Bowie’s entire life, detailing Bowie’s initial efforts in songwriting, as well as the historical events, artists and movements that influenced his later output.

Con Chrisoulis publishes the comic via his dedicated Patreon and collected editions are released through Comixology.

SW Searle, creator.

When healer Peigi stumbles upon a mysterious man named Tomalin, she is pulled into his world of fey conflict. But saving him from the fairy queen is only the beginning of their journey together, as their growing intimacy and kinship in grief lead them to make decisions about what they want out of their lives. This Bronze Age romance is inspired by the story of Tam Lin, and it originally serialized on Filthy Figments (please note: for 18+ adult readers only).

Andrew Constant, writer
Paul Mason, artist

Issue 9 of the Kid Phantom's adventures. Stories written by Andrew Constant, art by Paul Mason.

Tom Taylor, writer

Seven Secrets issues 1-6 (collected volume to be published May 2021) - Written by Tom Taylor, Pencilled by Daniel Di Nicuolo and Coloured by Walter Baiamonte

Mimi Leung

Comics about daily life for a young, multicultural family living in regional Australia during COVID-19. Includes philosophical observations on culturally relevant topics such as poo, poo jokes, short hair and car pizza.

Sorab Del Rio - Writer, Creator, Publisher
Production, Editing, Lettering, Graphic Design - Don Ticchio
Pencils, Inks - Eder Messias
Colours - Edwin Estrada

Bazza the Bogan Barbarian, the Drop Bears Thriller and Killer, a sentient cricket bat and a talking Torana battle zombies, carnivorous cane toads and giant spiders against the backdrop of Covid-19 in a night of maximum mayhem.

This is Australia’s wildest comic! Meet the Australian legend Bazza the Bogan Barbarian. Bazza’s a boss, he’s got two drop bears Thriller and Killer, and he runs “Bazza’s Monster Killing Business” from his man cave in Deadfern, South Sydney. Bazza barracks for South Sydney, he loves his vegemite, he dunks his meat pies in beer and he’s armed with the weapon every Aussie should have - a cricket bat signed by Donald Bradman. It’s more than a cricket bat, it’s a sentient cricket bat who might just be Bazza’s conscience. Bazza’s married to his ball breaking wife Shazza, who’s quite the monster killer herself. Together they got two little teenage squids Aero and Michelle.

Writer: Andrew Constant
Artist: Paul Mason
Letterer: Frank Schulze
Editor: Glenn Ford

Short comic story created for kids as a bonus digest-sized comic insert with the 2020 Phantom Annual issue (#1820), and digital comic release

Annual link: https://www.phantomcomic.com.au/collections/2018_comics/products/issue-1858-annual-special-2020

Digital comic: https://www.comixology.com/Kid-Phantom-00/digital-comic/845102?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9Jc3N1ZXM

Writer: Andrew Constant
Artist: Paul Mason
Editor: Glenn Ford

9th episode of the adventures of the Phantom as a young boy. This is part of a two-part finale (#10 due 2021) where Kit and Guran finally make it to their new home in the US after a long journey from the jungles of Bengali. The boys encounter a dangerous new foe in the seemingly quiet town of Clarksville.

Comic book link: https://www.phantomcomic.com.au/collections/kid-phantom/products/kid-phantom-issue-no-9-2020-phantoms-universe-card-22-matthew-kennedy

Digital comic: https://www.comixology.com/Kid-Phantom-09/digital-comic/879471?ref=c2VyaWVzL3ZpZXcvZGVza3RvcC9ncmlkTGlzdC9Jc3N1ZXM

More on the series: https://www.masoncomics.com.au/kid-phantom

Morrigan Moore

Here collects the first story arc of Godslayers. An account of the storming of Fulcrest and how Gennifer, Sam, Skittle and Mini the Minotaur came to meet.

Brenton E McKenna, cartoonist

Daily comic strip running in The West Australian

Ailsa Freeman

The Deafening Silence is a comic that speaks of the effects of isolation during the pandemic, the upheaval of the norm, and the desynchronising of time. Through the warping of the traditional comic format a fractured narrative is born, distorted due to constant recollection, denying the chronological. As ghosts linger in the landscape of the mind external and internal worlds blend, reality is uprooted as we tumble into disarray. The outside world retreats beyond the horizon and our boxes grow smaller with each passing second.

Mimi Leung

Comics about daily life for a young, multicultural family living in regional Australia during COVID-19. Includes philosophical observations on culturally relevant topics such as poo, poo jokes, short hair and car pizza.

Georgina Chadderton, writer; penciller; inker; colourist; letterer

This is a set of comic strips commissioned by MOD. (Museum of Discovery) in Adelaide during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic as part of MOD.’s exhibition ‘Life Interrupted’ (an exhibition reacting to the pandemic and particularly the effects of lockdown and isolation).

Georgina Chadderton, writer; penciller; inker; colourist; letterer

Operation Cat Drop is a mini comic commissioned by MOD. (Museum of Discovery) in Adelaide for the exhibition ‘It’s Complicated’ (an exhibition about complex systems and how everything we do can cause change and effect). It is an explanation comic about the unforeseen consequences of an attempt at malaria aid in Borneo by the World Health Organization (W.H.O) in the 1950s that led to the W.H.O parachuting cats into a village. The comic was also a response to an installation of 3D model parachuting cats created by an animation company for the exhibition.

Written by Big Tim Stiles with art by Ahmed Raafat. Special guest art by Paul Gori, Nathan Kelly, Carlos Pedro, and Dennis Tirona.

Cover by Ahmed Raafat.

Synopsis: Beware criminals and evil doers! Start trouble in Struggle-Town and it's KNOCKAROUND-GUY you'll answer to! Themed henchmen or zombie carnies, Nazi turtles or drunk ducks, it makes no difference to our simian superhero.

"It's the gorilla noir you never knew you needed in your life." Shane W Smith, creator of TRIUMVIRATUS, UNDAD

GORILLA MY DREAMS: GORILLA TAILS introduces a number of Struggle-Town's supporting cast, throwing them firmly into the spotlight.

In six all-new short stories we meet the characters who interact with, support, and sometimes run from Knockaround-Guy.

GORILLA MY DREAMS can best be described as: Hellboy vs. Doom Patrol in the streets of Gotham City.

36 pages, Black and White One-Shot

Written by Big Tim Stiles
Letters by Darren Close

ynopsis: The much anticipated PREQUEL to GORILLA MY DREAMS!

GORILLA MY DREAMS Presents: LUCIFER BIM-BOM explores the origins of the man who becomes the kingpin of crime and the feared costumed criminal in Struggle-Town.

Lucifer is the dilettante son of voodoo gangster Clovis Bacchius. After failing his father one too many times, Lucifer and his crew find themselves in The Vigilance Correctional Centre; a prison for super powered, costumed, and exceptionally dangerous criminals. How does this spoiled rich-boy survive his incarceration with the worst of the worst, and become the vicious killer he is today? He’s gonna have to get his hands dirty…

At its heart, GORILLA MY DREAMS Presents: LUCIFER BIM-BOM explores what it's like to live in your father's shadow, to struggle with the desire to not become what you see in him, and becoming even worse.

24 pages, Black and White One-Shot

Stacy Gougoulis

A comic about worry and perspective

Stacy Gougoulis

The first of two comics published by ABC Life reflecting modern life in Australia

Stacy Gougoulis

The second in a series of comics about life for ABC Life

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A short comic about thoughts on the full moon, the new year, magic, hair and trout.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A short comic about thoughts on the full moon, the new year, magic, hair and trout.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic thinking about the self from “subjective”, “inter-subjective” and “objective” perspectives, and how they are all important dimensions.

Writer and illustrator

A comic reflecting on the rolling crises of the devastating 2019–2020 Australian bushfires, followed by coronavirus restrictions and the months-long pandemic lockdown in Melbourne, Victoria. And how despite the overwhelming hugeness of the disruptions, stress and loss of life — turning my focus to small local pockets of life, resilience, kindness and mutual-support was a lifeline and a way to maintain agency, connectedness and hope.

Sarah Firth illustrator and writer

A humorous comic about counting doughnut days in Victoria, of being coronavirus free and other good doughnuts.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic I made about a little vision I had while getting angry at my phone, again.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic about my ongoing battle with trying to apply the KonMari Method™ to reliably ill-fitting underpants, bras and jeans.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic about the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, cognitive dissonance, thinking about agency, systems and legacies of harm, working for justice, being imperfect and how complex and layered things are.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic about the pressures, questions and roads people take with having children, not having children, or remaining child free.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

Navigating my introversion and my partner's extroversion during a pandemic lockdown in Melbourne.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A 36 page tiny comic about the power of small things

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

Thinking about my daily mental health struggles and how it’s a lot like having a death metal band going off as soon as I’m conscious. I try to keep them in check with craft, art and writing. And the whole situation and combo made me think of Strongbad so this comic is a bit of an homage

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic about loving a difficult creature

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic about meditation

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A comic musing on concerns about clowns

Sarah Firth writing and illustration

A comic about how, although confusion is often seen as a problem, an indulgence or a form of self-sabotage, it can so often be an essential ingredient to learning, challenging your assumptions and growing.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

A dreamy story of resisting being consumed by fear, moving outside your comfort zone and opening to uncertainty and wonder.

Ocean Thomas

I lived in Wollongong, where every day I would observe the drug addicts that walked past my house going to the hospital or the methadone clinic which was at the end of my street. Phill the Junky is a representation of junky’s I grew up observing, and drawing inspiration from.

Sarah Firth writer and illustrator

It’s a frustrating, stressful and uncertain time. What is absolutely heartening to see is all the creative ways people are responding to these difficulties. Boosting morale is important. Keeping safe, keeping connected and supporting each other is so essential to cut through the despair, drama and panic.

Writer: Lucas Scheffel
Pencils, Inks, Colour: Nikita Vasilchuk
Letterer: Es Kay

Angry Squad is an action, adventure, superhero story featuring Angry Fred, a grumpy old “go-to-guy” and his team of trigger-happy counterparts.

After an acquaintance holds Angry Fred’s secrets at ransom, his next mission is simple: Bring down a King Kong-sized gorilla and face his inner demons.

Rod Walsh

Daily single panel comic art created by an amateur standup comedian. 2 guys chatting by a water cooler. Same picture every day, but with different wording/joke.

Luke Humphris

An Autobiographical diary comic about the day to day struggles of quitting alcohol. Luke Humphris drags his negative traits into the sunlight and tries to figure out where he belongs in this world.

Ken Best

A sequel to Xtinct Clan Wars. Quik finds where Rag is hiding out and mounts a search party, only to be captured by Rag's mentor, Ramon. Quik must escape and rescue his friends so they can return to their village and warn them of Ramon's plan to invade them.

Jeremy MacPherson writer and artist

Story from the GiantSize Phantom Comic

Nina Dakin

Published in "Myth 5 Comic Anthology" by Curtin Illustration Club.

"Snow" is a short comic, inspired by a vivid childhood memory of waking up to Perth covered in snow. It was only six years later that it occurred to me it was a dream. Seemingly sensible rules, flying, giant birds: this comic is about dream logic and how clear it all seems until it begins melting away.

Alicia Rutigliano, artist & writer

Una Piccola Cosa is a short comic made for the Curtin Illustration Club anthology called Myth. This with published in Myth 5, 2020. This story follows the introduction of two characters, Valentino and Emilio, as they meet each other for the first time in a poverty stricken Sicilian town in the 17th century. Emilio is the only son to a nobleman and is expected to step up to the plate. However, things may change after his strange encounter with a seemingly friendly vampire.

This comic is to establish the characters on the page, and for me to get a feel for how these characters work. In the future I would like to take this story further and make a small webcomic or graphic novel.

Elvis Sorocuk, writer. Alex e Clark, illustrator.

Elvis dictating his ideas for wildly successful franchises, this time it was Unicorns in Offices. I don't know if he knows horses are especially hard to draw, but the motivation to flex was a strong project drive.

Ive Sorocuk.

Short collection of one pages strips regarding milk.

Alex e Clark, artist. Anthony Corrigan, artist. Simon Wall, artist. Kim Lam, artist. Viet My Bui, artist. Jess Reddi Coronell, artist. Thom Nguyen, artist. Emily N3ver, artist. Angus Andersen, writer. Jess Kitty Parker, artist.

An anthology of fancomics about Geralt and The Witcher series of novels / games.

Pat Grant writer, illustrator.
Fionn Mccabe, painter

“Anyone willing to get filthy can also get rich.” In this dystopian swamp city, two brothers find that opportunity and exploitation lurk around every corner. But who’s smarter: the hordes of people rushing to move in, or the equal horde desperate to leave?

Penn and Lipton Wise have set out to Falter City to make their fortune. It’s the future, obviously, and things are pretty grim. The Australian landscape is traumatized. Plague is rampant. Machines only work as well as the poor sod pedaling them. Things are hotter and wetter than they used to be, giving the whole place the vibe of a sweaty armpit.

Lippy and Penn are hoping to set up shop in this grimy boom-town, but they've got to stay frosty, because it’s teeming with hustlers, swindlers, and scoundrels. It’s the sort of place where a lucky moron could make an outrageous fortune in an afternoon and lose it all before bedtime. The sort of place where two enterprising teenagers could really make something of themselves. Or so they say.

In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Blue, Pat Grant confirms his reputation as “the Australian Mark Twain” (Craig Thompson, author of Blankets and Habibi) with a page-turning graphic novel about economic inequality, desperation, and the gambler’s addiction to hope even in the worst of times. -- a 200-page, full-color softcover graphic novel with 3” French Flaps, 180mm (width) by 253mm (height)

Pat Grant, writer, illustrator.
Fionn Mccabe, painter.

“Anyone willing to get filthy can also get rich.” In this dystopian swamp city, two brothers find that opportunity and exploitation lurk around every corner. But who’s smarter: the hordes of people rushing to move in, or the equal horde desperate to leave?

Penn and Lipton Wise have set out to Falter City to make their fortune. It’s the future, obviously, and things are pretty grim. The Australian landscape is traumatized. Plague is rampant. Machines only work as well as the poor sod pedaling them. Things are hotter and wetter than they used to be, giving the whole place the vibe of a sweaty armpit.

Lippy and Penn are hoping to set up shop in this grimy boom-town, but they've got to stay frosty, because it’s teeming with hustlers, swindlers, and scoundrels. It’s the sort of place where a lucky moron could make an outrageous fortune in an afternoon and lose it all before bedtime. The sort of place where two enterprising teenagers could really make something of themselves. Or so they say.

In his follow-up to the critically acclaimed Blue, Pat Grant confirms his reputation as “the Australian Mark Twain” (Craig Thompson, author of Blankets and Habibi) with a page-turning graphic novel about economic inequality, desperation, and the gambler’s addiction to hope even in the worst of times. -- a 200-page, full-color softcover graphic novel with 3” French Flaps, 180mm (width) by 253mm (height)

Dillon Naylor

First new issue of Da 'n' Dill in over 20 years. Featuring a brand new lead story "Leaf It To Us" and additional stories that have never before been collected - "Puttin’ Your Foot In It", "Voodoo You Think You Are Kidding?" and the initial Da 'n' Dill Sunday newspaper strip.

Kelly Bull

Vainglorious is a long-running webomic project that is about a dragon cursed to be a human running around the world attempting to break his curse! It is a light-hearted adventure story with lush worldbuilding and excellent comedic beats.

Cameron Davis, artist and writer. Keryn Mutzafy-Thomson, writer. Jason Conlan, writer. Brad Daniels, writer. Dan Gilmore, writer. Wolfram Young, writer.

The chaotic adventures of Rose & Dahlia, two unambitious best friends who want to do nothing all day except hang out, compete to make the best joke of the day and eat their body weight in katsu curry. Rose & Dahlia: Third Course is over 100 pages of full colour, fun comics about all the things in life that taste great.

Sara Mir, writer and artist.

Sara Mir recalls events she experienced as a child during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) to address the psychological trauma and consequences of aerial bombardment. Sara shares this comic in hopes that a new generation won't be traumatised by war.

Kam Taverner - creator, writer, penciller and inker.

Garth Htimz - project manager - for Dark Mirror Muse
G.L.Smith - research, restoration and art direction - for Dark Mirror Muse

A graphic novel, collecting a newly restored & remastered release of the 1972 erotic adventure debut of Pussy Willow - On Lesbos !
"On Lesbos" introduces us to Pussy Willow, as a fledgling operative of the clandestine British intelligence agency known as the - Female Erotic Espionage League - or F.E.E.L. for short.
All F.E.E.L.'s operatives are highly trained in espionage, the martial arts and especially, ........all the arts of seduction.
The year was 1972 and Pussy Willow, agent of F.E.E.L. is about to embark on her first mission, taking her to the island of Lesbos, to investigate reports of covert activities being conducted by the mysterious Madame Lash and her all female army!
Pussy soon discovers a dire plot.... and begins a race against time, to save Lesbos .....and all mankind from worldwide domination!
The world of international espionage would never be the same again!

Written & Drawn by Danny Nolan

A cautionary tale of two classic illustrated characters who venture beyond their genre and wind up in the infamous underground comic land of RATTOWN