entertainment – Page 4 – Comix Ireland

Review: Thimble #1

August 4, 2016August 4, 2016 Paul Carroll

In 2015, Buttonpress Publications released their third title, to publish alongside Wren and Artos. The new book, written by letterer Phil Roe’s wife, was Thimble.

Where Wren is a superhero book, Thimble is a fantasy. She’s still a hero, and looks very much the part in the first issue cover, but her story focuses much less on the Irish heroes in Dubh Linn. Instead, it focuses on local folklore, and a small protagonist’s big dreams. Cursed to be minuscule, Thimble is a charming girl who wants to explore the world around her, with the aid of some magic keeping at her to regular proportions for the sake of a normal life.

This is a remarkable debut from a new writer at Buttonpress, Sarah Roe, which really shows off the potential of the books that the company can produce. Charming, with incredibly inviting, Roe’s story will draw readers in and leave them wanting more.

The book’s artist, Jason Browne, has shown in this latest title his ability to capture the life of a modern day rural Ireland. Thimble shows us how far his artwork has come since the first Wren comic. Colour is the man’s best friend, giving his style more life and vibrancy.

Thimble is a powerful, story-driven tale, so enjoyable and enthralling that readers young and old (hey, it is an all-ages comic) will have no difficulty with the book, except that it has to eventually end.

You can catch Thimble #1, as well as Wren, Artos, and Buttonpress Publications’ newest book, Stoat, at Dublin Comic Con this weekend. In the meantime, Thimble fans will need to wait for Browne and co. to finish with the next issue. At least they’ve got plenty more to keep us interested.

Reviews

Review: Rabbit and Paul

August 3, 2016August 4, 2016 Paul Carroll

Over the past few years, there’s been an explosion of Irish comics. Last year, the most Irish comic ever was published by Offaly-native Seán Hogan: Rabbit and Paul.

Set in the small town of Bally’O’Jhaysus (+2 Irish-ism Points), the book follows the tale of Paul and his anthropomorphic rabbit-friend, Rabbit. Rabbit is acquired in a Tat Shop (+1 Point), despite warnings from Paul’s parents about not bringing any more tat into the house. (+1 Point) Through a bizarre series of events involving a strange, illegal candy (+1 Point for vague drug dealer reference), a fascination with a particularly large Chinese restaurant (+1 Point), and a range of hilarious Irish phrases (1+ per use… I think you get the idea: extremely Irish book), the journey of the titular duo is mapped out in bizarre fashion.

This is a unique celebration of the peculiarity of Irishness, capturing Irish humour in its purest (and most PC) form in its smallest details. Anybody with a notion of experience with Ireland will immediately understand the references made throughout the book, though it should be said that the Irish audience will benefit most from the tiniest jokes hidden in the pages.

Rabbit and Paul is a charming, witty book, enough to keep readers laughing long after the last page. Barely after finishing it did I feel an obligation to get my hands on a second copy as a gift for a friend. Anyone who can get past the anthropomorphic line in the blurb is sure to love the story, told with a great capacity for what it means to be Irish.

Hogan has produced an impressive debut, both in its writing and its illustrations. The comic will leave readers wanting more. For the moment, a conversation with the book’s creator will have to suffice. You can catch him, and Rabbit and Paul, at Dublin Comic Con.

Article

New Releases at Dublin Comic Con

July 24, 2016July 25, 2016 Paul Carroll

In less than two weeks, the doors to the Convention Centre in Dublin will open for Dublin Comic Con. Now in its fourth year, DCC has become the go-to event for guests, activities and new releases in the Irish comic book scene. This year is no exception, with a long list of guests from across pop culture and the comic book scene. By my count and a quick search on Twitter and Facebook, we’re looking at (at least) sixteen releases in August. (Or, if you quantify in Internet terms, ALL THE MONEY!)

New from Lightning Strike Comic Books

The forerunners in the ‘Release Everything at DCC’ trend are Lightning Strike Comic Books, run by local boy Eoin McAuley. Confirmed releases include:

Fanastical Sombrero (LS’s first children’s title)
The Phantom 80th Anniversary comic
A Clockwork Universe
Double Dead (available in print for the first time)
Speakeasy
A preview of None Shall Pass

You can also find their anthology comics on their table.

New from Buttonpress Publications

Buttonpress, publishers of several all-ages Irish superhero comics, are proud to announce their fourth title for Dublin Comic Con: Stoat. They’ll also have their other titles – Wren, Artos, and Thimble.

New from Anthea West

Anthea, writer and artist behind Fate and The Earthbound God, is bringing a new type of comic to Dublin Comic Con: a horror anthology.

Sleep Tight adds to Anthea’s collection of amazing titles, and isn’t one to be missed.

New from Paul Bolger

Paul Bolger, celebrated creator of Hound, is bringing with him two new books to DCC.

Hound 2: Defender
Inktober 2015 Sketchbook

Fans of Hound – a retelling of the story of Cú Chulainn – and Paul’s art will be happy with these announcements. Keep in mind, Hound books are published in hardback, and so will cost more than the other new releases. Book 1 sells for €25. Keep that in mind when drawing up your budget for the weekend.

New from NP Press

Cork-based publisher, NP Press, are releasing The Guards at Dublin Comic Con. A paranormal detective story from a new press, it’s not one to be missed.

New from Cremona Publishing

Creators of the Celtic Knights, Cremona Publishing are bringing their latest title, Junker the Stinky Knight, to DCC. You can check it out along with more of their books at their table.

New from Flare

Flare, a book series by Paddy Lennon, is getting a one-shot comic at Dublin Comic Con. The novels will, presumably, also be available from Lennon over the weekend.

“3” and New Artbooks

Without any images to work with, you’ll have to settle for my unbridled excitement for new releases when it comes to these new books.

3, a new comic from Dave Hendrick (writer of Granuaile Queen of Storms from O’Brien Press)
Scratched Metal, a new artbook from Art of Helixel
A new artbook from Tríona ‘Tree’ Farrell

I wish I could show some of what you’re in store for from these three, but unfortunately Hendricks has only released one image from within the book, and cover-images haven’t been released by Helixel or Tree. Artbooks are a nice piece to pick up at any convention, providing a good chance to explore an artist’s work outside of a story (particularly if you like someone’s art but aren’t sure of the story that the book’s writer has come up with.)

Anything else?

I don’t expect to have found every new release for DCC. Nor is this list a complete collection of everything you can find at Dublin Comic Con in August. If you’re releasing something, or know of something new coming to DCC, let us know! We’ll update this listing and post about it on Facebook and Twitter.

Web Series

Commerce | CO/MIX Episode 4

June 22, 2016 Paul Carroll

It’s all fun and games until there’s money to be made. The business of comic books takes some probing to fully understand, and a summer’s worth of conventions to understand. From the point of view of independent artists, small publishers, and one of Ireland’s leading mainstream book publishers, the business of comic books is full of competition, statistical awareness, and the need to fit into the plans of Ireland’s retailers.

Robert Glick / ComicBooks.ie (featured)
Robert Glick is an American comic book broker and grader, living in Ireland. He operates ComicBooks.ie, and runs the monthly Geek-Mart event.
http://www.comicbooks.ie/

Will Sliney
Will Sliney is a Cork based artist currently working on Marvel Comics’ ‘Spider¬Man 2099’ with Peter David. He has previously worked on ‘Fearless Defenders’ (Marvel) and ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (Egmont/Titan). He published his debut graphic novel, ‘Celtic Warrior’, with The O’Brien Press in 2013.
http://sliney.blogspot.ie/

Emma Byrne / O’Brien Press
Emma is a graphic designer and illustrator working within The O’Brien Press as Design Manager and Art Director. She designs the covers for the company’s books, and works with the writers and artists of the company’s graphic novels.
http://www.obrien.ie/emma-byrne

Eoin McAuley / Lightning Strike
Eoin is the owner and publisher of Lightning Strike Comic Books, one of Ireland’s leading independent publishers. Based in Dublin, they produce an anthology comic book, ‘Lightning Strike Presents’, among a growing range of titles, including ‘Afterworld’ and ‘The Life and Adventures of Sherlock Holmes’ (with Dublin Comic Con).
http://lscomics.com/

Paddy Lynch / Cardboard Press
Paddy is an illustrator and sequential artist based in Dublin. He hosts the Dublin Comic Jam, and co¬founded the Comic Labs. He illustrated ‘Big Jim’ (The O’Brien Press) and is co-¬owner of The Cardboard Press.
http://www.patrickl.net/

Anthea West
Anthea is a sequential artist and cartoonist from Dublin. Her debut graphic novel, ‘The Earthbound God’, was published in 2013. She is currently producing ‘Fate’.
http://dustbunny-studios.com/

Triona ‘Tree’ Farrell
Tree is a sequential artist and freelance illustrator from Dublin. She is a former member of the Superhero Help Desk, and has produced two comic books; ‘Swords & Sisters’, and ‘Azure Capricorn’.
http://treedesigns.portfoliobox.me/
CO/MIX was produced as part of the M.Sc. in Multimedia in DCU, 2014-2015, by Matthew Ashe, Paul Carroll, Darragh O’Riordan, and Ciarán Byrne.

Matt: Matt is a Fine Art graduate from IADT, experienced in video exhibitions, visual effects and 3D animation. He worked as Director of CO/MIX. He runs The VR Agency as its lead producer and editor.
https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-ashe/70/769/970
http://www.thevragency.co/

Paul: Paul is an English graduate from Mater Dei, and a freelance writer and multimedia producer. He worked as Producer of CO/MIX. He runs Comix Ireland, and assists in the organisation of the Geek-Mart.
https://ie.linkedin.com/in/paulcarroll1
http://paulcarrollwriter.com
http://comixireland.com

Darragh: Darragh is a Marketing graduate from DIT, and worked as web developer in Javascript on the CO/MIX project.
https://ie.linkedin.com/in/darragh11

Ciarán: Ciarán is an experienced graphic designer and sound designer. He led the sound engineering and graphic elements of CO/MIX.
https://ie.linkedin.com/in/mrciaranbyrne
http://soundcloud.com/adeyhawke

Web Series

Community | CO/MIX Episode 3

June 15, 2016 Paul Carroll

From the outside, the comic book community looks like one big, happy family. A closer look reveals the relationships between the various sub-communities in Ireland, the nature of the people involved in bringing together the comic book community as a whole, and explores the notion of just how different the Irish comic book scene is to its American counterparts. From drink-and-draws at a local pub, to largescale conventions across the country, to a small port village in Cork, the community in Ireland is spread far and wide.

Paddy Lynch / Cardboard Press / Dublin Comic Jam / Stray Lines

Paddy is an illustrator and sequential artist based in Dublin. He hosts the Dublin Comic Jam, and cofounded the Comic Labs. He illustrated ‘Big Jim’ (The O’Brien Press) and is co-owner of The Cardboard Press.

http://www.patrickl.net/

Anthea West

Anthea is a sequential artist and cartoonist from Dublin. Her debut graphic novel, ‘The Earthbound God’, was published in 2013. She is currently producing ‘Fate’.

http://dustbunny-studios.com/

Triona ‘Tree’ Farrell

Tree is a sequential artist and freelance illustrator from Dublin. She is a former member of the Superhero Help Desk, and has produced two comic books; ‘Swords & Sisters’, and ‘Azure Capricorn’.

http://treedesigns.portfoliobox.me/

Stephen Lynch & Tina Branigan

Stephen, AKA Widdle Wade, is a voice-actor by trade, as well as costume and prop-maker. A regular to the convention scene in Ireland, he is also a member of the Emerald Garrison. Tina, AKA Cyanide Kisses, is an alternative model and cosplayer, and coordinator of volunteers at Dublin Comic Con.

https://www.facebook.com/WadesWiddleWorkshop

https://www.facebook.com/CyanideKissesCosplay

Will Sliney

Will Sliney is a Cork based artist currently working on Marvel Comics’ ‘SpiderMan 2099’ with Peter David. He has previously worked on ‘Fearless Defenders’ (Marvel) and ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars’ (Egmont/Titan). He published his debut graphic novel, ‘Celtic Warrior’, with The O’Brien Press in 2013.

http://sliney.blogspot.ie/

CO/MIX was produced as part of the M.Sc. in Multimedia in DCU, 2014-2015, by Matthew Ashe, Paul Carroll, Darragh O’Riordan, and Ciarán Byrne.

Matt: Matt is a Fine Art graduate from IADT, experienced in video exhibitions, visual effects and 3D animation. He worked as Director of CO/MIX. He runs The VR Agency as its lead producer and editor.

https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-ashe/70/769/970

http://www.thevragency.co/

Paul: Paul is an English graduate from Mater Dei, and a freelance writer and multimedia producer. He worked as Producer of CO/MIX. He runs Comix Ireland, and assists in the organisation of the Geek-Mart.

https://ie.linkedin.com/in/paulcarroll1

http://paulcarrollwriter.com

http://comixireland.com

Darragh: Darragh is a Marketing graduate from DIT, and worked as web developer in Javascript on the CO/MIX project.

https://ie.linkedin.com/in/darragh11

Ciarán: Ciarán is an experienced graphic designer and sound designer. He led the sound engineering and graphic elements of CO/MIX.

https://ie.linkedin.com/in/mrciaranbyrne

http://soundcloud.com/adeyhawke

Web Series

Connection | CO/MIX Episode 2

June 8, 2016June 15, 2016 Paul Carroll

Comic book relationships are a thing of wonder, especially in the increasingly complicated universe produced by Marvel Comics and DC, but just how much do these romantic notions compare with the reality of the readers’ lives? A look into the lives of three couples on the convention scene reveals how deep a connection can be made, and how much that connection plays a toll on the lives of those involved.

Stephen Lynch & Tina Branigan

https://www.facebook.com/WadesWiddleWorkshop

https://www.facebook.com/CyanideKissesCosplay

Ryan Wade & Danielle Smyth

Ryan and Danielle met as Belfast Batman and Carrick Batman, with multiple cosplays to their names. The couple work the streets of Belfast as real-life superheroes, helping the poor and the homeless. Cosplay led to their engagement.

https://www.facebook.com/The-Wade-Show-1610223062629011/

https://www.facebook.com/Belfast-Wonder-Woman-319702121479356/

Paul Raven & Louise Higgins

Paul and Louise are a cosplay couple, attending conventions as the Joker and Harley, and as Daredevil and Elektra.

CO/MIX was produced as part of the M.Sc. in Multimedia in DCU, 2014-2015, by Matthew Ashe, Paul Carroll, Darragh O’Riordan, and Ciarán Byrne.

https://ie.linkedin.com/pub/matthew-ashe/70/769/970

http://www.thevragency.co/

https://ie.linkedin.com/in/paulcarroll1

http://paulcarrollwriter.com

http://comixireland.com

Darragh: Darragh is a Marketing graduate from DIT, and worked as web developer in Javascript on the CO/MIX project.

https://ie.linkedin.com/in/darragh11

Ciarán: Ciarán is an experienced graphic designer and sound designer. He led the sound engineering and graphic elements of CO/MIX.

https://ie.linkedin.com/in/mrciaranbyrne

http://soundcloud.com/adeyhawke

Web Series

Convergence | CO/MIX Episode 1

June 1, 2016June 2, 2016 Paul Carroll

With the rise of Internet culture and the volume of comic book adaptations hitting the big screen, the effects on comic book culture are an eventuality. With social media and new technologies allowing content to spread more widely, artists and fans experience comic book culture in new ways, positive and negative.

Stephen Lynch & Tina Branigan
Stephen, AKA Widdle Wade, is a voice¬-actor by trade, as well as costume and prop¬-maker. A regular to the convention scene in Ireland, he is also a member of the Emerald Garrison. Tina, AKA Cyanide Kisses, is an alternative model and cosplayer, and coordinator of volunteers at Dublin Comic Con.
https://www.facebook.com/WadesWiddleWorkshop
https://www.facebook.com/CyanideKissesCosplay

CO/MIX was produced as part of the M.Sc. in Multimedia in DCU, 2014-2015, by Matthew Ashe, Paul Carroll, Darragh O’Riordan, and Ciarán Byrne.

Darragh: Darragh is a Marketing graduate from DIT, and worked as web developer in Javascript on the CO/MIX project.
https://ie.linkedin.com/in/darragh11

Article

CO/MIX: Understanding Comic Book Culture in Ireland

May 30, 2016May 29, 2016 Paul Carroll

COMIX Logo

Taking a look at comic book culture in Ireland, CO/MIX is a web-documentary – soon to be web-series – produced by the production group at Blivet.co as part of DCU’s M.Sc. in Multimedia.

The series, which launches on June 1st, explores four core concepts: Convergence, Connection, Community, and Commerce. Through interviews with some of Ireland’s leading figures in the community and industry, and attendance at over half a dozen events covering the spectrum of what’s on offer in Ireland, CO/MIX provides a glance into the world of comic books from the point of view of four relative strangers to the community.

Interviewees include Will Sliney (Marvel), Anthea West (Dustbunny Studios), Emma Byrne (O’Brien Press), Eoin McAuley (Lightning Strike Comics) Stephen Lynch & Tina Branigan (Widdle Wade and Cyanide Kisses) and Paddy Lynch (Cardboard Press).

Directed by Matthew Ashe, and Produced by Paul Carroll, with Web Developer and Marketing Manager Darragh O’Riordan, and Designer and Composer Ciarán Byrne, CO/MIX is a launch pad for understanding the community and industry in Ireland, from the publishing, convention, artistry and fandom perspectives.

Subscribe Comix Ireland’s newsletter or to Blivet on YouTube to keep up with the series.