2014 in Review: Ben Rosenthal

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2014?
Seeing the download numbers at Man In Suit Comics jump in leaps and bounds.  In May Mike (Perry) and I were excited to hit 1000 downloads in total.  As of today we are way over 6500 total downloads, with some titles breaking or close to breaking the 1000 mark.  Also, accomplishing the goal I set last year – to get more writing done and published.  It shows that I have not been slacking off (which I worry that I do) and that I will/have improved.

What are some of the comics you've enjoyed in 2014?
There were many quality books this year.  From the main guys -  HAWKEYE and SAGA were the standouts for me (where they this year?).  Dan Slott is doing no wrong over at Spider-Man, with Superior being a great arc for the book, and Spider-Verse being all kinds of awesome.  D4VE is one of the most comically heartfelt books I have read, and HEADSPACE is a psychologically mind messing story – and I love every bit of it.  I also got around to finally reading THE DEEP Vol 1 and 2 and what can I say that has not already been said about them – brilliant.  Tom Taylor is a master of character and pacing.  

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2014?
Being a dad is always cool.  Always.  Watching The Legend of Korra with my daughter Parker (yup, she is named after Spider-Man) and introducing her to Sailor Moon were two of my highlights this year.  For no other reason than I was introducing her to my world - and she loved it.  Apart from Sailor Moon wearing high heels while fighting.  She did not buy that.  

What are you looking forward to in 2015?
A mate has a big time announcement to make in 2015, and I cannot wait for that.  The hopeful launch of a series I was involved and wrote two scripts for called CURRICULUM.  Finalising 3 pitches I am currently working on and hopefully gaining some interest with them.
And Hoverboards.

Benjum.com

2014 In Review: Mary Tamblyn

It's end of the year time again, where I conduct brief surveys with a selection of active New Zealand and Australian cartoonists and comics makers.

First up is Christchurch writer/artist Mary Tamblyn.

What have been your personal cartooning/comics highlights of 2014?
Successfully funding the Nothing Fits Kickstarter and having real life printed copies of the comic. Can't really top that.

What are some of the comics you've enjoyed in 2014?
New Emily Carroll webcomic as well as the ones in her book, she makes some very, very well made comics. I've read some of Paranatural which is very good, I'm yet to read the rest.
The Sheehan Brothers' 'Into the Dark Woods'. A number of different Ralphi comics I came across at Armageddon expos...Those are some of the ones I can remember.

What is something non-comics that you have enjoyed in 2014?
Whole Auckland Armageddon weekend was pretty good, comics aside, hanging with good friends, making new friends. Buying too many books and pens. Also really enjoyed our unofficial sculpture camp we had, where a group of us from uni went away to Rangitata, and we all sat around learning to needle felt and found lots of cool bones on the beach. Those were the best bits.

What are you looking forward to in 2015?
Hopefully starting some new comics, 'Rosetta Phone' and 'I went for a Swim', being the main two. Also I am really looking forward to seeing how the 3 Words anthology turns out!

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Nothing Fits webcomic

Mary Tamblyn Interview

Panels from Mary Tamblyn's Emily Wall and the Corpse featured in Funtime Comics #27