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

John Joseph McNamara Sports Digest Gallery part one

New Zealand artist John McNamara provided sporting portraits and illustrations for articles featured in Sports Digest during the 1950's - 1960's. At the time he was living in England and employed as a cartoonist by Amalgamated Press as well as working on various newspaper strips, most famously Francis Durbridges' Paul Temple. On some occasions McNamara's illustrations are credited as reprinted from UK publications but I suspect he was also providing work via the mail for the New Zealand published Sports Digest which was edited by Wellington journalist Brian F. O'Brien from 1949 to 1979.

McNamara's compatriot on Fleet Street, Neville Colvin, also had spot illustrations featured in Sports Digest.

I'm convinced there are a lot of comics, cartooning and illustration work by McNamara that are now forgotten or weren't credited to him. I'd love to hear from any of his family members that might be able to provide clearer picture of his career in England.

 

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