FLOCK: Chapter #1: Warbird
48 pages, Full Colour comic book.
Oversize (215 x 294mm)
Book blurb: " Sometimes the best stories are the ones told over a beer...
Or at least that’s what I’ve heard . Take this old Digger for instance. It’s the 1960s, inner west Sydney. Kentucky Fried Chicken makes its grand opening on our shores. On a quiet sunny day at the pub, this old bloke decides to reflects on his curious life to a mystified bartender.
Starting as a boy in The Great War, the yarn becomes a tale that is stranger than fiction, as he reveals his time with the Australian Army in the signal corp. His life story soon spirals into a tale featuring mobile pigeon coops, the early days of the C.S.I.R.O (and not just the Agriculture stuff), the disappearance of Harold Holt, World War 2, the Emu War, Vietnam, the second Emu War…but maybe we’re getting ahead of ourselves...."
Written and illustrated by Paul Mason.
Edited by Amanda Bacchi.
Lettered & designed by Wolfgang Bylsma.
ISBN: 978-1-922335-25-8
History
ERA Category
- Original Creative Work - Other
Funding type
- Other
Eligible major research output?
- Yes
Research Statement
Background: This creative output is book 1 of an intended mini-series of graphic novels that is a by-product of research and interest in Australian comic books; specifically, action-adventure and superhero characters. Both Graham Cliffe and John Ryan in their respective books on Australian Comics history explain that traditional Australian comics of the late 1930s to the 1960s (the most prosperous point in publisher history and activity in Australia) relied heavily on the replication of popular character and story trends of US and UK comic book products of the day. These “knockoffs” rarely had a trace of “Australia” in the material; and seen as a determent to commercial sales. What approach to modern Australian action-adventure and superhero comics can we garner from the past examples of these types of works that were created during the medium’s “golden age”? How does the elements of Australia and true history impact the story and characters therein? Contribution: Comic book making in the decades since then has been primarily of small or self-publishers in an 'invisible' market. A myriad of different types, quality and genres of Australian comics exist, with my aim to contribute to the collective of material, but with the conscious aim to preserve some Australian history and identity and explore my interpretation within the context of a fictional action-adventure based story, but not be so “neat” with the classification of the genre. The work is referenced in a book chapter/working paper currently in peer review ("Masks, Southern Crosses and Old Jungle Sayings: Australian action, adventure, the Superheroes, and contributions to a hidden genre.") for a publication for Palgrave UK later in 2024. The work will also be discussed in a current working paper with the working title "ANZACS: The Impacts of War on Australian Comics", with a current approved abstract for an overseas publication in 2025. Significance: This book was successfully funded via Kickstarter crowdfunding, and licensed to Gestalt Comics in 2022. The book was distributed to comic bookstores across Australia, pop culture conventions with Gestalt, as well as being available digitally via Global Comix and via their website. Pages from the book were on display in China as part of the Australian Comics Exhibition (ACE!) in Jan - Feb 2024, in conjunction with the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu, China. A page of art from the comic was submitted as part of the Australian Cartoonists Association Stanley Awards Yearbook 2022, and I was the recipient of the Stan Cross Award for "Comic Artist of the Year 2022", as voted by professional members and peers. The book was shortlisted for the 2023 Comic Arts Awards of Australia, and was deemed “Australian Comic of the Year 2022” by Queensland-based publisher Comicoz.Publisher
Gestalt ComicsPlace of publication
Applecross, WA AustraliaPublisher URL
Confidential / Culturally sensitive
- No