We talk about the comics we’re making at Squishface (“Australia’s First Open Comics Studio”), and the fun stuff we’d like to do there in the future, diverting into reminiscences of cartoon workshops we did as kids.
Ben and Dave are two of the 12 or so cartoonists touring America in April/May as part of the Caravan of Comics! We chat a bit about the places we’re going, and David explains everything you need to know about Toronto. Two words: Ed Mirvish!
Most excitingly, we premiere our explosive new segment, #acic (Australian Comics Industry Controversy!), in which we publicly slag all the Aussie comics people we hate! If YOU know about any good local comics controversy, make sure you tweet it with the hashtag #acic!
Kane and Larry of the Aussie comics podcast NonCanonical had Benno as their guest in episode 93, and recorded the ep at Squishface Studio!
We had a great time. The whole podcast is worth a listen (go to noncanonical.com), but this is a 5 minute clip where Ben talks about how Squishface started and who’s in there.
I put this bit up so NonCanonical listeners can check out some of the artwork by Marta and Sacha that the guys are mentioning. Whee! I also enjoy Marta’s frightened expression when Ben says her book will be out soon.
...but seriously: ANOTHER EPISODE, please. Please tell us all about: How it came to be that you, David, pronounce your "R"s American-style; Doodle Island / Squidgy Visage Studio - Please post many inspiring, beeeyewdiful-looking photos of you fellas working (drawing) in there (Perhaps ask BobbyN to take some photos. The man takes great photos. While he's at it, why not ask him to guest-star on the podcast?) and how your cop show is faring. It's farken great, by the way. Why isn't it on TV?
Anonymous
There sure is a lot in here, Anonymous, and it sounds awfully sarcastic to me. The only answer I can think of is this:
Bobby may come in and take photos any time he likes, as may other friends of Squishface Studio. 309 Victoria St, Brunswick. Come visit us.
PS: The Precinct isn’t on TV because I haven’t made it yet.
Episode 7: Doodle Island!
From the rarefied air of Melbourne’s Wheeler Centre, it’s episode 7 of Comic Book Funny!
In this episode we welcome a special guest: David’s 8-year-old self, brought here from the past in a DeLorean.
We also talk frankly about how we hope to bend corporations and TV networks to our will. Ben’s pitching graphic novels to book publishers! Will they let him create great kids entertainment? David’s being offered animation gigs. Will he torpedo these opportunities with his insistence on double entendre and John Farnham appearances?
Then, learn which pop starlet Ben has a crush on and hear from Brisbane’s Phatsville Comix bosses, Giles Kilham and John Stewart, holding forth on their trip to the San Diego Comic Con. And which cartoonists got kicked out of the Napier Hotel?
Plus, Ben invites Melbourne cartoonists to form a new comics retail shop/studio with him and David sings the hits of Hall & Oates.
In the sixth episode of Comic Book Funny, we welcome our friend and (only?) listener, Arran McKenna, to the microphone! We chat about going to comics camp and suggest that certain Australian comics people might be wearing human skins. David goes through some of the swag he picked up at NYC’s MoCCA Fest, Ben goes on Sale of the Century and we learn about the future of pop-up books: Picklets! Plus, which of our hosts shat his pants?
Try Sticky Institute for Goblin Magazine #3, and perhaps for Michael W. Hawkins’ Corey: the Dweller in the Hollow (PS: I talked to Jo Waite and she said actually Michael’s comic was not digital, but rather printed at The Rizzeria.)
We check back in with Ben and David! David’s new weekly comic begins a discussion about bad workplaces which is equal parts depressing and hilarious. We learn how to play the exciting games “Tit Minge Clunge” and “Fuck The Queen”, making this probably our sweariest podcast.
We also enjoy the brand new “Comic Book Funny” theme song and close with a “Back to the Future 2” injoke writ large. This podcast contains almost no comics talk!
The Comic Book Funny podcast returns after two years away. Sort of. This is a full, unedited recording of a live Comic Book Funny session at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
An audience gathered at the Bella Union bar in Trades Hall on April 11, 2009 to hear a very special Intimate Conversation between long-awaited interstate guest Gerard Ashworth and local comics broadcaster John Retallick. It’s an hour’s worth of Ashworth, which may be too much for some. You’ve been warned.
David made this cutup because he loves Jason Scott Lee’s “POWAAAA” line from Back to the Future II! The audio version is in CBF #5.
David got Ben behind a microphone and set him loose on a comic-con audience. This happened! It was an ad for the Comic Book Funny events during Melb Comedy Festival in 2009.
Episode #3: Look At What You See
In this hour-long slice of cartoonist overkill, we report on how the Comic Book Funny events at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival went, and present chunky excerpts of Week 2’s discussion, featuring Benno, Glenn Smith and Ross Tesoriero (sorry about the audio quality). Also, we finally talk a bit about local comics we like rather than bagging out crap ones.
“The Never Ending Story” was written by Giorgio Moroder and Keith Forsey. We adapted our arrangement from a MIDI file, author unknown.
Special thanks to our new robot announcers. And thanks to Alicia Sometimes and Stella Glorie for saying “Sing A Song Of Bum Sex” and “Shlong Surgery” live on 3RRR!
David mixed Benno’s classic cover of the theme from The Never Ending Story! It’s in CBF #3.
Episode #2: Don’t Be Shame, Be Game
In this episode, we are sex-obsessed. We talk about the comics in free youth magazine STREETWIZE and how its spin-off, GAOLWIZE, helped inmates get laid safely, we discuss the least erotic comic book ever made in Australia and even many of Ben’s Tootleg Boy music tracks are about sex. Sexy!
Also, we plug our own stuff again, touch on the giant “Life: Be In It!” ball, there’s plenty of swearing and David impugns the reputation of a dead cartoonist. Plus an exclusive interview with William Shatner!
You can download Ben’s music at his website. Here are the tracks used in this podcast, so you know which ones to get:
An occasional podcast about the Australian comics scene and more, with Ben Hutchings and David Blumenstein.
Ben and David have been writing and drawing funny comics for many a year. On Comic Book Funny, they discuss the local and international comics "scene", funny indie comics they've read and terrible ones they laughed at. They also divert into talk about the animation industry and making a living from drawing. Then they chuck in some weird comedy.
It's a piquant mix, but luckily you only get a bit of it.
Check out www.hutcho.net and www.docklandsentertainment.com for their comix goodness. Oh, and they founded Squishface Studio, Australia's first open comics studio, with four other cartoonists. Go to www.squishfacestudio.com too.
Anonymous
