#mantacomic

[crankratkat]

It's been a while, huh - been burning the candle at both ends and skimming the dangerous edge of burnout - couple that with not being able to get into conventions I used to frequent, the change in shipping laws worldwide affecting small businesses everywhere - it's all been a bit of a kick in the teeth! Anyway, i'm clawing my way back, here's some sketches/sketchbook stuff - going to try and put more of those out into the aether, as I've been so focused on polished pieces - it's not helped at all!

[gutless-jim]

Issue 19 of my original comic Manta is here! Available to purchase physically through my online store as an A6 zine, as always. Once issue 20 is done I will be putting together books (and digital releases) for issues 16-20, and eventually 1-20! With this issue the "third act" is officially underway. What do you think this city could be? Who peoples it? Is this the end of the journey? Also, say hello to Manta's first (and maybe last 😅) double page spread!

[gutless-jim]

Manta #18 out now

Copied from Instagram Issue 18 of Manta is here, and available to purchase on my web-store! I usually only show the first two pages of my zines as previews, but I had a couple of stand out pages which I was pretty happy with and am just excited to share honestly. I have started using almost-A4 sized page areas for ongoing pages of Manta so we'll see how that goes. . So much for my one zine a month idea - life happens... though this is a particular issue where I had to really figure out what the things that come immediately next look like. We will see if issues in the new year come faster. . If you are new to Manta, and don't mind paying for a $5 zine and shipping, then this is a great time to get into the story - stuff is about to amp up. Otherwise I only have two more issues until I can collate bigger volumes - I'm thinking like 16-20 (latest five issues), 11-20 (latest ten issues), and potentially even 1-20! Until next time.

[gutless-jim]

Ripped from my Insta post because I'm lazy and it's late " It's been about two and a half weeks, but better late than never... You may recall that at some stage I made a post about Manta (Issues 1 - 10) making the Comic Art Awards of Australia @comicartsaust Shortlist, which meant it was up for an award. The fact I made the Shortlist at all is huge for me - so I was not expecting to actually get an award! Which is what happened - Manta got a Bronze, along with three other Bronze winners, a swathe of Silvers and two Golds. Shame there weren't more awards to go around, as many (WA) comics I love made the Shortlist but were not awarded. Anyway, in terms of thanking people - Firstly, thank you to the CAAA Judges for picking and voting for me! I am greatly honoured, and please know that this has lit a fire under me anew. So thanks again! Thank you to my friends and family for their support and encouragement (especially my dear friend Stella for volunteering her time at all my market tables, champion), to @perthcomicartsfestival for putting on the Market Day every year, @theilloclub for making a space for the local young artist community to grow (though I'm 27 now, so no longer a Young Adult), to everyone who has looked at or talked to me about my comic or just art in general, and most importantly everyone and anyone who has ever purchased a comic, print, or sticker at my market table - even if its just a kind word you shared. Just featured a bunch of preview pages just because! . It's getting late. I need to finish this up. Manta 18 is on its way, one more page to go. Life happens and progress has been slow - but steady. I have been putting extra effort into my pages. What's the point in rushing things? It's already been three years xD Anyway, goodnight!

[gutless-jim]

In a madness-induced Manta mania, I inked and completed Manta issue 15 in something close to a week, in time to not only get individual zines of it printed, but also an A5 booklet containing the latest five issues - number 11 through to 15. All 30 of them sold out at PCAF! I am looking into getting more #11-#15 booklets in time, but for now at least issue 15 as a zine is available to buy on my webstore, link in bio.