Full page cartoons by John McNamara and Russell Clarke under a cover by Jack Raeburn. John McNamara went on to a prolific career in UK Comics and newspaper strips. Russell Clarke was a prolific illustrator of New Zealand books, magazines and newspapers, including a substantial amount of educational material. During the 1940’s Jack Raeburn produced several unnumbered comics titled Sparkles and Tiny Folks. Amongst Raeburn’s output were rare examples of colour sequential work in New Zealand comics of the time produced in collaboration with fellow cartoonist and colourist Marie McNab.
Mike Steel Desert Rider - Yaroslav Horak & Roger Rowe - Woman's Day 27 Feb 1967
Yaroslav Horak
Another Mike Steel Desert Rider instalment from Australian magazine Woman’s Day by Yaroslav Horak and Roger Rowe. Mike Steel Desert Rider ran for almost a decade in Woman’s Day during the 1960’s. I like the gag in the second panel where the Facemaker who is bald says, “…another ten seconds and Mike Steel is out of my hair!”. I also love the gestural nature of Yaroslav’s drawing at this point of his career. Where his early work on comics like Jet Fury could be staid and stiff, the characters in Mike Steel have a dynamic feel and often look composed of lines put down quickly. This style he had created served him well on strips he worked on in the decades to come.
Muldoonella by Chris Moisa - 1968 Cappicade Magazine
Created by twenty year old Chris Moisa, Muldoonella, featured in the 1968 Victoria University capping magazine Cappicade. Like a lot of Capping magazine comics, Muldoonella, lampoons politicians of the day (primarily Robert Muldoon) in a mash up with Star Trek and Barbarella. Moisa went on to become an accomplished author, poet, artist and photographer and currently resides in Whanganui, New Zealand. Samples of his work and further information can be found at Chris Moisa.
The Last Three Panels of Wizzer - The Argus 19th January 1957
Digging through scans today I found the comics page from the last issue of Melbourne newspaper The Argus. The Wizzer strip was the only Australian continuity strip at the time and I presume the creators were not given notice to finish their story. It ends with these three haunting panels depicted in the dark of night. The last panel in particular has always struck me as hauntingly sad. Below is a sample of the strip from several years prior, January 14 1950. Hermon Wizzer was created by A. D. Renton and W. J. Evans and ran in The Argus from 7th April 1949 to 19th January 1957. At that point it was “Hermon Wizzer of Merryville College”, a full colour, full page, comic of college hi-jinks, a far cry from those last three panels. It would be fascinating to see the progression between them.
NSW Black and White Artist's Association - Pix Magazine - September 7 1946
CHOICE of "Bambi" as winner of "Model of the Year" was made by Sydney commercial artist, from a number of photographs of different models which they themselves collected and assembled for criticism. Grouped round president of Black and White Artists Association, Stan Cross, pointing to photo, are: Syd Miller, Dorothy Wilson, George Aria, Trevor Wilson, Bob Whitmore, Charles Whitman, James Oink, Eric Langker, Emile Mercier and Eric Jollife.
The following article featured in Pix Magazine September 7 1946.
Artists Award "Oscar" To Model Of The Year
SCULPTURED by well known Sydney artist Lyndon Dadswell, a replica "Oscar" will be awarded annually by NSW black and white artists to the girl who, in their opinion, best merits the title of "Model of the Year." Winner of 1946 artist's model stakes is 19-year-old Patricia Tuckwell, violinist in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, whom flautist Neville Amadio has nick-named "Bambi" for her lustrous brown eyes and fawn-like grace. Presentation of the "Oscar," which will be a design based on similar lines to well-known Hollywood Academy Award, will be an annual event, scheduled to take place at yearly Artists' Ball, the first of which will be held at the Trocadero on September 10. Proceeds of Ball will be used by the sponsors to establish a Graphic Arts Centre in Sydney for the education and encouragement of progressive young illustrative artists. Winning models each year will retain her "Oscar," a duplicate being competed for in the following competitions.
CONCENTRATING on model "Bambi," a quintet of distinguished Sydney artists settles down to record individual ideas of the 1946 "Model of the Year." From left they are: Lahm, creator of “Snifter “; WEP, creator of "In and Out of Society"; John Baird, magazine and newspaper illustrator; popular "Sun" artist Jimmy Bancks (standing) father of the lovable "Ginger Meggs" comic strip; Will Mahoney (right foreground), cartoonist, magazine and commercial illustrator.
Patricia Tuckwell
