Author Archives: Kevin

Crowdfunding comic book anthologies: making self-publishing just a little more financially viable

Making your own indie self-published comic books isn’t a cheap endeavor. Getting involved with a comic collective and participating in the creation of an anthology has long been a preferred alternative for indie creators looking to maximize their exposure while minimizing cost, but the fact is, it’s still certainly far from free. Luckily the rise of crowd-sourced fundraising seems to be providing comic creators with entirely new avenues to build enough capital to print a high quality anthology.

The Fabler’s 2010 Yearbook : Our Sophomore Year, Plus the 2010 Interview Catalogue

In keeping with tradition, we’re ringing in the new year by looking at some of the stuff that’s impacted our little corner of the interweb over the past twelve months. This includes some of the news bits the Fabler Blog has reported on, some of the changes and landmarks the main site has experienced, and of course, a Coles Notes list of the interviewees we’ve featured on the site throughout 2010.

Canadian Comics: Interviewing Salgood Sam of Dream Life and The Rise and Fall of it All

We are here, it is upon us: the last interview of 2010.

For the subject of this interview, we chose an extremely talented, Montreal-based comic artist who has previously had an established degree of familiarity with The Fabler. The first 16 pages of his comic collaboration with John O’Brien, ‘The Rise and Fall of it All’ is currently among the roster of showcased comics on the main site.

I am speaking, of course, of Salgood Sam.

Canadian Comics: Profiling Jason Bradshaw of Boredom Pays and The Worst in Everything

Jason is a Toronto-based animator and illustrator who posts diary-style autobiographical comics online under the title Boredom Pays. He also publishes minicomics, several of which have been distributed at TCAF and Canzine. The Fabler chatted with him about his minicomics, future projects, and the universal appeal of the autobio comic strip.

Canadian Comics: Profiling Rhian Engel of My Life as a Grum

Rhian Engel is a former comic shop owner living in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada, who after closing the doors on his shop due to pressures from the recession, re-channeled his love for the medium into a webcomic strip. The comic strip, My Life as a Grum, follows a group of quirky, oddly-shaped creatures known as ‘Grums’ as they attempt to eke out halfway normal lives. Hijinks, as you could imagine, ensue. My Life as a Grum has also found syndication in local newspaper The Red Deer Advocate.

The Fabler Blog Presents: 2010 Holiday Gift Ideas for Comic Book Fans

As in, Holiday Gift Ideas for the year of 2010. Not literally two thousand and ten ideas for holiday gifts. Because that ship would be bananas.

Fabler Blog Update for the Week of November 24th

A short update as we drift into the end of November. Highlighting a couple of new Fabler submissions, plus some news related to Jim Zubkavich’s Skullkickers, Sarah Leavitt’s Tangles, and a new perspective on the state of digital comics.

Canadian Comics: Interviewing Scott Chantler about Two Generals

Scott Chantler is a busy man these days – the Ontario-based comic artist has been up to his elbows in publicity for his latest graphic novel, Two Generals. Two Generals presents a detailed depiction of the conditions for Canadian soldiers during the Second World War, and it also tells a story about the friendship between Scott’s Grandfather Law Chantler and his best friend Jack Chrysler. Fortunately for us, Scott wasn’t too busy to do a quick Q & A for The Fabler.

Artist Interview: Matthew Dunn of Lonely Monsters

Melbourne-based artist Matthew Dunn wrote and illustrated a graphic novel called Lonely Monsters about a neurotic gas-mask-clad antihero who goes by the relatively unassuming name of Leroy. Lonely Monsters was set in a post-apocalyptic Australian landscape populated by zombies and mutants, monkey-man hybrids and all manner of unfortunate creatures. Sounds awesome, no? We tracked Matthew down to talk shop about his artistic style and influences, and a little about what helped make Leroy such a successful character that Dunn has actually held art exhibitions dedicated solely to his masked protagonist.

Canadian Comics: Interviewing Derek McCulloch of Stagger Lee and Pug

Derek McCulloch is an Eisner-nominated and Glyph-award-winning comic writer currently living in Oakland, California. After his Alberta-based indie comic publishing company Strawberry Jam Comics folded in 92′, Derek took a 14 year hiatus from comic books. When he returned, he wrote the critically-acclaimed book Stagger Lee, and continued to release another OGN, ‘Pug’, this past summer.

The Fabler had a nice, long chat with Derek about his career to date, Pug, Stagger Lee, and his upcoming work from Vertigo Comics ‘Gone to Amerikay’.