ALL COMICS $1 - GRAPHIC NOVELS $2 - NOVELS $1~$2
BREAKING NEWS - AUGUST 2016
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The Bullet Gal novel — yes, words minus pictures! — has been completed and will in fact be published by Roundfire Books in the U.K. on November 25. Find out more here, or pre-order via Amazon — or Book Depository, which has free international postage. |
Matt Kyme, the creator of IF? title That Bulletproof Kid, has a brand new project in the works in conjunction with our mates at Comicoz — check out all the up-to-date details via the Facebook page of The Demon!
Still available for a limited time from our colleagues Project-Nerd Publishing in the U.S. is the trade paperback of all 12 issues of the Bullet Gal comic by Andrez Bergen, with a special wraparound cover by Australian artist Graeme Jackson.
BULLET GAL RETURNS!
Andrez just did a piece for Bleeding Cool on the ongoing presence of his character Bullet Girl, a.k.a. Mitzi, last name unknown.
She started out as a bit-player in his 2013 novel Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?, went on to star in a comic book series (through IF? Commix) that he wrote and did art for in 2014-15, has a trade paperback collection of same through Under Belly Comics in Canada, and was the main character in 2014 novel Depth Charging Ice Planet Goth.
Anyway, the Bleeding Cool article goes into greater detail, but the reason we mention this is because she’s making a comeback.
First off, Andrez is currently fine-tuning novel #7, which is based on the comic book series and seriously expanding upon same.
Secondly, fellow Aussie artist Graeme Jackson has convinced him to revive her as a guest-star in their upcoming comic Crash Soirée.
In Andrez's initial script Bullet Gal was a maybe, possibly a cameo, but over the past few weeks Graeme and he have put their heads together and conjured up an heir-apparent.
Anyway, this Bullet Gal that Graeme and Andrez dreamed up isn’t Mitzi at all.
She’s a bubblegum-masticating teenage “legacy” character named Junie Mills (her name’s a doff of the hat to pioneering Miss Fury creator Tarpé Mills) that sent Andrez this week scrambling back to the Bullet Gal novel manuscript to insert Junie’s own origin – which involves Mitzi rescuing the six-year-old from a human trafficking ring.
Here (right) is Graeme’s visualization of Junie as the new Bullet Gal.
Issue 1 of Magpie, by Andrez Bergen (words) and Frantz Kantor (art) is now published and available in most Australian newsagencies inside Oi Oi Oi! #7, or alternatively by ordering the zine online here.
Greg Hatcher @ COMIC BOOK RESOURCES has said that Magpie is “Cute and funny and really quite gorgeous to look at – Frantz Kantor evoking the Mad-era Wally Wood,” Jason Bennett @ POPCULTHQ wrote that it’s “Stunning work… from these talented creators.” COMICS ALLIANCE appraised “Magpie offers a humorous take on a superhero world, and Kantor’s art is nothing like what we’re used to in traditional superhero comics,” COMIC CRUSADERS found that “The art looks fantastic! Genius story-telling, truly worth a look”, and SCI-FI JUBILEE’s critique? “This new comic strip is great!”
BLACK SHIP BOOKS: "At its heart, Magpie is a witty observation about the rise of narcissism in the modern world. Frantz Kantor’s artwork is exuberant and stunning... Andrez Bergen crafts a beautifully paced yarn in the tradition of Will Eisner’s 'The Spirit'. He manages the impressive task of introducing a character, establishing a vivid world and concluding a story in one third of the pages utilized by your average comic."
Steven Alloway at FANBOY COMICS wrote that it’s “Definitely worth checking out, and I look forward to seeing what Bergen and Kantor come up with in future adventures,” while Marcus Gilman at METAPUNK put it that “Andrez Bergen, this time together with Frantz Kantor, is at it again, another glorious project - a comic with a definite Golden Age feel to it.” GEEKED OUT NATION put it simply — “Here’s something a bit different.” — and GEEKCRITIQUE found that “Magpie is dynamic and entertaining, instantly involving you in its characters.”
Matt Wyrwas at TALKING COMICS went so far as to say “Buy it! If you like stories that showcase humor along with action, Magpie is something you should check out. The setup up is great... I’m along for wherever Bergen and Kantor want to take us!”
Greg Hatcher @ COMIC BOOK RESOURCES has said that Magpie is “Cute and funny and really quite gorgeous to look at – Frantz Kantor evoking the Mad-era Wally Wood,” Jason Bennett @ POPCULTHQ wrote that it’s “Stunning work… from these talented creators.” COMICS ALLIANCE appraised “Magpie offers a humorous take on a superhero world, and Kantor’s art is nothing like what we’re used to in traditional superhero comics,” COMIC CRUSADERS found that “The art looks fantastic! Genius story-telling, truly worth a look”, and SCI-FI JUBILEE’s critique? “This new comic strip is great!”
BLACK SHIP BOOKS: "At its heart, Magpie is a witty observation about the rise of narcissism in the modern world. Frantz Kantor’s artwork is exuberant and stunning... Andrez Bergen crafts a beautifully paced yarn in the tradition of Will Eisner’s 'The Spirit'. He manages the impressive task of introducing a character, establishing a vivid world and concluding a story in one third of the pages utilized by your average comic."
Steven Alloway at FANBOY COMICS wrote that it’s “Definitely worth checking out, and I look forward to seeing what Bergen and Kantor come up with in future adventures,” while Marcus Gilman at METAPUNK put it that “Andrez Bergen, this time together with Frantz Kantor, is at it again, another glorious project - a comic with a definite Golden Age feel to it.” GEEKED OUT NATION put it simply — “Here’s something a bit different.” — and GEEKCRITIQUE found that “Magpie is dynamic and entertaining, instantly involving you in its characters.”
Matt Wyrwas at TALKING COMICS went so far as to say “Buy it! If you like stories that showcase humor along with action, Magpie is something you should check out. The setup up is great... I’m along for wherever Bergen and Kantor want to take us!”
Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat & That Bulletproof Kid #1 now available in print in the U.S.!
And #1 of both Andrez's Tobacco-stained Mountain Goat , Andrez"s Bullet Gal collection and Matt's That Bulletproof Kid are available in print-form in the U.S. from Project-Nerd Publishing.
We just just got Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat #1 reviewed by Richard Adams @ Project-Nerd: "Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat is a bold book, from a bold new publisher, and will, ultimately, reward those who allow it in."
We the Nerdy wrote, "Revisiting Bergen’s earliest work in retrospective also makes for a fun experience. There’s little teases to stuff that will go on to be central to his later works, however they never distract from the main story. Being the inception for Bergen’s insane spiralling world, this is one of his more simplistic tales, however that is not in any regard a criticism. There’s still that highly creative sci-fi edge to the story, it is probably the most accessible entry point into Bergen’s work though, which makes it very easy to recommend. If there’s ever been a time to jump into this world it’s now, an interesting premise and fascinating world are laid out and I can’t wait to see where it goes."
Zeb Larson at Flickering Myth found that "Melbourne is its own character in these stories: a once-charming and eccentric hipster city now turned into a hellhole that’s part Asphalt Jungle and part Midgar from Final Fantasy VII. The film-noir vibe in Bergen’s work should jump out at you pretty clearly, with a misanthropic narrator, crime-ridden city, and dark, rainy atmosphere. It’s a perfect kind of place to find a mystery."
Jason Bennett @ Popculthq? "The entire time while reading, flashes of Blade Runner and Sin City popped in my end. It felt like an exciting mash-up told through a flowing and intriguing story. If while reading a book or a comic book and you feel yourself heavily immersed within the pages and story, then you know you’ve created something extraordinary... The art found in these pages are reminiscent of his work in Trista & Holt, which garnered him great accolades — Andrez Bergen has outdone himself with his creation, his writing, and his artwork."
Two fine people at Comics Should Be Good at Comic Book Resources also gave this comic a shot, and we really like both write-ups too; they address pros AND cons, but over all (we think) are positive pieces.
Greg Hatcher put it that, “The story… well, I don’t know that I enjoyed it so much as admired its craft. It’s very well-done, but not exactly uplifting.
“That’s not to say it isn’t good, because it is. And the art, the odd blend of photomontage and collage techniques Bergen uses for this, really knocked me out. I kept getting lost because I was stopping to admire the art just as art.”
Meanwhile, Greg Burgas wrote: “What Bergen does well is take these classic tropes of old fiction and seamlessly blend them with science fiction – he has done it before, and it’s clear he’s comfortable with it, which is why the brevity of the issue isn’t too annoying, as I’m pretty certain everything will become clearer down the road.
“The collage-style artwork is fascinating, too. Bergen freely adopts photographs of old actors – in some panels the CEO is clearly David Niven, and I know I should know who the CEO’s flunkie is, but I can’t quite place him – but he filters them nicely and puts them into hazy black and white to make them fit into the comic better. He uses saturated colors to create hallucinatory panels that help obscure the ‘thieving’ of images but, once again, fit in with the milieu of the comic.
There's also a wonderful review over @ Fanboy Comics.
We the Nerdy wrote, "Revisiting Bergen’s earliest work in retrospective also makes for a fun experience. There’s little teases to stuff that will go on to be central to his later works, however they never distract from the main story. Being the inception for Bergen’s insane spiralling world, this is one of his more simplistic tales, however that is not in any regard a criticism. There’s still that highly creative sci-fi edge to the story, it is probably the most accessible entry point into Bergen’s work though, which makes it very easy to recommend. If there’s ever been a time to jump into this world it’s now, an interesting premise and fascinating world are laid out and I can’t wait to see where it goes."
Zeb Larson at Flickering Myth found that "Melbourne is its own character in these stories: a once-charming and eccentric hipster city now turned into a hellhole that’s part Asphalt Jungle and part Midgar from Final Fantasy VII. The film-noir vibe in Bergen’s work should jump out at you pretty clearly, with a misanthropic narrator, crime-ridden city, and dark, rainy atmosphere. It’s a perfect kind of place to find a mystery."
Jason Bennett @ Popculthq? "The entire time while reading, flashes of Blade Runner and Sin City popped in my end. It felt like an exciting mash-up told through a flowing and intriguing story. If while reading a book or a comic book and you feel yourself heavily immersed within the pages and story, then you know you’ve created something extraordinary... The art found in these pages are reminiscent of his work in Trista & Holt, which garnered him great accolades — Andrez Bergen has outdone himself with his creation, his writing, and his artwork."
Two fine people at Comics Should Be Good at Comic Book Resources also gave this comic a shot, and we really like both write-ups too; they address pros AND cons, but over all (we think) are positive pieces.
Greg Hatcher put it that, “The story… well, I don’t know that I enjoyed it so much as admired its craft. It’s very well-done, but not exactly uplifting.
“That’s not to say it isn’t good, because it is. And the art, the odd blend of photomontage and collage techniques Bergen uses for this, really knocked me out. I kept getting lost because I was stopping to admire the art just as art.”
Meanwhile, Greg Burgas wrote: “What Bergen does well is take these classic tropes of old fiction and seamlessly blend them with science fiction – he has done it before, and it’s clear he’s comfortable with it, which is why the brevity of the issue isn’t too annoying, as I’m pretty certain everything will become clearer down the road.
“The collage-style artwork is fascinating, too. Bergen freely adopts photographs of old actors – in some panels the CEO is clearly David Niven, and I know I should know who the CEO’s flunkie is, but I can’t quite place him – but he filters them nicely and puts them into hazy black and white to make them fit into the comic better. He uses saturated colors to create hallucinatory panels that help obscure the ‘thieving’ of images but, once again, fit in with the milieu of the comic.
There's also a wonderful review over @ Fanboy Comics.
TRISTA & HOLT #13
Trista & Holt #13 has just come out, and we’ll be doing a tweaked/developed run of that title via Project-Nerd Publishing in the U.S. from summer over there.
You can grab #13 here.
#12 got a nice review from Steven Alloway at Fanboy Comics and Paul Bowler at Sci-Fi Jubilee, while Nevada McPherson critiqued #11 here at Graphic Policy.
Fanboy also had this to say about #13, while Sci-Fi Jubilee put together this incredible critique.
We cannot thank these people enough. Along with Dan at All-Comic, they’ve followed the series from scratch and been supportive and encouraging throughout.
You can grab #13 here.
#12 got a nice review from Steven Alloway at Fanboy Comics and Paul Bowler at Sci-Fi Jubilee, while Nevada McPherson critiqued #11 here at Graphic Policy.
Fanboy also had this to say about #13, while Sci-Fi Jubilee put together this incredible critique.
We cannot thank these people enough. Along with Dan at All-Comic, they’ve followed the series from scratch and been supportive and encouraging throughout.
But wait, there's more...!
Art by Marc Swayze, 'Wow Comics' #9, 1943
'Magpie' art by Frantz Kantor, 2016
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Art by Will Eisner, 'The Spirit'
IF? Commix co-boss Andrez Bergen gives a round up of the year that was (2015), and insights into what to look out for in 2016 — more Trista & Holt, That Bulletproof Kid, Tobacco-Stained Mountain Goat and new romp Magpie — in 2016.
Find out the full details HERE. |
FINALLY AVAILABLE IN AUSTRALIA!
Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?, an illustrated noir/pulp/sci-fi homage to the silver & golden ages of comics, is now available via Amazon Kindle in Australia (there was a technical glitch for, get this, 2 years)... appropriate, since it's set within a near-future Melbourne online gaming fiasco!
The novel has also had a huge impact on IF? Commix titles — Bullet Gal came from this, as did The Big O and Major Patriot, and That Bulletproof Kid makes a cameo appearance.
Anyway, to celebrate this (digital) coup, Andrez's publishers are offering Aussies the eBook version for 0.99¢ (A$1.39, incl. GST) until the end of January — right HERE.
Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?, an illustrated noir/pulp/sci-fi homage to the silver & golden ages of comics, is now available via Amazon Kindle in Australia (there was a technical glitch for, get this, 2 years)... appropriate, since it's set within a near-future Melbourne online gaming fiasco!
The novel has also had a huge impact on IF? Commix titles — Bullet Gal came from this, as did The Big O and Major Patriot, and That Bulletproof Kid makes a cameo appearance.
Anyway, to celebrate this (digital) coup, Andrez's publishers are offering Aussies the eBook version for 0.99¢ (A$1.39, incl. GST) until the end of January — right HERE.
IF? Commix's Andrez Bergen was just interviewed by Chicago News - read that here!
This is happening early on in 2016: Tobacco-stained Mountain Goat, the serialized and revamped print-run comic book version, via Project-Nerd Publishing, will be released over winter in the U.S. market and is available for pre-order now - with a variant cover by Claudia Everest of A Dog A Day notoriety.
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TRISTA & HOLT #9 & #10 - NOW AVAILABLE
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We got a fantastic review of Trista & Holt #9, thanks to Dan Leicht @ All-Comic: “The artwork on this issue shows how Bergen has been evolving his craft as the series progresses… Something [he’s] been doing well with this series is making each issue feel like its own individual story, and yet still connected to the main story line. Even if you haven’t been reading Trista and Holt, this issue is loaded with enough to keep you entertained.”
Even, better, however?
Dan’s review of #10 the very next day. “This is a concept where Bergen’s artwork comes into it in a big way… Dialogue has plays a big part in this issue. Bergen plays with the reader’s head a bit here, but in doing so creates a great mystery for the hard-boiled detective in all of us to figure out (read this issue with some black coffee and maybe a glass of whiskey).”
So, hats off (obviously) to both him and All-Comic.
There’s an additionally wunderbar review of Trista & Holt #9 thanks to Steven Alloway @ Fanboy Comics: “If you’re a fan of noir crime thrillers or comics that experiment with different narrative styles, then Trista & Holt is definitely worth your time… Heck, Lou and Moore could have their own spin-off series, walking through walls, observing the action, and offering their commentary. I’d read it.”
Finally, there’s a fantastic review of Trista & Holt #8 over @ Graphic Policy, thanks to Nevada McPherson:
“Issue 8 adds to the sweep of Trista & Holt as a complete, well-rounded, fully realized epic: a world of its own with roots in ancient romance (based on the legend of Tristan & Iseult) and the great gangster narratives that have endured through the years (Little Caesar, The Godfather). Anguish Holt’s backstory is as tragic as it is fascinating, adding another dimension to an already rich cast of characters.” Ta!
And hats off to Andrew McIntyre as well for his review of #8 at the Big Glasgow Comic Page, and Paul Bowler's for the same issue at Sci-Fi Jubilee.
Even, better, however?
Dan’s review of #10 the very next day. “This is a concept where Bergen’s artwork comes into it in a big way… Dialogue has plays a big part in this issue. Bergen plays with the reader’s head a bit here, but in doing so creates a great mystery for the hard-boiled detective in all of us to figure out (read this issue with some black coffee and maybe a glass of whiskey).”
So, hats off (obviously) to both him and All-Comic.
There’s an additionally wunderbar review of Trista & Holt #9 thanks to Steven Alloway @ Fanboy Comics: “If you’re a fan of noir crime thrillers or comics that experiment with different narrative styles, then Trista & Holt is definitely worth your time… Heck, Lou and Moore could have their own spin-off series, walking through walls, observing the action, and offering their commentary. I’d read it.”
Finally, there’s a fantastic review of Trista & Holt #8 over @ Graphic Policy, thanks to Nevada McPherson:
“Issue 8 adds to the sweep of Trista & Holt as a complete, well-rounded, fully realized epic: a world of its own with roots in ancient romance (based on the legend of Tristan & Iseult) and the great gangster narratives that have endured through the years (Little Caesar, The Godfather). Anguish Holt’s backstory is as tragic as it is fascinating, adding another dimension to an already rich cast of characters.” Ta!
And hats off to Andrew McIntyre as well for his review of #8 at the Big Glasgow Comic Page, and Paul Bowler's for the same issue at Sci-Fi Jubilee.
TRISTA & HOLT ISSUES 1-6 REVIEW
"Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye is mentioned in Andrez Bergen’s notes at the end of issue one as a touchstone for the story, and it’s a fitting one, not only for its adaptation of 40s/50s noir through a 1970s New Hollywood aesthetic but for the shagginess of Altman’s storytelling – its looseness, the way it digresses, meanders, dwells on minutiae – whichTrista & Holt replicates.
Bergen’s series provides an intriguing spin and some new wrinkles on this oft-told tale and fans of the author, especially of Bullet Gal, should get a kick out of it."
"Robert Altman’s The Long Goodbye is mentioned in Andrez Bergen’s notes at the end of issue one as a touchstone for the story, and it’s a fitting one, not only for its adaptation of 40s/50s noir through a 1970s New Hollywood aesthetic but for the shagginess of Altman’s storytelling – its looseness, the way it digresses, meanders, dwells on minutiae – whichTrista & Holt replicates.
Bergen’s series provides an intriguing spin and some new wrinkles on this oft-told tale and fans of the author, especially of Bullet Gal, should get a kick out of it."
GET OUR LATEST 2 TRADE PAPERBACK COLLECTIONS IN DIGITAL FOR $2 EACH.
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OLDER SKOOL NEWS - SEPTEMBER 2015
On SATURDAY, AUGUST 29th, we had our launch of several IF? titles (along with mates' ones) at All Star Comics Melbourne.
We launched the Tales to Admonish trade paperback, the Trista & Holt Vol. 1 (issues 1~5) trade paperback, and That Bulletproof Kid #5.
Thanks again to the large crowd of people who came to partake!
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WHAT'S NEW FROM IF?
Get #7 (a double-issue feat. guest scribe Renee Pickup) and #8 of TRISTA & HOLT for just $1 apiece via our digital store - the physical versions are exceptionally rare limited editions only available in Australia.
THAT BULLETPROOF KID #4 and #5 are now out in a higher number of printed copies - contact Matt Kyme if you'd like copies of same.
Meanwhile, the TALES TO ADMONISH trade paperback is also now available. Again, contact Matt if you'd like a physical copy mailed to anywhere in the (known) world!
THAT BULLETPROOF KID #4 and #5 are now out in a higher number of printed copies - contact Matt Kyme if you'd like copies of same.
Meanwhile, the TALES TO ADMONISH trade paperback is also now available. Again, contact Matt if you'd like a physical copy mailed to anywhere in the (known) world!
IN OTHER NEWS
IF? Commix's Andrez Bergen is currently working on a plethora of new projects: brand new versions of his titles TOBACCO-STAINED MOUNTAIN GOAT and TRISTA & HOLT for new U.S. publisher PROJECT-NERD PUBLISHING, and two different ongoing stories for Australian magazine Oi Oi Oi! with veteran artists Frantz Kantor and Michal Dutkiewicz; he also has a collaborative yarn with artist Chris Wahl in the upcoming beyondblue benefit anthology.
Meanwhile, IF?'s Matt Kyme is busy putting the finishing touches to THAT BULLETPROOF KID #6.
Meanwhile, IF?'s Matt Kyme is busy putting the finishing touches to THAT BULLETPROOF KID #6.
REVIEWS!
Check out the brand new, wunderbar reviews of Trista & Holt #1~4 at Flickering Myth, #5 at Graphic Policy, #5 at Fanboy Comics, and #6 at All-Comic. Plus the final issue of Bullet Gal (#12) thanks to All-Comic and #11 over at Graphic Policy.
INTERVIEWS
ANDREZ YACKS WITH DAN LEICHT @ ALL-COMIC RE: TRISTA & HOLT AND BULLET GAL HERE!
OUT AND ABOUT
Bullet Gal featured at C2E2 in Chicago!
Thanks to Under Belly Comics
Harley digs Bullet Gal @ Chicago's C2E2, April 24-26
GET OUR COMICS
WHILE THE PAPER-VERSIONS ARE BETTER, CLICK HERE TO BUY $1~$2 DIGITAL INCARNATIONS OF OUR COMICS & BOOKS!
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OTHER GUFF
New IF? title Trista & Holt just received an incredible review for #3 at Graphic Policy:
"If you’re a fan of noir, this is a must-read and you’ll be addicted immediately; and if you’re not a noir fan but you love new and innovative forms of story-telling, you have to check this out... It’s definitely worth getting to know the dramatis personae of this corner of Bergen’s dark and fascinating universe." 10/10 Read more there. |
Stalwart IF? Commix title That Bulletproof Kid is also an ongoing inclusion in the pages of Melbourne Comics' radical (and way cool) new zine Melbourne Comics Quarterly. Check that out here. |
"In it for the passion of creating, their love of comics, and the desire to elicit a reaction from each reader."
WORD OF THE NERD
OTHER, OLDER IF? COMMIX NEWS: 2015
BULLET GALOut as of March is the 12-issue, 348-page collection of Andrez Bergen's Bullet Gal arc, via IF? thanks to Under Belly Comics in North America (use code "15OFF" to save 15%).
That’s got the bonus of 25 other artists involved, mostly doing pin-up art of the various characters, along with a short Bullet Gal story illustrated by Matt Kyme and a fantastic front cover painting by Niagara Detroit. Andrez talked about things with Bleeding Cool and Paul Brazill @ Brit Grit & International Noir along with a longer interview at Geek Mash, and Comic Bastards have an overview of what to expect here. The book has received some sublime reviews from Fanboy Comics, Flickering Myth, All-Comic, Graphic Policy, Cultured Vultures, Australian Comics Journal, Starburst Magazine, Digital Riot and Weird and Wonderful Reads, along with support from Crime Fiction Lover, Action A Go Go, Sci-Fi Jubilee, ReGeeken, Paneloids, ComicBuzz, Geeks Of Doom, Whatcha, Geeks With Wives and IndieComiX. A couple of months ago Derek & Andy at the hugely respected Comics Alternative podcast did a spotlight on Bullet Gal in Episode 118. Mind-blowing stuff… but very, very cool. Here's the final wraparound art for the Bullet Gal trade paperback: 
And here's a collage sample of some of the artwork inside the book—aside from Andrez, there's stuff by other people including Matt, Dan Watts, Maan House, Asela De Silva, Walter Geovani, Neville Howard,
Andres Silva Blanco, Al Barazi, Chris Yarbrough, David Foster, Zack
Rezendes, Joe Badon, Giovanni Ballati, Steve Myers, and Jennyson Rosero.
Look for details of this via IF? Commix on Facebook and Under Belly Comics themselves.
Meanwhile? #9 in the monthly Bullet Gal series (the “silent” one) has just been published in Australia—garnering a choice review from Dan Leicht @ All-Comic—while #8 scored bloody luv’ly praise from Gary Makries @ Geeks Of Doom, Josh McCullough @ We the Nerdy, Cory Anderson @ Geeks With Wives, Steven again @ Fanboy Comics, Dan again @ All-Comic, and Paul Bowler @ Sci-Fi Jubilee. Thank YOU, mates. #10 will be released on May 1st. 
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THAT BULLETPROOF KID
Also coming up shortly? Matt Kyme is all set to publish That Bulletproof Kid #4, which will continue his intriguing, adventuresome run that's proved so popular with readers and critics alike! Some reader feedback was published in #3, and recent reviews of that issue have come courtesy of Dan Leicht @ All-Comic, Steven Alloway @ Fanboy Comics, and Tim @ ReGeeken. Matt would likely steer you in the direction of his Facebook page for That Bulletproof Kid as you can find out regular information, and hats off to Gat Melvyn for the continuously outstanding colours. We’ve just launched #1 of Andrez's new comic book series Trista & Holt, which is based on the Tristan & Iseult legend of yore. Andrez rambled on a bit about the background for Pulp Pusher a couple of weeks back, and it’s already got some bloody nice feedback plus reviews from Steven Alloway @ Fanboy Comics, Dan Leicht @ All-Comic, and David Melton @ Comic Up Comics. You can find out more and keep a tab on works-in-progress (Andrez is currently woking on #6) at the comic's Facebook page. TRISTA & HOLT
We’ve also just launched #1 of Andrez's new comic book series Trista & Holt—which is based on the Tristan & Iseult legend of yore.
Andrez outlined the series' background for Pulp Pusher a little while back, and it’s already got some bloody nice feedback plus reviews from Steven Alloway @ Fanboy Comics, Dan Leicht @ All-Comic, David Melton @ Comic Up Comics, and Mara Wood of NerdSpan/Talking Comics. Support has also been lent by First Comic News, and you can find out more and keep a tab on works-in-progress (Andrez is currently woking on #8) at the comic's Facebook page. 
Issue 7 (due for release in August) is in fact a bumper double-issue "origin" yarn guest-written by American scribe Renee Asher Pickup (Revolt Daily).
Here's a sneak preview of the cover art for that one. We've just received news that a fairly reputable major publisher is interested in compiling the series (once finished) as a graphic novel... 
Oh, and work is well underway for the long-awaited Tales to Admonish #4, which will be an extended volume featuring more words from Andrez and the work of artists Adam Rose (see left), Ken Best, Asela De Silva and Gareth Colliton. 'Tis best to keep an eye on the TTA Facebook page for updates and further info, but here (below) are a couple more samples of what to expect: 
Art by Ken Best, Tales to Admonish #4
Art by Gareth Colliton, Tales to Admonish #4
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THE LATEST IF? COMMIX RELEASES
Hold the press!!!!
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Given the il-health of Andrez Bergen - whio runs IF? on his lomesome over the past year, and the diabolical dearth of sales of digital comics here anyway..
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We herewithsuspend all digital sales. |
Grab the digital versions of THAT BULLETPROOF KID #3, BULLET GAL #9 or the premier #1 of new title
TRISTA & HOLT here for $1 (digital), or contact Matt Kyme via email to arrange physical copies of any of our comics.
TRISTA & HOLT here for $1 (digital), or contact Matt Kyme via email to arrange physical copies of any of our comics.
"We open with a bang, as a building is blown up in a scene reminiscent of Touch of Evil—which happens to have one of the greatest opening scenes in cinema history."
STEVEN ALLOWAY @ FANBOY COMICS
STEVEN ALLOWAY @ FANBOY COMICS
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You can now get all IF? comics, graphic novels and novels in digital format from the cool cats at Dollar Downloads. The price? Yep... $1. |
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"You guys at IF? seem to be building a great groundswell. It's fantastic to see."
RYAN K. LINDSAY (Sequart/CBR/Fatherhood)
OTHER NEWS:
THE BULLET GAL KICKSTARTER WAS SUCCESSFUL!
ENDED ON DECEMBER 2014
IF? Commix and Andrez recently signed with North America's very cool Under Belly Comics to release a trade paperback of the first 12 issues of Bullet Gal — 300+ pages long, with a cover painting by the brilliant Niagara Detroit.
The Kickstarter campaign via Under Belly for the BULLET GAL 12-issue collection graphic novel "It's Not You, It's Me" finished on 10th December.
Hardboiled sci-fi/pulp/noir likened to Frank Miller's Sin City [Kabooooom], "pushing the outer limits of what is a comic book" [ReGeeken] and "a compelling and dark tapestry" [Sci-Fi Jubilee].
Plus one of the more insanely cool video pitches out there...
CHECK OUT MORE HERE.
Look out for this in March 2015.
Bullet Gal by Andrez Bergen is published through Melbourne based IF? Commix and follows a reckless female vigilante named Mitzi who gets drawn into the mysterious world of organized crime-fighting... Mitzi has lived on the streets of Heropa, a fictionalized haven of noir-style gangsters crossed with the caped hero mythos, ever since she was a teenager — surviving on nothing but her wits, a couple of paperbacks,
and her twin Star Model B 9mm pistols.
The first thing that struck me about this book was the art style, which is a unique blend of over-exposed photography and conventional comic book structure that suits the shadowy tone of this well-written series. Bergen takes his characters and story very seriously and it shows through it’s gloomy exterior with razor-sharp dialogue. Mitzi, or Bullet Gal as she will soon be known, has an air of authenticity and compelling rage that is just a delight to indulge in as she pursues justice.
Earlier this week the Kickstarter campaign for publishing a TPB version of Bullet Gal to be released
in North America reached its threshold, so be on the lookout for that one next year.
[SHAWN PERRY]
NOW AVAILABLE FROM IF? COMMIX IN PRINT & DIGITAL VERSIONS
JANUARY 2015
ALSO STILL AVAILABLE FROM IF? COMMIX IN PRINT & DIGITAL VERSIONS
THAT BULLETPROOF
KID #2
BULLET GAL #6
IN OTHER NEWS?
Matt is currently working on That Bulletproof Kid #3 (in February 2015), Andrez will soon publish Bullet Gal #9 (in late January 2015), and we have a few bold young artists at work on Tales to Admonish #4.
More news soon.
GET OUR COMMIX... WHERE?
WHERE CAN YOU PICK UP THE LIMITED EDITION, ENTIRELY COLLECTIBLE HARD-COPIES OF OUR IF? COMICS? WELL, YOU CAN EMAIL MATT KYME DIRECTLY, OR HEAD STRAIGHT INTO THESE STORES:
Ace Comics & Games All Star Comics Melbourne Classic Comics Dark Tide Comics' Hobby House Heroes HQ Impact Comics Kaboom Comics Minotaur Entertainment Pulp Fiction Comics The Comic Shop - Liverpool
RECENTLY RELEASED & STILL AVAILABLE (OCT. 2014)
"Compelling noir... Bullet Gal #4 may be my favorite of the series so far.
I can't wait to see how things evolve."
FANBOY COMICS
"A great read for anyone looking to widen their view of what can be done with creativity and imagination in sequential art and really convey a story — pushing the outer limits of what is a comic book, challenging readers to say it's not."
REGEEKEN
CONTACT MATT KYME VIA EMAIL FOR THE PHYSICAL VERSION ($5, WITH FREE POSTAGE IN AUSTRALIA, OR $10 POSTAGE ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD). THE DIGITAL VERSION IS JUST $1 ONLINE RIGHT HERE.
PAST B R E A K I N G N E W S HIGHLIGHTS, 2014
TALES TO ADMONISH #3 AND TOBACCO-STAINED MOUNTAIN GOAT sell ALMOST half THEIR print-runS, THAT ALL STAR BULLETPROOF KID COMPLETELY sells out, and BULLET GAL #1 is doWN to the last 8 copies... all in just one day!
SCROLL DOWN A BIT FOR FULL DETAILS...
Photo of latest babies by James Shirvill.
SPIFFY IF? GRAPHIC NOVELS NOW PUBLISHED & AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE!
$10-$15 PER PAPERBACK BOOK / $2 DIGITAL
FREE POSTAGE IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND;
$10 postage ELSEWHERE
EMAIL US (ICON BELOW) FOR PHYSICAL COPY,
OR ORDER DIGITAL ONLINE HERE FOR JUST $2
98 PAGES: $10 GRAPHIC NOVEL / $2 DIGITAL
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144 PAGES: $15 GRAPHIC NOVEL / $2 DIGITAL
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NEW IF? COMICS NOW PUBLISHED & READY TO COLLECT!
$5 per PHYSICAL comic / $1 DIGITAL
(BUT... Bullet GAL #1 IS $1 for the comic — OR FREE AS A DIGITAL VERSION!)
FREE POSTAGE IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND;
$10 POSTAGE ELSEWHERE
email us (ICON BELOW) for physical copy,
or order digital online HERE for just $1
TALES TO ADMONISH #3: $5 COMIC / $1 DIGITAL
BULLET GAL #3: $5 COMIC / $1 DIGITAL
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BULLET GAL #1: $1 COMIC / FREE DIGITAL
BULLET GAL #2: $5 COMIC / $1 DIGITAL
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"Bullet Gal is comparable to Sin City and Velvet."
KABOOOOOM
"Bullet Gal is unlike any other comic book
you're likely to read."
FANBOY COMICS
"While [Bergen & Kyme] individually are both awesome at what they do, together these two gentlemen turn out spectacular work."
GEEKS OF DOOM
PREVIOUS COMICS:
$5 PER PHYSICAL COMIC / $1 DIGITAL
FREE POSTAGE IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND;
$10 POSTAGE ELSEWHERE
EMAIL US (ICON BELOW) FOR PHYSICAL COPY,
OR ORDER DIGITAL ONLINE HERE FOR JUST $1
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August IF? COMMIX launch @ Classic Comics Melbourne blows out expectations!
Antediluvian Andrez Bergen, down from Tokyo for the one-off Melbourne IF? COMMIX jaunt on August 17th, had this to say:
"Well... that was a MADLY COOL event yesterday. Thanks to all the people who came: the artists, the writers, the comic book aficionados and fans, the curious, the parents, the film crew and bamboozled passers-by. Respect to the bods at Classic Comics, who were amazing hosts.
Thanks to the fine weather and apologies for the crazily long queue - but otherwise?
Wow. Thank YOU, Melbourne."
This from Merry Matt Kyme: "It took a few days for me to process the launch. I was gobsmacked. I still am... but now it's starting to dawn on me that I need to say THANK YOU so much to all the collaborators for bringing this project to life and THANK YOU so much to everyone that came along to the launch to support us!"
CHECK OUT THE FULL EVENT REPORT HERE.
"Well... that was a MADLY COOL event yesterday. Thanks to all the people who came: the artists, the writers, the comic book aficionados and fans, the curious, the parents, the film crew and bamboozled passers-by. Respect to the bods at Classic Comics, who were amazing hosts.
Thanks to the fine weather and apologies for the crazily long queue - but otherwise?
Wow. Thank YOU, Melbourne."
This from Merry Matt Kyme: "It took a few days for me to process the launch. I was gobsmacked. I still am... but now it's starting to dawn on me that I need to say THANK YOU so much to all the collaborators for bringing this project to life and THANK YOU so much to everyone that came along to the launch to support us!"
CHECK OUT THE FULL EVENT REPORT HERE.
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ABOVE: ORDER & BUY MOST IF? COMMIX DIGITAL VERSIONS FOR $1 RIGHT HERE.
BELOW: SAMPLE FROM TALES TO ADMONISH #3 by elusive Matt Kyme.
BELOW: SAMPLE FROM BULLET GAL #3 BY CAGEY ANDREZ BERGEN.
MEANWHILE, OUR NOIR ANTHOLOGY BLACK/WHITE
IS STILL AVAILABLE IN LIMITED SUPPLY
FOR JUST $5 print copy
or $1 digital
WITH BLOODY BRILLIANT REVIEWS & FEEDBACK ALREADY THANKS TO GEEKS OF DOOM, COMIC BASTARDS, ALL-COMIC, FANBOY COMICS, WORD OF THE NERD, SEQUART, AND WEIRD AND WONDERFUL READS
"Really nice."
Laurence Campbell — Wolverine, Judge Dredd
"Bergen’s writing has a dry, dark sense of humour, and he shows a great knack for realistic and witty dialogue."
BIG COMIC PAGE
"Love it. Wonderful B&W images."
NOIRCON
"Reminds me of Raymond Pettibone's artwork for the Sonic Youth album GOO."
JR LOVE
"Wow, man, what a wild ride — I know when I'm staring at Van Gogh's ear."
MATT KYME
P.S.
CHECK OUT MATT KYME & ARTHUR STRICKLAND'S
THAT BULLETPROOF KID
destined to be bigger than Ben hur!
JUST $1 for the digital version
...AND OUR OTHER SUSPECTS...
MEANWHILE?
Andrez's novel Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa? was recently sitting pretty at #2 in the Best Sellers in Mystery Graphic Novels Chart @ Amazon, squeezed in between two Alan Moore romps
(V for Vendetta and From Hell).
Pick up this 473-page superhero novel via IF? Commix for just $2 right here.
(V for Vendetta and From Hell).
Pick up this 473-page superhero novel via IF? Commix for just $2 right here.
Matt Kyme (right) busy at the Melbourne launch of Tales To Admonish #2, Jan. 26, 2014. Photo by Ben Galli [www.bgalli.com.au]
"These two creators would have to be some of the most prolific this country has ever seen. And the cover… oh man, the cover is so good.
I can’t wait to see what stories they have for us."
FEC COMICS
THE LADS ARE CURRENTLY WORKING ON
TALES TO ADMONISH #4, THAT BULLETPROOF KID #3,
the BULLET GAL trade paperback, and TRISTA & HOLT #1.
"A lot to love here, and Tales to Admonish really is a great bit of fun."
ALL-COMIC
Tales To Admonish #2 by Matt Kyme & Andrez Bergen
"I love it! Good humour, good writing — I love the lingo! — and I see
the Eisner, the Kirby, and also some Ditko, yes?"
TRINA ROBBINS
STOP THE PRESS! (A-BLOODY-GAIN?)
andrez's black/white anthology IS STILL AVAILABLE!
Linoleum Actress by Michael Grills & Andrez Bergen
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Zig Zag by Drezz Rodriguez & Andrez Bergen
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"A great pulpesque feel... like Amazing Tales or Alfred Hitchcock,
harking back to old comics."
WHATCHA PODCAST
"A deft, tongue-in-cheek slant that offers a fresh synergy of storytelling and art." SCI-FI JUBILEE 
"A knowing sense of humour and solid understanding of the genres... "I love Roy and Suzie." FANBOY COMICS 
"Love the art style, with pops of colour in the black and white... and words snapping off the page!" |
A snippet (above) from Matt Kyme's final artwork for Andrez Bergen's story 'Adam's Ribs', which reunites Roy & Suzie from #1. 
Matt Kyme initial design sketch for 'Salvation Nation', to be included in #2. "The final story is a blank slate that lets Bergen go nuts, with smart, funny results. Kyme's art also shines, with brilliant figures that could be pulled right out of a Kirby comic." "A macabre, well-defined sense of humour." NERDSPAN 
"Bravo for a comic that I cannot get enough of!" NoirCon USA "I really like these stories and the art is cool." COMICBOOKED.COM 
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collectors' item first issue
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Created over 2 months by Melburnians Matt Kyme (That Bulletproof Kid) and Andrez Bergen (Who is Killing the Great Capes of Heropa?), the duo decided to print up and publish a 30 page full-colour comic (Tales to Admonish #1) in Australia in October 2013. Which subsequently sold out in 3 weeks. Yes, the tongues were very firmly in cheek through the 3 stories, and they referenced famous Aussie artists and other comic book characters as much as they did American imports like Blondie & Dagwood and Batman (shh!) — all the while heavily influenced by golden age '40s art-styles, the early '60s Marvel musings of the macabre that appeared in legendary series Tales to Astonish, and the great Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko. The stories themselves? Think something akin to Kolchak the Night Stalker colliding with Buffy, McMillan & Wife, Kick-Ass, Hardboiled, Twilight Zone and Into the Night. But fear not. You can go grab the digital version of #1 for a paltry $1, of which the creators sometimes get only 66c since Paypal nicks the rest. Bah. There's a horror yarn unto itself. Otherwise, #2 is currently in the works — look out for it in 2014. |
"I am truly blown away by what you've done with this comic.
The story and art are just off-the-wall fun."
RON FORTIER, Green Hornet, The Terminator, Airship 27
Andrez Bergen busy cracking prop safes @ Tokyo Disneyland. Photo by Cocoa.
"Tales to Admonish is a great read, really fun and different." NerdSpan
IF? COMMIX is AN OFF-SHOOT of IF? RECORDS, a MELBOURNE-MADE COMPANY RUN BY HACK MELBURNIANS — EVEN IF THE RECORDS LEG IS NOW HELMED BY A SYDNEYSIDER!
"If you’re one of those folks who read on the toilet, you’re in luck."
Comic Bastards
