Jason Franks's Blog, page 9

Oz Comic Con Brisbane

Hey Brisbane!

I will be a guest at Oz Comic Con this weekend. I will be signing and selling books at table 05 for most of the show.  On Sunday at 3pm I will be on a panel called “Breaking Into Comics The Aussie Way” with Shane W. Smith and Wolfgang Bylsma.

Come by and have a chinwag. I’m happy to talk about anything: books, comics, Satan. If you’re interested in my upcoming Mechanics of Visual Storytelling webinar I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have about that, too.

See you this weekend!

— JF

 

Peopling the Apocalypse

My second novel, Faerie Apocalypse, is coming out in November. It’s a ‘literary fantasy’ novel about the corruption of fairy land at the hands of a handful of mortal adventurers. It’s a bleak and unorthodox book and, while I don’t want to ruin it by explaining it, I feel like I need to set some expectations for my readers, because this is not really like my other published work.

I think by now it should be pretty clear that my tastes in characters run to antiheroes, villains and monsters, and this is certainly true in Faerie Apocalypse. You can see this clearly in McBlack, in Sixsmiths, in Left Hand Path. Clarice in Bloody Waters is a very polarizing character and many people have told me they dislike her, the book is clearly on her side and I hope that readers are sympathetic to her, regardless of whether or not they would like to be her friend.

Faerie Apocalypse has five point-of-view characters and none of them are heroes (or perhaps antiheroes) in the same way as Clarice. I keep them at arm’s length and I don’t even tell you their names. (There is a story-related reason for this.) I think they’re interesting people. I hope that, as their character is revealed, they will surprise and shock you. And while I am not going to ask you to forgive them, or even to like them, I hope that, by the end, you will understand them.

At the end of the day, all of these characters–the noblest, and the most vile–are me. There are certainly more of the latter than the former. But this is how work of the writer differs from the work of the actor: writers must find something for themselves in every role, if they want their characters to live and die with meaning. I believe that, if the book reads true, readers will go along with it.

I know that’s a big ask. It was a difficult book to write and, short though it is, I am sure it’s a challenging read. It’s a dark journey to the end of a world that isn’t, with companions you do not know and cannot trust. But I think it’s one worth taking and I hope you’ll join me for it.

Just remember not to speak your name.

— JF

The Australian Comics Journal Looks Back at McBlack

Like it says int he subject line. As I prepare for a third printing of McBlack volume 1, the Australian comics Journal has taken a look back at the book and I think given it a very fair and accurate review.

Click on through to read:

Looking back: McBlack

Ed

I have just learned that my good friend Ed Siemienkowicz has passed away from pancreatic cancer.

I’ve known Ed for about 12 years; ever since the first time I went to SPX. Since then I’ve been privileged enough to hang out with him in Orlando, Tokyo, Melbourne, Sydney, and Washington DC. Last time I saw him in the flesh was, appropriately enough, at SPX in 2013.

[image error]Hanging out at SPX 2013 with Keith McDougall, Raina Telgemeier and ed Siemienkowicz

Ed was a talented artist, writer, and designer, and a magnetic web personality who many of you will remember as the anchor of the very popular Star Wars podcast, Voice of the Republic. When I decided to do Sixsmiths 2 with a medley of artists I knew immediately that I wanted Ed to be one of them. He was a amazing storyteller with an eye for detail and I am incredibly proud of the three stories we produced together.

Ed faced his cancer with bravery I can barely imagine. It was hard to watch him suffer through it from so far away, but it was heartening to see how his many, many friends gathered around to support him. Ed as open-hearted and generous a guy as you were ever likely to meet. I wish long life to his partner Vanessa and to all of Ed’s family and friends.

Cheers, Edo-san.  We miss you badly.

— Jason

Oz Comic Con Melbourne!

Hey folks! After nearly two years away from the con circuit I will be a guest at Oz Comic-Con in Melbourne this coming weekend! I’ll have copies of the new Caliber editions of both Sixsmiths graphic novels, the new Smiling Damned single, the remaining ARCs of my novel Bloody Waters and heaps of other stuff. I am also happy to sign anything that you purchased elsewhere, so bring it along if you feel the need. Come find me at booth 18 near the Comic District.

I will also be doing some panels. Come list to me jabber on about one shots vs graphic novels on stage 3 at 4pm on Saturday. Sunday at 2pm I will be doing a session called “An Idiot’s Guide to Making Your First Comic Book” with Brendan Halyday and Thomas Tung, also on stage 3.

See you this weekend!

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SMILING DAMNED

FOUR THE HARD WAY

Learn the ins and outs of the super-villain business from three-time Best Solo Supervillain award winner The Prince. Watch Mr Ex orchestrate a supercrime the smart way. Destroy a wind farm with gun-crazy pro-pollution-activist Monochrome. Take a fully automatic tour of Transylvania with murderer-for-hire McBlack. Impress your friends by quoting Shakespeare–then rob and kill them. If you ever wanted to be a supervillain, this is the book for you.

Written by Jason Franks; illustrated by Daniel Watts, Brendan Halyday, and Aly Faye; coloured by Jason Quest and Garth Jones. Cover by Graeme Jackson.

This 24 page issue will be available July 1st for Oz Comic Con Melbourne fro the princely (geddit) sum of five bucks. It will also be available online and digitally.

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Continuum 13

Hi all,

I will be attending Australia’s National Speculative Fiction convention, Continuum, in Melbourne next month, and I’m going to be a part of a number of different sessions.  Here’s the provisional list:

Saturday 10th June, 2pm | Fae in the City
A discussion about the urban fantasy genre with Amanda Pillar, Ju, Freya Marske, and Guest of Honour Seanan McGuire.

Saturday 10th June, 4pm | Genre Conventions
Talking about the distinction, or lack thereof, between genre and literary fiction, with Earl Livings, Laura Goodin, JS Breukelaar, and Likhain.








Sunday 11th June, 10am | Visual Storytelling: the Art and Science of Writing Comics (2 hours)

I will be conducting a workshop about how to write comics. Attendance is free, but places are limited, so please register here if interested.





Sunday 11th June, 6pm | Keyholes and Secret Doors
A discussion of children’s portal fantasy and what it means to grow up, as a reader, with Freya Marske, Paul Weimer , and Seanan McGuire.









Monday 12th June, 10:30am | Horror in the 21st Century

I will be discussing current evolution of the horror genre with Claire Fitzpatrick, Kirstyn McDermott, and Michelle Goldsmith


Monday 12th June, 1pm | Humans are Special
Hespa, Kathryn Anderson, Michelle Goldsmith and I will investigate whether or not speculative fiction writers are human chauvinists.


That’s a pretty big con schedule for a quiet lad like me, so please feel free to shout encouragement from the sidelines if you’e attending! Unless you’re my Mom. In which case, don’t worry I will be sure to wear a warm jumper.

 

Feast Your Eyes On This

A short graphic novel about the crew of the starship Gourmand Go, whose mission is to seek out new life–and eat it. But when times are lean, which they frequently are, the officers are not above eating more… human… cuisine.

Featuring interior artwork by Harold Purnell, Laura Renfrew, Gavin Thee Thomson, Matt Kyme, Nic Lawson, Aly Faye and Ben Byrne. Colours and design by Garth Jones.

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The book is in the final stages of production and will be available this year, likely as two single issues and then a collection.

The Sixsmiths vol.02 in stores NOW!

This is it, folks. The second volume of The Sixsmiths is in stores worldwide this week. I know that many of you have been waiting a very long time to see what happens after the volume 1 cliffhanger and now is finally your chance! Church burning, office politics, schoolyard hinjinx, splinter factions and more specialty baked goods than you can shake your trident at.

Ralf, Annie, Cain, Lilith, Jezabelle and Furfur return! Dennis O’Dowell gets a makeover! A satanic vicar Melmoth goes vegetarian! Look for it now in your favourite comic store.

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Sherlock Holmes: The Australian Case Files

Like it says on the cover: a collection of short stories about Sherlock Holmes in Australia, edited by Christopher Sequeira. Containing stories by Lucy Sussex, Kaaron Warren, Narrelle Harris, Kerry Greenwood, and others. Including me.

Should be in bookstores in November this year.

I worked hard to get into this book and I’m pretty stoked to see this coming to fruition. I’ll be sure to let you know as soon as it’s available!

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