Libre Tenebrae

In the New York Times

Sun, 08 Nov 2009 02:36:23 GMT

Last year Steve sevenredblurs Mangold and I co-wrote a story that was published in BAD-ASS FAERIES 2.

The anthology was mentioned in a recent New York Times article about the renewed popularity of modern fairytales in the bookstore:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/books/review/Marler-t.html?_r=1

Check out the article! The book has just been reprinted (now under the banner of a different publisher, Mundania Press). Steve and I are in volume 2: http://www.mundania.com/book.php?title=Bad-Ass+Faeries+2:+Just+Plain+Bad

Amazon have sold out of the prior (Mariette Publishing) edition of the book and the new one does not appear to be available there yet, but you can purchase it from the publisher's website at the link above. It's also available as a PDF ebook.

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "Tattoo You"

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:19:18 GMT

Guest writer Jen Breach takes a third turn behind the wheel:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=293

KAGEMONO: TOOTH AND CLAW now available on Amazon.com

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 05:16:47 GMT

The new KAGEMONO book is now up on Amazon.com from the following link:

http://www.amazon.com/Kagemono-Tooth-Claw-Jason-Franks/dp/0980516730/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257311138&sr=8-1

Price is $12 USD. Australian buyers who have paypal accounts are probably better off ordering in $AUD through the Blackglass Press website from this link:

http://www.blackglasspress.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&category_id=6&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=25&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=2&vmcchk=1&Itemid=2

I should have the books in Melbourne CBD comic stores by the end of the week.

Cheers,

-- JF

DEUCE cover concept

Tue, 03 Nov 2009 11:13:36 GMT

Cover concept for a GN called DEUCE I am working on with Nic Hunter.

-- JF

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:45:35 GMT

The Sixsmiths family wishes you a happy halloween:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=290

Hail Satan!

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "The Big Bounce"

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 22:04:42 GMT

This week's installment is a little bouncier than usual. Make with clicky:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=287

--JF

In the Barrio

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 04:26:53 GMT

Dear Powderfinger,

Boys, I've never been a huge fan, but I like a couple of your songs and I always sort of respected you for being the mainstays mainstays of domestic Aussie indie rock. You've never been exported well; aside from brief appearance on the MI:2 soundtrack the local bands that have gone on to crack the US have been always of the bigger and dumber variety: ~~Blink 182~~ The Living End, the Vines, Jet, Wolfmother. I don't wanna call you boys soft, but, like your music, you fellas have always been the sensitive types who've stayed home to look after Mum. I've never doubted yoru credibility before, but I'm afraid I gotta call you on this new one.

See, I caught the video for your new song, All of the Dreamers, on TV over the weekend and... well, where to begin? Ok, let's start witht he first line:

"But when you come down to the barrio. Get a feel of the peoples scenario."

I'm really sorry, but that is just fucking terrible. Yes, it rhymes, but really? This from the same 'acclaimed songwriters' who penned My Kinda Scene? But it's worse than that. See, based on the video clip, I'm pretty sure that you don't know what a 'barrio' is. (Hint: Downtown Melbourne isn't it). The Melbourne CBD is as much the barrio as P!nk is a rockstar.

Now, okay, I know there's almost no Hispanic people in Australia to put you wise, but I still have to call you on it. And fellas, I'm as happy as anyone to see the return of flannel and stubble, but the waxed eyebrows are ruining the effect. It's all getting a bit boy-band for my taste.

Pull up your socks and wash behind your ears, chaps. I expect better.

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "Hot for Teacher"

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:05:23 GMT

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=283

Armageddon

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:07:07 GMT

I'm just about recovered from the Armageddon expo now, just in time for the book launch tomorrow night.

KAGEMONO: TOOTH AND CLAW arrived the day before the show, thanks entirely to the heroic efforts of Baden Kirgan of Jeffries Printing.

I showed up on Friday to set up and then worked the whole con, 8 til 8 on Saturday and 8 til 6 on Sunday, on the verge of exhaustion and sporting the worst haircut I've had in about 10 years.

Traffic seemed light this year and volume-wise I sold less books than I have in a long time... but the new KAGEMONO sold as well as any new book I've brought to a show and I did manage to walk away with a profit (if you don't count the money I spent buying other comics). I shared a table with Bobby N, a local creator who is developing a firm reputation as the secret weapon of the Melbourne indie scene. (Check out Bobby's con report, which is, as usual, much more detailed than my own and contains photos: http://bobbynsblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/normal.html).

Caught up with a bunch of other locals at the show, including Trev Wood, Colin Wilson, Tom Taylor, John Retallick, Matt Emery, Brendan Halyday, Luke Pickett, Andrew Fulton, Avi Bernshaw, Paul Bedford, Henry Pop, James Andre, Chris Sequeira, Ben Stenbeck and Ben 'BMB' Byrne. I actually managed to speak to some of the guests: Nicola Scott and Greg Rucka, both of whom were charming and supportive despite me being a graceless noob trying to foist his work on his betters. Lovely people; it was an absolute pleasure to speak to some pros whose work I've really enjoyed on my own home turf.

-- JF

KAGEMONO: TOOTH AND CLAW now available

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 22:36:24 GMT

KAGEMONO: TOOTH AND CLAW, the biggest and baddest Blackglass book ever, is now available for purchase through the online store. 10 stories at 84 pages by 14 creators from 5 different countries (or 6 if you count me as a Jaapie).

Purchase multiple copies today!

I'll soon have it available through amazon.com and Melbourne-local comic shops, and I will be selling the book at Armageddon this weekend.

Cheers,

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "Black Coffee Blues"

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 23:19:53 GMT

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=280

KAGEMONO: TOOTH AND CLAW at print

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:50:18 GMT

KAGEMONO: TOOTH AND CLAW is now complete and at the printer. (Yes that is a new cover).Fingers crossed, it should be available for purchase at Armageddon this weekend.

And don't forget the book launch on Thursday the 22nd of October 2009 at Loop Bar, Meyers Place, Melbourne 3000, Victoria, Australia.

Be sure to buy multiple copies!

-- JF

THE SILENCE

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 23:39:29 GMT

Haven't heard a lot about Bruce Mutard's new graphic novel, THE SILENCE (Allen and Unwin 2009) in the couple of months since it's been out, but it's a terrific book that deserves attention.

While on a business trip to procure some artwork, gallery manager Choosy and her artist boyfriend Dmitri discover an amazing new artist. As they search for the mysterious artist's identity they are confronted with the age old questions of art versus commerce and the nature of art itself.

If you're looking for exploding monster trucks, this isn't the book for you (see me after class, I have one of those for you). If you're interested in a serious attempt to solve a difficult philosophical question, rendered with staggering aplomb in Mutard's polished, realist style, you need to check it out.

What is perhaps most impressive to me is that Mutard is willing to tackle the big philosophical questions ("What is art?") without resorting to action blockbuster theatrics or ceding the argument to a despairing 'it's all too hard.' He operationalizes the problem with a pair of interesting and well-realized characters and uses them to demonstrate his Zappa-esque conclusion in no uncertain terms. But, over and above all of that, Mutard uses comics to frame the problem in a way that no other medium could have.

This book actually predates Mutard's prior offering, THE SACRIFICE, although it has changed publishers and undergone a substantial reconfiguration since it was first completed. The illustration looks just about as polished as SACRIFICE, although I don't think the dialogue is as natural in the first half. But that's just a quibble. This is a classy and intellectually rigorous book and I'm looking forward to reading it a second time.

It's not available in the direct market, because Allen and Unwin don't play that way, but you can find it in bookstores Australia-wide. It's also available on amazon.com, or you can buy direct from A&U.

-- JF

Once

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:27:55 GMT

I once killed a man.

Mmmm…

I guess that’s not strictly true. I’ve killed a lot of men.

Women, too. Children. Even some animals.

Lots of reasons, really. For king and country, yeah. For money. For revenge, for spite, for pleasure.

Now… nowadays it’s just kind of a bad habit, I guess.

So, yeah. Anyway. I once killed a man…

Uh…

…I forget where I was going with this. Can’t have been all that interesting if I’ve forgotten it already, can it?

Anyway, so, where were we?

THE SIXSMITHS in "Britney Speared"

Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:25:02 GMT

This week's installment:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=278

BOOK LAUNCH

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 12:09:03 GMT

Ladies and gents,

We have a bit of a book launch event coming up and you are all invited:

Blackglass Press, Milk Shadow Studios and Guzumo Comics are hosting party to launch their new books: KAGEMONO vol 2., YUCK! #2, THE GARBAGE TRUCK FAILURES, and EVERYTHING ENDS IN TEARS.

If you like comics, words, pictures, horror movies, music, humour, or just some plain old fashioned drinking then this is the event for you!

Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=147449494267&ref=nf

http://www.blackglasspress.com
http://www.milkshadowstudios.com
http://www.guzumocomics.com

Your hosts: Jason Franks, James Andre & Matt Emery
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2009
Time: 19:30 - 21:30
Location:
Loop Bar
23 Meyers Place
Melbourne, 3000

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "Going Solo"

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 04:01:46 GMT

This week we've reached a whole new level of wrongness.

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=272

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "Diabolus In Musica"

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 23:19:53 GMT

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=269

THE SIXSMITHS in "Unlimited Lives"

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 00:11:14 GMT

Today's strip, by the usual crew of idiots:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=266

-- JF

Three Random Things I Like

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 08:17:27 GMT

Comp Copies
I love it when publishers send me free books.

Silver Hair
I am usually oblivious to fashion. If I notice something new, my usual reaction is usually one of sneering indifference. But I have to say, all these girls with silver hair I'm seeing around town? Awesome.

Having Too Many Deadlines
It's hard fucking work and I don't know when I last had a day off, but I am fucking thriving on all the work I have due. People actually want to read what I'm writing--when the hell did that happen?

-- JF

THE SIXSMITHS in "Accursed"

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 23:44:32 GMT

Bit of a glitch with the perma-links. I'm not sure what happened, but everything is back to normal now.

Clicky for today's story:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=262

-- JF

An Umlaut for P!nk

Mon, 07 Sep 2009 09:24:38 GMT

Dear P!nk,

I've been hearing a lot of your music lately. I wouldn't ordinarily, but whoever is in charge of the audio system of my gym is a bit of a fan of yours and, against the odds, that hasn't yet annoyed me enough to stop working out there.

P!nk you are clearly a very confused individual. You want to make the shift from pop tart to rockstar and I for one couldn't be happier to see that happen, but it seems you have no idea how to go about it.

You see, rock and roll is about music. You can warble "I'm a rockstar" as loudly and as long as you like, but nobody who has listened to even one Led Zeppelin song (clearly you are not one among their number) is going to actually believe you. Pop music, like yours, is engineered in a studio by a producer (that's the fat guy in the headphones who thinks he's cool because he dresses like a teenager). Rock music is written by musicians.

If you want to be a rockstar, you need to be in a rock band, with ugly people who smell bad and who play instruments and who like music more than shopping and cosmetics endorsements. If you want to be in a rock band you need to get rid of the dance troupe and the 'backing track' that plays loud and hire some people with guitars. You need to learn how to share a small van with a bassplayer who doesn't need weed to get high, a drummer who doesn't understand what soap is for, and at least one condescending guitarist with an ego that is five times as big as yours and a sense of self esteem that is five times more pathetic (yes, these people do exist--stop into any Guitar Center and you'll find a dozen of them at any given time). (Guitar Center is a kind of shop that doesn't sell clothes or perfume).

What I'm saying, P!nk, is that you need to put up or shut up. If you're a rockstar, tell your manager and your publicist and your team of dieticians and personal trainers to go fuck themselves and record some actual music. Otherwise, please stop pretending... or, better yet, stop recording altogether and retire. You're embarrassing yourself and you're irritating me, and we both know that won't do at all.

Your friend,

-- Jason Franks

PS One last thing: you need to change your name. I'm afraid that pink is the colour of My Little Ponies and strawberry sherbet--it is not an appropriate choice for rock'n'roll. If you're keen to keep up this colour thing, 'Black' is is the only choice. You could try using your actual name: the fact that your parents were too ignorant to spell 'Alicia' correctly is very rock'n'roll. Or, heaven forbid, you could use the name of your purported band (that means they get some of the royalties. Sorry 'bout that). But Pink is utterly incorrect. Likewise, the exclamation mark has to go: the only acceptable typographical symbol in the name of a rock'n'roll act is the umlaut. -- JF

Captions from my daily whiteboard drawings

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 23:04:41 GMT

I put a new drawing on my whiteboard about every day, often with a caption... sometimes with commentary from other staff. This is what my whiteboard has said over the last week:

"These guys suck. They always lose to a heavily armed opponent. Aliens R n00bs, Preadtor FTW! -Kyle"

"Predator Expeditionary Force Cheer Squad- Positions Vacant. (BYO pom poms, Kyle)"

"Here they come to snuff the rooster."

"Mechagojira 1975"

"All hail Megatron."

"Jennifer Connelly will stab you in your sleep."

-- JF

Conversation with an Old Lady on the Train

Thu, 03 Sep 2009 00:07:13 GMT

LADY: There are so many Asians in Melbourne now, it's getting to be a case of spot the Aussie. So much black hair.
FRANKS: Yeah.
LADY: Are you Australian?
FRANKS: Yeah. *
LADY: Well, if you weren't born here, you're doing a really good job on the accent.

* Technically true: I have been a citizen since 1988.

THE SIXSMITHS in "Blood Brother"

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:42:49 GMT

Today's strip by guest writer Jen Breach:

http://www.thesixsmiths.com/wordpress/?p=254