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Ozcomics 24hr Comics Challenge

Posted: Friday, June 4, 2004
By: Shawn Patty

Queens Birthday weekend, June 12-14th

A lot can happen in 24 hours. 20 000 children are born, Jack Bauer can save the world and over 60 of Australia’s most talented artists can create completely new and original work for the Ozcomics 24 hour Challenge.

This Queens birthday weekend artists, animators, designers and illustrators from around Australia and the World will aim to produce a 24 page comic in 24 hours. That’s plotting, scripting, layouts, pencilling and lettering, in 24 hours, work that usually takes a month.

The Ozcomics 24 hour challenge is internationally recognised as the largest event of its type in the world. Last year over 40 artists in 5 countries produced over 600 pages of comics. Many of them going on to publish that work and receive public acclaim.

From autobiographical to absurd, all topics, art styles and skill levels are represented in this Australian organised event. Coordinated from an online HQ at www.ozcomics.com participants will report on their progress in dedicated forums, posting work live to the web as it happens. Some participants will gather in small groups while some will choose to work alone. They will labour in a concentrated burst of creativity and productivity that is unique to this event.

“A great exercise in teaching yourself to get ideas down quickly, efficiently and uniquely. Some of your best ideas come out when you’re under pressure and it’s a great opportunity to try things you may not think to with the luxury of time. It was also where the seeds were sown for my award winning all ages series ‘Tales From Under your Bed’ Doug Holgate, upcoming artist in Flights, released by America’s third largest publisher, Image.

Participants interested in the challenge are asked to go to www.ozcomics.com/24hrs and register. At 11am, Saturday the 12th of June the challenge will begin. Contestants then must plot, write and draw for the next 24 hours, creating a page an hour until 24 hours later. Time spent eating, sleeping and bathing is time wasted in this event. Each page is presented, as it is completed, to the public by way of www.ozcomics.com, spectators are free to view and comment on each page as it is done. Watch the creativity unfold. At the end of the event, all the entries will be gathered and the public is asked to judge, by poll, their favorites in several categories; the best 24 page story, the best 16 page story and best 8 page story.

Winners in these categories are eligible in prizes including, gift vouchers from the best comic shops in Australia; Sydney’s Kings Comics, Adelaide’s Pulp Fiction Comics and Ace Comics of Brisbane. The latter two establishments will also be hosting 24 Hour Challenge parties where participants can gather in groups and do the challenge. Other prizes include original art from acclaimed artist Colin Wilson, Jon Sommariva and David Yardin. The grand prize is a coveted table at Australia’s largest pop culture convention, Supanova. In total the prize pool is over $2000.

For more information about the challenge connect to www.ozcomics.com/24hrs.

Ozcomics – Is Australia’s largest Comics portal and message board for over 5 years. With 700 members, ranging from Hollywood special effects artists, to Disney animators to nationally recognized magazine illustrators, Ozcomics is proud to host this event. www.ozcomics.com.

Supanova – Australia’s most recognized pop culture convention, it attracts over 7000 people twice a year with events held in Brisbane and Sydney. Bringing many celebrities from overseas from many cult favourite shows and movies, this event gets bigger every year. www.supanova.com.

Phosphorescent Comics – Australian largest mainstream comics publisher for over 3 years, recently it has attracted a lot of international attention through its series The Watch. www.phosphorescent.com.au

Kings Comics – Australia’s largest Comic shop, it features a wide selection of local and international material, including games, books and memorabilia. www.kingscomics.com

Pulp Fiction Comics – Adelaide’s newest Comic shop, it has an emphasis on the more sophisticated graphic literature reader, with a huge range of Graphic Novels from around the world, a comfy couch and coffees to go. www.pulpfictioncomics.com.au

Ace Comics – One of Brisbane’s best comic shops, Ace Comics has been a supporter of Australian Comics for many years. Also carrying a range of role playing equipment, Ace Comics will be hosting a Challenge party on Sunday the 13th where artists can gather and complete the challenge together and members of the public can come watch. Artists please contact Ace Comics before hand to register your interest. www.comicwarriors.com

Jon Sommariva – From Brisbane, Jon is one of Australia’s new shining stars making his way on the international stage. His first published work was for the acclaimed local book Killeroo Book 1 but he quickly left Australia and found work for Dark Horse Comics’ Go Boy 7.

Colin Wilson – First received acclaim working in UK’s highest selling magazine, Judge Dredd, before moving to France to take over the hugely popular Blueberry series. Colin now resides in Melbourne but is a superstar in France, where his latest book sold 200,000 copies once released and his attendance to the largest comic Convention in Europe can bring in thousands of fans.

David Yardin – Is the latest local boy to make it big overseas. His latest work, District X, is for America’s largest comics publisher Marvel and has been well received by critics and fans alike.

Dillon Naylor – A staple in the local Australian scene for over a decade, Dillons’ work can be read all over the world in various magazines, like Kzone. He is now has merchandise available through Target for his Batrisha character. He is also well known for his Martin/Molloy and Da ‘n Dill comics that were released in the 90s.www.batrisha.com