Tomorrow the Open Book festival kicks off in Cape Town, including an entire day dedicated to comic book artists and illustrators on Saturday 22 September. We chatted to organiser Andy Mason, a legendary comic book artist himself.
How did you come to be a comic book artist?
I think I started drawing cartoons as soon as I picked up a crayon.
Why should adults be reading comic books?
I don’t necessarily recommend comics to all adults. You either have a taste for it or you don’t. The point is that if you are that way inclined, don’t feel ashamed. It’s a lot better for you than potato chips.
Is comic book the correct terminology? What is the difference between a comic book, a graphic novel and a cartoon?
Good question. Cartoons on paper are single images that tell a joke, but on screen they’re animated stories. Comic books usually have 24-32 pages and floppy covers, while graphic novels are square-backed books with anywhere from 64 to hundreds of pages. The phrase ‘graphic novel’ was invented to give dignity to comics that take themselves seriously as literature. There are hundreds of brilliant ones these days.
What is the most memorable thing about your book, What’s So Funny? Under the Skin of South African Cartooning?
I think it’s remarkable that I actually finished it – it was such an overambitious project. What’s also remarkable – to me at least – is that so many people seem to want to read it.
Are you still producing an annual of South African comic art?
Back in Durbs we had a comics club called the Durban Cartoon Project, which published five editions of our annual, Mamba Comix, between 2003 and 2007. After I moved to Cape Town I got involved in writing, organising comic art events and doing my own stuff, but I’m still keen to start another ‘zine like Mamba. The rest of the Durban Cartoon Project guys are very prolific and are producing their own comics, like Free Beer, Agenda and Yummy Lemons, all of which will be available at Co/Mix Day.
What is Co/Mix and how did it come about?
Co/Mix: Comic Art/Mixed Media was a big exhibition at the Grahamstown festival last year, featuring about 35 artists including six internationals. It was co-curated by Pete and Elaine Woodbridge, Lieve Vanleeuw and myself, and was hugely successful. Co/Mix Day is pretty much about keeping that spirit alive while taking a big breath in preparation for another ambitious comics event, in Cape Town in 2014.
What is the one must-see event on Co/Mix?
I think Co/Mix itself is the event. It’s a no-budget group concoction crammed into quite a small venue, with what we are calling “a studio vibe” – meaning each artist or studio is doing his or her own thing – and we haven’t a clue what it’s going to look like. So just being there and seeing 20-odd artists and cartoonists – quite a few of whom have never met each other – producing the event in the moment is actually the main event, I think. It’s going to be a bit chaotic, I’m sure, but I reckon the energy will be very good.
If you want to see the main programme, it’s on the Open Book website, but in between each event will be our Open Mic with giveaways and spontaneous moments that should be lots of fun. For more details see our Facebook page where you’ll find news of all the artists, freebies etc.
There are a few international artists coming to Co/Mix. How does South Africa’s talent weigh up globally?
We’re getting there. We’ve already got the international names like Bitterkomix and Joe Daly, but that’s just the beginning. Keep an eye on the SA comics scene, it’s going to be huge.
Since VISI loves all things eyecandy, we also chatted to two kids book illustrators – Emily Gravett and Alex Latimer – who are participating in the Open Book Festival.
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