The Kranburn Competition

 

You should all know by now that Kranburn is being released every three months. (It actually occured to me last month that the set schedule was more frequent than Brian Michael Bendis’ ‘Powers’. Take THAT, Bendis!) This kind of schedule is bloody exciting for us at FEC. However, I’m sure for you avid Kranburn readers, three months is a long wait.

That said, we’ve decided we want to give all you Kranburn lovers a treat. We’re offering you kids the chance to win a copy of Kranburn issue 3 a whole month earlier than the scheduled release date! Yep, you can win a preview copy. This is your chance to get a copy before all your friends do. Think of the levels of smugness you can reign over them!!!

WHAT YOU CAN WIN

We’re giving away 5 copies at the end of April. But not only that, they will all be permanently branded by your favourite creator, Ben Michael Byrne. 4 copies will be signed by Ben….and the fifth one will also have a sketch by him! Holy shit!

HOW TO ENTER

It’s pretty damn simple. All you have to do is go to our facebook page and “like” us.

And if you’re one of the awesome people who have already done this, don’t worry – we’re not leaving you out. If you post a link to “like” us on your facebook page, then you’re in the draw to win too!

It cannot get any easier than that. So get clicking!

Winners will be drawn on April 30th. Details of who has won will be posted that day.

Kranburn 2

Just under three months ago, we launched a comic most of you are familiar with – KRANBURN. It’s been a treat to enjoy the huge levels of support for this publication in such a short span of time. Thank you all so much!

At the launch, we were asked by quite a few people when they could expect the second issue. Well, you can stop wondering. On March 3, we will be launching the second issue in the series. We will be putting out KRANBURN #2 alongside a massive list of other publications from Melbourne comickers at the Big Arse Launch. I have no hesitation in saying the Big Arse Launch is THE day for Melbourne comics. If you’re interested in seeing what the local scene is about, get your sorry butt here – the level of talent in one room is going to fry your eyeballs!

The details are:
Saturday, March 3.
2pm start.
@ Sentido Funf
243 Gertrude Street
Fitzroy.

And since I like you all so much, here’s the official poster.

And that’s not all I’ve got to tell you. I want to confirm that KRANBURN will be released on a schedule of every three months. No exceptions. We’re not here to stuff about. You will get a new issue every three months and you will read them!
Understood?!
GOOD!

See you all on the 3rd.

A Golden Age

The other day, I ran into an illustrator whose work I have followed for quite a while. He’s recently been posting pages for a comic he’s been working on, so I immediately asked him how it was all coming along. Now, the fan in me was asking out of sincere interest…it came from a place of humble dedication to someone’s work I enjoy. However the publisher in me was asking with an evil ploy in mind. I intended to gauge whether he’d be interested in showing me some more of his works and potentially allowing FEC to represent him. *insert maniacal laugh here*

But it didn’t work out that way. Before I could get him and his talent within my grasps, he proceeded to tell me that another local publisher has shown interest in putting out his comic.

Now I could have been disappointed about this. I could have cracked the shits and gotten in a huff. I could have even lied and told him that the other publisher won’t do as good a job as FEC would. But really, I was just happy to hear that it was getting made. And what made me even happier is that there were numerous doors open to him. A great local comic creator has options! Options!!!

So we both went on our merry way and all I could think was “How great is it that the Melbourne comics scene is getting so healthy that we’re seeing creators with these opportunities?!”

We’re living in a Golden Age, my friends. Australian comics are getting bigger and better everyday and I’m hugely grateful to be a part of it!

2011 Wrap Up

It’s almost the end of 2011 and holy moley has it been huge. I’ve had the launch of FEC, the release of Kranburn in print, graduating, quitting my job and gaining a new job.

I just want to thank all the people who have shown so much support and friendship over the year:

  • All my family and friends who have helped and listened to me talk about FEC, even though comics is of no huge interest to them.
  • My team of creators. I wouldn’t be even writing this if it wasn’t for you guys.
  • The local creators who have been an absolute treat getting to know. The monthly comic meets are a blast and I recommend everyone make it down sometime in 2012 if you’ve not been to one before.
  • The local comic shops. In particular, All Star & Classic. These two stores have been a fantastic help in getting FEC’s name known throughout the year!

2011 has been a blast and I can’t wait to wait to jump into 2012. There’s already works in the process of getting made and who knows what will come after them. It’s gonna be a great year!!!

The Remnants of the Bash

Well, we’ve had the launch. First and foremost, I’d like to thank Little Mule for helping me put on a great function. Also, a big shout out to my main man, Joel Baldini. He helped me throughout the day getting all the merchandise into our venue. Secondly, I wanna thank everyone who came out and showed some love. You all earn a badge of honour in my book! The turn out was fantastic. I think the most enjoyable thing to see was the new faces. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the folks who have shown support from the beginning. But it’s always a bit of a thrill to have some totally random stranger rock up in support.

A BIG congratulations to the creators of FEC! I realise Lee & tsholl have already been witness to a launch of their comic (Great Works), but it’s exciting nonetheless. And Ben Michael Byrne got to witness the launch of his baby, Kranburn. I know lots of people have been pretty damn excited about getting their hands on this one, so I’m sure it was a thrill to not just have the product available, but to see people lining up to purchase it! As a publisher, I know I get a warm & smooshy feeling in my belly seeing the hard work of our creators come to fruition.

Here we have a bunch of pics taken from the function. Thanks to the lovely Miss E for taking these great shots!


























So what next, I hear you say? To answer your question – HEAPS!

  • I believe there were a quite a few people asking Ben about when issue 2 of Kranburn will come out. Just to put your minds at ease, we’ll be releasing each issue tri-monthly. So that gives you three months to read your first issue 600 times over in anticipation.
  • Next week we will get back into the swing of things with the Great Works webcomic. Act III will start next Wednesday and we’ll continue to post a page weekly on our fancy new site.
  • I have a couple of new projects lined up for the near future with some more local creators. It’s great to see the FEC family growing rapidly!

There ya go – we’re not stopping anytime soon!

If you’re interested in purchasing any of the comics, head on over to our products page here and take your pick.

While I’m here, I’d also like to give a shout out to a great local supporter of all that is comics – John Retallick of The Comic Spot. He interviewed me a short while back and has posted the interview online here. It was great having a chat with him about everything FEC. If you’re still wondering just what the hell we’re about, have a listen and you’ll get a thorough glimpse into what makes me tick. There’s also a top chat with Frank Candiloro of Frankenmation Entertainment.

I think that about wraps up all my news. Yep. So thanks again to everyone for all the support and I’m sure you’ll be hearing more from me soon enough.

FEC Bash

 
Righteo folks, who’s up for some new comics?

*looks over raised hands*

Yeah, I thought so.

Get yourselves ready for the launch of two new comics from FEC: Kranburn and Great Works Act 3.
 

If you’re familiar with the FEC website then you would also know of Great Works; the webcomic located on this site. As we chug along with the webcomic, we also publish the issues as they are completed. We are now putting out the third act in this series and it’s a doozie!
 

And I hardly need to introduce (but I will anyway) the incredibly entertaining KRANBURN. This is one comic that has had some huge anticipation surrounding it and you, the reader, finally get to hold a copy in your hands! I can tell you right now – this comic looks INSANELY good! You’re going to want to buy 2 copies; one for reading and one for drooling over.  For your viewing pleasure, here’s a preview of the cover:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
So, open your calendars and lock in Friday night, November 25th at 6.30pm. We will be located at The Little Mule again – 19 Somerset Place, Melbourne CBD. If that’s not enough, here it is on the map.

View Larger Map
 
Get along, have a beer, and be sure to say hi to myself and all the creators….AND DON’T FORGET TO BUY THE COMICS!

Some Fine Looking Proofs

I received a nice little package in the mail yesterday. Initially I thought it was a book I’d ordered a few weeks back, but then I look at the sender and it’s from Jeffries Printing. Across the office, everyone could hear me bellow out “YES!!”
It was the proofs for our new run of comics! Along with our previously published books (Great Works Act 1 & 2, Cabin Man and Lonely Monsters), there was the oh-so-fresh looking Great Works Act 3 and Kranburn.

I’m officially declaring it here and how – I will NEVER use another printer again! Baden has done such a stellar job on these comics, I can’t wait to show you all. Seriously – I want to be present when each & every one of you look over these babies. The look on your faces will fill me with giddiness!!!

Firstly, we have Great Works Act 3. I expect you’ve been reading Acts 1 & 2 on the site. Well, tsholl takes on a new layout style in this new issue and it looks fantastic. He really has a lot of fun with the space. I’m looking forward to seeing the readers reaction to the new movement in the story; we’re really starting to see how large this world gets.

Secondly…Kranburn. I swear this cover is going to make every other comic cover on the shelves look like a 3 year old has been playing with their crayons. It’s brilliant…..absolutely brilliant. And then you get to the pages. The action just BURSTS off the pages! Every machete swing appears like it will take a chunk out of your hands!

It’s damn exciting times at FEC right now. It’s a good feeling to be back in motion after a brief hiatus. There’s lots of stuff coming up and we’ll be sure to share it with you at another launch. Keeps your ears to the ground for that – I’ll have some news for that shortly.

Get your Assembling ON!

Well, I’ve just watched the Avengers trailer and I’ve gotta admit – my tummy actually got butterflies! It had everything I wanted to see; explosions, action, comedy and – most importantly – balls. My GOD did it have balls! It could have been simply because they played one of Nine Inch Nails most badass songs. But I don’t think it was just that. It had a perfect blend of the things I’ve loved in all the Marvel films.

 

  • There’s Nick Fury talking tough and looking cool.
  • There’s Cap’s old school ways conflicting with Stark’s new age style.
  • There’s Thor having a bit of fun, thrown in with some Mjolnir work.
  • There’s Stark mouthing off to just about everybody.

I dunno about you guys but holy SHIT am I ready to get my assembling on!!

The only double worth seeing

This is for all the Melbournites who are reading this. If you’re not based in Melbs, feel free to keep reading. Just prepare to be excluded for a moment.
Tomorrow night, the Astor Theatre will be playing a film double to end all film doubles! Are you ready?
Captain America: The First Avenger and Thor!

 

 

 

 

 

 

.
Two words: Hell. Yeah.

If you’ve not seen either, you need to fix this. If you’ve only seen one, you need to fix this. If you’ve only seen both of them once, you need to fix this. It starts at 7.30pm. Whatever you have planned, cancel it and go to the screening. Get yourself prepared/pumped for the oncoming Avengers film.

SQUUEEEEEEEE!!!!

Our Latest Member

Been a while…time got away from me…blah blah blah. *insert usual blog intro here*

.
I think it’s time to introduce you all to the new family member of FEC. A few of you will have already heard, but to most this is news. As of last week, our latest creator to join us is Ben Michael Byrne (also known as BMB). If you’re unfamiliar with his work, you can find his webcomic ‘Kranburn’ here and his fan page here. It’s an absolutely stunning comic; full of brilliant violence and unforgettable characters.

.
In regards to what he is bringing to the FEC table – well, if you clicked on the link, you’re looking at it. We will be seeing the first two chapters go to print and, as the story continues, we will be seeing the next two chapters follow. We’ll be throwing another party for the launch of his series, but I’ll let you know those details in the near future. For the time being, please send him a big congrats and be sure to buy his comic!!