Comics

Toby Morris and his kids review a cool new comic

by

Kids will love Jonathan King’s graphic novel The Inkberg Enigma, according to actual kids Max (eight) and Iggy (six). In a sleepy fishing town, there’s something strange going on behind the scenes. Luckily two plucky kids called Miro and Zia are here to investigate. It’s The Inkberg Enigma, a new graphic novel for young readers, … Read more

Why I think this comic series about death is the straight-up best story of the 2010s

by

Huge claims from Uther Dean about The Wicked + The Divine, the books he’s spent the last five years with.  The Wicked + The Divine is the best story released this decade in any medium. I want to be clear here. People often confuse favourite for best when talking critically. I am not saying that … Read more

Terry Teo is the great New Zealand comic

by

Growing up, illustrator Toby Morris rarely saw the New Zealand he knew in comics – until he discovered Terry Teo. The school library. Hampton Hill Primary. Tawa. 1990. I’m curled up in a corner on the carpet so the teacher can’t see what I’m reading and I’m having a moment. It’s a comic that looks … Read more

In defence of superhero movies

by

Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and Ken Loach all have one thing in common: they don’t like superhero movies. But are they right? Are they heck. Josie Adams defends the existence of the world’s most money-hungry film genre. There’s only one thing worse than a comic book nerd; a film nerd. Nerds of any kind … Read more

Let Me Be Frank: an essay about creativity and comics by Sarah Laing

by

Wellington writer, illustrator and Katherine Mansfield obsessive Sarah Laing has a new book out tomorrow. Here, she tells its origin story.  My first baby was really bad at breastfeeding – or else, as my mother and the Plunket nurse insinuated, I had the wrong shaped nipples. He couldn’t get the suction right and it would … Read more

Watch: comic artist Ben Stenbeck on Hellboy, Buffy and imposter syndrome

by

The Spinoff’s cartoonist Toby Morris chats and draws with New Zealand’s doodlers in the webseries Two Sketches. In the fifth episode, Toby sits down with comic artist Ben Stenbeck.  Two Sketches returns with another leisurely draw and a chat hosted by award-winning illustrator Toby Morris. In this episode, Toby chats with Dunedin-based illustrator Ben Stenbeck, … Read more

As Mad magazine comes to an end, its spirit of mockery lives on

by

Longtime fan Nik Dirga pays tribute to the magazine that weaponised satire before the internet. Last week, news broke that Mad magazine – warping young minds ever since 1952 – would stop publishing original content. It will reportedly switch to just reprint material later this year, and then likely end regular publication entirely soon after … Read more

10 New Zealand cartoonists you can read instead of Garrick Tremain

by

Now that the Herald has dropped its syndicated Alex cartoon, there’s a glimmer of hope that New Zealand’s moribund newspaper cartooning scene might finally let in some new blood. Toby Morris has 10 suggestions for cartoonists to consider. If you get your news from social media, you might be feeling like the state of cartooning … Read more

Inside our new webseries Two Sketches, from The Side Eye’s Toby Morris

by

We’re overjoyed to today launch our new webseries about drawing and stuff, Two Sketches. Here’s what it’s all about – plus, watch the first episode below. Popular illustrator and The Spinoff’s resident cartoonist-in-chief Toby Morris loves drawing and loves chatting to other pencil pushers, so why not combine the two? In this new webseries we … Read more

To The I-Land: Remembering Barry Linton, 1947-2018

by

Comics artist and writer Dylan Horrocks pays tribute to the revered New Zealand cartoonist Barry Linton, who died last week. A note from Spinoff cartoonist Toby Morris: Last week New Zealand lost a true legend. A relatively under the radar one, but a legend none the less. Barry Linton, often called the godfather of comics … Read more

Al Nisbet and the age old problem with New Zealand political cartoons

by

Yesterday’s Al Nisbet cartoon attacking the #metoo movement unwittingly drew Toby Morris’ attention to a different problem: the very specific demographic drawing cartoons in our daily newspapers. Cartoonists don’t retire, they die. Eventually.  And in a way it makes sense. There are a limited number of positions, and it’s a highly specialised skill that’s not … Read more

Thor and his magic patu: notes on a very Māori Marvel movie

by

Dan Taipua explores indigenous ideologies in Thor: Ragnarok, the blockbuster movie from the king of the space Māori, Taika Waititi. Warning: contains spoilers for Thor: Ragnarok Without a doubt, Taika Waititi is the finest New Zealand filmmaker of his generation. At the time of writing, Thor: Ragnarok is the most critically well-received Marvel movie of all … Read more

Introducing The Side Eye by Toby Morris

by

We’re hugely excited to announce that artist and writer Toby Morris is the latest addition to team Spinoff. Below, the Pencilsword creator (and one half of op-ed duo Toby & Toby, along with Spinoff veteran Toby Manhire) introduces his new project. But first, editor Duncan Greive welcomes him aboard. Ever since The Spinoff started, I’ve … Read more

The comic strip journalist who reports on the fallout from Fukushima

by

On the eve of his appearance at a Victoria University event in Wellington, comic book author Fumio Obata talks to Guy Somerset about his ongoing project chronicling the aftermath of the Fukushima tsunami and nuclear disaster. At art school, Fumio Obata was taught the importance of “the theme, having something of your own, something only … Read more

What can we expect from the new season of Preacher?

by

With Preacher returning exclusively to Lightbox today, Travis Johnson breaks down his predictions for the second season.  It was a long time coming but Preacher – the fabled, foul-mouthed comic book series by writer Garth Ennis and artist Steve Dillon – finally made it to the small screen last year, courtesy of showrunners Seth Rogen, Evan … Read more

Celebrating Preacher: A faithful and generous Southern fried buffet

by

Comic book superfan Liam Fernandez celebrates the first season of Preacher, a faithful adaptation that didn’t manage to ruin his childhood.  Many years ago I was recommended a comic book by a friend. I had just finished reading Watchmen, and given the lofty bar that Alan Moore’s layered alternate history tale had set, my next … Read more

Fragmentary Thoughts: Mad Men’s Matchless Meloncholy

by

Fragmentary Thoughts is a comic strip by José Barbosa, in which he’ll tackle a different television show or phenomenon each month. In this instalment, he illustrates his favourite moments from Mad Men. The end is coming for Matthew Weiner’s examination of the slow, gurgling death of the American dream.  One more episode of Mad Men remains. The … Read more

Fragmentary Thoughts: Paul Henry, Hellacious Hilary and Jim Mighty Mouse

by

Fragmentary Thoughts is a comic strip by José Barbosa, in which he’ll tackle a different television show or phenomenon each month. In this instalment, he shares his initial reaction to the first week of Paul Henry. // A week has passed since MediaWorks carpet bombed the country with the new Paul Henry show, Paul Henry. Landing … Read more