Sunday, September 30, 2007

Currently ( killing me ) on the work desk 46

Current shot of my brain. Or at least, how it feels. Too busy and too tired. Will get to emails when I can.

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Leprechaun Erotica

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7 down. 5 more to finish. Miss February if I remember correctly...

Friday, September 28, 2007

A vid for the weekend

It's Grandfinal day.

Go the Cats. ( who currently look to be annihilating Port Adelaide. )


This is Chopper.



This is Chopper, wanting some cash.



And this is Chopper, doing horoscopes.

Good news for Democracy

A ways back I was so annoyed I posted this little tirade on how some sneaky people over in California were working on a way to split their vote for presidential campaigns, automatically giving an unfair boost to any Republican candidate running ( because almost all US states have a winner takes all for their electoral college votes for President ). Split California, and suddenly one big chunk of votes is gone...which would be nice for democracy, except that none of the other states would be playing by the same rules...which means it's just a naked power grab. Not nice. And now it turns out it very much was a Republican move, in particular, a billionaire fundraiser for Rudy Giuliani. Guess ol' Rudy doesn't like things called rules and would prefer to change them to suit himself in elections.

Well the good news is the move to change the way California votes is now dead. Everyone can play by the same rules. Sorry Rudy.

From the LA Times:

BREAKING NEWS: Giuliani fundraiser was mystery initiative backer

A close friend and major fundraiser of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has identified himself as the mystery financer of the proposed California initiative to apportion the state's 55 electoral votes by congressional district instead of winner-take-all.
He is New York hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer. He said he provided the $175,000 to initially finance the petition drive to get the measure on the June 2008 ballot. But as The Times' Dan Morain revealed in an exclusive story on this website last night, the drive has foundered on internal disputes and lack of further financing.
The petition drive's backers had remained a mystery since the effort was first revealed here in a July Top of the Ticket item. Democratic critics portrayed it as a power grab to wrest away some of the state's electoral votes, which have all gone to the Democratic candidates for the past four presidential elections. Some 19 of the state's 53 congressional districts would seem likely to vote for a GOP presidential candidate, enough to swing some recent national elections.
A Giuliani campaign spokeswoman, Maria Comella, said today that Singer's donation "was completely independent from our campaign."
Singer oversees Elliott Associates, an $8 billion investment fund. He is also chairman of Giuliani's northeast fundraising operation that produced a third of the New Yorker's $33.5 million campaign war chest in the first six months of 2007. Singer and his employees have donated at least $182,000 to the Giuliani campaign so far this year.
"I made the contribution without any restrictions," Singer's statement said. Some Democrats have threatened legal action, complaining that federal campaign finance laws were violated if the Giuliani campaign was involved.
Tonight, Howard Dean, chairman of the Democratic National Committee, issued a statement demanding to know "the truth about Rudy's involvement in and knowledge about this shameful effort to disenfranchise voters."
Morain will have a complete report late tonight on this website and in Saturday's print editions.
--Andrew Malcolm

Thursday, September 27, 2007

Currently ( among many things ) on the work desk 45

Warren your pages are nearly ready good sir, just got 5 things on at once, including readying an exhibition full of lady bits and Leprechaun erotica.

Damn but I'm frazzled right now. Off to bed I think.

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Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Currently on the work desk 44

"Bruce" did this one.

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Booook Launch!

Just been recovering from a massive headache which meant I basically spent a day in bed trying to sleep it off as the drugs didn't work. Fun fun times. All this ironically, after just doing an interview and photo shoot thingy for one of the bigger local papers ( Sunday Times ). I felt like such an airhead model. Which is easy, since, well, I am an airhead, though not good looking enough to get by without needing to actually work for a living. Cheers to Shannon and Jodie for putting up with me.

And yes, my brothers Brian and Bruce decided to not help me out or anything, so don't expect to hear much out of those buggers for the foreseable. I think they've had their day in the sun for now.

Ahem.

In Perth? Well, tomorrow night, I will be making an arse out of myself at a book launch for a cool new local graphic novel that's out. VOWELS, by Skye Ognden from Gestalt Publishing. I will be talking about genitals...and probably a couple other things as they've asked me to give a few words. Yes, I will be drinking before hand.

So rather than blather on, this here is what Gestalt are saying about the event and such, with detals as to who when and where. Come along if you're in town.





YOU ARE INVITED
to join us in celebrating the release of Skye Ogden's debut graphic novel, VOWELS, on Friday 28 September 2007 at Planet Books from 6:30pm

Local comics legend Ben Templesmith (co-creator of 30 Days of Night and a whole lot more besides) will provide commentary on the book, Grant Stone (presenter of RTR FM's 'Faster Than Light') will be your host, and creator Skye Ogden will be flying in from Tokyo, Japan for a signing session (and a few drinks to boot)

Beer and nibbles will be graciously provided by the ever-so-decent folk at Planet Books

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Official Apology. We have been living a lie. Time to come clean.

Brace yourselves, this could possibly be explosive.

The recent news from the magazine "Game Informer" has brought to light what has really been an open secret in the comic book industry for several years now. And we'd like to officially apologize for misleading people, or using this lie to somehow augment the reputation that Ben somehow manages to do all the work alone on the comics as one person where normally at least 3 are needed to finish a comic.

We conferred for a few days and we've decided to now come clean and get it out in the open. Ben Templesmith is not just one person. In fact, he's three. We're actually triplets. ( Ben is still the oldest though ) And we'd like to officially apologize to anyone and everyone for ever misrepresenting this fact.

Game Informer, in recently spilling the beans about the upcoming new project we're involved with, the Dead Space comic ( being written by Antony Johnston! ) and computer game, correctly and for the first known time, cited Bruce Templesmith as the artist. Yeah, Bruce hasn't been talked about much, mostly because he's the least social of the three of us, due to his battle with alcoholism and drugs, but we need to correct Game Informer slightly. Bruce is only the colourist. We rarely if ever let him do pencils or inks. Usually the drawing goes to the other unsung, though often mentioned brother of mine, Brian. He's really the best penciller among us, and I usually just ink his work. Except on the old Singularity7 stuff. That was all Bruce. ( where the drinking, I'm sure you'll agree, becomes far too apparent. )We've not let him actually draw a book since.

We did say this was an open secret though, as anyone who can follow the clues can see by doing a google search on Brian, he often still gets the credit he deserves , even when we request the name change to stay in keeping with our "one identity image". But to their credit, kind folks like Silverbullet.com consistently makes sure the right brother gets some loving, like here and here, as well as good chaps here and here, who, even while giving Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse 4.5 out of 5 stars, makes sure to credit the right bloke for a lot of the work done. So we thank all the guys for their honesty. We're just tired now of living the lie any longer.

So yeah...we've agreed we'll no longer try to deceive people that we're only Ben, when the 3 of us should really share any credit (or damnation ) for the work we put out.

We would like to make just a couple of other things clear though. Yes, Ben does indeed write Wormwood, but all 3 of us do the art, though only at Bruce's insistence will there be a scene where the Pope is caught wanking off to some kiddie porn in the next issue. That was all him and we tried to talk him around, but...well, that's why we try to have him mentioned the least. He's a nice guy, just a bit misunderstood.

So, next time you're reading a book by the Templesmith Brothers, please remember the other two. We'll be starting to correctly credit the books from now on. We owe it to the true fans.

Cheers!

Ben, Brian and Bruce.

PS, we will now be known as "T3". Hope you understand guys.

And thanks for your continued support!

So here it is...our first offical photo with all of us together. From left to right: Brian, the moody emo one. In center, Ben, who usually handles the PR, and far right, Bruce, who we try to keep out of the spotlight as much as possible.

We are however, for a short time only, available for interviews as all 3 of us together. We will however, usually only speak through Ben.


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New Signed Comics at ComicZone

Dropped by ComicZone yesterday at 572 Hay Street and signed a new stack of stuff they'd gotten in that I've worked on, especially 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #2 which was out this week. They've got a couple retailer variants too, which is actually just the cover minus any logo etc. A few new Conluvio art books too, as apparently they keep selling out of the damn things! If you want to see what if anything they've got availavble you can reach them over at: comiczone @ iprimus.com.au

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Monday, September 24, 2007

pOppycOck: Exhibition At The Secret Headquarters

Just a quick clarafication as apparently a few people I'm told, were a tad confused by the last posting about the art show...

Yes, I will be there! ( the opening I mean ) and will be happy to sign and stuff as much as I can.

So yep, please come on down to the art show, Poppycock, and see a whole bunch of my art, plus originals for sale, some prints and...deadlines permitting, be the first people able to get your hands on my new sketchbook. ( also called poppycock )

The details are:

12 October 2007
Poppycock! Opening Reception
Opening Reception for the Templesmith art show: Poppycock at Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles.
A show featuring work from 30 Days of Night, Wormwood and some other bits a pieces.
Join me at 8pm for drinks and art!
Secret Headquarters
Los Angeles, CA. United States



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Sunday, September 23, 2007

French Convention!

5th Annual Salon International de la bande Dessinee du Valenciennois.

Yep, I'll be going to France ( well, one of the Templesmith brothers will, most probably Ben ) and getting up to mischief I'm sure, with Ash Wood, Chris Ryall as well! Rufus Dayglo ( tankgirl ) will also apparently be there as well as all the fine chaps on this here poster. Keep checking back to my main website for the details of the things I'm doing listed in the events and appearances section on my main website. There's a bunch right now with more to announce.

So, if you're anywhere in Europe and can get over to the Valenciennois Comic convention, please do and watch what I do while drinking far too much good French wine.

I may even have some sketchbooks....


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If you're in Perth...Artrage

From the comments section of my livejournal. Local peeps unite!

"Artrage are organizing a 24 Hour Comics Day event, they're looking for more participants. Ideally they'd like 24 artists to participate. (I'm sure you already know all about 24 hour comics, and the day etc.)

Artrage are holding an event at FTI in Fremantle on the 20th-21st of October. They ran one last year, which I participated in, and it was a huge success and lots of fun. As you know, there aren't that many cool comic related things going down in Perth, so the more we can get it out there, the better! The deadline to submit HAS passed alreay, but the numbers are just a little low. (I think there are something like 15 applicants so far)

Last years most of the participants printed their work and sold them through some Artrage events, including the Northbridge Night market where we sold 500 comics in a couple of hours! (That's better than we'd do at an Australian convention!) And we have printed a second wave of comics since (as the Perth Comics Collective) which you can find in a few shops around town, like Comics Zone, Oxford Boox, Comics Box and soon Planet Books.

Also some of the comics were used as stimulous for 24 hour plays and movies.

Anyway, people who are interested should email luke@artrage.com.au for more details.

It really was a lot of fun, and a lot of really high quality work was created, two of us got into the 2006 24 Hour Comics Day Highlight Book. Of the 1200 submitted comics, TWO were from Perth, both from this event. (one was myself, the other was Roseline Lau)"

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Monday, September 17, 2007

Oh Crap. It's the Andromeda Strain.

Meteorite makes villagers ill



VILLAGERS in southern Peru have been struck by a mysterious illness after a meteorite made a fiery crash to Earth in their area.

Around midday Saturday, villagers were startled by an explosion and a fireball that many were convinced was a plane crashing near their remote village, in the high Andes department of Puno in the Desaguadero region, near the border with Bolivia.

Residents complained of headaches and vomiting brought on by a "strange odour," local health department official Jorge Lopez told Peruvian radio RPP.

Seven policemen who went to check on the reports also became ill and had to be given oxygen before being taken to hospital, Mr Lopez said.

Rescue teams and experts were dispatched to the scene where the meteorite had left a crater 30m wide and 6m deep, said local official Marco Limache.

"Boiling water started coming out of the crater and particles of rock and cinders were found nearby. Residents are very concerned," he said.

Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse: Calamari Rising 2 of 4

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And yes, art does truly imitate life.

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Snowtown is everywhere.

Many thanks to Benchilada for showing me this.

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And yes, there is more FELL to come. Working on some frantically right now actually.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Original Art 15: Singularity7 #4 Page 06

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Apart from donating a few pages of Singularity 7 art for a charitable cause a few months ago, I've pretty much kept the art for my first ever writing jaunt under lock and key. That's not likely to change all that much but figured I may as well let a couple go, as I was leafing through a lot of my stuff just now to decide what I can put in Poppycock. ( Lots of big art, covers and stuff, but also a bunch of comic pages with giclee prints side by side too! )

Thursday, September 13, 2007

pOppycOck: Exhibition At The Secret Headquarters

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Yep, it's finally happened. Check for up to date details on my main site, ( which has a slight revamp with more info and a new gallery soonish ) www.templesmith.com in the events section or just watch for where people are running and screaming from, it'll be close by.

And super thanks to some special of peeps who helped get this going, they know who they are. :)

So feel free to come on down, abuse me, attempt to drink me under the table, deport me etc etc. Lots of fun with whatever you guys do to Australians. There'll be a bunch of originals for sale, hopefully a new sketchbook and am happy to sign anything you want. ( Well almost anything...you know what I mean )

Yes, this image will no doubt be in the show, plus many more of the Leprechaun Queen in several compromising positions. Below is the back of the same postcard that should be going out.


12 October 2007
Poppycock! Opening Reception
Opening Reception for my art show: Poppycock at Secret Headquarters in Los Angeles. Join me at 8pm for drinks and art!
Los Angeles, CA. United States


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12 October - 12 November 2007
Poppycock! The Comics and Art of Ben Templesmith.
A show featuring work from 30 Days of Night, Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse and some other bits a pieces.
Secret Headquarters
Los Angeles, CA. United States

Inseminating women is now a fetish

This is the only think I can conclude after reading this news. I'm sure it's been making the rounds in the media already but:





We struggle to pay the cost of living and study taxes for one or two kids (when it comes to the third, we already have an odd case) and look what a 60-years-old "daddy" with only one leg was able to do: he had 15 wives, now has 78 children (80 if the count the two on the way).

But his target in less than 10
years is to have 100 children. "In 2015 I will be 68 years old and will have 100 children," Daad Mohammed Murad Abdul Rahman told Emirates Today. "After that I will stop marrying. I have to have at least three more marriages to hit the century."
You could not even say he hurried up, as he started ‘mass producing’ children when he was 24. His youngest child is 20 days and his oldest 36 years.

His wives and ex-wives are Bedouin women from the UAE but also women from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran and Oman. He has now 15 grandchildren. "After Ramadan, I will go to Jaipur to get an artificial leg and marry a beautiful Rajasthani girl. I have had seven Indian brides.", said the retired truck driver/cop/soldier, victim of a traffic accident in which he lost his leg.

One wedding has already been arranged in Balochistan, southwestern Pakistan.

The Islam law (and that of the UAE) permits only four wives at a time, so Daad Mohammed has to divorce one whenever Cupido's poisoned arrow shoots him.

How does he manage to keep 15 households and feed so many mouths? Government support for housing and cash. Plus a military pension of $ 6,534. "Even though my family is big, I don’t have any problem managing the budget. I take care of their requirements — and pay pocket money to each and every child." said Daad. "If I buy fish for the entire family I have to spend a minimum of Dh500 ($ 136) per day. If the menu includes mutton at least Dh1,000 ($ 272) per day is required, and that’s just for the meat."

Now, apart from the probable cultural differences, where in all likelihood the "wives" have anything but a choice to marry this idiot who treats marriage and divorce like ordering at a drive thru, I have to say I agree with this one comment I read on a feedback page about the story.

"wait until he has had 99 kids and then chop it off"

Currently on the work desk 43: Wormwood #8

I don't know if this makes me eccentric.

I never write on computer. It doesn't feel natural. The ideas never flow. Everything is brainstorming on paper, right up to the dialogue. Only when the pages are completely finished art wise, do I clean up and type up a script to give to a letterer so they can make sense of my rantings. This here is my notes and rough guts for Wormwood: Gentleman Corpse #8.

Lots of blowjobs and wanking this issue.

I figure if I'm labeled "for mature readers" without actually bothering to swear much at all in the book, I should make it worth it in other ways.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Currently on the work desk 42: Wormwood #10 WIP

I fear I may have stuffed it up...

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Hopefully saved...though I should have used a heavier stock methinks. Decided to do too much more work for a paper that can't necessarily take as much.

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Tuesday, September 11, 2007

30 Days of Night Signed editions at ComicZone in Perth

Got down to the local store again today ( hey, it's a 15 minute walk to the city ) and since 30 Days of Night: Red Snow was finally in, signed em all. So hopefully every single book with my name on it anywhere should now be a signed edition, at no extra charge, just as a little incentive to get on down to see the fine chaps at ComicZone. They're at 572 Hat Street, Perth, if you're lucky enough to live around these parts.

There's still a couple copies left of the other books I've signed as well. Going fast, but not as fast as the first lot, which went almost immediately I'm told.

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Monday, September 10, 2007

30 Days of Night: Red Snow "the strongest followup since the original limited series"

Well damn, I think I owe somebody a beer or two.

From Don MacPherson over at Eye on Comics:

30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1 (IDW Publishing)
by Ben Templesmith IDW has really been pumping out the 30 Days of Night spinoff series since the success of the original title five years ago, and for a while, I gobbled them up. My interest in those stories waned, though. Obviously, with the advent of the 30 Days movie upon us, IDW is keeping the vampire stories flowing. Red Snow caught my attention, in part because it features the artwork of the original 30 Days artist Ben Templesmith. But what piqued my interest even more is the fact that Templesmith wrote this story as well. He does a great job with the property, offering up the strongest followup since the original limited series. He takes the reader to a different far-north setting from which the property derives its name, but he also takes the audience back in time as well. The result is a fresh take on the notion of vampires running amok during a lengthy arctic night. Three disparate groups — Russian Allied soldiers, German aggressors and frightened Russian villagers — face a horror even greater than the bloodshed of the Second World War. The vampires are clearly the antagonists, but even the victims/protagonists have distasteful souls among their numbers. It makes for a multi-faceted storytelling dynamic that sets Red Snow apart from typical horror fare. Of course, as anyone who’s checked out the original 30 Days of Night knows, Templesmith’s art is perfectly suited to bringing the dark setting and feral villains to life. He does a great job of conveying the remote and decades-old setting. Red Snow boasts an extensive cast of characters, and Templesmith’s three-pronged approach to the story makes for a riveting, unpredictable read. 9/10

And yes, shameless plug time...if you can't find a copy because your retailer refuses to order in an "indy" book etc etc then you can still more than likely grab a copy here, if you're so inclined.

Currently on the work desk 42: Wormwood #10 Cover

I think this might be something very very wrong...


At least, I hope so.

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Secret Service Agents Love the Hookers

Apparently. A bit gob-smacked as I just saw a local news report on the booming trade the Sydney *legal* brothel industry was doing during the recent APEC summit. ( You know, the thing Bush thought was OPEC, in AUSTRIA ).

Anyways, interviewing a very happy local brothel owner, he quite clearly stated his upsurge in trade was in large part thanks to secret service agents. I'm wondering if that's technically allowed in the secret service handbook there.

30 Days of Night Game Characters

As per a previous blog post, here's a few of em!

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