The Comic Experience

This week’s podcast takes a look at two young aspiring comic book creators. We travel to the Platinum City, Rustenburg, to meet South Africa’s newest hero – 'Young Nelson'.

A team of brothers navigate their way into the South African comic book industry, operating under Rainbow Nation Comics, where African fantasy comes alive. We dive into the challenges and milestones of this dynamic duo who continue to pursue their dream of giving the nation a comic book that inspires the next generation.

Let’s meet the creators of 'Young Nelson', and the founders of Rainbow Nation Comics, Phemelo and Omphile Dibodu

This week on The Comic Experience we chat to the Johannesburg based 20 year old, animator and illustrator, Tasia M.S. Following her 2018 appearance at Comic Con Africa, she has been picked up by DC Comics, and has already featured on two of their covers, the most recent being the #4 horror variant cover of DCEASED.

She is a self-taught illustrator and animator, and has inspired many around the world (especially cosplayers) with her unique take on familiar favourites, the likes include: The PowerPuff Girls, Bratz, the Disney Princesses and fairies, and more recently her witches. 

With ambitions to further her animation skills, and possibly study abroad, we’re excited to see what the future holds for this young talented artist.

In this episode of The Comic Experience, we dive deep in to the world of contemporary pop culture and more specifically – collectables. With modern and retro decor and display pieces, everything from vintage 80's and 90's toys, to statues, action figures, comic books and post-modern pop art, you’re bound to find something from your past at Ross’s showroom.

Call it nostalgia, a trip down memory lane, or a time capsule of the toys that shaped us, there’s something for everyone. If you’ve ever thought of collecting, or maybe you just want to enjoy a blast from the past – then this is the place for you. Everything from The Masters of the Universe, to The Powerpuff Girls, and of course, let’s not forget his Dyna Riders collection – where it all got started.

Ross tells us about how he turned collecting from a hobby in to a business with a collection of toys and other forms of post-modern pop art that will take you back in time to when your biggest concern was how to tie your shoe laces.

This week’s episode tells a story of dreams, opportunities, and all sorts of possibilities. Joseph Moloi, aka Joe Mo, has always had a love for drawing, but it wasn’t until Gushwell F. Brooks reached out to him through social media that his life started to change.

Before he was discovered he was working as an attendant at the local petrol station, and now Joe has been given the opportunity to pursue his passion and love for art by working with the team at BB Comics doing the illustrations for “The Saga of Sergeant South Africa” series.

From an early age Joe has always enjoyed drawing, making use of every opportunity that he could to continue practicing his love for the arts, and now decades on he still lives by the old adage of “practice makes perfect”.

This week on The Comic Experience we chat to local comic book artist who has been representing South Africa on the international scene, Sean Izaakse.

Currently working on The Fantastic Four, he has also worked on some of the most prolific characters in comic book history namely; Marvel’s Avengers, Champions, Thunderbolts, Deadpool, and Captain America to name a few. He is also the co-creator of ‘Stray’ along with writer Vito Delsante, and in his spare time he is usually taking on Dungeons and Dragons campaigns with friends.

Fresh from his recent trip to the States, where he was part of the team promoting ‘Harken’s Raiders’ at the Baltimore Comic Con, we caught up with Sean to find out what it’s like to be considered among the best in the business.

This week on the show we chat to Henco "H-Bomb" Harmse about the Tabletop Wargaming scene in South Africa. 

A hobby that was practically pioneered by the English novelist, journalist, sociologist, and historian H.G.Wells a little over a century ago. Since then, modern tabletop wargaming has made huge advancements most of which began in the 1980's. Taking a look a little closer to home, the hobby continues to grow attracting interest from fans (and newbs) all across the country.

In the episode we discuss the most popular games, paying attention to one that is growing in popularity - Infinity The Game. We also find out how to get started, the various ways to get involved, and what makes these games so enjoyable.

The hustle is real. So many Digital Designers, Creative Directors, and Entrepreneurs will tell you just that. As a talented Multimedia and Fine Artist, Grant Patrick, juggles his passion and his career while maintaining his focus of inspiring others through creativity.

His artwork appeals to more than just the eyes, with an aroma that one often associates with getting up in the morning. That’s because his rather unique medium of choice is usually taken with milk and two sugars, unless it’s been a rough one the night before. 

During the episode we find out about Grant’s coffee infused artwork, his love of superheroes, and future plans. We also discuss the very real challenges entrepreneurs face while balancing their careers with a creative outlet that is almost essential to their wellbeing. 

Comic books. What to look out for? Which ones are the most suited to your personality? And how does one go from being an admirer to an enthusiast, or even a full on fanatic? This week on The Comic Experience Podcast we chat to Shane, owner at Cosmic Comics.

Shane started out selling comic books at the Hillfox Market in Johannesburg, and now seventeen years later he is the owner at one of South Africa’s leading comic book stores. They specialise in comics, graphic novels, and collectibles, and are known to stock a variety of current and back issues.

We find out how to tell if any of your comics could be worth a small fortune, and if not, how to go about investing in them. Shane also shares his views on what store owners should be doing to keep the comic book industry alive. So, if you’ve been thinking about getting in to comic books, well now’s the time!

Recognised for his mastery in realism, and insane attention to detail, Warren Louw is often described as a perfectionist. From story-boards to concept work, this self-taught freelance illustrator and character designer impresses with both his traditional and digital media.

He has done cover work for DC Comics, UDON's Dalkstalkers, ImagineFX, and Photoshop Essentials, as well as worked on games such as Marvel’s War Heroes, Outcast Odyssey, and Underworld Empire. Some of his notable works include: Power Girl, Harley Quinn, Justice League, Green Lanterns and Batman.

His work has attracted attention on a global scale, allowing him to attended San Diego Comic Con, New York Comic Con, La Mole Mexico, Comic Con Africa, and FanCon Cape Town to name a few.

After recently completing the DC variant cover for Harley Quinn and Poison Ivy #2, The Comic Experience Podcast caught up with him at his studio in Johannesburg.

The go-to guy when it comes to the South African comic book industry.  Internationally, he has been a panellist at the San Diego Comic-Con, drawn for 'Star Wars: Clone Wars Confidential', and 'That Bulletproof Kid', as well as commissions for animated music videos for major music artists around the world. 

Closer to home, he has his own comic books; 'Wanton', and 'Spoek', and more recently he co-curated 'The Art of Comics' at the Johannesburg Art Gallery (Sep - Nov '19), an exhibition that showcases contemporary South African comics and the French bands dessinées. From giving insight in to who should be featured at Artist Alleys at big conventions, to the state of comics in South Africa, Ray could write the book...

In fact, he pretty much has.  He is currently working towards his PHD (in making comics), while lecturing in animation and comic theory at the University of the Witwatersrand.