C HEWINGTHE C UD .
Well that took longer than expected.
It’s been 26 years since the last issue of Greener Pastures but the time is so right for Michael and I to get back on this particular bull-shaped horse. We published GP07½ in 1998 and then just couldn’t seem to get our two lives to synchronise again to allow us to do more. Until I had the idea to use the 1997 written and thumbnailed story for GP08, rework it a little (thanks Louis), invite 28 other artists, and turn it into a huge welcome home party for Trevor!
Michael, watching from the sidelines as I gathered together the incredible line-up of artists, would ask me again and again, “How did you get all these people to contribute?!?” It was kind of easy: Greener Pastures has cachet. It has a reputation as being (as Ashley Wood puts it) a pillar of Australian comics. There’s power in the couple of hundred pages we’d published, and that power was a beacon and a lightning rod for many of these contributors.
This issue bridges the past to the present. Three more issues are going to be set in the 1990s, and then with GP12 we fast forward to the 2020s to see where Trevor has ended up. From the first time Michael shared a GP storyline with me there’s always been a beginning and an end to Trevor’s adventures, and we’re
hellbent on showing you that end. So get ready for the Kickstarters, because you’re not going to want to miss a single issue.
We wouldn’t be here in the magnificent shape we’re in if it wasn’t for this issue’s contributors who eagerly answered my call. I’m eternally grateful to them all for helping us relaunch Greener Pastures in brilliant style. Thanks to Darren (Killeroo) Close for helming the Kickstarter that initially funded this, and to Chris Thompson for A-grade publicity and PR getting the word out internationally. This issue also wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for my life-partner-in-crime, Anne-Maree. If she didn’t believe in this and me as much as I do we wouldn’t have had a Greener Pastures #1 in 1994, let alone a Greener Pastures #8 thirty years later, so thank you for that steadfastness and love. Michael will be back on board from next issue with more great scripts and his continued commitment to getting GP all the way to its intended finale.
There’s more news to be told, but we’ll save that for next issue. We’re back and we’re here till the end.
~ Tim
P.S. We’re keen to start up the What’s The Beef? letters page again, so please do write in! tim@unrealism.com.au
P ASTURES P AST .
After a harrowing night spent at Winters’ Circus and Zoo that ended with the big top going up in flames and the star attraction — The Incredible Mr Jiggs — being found dead in the midst of an escape attempt, Trevor and Colin retire to a nearby pub to contemplate life and death.
Way too many whiskeys later they embark on a daring raid of the local Lardy Da Chicken Restaurant, liberating the chicken carcasses there. On return to their flat, attempting to give them a proper burial, this not-so-dynamic duo proceed to flood the place from the clogged toilet.
Greener Pastures #8 by Martin J. Abel, Al Barrionuevo, Thomas Campi, Gary Chaloner, Jason Chatfield, Jeffrey ‘Chamba’ Cruz, Camillo Di Pietrantonio, Katie Houghton-Ward, Erin Hunting, Ben Hutchings, Matt Huynh, Louie Joyce, Annabelle McEwen, Samuel McEwen, Tim McEwen, Pia Michalandos, Ben Mitchell, James A. Owen, Louis Purdy, Dean Rankine, Nicola Scott, Mark Sexton, Dave Sim, Jon Sommariva, Mel Stringer, Meghan Valins, Chris Wahl, Campbell Whyte, Ashley Wood, and Zen Pencils.
Greener Pastures is © copyright Michael Michalandos and Tim McEwen. Any similarity in the names, persons and institutions appearing in this book to those of any living or dead person or institution was not intended and is purely coincidental. All enquiries: tim@unrealism.com.au
We pay our respect to the original and ongoing caretakers and storytellers of this land we now call Australia, land which was never ceded. We also pay a modest rent: a percentage of the profits of this issue go to indigenous arts initiatives.
When talking about Greener Pastures on social media please quote these hashtags so we can find your comments: #GreenerPasturesComic #GreenerPastures8
And tag and follow these accounts:
Instagram: GreenerPasturesComics
Instagram: TimMcEwen
Twitter: @GPComix
Twitter: @TimMcEwen67
Facebook: Greener Pastures Comics
Greener Pastures No. 8. First printing. 1,000 copies. May 2024.
T HE H ERD
C ONTRIBUTORSINORDEROFAPPEARANCE
Louis Purdy (writer)
Mr Purdy declines to provide details of his writing accomplishments. Our client disavows his contribution to your comic book and trusts that you’ll respect his wish to disassociate from it.
Dave Sim (penciller, title design)
Did the 6,000 page Cerebus graphic novel from 1977 to 2004 and has been working on The Strange Death Of Alex Raymond pretty much ever since (he’s on page 594). Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. mattdowsamomentofcerebus.com
Dave Sim hasn’t been this excited since the crossover with TMNT in 1986
Katie Houghton-Ward (penciller)
Published in the comic industry internationally for over 25 years: Arsenic Lullaby, Heavy Metal Magazine and DarkHeart (Gestalt Comics). Currently working on her own graphic novels and DarkHeart #4 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. www.instagram.com/kthollywood
Chris Wahl (penciller)
An Australian illustrator and comic artist. Previous clients include Marvel, MAD and Tank Girl Wollongong, NSW, Australia. www.behance.net/chriswahl
I’ve known Tim for 30 years and he is one of the most respected creators in the Australian comic scene. Greener Pastures is an Aussie classic, so when Tim comes knocking, you answer!
Erin Hunting (penciller)
Melbourne illustrator, character designer and comic artist working with BOOM! Studios, Archie, Sesame Studios, Penguin Random House and Garfield. Collects vinyl toys and hangs with her cats, Louie and Astrid.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. www.erinhunting.com
Alejandro “Al” Barrionuevo (penciller)
Argentine comic book artist living in Melbourne. Has worked with DC, Marvel, Valiant, and more, drawing
Batman: Gotham Knights, Martian Manhunter, Teen Titans, Thor, Storm , Hulk , Bloodshot and more. Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Thomas Campi (penciller)
Italian born and raised, Thomas started his career illustrating Julia (Sergio Bonelli Editore). Since 2011 he’s worked with international publishers. He’s currentlyArt Directing TV series Tales from Outer Suburbia Sydney, NSW, Australia. thomascampi.com
Samuel McEwen (penciller)
Sam’s a beefy comic maker who plays music. Working on unceded Gadigal land, he’s been making comics for 10 years. Aside from Trevor Bovis, Charlie Brown is his hero.
Sydney, NSW, Australia. www.instagram.com/samuelmcewenart
Jason Chatfield (penciller)
Award-winning cartoonist/ illustrator best known for centuryold comic strip, Ginger Meggs. Past President of Australian Cartoonists Association and National Cartoonists Society. Contributor to The New Yorker, Esquire, Airmail , and others. New York, New York, USA. www.newyorkcartoons.com
I’m a big fan of Greener Pastures and it’s such a kick to be part of this collab with so many people I admire.
Jon Sommariva (penciller)
Jon has drawn comics professionally since 2002, being published internationally in books such as Batman/TMNT Adventures, Star Wars and the 2023 Children’s Book of the Year Award winner, Neverlanders. Canberra, ACT, Australia. www.instagram.com/sommariva Tim was one of the first people making comic books that I ever met in real life. I was a young teenage punk with aspirations to become a comic book artist myself. Tim was very kind and informative. I was so impressed with his “cow character” that I ended up drawing a pin-up that I submitted with the hopes of having it published in the back pages of Greener Pastures. In the
years that followed, we became mates, and I would sporadically check in and see how old Trevor was going – then one day, decades later, Tim (finally) says ”I’m working on a new issue of Greener Pastures, and I’m going to get a whole lot of people to help me draw it – are you in?” I saw the cow-signal up in the sky, and knew that for Tim and all of us chasing our dreams making comic books, hell yes, I was in.
Ashley Wood (penciller)
Thirty years plus of making comics, books, games and toys.
Perth, Western Australia, Australia. www.7174publishing.com
Greener Pastures and Tim McEwen represent what’s great about Australian comics: independent, unique and an inspiration to others. You should be very proud of Greener Pastures , a pillar in Aussie comics, I’m sure proud to take a small, small, SMALL part in it.
Jeffrey ‘Chamba’ Cruz (penciller)
Comic artist and illustrator who has worked on Street Fighter, Mega-Man (CAPCOM), Overwatch (Blizzard), TMNT (IDW), Big Trouble in Little China (BOOM! Studios), and I Hate Fairyland (Image comics).
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. linktr.ee/thechamba
Camillo Di Pietrantonio (penciller)
Camillo’s work features on covers for titles such as Primordial (Image Comics), and TMNT and Last Ronin (IDW) as well as upcoming trading cards from Upper Deck/Marvel. Sydney, NSW, Australia. www.instagram.com/instacam_illo I first read Greener Pastures in 2001. I was 12 years old. It was my first ever Australian comic and I remember it making me feel like it was possible to make a job out of comics in Australia. I still have the sketch Tim drew me back then. It’s over 20 years old now. Being able to contribute to this book feels like things coming full circle for me. I’m honoured.
Gary Chaloner (penciller)
Creator of The Jackaroo, Flash Damingo and The Undertaker Morton Stone. Publisher of Cyclone Comics. Writer/artist of Will Eisner’s John Law. Huon Valley, Tasmania, Australia. GaryChaloner.com
Of course I love Greener Pastures! Who doesn’t? Of course I said YES to doing a page for GP#8 ! Of course this issue will be an instant comic book collector’s item! Of course I’m impressed by the team of A-List creators involved! Of course all the artwork that I’ve seen for the issue so far is absolutely stunning! Of course I want my page back to draw again!
Martin J. Abel (penciller)
An illustrator specialising in pin-up and fantasy art, currently creating board game artwork for Summoner Wars by Plaid Hat Games and working on his own comic and illustration projects.
Sassafras Gully, Victoria, Australia www.martinabelart.com
Dean Rankine (penciller)
Ledger and Stanley Award winning comic creator. Credits include; Simpsons’ Comics, Futurama, Rick and Morty, Invader Zim , and Oggy and the Cockroaches. Creator of book series
Death Metal Emo Elves Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Annabelle McEwen (penciller)
A multidisciplinary artist practising on unceded Gadigal Land (Eora/ Sydney) with a Masters of Fine Art majoring in printmaking from The National Art School. Sydney, NSW, Australia. annabellemcewen.com
Meghan Valins (penciller)
Australian comic artist and author of the webcomic Sunflowers and Lavender. When not drawing you can find her hiding in the walls of local coffee shops or online at @toastchild Adelaide, SA, Australia. tapas.io/series/Sunflowers-and-Lavender
Matt Huynh (penciller)
Matt Huynh is a VietnameseAustralian artist based in Brooklyn. His illustration and comics have been honoured by the Eisners, Emmys and Peabody awards. He still keeps his comics in shoeboxes. Brooklyn, New York, USA. www.matthuynh.com
I grew up picking up Greener Pastures from the Phantom Zone alongside my monthly Hulk subscription and diving into the dollar bins. It was eye opening to see Sydney, my own recognisable hometown, on the shelves alongside superhero comic books filled in that distant fantasy land, New York City. It is a thrill to today draw Trevor Bovis from my Brooklyn studio.
Tim McEwen
(penciller, inker, letterer)
Veteran of the Australian comic book scene. Comic Arts Awards of Australia Platinum Ledger winner. Three times nominated for the Australian Cartoonists’ Association Stanley Award for Best Comic Book Artist. Sydney, NSW, Australia. linktr.ee/timmcewen
James A. Owen (penciller)
Author and illustrator best known for the comic book series StarChild , and the bestselling fantasy novel Here, There Be Dragons Taylor, Arizona, USA. jamesaowen.com
Campbell Whyte (penciller)
The co-founder of the Milktooth School of Art and Stories and the Perth Comic Arts Festival. His graphic novel series, Home Time won numerous international awards. Perth, Western Australia, Australia. www.campbellwhyte
The grass is always greener, and here it’s the greenest of all. Being invited to be a small part of this iconic Australian comics series was such a privilege and a delight.
Mark Sexton (penciller)
Spends most of his time storyboarding on films such as Mad Max Fury Road and Star Wars. When he has spare time he does comics, which he very much enjoys. Sydney, NSW, Australia. www.linkedin.com/in/ mark-sexton-5937001
Pia Michalandos (penciller)
Zen Pencils (penciller)
Zen Pencils (aka Gav) specialises in adapting quotes into fun and thoughtful comics. His website zenpencils.com was named one of the best 100 websites in 2013 by PC Mag. Perth, Western Australia, Australia. zenpencils.com
Louie Joyce (penciller)
Louie Joyce is a comics creator and illustrator based on Dharawal Country. When not drawing he’s usually at the skatepark rolling around on the greatest of all human inventions: Rollerblades!!! Wollongong, NSW, Australia. www.louiejoyce.com
I remember reading Greener Pastures at the Newy Phantom Zone when I was a kid in the 90s and having this realisation: it wasn’t just mythical beings from overseas that made amazing comics, Aussies could do it too! That was such an important moment for me in my journey as an artist. Being able to actually contribute to an issue, all these years later (alongside a lineup of mythical Aussies)? Well that’s just about the coolest thing ever!
Nicola Scott (penciller)
Australian comic artist working primarily in the American industry. Known for Wonder Woman , Historia, Earth 2, Superman , Titans and Secret Six , as well as creator owned series Black Magick Sydney, NSW, Australia. nicolascottart.com
Greener Pastures has been a mainstay of Aussie publishing for so long and participating and contributing to its legacy, even in a small way, is a total treat!
Ben Hutchings (penciller)
Ben lives in Melbourne and makes award winning graphic novels every year like it’s making toast.
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. www.instagram.com/timeforbeps
Greener Pastures was the main Aussie comic when I was just starting out, so it’s an honour being part of this!
Mel Stringer (penciller)
Filipina-Australian-American freelance illustrator and comic artist based in St Louis, Missouri with her husband Adam. Her work focuses on cute curvy women, subtle humour, autobiographical themes and expressive visuals.
St Louis, Missouri, USA. www.melstringer.com
I was so flattered when Tim asked me to be a part of his Greener Pastures project. He’s got quirky and interesting ideas and expresses himself masterfully in his work.
and
Ben Mitchell (penciller)
Illustrator and comics artist from Newcastle, NSW. His series, Storm Clouds, has been shown all over the world, earning a Bronze Ledger in 2020. I hope it comes back soon. Newcastle, NSW, Australia. www.benmitchell.com.au
