NEWS
Tuesday 13 September 2011
People’s Post False Bay Page 7
Comic casts its creative net afar DALEEN FOUCHÉ
B
OET, Brak and John, beloved characters of People’s Post comic Treknet, will soon journey to far off lands in Scandinavia, after the creative duo behind the idea were approached by a marketing company about a month ago. A Norwegian syndication company approached Treknet creators Dave Gomersall and Gavin Thompson with a view to marketing, distributing and selling the local comic to newspapers and magazines in Scandavian counties. From Treknet’s humble beginnings at People’s Post to its journey to the northernmost parts of Europe, this comic has entertained and delighted readers young and old for six years. Gomersall, who met with People’s Post to talk about the beginnings of the cartoon, says the first meeting with former People’s Post editor Annelien Dean almost six years ago was purely accidental. The duo were on their way to present their work to another newspaper when they walked into the wrong office and bumped into Dean. They showed her their work, and the rest is history. Although Dean loved their work, she asked for more localised content that would be more appropriate for the pages
of a community newspaper. Gomersall, who is an experienced skipper, did not have to look far for local inspiration – his previous encounters with treknet fishermen gave them a great backdrop for visual storytelling. Treknet has since featured in several newspapers and magazines on both local and abroad. Titles include Die Son, the Port Elizabeth Herald, the Natal Witness, the Johannesburg Star, Pretoria News, a Namibian publication and the Big Issue. Last year, Treknet had a double page spread in a magazine based in Switzerland, and Gomersall believes this is where the syndication company spotted their work. Gomersall quips that his ancestry can be traced back to Scandinavia, which is perhaps why the northern Europeans find the comic appealing. Even though Treknet has a Cape Town flavour, its appeal and message are universal, he adds. “Why do South Africans enjoy Hägar the Horrible when the setting is Viking times?” he asks. While Gomersall is responsible for conceptualising and words, Thompson, who is also editorial cartoonist for People’s Post, focuses on the artwork. “Thompson always gives massive encouragement,” says Gomersall. “The two work in separate offices and communicate through Skype. Gomersall says he has tremendous fun with all the Treknet characters, and especially enjoys the sea creatures. Here’s hoping the fishermen frolics will haul in a huge catch of Scandinavian fans.
DYNAMIC DUO: Dave Gomersall (left) and Gavin Thompson
Photo: Archive
CASTING OFF: The first Treknet strip to appear in People’s Post.
Image: Archive
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