The ComicBook Factory

Jet Engine Game

I've been making 2D games using Scirra's Construct 2. The latest is Jet Engine. Control a jet turbine to catch birds (good) but watch out, if a bird whacks into your engine (bad), it will get damaged and eventually explode (game over) bringing down the plane.
Catch 10 birds in a row to advance to the next level, every new level unlocks a new bird.
Try it out the current test version...

Jet Engine (v1.0.0.3)
https://www.scirra.com/arcade/other-games/jet-engine-6176

Previous games, (all unfinished):
Princess Seppuku
https://www.scirra.com/arcade/other-games/flapping-princess-seppuku-1655

Electric Chair
https://www.scirra.com/arcade/other-games/electric-chair-2447

Untitled Connie Radar
https://www.scirra.com/arcade/adventure-games/untitled-connie-radar-game-3351

Over the Moon - Storyboards Part 5

NOTES Page 9 Panels 1-6 Pretty much as filmed

Page 10 Here's where it ends differently... Julius stays with the astronauts and Connie knocks over the lunar lander with her ship. The film probably does have the better ending, Connie isn't quite the horrible person I drew her as.

Over the Moon - Storyboards Part 4

NOTES Page 8 panel 6 I like the little white surrender flag but was never filmed....

Come back tomorrow for the final Part 5...

Over the Moon - Storyboards Part 3

NOTES Page 5 & 6 Crash landing

Come back for Part 4 tomorrow...

Over the Moon - Storyboards Part 2

NOTES Page 3 The cowboy hat in panel 6 didn't end up in the film.

Come back for Part 3 tomorrow...

Over the Moon - Storyboards Part 1

NOTES Page 1 Panels 6,7 and 8 were from an unfinished Connie Radar comic. The films story came about by asking what was Connie Shooting at? Tim Kidd, who shares the writing credit, suggested the space shuttle which lead to 'how about the original moon landing?'

Page 2 Panel 2 As in the real moon landing and for the sake of authenticity there were originally to 3 astronauts.

Page 2 Panel 5 Not included in the final edit were stock footage shots of ground control.

Come back for Part 2 tomorrow...

Over The Moon - Short Film

Over the Moon from Media Design School on Vimeo.

I can't repeat enough how impressed I am with the final result. I did envision a slightly different ending which you'll see in the storyboards soon... hope you enjoy.

'Over the Moon' Poster

Now available at The ComicBook Factory shop, the film poster for the live action Connie Radar short "Over the Moon". High quality print on heavy stock card, limited quantity, don't miss out etc. I'll be posting the story boards and the finished short here soon.

Over the Moon Poster

220gsm card - High Quality print
29.7 x 42.0cm

Click HERE to visit the shop

The Mammoth Book of Cult Comics

From the back cover:
"22 Long lost masterpieces of underground comic strip art. A compelling selection of some of the very best of the genuinely underground, counter-cultural phenomenon that is CULT COMICS! What were mostly photocopied and stapled pamphlets, in short runs of anything from a couple of dozen to a few thousand issues, are collected together here in a single volume."

Brought together for the first time in a single volume, these cult comics are lost classics of underground and independent British and American comic-strip art.
The comics collected in this anthology are the hidden gems of the comic world—independent artists and writers who greatly influenced the world of comics.

Features reprints of 3 Jessica of the Schoolyard comics.

The Mammoth Book of Cult Comics

Edited by Ilya - 448 pages - Black and White

ISBN 978-0-762-45468-6

Click HERE to purchase from Amazon

Fot Comic - Rough storyboard

I found this comic strip while digging through all the mountains of paper laying around my studio. Featuring Alex Dron's FOT and Angus character. Not sure when I drew it, I guessing it's a few years old.

Holocaust Rex and the Plague Lords of Koch

The new Holocaust Rex comic is now available at the ComicBook Factory Big Cartel shop.

Book two introduces Doctors Moresby and Stoffel as they navigate the plague infested city of Koch looking for a suspected witch. As Rex hacks and slashes his way into the city, the plague is now the least of Koch's problems...

Holocaust Rex Book Two:

The Plague Lords of Koch

32 pages - Black and White

ISBN 978-0-473-29168-6

Click HERE to visit the shop

Faction Review

Here's a new review of the NZ comic anthology Faction at The Weekly Crisis, it covers books 1-3 and dedicates a mini-review for every contribution. This is the write up for my four page Connie Radar comic --

“Connie Radar” by Karl Wills

CeeJay: I enjoyed “Connie Radar.” I’d even go as far as to say that it’s probably the second best segment of the entire anthology. One part “Tintin,” one part “Blondie” and one part “The Thing” (at least in terms of setting), “Radar” was longer than a few of the others but a swift read nonetheless. I liked her lo-fi cyborg sidekick as well.

Nevin: More than any other piece in this anthology, “Connie Radar” has that Sunday comicstrip feel to it. The art style and interactions also remind me of “Blondie” but straight black and white with the coloring. This is one of the better additions to the anthology, and I’d love to read more. On a last note, I would never speak to that maniac at the end.

Read the full review of Faction comics #1-3 HERE
You can buy Faction comics HERE

Early Bird Sales

The new comic Holocaust Rex Book Two: The Plague Lords of Koch is back from the printers and currently being assembled. It goes on-sale at the Bigcartel shop October 1st, but exclusive to readers of this blog I'm offering early copies, simply send NZD$ 12.95 via paypal to paypal@comicbookfactory.net and it'll be in the post the following day. This offer includes international sales. For Book One and other comics visit the Bigcartel page HERE.

Fan Tattoo

Learning Japanese with Princess Seppuku

While I was drawing the Princess Seppuku comics, I was also teaching myself to read japanese (it's hard, I quit and I've forgotten everything) and making comic strips like this to help me remember the japanese characters...

Golden Age Figurines

Golden Age Figures recently plugged my comics on their Facebook page with - "I thoroughly enjoyed both comics [Princess Seppuku and Holocaust Rex], which feature lovely art in the ligne claire style and high production values for a mini comic. The stories are funny, surreal and somewhat gruesome, reminding me a bit of Jim Woodring's Frank. If this type of comic appeals to you, please check them out and support Mr. Wills' efforts!"
Anyone familiar with Fletcher Hanks should 'like' Golden Age Figurines, follow them on FB and buy anything that comes of their studios! Each resin figure is a beautiful detailed homage to the greatest comics of the golden age. It's a small company with very limited print runs, once they're sold they're super rare to find. In fact, I'm still looking to purchase a 'Fantomah' if anyone has one to sell...

Check out the Golden Age Figurines website HERE and on Facebook HERE

Comic Con San Diego 2014

July 23rd - 28th. I went to the San Diego Comic Con mainly to be present at the screening of 'Over the Moon', a short film I wrote featuring one of my comic book characters. The 7 minute live-action film was co-written with Timothy Kidd, directed by James Cunningham and should be online around November after it's done it's festival run. Here's a selection of photos from the trip...