Punk Rock Graphic Novel, “Punkomix – Demo #1,” Debuting at Fan Expo
Fan Expo Canada will hit Toronto, Ontario from September 3-6 and provide attendees with a little punk rock to go along with their love for comics, film and everything in between.
Premiering at the event will be the Punkomix – Demo #1 (pronounced punk-comics) graphic novel created by Ben Rispin (The Saint Alvia Cartel, Burly Calling) and his multi-faceted production house, Misfit Island.
Instead of travelling through a traditional storyline, Punkomix – Demo #1 features a collection of musician interviews conducted by Rispin, which were then converted into comic form.
Musicians who appear in this first edition include George Pettit (Alexisonfire, Dead Tired), Damon Abraham (Fucked Up), Chris Cresswell (The Flatliners), Mr. Chi Pig (SNFU) and the original inspiration for this project, Joel “Hooch” Parkins of The Matadors.
“The idea came together when I was promoting a show for The Matadors,” explains Rispin. “I wasn’t getting any bites with press so I sent their singer Hooch a note saying why don’t I interview you, and I’ll draw the answers out in comic book form? Hooch was really encouraging and I had a great time illustrating his answers. After that, it just sort of snow balled and I’ve been able to chat with a handful of my favorite Canadian punks and have so many more interviews lined up for the next year.”
Included in Punkomix – Demo #1 is a 30-page preview of Strike the Dead, a graphic novel written by Ben and Cole Rispin, and illustrated by Michael Storey.
To celebrate this project’s launch, Misfit Island will be hosting a party at Toronto’s Bovine Sex Club on September 5. Hosted by comedian/actress Nicole Arbour, the night will see performances from The Penske File, Chuck Coles, Wasted Potential and Mickey Moone. This free show will also offer a $1,000 prize to the guest who shows up in his or her best cosplay. Crowd reaction will determine the winner.
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