ALIA Graphic Podcast

In this creator chat Mia sits down for a conversation with Li Chen the creator of the delightful Detective Beans series. Li Chen, from New Zealand, always loved drawing and has been working as a full-time comic artist since 2012. Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat was her first graphic novel and she's just published the third book in the series: Detective Beans and the Map of Mystery. In this conversation they talk about:The origin and influences of Detective BeansHow Li Chen started making webcomicsHow well Detective Beans has been receivedLi Chen coming to Australiaand more!For more on Detective Beans visit: https://detectivebeans.com/To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this episode Luke sits down for a chat with Gregory Mackay the creator of the Anders graphic novels, a delightful series for young readers (and for all ages really). They discuss: the newly published Anders and the Mountain, the fourth book in the adventures of Anders series, the themes and inspiration behind the Anders seriesthe publication of Anders in French and French comics cultureother work that Gregory is doing (which is not for children)and Gregory mentions what he's reading now, which is not children's books Anders and the Mountain is out now through Allen & Unwin: https://www.allenandunwin.com/browse/book/Gregory-Mackay-Anders-and-the-Mountain:-Anders-4-9781761066238To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this creator chat Marissa sits down for a conversation with Wendy Tyrer who recently publisher her first graphic novel, The Curator with a new publisher of Australian graphic novels: Perentie Press.In The Curator, artists are mysteriously going missing all over the world. But Mimi, a struggling art student working at the National Gallery of Victoria isn’t worried about her own safety. After meeting Simon, the sophisticated curator of the Master Portraits exhibition, Mimi is unwittingly pulled into an extraordinary adventure. What she uncovers will challenge everything she knows, and force her to make a life-changing decision.For more from Wendy Tyrer visit her website: https://wendytyrer.com/For more from Perentie Press visit their website: https://perentiepress.com/To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this creator chat, Iurgi sits down to catch up with Campbell Whyte, an excellent cartoonist from Perth who also moonlights as educator at the Milk Tooth School of Art and Stories and is also the Chairperson of the Perth Comic Arts Festival. He somehow found time to join us today to talk about Luna Express, an excellent graphic novel set in Perth that is full of teen angst, social commentary, magic and lots of heart.01:58 What’s happening with Campbell and his many hats03:46 Looking back at Home Time07:47 Setting comics in Perth11:24 The origins, ideas themes of Luna Express19:55 Campbell talks about his approach to art and his need to work in different art styles26:41 The influences on Luna Express, from Sailor Moon to Ranma, from Steve Ditko to Katsuhiro Otomo and more 42:55 Next projects on the horizon48:33 Campbell gives a run down on what to expect at the Perth Comic Arts Festival in July. The festival will be held at the State Library of WA in Perth.52:27 Campbell gives a final recommendation to readTo stay up to date with Campbell Whyte’s check out his website: https://campbellwhyte.comTo stay up to date with the Perth Comic Arts Festival and to book events check out their website: https://pcaf.org.auTo stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this month's roundup, Iurgi and James discuss all the latest. They start the episode with some of the news in brief. Then...04:49 Recent readsKingdom Come by Mark Waid and Alex RossPunderworld by Linda SejicTalgard by Gary Proudley and various artistsPigeons! A Fable For Our Times by Marc ChalvinSystem Preference by Ugo Bienvenu11:13 News:We’re including more reviews and interviews on our roundupsReview of Gemma Correll's AnxietylandInterview with Frank QuitelyThe Nib and Ink Festival all throughout May. You can still join the last few events, including a panel talk with Reimena Yee, Scott McCloud and Nick Sousanis on Understanding Comics. Iurgi, mistakenly thought that it was a week earlier but it’s on Sunday May 31 at 8AM AEDT. All the panel talks are being recorded and published on the Ink and Nib Festival’s YouTube channel.21:34 New titles, starting with a few new titles by Australian creators:Anders and the Castle by Gregory Mackay (Allen & Unwin) [9781761066283] [Australian creator]Anders and the Mountain by Gregory Mackay (Allen & Unwin) [9781761066238] [Australian creator]Lamington Left Behind by Andrea Innocent (Figment Books) [9781761212819]Treehouse by Trace Balla (Allen & Unwin) [9781761181252]The Friendship Paradox by Aśka (Allen & Unwin) [9781761181689]Inferno Girl Red Vol 2 by Mat Groom, Erica D'Urso (Image Comics) [9781534335080]Spider-Verse Vs. Venomverse by Mat Groom, Kyle Higgins, Luciano Vecchio, Jim Towe (Marvel Comics) [9781302961558]Batman: Detective Comics Vol 2: Elixir by Tom Taylor Mikel Janin (DC Comics) [9781799502654]And our other picks for the month:Dragon Quest: The Adventures of Dai Vol 6 Dragon Knights by Riku Sanjo, Koji Inada (Viz Media) [9781974762439]Soviet Land: A Tragicomic Thriller by Pierre-Henry Gomont (Abrams ComicArts) [9781419788857]The End of the Arab of the Future A Youth in the Middle East Vol. 1 by: Riad Sattouf, Sam Taylor (Fantagraphics) [9798875002373]Aya and Her Magic Cat by Sam Ita (Tuttle Publishing) [9784805319987]Dune House Harkonnen Vol 3 by Brian Herbert, Michael Shelfer, Kevin J. Anderson (Random House) [9798892158350] To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this creator chat, Iurgi sits down for a chat with Lee Lai who has just won the Stella Prize for Cannon. It was long overdue with Cannon being one of the most outstanding graphic novels of 2025. The chat was recorded before the Stella Prize winner was announced.00:20 Introduction05:39 Lee talks about the recent book tour in Australia07:43 Lee looks back at the publication of Stone Fruit10:53 Conversation turns to Cannon and where the ideas for it originated17:55 Discussion moves to Cannon and Trish and their struggles and dilemmas28:57 Lee reflects on taking inspiration from real life events and people and harnessing them for fiction stories33:49 Conversation turns to the horror genre and horror comics with Lee declaring herself a new horror fan40:49 What’s next for Lee Lai (that she can talk about)44:01 Lee discusses what she’s reading and what she recommends, including a shout out to Fionn McCabe and Eloise GrillsThis the second chat with Lee Lai on the ALIA Graphic Podcast, if you missed out the first time or you want to rediscover the chat when we talked about Stone Fruit, it’s Episode 29 on our feed or you can find it here: https://shows.acast.com/alia-graphic-podcast/episodes/29-creator-chat-with-lee-laiFor more info on Lee Lai check out their website here: https://www.instagram.com/_leelai/To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this creator chat, ALIA Graphic convenor Sabina Wills sits down for a chat with Andrea Innocent to discuss her recently published debut graphic novel Lamington Left Behind, published by Figment Books.00:20 Acknowledgement of country and introduction to Andrea Innocent03:43 Andre talks about her relation to libraries04:56 Andrea discusses the comics she read as a kid06:40 The chat moves to the inspiration behind Lamington Left Behind and the development of the project16:38 The discussion turns to the themes and ideas behind Lamington Left Behind30:09 Andrea Innocent talks about her visit to the Takayna rainforest in Tasmania and what’s next for her33:36 Andrea’s advice to an aspiring comic book creator34:50 Andrea recommends Georgina Chadderton’s Oh Brother and Tove Jansson’s comicsFor more from Andrea Innocent check out her website here: https://www.andreainnocent.comTo stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In this month's roundup, Iurgi and Mia discuss all the latest.02:09 Recent reads: Detective Beans and the Case of the Missing Hat by Li ChenOnce and Future Riot by Jean SaccoCampfire Cooking in Another World With My Absurd Skill by Akagishi KCannon by Lee Lai11:35 News:DC’s Absolute Batman is super popularAnti AI and Matt Kindt’s hand drawn comics STEAM powered comics for middle gradersPodcast shout outs: The Readings Podcast with Mandy Ord, The Thick Lines podcast discussing Rachel Ang’s I Ate the Whole World to Find You and Tiffany Babb on the Off Panel Podcast discussing her brand new comics journalism zine: The Comics StapleThe Cartoonist Studio Prize and the The Los Angeles Book were announced recently, we mention the winners and celebrate that Lee Lai’s Cannon appears on bothCartoonists United has a YouTube channel and is also behind the Nib & Ink Festival that you must definitely check out22:46 New titles:Mia’s picks:Captain Underpants: The First Epic Manga by Dav Pilkey, Motojiro (Scholastic)Leo da Vinci Renaissance Kid by Richard Ashley Hamilton (Papercutz)Iurgi’s picks:The Curator by Wendy Tyrer (Perentie Press) Corto Maltese: Fable of Venice and Other Stories by Hugo Pratt (Fantagraphics) Human Nature Book 1 (of 3) A Satirical Science Fiction Graphic Novel by Darren Aronofsky, Ari Handel, Jeff Welch, Martin Morazzo (ABRAMS)To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/ 

In another packed episode, and we're only scratching the surface of what's in this month's blog post, Iurgi and Gabby discuss some of the latest news and new titles, which include more graphic novels by Australian creators.01:40 Gabby and Iurgi discuss their recent reads and then go on a tangent about One Piece.We could be magic by Marissa Meyer and Joelle MurrayFrieren Beyond Journey’s End by Kanehito Yamada, Tsukasa AbeThe Pass by Katriona ChapmanCriminal 3 The Dead and the Dying and 4 Bad Night by Ed Brubaker, Sean PhilipsOne Piece tangent11:17 News:Perentie Press is a new Australian publisher of graphic novelsPublishers are expanding their publications of manga for adultsNew Hello Kitty comics on the horizon published by IDW in partnership with SanrioThe Rise of Image Comics, a book written by South AusThe CBCA Notables list has included three graphic novels in the listThe British Book Awards have a new category for comics30:12 Gabby and Iurgi’s favourite picks from the new titles out this month:PAWS The Trouble With Leo By: Nathan Fairbairn, Michele AssarasakornRun Home by Alyssa Bermudez (St Martin’s Press)The Greenies by Emma Mills, Sarah Nicole KennedyDark Knights of Steel: Allwinter by Jay Kristoff, Tirso Cons, Tom Taylor, Riccardo Federici (DC Comics)Skating Wilder by: Brandon Dumais, AJ DungoLocas: The Maggie and Hopey Stories by Jaime Hernandez (Fantagraphics)To stay up to date, for the full roundup of news, resources and new titles and our social media links visit our website: https://graphic.alia.org.au/ The ALIA Graphic Groove Theme 2025 courtesy of Clint Owen Ellis https://www.clintowenellis.com/