#gary chaloner

The Collected Will Eisner's John Law HC (2025)

Happy Birthday to comic book artist Gary Chaloner! 2006 PODCAST INTERVIEW by Bob Andelman GARY CHALONER podcast excerpt: "If you learn a bit about The Spirit, you also learn about these aborted characters that Will Eisner tried to publish back in the ‘40s. The name 'John Law' keeps on popping up as this parallel Spirit character, so it was only through reading about Will’s past and the different things that he tried in the ‘40s that this recurring name 'John Law' and the characters surround him, like Nubbin, The Shoeshine Boy, and Melba, Girl Detective, and a few other characters, had always stuck in the back of my mind as something that, why doesn’t someone do something with these things.”

Happy Birthday to my friend, the late great comics legend Will Eisner!

This interview with comic book artist Gary Chaloner was recorded on August 25, 2006 to supplement my authorized biography, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life. I rediscovered the audio file and decided to add it to the Mr. Media podcast archive.

GARY CHALONER podcast excerpt: "If you learn a bit about The Spirit, you also learn about these aborted characters that Will tried to publish back in the ‘40s. The name 'John Law' keeps on popping up as this parallel Spirit character, so it was only through reading about Will’s past and the different things that he tried in the ‘40s that this recurring name 'John Law' and the characters surround him, like Nubbin, The Shoeshine Boy, and Melba, Girl Detective, and a few other characters, had always stuck in the back of my mind as something that, why doesn’t someone do something with these things.

Happy Birthday to comic book creator Gary Chaloner​! 2006 PODCAST INTERVIEW

GARY CHALONER podcast excerpt: "If you learn a bit about The Spirit, you also learn about these aborted characters that Will tried to publish back in the ‘40s. The name 'John Law' keeps on popping up as this parallel Spirit character, so it was only through reading about Will’s past and the different things that he tried in the ‘40s that this recurring name 'John Law' and the characters surround him, like Nubbin, The Shoeshine Boy, and Melba, Girl Detective, and a few other characters, had always stuck in the back of my mind as something that, why doesn’t someone do something with these things.”

1306 Talking Will Eisner with “John Law” comics artist Gary Chaloner! PODCAST INTERVIEW

Today’s Guest: Gary Chaloner, comic book artist, Will Eisner’s John Law

(EDITOR’S NOTE: The following interview with comic book artist Gary Chaloner was recorded on August 25, 2006 to supplement my authorized biography of the late Will Eisner, Will Eisner: A Spirited Life. I recently rediscovered the audio file and decided to add it to the Mr. Media podcast archive. — Bob Andelman)

“Will Eisner’s…

Ahead of the EWF Hobart Roadshow, I spoke to Gary Chaloner, who talked about podcasting and the Tasmanian comic scene.

How did you become a comic artist?

I never really thought I’d be anything else. I was doodling at a very young age. Cutting up Donald Duck comics and rearranging the panels to tell new stories. Later, my older brother brought superhero comics into the house. He had great taste in what to read, so I got turned on to some good stuff very early. Then there was no stopping me. I just started drawing and writing stories and forging ahead as a creator, not ever thinking that it was something I wasn’t going to succeed at.

I started reading a wider range of comics and broadening my knowledge. Comics actually turned me on to book authors in a variety of fields like pulp adventure, crime, science fiction… all genres that seem to overlap with the comics medium. I eventually was old enough and confident enough to start drawing my own comics and eventually ended up publishing.

What skills should emerging comic artists try and develop?

The skill of handling rejection and criticism, plus the ability to willingly develop your own style. Don’t be scared. As far as style goes, its great to learn from the masters and absorb what they can teach you, but no-one ever really got anywhere by ripping off someone else’s style. So be brave and develop a unique voice. In doing that, you’ll invariably have all kinds of people getting in your face. So develop a tough skin. Take the good advice, brush off the bad.

What music do you listen to when you’re working?

Depends on my mood, of course, but Springsteen is never bad to work to. My Morning Jacket, Ben Harper, Pearl Jam and when Im feeling really cool… some David Ruffin or Billy Thorpe. I’ve also been getting into a new band from Perth, Apache, my son’s band.

Can’t listen to music while I’m writing though. Drawing? Yeah, pump it up.

Where was your favourite place growing up?

Old book exchanges and comic shops. I’m from Sydney, so there were a few places that I’d make the train trip in to the city for. Regular haunts that offered old comics, books, magazines about old horror movies and other secret treasures. Besides that, the beaches of Cronulla. In my teens, I’d drive down with my best mate EVERY weekend, no matter what the weather.

Do you refresh your work by traveling or do you find staying in one place gives you more stability?

I’m not a big traveller. I have been around, the States, Canada… but I’m content to stay on the farm down here in Tassie and plug away at my various comics projects. I’m too old for travel. My eight-legged walking frame creates havoc at the airports and my false teeth upset the kiddies when I inadvertently spit them out.

What is happening for Tasmanian comic artists at the moment?

Well, I just noticed Josh Santospirito’s interview, and he covered it pretty well. So maybe we can just link to that and save my beleaguered, ossifying fingers.

Essentially, for me, I’m co-hosting The Comic Spot podcast with John Retallick now. We chat about Australian comics and try to cover as much ground as we possibly can. The whole scene is growing so rapidly, and the various comics and graphic novels coming out are of such high quality, it’s getting harder and harder to keep up with it all. It really is a new Golden Age of Australian Comics.

On the actual production front, I’m doing the art on the Gestalt Comics series Unmasked, by writer Christian Read. I’m also chin deep in writing and drawing The Undertaker Morton Stone, which brings me to…

What will you be getting up to at the EWF Hobart Roadshow?

I’m participating in the Graphic Content event at MONA on the night of October 31. I’ll be reading and projecting the first issue of The Undertaker Morton Stone. The artwork for that issue is by two superstar artists Ben Templesmith and Ashley Wood… dark, moody stuff that’s just right for Halloween. I’m really looking forward to seeing what the other creators have lined up as well. Should be a great night.

Here’s a poem I wrote about The Undertaker…

The Man From Thunderhead

Each stormy night the wind does wail, The crow does scream, the heavens too rail In the moist, cold corridors of the dead, Dwells the Man from Thunderhead.

“My name is Stone,” the skeleton said “Like my heart… cold and unforgiving. “I had a life, a lifetime ago, “Filled with loving warmth and feeling.”

But bliss suddenly turned to curse, When black Noddy came a-callin’. Nip nippy he went, until child and wife were all spent, And to make matters worse, Sow’s ear from silk purse, Stone prefers now the dead to the breathin’.

Now wife and daughter do rot in the old family plot The Undertaker’s pup as well is worth grievin’ All happiness has fled For they are all dead But Stone’s eyes with a purpose are gleanin’.

“I’ll cruise in my hearse of death’s jet black “Down the highway to Hell, past the Crossroads and back. “Swinging my stock in trade, the ol’ shovel and spade… “Until Noddy is found and bloody retribution is paid.”

“I wish I was dead.” “I wish I was dead.” whispered the Man from Thunderhead.

Gary Chaloner is a comic book writer and artist based in the Huon Valley of Tasmania. His works include The Jackaroo, Will Eisner’s John Law, Unmaskedand The Undertaker Morton Stone. He is co-host of the comics podcast The Comics Spot and writes for AustralianComicsJournal.com. For more information visit www.GaryChaloner.com.

Gary will be appearing at Graphic Content: An Evening of Visual Storytellingat MONA on Thursday 31 October from 6pm.