This interview is done as part of the plan to open up discussion, expose other creative areas of endeavour + share with the greater Indie/DIY community, those who publish, get published + of course, self publish (apart from zines) across Brisbane + the greater areas of QLD. 

There is such a diversity here is Queensland…that there seems to be a need to show how these other industries/disciplines  cross over + bleed into each other…like zines + comics…comics +books,  books + Artists Books then into galleries etc… Over the rest of the year, I plan on interviewing Poets, Established Comic Book Artists, Gallery owners, Take a look at the QLD bookbinders guild speak to those who not only love + support zines + comics – but ask how they see the genre + find out what else is alive in QLD… 

The interview –   “Burger Force is the story of an undercover espionage agency located beneath a fast food take away.  Burger Force agents spend part of their time serving thick shakes and fries and the rest of it thwarting diabolical masterminds committing crimes against pop culture.  Burger Force is an independent comic featuring real people and locations that have been ‘comified’ through a laborious combination of software and hand retouching.”

 

Where did you grown up + what were your interests in school….
I grew up in Brisbane.  My interests at school included English, avoiding a Jazz-ercise teacher who tried to make us exercise exclusively to Whitney Houston’s ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’, playing practical jokes and trying to develop secret codes and signals for use in the playground jungle. 

What do you work as now …
I work part time designing adverts for a newspaper.  The rest of the time belongs to Burger Force.  

How + when did the idea for ‘Burger Force’ come to fruition…
I’ve been writing it on and off since 1999.  There are two defining moments in my pop culture life were ‘The Avengers’ (Diana Rigg period) and ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’.  Burger Force, to my mind, is what would happen if these two entities met up on a dark and stormy night.  This is basically just me writing the type of stuff I like to watch.

 

How long have you been working on BF…
Since the end of last century.  Even the Soviets only had a 5 year plan.

What are some of the obstacles you have faced with producing BF?
Time and distance.  The actors are scattered all over the country and have pretty full schedules so it is quite a business getting everyone together in the one place at the one time.  Making the comic is also very time consuming.  I just hope I get the thing finished before we’re all retired.  Maybe some nice nurse will read the final issue aloud to us at the nursing home. 

How has it been perceived by the comic peeps to the zine peeps?
Is there more receptivity, do you think, from one or the other? People from both communities have been very welcoming.  I have had more to do with the comic community (what with it being a comic and all) but zine folks have been very inclusive.  The general thinking seems to be that as long as it is an independent work it is welcome in zine places.

What can we expect from BF in the future?
Plot twists, romance, revelations and good fashion. There is also an exhibition coming up at Brew Gallery. Opening night is on Wednesday, June 22nd.



What is some advice you would offer to anyone aspiring to create their own comic or comic based zine?
Read widely within the genre.  Be fluent with traditional methods for story telling with sequential art before choosing to depart from them.  Will Eisner and Scott McCloud have both written excellent books on the subject. 

Where can we get your hands a copy of BF?
If you are in Brisbane, they are at Clayton’s Comics, Avid Reader and Rocking Horse Records.  Melbournites can find them at Minotaur, Polyester and the Sticky Institute.  Everyone else can find them in the online shop at www.burgerforce.com