Written by Jayse Smith
Kieran Jack runs a small indie publishing company called Halftone Productions and he’s responsible for the creation of the comic series The Talking Bread, which now has five issues with the final due out this year. When Kieran isn’t working on the series, commissions, or other design projects, you can find him at comic, gaming, and pop culture conventions around Australia with his latest pop-up being at Supanova Sydney.
In 2018 he’ll be launching some new projects backed by the crowdfunding platform ‘Kickstarter’ with which some of the previous issues of The Talking Bread owe their existence to. His firm believes in the longevity of the industry and his pure talent is sure to take this young artist a long way.
Our reporter Jayse sat down with Kieran and got the lowdown on his life and his passion for comics.
Hey Kieran! You went to Supanova in Sydney last month—how was it?
Hi Jayse, Yes, I did. I think incredible is the simplest way to sum it up, but it was by far the most successful convention to date.
What inspired you to go into the comic book industry?
I had always wanted to create them even as a child I’d make my own stories on paper, I think what finally pushed me to create comics was I saw a flourishing indie comic scene here in Australia and overseas and thought I’d throw my hat into the ring and see how I’d go.
What are the tools of your trade, if someone where looking at getting into the field what would they need?
Practice and Network. Whether you want to write, illustrate, colour, letter, or edit—keep practicing. I also found having a podcast based around indie comics helped networking and gaining contacts in the industry, which also helped nurture me into taking the leap into creating comics.
You have used a crowd funding platform to assist you with making your comics a reality—how has that gone for you and do you think this is great way to get people on board?
Hmm stressful, very stressful but rewarding. I think that no one can say that crowdfunding is easy, it’s time intensive and for months you’re preparing and promoting the Kickstarter. Then after the campaign has ended, you’re making sure the work is completed and sending out the rewards to all your backers. After 3 successful Kickstarters and soon to be 4, I find it’s a great tool to help with getting your work out and also doubles up as a pre-order system so you might reach a larger audience from around the world like The Talking Bread has.
Where did the idea for your series The Talking Bread come from?
Well before I became a graphic artist and comic creator I was a baker for nearly 10 years so I thought why not put some of my experience’s from my baking days into a story, strangely enough it came to me at the early hours of the morning while working on an art commission. I kinda like to see this as the last nail in my baking career.
I love that you use innuendo in some of your titles such as The Masterbaker. Is this something that highlights your sense of humour?
I think it’s solely based on my love of weird and wacky comic and also a lot of cartoons!!
What can we expect from future issues of The Talking Bread? Can you give us any juicy secrets?
Actually I’m currently inking the final issue of TTB at the moment, I’d also planned a 6-part story but funny thing is it’s been received so well many of the readers don’t want it to end. There are definitely going to be twists in the final issue, but I think the ending I’ve got planned may leave the readers hungry for more!!
You have MAD skills when it comes to drawing and illustrating, where did that come from?
I’ve always loved illustrating and as a kid I’d always have a pencil a paper close by to sketch a character on a comic or something I saw outside or on TV. As an adult I took a few online classes to help build my skills, but again, it just comes down to practice.
Who are you idols of the comic book world? Any inspirational figures?
Oh wow, where do I begin there’s so many, I think writers are easily Grant Morrison, Alan Moore, and more recently Gerard Way. As for illustrators, it’s got to be Jhonen Vasques, Sam Kieth, and Jamie Hewlett
A while back you had an issue over copyright where someone had potentially copied your ideas. With people being able to screenshot or capture images so easily these days and repost ‘as their own’, how important is it to you that the artist is credited for any work that they do?
Haha, yeah I think they’ll have a problem on their hands if the property they’re ripping from find out. It really wasn’t a huge issue, but after the event I sorted out a Trade Mark and have covered myself in an event like this ever happens again. Unfortunately we live in a world we’re people have easy access and can do these kinds of things. It’s strange though I never intended my comic title to be the same as what people seen it as, at least now I know I’m covered if it occurs again.
What, if any, are your favourite comic book titles?
I began reading comics like Batman, but recently with all the reboots in comics I’ve found it boring so I’ve dived back into a lot of weird comics I read as a teenager like Doom Patrol, The Mask, The Maxx, Johnny the Homicidal Manic, Tank Girl, and The Umbrella Academy.
I think titles like The Dark Knight Returns, Daredevil: Born Again, V for Vendetta, Watchmen, The Killing Joke and even Sin City will always hold a place up there as that was where comics taught me that these can be powerful stories, commentaries on society and real life and maybe even where the sparked ignited to one day make my own.
You have attended numerous pop culture and comic conventions recently, how has the comic been received there?
Yeah it’s great. I get returning readers all the time both young and old. It varies from con to con in sales, but the audience is there and eating it up.
With print media increasingly coming under threat from other sources such television and streaming services, how do you plan to combat this and remain viable?
I love print and I think there will always be comics, they’ve also been saying comics are dead for 80 years. However, the indie scene is stronger than ever, but I do know it’s definitely harder for the big guys and comic stores these day to sell comics. Hopefully as more people become exposed to those types of mediums, they’ll start searching for where they came from, which very well may lead them to an indie comic.
If someone were looking to get into reading comics which titles, other than The Talking Bread, should they look at reading?
Wow I mean, I started out with Batman as a child, but now if I was to start all over again, the Australian scene has so many amazing creators out there who are thinking out side of the box and spandex, you need only attend a Australian comic convention to see the talent there. Plus you get to meet the people who made the comic and maybe they’ll even sign it for you!!
Which character has been the most complicated for you to create/draw?
The human anatomy I’ve always struggled with, but again practice makes perfect and I recently had to do a commission for a client of the Phantom. I think it took 3 takes before I was able to nail it.
Lots of scrunched up paper that day!
You’ve recently been doing commission work where people request a recreation of a character. What’s been the most popular? Have they been hard to replicate?
I think to date people respond to my Looney Tunes prints and want to see their favourite character, which has seemed to snag a few more commissions especially over the last weekend.
So where are you off to next? What’s the plan for the rest of 2018?
This year I’ve booked in 24 comic conventions/festivals and plan to wrap up The Talking Bread and more on to the next series In Purgatory. Next year I plan to do fewer cons and focus on the new comic series and other ventures!
If people want to find you on social media where do they go?
You’ll be able to find my hook on Instagram at @createdbykieran or on Facebook at Halftone Productions.
A massive thank you to Kieran for giving up the time to answer our questions! If you happen to see him out and about at any upcoming events, don’t be shy, head over and say hello! You can find him on his new website, Halftone Productions.
Also make sure to keep your eyes out for the upcoming Kickstarter for The Talking Bread issue 6 and take the time to check out the great content on his Instagram page.
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