Reviews are in for Tsunami!

It’s been a whirlwind of activity since Tsunami was sent to bookstores at the start of August, and the feedback has been fantastic! Here’s a quick sample:

'A powerfully human coming-of-age story, and one of the best representations of New Zealand life I’ve seen in comics. Highly recommended.'

- EDDIE MONOTOME, Review for The Sapling

'An important book. It is both brutal and beautiful. An examination of bullying, a bullseye description of the New Zealand that never quite makes it to the brochure, but is far more indicative of the country we are than any of the marketing would ever allow to slip out.'

- SIMON SWEETMAN, Sounds Good! Substack

Tsunami is a cautionary tale that reminded me, chillingly, of the song Jeremy by Pearl Jam: cyclical abuse and misconstruction of actions and intentions that lead to dark, sad consequences. There is so much more going on than I’ve mentioned – it’s a psychological portrait of human behaviour condensed into an intense read. It was absolutely compelling.

- LOUISE WARD, Wardini Books review for Hawkes Bay Today/NZ Herald

You can read the full reviews here:

The Sapling, August 10, 2023. Reviewed by Eddie Monotone

Review by Simon Sweetman from his Sounds Good! Substack

Review by Louise Ward from Wardini Books for Hawkes Bay Today/NZ Herald

Aotearoa New Zealand Review of Books,review by Ant Sang

We’ve also got some interviews with author Ned Wenlock that you can check out:

The Spinoff, Interview with Toby Morris

Ratworld online magazine, interview with Jennifer Cheuk

Author interviewed on bFM’s art show

Author interview on Paekākāriki 88.2FM (with extract on website)

Announcing Tsunami

 

Earth’s End Publishing is pleased to announce the release of our first book since 2019, Tsunami by Ned Wenlock.

Tsunami is a 278-page graphic novel about Peter, a self-righteous 12-year-old boy, and his fraught last six weeks at primary school.

Told in Ned’s unique and beautifully pared down style, Tsunami is a taunt page turner, a coming-of-age story, and nuanced examination of teenage alienation and the unpredictable consequences of our actions. 

Tsunami will be available August 2023 at all good bookshops, comics shops, online retailers, or direct from Earth’s End Publishing HERE

Stay tuned for preview images, review links and media interviews.

Ordering Information:

Retailers can order Tsunami from David Bateman Ltd, info@batemanbooks.co.nz, (09)4157664

Earth's End Publishing can be contacted at earthsendpublishing@gmail.com

Publishing Details:

Tsunami 

Ned Wenlock

Synopsis: At school, being right isn’t always the right answer. Peter’s bull-headed commitment to the truth has already picked him out as a target for the school bullies. The misfit new girl is a complete badass, but seems as interested in his nemesis, Gus, as she is in Peter, and his parents are too busy bickering to care about any of it.

It all feels overwhelming to Peter ─ like a tsunami is coming and he isn’t sure he can stop it.

Tsunami is a coming-of-age story, a nuanced examination of teenage alienation and the unpredictable consequences of our actions.

RRP: $34.99

ISBN: 9780473655679

Format: 216x170mm portrait, paperback, 276 pages, black & white illustrations

Ages: 15+ mild violence, offensive language

Publishing date: August 2023

Ross Murray brings Rufus Marigold to ComicFest!

Above: Ross Murray.

Photo by David Thomsen. Copyright David Thomsen 2019. 

Recently Rufus Marigold creator Ross Murray was a guest at ComicFest, a comics festival held in Wellington on May 2nd – 4th, at the National Library. 

Held to coincide with Free Comic Book Day, a host of local comic guests descended on Wellington for the event including:  Katie O'Neill, Roger Langridge, Dylan Horrocks, Ant Sang, Sarah Laing, Jesse Barrett, Giselle Clarkson, Michel Mulipola, Jem Yoshioka, Paul Diamond, Alex Cara, and Sharon Murdoch! Free comics and a stall of local graphic novels were provided by Wellington's long-time premiere comic shop, GRAPHIC.

From left: Ross Murray, Jem Yoshioka, Alex Cara and Hannah Benbow.

Photo by David Thomsen. Copyright David Thomsen 2019. 

 

Murray took part in a panel discussion 'Stories from Aotearoa/New Zealand' with Jem Yoshioka, Paul Diamond (not pictured), Alex Cara and discussion chair Hannah Benbow. "I had so much fun at ComicFest in Wellington this past weekend," said Murray. 

"There were so many great workshops, presentations and panels which over 2,300 people attended in total. Well done to Monty Masseurs from Wellington City Libraries, Hannah Benbow from the National Library and everyone else who helped organise it. And thanks to GRAPHIC for feeding so many comics to the hungry masses and for hosting me at their store on Friday. Finally, a huge thank you to the National Library for inviting me to speak. You might not be able to tell from this photo but I even came close to enjoying myself."  

Above: The GRAPHIC store at ComicFest.

Photo by David Thomsen. Copyright David Thomsen 2019. 

Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray is available at all good bookstores and comic shops now.

Listen up: Ross Murray talks to RNZ Nine to Noon!

Mount Maunganui based illustrator Ross Murray has produced a graphic novel broaching the subject of social anxiety, a story he tells from his own tough experience. Rufus Marigold is Ross' first book, featuring a self-loathing nervous wreck of a man-monkey chimpanzee, who works in an office brimming with apparently socially competent people.  In comic form we see the eponymous hero of the book, Rufus Marigold continuously facing awkward social situations, enduring sleepless nights, battling with his negative interior voice and struggling with small talk.

As Ross tells Kathryn Ryan, Rufus Marigold is both funny and dark. You can listen to the Nine to Noon show HERE.

Rufus Marigold Book Launch and Exhibition!

Above: Author and Artist Ross Murray at The Tuesday Club Art Gallery.

Our book launch and art exhibition for Rufus Marigold will be held at The Tuesday Club last Thursday and was a huge success! A big thank you to Nick Worthington at The Tuesday Club for all his generosity and support. Also to Garage Project who sponsored our refreshments; Unity Books Auckland - for looking after sales on the night, and to Creative New Zealand for their vital support in this publication. Also for Chris Leskovsek, for the beautiful photography on launch night, some of which we are sharing here:

Above: Author with the Earth's End Publishing team (from left): Damon Keen, Ross Murray, Kelly Sheehan and Adrian Kinnaird.

All photography copyright Chris Leskovsek 2019. 

EVENT: Rufus Marigold Book Launch and Art Exhibition!

Join Earth's End Publishing for the launch of our latest graphic novel, Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray.

The launch will be held at The Tuesday Club, 42 Airedale Street in Auckland Central, along with an exhibition of original art by Ross Murray, featuring his eponymous character and an exploration of related themes from his book.

Kindly sponsored by Garage Project with refreshments provided. Copies of Rufus Marigold will be available for sale on the night courtesy of Unity Books Auckland.

The Rufus Marigold Art Exhibition will continue after the book launch at The Tuesday Club from Friday 1st of March to Sunday 3rd of March.

You can RSVP at our Facebook event HERE.

So come pick up a copy of the book, meet the author, and view some amazing artwork!

Announcing Rufus Marigold!

Above: The cover of Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray. Copyright Ross Murray 2019.

Earth’s End Publishing is proud to announce our latest publishing endeavor - a collection of Ross Murray’s acclaimed webcomic, Rufus Marigold.

Initially released online in 2016, Rufus Marigold explores social anxiety disorder through the prism of its eponymous character and drew a devoted audience and praise for it’s equally humourous and at times heartbreaking insight into this much maligned subject.

After seeing the initial webcomic online, Earth’s End was quick to reach out to creator Ross Murray and work alongside him to develop this series into a unique and beautiful graphic novel. 

 

The print version of Rufus Marigold will collect all the original material and adds brand new additional vignettes, furthering and deepening the story of man-monkey Rufus and his attempts to define himself as something other than a complete and utter nervous wreck.

Above: Artwork from Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray. Copyright Ross Murray 2019.

 

Ross Murray is known for his sharp art and vintage style illustrations. Recently his work has graced the covers and interiors of the Lonely Planet Epic series. In additional to his commercial work, Murray has also been making comics since 2014 when his Pets Talk Records strip appeared online. In 2015 Murray contributed to the Faction High Water anthology, edited and produced by Earth’s End co-founder Damon Keen. 2018 saw his humourous takes on Star Wars and Home & Away featured on the Vice website comics section. Rufus Marigold is Murray’s first full length graphic novel. 

 

Rufus Marigold by Ross Murray will be released March 1st, 2019 in bookstores and comic shops across New Zealand. Copies will also be available to pre-order directly from our website store.

 

Praise for Rufus Marigold:

“A ruefully familiar, hilarious webcomic turned-turned magnum opus. Rufus Marigold delights and horrifies in equal measure. A must-read for anyone who has ever felt awkward in social situations, and anyone who’s ever had a dream.” 

- Sarah Laing, Mansfield & Me

 

“Rufus Marigold is deliciously funny, uncomfortably honest, and painfully, beautifully human.”

- Dylan Horrocks, Hicksville

 

“A brave, heartfelt story that shows with absolute clarity the devastating impact of social anxiety.”
- Brent Williams, Out of the Woods

 

Ordering Information:

Rufus Marigold is now available for pre-order from Earth’s End Publishing.
Email: earthsendpublishing@gmail.com

Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or require further information.

 

Publishing Details:

Rufus Marigold
Ross Murray
Paperback with french flaps
Width: 160mm, Height: 216mm, Weight: 450grms 

Full colour, 200 pages

ISBN: 9780473448035

RRP: $34.99

 

Ages: 16+ Mature themes

Release Date: March 1st 2019