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.