Terry Teo (finally) back on Television!

Above: The new Terry Teo series. Copyright Semi-Professional Pictures 2016.

Terry Teo is back on television! After much media discussion and controversy earlier this year when the show debuted on TVNZ's Ondemand, it has finally found a place on the network's schedule: debuting this Sunday at 7pm on TVNZ 2 with a 2 hour double episode update of the 'Terry Teo The Gunrunners' storyline.

To order the original graphic novel, with a background history of Terry Teo and the making of the new TV series, you can order it directly from us HERE. If you are a retailer and would like to stock the book, you can contact us at: earthsendpublishing@gmail.com.

Publishing Details:

Terry Teo and the Gunrunners TV Tie-in edition

Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne
Paperback, 56 pages, full-colour
ISBN: 9780473330675
Suitable for All Ages
RRP: $24.99

Synopsis:

Terry Teo is not your average schoolboy - he's a skateboarding super-sleuth about to embark on his very first adventure!

When he stumbles headfirst into the criminal schemes of the villainous Ray Vegas, Terry finds himself embroiled in a dastardly gun smuggling operation. Along with his karate-chopping sister, Polly, and older brother Ted, Terry must use all his street smarts to avoid Vegas' henchmen, defeat the smugglers, and save the day!

Reviews:

"Great adventures. No iPhones, no internet. I think I even saw a red telephone box in there. Lots of car chases, bad accents, worse jokes...It's going to be popular with young boys." 

- John McIntyre, Children's Book Reviewer - Nine to Noon, National Radio

"It’s all jolly good nostalgic fun, with a distinctly kiwi flavour to the illustrations – including the charmingly-named small town Kaupati (say it aloud) with its tiny police station and A&P show. This is truly like travelling back into a time before cellphones, before the internet, into a world where kids get to have the adventures – because the adults are too oblivious or silly to solve the problems themselves. With its fast pace and humour, this graphic novel can now be enjoyed by a new generation, and may especially be embraced by the more reluctant reader."

- Angela Oliver, Booksellers New Zealand Blog

"Bob Kerr’s cartoons are terrific as always and there are lots of little in-house jokes and Kiwi things going on that are smilers when you see one. Stephen Ballantyne’s written text is to the point and captures the whole Kiwi attitude. This book has high appeal for reluctant readers and is certain to win fans at primary and intermediate schools all over again." 

- Bob Doherty, Bobs Book Blog

Earth's End at Armageddon Expo Auckland 2016!

Above: Cartoonists Mat Tait (The Heading Dog Who Split in Half) and Ant Sang (The Dharma Punks) at Armageddon Expo.

This Labour Weekend Earth's End Publishing will be appearing at Armageddon Expo Auckland, the biggest pop culture event of the year! Taking place at the ASB Showgrounds over four days - October 21-24th, we'll be representing and selling graphic novels from New Zealand's finest cartoonists!

Above: Mansfield and Me by Sarah Laing.

Fresh off the press, we'll have copies of Sarah Laing's new graphic novel, Mansfield and Me. Presented in stunning watercolour, Mansfield and Me charts Sarah's journey towards becoming a writer and parent against her literary hero Katherine Mansfield's own dramatic life story, set in London, Paris, New York and New Zealand. Part memoir, part biography, part fantasy, it examines how our lives connect to those of our personal heroes.

Above: Terry Teo and the Gunrunners by Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne.

We'll also have copies of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners by Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne. This remastered edition of the original graphic novel that started it all comes with an exclusive 'History of Terry Teo' section: detailing the making of the comics, behind the scenes of the classic 1985 TV series, and the latest TV adaptation Terry Teo - currently streaming on TVNZ Ondemand HERE!

Above: The Heading Dog Who Split in Half: Legends and Tall Tales From New Zealand by Michael Brown and Mat Tait.

A great kiwiana read, The Heading Dog Who Split in Half: Legends and Tall Tales From New Zealand by Michael Brown and Mat Tait will also be available. This gorgeous over-sized paperback collection adapts some of New Zealand's rich folklore and weirdest tall tales into comics form. A place of phantom waka, ruined castles, romantic escapades in the early whaling days, magical sheepdogs, gargantuan crayfish and more are all captured in Tait's densely detailed and atmospheric artwork.

Above: The Dharma Punks by Ant Sang.

Above: From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics by Adrian Kinnaird

And if you haven't got a copy of Ant Sang's landmark graphic novel The Dharma Punks or the jam-packed collection From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics by Adrian Kinnaird, your bookshelf is not complete! Look out for a special prices and the opportunity to get your hands on a signed copy!

We'll have authors available to sign copies all weekend, so stop by booth #80 to pick up a copy and have a chat:

Author Signing schedule:

Ant Sang - The Dharma Punks, Shaolin Burning, Bro' Town: Saturday only.

Mat Tait - The Heading Dog Who Split in Half, The Flying Dutchman: Saturday and Sunday.

Adrian Kinnaird - From Earth's End: The Best of New Zealand Comics: Friday, Saturday, Monday.

Kelly Sheehan - The Inhabitants, Into the Dark Woods: Saturday, Sunday, Monday.

So if you love local comics, be sure to stop by, pick some up and have a chat. We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information on Armageddon Expo, visit the official website HERE.

Earth's End at Auckland Zinefest 2016!

Auckland Zinefest is back for 2016, and we'll be there! With over 50 exhibitors, covering everything from zines to comics, journals, independent media and much more, the event will be taking place this Sunday 24th of July, at the Auckland Art Gallery from 11am-4pm.

We'll have exclusive special prices on the day for our graphic novels, The Dharma Punks by Ant Sang, and the new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners by Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne. If you're a fan of the new TV show, this is a great opportunity to discover the original comic book and also get a look behind the scenes of the TV series with our exclusive interview with the producers.

We'll be there for the full event, so stop by, pick up some great books, and have a chat! For more event information, visit the Auckland Zinefest website HERE.

Event Details: 
Auckland Zinefest 2016

Date: Sunday 24th of July

Time: 11am-4pm
Location: Auckland Art Gallery, North Atrium
Corner of Kitchener and Wellesley Streets, Auckland CBD

- AK!

What's the Deal, TVNZ? Terry Teo Could be a Hit

Above: Kahn West as Terry Teo.

In today's NZ Herald, entertainment columnist Karl Puschmann reviews the new Terry Teo TV series - streaming now on TVNZ Ondemand - and found a lot to like, "Terry Teo is an effortless reboot that's perfectly pitched for its modern audience and the old-school fans. It pulls off the neat trick of managing to be both familiar and new. It's a winner."

He continues, "Terry Teo is snappy, lively and filled with good-natured humour and zing that only occasionally rubs up awkwardly against the seriousness of its premise. The script's great, it's superbly cast and, best of all, it has proper car chases. Despite its modernity it retains that real 80s kidult action feel."

But he also poses the question, if the show's this good, why isn't TVNZ airing it? "...if I had a locally produced show of this calibre, with a positive and charismatic young Polynesian hero in the lead and a great multi-ethnic cast, I'd change whatever plans I had and get this thing on air sharpish." 

TVNZ has publicly stated that they plan to air the TV series at a later date, at an appropriate time slot to better accommodate the PG rating of some of the episodes.

You can check out the full review HERE.

- AK!

12 Questions with Terry Teo Co-Creator Bob Kerr

Above: Terry Teo Artist and Co-Creator, Bob Kerr. Photo by Nick Reed.

In today's NZ Herald, Terry Teo Artist and Co-Creator Bob Kerr answers 12 questions on the creation of the original Terry Teo graphic novel, his paintings, and more. Discussing his early career as an author/illustrator, he told the NZ Herald, "We live in a culturally rich country. I was part of a new wave of people who wanted to produce New Zealand books. Most of us came through Writers in Schools. Joy Cowley organised a very lively meeting at her place in the Sounds in the late 80s. We all got together - Lynley Dodd, Gavin Bishop, Tessa Duder - and had a rip-roaring weekend. It was an exciting time. Kids now are growing up with a Disney-fied universal culture driven by mass market economics. I want our kids to know about where they live."

As for being approached to turn Terry Teo into a TV series in the mid-1980s, Bob recalls, "there was a knock on the door and a film producer wearing a safari suit said, "Hello, I'm Logan Brewer. I'd like to make a TV series." Steve and I thought this must be what happens. We were just naive goofs along for the ride. Steve wrote nine episodes of TV script but only six were made because skateboarding went out of fashion, according to the funders".

You can read the full interview HERE.

- AK!

The Terry Teo Trailer is Here!

Here's your first look at the brand new television adaptation of Terry Teo, due to air on TVNZ OnDemand from July 12th!

Written and directed by Gerard Johnstone and produced by Luke Sharpe, the team behind the acclaimed film, Housebound (2014), this new take on this classic kiwi character is updating Terry's adventure for a modern audience.

When it was recent announced that episodes of this new series would be rated PG instead of the expected family friendly G, producer Luke Sharpe was quick to defend their new take on Terry's adventures in a quote to the NZ Herald: "Yes, some head-butting went on with TVNZ when we delivered the show, but you have to fight for something you believe is great. It is a super-fun action romp and you can't cut the action from an action series. In the end, TVNZ could see it for what it is and we hope New Zealand is really going to dig it."

From our exclusive interview with Gerard Johnstone and Sharpe published in the new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, Johnstone discussed their approach to the material, and maintaining the balance of adventure and humour that made the original show so appealing. "Between now and [the previous] Terry Teo, I can't think of the last kids' show that had this much action - we've got shootouts, car chases, kung-fu fights, it's very full on", Johnstone explained.

"And you don't want to talk down to kids. My favourite shows from when I was a kid were The A-Team and MacGyver, which weren't made for children. So the idea was to do something that had that same kind of broad appeal. I really don't think of this as a kids' show - it should have something for everyone".

From what we've seen so far, it looks like it's going to be a blast! You can add it to your viewing list at TVNZ OnDemand right now HERE. The new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners is in bookstores now, or can be purchased from our online bookstore HERE.

- AK!

Terry Teo and the Gunrunners TV Tie-in edition

Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne
Paperback, 56 pages, full-colour
ISBN: 9780473330675
Suitable for All Ages
RRP: $24.99

Synopsis:

Terry Teo is not your average schoolboy - he's a skateboarding super-sleuth about to embark on his very first adventure!

When he stumbles headfirst into the criminal schemes of the villainous Ray Vegas, Terry finds himself embroiled in a dastardly gun smuggling operation. Along with his karate-chopping sister, Polly, and older brother Ted, Terry must use all his street smarts to avoid Vegas' henchmen, defeat the smugglers, and save the day!

Reviews:

"Great adventures. No iPhones, no internet. I think I even saw a red telephone box in there. Lots of car chases, bad accents, worse jokes...It's going to be popular with young boys."

- John McIntyre, Children's Book Reviewer - Nine to Noon, National Radio

"It’s all jolly good nostalgic fun, with a distinctly kiwi flavour to the illustrations – including the charmingly-named small town Kaupati (say it aloud) with its tiny police station and A&P show. This is truly like travelling back into a time before cellphones, before the internet, into a world where kids get to have the adventures – because the adults are too oblivious or silly to solve the problems themselves. With its fast pace and humour, this graphic novel can now be enjoyed by a new generation, and may especially be embraced by the more reluctant reader."

- Angela Oliver, Booksellers New Zealand Blog

"Bob Kerr’s cartoons are terrific as always and there are lots of little in-house jokes and Kiwi things going on that are smilers when you see one. Stephen Ballantyne’s written text is to the point and captures the whole Kiwi attitude. This book has high appeal for reluctant readers and is certain to win fans at primary and intermediate schools all over again."

- Bob Doherty, Bobs Book Blog

Press Talk: Reviews and Interviews

It's been just over a month since the release of our new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, and the reviews are starting to roll in! There was a fine review from Angela Oliver over at The NZ Booksellers Blog, describing Terry Teo as, "jolly good nostalgic fun, with a distinctly kiwi flavour". You can read the full review HERE.

Children's and Young Adult book reviewer Bob Docherty also recommended the new edition on his blog, Bob's Books, siting that it has "appeal for reluctant readers and is certain to win fans at primary and intermediate schools all over again". You can read the review HERE.

On National Radio, Terry Teo artist Bob Kerr talked to Wallace Chapman about the return of Terry Teo in print and to the small screen HERE, and John McIntyre from The Children's Bookshop in Wellington also discussed it on his Book Review show HERE.

Ant Sang has also been on the promotion trail of late, to celebrate the release of the US/UK edition of The Dharma Punks. You can listen to Ant discussing his career and the creation of The Dharma Punks on the great indie comics podcast, Inkstuds HERE.

There's also been a bunch on new reviews from: The Peak, Vermicious, and the Comics Alternative podcast reviews it HERE.

But don't take their word for it, head out to your local bookstore (or our online shop) and pick up a copy of these books for yourself and discover what all the fuss is about!

- AK!

Photorama: Earth's End and Terry Teo at Auckland Armageddon Expo 2015!

Above: The Earth's End Publishing team and cartoonist Mat Tait: (from left) Adrian Kinnaird, Damon Keen, Mat Tait and Kelly Sheehan. Photo by Ant Sang.

We launched our new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners at Auckland Armageddon Expo over Labour Weekend to a great public response! We had our authors - Terry Teo co-creator Stephen Ballantyne and The Dharma Punks' Ant Sang signing books, as well as our good friend Mat Tait, promoting his new graphic novel, The Heading Dog Who Split in Half. In addition to the book, we also screened the first trailer of the new Terry Teo TV series, written and directed by Gerard Johnstone (Housebound), from the footage it looks to capture the humour and adventure of the original, while giving the material a contemporary update.

Here's some photos from the event (click on the photos for larger viewing):

Above: The Earth's End Publishing booth at Auckland Armageddon Expo, just prior to opening.

Above: Terry Teo co-creator Stephen Ballantyne.

Above: Adrian Kinnaird with Kelly Sheehan and Terry Teo co-creator Stephen Ballantyne.

Above: Mat Tait (The Heading Dog Who Split in Half) and Ant Sang (The Dharma Punks).

Above: Mat Tait signing copies of The Heading Dog Who Split in Half for punters. Photo by Ant Sang.

Above: Damon Keen signing a copy of High Water. Photo by Ant Sang.

Above: Mat Tait and Faction's Damon Keen. Photo by Ant Sang.

If you missed us at the Armageddon Expo, copies of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners are available now from all good booksellers for $24.99, or you can purchase it online from our website store HERE.

- AK!

Earth's End at Auckland Armageddon Expo 2015!

Above: The cover for the new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners by Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne.

Earth's End is back at Auckland Armageddon Expo this Labour Weekend, with a great selection of the finest NZ comics and graphic novels - and a few surprises too!

First up, we're proud to present our latest publication: a special edition of the classic kiwi kids graphic novel, Terry Teo and the Gunrunners by Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne. Newly remastered from the original artwork archived at the National Library of New Zealand, this 1980s adventure is now more vibrant and action-packed than ever before! This edition also features an in-depth history of this icon character, from graphic novel to television screens - Adrian Kinnaird charts the legacy of Terry Teo. With brand new interviews and insights from co-creators Kerr & Ballantyne, veteran TV director Chris Bailey and producer Logan Brewer, and the team behind the upcoming new TV series Terry Teo, writer/director Gerard Johnstone and producer Luke Sharpe. It will be available all weekend for $24.99.

Above: The Heading Dog Who Split In Half  by Michael Brown & Mat Tait.

In association with Potton & Burton Publishing, we will be hosting cartoonist Mat Tait, on hand to sign copies of his new graphic novel with Michael Brown, The Heading Dog Who Split In Half: Legends and Tall Tales From New Zealand. This gorgeous over-sized paperback collection adapts some of New Zealand's rich folklore and weirdest tall tales into comics form. A place of phantom waka, ruined castles, romantic escapades in the early whaling days, magical sheepdogs, gargantuan crayfish and more are all captured in Tait's densely detailed and atmospheric artwork. This is must-have for every local comic collection! Mat Tait will be signing on Saturday, and the collection retails for $39.99.

Ant Sang will also be in attendance on Saturday to sign copies of his landmark graphic novel, The Dharma Punks. If you have yet to pick up a copy and find out what all the fuss is about, now is your chance to get a signed copy and meet the author himself! We will also have the latest from Faction Comics, including the recent collection of climate change themed comics, High Water, featuring: Damon Keen, Katie O'Neil, Sarah Laing, Toby Morris and more!

Above:  The cast of the new Terry Teo TV series. From right: Kahn West as Terry Teo, Drew Brice Ford as Caleb, Hanna Tevita as Polly, and Manon Blackman as Penelope Butterworth. Copyright Semi-Professional Pictures 2015.

And in an Armageddon Expo exclusive, if you stop by our booth you can view the very first footage of the new Terry Teo TV series, coming this summer to TV2! So make sure you see it here first!

The Auckland Armageddon Expo will be held this Labour Weekend, Friday October 23rd - Monday October 26th at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane. The Earth's End booth is located in Pavilion #2, Booth #88 just opposite the international comics guests. You can visit the Armageddon Expo website HERE for more details, and buy tickets HERE. We look forward to seeing you there!

- AK!

The Proof Copies Have Arrived!

Above: Pictures of the first proofed copies of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners.

The first proofed copies of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners are back from the printers - and they look beautiful! 

In just under six weeks the rest of the copies will arrive and be distributed to a bookstore near you. We may have some special announcements coming soon regarding a Launch Party and other Terry related events - as well as an update on the new TV series, so stay tuned!

- AK!

Retro Weekend Viewing: Terry and the Gunrunners Episode 1!

Above: The cast of Terry and the Gunrunners (1985), from left: Adrian Bell as Terry, Phillip Gordon as Ted, and Jennifer Duke as Polly.

Leading up to the release of the new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, now seems like the perfect timing to catch-up on the classic 1980s TV adaptation! 

Starring Adrian Bell as Terry Teo, Jennifer Duke as his karate-chopping sister Polly, with former ‘Goon’ member Michael Bentine as the villainous Ray Vegas, and Billy T James as Spud, the humorously philosophical leader of the biker ‘Gang of Forty’ - the series was shot around Auckland in 1985 and aired in April 1986, and in short order Terry Teo became an eighties kiwi icon.

Above: Terry and the Gunrunners featured on the cover of The NZ Listener, April 1986.

Directed with creative flair by Chris Bailey (Under the Mountain, Street Legal), this six part series was adapted by co-creator Steve Ballantyne and follows the plot of the graphic novel closely, with some additional surprises thrown in along the way!

In this first episode, Terry skates down the wrong driveway and accidentally finds himself face to face with Ray Vagas, his thugs Curly and Blue, and their illegal arsenal of weapons!

Thanks to NZ On Screen you can now revisit as six episodes online! View Terry and the Gunrunners Episode One HERE.

- AK!

Terry Teo Returns!

Revealing the return of a classic kiwi icon, and a tie-in edition to the new TV series Terry Teo, to air soon on TVNZ!

Earth’s End Publishing is proud to announce the return of the classic kiwi kids graphic novel, Terry Teo and the Gunrunners by Stephen Ballantyne & Bob Kerr, to be published on the 6th of November 2015.

Originally released in 1982 as Terry and the Gunrunners, this distinctly local take on the Tintin graphic novel format was an instant hit with children across the nation. The popularity of the book made Terry an instantly iconic kiwi character – inspiring two sequels, and the much loved television adaptation, Terry and the Gunrunners (1985), starring Adrian Bell, Michael Bentine and Billy T. James.

This new edition has been digitally remastered and restored from the original artwork and archives, allowing readers to experience Terry’s first adventure in vibrant watercolour – capturing all of the detail and delights of this action-packed, family favourite adventure!

Above: Remastered artwork by Bob Kerr from Terry Teo and the Gunrunners.

There is also an exclusive behind the scenes look at the history of this kiwi icon, and the brand new TV series, Terry Teo (2015). Due to air soon on TVNZ, the new series is produced by Gerard Johnstone and Luke Sharp, the team behind the recent hit movie Housebound (2014). Starring Kahn West as Terry Teo, Kimberley Crossman and Michael Hurst, the series is produced by Semi-Professional Pictures.

Above: A first look at the new Terry Teo TV series cast. From right: Kahn West as Terry Teo, Drew Brice Ford as Caleb, Hanna Tevita as Polly, and Manon Blackman as Penelope Butterworth. Copyright Semi-Professional Pictures 2015.

The continued interest in this classic character came as a pleasant surprise to Terry Teo artist and co-creator Bob Kerr. “We weren't thinking about any of this when we started. We were probably rather naïve. We just wanted to create a story featuring some local kids having a ripping adventure with heaps of laughs along the way, and somehow that connected with readers. Steve and I are delighted that Terry has been remembered, and that 30 odd years later he is having another outing both in print and on the telly”.

Above: Remastered artwork by Bob Kerr from Terry Teo and the Gunrunners.

Synopsis:

Terry Teo is not your average schoolboy - he's a skateboarding super-sleuth about to embark on his very first adventure!

When he stumbles headfirst into the criminal schemes of the villainous Ray Vegas, Terry finds himself embroiled in a dastardly gun smuggling operation. Along with his karate-chopping sister, Polly, and older brother Ted, Terry must use all his street smarts to avoid Vegas' henchmen, defeat the smugglers, and save the day!

Ordering Information:

Copies of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners are now available for order from Earths End Publishing. Email: earthsendpublishing@gmail.com.Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any queries or require further information. You can also follow us on Twitter: @EarthsEndComics and Facebook: www.facebook/EarthsEndPublishing.

Publishing Details:
Terry Teo and the Gunrunners
Bob Kerr & Stephen Ballantyne
Trade paperback 260mmx210mm
56 pages, full-colour
RRP: $24.99
Release date: 6th November 2015
ISBN - 978-0-473-33067-5

Be sure to check back here soon for further updates and exclusive preview material!

- Adrian Kinnaird

Editorial Director