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!

Terry Teo's Life of Crime?

Above: Kahn West and Terry Teo at the scene of a crime. Copyright Semi-Professional Pictures 2015.

In today's Sunday Star Times, Eleanor Black takes a look at the new, slightly grittier changes made to the Terry Teo characters in the upcoming TV series set to screen on TV2.

In the new series, Terry is a potential gang prospect, his policeman father has been killed, and his mother is now a petty criminal. Despite his troubled family life, Terry still overcomes these setbacks to fight crime and hopefully solve his father's murder.  Co-creator Stephen Ballantyne, Dylan Horrocks and myself chime in with our thoughts on the changes, and what makes the original graphic novel so appealing.

You can read the article online HERE.

- AK!

Retro Weekend Viewing: Terry and the Gunrunners Episode 2!

Above: Former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon as secret government spy boss, Arnos Groove.

Leading up to the release of the new edition of Terry Teo and the Gunrunners, we're taking a second look at the classic 1980s TV adaptation! 

In the second episode, Ray Vegas - and his villainous sidekicks Curly and Blue - are hunting for - and ultimately capture Terry! Terry’s brother Ted and sister Polly are in hot pursuit, ending up in Kaupati - possibly the most Kiwi holiday park ever. Meanwhile, more information emerges about the mysterious government agents, Thompson and Crouch, as they report to their boss Arnos Grove (none other than real life former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon).

Above: The bumbling secret agents, Thompson and Crouch, played by David Letch and Stephen Tozer).

Thanks to NZ On Screen you can view the full episode of Terry and the Gunrunners Episode Two HERE.

- 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!