Comics By Late Dean Ballinger Published In Two Books

The remarkable life and
brilliant comics of a Hamilton artist who suffered a
debilitating disease are being celebrated with the
publication of two volumes of his eclectic graphic
storytelling

Dean Ballinger, who died at age 48 in
2022 after enduring Motor Neuron Disease, produced many
cartoon strips and comic zines over more than two decades,
ranging in style from imaginative new mythology and gonzo
sci-fi, to conceptual art jokes and ‘too much for some’
toilet humour.

A man of many talents, Dean
is also credited with coining the title ‘Hamiltron’ and
‘The Tron’ to describe Kirikiriroa-Hamilton, in the late
1990s alongside fellow radio DJ Greg Page and
“call-in-listener Brian”.

Now a group
of Dean’s friends are publishing two books of his comics,
to offer his long-time fans a quality memento of his
memorable drawings, and to introduce his crazy wild art to
new audiences.

Mark Servian, editor and project
manager, says between them, the two volumes present three
distinct artistic genres of Dean’s
work.

“OHU is the never-before-seen graphic
novel written and pencilled by Dean, and then inked and
coloured to completion by Aaron Christiansen. It is a fun
story that will appeal to adults and kids
alike.

“The other volume is actually ‘two books in
one’ – the Dean Ballinger Anthology is two
collections back-to-back, reflecting Dean’s two very
different bodies of work, the art and the comedy” says
Mark.

OHU
is a 116-page fully colour illustrated graphic novel about
three quirky friends on a quest across a psychedelic
Waikato. Think of it as a “Yellow Submarine in the
Waikato”, in the format of an Asterix book.

Dean
began working on OHU in 2014, with Aaron Christiansen
then working with him on the art over the last year of his
life.

“OHU blends Dean’s love for nature,
history, and deep cultural connections into a unique,
surreal and captivating story,” says Aaron.

“I got
to know Dean over a few years through us both contributing
comics to Waikato student mag Nexus, and zines
Bristle, Sonic Comic and Dean’s group
anthology Hamiltron: City of the Future.
Then I had the privilege of working with Dean in
his final year to help him complete OHU.

“I
see doing this as honouring his vision and ensuring his
final work is shared with everyone. Finishing OHU
hasn’t been just about completing a project—it has been
about keeping Dean’s voice alive on the
page.

“Dean’s ideas, his humour, and his distinct
way of seeing the world are woven into every part of this
story. Taking what he had roughed out and bringing it to
life has been a great honour, I’m proud to be able to
share Dean’s work in a way that stays true to his original
vision,” says Aaron.

The
Dean Ballinger Anthology is
actually ‘two books in one’, some 330 pages all up,
including 20 in colour.

Editor Mark Servian says Dean
Ballinger produced two distinct bodies of graphic
storytelling over twenty-five years.

“This
collection of Dean’s comics and posters is presented as
two books back-to-back in a double-ended volume, with a
different front cover at each end,” says
Mark.

“The Tower and Other Graphic Tales, at
one end, contains Dean’s ‘serious literature’ pieces,
most of which were originally published as whole
zines.

“It includes Dean’s experimental comics and
most sci-fi outings, stories that delve into daily life and
birth new mythologies, and it closes with the last tales he
told, about his experience of motor neuron
disease.

“The Art of the Puster: Hamiltron
Underground Comix and Posters, at the other end,
contains Dean’s short and funny stuff, originally
published in student mags and anthology zines, or pinned up
in flats.

“Usually a single page, they employ all
manner of comedic devices along the way, from intellectual
sight gags to spectacularly low brow takes on Hamilton’s
‘bogan’ reputation.

“There is some full-on
‘art wank and toilet humour’ in places, unsuitable for
children and general polite company, but irony and good
intent abound and many will chuckle aloud at these ribald
strips.”

Mark says it has been a privilege to
commission and edit this collection of Dean Ballinger’s
amazing art and stories.

The books are
available from BooksbyDeanBallinger.nz,
and in due course at willing bookshops. See also Hurry
Up Ow Press on Facebook.

The ‘Dean book team’
is trading as ‘Hurry Up! Ow! Press’. It is made up of
Dean’s wife Kelly Taylor, and includes Aaron Christiansen,
Rohan Marx, Mark Servian, Richard Swainson, Wairehu Grant
and Lauren
Kerr-Bell.

© Scoop Media

This post was originally published on here