American popular culture has significantly impacted the Australian psyche, from cars, television, cinema, clothing, and food to reshaping the vernacular and written word. After Australia’s Golden Age, it would take another forty years before we had anything resembling a comic book industry. Given the talent and resources available, why aren’t any recent comics worthy of international […]
If asked to name a superhero, a person’s likely response would be a character from either the world of Marvel or DC [Detective Comics] — such is the extent of their influence and power. From Spider-Man, The Hulk, and Iron Man to Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman, these giants of the comic book industry seemingly […]
The lack of acknowledgement of Australian pop culture in traditional and online publications should be no surprise when considering the overabundance of American pop culture references that inundate our daily lives. While little has been officially recorded concerning the actual history of Australian comics, even less has been documented on its seemingly tenuous future. However, […]
Ned Kelly, in life, as in death, was a polarising figure. During his outlawry Ned became an adversary to the establishment but a crusader to the common folk. When he rode the trails of North East Victoria it was the fight for land between squatter and selector that drew the battle lines. Regularly, Ned’s portrayal […]
This essay begins to explore the influence of Australian stock characters and archetypes on Western popular culture by examining the mythology and folklore that encompasses the story of Ned Kelly. Ever since Edward ‘Ned’ Kelly emerged from colonial obscurity in 1878, his story has continued to fascinate. Whether historical, imaginative, or a combination of both, […]