Thanks to the Dean Team and the the HURRY UP! OW PRESS site for setting up the window display! The following is republished with HURRY UP! OW PRESS permission.
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.