Gestalt Publishing is an Australian independent

graphic novel A graphic novel is a self-contained, book-length form of sequential art. The term ''graphic novel'' is often applied broadly, including fiction, non-fiction, and Anthology, anthologized work, though this practice is highly contested by comics sc ...

publishing house. They primarily publish Australian graphic novelists, and have an ethos of supporting and developing emerging talent.

History

The company was officially founded in

Applecross, Western Australia Applecross is a riverside suburb of Perth, Western Australia, bounded by Canning Highway and the Swan River (Western Australia), Swan River. It is located within the City of Melville. , several high-rise buildings are under construction in the ...

, in 2005 by Wolfgang Bylsma and Skye Ogden, although they had previously been involved in creating, editing and publishing underground and editorial comics since the early-1990s. Gestalt operates out of

Perth Perth () is the list of Australian capital cities, capital city of Western Australia. It is the list of cities in Australia by population, fourth-most-populous city in Australia, with a population of over 2.3 million within Greater Perth . The ...

Western Australia Western Australia (WA) is the westernmost state of Australia. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east, and South Australia to the south-east. Western Aust ...

. However, the company routinely travels to other parts of Australia for conventions and festivals. To date, Gestalt Publishing have published such notable books as '' The Deep: Here Be Dragons'', ''Eldritch Kid'', ''Unmasked'', and ''Flinch''. Gestalt have published the work of many well-known creators, including Shaun Tan,

Tom Taylor Tom Taylor (19 October 1817 – 12 July 1880) was an English dramatist, critic, biographer, public servant, and editor of Punch (magazine), ''Punch'' magazine. Taylor had a brief academic career, holding the professorship of English literatu ...

, Andrew Constant,

Colin Wilson Colin Henry Wilson (26 June 1931 – 5 December 2013) was an English existentialist philosopher-novelist. He also wrote widely on true crime, mysticism and the paranormal, eventually writing more than a hundred books. Wilson called his p ...

, and Terry Dowling. In 2013, a documentary called ''Comic Book Heroes'' was made about the company’s founders and core talent, and their efforts to establish a following in the US market. In 2018 and 2019, Gestalt's editor-in-chief, Wolfgang Bylsma, worked with the Indigenous Literacy Foundation to mentor and support a group of young Indigenous comic writers and artists based in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) called "Stick Mob Studios". Gestalt published three of Stick Mob Studios' comics – ''Storm Warning'', ''Exo Dimensions'', and ''Mixed Feelings''. Gestalt also collaborated with Big hART to produce and print physical editions of the comic series ''Neomad''. The comic was originally produced as part of their Yijala Yala project, which worked with the Roebourne community to create videos, games, performances, and interactive comics. The graphic novel went on to receive the Gold Ledger Award in 2016. In 2022, one of the owners of Gestalt, Wolfgang Bylsma, established Comics On Country as a not-for-profit platform to help support First Nations creators in telling their stories through comics.

Indigiverse

In 2022, Gestalt announced that it would be partnering with Comics On Country and Ice Cream Productions to create an Aboriginal

superhero A superhero or superheroine is a fictional character who typically possesses ''superpowers'' or abilities beyond those of ordinary people, is frequently costumed concealing their identity, and fits the role of the hero, typically using their ...

universe under the "Indigiverse" banner. This will consist of multiple comic book series, all of which will feature Aboriginal Australian characters and

Lore Lore may refer to: * Folklore, acquired knowledge or traditional beliefs * Oral lore or oral tradition, orally conveyed cultural knowledge and traditions Places * Loré, former French commune * Loré (East Timor), a city and subdistrict in La ...

. The first comic series under the Indigiverse imprint is ''Dark Heart'', written by Gooniyandi-Miriuwung Gajerrong man Scott Wilson, with art by Katie Houghton-Ward. The first issue was released in July 2022. The comic features an "Elder Protector" who guards the world against beings of darkness. The second issue was scheduled for release in November 2022, with production underway on another two comic series to see publication in 2023.

Books

* ''His Dream of the Skyland'' * ''Changing Ways: Book 1'' * ''Changing Ways: Book 2'' * ''Changing Ways: Book 3, Chapter 1'' * ''The Deep Vol. 1: Here Be Dragons'' * ''The Deep Vol. 2: The Vanishing Island'' * ''Torn'' * ''Lark Case Files: Black City'' * ''Lark Case Files: Devil City'' * ''Neomad'' * ''Exo Dimensions Vol. 1'' * ''Mixed Feelings Vol. 1'' * ''Storm Warning Vol. 1'' * ''Vowels'' * ''Eldritch Kid: Bone War'' * ''Eldritch Kid: Whisky and Hate'' * ''Karnak'' * ''Plato's Allegory of the Cave'' * ''Rombies'' * ''The Example'' * ''The More Things Change'' * ''Proud Heart'' * ''Believe'' * ''MIDAS'' * ''Fly'' * ''Sebastian Hawks'' * ''Waldo's Hawaiian Holiday'' * ''Unmasked Vol.1: Going Straight Is No Way To Die'' * ''Unmasked: Caddy Full of Blood'' * '' Wastelander Panda Vol. 1: Exile'' * ''Walled City Book 1: His Dream of the Skyland'' * ''Walled City Book 2: Nocturne'' * ''Flinch'' * ''Lustration Vol. 1'' * ''Character Sketches'' * ''Khulan'' * ''Talgard: Tome One'' * ''Talgard: Tome Two'' * ''Flock Book One: Warbird'' * ''Cleverman Vol. 1'' * ''Cleverman Vol. 2'' * ''Dark Heart Vol. 1''

References

External links

* * *{{official, https://www.stickmobstudio.com.au/, Stick Mob Studio 2005 establishments in Australia Publishing companies established in 2005 Australian comics Book publishing companies of Australia Comic book publishing companies of Australia