Lotto Ticket – scroll, or click it to enlarge in a new window (it’s a double pager, so if you’re visiting from 1996, you might want to go make a cup of coffee).

Kereama: Happy Mothers’ Day Mum… if art imitates life, then it was probably Kyle who ordered the flowers, so Clifford only needs to phone later and check she got them 😉

Whanau (family) – click it to enlarge

Kereama:

We just got back from our Great Aunty’s tangi (Arohanui Aunty Mattie, pomarie) and were talking about how much everyone in the family has grown/changed/multiplied. My sister said “Yeah it’s 50 shades of brown!” (and then let me turn it into a comic).  Before last week, it had been too long since I was up the coast – but as always, once I arrived, it seemed like only yesterday. I love my giant, multi-coloured family and its 50 shades of everything!

Milkshake: Click it to enlarge.

Kereama’s note:

Who hasn’t been told-off for doing this at least once in their life? This is a real coming-of-age scene. The big blue guy was originally a figment of Hemi’s imagination, but now he appears to Hemi’s sons – so was he an imaginary friend after all? Who knows why we grow up and lose our imaginary friends – and if we don’t pass them on, where do they go? An imaginary friend retirement home? I still haven’t given this one a name, and probably won’t. He’s a mystery to me… in fact, I’m not sure he’s even real…

It’s been 13 years since Hemi made an appearance in a comic strip. Unfortunately for him, he’s not in the best shape for a comeback… Give him six weeks or so and he’ll be fine 😉 (click the image to enlarge)

Kereama’s note:
Phew – I didn’t think a new set of strips was ever going to happen, even though I have a bunch of ideas in draft form scattered all over my desk. Sometimes, the right ‘spark’ comes at the right time and the inspiration for this came from me dreaming up designs for “Get Well Soon” cards, as the past few weeks have seen a number of my whanau (family) members, here and overseas in hospital. It makes me happy that Hemi’s always been able to put a smile on their faces, so it was inevitable I suppose, that the first images which sprang to mind were of Hemi in bandages and plaster casts for whatever comical reason. This strip then just wrote itself. It felt right to be the first in the new generation of Hemi toons, Luana (his old school friend) has the first line, just like she did back in 2000 when they were ten years old.

Hemi’s wife made an easy coffee companion for her. They teach together at the same school and I’ve already drafted a number of stories that involve them having a korero (chat) over cups of coffee. I’ve been asked by a few people now what her name is, but I didn’t want to rush it. I tend not to over-think them, most of the characters name themselves eventually, (with a little help from me I guess). For Hemi’s wife (a pretty important one to get just right) Huia was the perfect fit.