Gestalt Publishing
Gestalt Publishing is an Australian independent graphic novel 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, 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, Western Australia. 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, Andrew Constant, Colin Wilson, 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 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 universe under the "Indigiverse" banner. This will consist of multiple comic book series, all of which will feature Aboriginal Australian characters and Aboriginal religion and mythology|Lore].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 SkylandChanging Ways: Book 1Changing Ways: Book 2Changing Ways: Book 3, Chapter 1The Deep Vol. 1: Here Be DragonsThe Deep Vol. 2: The Vanishing IslandTornLark Case Files: Black CityLark Case Files: Devil CityNeomadExo Dimensions Vol. 1Mixed Feelings Vol. 1Storm Warning Vol. 1VowelsEldritch Kid: Bone WarEldritch Kid: Whisky and HateKarnakPlato's Allegory of the CaveRombiesThe ExampleThe More Things ChangeProud HeartBelieveMIDASFlySebastian HawksWaldo's Hawaiian HolidayUnmasked Vol.1: Going Straight Is No Way To DieUnmasked: Caddy Full of BloodWastelander Panda Vol. 1: ExileWalled City Book 1: His Dream of the SkylandWalled City Book 2: NocturneFlinchLustration Vol. 1Character SketchesKhulanTalgard: Tome OneTalgard: Tome TwoFlock Book One: WarbirdCleverman Vol. 1Cleverman Vol. 2- ''Dark Heart Vol. 1''