Urban Trash
Urban Trash (14 March 2005 - 30 June 2008) was my first ever syndicated comic strip, published around South Africa, Namibia, and the United Kingdom.
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A quick history of the strip. Where the strip is today. An overview of the primary characters. The first ever strips. Random stuff from fans. |
To view the official comic strips, simply use the drop-down menu to the right. (Note that there are no Urban Trash strips after 30 June 2008.)
The strip itself - a quick history.
Urban Trash was my first professional daily comic strip, born on 14 March 2005, focusing on the exploits of urban street life in and around South Africa. The cast consisted of nine generally apathetic lowlifes, of which only one was (unintentionally) female.
Initially, there was a gay character, Vincent, who I dropped in January 2007. A year later, in January 2008, a replacement character arrived: a pavement special dog (surrounding which I ran a competition where I gave away a Nintendo Wii to the reader who most accurately guessed who or what the character is.)
I initially called the strip “Streetkak”, but eventually settled on “Urban Trash”.
Urban Trash first appeared in the South African (in the United Kingdom) in November 2005, and then, for the first time in a South African publication, in The Witness in December 2005.
Urban Trash - current day.
After beginning to feel disillusioned and slightly bored with the strip, I decided - following many months of thought - to retire it. The last ever Urban Trash cartoon was published on 30 June 2008.
Urban Trash was illustrated in full colour, and appeared daily from Monday to Saturday. One Sunday strip per month was created.
It was syndicated via IOL, The Times, The Big Issue (Namibia), iafrica.com, The Witness, The Big Issue (South Africa), News24, and the South African (London).
Urban Trash also featured in smaller - regular and irregular - publications like newsletters, websites, social networks, and community newspapers.
There are no Urban Trash books.
The primary characters - an overview of the core group.
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Frik An alcoholic who sells fast food from a caravan, with romantic interests in Melanie. |
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Officer Koos A fat lazy traffic officer intent on upholding the law in a corrupt kind of way. |
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Lightie Africa’s streetwise nephew, with an addiction to drugs. |
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Ravi A store owner constantly offering good deals and low quality products. |
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Melanie A junior school teacher, and the only female character. |
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Christmas An incompetent minibus taxi driver. |
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Frank An apathetic and unsuccessful entrepeneur. |
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Africa Previously a newspaper vendor, Africa changed to a petrol pump attendant. |
The first strips - March 2005 to November 2005 (before going professional).
Fans - random stuff relating to Urban Trash readers.
