Debra Boyask

**Debra Jane Boyask** (Chelmsford, England, 11 April 1966 – Bristol, England, 23 April 2013) was a comics artist and educational developer. Boyask was born and died in England, but lived for many years in New Zealand, after moving there with her family in 1974. Ruth Boyask is her sister.

## Education

Boyask completed a Bachelor of Education (hons) at the University of Canterbury in 1992 and worked as an educational evaluator in New Zealand and then an educational developer on her return to the UK.

## Comics

Boyask was an "integral part of the Christchurch comics scene in the 1990s", contributing to *Funtime Comics* (after winning a competition to produce its title and banner) while also producing her own independent comics. Her sister Ruth Boyask also produced comics for *Funtime,* at the time they were the only female contributors to the anthology.

She continued to contribute to *Funtime* after moving back to England in the early 2000s. She also began publishing in a number of British anthologies including, *Factor Fiction* and the *Girly Comics*.

She organised Midwinter Comics Retreats for artists in both New Zealand and England and was known for her support of new artists.

Boyask produced comics under a number of pen names, including 'Teacake', 'Pelms' and 'Bad Astronaut'.

She was also actively involved in the LGBTQIA+ community, and to diversity issues within the comics community.

## Publications

* god, the King and the Cakes of England
* The Powder Room
* *Funtime Comics* (Funtime Comics, 1990-2012)
* *Geeks, Nerds and Dweebs* (Teacake's Comics, 1997)
* *The Ancient Geeks* (1999)
* *The sound of muzac* (2001). Self published, Christchurch, New Zealand.
* *Adult Issues* (Teacake's Comics, 2001)
* *Naughty Tales from Academia* (Teacake's Comics, September 2001)
* "Jessica of the Schoolyard" (*Officer Pup Vol. 1*, September 2001)
* *The girly comic* (2002 - [...]). England, Factor Fiction Press.
* *What Girls Want* (Teacake's Comics, August 2002)
* Funtime Comics in Bristol (Teacake's Comics in association with Funtime Comics, June 2003)
* *The Seven Faced Badger of Doom* (Factor Fiction, 2004)
* *Simple Love in Simple Times* (Teacake's Comics, 2004)
* *Twelve Go Nuts in Gloucester* (2005), with Jay Eales, Terry Wiley and others. England, Factor Fiction Press.
* *Three Words: an anthology of Aotearoa/NZ women's comics* (2016), edited by Rae Joyce, Sarah Laing and Indira Neville. Auckland, New Zealand, Beatnik.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Bonfire, Comics (10 May 2013). "Pikitia Press Blog: Debra Jane Boyask 11 April 1966 – 23 April 2013". *Pikitia Press Blog*. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
2. ↑ "Reading Community in Funtime Comics: A New Zealand Narrative - Comics.org.nz". 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 17 October 2008. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 *Three words : an anthology of Aotearoa/NZ women's comics*. Joyce, Rae,, Laing, Sarah, 1973-, Neville, Indira, 1973-. Auckland, New Zealand. 2016. ISBN 9780994120502. OCLC 948291321.
4. ↑ "Funtime Comics Presents #21: Jurassic Jam Out Now". *The Big Idea*. 7 October 2005. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
5. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070829190122/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/Geeks%2C\_Nerds\_and\_Dweebs(1997)

	* Details: 12pp, A5 B/W
	* Creator: Debra Boyask
	* Published by: Teacake's Comics
	* City: CHCH
6. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20071021091421/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/The\_Ancient\_Geeks

	* Published: 1999
	* Details: 24pp, A5
	* Creator: Debra Boyask, Darren Schroeder (creative consultant), John Davis and Simon Hosie
	* City: Christchurch
7. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070830032721/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/Adult\_Issues

	* Published: 2001
	* Details: 25pp, A5
	* Creator: Debra Boyask
	* Contact: PO Box 1961, Christchurch
8. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070830074028/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/Naughty\_Tales\_from\_Academia(2001/09)

Several shorts pieces with university themes, by Debra Boyask.

	* Details: 12pp, A5
	* Creator: Debra Boyask
	* Published by: Teacake's Comics
	* City: PO Box 1961, chch
9. ↑ https://spiderfan.org/item/beyond/00029.html
10. ↑ https://ndhadeliver.natlib.govt.nz/webarchive/20090415210014/http:/www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php?title=Officer\_Pup
11. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070829185951/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/What\_Girls\_Want(2002/08)

	* Details: 16pp, A5
	* Creator: Debra Boyask
	* Published by: Teacake's Comics
	* City: PO Box 1961, Christchurch
12. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070830032934/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/Funtime\_Comics\_in\_BristolWhen Debra Boyask moved to Bristol, she quickly recruited a group of British comics creators to form a colonial outpost of Funtime Comics. This issue includes *Harriet's Adventure Involving Hubcaps*, written by Debra and illustrated in New Zealand by Isaac Freeman, which is why it might conceivably qualify as a New Zealand comic.

	* Creators: Debra Boyask, Isaac Freeman, Plainjane, Lisa Cole, Vogon, Janet Deverell and Reiki Man
	* Issue: 1 (2003/06)
	* Details: 20pp, A5
	* Published by: Teacake's Comics in association with Funtime Comics
	* City: Bristol, UK
13. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070829185956/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/The\_Seven\_Faced\_Badger\_of\_Doom(2004)

	* Details: 16pp, A5, Colour Comic
	* Creator: Selina Lock, Jeremy Dennis, Jay Eales, Damian Cugley, Terry Wiley, Dan Hart, Jo Tiny, Alex, Ruth Oreily, Reikiman, Debra Boyask, Ruth Boyask
	* Comments: Jam Comic
	* Published by: Factor Fiction
	* City: Leicester LE18 2BE, UK
	* Available from http://www.factorfictionpress.co.uk/
14. ↑ https://web.archive.org/web/20070829190127/http://www.comics.org.nz/wiki/index.php/Simple\_Love\_in\_Simple\_Times(2004)

	* Details: 12pp, A6
	* Creator: Debra Boyask
	* Published by: Teacake's Comics