Last time Mark Bode visited, back in 2012, we had the chance to sit down, interview him and have a great chat. His shows went great, a bunch of people got some tattoos and he generally spread his radness of work and self across the city. Now, a few years later, Mark is returning for another show at Backwoods Galler – and it promises to be every bit as awesome as his last visit!

“Few people have had as much on an influence on the world of graffiti as the father and son team of Vaughn and Mark Bode.

Vaughn Bode was born, July 22, 1941 in Utica, New York. Upon finishing school Vaughn joined the army, went AWOL, was discharged and then went to art school. In 1963 at age 22, Bode self-published Das Kämpf, considered one of the first underground comic books.

During the 1970’s, the Hugo Award winning Vaughn Bode became one of the New Yorks most recognised cartoonists. He was a young, cross dressing, messiah with a clear artistic vision, sharp sense of humour and captivating presence. As a contemporary to Trina Robbins, Spain Rodriguez, Robert Crumb and Ralph Bakshi, Vaughn went on to becomeone of underground comic’s founding fathers.

It was within this creative community that Vaughn’s son, Mark Bode grew up. Since he could hold a pencil, Mark was part of his fathers artistic practice. Mark helped Vaughn develop stories while perfecting his technique and immersing himself in the Bode universe.

In the mid 70’s the rebellious humour and proto-punk message of Vaughn Bode’s comic books resonated so strongly with New York’s youth that it was adopted as the visual identity of an emerging culture that would become known as hip-hop. The unique typography that Vaughn developed for his comics was the prototype for the “bubble writing” graffiti style and graffiti artists such as DONDI replicated characters from Bode’s comics in the first pieces of graffiti, a tradition that persists to this day.

When Vaughn passed away, in 1975, Mark seamlessly continued his fathers work, carrying the Bode name into the present day. In 2006, as recognition for his contribution to comic books, Vaughn Bode was inducted into the Will Eisner Hall Of Fame.

Today, Mark Bode’s accomplishments epitomises the diverse influence that he and his father have had on contemporary culture. Mark is a cartoonist, a comic book artist, a graffiti artist, a tattooist and an exhibiting artist. Mark’s comics continue to developed the Bode universe and he has also contributed to publications like Heavy Metal Magazine and titles such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

As part of the international graffiti scene which owes so much to his fathers vision, Mark has also become one of the world’s leading street artists. Mark continues paints the original Bode characters in cities across the globe, contributes to festivals and collaborates on murals with artists such as Os Gemeos.

Wizards, Lizards & Broads is the latest exhibition by Mark Bode and an overview of the Bode legacy depicted through original artwork as well as a rare collection of comic book work and sketches by Vaughn Bode. We hope that the exhibition is an opportunity for fans of comic books and graffiti to converge over the legacy of one of the art world’s most unique families.

Wizards, Lizards & Broads opens on Friday the 24th of June with a special graffiti jam on Saturday the 25th in Backwoods Lane.”

Sp head down this Friday night to check it out – and don’t forget to get a bit of a recap by reading our 2012 interview with him!

Who: Mark Bode
What: Wizards, Lizard and Broads
Where: Backwoods Gallery, 25 EAsey St, Collingwood, Melbourne
When: Show opens Friday 24th June from 6pm and runs until July 3rd 2016

.. it’ll be a great show, but thats not all! Also on the Saturday is another event,a  good ol fashioned Bode block party in the Backwoods laneway! Details below, looks rad!

Check out Backwoods Gallery for more information on the show!