Choose Your Apocalypse

Been collaborating on these two comics projects for about a year now (neither comic is very long, it's just that life and other projects kept getting in the way), both are coincidentally about the end of the world. But that seems to be on everyone's mind lately.

I'd been working with a high-school friend Vanessa for like, a year now, doing posters and little bits of promo illustration for her upcoming short film, Red Summer. The movie reminds me a little of the Ray Bradbury story, "The Last Night of the World". Then Vanessa was nice enough to ask if I'd draw a comic, with characters from the film and set in the same place, but an original story. It was fun to get the chance to play around in a world someone else had created.

 

"Here at The End of All Things" was written by Sean T. Collins, and it's more of an "end of the world disaster action movie" type story, complete with an unlikely hero and damsel in distress. Was pretty nervous when I first read his script, because there were cars, explosions, suspension bridges, and all sorts of things usually I avoid drawing, but it was nice to have a challenge and stretch those drawing muscles.

Anyway, hope to have a few copies of each of these at SPX in September! See you there?

Frocks and Dandies, Linktastic.

Downside to handwriting my blog entries is that I can't really link to things, so taking a quick break. HEY! The Stumptown Comics Festival is coming up! Nomi Kane and I will be at table C17. Stop by for a visit, and if you're voting in the Stumptown Awards, I'm sure Nomi would appreciate a vote for her anthology Lies Grown-Ups Told Me.

Next I'd recommend swinging by booth 306 for a chat with Beth Hetland, Pat Barrett, and Ben Horak. These guys all do amazing, original work, and Beth was also nominated for a Stumptown Award!

This week I wrapped up a big comics project (that I hope to have printed in time for Stumptown) and rewarded myself with a day of watching RuPaul's Drag Race and doodling fashion plates. Sketches will be for sale at Stumptown!

Journey Home part 1- SPX

Okay, so I'm moving back to Washington, right? And I decide that, instead of flying straight there, to make a bunch of stops along the way. So I head from Vermont to Bethesday, MD for the Small Press Expo (SPX, like anyone reading this doesn't already know that), from there to New York City, then Chicago, then Los Angeles, then home.
















This was a stupid idea. It's also been awesome...and sad, and exhausting, and you wouldn't believe this bruise on my leg from where the rolling suitcase keeps bumping into it...but mostly awesome.  Anyway, the first stop was SPX!



I was lucky enough to share a table once again with Jon Chad and Laura Terry. Katherine Roy had to miss the show this year, which was sad, but it was because she had a gallery opening to attend, which is great!

We were also next to the Sundays guy and gal, which was nice. Family reunion!
 


The Ignatz Awards happened. Joseph Lambert won two of them, which surprised no one but delighted everyone. Look at that crowd! Cartoonists are a fire hazard.

Been putting off writing an SPX wrap-up post because I was struggling with what to write in regards to Dylan William's passing. So many people have articulated it better than I ever could. I only met Dylan twice, once in Olympia when I was just starting out, and once in Portland at his Bad Apple dvd store. When two shy and quiet people meet, not much happens. I've come to know him better through the good things others had to say about him, and...yeah. It's a sad time.

SPX time! Sept 10th-11th, 2001 in Bethesda MD

Why did I think trying to move cross-country right before SPX was a good idea? Things are a little crazy, but whatever, THIS IS HAPPENING! Get on board the crazy train.



Okay, SPX. I'll be at table D1, where I'll have a pile of mini comics on sale CHEAP for $1, copies of Island Brat, The Trials of Sir Christopher, and Tragic Relief and lots of little paintings.

 

Sharing the table will be Jon Chad, with his Bikeman series and a new issue of Drop Target,

and Ms. LAURA TERRY, who has been nominated for an Ignatz Award for Outstanding Mini Comic!

You should come check it out. And if you like her comics, maybe vote for her. I know we'd all appreciate it. Hope to see you in Bethesda!

White River Junction, Hogwarts Adjacent

Alec Longstreth as Hagrid, photo from CCS flickr pool

The last Harry Potter movie is opening tonight! I'm so excited, partly because I haven't been to a midnight movie since High School.

Here in Toon Town, we take our Harry Potter seriously, and there's always a lot of talk about what houses each of us would be sorted into. I'd always imagined myself a Ravenclaw, but everyone else seems to have me pegged for a Slytherin. Guess I do have a bit of an ambitious side.


photo by Jen Vaughn, Dark Mark applied by Jon Chad.

Here's a few drawings of noted Slytherin Tom Riddle that I did for the Harry Potter Alliance a last year-

HAPPY PICARD DAY!

Happy Picard Day everyone! Now that I don't have TV, I rather miss watching Star Trek. It use to be part of my daily routine.

I should also note that I'm in no way related to Jonathan Frakes, though it'd be pretty cool if I was.

If the world doesn't end on Saturday-

Then come to MECAF! Sunday, May 22, 2011 in Portland, Maine.

Here's this year's poster! Drawn by Zack Giallongo, and I helped with the coloring :)

The Spring convention season is almost over (for me), and this is a great show to end on. It's always very chill.



The convention takes place at the Ocean Gateway on the waterfront. On the water! We get to see sailboats cruise behind our tables!



Even though this is the Atlantic (and therefore inferior) Ocean, it's still pretty nice for an island kid who's been trapped in a landlocked state for six years.

ANYWAY, there are other things to recommend MECAF than just the location. I have comics in a couple of new anthologies there!


Team Werewolf is releasing a fourth volume of their celebrated mini comic anthology, plus a bonus kids comic, Pups! I have a short comic in the kid's book, advising the youngsters on the best ways to ward off werewolves.


Visions of the Aporkalypse, edited by Kevin Uehlein, comics about a post-apocalyptic future where have taken over the earth, and humans are their slaves. I've got a short comic in here as well, warning the humans of the dreaded Swineclops. A perfect gift for your favorite vegetarian. 

I'll be there with all the usual comics, plus I'm bringing MECAF bingo boards! Fill the board, and win a free comic. Hope to see you there!

TCAF 2011 Report

Yay, TCAF! I'm not sure what I can say that hasn't already been said. It's hands down the best show for independent comics, and I'm very grateful to have made it in off the wait list at the last minute.

I traveled to the show with Joe Lambert, Caitlin McGurk, Sam Gaskin and David Libens. That is a lot of people in one little rental car for 8 hours, but (I think) we made it through the whole ordeal pretty well.



Island Brat had a successful debut there, thanks again to Anne Koyama and Koyama Press for funding this project! It was good to finally meet her in person, and pick up a copy of the Root Rot anthology.

Also I sold my last few copies of Woman King. It's gone forever (at least at conventions, still have two copies up on Etsy, and I know a few stores like The Beguiling and Quimby's still have it in stock.)



Here is out table at the start of Day 2, after Woman King was gone, and Caitlin McGurk was down to her last three copies of the Know Your Wu Tang flash card sets.




So...yeah. I didn't take many pictures at the show. Mostly during our adventures before and after. But, they're here if you want to check them out.

Joe Lambert was the unofficial/official trip photographer, and has a better set here.

TCAF! May 7-8th, 2011

I'll be at TCAF this weekend, at the Toronto Reference Library! I'll be hard to miss for two reasons- one- My table is right across from the bathrooms. Please remember to wash your hands.

And two- OMG stress acne! Really, I can't believe the size of this thing, pretty sure you can see it from space. Just putting it out there so no one feels awkward like they have to avoid staring. It is almost hypnotic...





This is my plan for getting past the border guards. See you in Canada!

Comic Geek Speak Super Show con report

Wow, I've been bad about my convention reporters this year. Comic Geek Speak Super Show in Reading, PA, was my third con of the season, and I think this is my first follow-up.



Drove to Reading with Alex Kim, Sean Ford, Chuck McBuck and Jon Chad. They're a good bunch of lads, and a fine time was had by all. 

We'd been invited to the show by Charlie and Mr. Phil of Indie Spinner Rack, and Sean and I ended up on a last-minute panel about Indie Publishing, moderated by Charlie. Think it might end up on the website at some point?


The panel ended when the ghost of Jack Kirby showed up, and scared everyone off.

Book sales at this show were kinda slow- talking to attendees, almost none of them were local. I met fans of the Comic Geek Speak podcast from Colorado, Florida and Texas, so it makes sense that after flying across the country to get to Reading PA people don't want to pick up books from an artist they've never heard of.



BUT- I was able to make up the cost of the show in sketches! Brought along a travel gouache set and a Pentel Aquash, and spent most of the show painting. Below are some of the commissions and random sketches I did, the rest are up on flickr.
















 

So all in all, CGSSS was an okay show. Not really my audience, but we still found a way to break even. Best thing about the show was really the organization- there were signs everywhere, lots of volunteers to help out, free food vouchers for exhibitors (!!!) and someone stopped by our table at least twice a day to check in and see how we were doing. Great job, Comic Geek Speak!

Comic Geek Speak Super Show this weekend!

Oh yeah, I'm going to be at the Comic Geek Speak Super Show in PA this weekend with Jon Chad, Alex Kim, Sean Ford and Chuck McBuck! Between all the other shows and book making and no sleep I kinda forgot about this one.

This'll be my first time at a "mainstream" show, so I've been working on some DC superhero (but mostly heroine) sketches to sell. Check it:









Hm. One of these days, I'm gonna learn to draw dudes.

Cartoonist's Night at the Theater 3- Evita at Northern Stage

Wow, Northern Stage invited us back to sketch another performance! Unfortunately (or rather, fortunate for the students, but unfortunate for this event) this was the night after Lynda Barry's first writing class with the Center for Cartoon Studies. It's an (amazing) intensive program, and the students were there all day, so we didn't have a whole lot of a turnout for this performance.

But those that did make it got quite a show! I was really impressed by the performance, especially as this dress rehearsal we saw was the first time the cast had gone through the whole play, beginning to end.

Here's some quick watercolor sketches I did. Click on the thumbnails for a larger version.

Thanks again to Northern Stage for having us.
I'll post links to other people's sketches as they come in!

EDIT:
Sketches from Melanie Gillman! Loved her hilarious take on the show-
http://contriveathon.livejournal.com/38561.html


NORTHERN STAGE
http://www.northernstage.org/

Music by Andrew Lloyd Webber

Lyrics by Tim Rice

Directed by Brooke Ciardelli
Muscial Direction by Adam Wachter
Choreography by Connor Gallagher

April 13 - May 8, 2011

Rejoice in this acclaimed musical, which ran for over 1,500 performances on Broadway! The rise to power and acclaim of the larger-than-life Eva Peron has thrilled audiences around the world for 30 years!

Cast:
Ensemble Todd Adamson
Eva Peron Merideth Kaye Clark
Ensemble Karen Elliott
Che Adam Fleming
Ensemble David Janett
Ensemble Peter Mills
Magaldi Joe Paparella
Ensemble Frankie Paparone
Ensemble Annie Petersmeyer
Ensemble Jacob Pinion
Peron Fred Rose
Ensemble Samantha Gershman
Ensemble Valerie Larsen
Ensemble James Wordsworth
Youth Ensemble Fiona Campbell
Youth Ensemble Margaret Finley
Youth Ensemble Simon Kahan