Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Even fortune cookies are against me

Wendy and I had Chinese food for lunch. After she finished she opened her fortune cookie and it read "You love challenge." I thought that was appropriate.
She opened the second of three cookies and it read "Executive ability is prominent in your make up" and I thought that was also very appropriate.

When I opened my cookie it read "The weather is wonderful"

I think that's the Chinese equivalent of "Bless your heart"

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Rob Con aftermath

So I went to Bristol TN/VA with my wife Wendy. I am starting to believe that Bristol is a mystical Brigadoon type city and the only way to enter is by driving through a torrential rainstorm.  Every time we go it rains so hard you can't see where you are going and then Boom, there's Bristol.

It was an ok show for me sales wise, but I met some good people and saw some I haven't seen in a while.
This also has the distinction of being the first con I've attended where the power went out. A room full of comic geeks who peruse through comics by cellphones, lightsabers and sonic screwdrivers.  That was fantastic.

The road trip with Wendy was the best part of the weekend. We enjoy the time with nothing else to get in the way.

But now it is back to the everyday grind, hopefully I will get to another show soon.  Until then I am working on issue 10, a family portrait where everyone is an Avenger, a grant proposal, and sketches.  Just a few things.

Sunday, July 21, 2013

Great 1 day show, its not Comicon but it will do for me (for now)

So, no I did not go to San Diego.  It is funny how many people who are not regular comic readers have asked me if I was going to San Diego for Comicon.  Its nice that it has pierced the public's perception so that I don't have to explain what a comic book convention is so often.

But I did go to a convention in Winston Salem Saturday.  Had a good trip with a friend of mine, talked to a lot of good people, and sold a good amount of stuff.  And it was a wide variety of stuff is what makes me happy; comics, sketches, prints, and other art/ crafty stuff .  I met a lot of different types of people who wanted to give my stuff a try, it was very encouraging.

Thank you Winston Salem, Jay and Eddie for putting on the show, Burke Street Comics for the words of encouragement, Rick Fortenberry just cause it was good to see you, and the Hobby Shop of Wilson for sharing the space.

NEXT weekend is  Rob Con in Bristol, TN.  I have the rather new sensation of needing to replenish my stock on some things. How cool is that?

Thursday, July 18, 2013

Comic book show

And here are the details for the Winston Salem show.  The day I got to visit the comic shops in Winston really made me think that the area must have a great fan base. 3 shops in the same general area, a lot of times you are lucky to fins 1.  I saw Burke St Comics, Ssalefish, and the third (which was closed) is by the guys who are putting on this show, so I am looking forward to meeting them.  It must be nice to be a fan in that area, I grew up just south of there and when our comic shop closed I would go to the Heroes Aren't Hard to Find when they had a store in Winston.  Good Times.

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Comic Show in Winston Salem

Woohoo! Comic Book show!

Haven't done a Winston Salem show in a long time, chomping at the bit for this.  Really need a day full of comics.

If you read this and see me at the show, walk over and say "Zero is my hero" and win a prize.

Work is... well work.  So I need a day of comic book fans, and stuff for sale I'll never be able to afford.  I will have oodles of prints, iNTERMEZZO 1-9, Dyslexic Cosmic 1 & 2, and The Journey of Brave Ulysses for sale.

Friday, July 12, 2013

Posers

I heard it in reference to the whole fangirl/ poser debate. So let me get this straight, more women are showing interest in geek culture, reading comics, watching geek culture movies, and dressing in sexy outfits at cons, and what does the geek (troll) community do?  Criticize them for not liking it enough.  Chastise them for only showing a passing interest and discourage them from developing a real appreciation for it by making "real fans" look like tools.

Old man time, let me tell you how things were in my day.  I remember my first comic book convention, Heroescon sometime in the late 80s.  It was A LOT smaller than it is now, but at the time I felt overwhelmed.  Buying everything I could (which wasn't nearly everything I wanted) and just generally soaking in what was to be the culture of my life, my people, my passion, and cementing the goal of where I wanted to be and what I wanted to be doing. 
But there was something I noticed, that I didn't care for.  I was the youngest person in the room (or at least it felt like it).  A room full of older white guys; who all loved comics like I loved comics, but there was no diversity.  Hell, they probably thought I was a poser.  It didn't discourage my love for comics, but it made it feel a little more isolating to be a comic geek.
In the years since then, comic culture has exploded in all directions.  Go to Heroescon now (or a large show in your area) and what you will see is nothing like my first show.  There are younger people, tiny kids, all races, women of all ages in much greater numbers.  And that is on both sides of the table, artists and fans. 

It makes me feel like that community that I became a part of is sharing its passion on such a scale that the people in that room (I think it was 1987) couldn't imagine. 
I hope they feel like I do, that this is great.  That all of these different people with different tastes, and different levels of enthusiasm would be part of this subculture.  More people are getting interested because they are seeing what we saw all along, that this is cool stuff.  And we can agree on stuff we like, and disagree about stuff we just don't like(yeah, I'm looking at you Manga) and its all good.  We don't all have to be the same kind of Geek to be a part.

So to all those who feel the need to separate the real fans from the posers, I think you are missing an opportunity.

And if it ever comes to pass that someone walks up to me at a convention, wearing a costume of one of my characters, but you tell me that "well, I just like the costume" or "I haven't read it. " I will  still be thrilled that you took the time to do it and picked my character; and you will get SO MUCH free stuff.

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Backdrop question

Looking to design a backdrop for comic book conventions.  I have worked up a few designs. If you have a favorite, let me know.


Monday, July 1, 2013

Random Observation

Does anyone else think that Hashtag sounds like a drug dealer on an old 70's police show?

Just the random kind of stuff that goes through my mind.