JUST ANOTHER MOTOR CITY COMICON RECAP

"I love the smell of comics in the morning." Actually it's pretty empty and serene before all hell breaks loose. It's wonderment!















"It's real pretty when everybody shows up!"














This is me and JC Filer with the book that took eight months to make...we're real proud! If you go to the T&A page (tributes and artwork) of my home page (use the "find your way home" link to the right) you can see the original vision of Lucius that started the ball rolling on this artistic celebration known as LUCIUS HEARS A WHA?













"My good buddy LayneToth! I said it once and I'll say it again. Without her I would probably not be doing comics right now...at the very least I wouldn't be having this much fun." (Big thanks to her for her major contribution on LUCIUS HEARS A WHA?)













The thing about conventions for artists like myself is that we get to visit with this extended family of artists. Artist is a general term to include writers, illustrators, models, actors and the like. And that is what makes the MOTOR CITY COMICON so special. Everyone attends and as it is a "medium" size show there is a great balance of business, fun and most of all family. And yes, many "fans" are apart of that family. You are as important to the convention experience as the "artists". I encourage you to stop and talk to as many artists as you can...there are so many talented people all around you. Knowledgable vendors, entertaining artists and fans just like yourself that are there to have fun. You should not leave a convention wanting. (Unless of course it's the third version of the fifth X-wing fighter pilot from the first film which is actually the fourth episode in the six part trilogy etc., etc., etc...) But then again we can't have everything, now can we?















John Styrk Jr. does a fantastic THING...












...and doing what I do best...I inked it all up and made it my own...














...actually, I made it HIM! John Styrk Jr. "The man, the myth, the legend, the thing!" A great artist and fellow creator on INCESSANT YARNS by Hanging Chad Entertainment.















Nicole McClain...I can do her QUICKSKETCH...














...or ROCKHEADS!















"The historic first representation of the lead, Kerry Connelly (as portrayed by Nicole McClain) of SALEM, AZ by Pickle Press by future inker B. Wilkison. The comic will look nothing like this. But, you can get a good sampling of it by going to my merchandise page and purchasing a copy of LUCIUS HEARS A WHA?. Nik Havert and Paul Schultz graciously allowed me to run a one page preview of SALEM, AZ in LUCIUS HEARS A WHA? That's first appearance cred folks...you don't want to miss that!!!"












"I don't normally post photos such as this, but...













...when John Saxon recreates a classic Bruce Lee photo with you, how could I not?!"
















Of all the people you reunite with I was sadly reminded that those reunions are not to be taken for granted. There has been alot of debate of the past several years on whether or not "models" should be a part of a "comicbook" convention. Jasmine (Grey) passed away last year in a car accident. This sent a shock wave through the convention circuit. Jasmine was the real deal. A celebrity. What makes you a celebrity? Basically, having a fan base. Jasmine had that. Why? Because she spoke directly to her fan base. She new if you got a haircut since the last convention. She met her fans face to face on a one to one basis. If you have attended the conventions over the years you know how important this is...both artists and fans want to be remembered. And as we move beyond the convention circuit we want are contributions to continue. Her presence was felt at Motor City this year but she was missed. This is one of the reasons I dedicated LUCIUS HEARS A WHA? to her. More was lost to this convention than we may ever know.














I just love a parody! Ah, Pittsburgh! I can't believe we were there only a month ago.















Photo by Connie Persampieri

"Apparently I was interviewed by a puppet. If any of you get Detroit Public Access, see if you can grab me a copy of this. I need proof that this actually happened...in the age of Photoshop I can't be sure."












Photo by Connie Persampieri

"Proving once again that parody is lost if you are not familiar with the source material. If you are familiar with THE SOPRANOS than you probably think this is hilarious!!!" (Feel free to leave a comment and explain it to me.)












Photo by Connie Persampieri

"Connie knows I like candid photos at the convention and she is a master at them. I think it's because she was in the service and was trained to kill."



STARTING NEXT WEEK!!!!
THREE MINUTE INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF TODAYS GREATEST INDEPENDENT ARTISTS!

These will continue weekly through the summer as I have conducted over 15 interviews this season alone!

ARTISTS INCLUDE:

Chris Moreno
Andy Lee
Ken Wheaton
Christopher Herndon
Jacque Nodell

Just to name a few....

STAY TUNED!!!!

Pittsburgh

Okay, I know...I just got back from Columbus...but I wanted to share with you just a lingering thought or two about Pittsburgh.

First of all I was so glad to have my buddy Nik with me...we seemed to learn a great deal from each other that weekend. One of the things he taught me is that not everyone we talk to at these shows might realize that we are the creators of the books they see before them. I don't think they realize that quality top of the line books can be made by individuals.

We are the independents. Seriously, we both work with talented people to comeup with the ideas and execution of our books and we consider every aspect of what that work looks like and feels like. The "industry" or maybe we should call it the "outustry" is FULL of hand made, Xerox copied mini-comic (and as we learned from S.P.A.C.E. this weekend in Columbus...these are full of intensly original well thought out creative stories.)

One of the best examples of this was a discovery that I and a lot of other people discovered last year...the work of Rober "Hollywood" Swinton. His comic BLOW was a diamond in the rough. Now I love Sharpies, but this dude rocked it out on the chisel tip my brothers and sisters...but it needed something more. I'm glad I was able to help excavate this story and polish it. I try with every stoke to retain a sense of that original gusto that Hollywood first layed down the story of Big Fro Brown.

Here are the pencils done by Paul Schultz, another brother in love with not only the future evolution of independents comics but finding great stories to tell through illustration.


Yeah, that was a tangent, now back to Pittsburgh...
Got to spend time quick sketching with my idol Amanda Connor, my contemporary Chris Moreno and my buddy Stuart Sayger.

Then it was off to the Warhol Museum and a room filled with mylar pillows
...I strongly suggest that if you find yourself in Pittsburgh you visit this museum. You will be transported somewhat to the factory days.


I could not leave without signing the guestbook
...could you?!