Archive for October, 2008

Come to San Francisco this weekend for the two day Alternative Press Expo. It’s a great event. Lots of cool art and lots of indy comics. I’ll be at table 339, look for the big Jane’s World banner. I’ll also have The Martian Confederacy vol. 1 for sale.

Check out the panel that Jason and I are doing on Sunday:

1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Paige Braddock—APE special guest Paige Braddock talks about future life on Mars, Jane’s World, self-publishing, the decline of journalism, and her “day job” as creative director of Charles Schulz’s studio. Moderated by the clever and witty Jason McNamara, who collaborated with Braddock on the newest release from Girl Twirl Comics, The Martian Confederacy.

Last week I did this fun, sometimes rambling, interview with Comics Coast to Coast. We covered lots of stuff: Jane’s World, boob phobia, death and remembrance, the future of Mars and the new Star Trek movie coming out in 2009.

I listened to the interview today and I always have thoughts after I do one of these… or I say something that isn’t quite right, which I’d like to point out before you listen to the interview. For example, Brian and Justin at one point are talking about the casting choice for the young captain Kirk and I named the wrong actor. For some reason, I’d only seen the cast photos online and I got the guy who’s playing Kirk (Chris Pine) mixed up with the guy who’s playing Nero (Eric Bana)… duoh! It’s Eric Bana that I love, I have no idea who Chris Pine is.

After listening to the interview I also felt like I didn’t give Jason enough props about the Mars book. This book was really a 50/50 labor of love… and even though this interview was mostly about art, the art for that book would have been nothing without Jason’s story.

Also, I should mention that the Alternative Press Expo is only a couple of weeks away, so I’ll be posting updates on that shortly because yours truly is a special guest this year. That’s right kids, they even let me do the monkey poster!

First, let me say thanks to everyone who participated in the contest. It was really fun to see what sort of witty adventures you created for Jane and her pals.

So, I’m about to announce the winner, but before that I must announce a change in plans. It seems that now is not the best time for planning a Luau party in Palm Springs. We were getting “climate” reports that caused us to decide to delay the party. By “climate,” I mean political and economic climate. I was getting the general feedback from folks that everyone is feeling pretty stressed out and broke right now, so Michelle (Queen of Hearts) and I have decided to make the Luau a book release party for Vol. 9 and move the date to May of 2009. We will get back to you about an exact date.

BUT I decided that a change in dates shouldn’t alter the contest (except for the free night at the Queen of Hearts… since we won’t be there. We’ll have to save that giveaway for the book release party.)

Now, without further delay, the winner of the “walk on” sweepstakes is Sarah Blackburn!

Sarah wins a cartoon drawing of herself, with Jane cast members, an original page of comic art from the next Jane’s World graphic novel and $50 for having her comic idea appear in the next Jane book.

The runner up in the “walk on” sweepstakes is Mary Lou (aka: mauigirl), who will receive a box of Jane goodies (t-shirt, travel mug, drawing of Jane).

And even though this first contest wasn’t open to my guy readers, because of the venue, a special honorable mention goes to Colin Flanigan for a really terrific concept that I’ll keep for entry into the “boy’s walk on” contest happening in 2009.

Thanks again for entering and joning in the fun and I’ll be contact each of the winners, by email, with details about their prizes.

I had to make a quick trip to L.A. on Monday to meet with some folks at Bill Melendez Productions and then on to Warner Brothers. In case there might be someone who doesn’t know of Bill, he animated the classic Peanuts specials and was the voice of Snoopy. He died last month at the age of 91 and no one at his studio has moved anything in his office. It was very interesting to have a half hour to study his pen case, unfinished sketches laying about, odd collectible items (like toy bi-planes) and to touch the warn surface of his desk. Like Schulz (Sparky), Bill obviously liked elements of comfort over style because he’d obviously had this desk for a long time.

It feels oddly intimate to be alone in an artist’s studio, surrounded by personal items and witty thoughts scribbled on little bits of paper. I only met Bill a couple of times, so I didn’t know him very well… but standing alone next to his much-used desk, I strongly felt his absence.

As I went to the kitchen to warm up my coffee I noticed this little gem (image below) on the fridge. For any of us who’ve tried to get a comic strip syndicated, you’ll appreciate the last line of the text.

I recognized this as the format used for the National Cartoonist Society’s Annual… The NCS, almost exclusively run by newspaper comic strip artists/writers, saw fit to include Bill in the club in 2003. The last 5 years of his 70-year career.

In case you can’t make out the text, it reads: “Bill Melendez, born in Mexico in 1916. Public schools in Arizona and Los Angeles, California. Learned to draw and animate at Walt Disney Prod’s and now animates at a place called, Bill Melenedez Prod’s. The strip, “Dr Bill” appears in not one single newspaper.”

Comic Fusion is hosting a superhero weekend (with auction and raffle) to raise money for SAFE in Hunterdon, NJ. The Jane as Batman image above will be one of the pieces of original art that you can bid on for this charity auction. Online bids will be accepted, so check with Stacy at Comic Fusion for details.

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Given the technical difficulties with my website and blog I was unable to post a reminder that the contest should have ended last week. So here’s your chance to get a concept in if you forgot to send one. If you’re like me, between the economy and the looming election, I’ve been more than a little distracted… and frankly have turned into a news junkie… but it’s healthy to keep fun and fiction in mind during these trying times… So here’s your official reminder (and many thanks to those of you who already got your concepts in

…..

Jane’s World Weekend in Palm Springs
Here’s your chance to enter and win a “walk on” appearance in Jane’s World. Did you ever feel that your inner comic self was being overlooked by the world at large? Well, here’s your opportunity to change all that.

Submit a concept for yourself to appear in Jane’s World… some funny little sub plot or side story in which the comic version of YOU can meet JANE in her world. Submit your idea, in 50 words or less, along with a photo of yourself to: GirlTwirl@mac.com

The winner will be announced at the Poolside Luau party at the Queen of Hearts resort in Palm Springs, California.

The winner of the “walk on” sweepstakes will take home a cartoon drawing of themselves, with Jane cast members, an original page of comic art from the next Jane’s World graphic novel and a free, future night’s stay at the Queen of Hearts Resort. The runner up will receive a basket of Jane’s World treats to travel home with them.

Deadline for your story concept submission is October 20, 2008.

Here’s the scoop for the fun-filled, girl-filled Jane’s World Weekend:

Friday Dec. 5th: “Meet and Greet” 5-7pm @ Queen of Hearts Resort

Saturday Dec. 6th:
11am – 2pm Book Signing /Q&A @ Queen of Hearts Resort
with Paige Braddock

4pm-6pm Cocktails @ Mixie’s Bar

Sunday Dec. 7th:
4pm-7pm Poolside Luau @ the Queen of Hearts with Live Music by Auntie Geri and “Mehana” and the winner announced

Contact Michelle at Queen of Hearts for details and reservations: 888-275-9903

(Sorry fellas, this first event is just for women… but your turn will come )

Thank you to Marc Mason for a great review on Comics Waiting Room.

And thanks to fellow comic artist, Diego Jourdan Pereira, for the review he gave our book on La Nuez.

Sorry it has taken me a little while to get updates on the blog and website here. Michael and I have been having some technical difficulties with our service provider (Canaca) and had to move the entire website to GoDaddy.com

Here’s hoping for less site interruption and better customer support!

“It requires a very unusual mind to undertake the analysis of the obvious.” – Alfred North Whithead

Did anyone else wrongly assume that the objective of a debate is to answer questions directly?

I admit that I should be inking my comics right now, and I’ll begin that in a moment, but first I just had to take a few minutes to process with my blog-mates the spectacle that was the Vice Presidential debate. In the commentary that followed the debate I heard several “experts” say that Palin was folksy and had succeeded in connecting with soccer moms… and it was my girlfriend who wondered if these guys really meant to say “foxy” instead of “folksy.”

I mean, let’s agree that she might have more to offer in the eye candy department than Biden, but come on?!… did anything she say make any sense? When she didn’t understand one of the questions and was afraid to admit that she didn’t really know the difference between the executive and the legislative branch she resorted to nonsensical run on sentences filled with rhetoric and sound bites. Empty chatter if you ask me. It always seems that when people are the least sure, they are the most dogmatic.

Sadly 21 percent of those polled thought Palin won that debate.  Were they actually watching the debate? Common sense it seems is not as common as it used to be. Personally, I appreciate a direct answer or a simple declarative sentence, even if I disagree with it.

Sigh.