I’ve got some goals for 2012. Among them are to draw more and, honestly, get paid to draw more. So I’ve come up with something that I think will help with both of those.

I’ve come up with a new product, these Triple Shots. They’re a chance to see the whole drawing process, from pencils to inks to colors. They measure 5.5″ x 17″ and feature a reproduction of the pencils, the actual inks, and then a colored version of the art. I’m going to take orders online, as well as sell them at conventions.

Here’s how I’m going to make them available.

Every week I’ll put a certain number of these on sale, based on my workload and schedule. Tomorrow I’ll make three of these available, first come, first served, for $25.00, and free shipping during this first week. Most importantly, you get to pick the character.

If I don’t sell them out, I’ll pick whatever characters strike my fancy. And then I’ll make those available for sale for $15.00 for the first week. After that, they’ll be $20.00 online and at conventions.

Every week, I’ll make another few available. I’ll announce it 24 hours ahead of time on Twitter and Facebook, and again an hour before, and I’ll vary the time to be fair to those in different time zones. Tomorrow’s will go on sale at Noon Eastern Time. The samples seen here will go on sale for $15 at the same time.

So there’s flexibility for you. You can get exactly the character you want. You can wait and see what’s available and get a deal. Or you can buy them when you see them at a convention. It’s up to you.

Riddle me this, Batman: How do you do a con print featuring a city when everything memorable about that city is protected by copyright and battalions of lawyers?

Like this:

February is MegaCon and that means a trip to Orlando for me. Yeah, I know you’re not sympathetic. But on a day where my flight to LA got out and out cancelled thanks to snow in Chicago, let me assure you that it’s not as glamorous as it looks. (I typed this Thursday night. By the time you read this, I’ll hopefully be on my way to LA.) That also means the start of the con seasons.

I started these con prints in June at HeroesCon, so I figure that’ll be a cycle. Which means Orlando, Anaheim, Seattle, Chicago and Houston are yet to go.

Now, where some artists say "Oh, no, not a crowd scene!" I see an opportunity. So I’m going to sell spaces in line for this print. That’s right, for $50 per person, you can be waiting in line with Mark, Abby and whoever else I draw in to fill the spaces. For that, you’ll get an exclusive signed and numbered print (a $25 value right there). You can pick it up in Orlando, or I’ll mail it out.

I figure I can fit about 15 people on it, and that means that if it sells out, I’ll have only ten of them in Orlando, which will make them all the more exclusive.

And, one randomly selected participant will also get the original art!

The button to sign up is below.

Name(s) of attendee(s)

While I’m on the subject… WonderCon. The show’s traditionally in the target-rich landmark environment of San Francisco. This year it’s in Anaheim, mostly known for a theme park of its own. So, I put it to you… If I can get fivepeople committing to be on that print, I’ll do a sister print. If not, I’ll do San Francisco, as if Mark accidentally went to the wrong city.

The choice is in your hands!

My adventures in conventioneering continue in 2012. This is my tentative schedule, with probably more dates to be added. And, if you’d like to bring me out for your show, give me a shout ad we’ll see if we can work it out.

Here’s my 2012 Convention Schedule (so far)…

MegaCon in Orlando, FL
February 13-21

WonderCon in Anaheim, CA

March 16-18

Emerald City Comicon in Seattle, WA

March 30-April 1

C2E2 in Chicago, IL

April 13-15

Free Comic Book Day at Captain BlueHen in Delaware

May 5, 2012

Comicpalooza in Houston, TX

May 25-27

HeroesCon in Charlotte, NC
June 18-19

Comic-Con International in San Diego, CA
July 22-24

Dragon*Con in Atlanta, GA (tentative)

August 31-September 3

Baltimore Comicon in Baltimore, MD

September 8-9

WizardWorld Mid-Ohio in Columbus, OH

September 29-30

New York Comic-Con in New York City, NY

October 11-14

Akron Comic Con in Akron, OH

November 10

Just so you know, I’ll be at the Long Beach Comic Con this coming weekend at booth #1907. Yeah, fifteen shows just wasn’t enough. But sometimes the West Coast beckons. As usual, I’ll be doing the signing, selling and sketching thing. I’ll even have the new Love and Capes Long Beach print… and maybe some extra Columbus ones. Those Ohio State fans are ravenous.

But, for realz everyone, this is my last convention appearance of the year. If you want to see me set up at a show again, you’ll have to wait until MegaCon in Orlando.

Remember when I used to write actual con reports? Yeah, those were good times.

I’ve been doing an insane amount of shows this year with the corresponding travel attached to it. It’s been totally worth it, but it also means that when I get home that I find "write clever report" tends to fall to "sleep in my own bed." But Mid-Ohio-Con, or Wizard World: Mid-Ohio as it’s now called, is my home show. It deserves a little more.

I was worried when Wizard bought the show, the same way I was when the Henrys bought it before that. It’s very much letting someone else drive your car. Mid-Ohio is the site and cause of some of my favorite memories ever. I’m protective, and have more than a casual interest in seeing it continue.

I have to say, from what I saw, I was pretty happy with the new show. The show was packed tight with people and artists. I think the turnout of professionals and attendees surprised a lot of people. I’m sure bringing some big name guests like James Marsters and Adam West and Burt Ward helped a lot, but that’s one of the things Wizard brings to the table. I had great traffic for the whole show and I sold a lot of books to a lot of people. That’s what I ask from a show, and Mid-Ohio delivered that big time.

There were also a couple of little things that were pretty sweet. Battelle Hall had been redone and was pretty slick. The multicolored light ceiling was just a cool touch. And Wizard actually played music during the show. Not enough to overpower, just the right amount to fill the space. I think more shows should do that.

It was great to see the previous owners there, too. They threw a VIP party on Saturday night that’s a class event and a lovely touch. I’d love to see them remain a presence and continue the event. It’s a very nice time, and a little unique among shows.

Of course, the best part of the show are my friends. I think all of "my" Mid-Ohio regulars were there which made me very happy. Mariann, Lisa, Carl, Sarah, Jeanette and more, it was great to see you all.

And, because I wasn’t working the show so much as a panel host and unofficial member of the con crew, I got to spend a little more time with my fellow creators. Tony Isabella and I shared space, side by side, and that was a treat. I spent a lot of time with Lora Innes, Alan Evans, Adam Withers and Comfort Love and Trevor Mueller, whom normally I only get to see when there’s a table between us. We spent a lot more time together and had some great discussions both professional and personal, and I appreciate the heck out of it.

Although we did put a table at Jeni’s Ice Cream between us. THat was pretty awesome, too.

I have to say, too, that I could not do this show (or many others) without my friends. I have the most incredible support network imaginable. When I forgot to bring copies of the second Love and Capes trade, my friend Dee offered to bring them down from Cleveland when she came down on Sunday. So I called my Dad who went to my house and pulled books for her and made the hand-off. When I thought I misplaced my keys, one of my first calls was to Bob Ingersoll to help me out of that mess. (The keys were in my computer bag, but that’s another story.) Tony’s son Eddie even pitched in with a favor for me.

No Mid-Ohio would be complete without the Dean to my Sammy, Paul Storrie. He’s an essential part of the my Mid-Ohio. Sadly, our Bobby, Beau Smith couldn’t make it this year. He better come next year, though, or there will hell to pay, and solitary Winchester tears shed.

I’ve babbled too much, so let me try to cap it here: Wizard Mid-Ohio isn’t the same show it used to be, but that was such a special lightning-in-a-bottle time that nothing could ever recapture it. The new show went great for me and I think for a lot of other people. It’s like getting together for Thanksgiving dinner at somebody else’s house. The gang’s still there, but the furniture is all different. It’s still a wonderful time.

As long as they’ll have me, I’ll keep coming back.

Mid-Ohio-Con is wrapped up, and I’m heading home. But does that mean that I’m done with conventions? Heck no! I’ve still got one more show this year. I’ll be at the Long Beach Comic Con in California, booth 1907, doing the whole con thing.

That also means (say it with me now) a new con exclusive print! This one was a touch different, since I put some fans into the crowd scene. That went pretty well, and maybe I’ll do it again next year at another show. This print also showcases the Aquarium of the Pacific as the local landmark I highlghted.

Okay, full disclosure, I might be wandering Comikaze the next weekend, too, but I won’t be set up. Comic conventions, I just can’t quit you.

Today, I head down to Mid-Ohio-Con, or Wizard World Mid-Ohio, as I think it’s called now. I’ll be there both days at Booth 1326, selling books and sketches and, of course, the Columbus con exclusive print. Best of all, though, I get to spend time with the friends I’ve made at my home show. It’s a new era for the show, and I hope it’s the start of a great one!

I’ll be set up with the awesomely awesome Comic Book Diner. Booth 2933.

I’ll be selling books and trades of Love and Capes (including the recently released Love and Capes: Wake Up Where You Are) and doing sketches and commissions. And I’ll have the exclusive New York Love and Capes print. Plus, if you’d like to be on the Long Beach print, I can take your money and snap your picture right there at the show.

I’m getting ready to head to New York next weekend, but the weekend afterward, Wizard World Mid-Ohio (formerly Mid-Ohio-Con) is definitely on my radar. You might be asking yourself "Is he going to do a print for his home show?"

Well, of course I am.

Doing something Ohio State related was a no-brainer, and they’re certainly well known for the Script Ohio. How could I not do it?

As with the rest, I’ll have 25 of these prints available, all signed and numbered. And there’s still time to actually appear on the Long Beach print, too!

Now that I’ve been home for a week, it’s time to start planning my next trip. I’ll be in New York City for the New York Comic-Con. I’ll be set up with the Comic Book Diner guys, so look for me there.

And, as you may have guessed, a new show means a print. Here’s the New York Love and Capes print.

Still yet to come this year, Columbus, where I’ll put something special together for the Buckeye fans, and Long Beach, where I might do something that everyone across the country might be interested in. Hopefully, I’ll let you know about that later this week.