DragonCon 2015 Recap
This weekend I attended my fifth DragonCon. I really love this show, and I love it more and more each year. The show is very much defined by the people. Well, the people and the costumes. It’s an amazingly welcoming and fun atmosphere. This year was a weird year for me, and DragonCon met the challenge and found a way for me to have the best time I’ve ever had there. There were laughter-filled dinners, lots of hugs, card games, and maybe an extra drop or two of alcohol.
I have to call out for special attention my good friend Jesse Jackson, who rose to the challenge, especially on Saturday, and was able to be me on a day when I wasn’t. He sold more books than I did that day. I’m lucky to have him as my booth babe, body man and designated drive… and most importantly as my friend.
It’s because of him I had my biggest DragonCon moment. Jesse has a sketchbook of drawings of actors that he has signed by those celebrities when he meets them. It’s more personal and more original than an 8x10, and the actors seem to get a kick out of it. I’ll let him tell the full story, but the quick version is this: Stephen Amell loved the drawing I did of him. And then he tweeted it out. Ten thousand likes later, here we are.
The costumes are always amazing at this show, too, both in execution and in sheer volume. It’s the only show where I feel like I should be wearing a costume. I love seeing the obscure ones. This year, it’s a tie between Letterman and Brainwave Junior for most niche character.
The photo that accompanies this post is one of my favorite moments. A young girl bought a copy of the latest issue of My Little Pony and immediately started reading it. That she was dressed like Princess Leia was a bonus.
I also did more game-playing and late-night hanging-out than I have in a while. I certainly slept the Odinsleep when I finally got home, but it was totally worth it.
And a huge thank you to my friends, some who I spent a ton of time with, some of whom I only saw in passing, and the new ones whom I just met. Without you, this show wouldn’t be as special as it is.
I hope to see you there next year! I’ll definitely be there.
[Best_Wordpress_Gallery id="1" gal_title="Select Gallery"]
Cartooning Summer Camp Wrap-Up
So, sometimes I teach. It’s not in a credentialed capacity. I teach an afterschool program at Hawken Lower School, and then for the last few years I teach a week of cartooning at summer camp.
I don’t think I could teach regularly. I sometimes come off as having a lot of patience, but some of that is just storing it up all year to use it for that one week.
This was the biggest class I’ve had yet. I started out with eleven and then gained another two that transferred from the cupcake class. Five girls, eight boys total. They were also the best class I’ve had yet.
On a side note, I love that the girls in my class all asked for superheroes when I drew their end-of-class sketchcards. And when they got to name their Pictionary team, they named it “Hydra”. I love any time I see that gender line in comics coming down
Some of the kids have taken my classes for years. One of them actually graduated from taking my classes to being my teaching assistant. That’s the kind of thing that makes you realize you’re not just teaching some cartooning stuff to kill some time, but you’re actually becoming part of the fabric of their lives. I don’t think I’m a great teacher in any way, but when they keep taking my class, I know there’s something that they’re responding to.
We played dodgeball at recess every day. Everyone played and it was great. And we drew a ton. Basic stuff, advanced stuff. And, like I said above, we even played Pictionary.
Here’s the thing: It’s an honor to be part of these young people’s lives. Some of them I’ve been with for two years or more. And when we wrapped up, and Jake headed off to move to California and Riley to Australia and Eliza asked if she could be my assistant next year… look, I’m an easy touch. I cry my Dean Winchester tears all the time. But I wasn’t expecting this to affect me as much as it did. And it did.
If you’ve got a skill, like drawing, you owe it to pass it on. You’re a link in the chain and it shouldn’t stop with you. Teaching forces you to articulate and clarify what you think you know. Some of their questions make you better, too. You get as much as they do.
I’m so glad I said “yes” the first time I was asked to teach there. It was outside my comfort zone, but I’m so happy I went there.
Muncie? More like FUNcie!
This past weekend was My Little Pony Day at Aw Yeah Comics in Muncie. Christy Blanch and her gang were kind enough to invite me as well as Andy Price and Katie Cook to come and do their first Sunday signing ever. The store is as fun as you’d expect, and the staff was amazing. I can’t remember the last time I was taken care of so well. I’d tell you to go into comics just so you could hopefully be treated so well yourself, but comics is competitive and I don’t need the competition.
Plus, I got there on Doctor Who day, and they had Jammie Dodgers.
Muncie is a small town, but it’s got its charm. And like a lot of places, it’s got some great restaurants if you know where to look. Fortunately, Aw Yeah did. They took us to Barn Brasserie and Casa Del Sol and they were both freakin’ amazing. Barn Brasserie had comic books as decorations on the walls of the bathrooms. (Admittedly, I only saw the mens’ room). The owner insisted that Andy and I add our signatures to the wall with so many other artists.
And they had beignets.
The signing went really well. A nice steady crowd, but not too many. There were lots of great people, and lots of kids, which is always nice to see. It was just the right mix.
And they made sure that we took some comics home with us, too, which I appreciate. You can see my haul in the photos. And they took us to see The Man From UNCLE which I appreciated a lot, too.
Kyle and Sy from the shop were great. By the end of the weekend we were trading jokes like a well oiled sitcom. (I, of course, am the Chandler.) And Christy, well, Christy’s just awesome. I swear she’s a bigger fan of Long Distance than I am. She certainly has sold more than me.
Icing on the cake was getting to log some serious convertible time. Nice and sunny on the way out. The most common comment at the signing was “I love Long Distance,” but the second was “You drove with the top down, didn’t you?” Yes, I did. And then a nice night drive on the way back, too.
It was a great weekend. Go to Aw Yeah Muncie if you’re ever in the area. Get the Sesame Chicken at Barn Brasserie and the margarita at Casa Del Sol, too.
Empire Strikes Back Cards With Art By Me!
I was part of the new Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back radio play card set from Topps. It's always fun to play in the Star Wars universe. Check them out below, and I have a couple of these as my Artist's Cards that are available for sale, too.
Long Distance #3 in stores TODAY
Long Distance #3 is in stores and at Comixology today! We're past the halfway point and everything feels comfortable… and everyone knows that's when things change. This issue features an alternate cover by my friend Mike Collins. He was kind enough to do it for me and I think it looks great.
Long Distance Process
I put together a step-by-step video of how I do the color effects on Long Distance. The duotones give the book a unique look and really help with a sense of place. I'm proud of what I came up with, and thought you might like to see how it's done.
Enter the Long Distance Contest… if you can!
There's a secret Long Distance contest. Well, the secret is how to enter. The first twenty five people who can figure out how to enter will win this awesome print, featuring the covers for all four issues, standard and variants. It features artwork by Lora Innes, Sean Tiffany, Mike Collins and Tony Fleecs as well as, of course, me. The contest runs in every issue. Right now about ten people have figured it out, so there are still almost fifteen chances left!
My SDCC 2015 Appearance Schedule
Thursday • IDW Booth 2714 • 11:00am-12:00pm A My Little Pony signing at the IDW booth. The first issue of Tony Fleecs’ and my Attack of the Living Apples starring Flutterbat has an SDCC variant, so be sure to pick that up as well. I’ll be signing with Agnes Garbowska, Tony Fleecs, Jeremy Whitley, and Bobby Curnow.
I also designed the cover of the exclusive Friendship is Magic trade (featuring the art of Amy Mebberson), too.
Saturday • IDW Booth 2714 • 10:00am-11:00am
Long Distance #2 will be at the show, and Lora Innes (who did the awesome variant cover for #1, and also does the super-awesome The Dreamer) and I will be signing then.
Trivia: The Dreamer is often seen on sale at Abby’s bookstore in Love and Capes.
Saturday • Room 24ABC ª 7:30pm-8:30pm
Dr. Andrea Letamendi (The Arkham Sessions) and Dr. Ali Mattu (The Psych Show) step into the pop culture ring to debate the psychology of teamwork, rebellion, and galactic war. Panelists include Robert Meyer Burnett (Free Enterprise), Thom Zahler (Love and Capes), Consetta Parker (Rancho Obi-Wan), and Amy Ratcliffe (Star Wars Insider). Join a side, but remember: phasers and lightsabers are no match for this battle of wits! Refereed by Brian Ward (Comics, Assembled!)
I'm gonna bust 'em up.
Sunday • Room 24ABC • 1:00pm-2:00pm
All-ages comics are important now more than ever in helping to bring in new and lapsed readers, from practically every demographic. BOOM! Studios associate editor Whitney Leopard leads a discussion on the significance of all-ages comics, from what they have achieved thus far to what lies ahead, with creators Mairghread Scott (Transformers: Windblade), Thom Zahler (My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic), Cecil Castellucci (Odd Duck), Ian McGinty (Munchkin), and Dave Roman (Astronaut Academy).
And, of course, all the rest of the time, I’ll be at Booth 2000 signing and selling next to the irritatingly-talented Andy Price.
Me Talking About Long Distance
Marc Bowker, at the excellent Alter Ego Comics in Lima, Ohio, had me on his YouTube show to discuss Long Distance!
If the video doesn't load, you can go to the YouTube interview right here.
Awesome Con DC Wrap-up
This past weekend I was a guest at AwesomeCon DC. It was my first time at the show, and it was a lot of fun. I did a couple of panels on Saturday, including a great My Little Pony panel, an interesting Comics in Libraries panel and then on Sunday a fantastic What Inspired You panel hosted by my friend Bob Greenberger. I also got to see and spend time with some friends, which is always the best part of these shows. It was great to see Lora Innes, John Gallagher, Jamar Nicholas, Tony Fleecs, Robert Deans and Steve Conley along with the host of others I'm sure I'm forgetting.
More than some other shows, I got to walk around the city a lot, too. Getting to see new places is one of the best things about doing conventions. I haven't been to DC in fifteen years, so a lot had changed.
But, just in case you hear any rumors that I and some people stole the Declaration of Independence because there was a treasure map on the back, well, I can't talk about that. Sorry.