My One-Act Play
So, almost a year ago, I entered a one-act play competition at the Fine Arts Association here in town. (Spoiler: I didn't win.) It had to be a ten-page script, set in one location that you could do on a tight budget. With those things in mind, and probably some others, I went up to Panera, my preferred writing spot, and knocked out a play. Over lunch. Is it the greatest thing in the world? I'm sure it's not. But looking back, it's still fun. I really want to write something Sorkin-esque, and this certainly does pay some homages there. I love sparkling dialogue. Since it won't be produced, I think it's about time it gets out to the world at large. So, if you want to read it, download it here.
And while it didn't win, the script and my story of writing it as I ate a Turkey Cranberry Flatbread did lead to my association with Brian Ward and Team Slushpile for the 48-Hour Film Competitions. So I definitely won something out of it!
Space City Wrap-Up
I did the Space City Comic-Con this past weekend in lovely Houston, Texas. You may have heard about the show on the internets. Here was my experience. All of the show volunteers and workers that I had occasion to interact with were amazing. In particular, Cheryl did an amazing job and made sure I was taken care of as best she could. That's important, because there are always problems, but what's more important is what's done about those problems when they arise.
There were certainly communication issues from the start. I had to remind them to give me my hotel information, for instance. And the shuttle situation from the hotel to the show was glitchy at best. But, I managed most of those and the biggest problem I had was the Act of God storm that wiped out power and water to my hotel on Friday night. Thankfully, it was made right before I had to head to the show.
With the abrupt change in management, I imagine there will be other glitches, but I also think the show that comes out of this will be much better than the one before.
Most importantly, I had a great time. I'm fortunate that I have so many friends in Texas and they make the effort to come see me and make me feel welcome. I've got a decent fanbase and more than a few regular customers thanks to Fiesta Equestria and Comicpalooza (which, because of it's later date this year I can't do), so I couldn't love going there more. That was all fantastic.
A couple random highlights:
I got to watch Game of Thrones with my friends and Lancel Lannister himself, Eugene Simon. That was a treat and a half.
And the show arranged a VIP tour of Johnson Space Center, which is just amazing. We got to see everything except the buoyancy pool (which is still on my list) and have a wonderful experience. Sadly, no one took me up on my "Artist in Space" idea. I mean, why should teachers get all the fun?
Morning Warm-Up: Space Ranger
Rick Starr, Space Ranger was mentioned on the last episode of DC'S Legends of Tomorrow, so I thought he'd be a good morning warm up. The piece was done in Manga Studio, flatted in Photoshop with shading added in Painter. These experiments not only get my brain up to operating temperature but let me mess around with new techniques that I can try on new projects. Like the new unannounced project I have, but hey, I just drew page three of it yesterday. More news when I can!
Arkham Sessions T-Shirt
My friends Andrea Letamendi and Brian Ward do the excellent The Arkham Sessions podcast, reviewing Batman villains from a psychological point of view. They're going to be part of the new Imzy community, a new social media platform, centered on a positive community, in beta now.[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/arkham_tshirt.png" align="right" border="none" link="#" alt="Arkham Sessions t-shirt" title="Arkham Sessions t-shirt" lightbox="false" ] To promote the site, and because I designed the header for their podcast site, they asked me to design a t-shirt to promote it. The design will be available as a shirt and a sticker (the sticker being able to be in full color).
More details as they become available, but follow @imzyhq on Twitter for more updates.
My Wizard World Cleveland Schedule
I'll be at Wizard World Cleveland this weekend. Sure, my commission list is open and I'll be at my table most of them time, But if you like seeing me on a stage talking about stuff, you'll have three separate opportunities to do that, too! FRIDAY 4:30 – 5:15PM HOW TO DRAW FUNNY! WITH THE SIMPSONS’ PHIL ORTIZ, LOVE AND CAPES’ THOM ZAHLER AND NANCY’S GUY GILCHRIST (ROOM 26A) Ever wonder how humor artists are able to create characters and stories that leave us laughing like idiots? Here, one of the finest practitioners of the simple art of humor, Phil Ortiz (The Simpsons), Thom Zahler(Love and Capes) and Guy Gilchrist (Nancy) tell and show you how they do it! Moderated by Danny Fingeroth (How to Create Comics from Script to Print).
SATURDAY 4:00 – 4:45PM HOW TO EXHIBIT AT A CONVENTION (ROOM 26A) Are you ready to cross the line from fan to pro? Ready to set up and exhibit at a convention. Join Thom Zahler (Love and Capes, My Little Pony) and friends as they discuss the ins and outs of setting up at a convention. What do you bring? What do you need? How do you do a show across the country as well as you can do one at home?
SUNDAY 1:00 – 1:45PM CREATE A COMIC WITH MARVEL ZOMBIES’ FRED VAN LENTE, LOVE AND CAPES’ THOM ZAHLER AND SPIDER-MAN’S DANNY FINGEROTH (ROOM 26A) Ever wonder what it would be like to collaborate on making comics with top professionals? In this fun-and-educational session, celebrated comics creators Fred Van Lente (Marvel Zombies; Action Philosophers), Thom Zahler (Love and Capes; My Little Pony) and Danny Fingeroth (Spider-Man; How to Create Comics from Script to Print) create a new character and story before your eyes, incorporating audience members' ideas and suggestions! Come see—and join in—the creative process!
Amazing Arizona 2016
I just got back from the Amazing Arizona Comic-Con. It's a bit of a difference, going from walking around in shirt sleeves and writing out by the pool in Phoenix to the admittedly-pretty but very chilly Cleveland tundra. I had a great time out at the show! I hosted a My Little Pony meet up and got to meet a bunch of fans. We did a trivia contest and some lucky winners went away with some of my art. And then, on Sunday, we had the Pony Hour of Power where I did free sketches for kids ten and under. That was a blast! (Most obscure request: Cheese Sandwich.)
It's also the first show where I've had and sold the Long Distance trade. And the second, and the third… After having worked on that project for so long, it's nice to see the collection out in the world and finding an audience. Love and Capes continues to sell, too, which is also nice.
I got to hang out with the show crew a little bit more than previous shows, as well. That was a blast! It's nice getting to see Jimmy and Holly and Erin and Ben and lots of people I'm forgetting, I know, outside the show itself in a more relaxed environment. And Jimmy is a great host!
Best of all, as always, was meeting and seeing friends and fans. I 'm sure I've mentioned it before, but so much of being a cartoonist is isolation, that being able to get out and see people and have discussions is a wonderful thing. Thanks to everyone for coming out!
Lastly, this trip seemed a little more foodie than the last. Maybe I'm just figuring out how to use Zomato better. I had doughnuts at the Fractured Prune, and dinner at The Phoenix Public Market Cafe and Angels Trumpet Ale House. And then I played some video games at the Cobra Arcade Bar, where, for at least a little bit, I had the top score on Donkey Kong. All of which was awesome!
I even managed to finish up writing a script while sitting out by the pool. It was like being Stan Lee, except without the standing.
My Weekend at Alter Ego Comics
This past weekend, Marc Bowker invited me to his store, Alter Ego Comics, in Lima, Ohio. I've done a few events for Marc, and they are uniformly excellent. They're a lot of fun, Marc's staff is delightful and they all take care of me. If you're a creator and you get the chance to do something at Marc's store, jump at the chance! (Marc also has an unerring ability to find great places to eat, too.) Saturday's event included a screening of my Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors episode, a Q and A afterwards, and lots of signing and sketching afterwards. Lots of people came by and I had a wonderful time meeting and chatting with everyone.
Photos are courtesy of the Underground Video Network, who also interviewed me. The interview is linked here, too.
My 2016 Convention Schedule
You can see me in lots of places this year. Right now, my travel schedule isn't as crazy as last year, but I'm sure that will change. But, as it stands, my 2016 convention schedule isn't listed. This doesn't count any store signings (like the one I'll be doing at Alter Ego in Lima early next month) or FCBD. And there are a lot of shows on top of other shows so there are a few shows I'm usually at that I won't be able to attend this year. It breaks my heart that I won't be at DragonCon, but hopefully next year. Same goes for Comicpalooza and HeroesCon.
And, I'm not yet booked for Free Comic Book Day. I am available. I'd love to do something out of state again. It's the one day a year where comic creators get treated like rock stars and I love it.
Amazing Arizona
Phoenix February 12-14, 2016
Wizard Cleveland
Cleveland Feb. 26-28, 2016
C2E2
Chicago March 18-20, 2016
WonderCon Los Angeles
Anaheim March 25-27, 2016
Indiana Comic-Con
Indianapolis April 29-May 1, 2016
Space City Comic-Con
Houston May 27-29, 2016
Denver Comic Con
Denver June 17-19, 2016
Comic Con International
San Diego July 21-24, 2016
Baltimore Comicon
Baltimore September 2-4, 2016
Cincinnati Comic Expo
Cincinnati September 23-25, 2016
New York Comic-Con
New York October 6-9, 2016
Akron Comicon
Akron November 5-6, 2016
So, about 2016
I've been watching a lot of Suits lately, and one of my favorite lines is from my spirit animal, Harvey Specter: "I don't have dreams, I have goals." That said, here are five of my goals/resolutions for the New Year. Finish 1.1 new projects in 2016. I've got a new project in mind that is almost ready for me to start working on. For now we'll call it "Project: Burgundy". But I'm really excited about it. It's exactly the kind of thing you'd expect me to do, but it's not like anything else I've done. And I want it to look different, too, which is why you'll be seeing me post some new coloring samples on Twitter from time to time.
And why 1.1? Well, doing a big project every year is fun. But I'd like to try to slip a smaller one in there somewhere. Maybe a single issue of something?
Write more animation This year saw the telecast of my episode of Ultimate Spider-Man: Web Warriors. I'd really love to do more of that. It's a great medium to write for. Of course, given production time, even if I do manage to make this one happen, I won't be able to tell you about it until 2017. But I'm willing to live with that.
Tell Antony Johnston why Speed Racer is Unjustly Maligned. Unjustly Maligned has become one of my favorite podcasts, and I adore the often-vilified Speed Racer movie. Two great tastes that taste great together. I've guested on a few podcasts this year, including Jesse Jackson's Next Stop Everywhere and Storming the Castle, and I'd like to do more of that in general.
Get an editor to contact me about a gig. Hunting down the next project is part of the job, I get that. But I'd love to have an editor contact me out of the blue and ask me to pitch on something or be part of something (another Secret Love, I'm looking at you). That means being more of a presence online and promoting more and in different and better ways. That's something I can do.
Do another international show This year I did a comic convention in Monterrey, Mexico, and it was a lot of fun. Plus, as a gift to myself this year, I applied for TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, so it's a breeze going through security now, even internationally. So I'm all set up for it.
Extra credit: Lose another twenty-five pounds. This year I lost almost 45 pounds, depending on what day you catch me on. I got serious about watching what I eat thanks to Under Armour's MyFitnessPal and serious about working out thanks to the ubiquitous Planet Fitness and their open-all-the-time schedule. Can't sleep? Might as well work out. Plus Pedometer++ makes sure that I'm taking over 10,000 steps a day. (Some of my Disney World days were staggering.)
I add that one not to brag, but because if I can do it, anyone can.
Merry Christmas!
Hope you and yours are having a simply wonderful Christmas! Here's this year's card. [image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/xmas2015a.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="#" alt="How I know what season it is?" title="Red?!"lightbox="false" ]
[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/xmas2015b.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="#" alt="Have a great holiday, no matter which color it is!" title="Have a great holiday, no matter which color it is!" lightbox="false" ]
[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/xmas2015c.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="#" alt="We don't celebrate red" title="We don't celebrate red" lightbox="false" ]