First Review!

My pal Tony Isabella has reviewed Love and Capes #7 on his Tony's Tips. Obviously, Tony's a good friend of mine, but if you know my friends, you know that nothing stops them from telling me when I'm out of line. That said, here's his review of the latest LNC. And be sure to check out his site. Bookmark it. Visit it daily.

If your friendly neighborhood comics shop limits you to just but one free comic on Free Comic Book Day, that free comic should be my pal Thom Zahler's Love and Capes #7 [Maerkle Press]. This issue of "the heroically super situation comedy" marks a major development in the lives of book-store owner Abby and her boyfriend Mark, who is also the Crusader, the most powerful super-hero on the planet. In 24 filled pages, we get holiday fun with the families, heartwarming moments, incredible gifts, dialogue so clever that I literally laughed out loud on at least three occasions while reading the issue, some of the most likeable characters in comics, and some of the most inviting art as well. Issue after issue, this is one of the best comics published today.

Pin and Win!

I've been working with Pop Culture Trading Pins for a few months now. I've designed some Archie pins and designs, and we're even doing some Love and Capes pins. The initial set will be Crusader and Abby, Darkblade, and Amazonia. Here, you can see everyone's favorite Nuclear Man with the prototype for the Darkblade pin. As soon as they're available for sale, I'll let you know.

Until then, check out the Pop Culture Trading Pins site here.

Cool Night

Continuing my theme of acknowledging the good times...

My brother Mike and I went up to Baskin Robbins tonight for their 31¢ scoop night (with proceeds going to America's Firefighters). The Baskin Robbins in our area is across from the new Chick-Fil-A that will be opening soon. Here's the thing, or things: Baskin Robbins had a huge line because of their promotion. And Chick-Fil-A offers the first 100 customers free food once a week every week for a year, or something like that. So they had a DJ, a dancing guy in a cow suit dancing to the "Cha Cha Slide." It was a party all around, and a cool place to spend some time.

Then, being Wednesday, I went to Starbucks and got my free tall Pike's Place Roast. Aside from spilling some of it on said brother Mike (man, that's happening a lot) it was just a good time.

I even ran into a former co-worker from the News-Herald. Bonus fun!

Look Who's On teh Internets

My "Del's Folks" interview is up on YouTube. This is my favorite interview that I've done, and it's a pretty good piece all around. I don't know if I'm going to be as huge as the DC vs. Marvel spots, the finest live action superhero show ever, or even this ever popular one but you never know.

More Thom Zahlery Stuff on the Internet

Jen Contino at The Pulse interviewed me about Love and Capes #7 and Free Comic Book Day. Check it out!

Blind, But Now I See

My good friend, the very observant Jesse Jackson, has noted that the Love and Capes: Do You Want To Know a Secret trade is available for pre-order on Amazon.com. Thanks for pointing it out. The link is on the sidebars of the blog and the Love and Capes page, but here it is for those of you on the RSS feed.

Second Chance (before the first, technically)

Come Free Comic Book Day, you'll get a lot of free books. You'll probably pick up Love and Capes #7. But then you may experience feelings of guilt: This book is so good, I should have paid for it. Thom Zahler needs my money. Or maybe you'll have missed the book entirely. I'm sure there'll be a run on it. Heck, it may only last ten, maybe fifteen minutes at some shops.

Well don't worry! The special "Mighty" version of Love and Capes #7 is now in Diamond's Previews. Use Previews Orderification Code: MAY08 4036!

The books are identical, aside from the alternate cover that replaces Steel Worker with Major Might on the cover. So you've got no excuse for missing it!

Sunday in the Park

Yesterday I did five hours (or as I call it, The Nickle) of caricatures at a COSE event in Little Italy here in Cleveland. It was one of those near-perfect events. I never had a line, per se, but I did have a steady stream of subjects. At most, there were two or three kids lined-up behind me.

COSE does some great work, and depending on how some things shake down, I may wind up joining. And Little Italy is one of my favorite parts of Cleveland, and for a while had my favorite restaurant in town (which, sadly, has since closed to be replaced by fine place... it's just not the same, though).

I even ran into some people I haven't seen in years there. It's amazing how that happens.

I've said before that it's important to recognize when things go right and yesterday went really right.

Well, except for the light sunburn I got being outside and drawing for five hours. But I can deal with that.

Around the Interwebs

Over on her blog, Johanna Draper Carlson says some nice things about Love and Capes and the upcoming IDW trade. I definitely appreciate it.

Queen and Country

Here's my last holdover from the New York Comic-Con. A lovely lady asked me to draw Mera. She liked the Mera image that I had on display, but wanted something "more regal." I messed around with it a little at the show, but it was a color commission so I knew I needed to do it at home anyway, so I didn't get too far.

It's a good thing I waited, too. Originally, I was drawing Aquaman's queen walking, trying to get that royal vibe, and then it hit me: Put her on the throne. And then another thought: Make the throne a sea shell. I think this one works really well.