Long Distance Comic Contest

Tomorrow sees the release of the first issue of Long Distance, my new project published by those fine people at IDW. I could use some help getting the word out, and so I turn to you. Tweet something about the comic, along with the hashtag #longdistancecomic and I'll enter you in a drawing for a two-character color commission of your choice. Tweet a picture of the comic along with it, and that will count for five entries! The contest will wrap up on June 17, 2015 at noon EST.

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/walkintherain.jpg" align="left" border="none" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ]

It's my first brand-new thing since Love and Capes, so I'm both excited and nervous. Thanks for your support.

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.

Comicpalooza 2015!

I'm back from Comicpalooza in Houston! I had such a good time, and need to thank Jesse Jackson, Bill Williams and Alex Johnson (who makes it all possible) for being such a big part of that. I think Houston may have the second most "regulars" for me, eclipsed just a bit by Baltimore, and that makes the show special. It's hospitality, Texas-style, and it's awesome. I even got to go to a bourbon tasting at the Yellow Rose Distillery.

I participated in the art auction again, this year drawing a Wonder Woman piece, and that was fun as always. I also did two panels: one on working for yourself vs. collaborating, which was lightly attended but very interesting, and one of lettering which was surprisingly well-attended. And Jesse commissioned a few sketches from me to get signed by some of his favorite actors. It's really cool when Summer Glau or Donal Logue sends back a compliment on your work.

And, I got my picture with both the car from Supernatural and the Mach Five from Speed Racer. 

If they'll have me again, I'll definitely be back. And in the meantime, I'll be at AwesomeCon DC this weekend, because I live my life like the Brothers Winchester, always on the road, selling projects and killing deadlines.

My Free Comic Book Day 2015 at Hazel's Heroes Comics

This past weekend I was a guest at Hazel's Heroes Comics in North Canton, Ohio. Their Free Comic Book Day festivities ran from 9:00-600 and it was a full day of fun! There was a line out front before the store even opened, and a steady stream of customers flowed in the entire day. I spent the day selling books and doing commissions. I even got to add to the ceiling tile art gallery with a Wonder Woman piece (because female heroes were dreadfully underrepresented… so I fixed it).

I had a great time and encourage you all to visit their shop!

I'm looking forward to next year's FCBD, too. Who knows where I'll be next time?

Everyone Needs a Rogues' Gallery

Every year I participate in the C2E2 charity auction benefitting St. Jude's. I've drawn Ponies as Cubs and White Soxs, donated pages and more. This year, I decided to do something like my Doctors Who piece featuring the Flash and his many villains. The Flash is one of my favorite TV shows this season, and Flash himself has maybe the third best Rogues' Gallery. (Spider-Man and Batman come ahead, in my opinion.) I decided to do the 80's version of the bad guys, so you won't see the Top (he was dead at the time), Turtle Man (barely used at that point) and Mr. Element/Dr. Alchemy (who had reformed).

The piece will be available at C2E2, and measures 6" high by 24" long. The original and a giclee print will be available at the auction. Hope you like it!

I'm in Aw Yeah Comics #11

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/cellphoneguy.jpg" align="right" border="image_border" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ] A couple years ago, I was asked to be part of the Aw Yeah Comics Kickstarter. Well, the issue is finally out, and you can read my four page Cell Phone Guy story in issue #11!

As soon as I get my copies, I'll have it for sale at conventions. It's also available on from the Aw Yeah guys and on Comixology.

How to Order Long Distance

My new romantic comedy comic Long Distance will be in stores soon, and it's in Previews now. Pre-ordering is essential for the success of books like these, and while I'm sure you can navigate the Diamond system just fine, I'm trying to make it a little easier for everyone. There are two covers for the book, so two order codes. The one by me is APR150443 and the one by Lora Innes is APR150444.

But I'm not going to stop there. I've made a handy printable graphic for you to give your comic shop owner, so that they can place the order for you.

And because I'm still not done, I've even made an iPhone sized one that you can just show to your retailer to order it and save a tree!

I'm excited about this new series and I hope you are, too. The first issue comes out in June, but please pre-order it now.

Coming soon, my new project: Long Distance!

A week or so ago, there was the Convention Kickoff online convention, and it’s been announced that I have a new project coming out: Long Distance! [image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ld_cvr01_final_100dpi.jpg" align="right" border="image_border" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ] Those of you who have followed me for a while might remember the scriptbook Long Distance that I did years ago. It collected the spec script that I submitted to that Bravo TV show, Situation Comedy, which was kind of a Project Greenlight for sitcoms. It never made the cut, but the idea never went away.

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ld032_flat.jpg" align="left" border="image_border" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ]

Rocket ahead ten years and here I am turning it into a comic. A lot has changed in that time, especially with how people communicate. Texting and Twitter and those things create a kind of constant telepresence and I thought that was some ground ripe for exploring. Fortunately, IDW thought so, too.

So, coming out in June will be Long Distance #1. It’s a four issue miniseries, each issue being DOUBLE-SIZED (because I’m crazy). I’m doing some hopefully interesting things with color and lettering to visually show location and distance. None of those things involve transparent word balloons, so you can all rest easy there.

Best of all, issue #1 has a variant cover by my friend Lora Innes that will not cause any controversy in the comics industry. Except the controversy of why it’s so good.

[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/ld031_flat.jpg" align="right" border="image_border" link="#" alt="" title="" lightbox="false" ]

I’ll write more about it when it becomes close, but for now, let’s remember the important thing. The Previews order code is APR150443 and the subscription cover is APR150444. Get one, get both! I’m working on some new art that you can print out and take to your shop, too. I’ll update as soon as I have something.

Wizard Cleveland Wrap Up

Wow, I had such a good time at Wizard Cleveland this past weekend. Seeing the crowds, looking at the sales and the energy, you could tell that Cleveland has been hungry for this kind of show. It was really interesting to do this local a show. There are other Ohio shows, but this one is in my backyard. I ran into all sorts of people I knew, from old jobs, relatives, people from high school and even from grade school. It's nice to see those people and know that they're doing well. It's like Facebook, but in 3-D.

I did two panels at the show. The first was Danny Fingeroth's writing panel, where Tom DeFalco, Jai Nitz, Marc Sumerak and I all discussed our process. That was a lot of fun. And the second was saturday's Breaking in and Staying In with Marc Sumerak and myself. We got a lot of good questions there. I think we dispensed some good information there.

I sold a ton of Pony books, moved some prints and sketch cards, sold Love and Capes, and did more than a few sketches. I was drawing almost all day on Saturday! That's crazy in the best way.

Cleveland has a bad reputation for coming out to support shows. So I want to say how much I appreciate people coming out through the snow and cold and poorly plowed roads to make it to the show. (And great move on Wizard's part to extend Saturday-only admissions to Sunday as well for those who didn't brave the snow.) Wizard has already announced they're coming back next year, so you have made it a success.

And I also want to thank Cleveland for not shooting itself in the foot. I was worried about $20 special event parking rates, or extra police ticketing activity, or any of the other things that can be done to strangle an event. None of that happened. There was even a ribbon cutting ceremony with the Mayor. And it was nice to see so many restaurants open even on Sunday night, so there were places to enjoy in the city after the show.

It was nice to see the show take advantage of what our area has to offer, as well. NASA Glenn had a presentation or two, both the Cleveland and Cuyahoga Libraries were out in force, as well as lots of local radio and TV. Wizard did a great job advertising the show. (And thankfully, with genre shows being so big these days, it's easy to know what to advertise on, isn't it?)

Special thanks to people who made this show so great for me: Marc Sumerak, Jai Nitz, Sean Gunn, Tony Isabella, Bob Ingersoll and Danny Fingeroth.

It was a great time and a successful show. I hope to see you there next year!

Morning Warm-Up: Aquaman

Everyone's talking about the release of the first image of Jason Momoa as Aquaman. He looks impressive and I've liked Momoa from his days on Stargate Atlantis. I had to look at the photo a couple of times to make sure it wasn't black and white, so apparently they're going with the super-muted color scheme that's permeated so much of the DC movie stuff. I liked it okay in Man of Steel, and it certainly works for Batman, but I miss color in my superhero characters. The Marvel Cinematic Universe certainly does that better, though the DC characters don't seem to need to constantly apologize for wearing costumes, so they've at least got that going for them.

All of which is by way of saying "Hey, I drew Aquaman today!" Hope you dig it!