I was lucky enough to visit Rancho Obi-Wan a couple years ago, and it was a great time. I can't recommend visiting that place enough. I even managed to impress Steve Sansweet by knowing some Star Wars toy trivia that had eluded all his other tour takers.[image src="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/swladies.png" align="left" border="image_border" link="http://thomz.com/blogall/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/swladies.jpg" alt="" title="Rebellious Ladies" lightbox="false" ] They're having a fundraising auction to help keep the place going, and I was honored to be able to do a piece for it. It's 12x9 and drawn in ink and colored with Dr. Martin's watercolor dyes. Read more about the auction here.
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.
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.
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.