LONG BEACH COMIC CON: HERE WE COME!

First, thanks for everyone who came out to Rose City Comic Con. I had a fun time, including getting choked out by Nate Quarry on my own panel.

Tim Seeley and Leila del Duca seem to be really enjoying this.

So, with that safely in the rearview mirror, I'm getting ready to head down to Long Beach Comic Con, where I am a guest of honor and everything.

Megan Levens and I will be tabling both days in Artist Alley at Table 1505. We'll have plenty of Madame Frankenstein issues for sale, including potentially an early release of #6. I'll also have a bunch of my books and free Lady Killer signing cards.

Megan will also have art and prints. If you want to inquire about getting art from her, drop her a line through her blog. 

I'm currently scheduled for two panels. One is the Eat Geek Play game Geeks Against Humanity, a spin on the Cards Against Humanity Card Game. One of the other contestants will be the legendary Len Wein. That panel is Saturday at 5:30 in room 101A.

Then on Sunday I'll be part of the crime writing panel alongside lots of great writers. We will be in room 102B/C. Check it out.

How To Get Away With It: The Art of Writing Crime
Sunday at 12:30 
Join Kyle Higgins, Jimmy Palmiotti, James S. Rich, Alec Siegel, and Alex Segura as they talk about the most addictive genre of writing. Learn just how far a writer has to go when coming up with the perfect crime.

That's a pretty killer line-up, no pun intended. 

So, come down and get some books signed. I'm bringing mostly newer stock, so if there is something specific you want that's older, you may want to drop me a line before I pack my suitcase!

Current Soundtrack: Late Night Tales, curated by Franz Ferdinand


ROSE CITY COMIC CON DETAILS: THIS WEEKEND!

Okay, so I'm going to be doing two cons in the next two weeks, which is a little staggering to think about at the moment, it's been a while.

But the first is in my hometown and practically right around the corner, so what the hell, yeah?

I'll be tabling at Rose City Comic Con both Saturday and Sunday. Come find me at Table G-13. I'll have lots of books with me, though mostly stuff from the last couple of years. Feel free to message me if there's anything from my older work you might be looking to get and I can bring it special. (Or, if it's something like Cut My Hair, which I'm out of, I might be able to talk Oni into being sure one is there. Emphasis on might. They're a grown woman and do what they want.)

You might also make a note that I'll be signing at the Dark Horse booth with Joëlle Jones on Saturday from 5 to 5:50. It may be Joëlle's only show signing, I am not sure. But Dark Horse is making special Lady Killer signature cards, so you'll want to get in on that.

I also have two panels. The first is on Saturday:

Back to the Gutters: Let's Talk Comics
Room: Panel Room 4
Time: 3:00PM - 3:50PM

From part of the team that brought you From the Gutters comes a new take on the comic book panel. Join comics writer and journalist Jamie S. Rich and Ryan McCluskey as they bring their unique unique wit and perspective to a live interview format. Along with their special guests, they'll discuss the intricacies of a life in comics, both in the studio and out.

Our guests will be Tim Seeley (Revival, Grayson), Nathan Quarry (Zombie Cage Fighter, former MMA champ), Leila Del Duca (Shutter), and Jen Van Meter (The Death-Defying Dr. Mirage, Hopeless Savages.) Should be a good mix for us all to sit and chat. 

Listen to Ryan McCluskey and I dish about the show on Funemployment Radio. It should be up in their archive shortly.

I'll also be the moderator for the spotlight on Matt Wagner happening on Sunday.

Spotlight: Matt Wagner
Room: Panel Room 7
Time: 1:00PM - 1:50PM

Writer/artist Matt Wagner began his career in 1982 with the publication of his most well known character, Grendel. Since that time, in addition to his own creations, he has lent has talents to the likes of such notable characters as Batman and The Shadow, along with many others, and is currently pitting Grendel against the latter in an upcoming series co-published by Dark Horse and Dynamite Entertainment. Join us for a look back at Wagner's storied career, as well as current and future projects.

If I have my information correct, Matt's son Brennan, who is also his current colorist, will also be with us. Then they will sign Grendel vs. the Shadow at the Dark Horse booth after.

Speaking of Dark Horse, they are throwing the After Party on Saturday and have me lined up as one of the official attendees. You can see all the details here. Come hang out, have a drink, it'll be fun.

I look forward to seeing everyone!

Current Soundtrack: Some Kind of Wonderful soundtrack

STRANGEWAYS, HERE I COME

As Rose City Comic Con approaches, Rob McMonigal over at Panel Patter is doing a round-up of books by the guests of the show. And he began with Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks.

What starts off as a fairly straightforward noir story with a man caught up in a set of crimes he didn't commit and a woman with looks that can kill quickly morphs and changes into a plot where reality is questioned at every turn of the page and even when it finishes we aren't 100% sure of the truth of the ending. The saying about making your bed and the having to lie in fits well here. Archer may seems like a stand up guy with a stand up act, but though not a magician, swallowing the reality of his situation is going to require magic.

Read the whole review here.

Rose City Comic Con is going to be September 20-21. Information is on their site.

I'll be at table G-13.

I'll also be hosting a panel on Saturday at 3 p.m. 

Back to the Gutters: Let's Talk Comics
Room: Panel Room 4
Time: 3:00PM - 3:50PM

From part of the team that brought you From the Gutters comes a new take on the comic book panel. Join comics writer and journalist Jamie S. Rich and Ryan McCluskey as they bring their unique unique wit and perspective to a live interview format. Along with their special guests, they'll discuss the intricacies of a life in comics, both in the studio and out.

- See more at: http://rosecitycomiccon.com/programming/#sthash.crLm0p12.dpuf

We're lining up guests now, with the first two being Nate Quarry and Leila Del Duca!

See you there. I'll have comics for sale, most likely just the most recent stuff. If you have a special request, particularly for my prose novels, drop me a line and we can set up my bringing them for you.

After that, it's Long Beach the next weekend!

Current Soundtrack: The Smiths, Strangeways Here We Come

IN PUBLIC

Ha!

No sooner is the Madame Frankenstein #3 info released, and Comic Book Resources also puts up a new interview with Megan and myself.

Here's a sample:

Levens: Shortly before I presented the idea to Jamie, I'd revisited my old character designs for the monster -- who I'd originally drawn back in my old college sketchbooks, and never done anything with until this book -- and began dressing her in these elegant, old Hollywood gowns and art deco jewelry, sort of as a contrast to her appearance as bald and stitched-together. I liked the contrast of glamorous and gruesome, which was definitely a hallmark of the classic Universal monster films. When we started really digging into the story, keeping it in that period ended up really helping indicate who these people were and how they came to the place they are when the series opens

Read the whole thing right here.

Also, mark you calendars. May 3 is Free Comic Book Day. Not only will I be at Zeus in Dallas, but if you're in the Southern California area, you can meet Megan at Blastoff! Comics in North Hollywood. Here is their Facebook event page.

Current Soundtrack: Kelis, Food

READER MEET AUTHOR: Special Edition NYC & Free Comic Book Day

First, a reminder, May 3 come see myself, Joëlle Jones, and Mike Norton at Zeus Comics in Dallas, TX, to celebrate Free Comic Book Day. I

Then, the following month, June 14 and 15, I'll be joining Mike Norton, Michael & Laura Allred, and a tons of great folks for Special Edition: New York City. I'm really excited about this show. I haven't been to the East Coast since I went to NY Comic Con a couple of years ago, and this new event is put on by the same people. It's a Special Edition because it's comic books only. No big media, video games, or anything else. Just comics!

I should hopefully have copies of Archer Coe & the Thousand Natural Shocks to debut at the show, as well as the first two issues of Madame Frankenstein and a smattering of other books. If I have any A Boy and a Girl hardcovers left by then, for instance. 

Here are more details.

Current Soundtrack: Phantogram, Voices

IMAGINE THE SWAN

Thanks to everyone who stopped by my table at Rose City Comic Con this past weekend and chatted or bought books. It was a good show, and the From the Gutters panel went really well. 

Yet, of all the good times had, one thing--or more importantly, one person--really stands out. 

For my money, the little girl who came to the show dressed as It Girl was the highlight of the convention.  If not my career.

Her name is Melanie*, and her favorite comic is It Girl and the Atomics . She asked her mother to make her the costume, and her mother kindly complied. The whole family came down to the convention, including Melanie's younger sister, who was cosplaying as Twilight Sparkle from My Little Pony .

I can't imagine I'll ever receive a bigger compliment than this one. When I cast back to when I was Melanie's age, and to what comics and cartoons and everything meant to me, and how the stuff I read back then sparked my imagination, I can think of no greater accomplishment than to pass on that kind of excitement to a child through my work.  

Most days, it seems like comics fandom and professionals alike spend the majority of time complaining about what bothers them instead of celebrating the things that excite them. It drives me nuts. If we put as much energy into spreading the word about the good as we do promoting the bad, we'd all be a lot healthier.

Melanie is the best reminder of why I make comics. She reminds me why I read comics. If it's not the same for you, you might want to consider another field. Even the stuff that maybe isn't for her right now, hopefully when she's older her experience with It Girl will eventually lead her to A Boy and a Girl and then maybe 12 Reasons Why I Love Her and a life-long relationship with comics and reading in general.

She wasn't just the star of my show, either. An hour didn't go by on Saturday or Sunday when someone--including people I had never met before--didn't come by and ask me if I had seen the tiny It Girl running around. Her enthusiasm was contagious. 

 

* I changed Melanie's name because, when I met her, it didn't occur to me that i might write this post. Hopefully she and her parents won't mind my writing about this encounter.

A GOOD WEEKEND FOR THE ROSES [UPDATED]

So, Rose City Comic Con is this weekend, and I am a special guest. 

I'll be there both days, at table E-01, selling books and chatting and other such shenanigans. My table is right next to Joëlle Jones, so you can meet us both at the same time.

I'll also be part of the panel for From the Gutters, which is happening on Saturday, 2 p.m., in room 4. Joe Keatinge has agreed to come and moderate the event for us, and we have a couple of special guests lined up, likely to be announced...edit: here it is!

Joining us special for the panel are legendary Legendary Comics editor Bob Schreck and Mage/Grendel creator Matt Wagner! Tell 'em more, Joe...!

I've also added a signing at the Oni Press table at 5:00 pm on Saturday. If you can't find me at my own spot, we'll be there! They might also have more of my prose works, I don't have stock on a lot of the earlier books. 

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For those looking to party the night before, Oni Press is hosting a kick-off shindig at the White Owl in Portland, and I'll be DJing under my Icky Animal monicker. It'll be the usual mix of Britpop and soul and whatever else I have on my hard drive. Details are on Facebook. 

 Current Soundtrack: Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic discussing In Utero  on NPR