Ian Dorian - The Thing

2013.03.30 Asbury Park Comic Con, Asbury Park, NJ

Ian Dorian started his comics apprenticeship at age 19 for artist employed by Marvel, DC and Continuity Comics, learning from Neal Adams, Mark Texeira, Rags Morals, Lou Small Jr and others. Outside of the comics industry Ian worked as a sculptor, toy designer, graphic designer, jewelry designer and storyboard artist. Dorian also shared is knowledge with students at Kean University, the Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Design, The University of Arts (Philadelphia), the Maryland Institute College of Art..

Dorian and Jim Krueger co-created the graphic novel EPOCH for  Big Iron Entertainment. Provided illustrations for Phoenix and Elsinore (Atlas Comics). 

Franco - Hawkman

2013.04.06 Comic Geek Speak Super Show, Reading, Pa

Franco Aureliani is best known for his writing the DC comics series Tiny titans with Art Baltazar, for which they won the 2009 and 2011 Eisner Award for Best Publication for Kids...

Franco and Art co-wrote DC's Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!, Young Justice, Superman Family Adventures, their Kickstarter campaign book Aw Yeah Comics! and Patrick the Wolf Boy...

Franco has penciled Adventure Time Showcase, Ambush Bug: Year None, Drifter, Flesh & Blood's Traviesa Love & hate, G-Man:Cape Crisis, NinjaTown: The Adventures of Wee Ninja.

As a writer Franco has been involved with Batman: The Brave and the Bold, DC Kids Mega Sampler, FCBD 2011 Young Justice Batman BB Super Sampler, I Dream of Jeannie, Young Justice and many others...

Green lantern the Animated Series written by Franco and Art Baltazar (signed by both) pencils by Dario Brizuela...

It was great watching both Franco and Art Baltazar work. They truly enjoy what they are doing...
Comic Geek Speak featured podcast with Art and Franco, which was very entertaining, tune in

And yes both Art and Franco colored in their sketches with crayons, what else!!!

Art Baltazar - Patrick the Wolf Boy

2013.04.06 Comic Geek Speak Supershow, Reading, Pa

Art Baltazar starting making comics with a self-published book - The Cry-Baby Adventures. Since that

time he has moved up to Gyro-Man, Captain Camel & Space Chicken, Jimmy Dydo and Patrick the Wolf Boy with Franco...

<<< Patrick the Wolf Boy Happy Birthday signed by Franco and Art...

Together with Franco they were awarded the 2009 and 2011 Eisner  Award for Best Publication for Kids, with Tiny Titans...
Art and Franco also worked together on Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam!, Young Justice, Superman Family Adventures...

Together through their Blind Wolf Studios they have published Patrick the Wolf Boy and Aw Yeah Comics! (a successful Kickstarter campaign)...

Baltazar also worked for Warner Bros. and had a monthly comic strip in Disney Adventures Magazine titled "Gorilla Gorilla!".
The Big Amoeba, Platinum Studios about a teenage cartoonist who feels under-appreciated, creates his own comic award and tries to get his classmates to take the award seriously. Patrick the Wolf-boy is featured on a coffee mug on the cover...

Art and Franco were providing free sketches during the show and were great with everyone who came to their table!

Joe Staton - Dick Tracy

2013.04.06 Comic Geek Speak Supershow, Reading, Pa

Dick Tracy is the story of a hard-hitting police detective created by Chester Gould in 1931. The comic strip was raw and violent, reflecting 1930's Chicago. Gould kept the comic current with new techniques that matched current police techniques.

Tracy villains were unique characters that were evil and grotesque and looked liked their names - Flattop Jones, The Mole, Pruneface, Angeltop, Splitscreen. It was not unusual for Tracy to finish a storyline in a shootout killing the villain.

Gould introduced many modern gadgets like the wrist radio and watch phone, even taking the adventure to the Moon.

Upon Gould's retirement in 1977 Max Collins took over the writing duties and Rick Fletcher the art. Gould's name would remain in the byline for many years. When Fletcher died, a long-time Gould assistant and editorial cartoonist Dick Locher would take over the art and the writing from 2006 - 2009. Mike Killian took over writing duties from Collins in 1992 until his death in 2005. Jim Brozman would begin collaborating with Locher in 2009. Locher retired in 2011 and the storyline was handed to artist Joe Staton (creator of E-Man and longtime artist DC Comics Green Lantern, Omega Men, Doom Patrol, Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes, Scooby-Doo and many others) and writer Mike Curtis.

Joe Staton has been in the comic industry since 1971, when he started at Charlton Comics, as a writer and illustrator. He created the character E-Man with Nicola Curti in 1973. Staton would work for Marvel, DC and First Comics (serving as art director) working on titles such as Justice Society of America (All-Star Comics and Adventure Comics), Power Girl (Showcase), Superboy and ther Legion of Super-Heroes, Doom Patrol (Showcase), Metal Men, Green Lantern, Millennium, Guy Gardner, The Huntress, The New Gaurdians, Superman & Bugs Bunny, Scooby Doo, Richie Rich, Casper, Batman, Blackhawk, Charlton Classics, American Flagg, Grimjack, Incredible Hulk, Johnny Quest, Space:1999, Wonder Woman, Dick Tracy and the list goes on...

Staton co-created Omega Men with Marv Wolfman...

In a previous meeting with Staton a Batman sketch was obtained for my son Matt and can be seen in Matt's Collection page...

1980s' Dick Locher

Tracy by Chester Gould (1931-1977)

Tracy by Rick Fletcher (1977-1983), with writer Max Collins (1977-1992)

Tracy by Dick Locher (1983-2011) assisted by John Locher and writers Collins and Mike Kilian (1992-2005), Jim Brozman (2005-2011)

Tracy by Joe Staton (2011-  ) with writer Mike Curtis

Timothy Truman - Grateful Dead

2013.04.06 Comic Geek Speak Supershow, Reading, Pa

Timothy Truman is a comic book artist-writer whose stories tend to stay in the old west. Grimjack (with John Ostrander), Jonah Hex: Two Gun Mojo and Jonah Hex:Riders of the Worm and Such (with Joe R. Lansdale) , A Man Named Hawken (with Ben Truman). Truman has also worked on the characters Airboy, the Heap, The Prowler and The Spider for Eclipse Comics... The Lone Ranger and Tonto for Topps Comics, On the Far Side with Dead Folks (with Joe R. Lansdale) from Avatar Comics.

Scout (1985) published by Eclipse Comics was created by Truman. It follows an Apache warrior Emanuel Santana set against the post holocaust US with states of the South seceding from the Union, ran for 24 issues...

He re-invented Hawkman in Hawkworld, worked on a Tarzan novel, Valiant Comics - Turok:Dinosaur Hunter. Wrote Star Wars and Conan the Cimmerian for Dark Horse Comics...

Truman's work does not stop with comics...he created artwork for the Grateful Dead, wrote a biography of Carlos Santana for Rock-It Comics, included a flexi-disc in Eclipse Comics Scout #19 (1987) and records his own music in his home studio. His band the Dixie Pistols released the album Marauder (which featured a short Scout comic)...

At the Asbury Park Comic Con I was talking with Jerome Walford of Nowhere Man about music and comics. Walford includes lyrics in his dialog, so as a reader you start incorporating the song into the story. Tom Morello provides music downloads to go with his book Orchid from Dark Horse, which at the end of the run will provide a 12 song CD of music.  Fem Force included a flexi disc in their issue #50, featuring the Fem Force theme song ( I have not removed my flexi from the comic yet!). I will be looking for Scout #19, have to hear the song...

So it was almost obvious that I had to go with a music related theme for my request from Truman. The choice of the Buddy Holly first day covers was Truman's from one guitar player to an original rock n' roll guitarist...

Katie Cook - Star Wars

2013.04.06 Comic Geek Speak Supershow, Reading, Pa

While I was looking over Katie Cook's table I was taken in by all the really small cute mini paintings she had available. I kept going through my covers trying to decide what to choose, Supergirl, Batgirl, Tinkerbell, lots of images with tiny hearts, cats and other animals. Then I saw the mini Jawa  and the mini Boba Fett from Star Wars and my mind was set. After explaining what I was looking for Cook quickly said Jabba the Hut and the carbonite Han Solo. Without hesitation she went to work. Cook's mini paintings are wonderful,  she even made Jabba look cute!

Cook has done licensing work for DC, Marvel, Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, My Little Pony, Fraggle Rock and others..... Cook is also the writer for My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic...

Cook has provided the cover for Hellheim by Cullen Bunn, Joelle Jones and Nick Filardi, draws and writer a web-comic Gronk a Monster's story, has a terrific Cursed Pirate Girl pin-up on her website. A grouping of her mini paintings can also be seen on her website (I purchased the Koala for my wife!) You can not walk away from her table without feeling happy!

As for the Supershow...I was surprised by the low turn-out on Saturday, as it featured an excellent group of creators. Anyone unable to attend missed out on an excellent opportunity to meet some of the top names in the industry...Timothy Truman, Joe Staton, Fred Hembeck, Tom Raney, JK Woodward, Jamal Igle, Erica Schultz, Dawn Griffin, Nick Makoviak, Art Baltazar, Franco, Ian Glaubinger, Don Smith, Andrew Charipar, Dave Wachter, Chris Flick, Mike Norton, Jim Califiore, Rudy Nebres (I am amazed he doesn't get more of a crowd at his table - he is excellent!), Julian Lytle, Danielle Corsetto, Scott Derby, Mark Mariano, Tom King and others I did not get to... I am glad I had the opportunity to attend, great job guys!!!

Jay Lynch and Al Jaffee

2013.03.30 Asbury Park Comic Con, Asbury Park, NJ

self-portrait

A native of New Jersey, Lynch played a key role in the underground comix scene with books like Bijou Funnies (1968-1973), which featured Nard n' Pat, Turned On Cities, Roxy Funnies (1972) and many others. Bijou Funnies first appeared in Chicago in the summer of 1968 and featured work by Lynch, whon also served as editor, Skip Williamson, Jay Kinney, Gilbert Shelton and Robert Crumb.

Underground Comix gained popularity in the mid sixties, a group of self-published cartoonist-writers that followed the hippie culture focusing on sex, drugs, rock n' roll and violence. Subjects out of the mainstream. These comics could be found in head shops, which were not frequented by young kids, the books were geared for an older audience. At the time of their heyday (1967-73) I was aware of these books, but could never bring one into the house. Underground comix gained recognition when Ralph Bakshi adapted Robert Crumb's Fritz the Cat into an animated feature (1972). I had to show proof of age to get in to see this, of course my "birth certificate copy" had been altered to make me old enough to get in.

Lynch has also provided work for MAD Magazine, children's books (Otto's Orange Day and Mo and Jo Fighting Together Forever with Dean Haspiel) and his most publicly famous work on Topp's stickers - Wacky Packages and Garbage Pail Kids

Al Jaffee signature

While walking around the con, I came across Al Jaffee's table. There was a line which is deserved. I hesitated at first then decided to take my place in line. Even though he was not providing sketches, it was still Al Jaffee, one of the great cartoonists. How could you not get in line. His contributions to MAD Magazine have continued for 57 years, his most notable work the back page fold-in.

Jaffee started in comics in 1941 working for several publications including Timely Comics and Atlas Comics, creating the characters Ziggy Pig and Silly Seal for Stan Lee. Fro 1957-1963 Jaffee drew an elongated comic panel Tall Tales for the New York Herald Tribune. Copies of the book reprinting Tall Tales (with an introduction by Stephen Colbert) were available at Jaffee's table. With the purchase of the book Jaffee provided a pre-signed book-plate (below). At 92, if it helps to pre-sign items, why not. 

1971, 1975 - National Cartoonist Society Special Features Award

1973 - National Cartoonist Society Advertising  and Illustrating Award

1979 - National Cartoonist Society Humor Comic Book Award

2008 - Reuben Award as Cartoonist of the Year

Button provided to guests that allowed re-entry (gotta love this!)

Overall I felt the convention was excellent. More space than previous, a great line-up of creators including Erica Schultz (M-3), Jerome Walford (Nowhere Man - a well produced book with great story and art), Frank Barbiere (Image Comics - Five Ghosts), Mina Sanwald, Ken Fredrick (Forgotten Dead, Quandry), Tom Hall (Robot-13), Paul Castiglia (Archie Comics), Jeff Schultz (Archie Comics), Allen Bellman (Capt America), Herb Trimpe (Hulk), Dave Ryan (War of the Independents), Bill Ellis (All New Issues), Bob C Hardin (Epics), Steve Mannion (Fearless Dawn), Chris Campana (Kantara)  Dan O'Connor (Ace Kilroy), Dave Bullock (Batman), Jamal Igle (Molly Danger), Jason Quinones (Beer & Cookies), Javier Cruz Winnick, Rudy Nebres (Tarzan), Stephanie Buscema and many many others...

Obtained sketches from Ian Dorian, Shawn Alleyne, Bob Camp, John Holmstrom, John Trumbull, Gary Fields, Joe Martino, Mark Morales and Chris Faccone...sketches will be posted....

Alex Saviuk - Spider-Man

2012.03.31 NY Comic Book Marketplace, NYC

Alex Saviuk started his professional career in 1977 at DC Comics, illustrating Green Lantern, the Flash and Superman. By the 1980's he was the regular backup feature artist on Action Comics illustrating stories that featured the Atom, Air-Wave and Aquaman. Saviuk and writer E. Nelson Bridwell introduced the Global Guardians in DC Comics Presents #46 (1982)...

Moving to marvel Comics in 1986, Saviuk became the key artist on Spider-Man, which included a 7-year run on Web of Spider-Man and 2-year run on Spider-Man Adventures. Since 1997 Saviuk has drawn The Amazing Spider-Man Sunday newspaper comic strip...

Saviuk has also illustrated Topps Comics The X-Files, 1997-1998...

Saviuk has co-created Sunburst, with Paul Kupperberg; Olympian with E. Nelson Bridwell; Tombstone, with Gerry Conway and the New Enforcers, with Terry Kavanagh...

Matt and I obtained matching Spider-Man drawings during the show...

Isaiah McAllister - Bear VS. Zombies

2012.11.11 Albany Comic Con, Albany, NY

So what does a bear do in the woods?
During a zombie apocalypse he kills zombies, aided by a yo-yo wielding rabbit!

Bear VS. Zombies is an action adventure, humor web-comic from Isaiah McCallister. He got the idea after reading The Walking Dead comic book series. Working with a previously created bear character, McCallister developed the story line of a zombie apocalypse from the view point of the animals.

I read a review of the web-comic that although the reviewer liked the story he had a problem with the pop-culture references being made by a bear and a rabbit. Really! Bear kills zombies with a bow and arrow and the rabbit, Duncan (get it!?), masterfully brandishes twin yo-yos better than Tommy Smothers!!  And he was concerned with their knowledge of the human world!!!

Bear VS. Zombie has been published in a comic book by Scrimmage Books.

McCallister has also provided sketch cards for Marvel Avengers, Star Wars, Vampirella, Warlord of Mars, Transformers, DC Comics...

As of this post McAllister has delayed further posts of Bear vs Zombies due to his busy schedule with sketch cards for various companies...

For this sketch I used a cover with a 1990 pictorial cancel which features a teddy bear. The cancel is from Clarion, Iowa home of the Heartland Museum, which features the Artist Teddy Bear Exhibit. 1990 was the first Teddy Bear Reunion, which is held every 5-years in Clarion...

Joe Orsak - Mia Hamm

2012.11.11 Albany Comic Con, Albany, NY - Mia Hamm pencil sketch

When I read the guest list for the Albany Comic Con, I recognized the name Joe Orsak. I had previously obtained a quick sketch of Elektra from Joe during a comic book and baseball card show at the Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY in 1992. While I was looking over his site Master Graphics I noted Orsak's work on sports related postal event covers. I thought this would be a great opportunity to obtain a sketch of US Women's Soccer star Mia Hamm on a 1996 Olympic Cover.

I had originally gone to the show, in 1992, to obtain autographs of the 1969 New York Mets and had hoped to meet Todd MacFarlane, but the line at his table was so long, I think there are a few people still waiting. Besides Orsak, I obtained a sketch of The Thing from Tom Morgan, who had worked as a penciller, inker and cover artist for Marvel Comics on Captain America, Punisher 2099 and Iron Man, as well as Action Comics and The Adventures of Superman for DC Comics...

and Jordan Raskin, who started his career in the 90s drawing "Predator: Race War" for Dark Horse Comics and "Ripclaw" for Top Cow, along with Tomb of Terror, Batman, Negative Burn, Spider-Man, Blood of Kali and other titles. Raskin has since moved on to animation working on "Courage the Cowardly Dog" as well as "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"... Predator by Raskin

Since tomorrow is home opening day for the NY Redbulls 2013 season and I will be at the game, I will complete this post with a recent acquisition of a hand painted World Cup Soccer FDC by Don Thompson...

Bob Burden - Flaming Carrot

2012.10.30 Flaming Carrot, posted Atlanta, Ga

While checking out Kickstarter projects I came across Bob Burden's Flaming Carrot Hardback & Digital Comics, which was successfully funded on September 9, 2012. One of the incentives for becoming a backer of the project was a Bob Burden postcard (8.5 x 5.5) with artwork to cheer up whoever it was sent to. The project backer could request any Flaming Carrot character drawn by Burden with a greeting. (I left it up to Burden to chose the character). I am not quite sure how an offer for a reverse home mortgage could cheer me up. Oh, wait there's no qualifying credit requirements!!!

There were several great incentives but I could not walk away from receiving a sketch on a postcard sent through the mails...

The postcard front features the Flaming Carrot cover for The Wild Shall Wild Remain, the project is a re-issue of the previously release stories (4-11) in a signed numbered hard cover edition...

Bob Burden created the Flaming Carrot in 1979, when he appeared in Visions #1 published by the Atlanta Fantasy Fair.  The Flaming Carrot has been published by Aardvark-Vanaheim, Renegade Press, Dark Horse Comics, Image Comics and has appeared alongside the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Carrot's origin states that having read 5,000 comics in a single sitting to win a bet, this poor man suffered brain damage. He wears a giant carrot mask and is an original member of the Mystery Men...

Burden created Mystery Men and has written for Gumby, Cholly & Flytrap with Arthur Suydam and Robot Comics...

Gary Fields - Huckleberry Hound

2012.09.29 Asbury Park, NJ

Gary is heavily influenced by the cartoons he watched growing up, which works perfectly for the books he draws. His titles (as writer, penciller, inker or colorist) include:
DC comics - Cartoon Network, Dexter's Lab, Cow & Chicken, Billy & Mandy, the Jetsons, Sgt Rock, Scooby-Doo
Hanna-Barbera stories that included Peter Potamus, Yogi Bear, Wally Gator, Wacky Races, Augie Doogie...

Hellboy pin-up in Hellboy Weird Tales #8...

Image Comics - Popgun, Action Planet...

Rugrats newspaper comic strip...

Nickelodeon magazine gag cartoons...
Topps - Duckman
Marvel - Biker Mice from Mars, What If?, Earthworm Jim, Rocko's Modern Life (with Darren Auck)
Airwave - Mr magoo's Holiday Special
Spotlight Comics - Underdog, Mighty Mouse
Archie Comics - TMNT, Jughead's Pal Hot Dog
First Comics - Grimjack
.......and many others....

Huckleberry Hound is a laid-back blue dog with a Southern drawl, created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, making his first appearance in 1958 in Huckleberry Hound Meets Wee Willie. I have strong memories of the Huckleberry Hound show, as I remember watching Huck and Yogi Bear and all the H-B characters during my chidlhood..

"Oh my darling, Oh my darling, Oh my darling Clementine

Thou are lost an gone forever, dreadful sorry Clementine..."

The stamp honors Owney (1887-1897) a stray mixed breed terrier adopted by the post office in Albany, NY, traveling throughout the 48 contiguous states as a mascot of the Railway Post Office. Owney is the subject of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Museum and honored by the Postal Service July 27, 2011...

Words from Gary Fields