The best thing about going to comic conventions is not only meeting the fans, but meeting people whose eyes light up when they see our work or hear about what we’re doing. The highlights are those moments when someone reads a strip for the first time and bursts out in laughter; Moments when a wide-eyed kid, barely tall enough to see over the table, exclaims how “AWESOME!” your wife’s art portfolio is, with all their raw honesty and exuberance; When the guy who commissioned a sketch returns to pick up Leanne’s work and his reaction is so enthusiastic that he literally gets goosebumps! Seriously, he pointed it out. Sure enough, hairs were raised! Wow!

These moments at a show are the things that stick with you for a lifetime and keep your tank from hitting empty during an exhausting couple of days under the oppressive bright lights and long, hungry hours of a comic-con. Having any kind of positive impact, on anyone, is a wonderful feeling. In this sense, comic cons can be that moment when personal motivation and self-assurance receive a boost. I’m not meaning to imply the show was some sort of praise-athon, because there are always negatives too, but hey! Certain moments are going to stick with you forever.

Baltimore Comic Con is the largest of our “local” comic cons and so we make a habit of attending each year. However, this was the most difficult show Leanne and I have ever exhibited at. We were both sick last week and arrived at the show in a pretty bad way. This is also the first show I have attended post spine surgery and the cheap hard plastic chairs and concrete floor was practically murder. Jacked up on pain pills and trying to survive a show that had been extended to 7 PM on Saturday night was tough. Trying to have a chipper greeting and smile for everyone who came up to see us was even harder. For those that met me, if I looked like I was going to faint, I might not have been far off. We cut short our usual evening socializing and crashed in our hotel room as soon as we could. It couldn’t be helped, and my spine and hand problems are a new challenge. I had a bit more color in my face on Sunday, but wow… will there by many cons in my future? Not so sure. I feel like I’ve aged 20 years.

Later this week, or next week, we will set up a store of some kind for Leanne’s Sketchbooks and prints. This is just in case non-convention goers and geographically challenged fans would like a piece of the action. All sketchbook purchases will get a promo card thrown in free, and the first few will get a bonus reclining Vader promo card and “It’s a Frapp!” thrown in while supplies last. We have only a handful of these original promo cards left and have no plans of further print runs. Our new promo card features the bounty hunters posing with Vader (see previous blog posts).

Leanne completed some really nice sketches while at the show. Included are a couple of Blue Milk Special related requests. We also debuted our new horizontal banner display, built using PVC tubes for the first time. The banner was courtesy of Beltsville, MD Signs By Tomorrow, who I can not praise enough for their generosity and professionalism. We did forget our blue table throw, so we were stuck with the default white table and white skirt. Not a big deal really. We’re not terribly serious about sales at any of the shows we’ve done. We both have day jobs that pay the bills and conventions are promotional investment as well as a chance to meet old and new friends. We have never had any financial goal beyond attempting to cover the table cost and some of our expenses. That said, many fellow exhibitors told us that Baltimore Comic Con 2012 seemed a lot quieter than last year and we could not help but agree. Some people had almost no business at all.

Why? I can’t really say. Last year was an amazing Saturday, but a dead Sunday. This year was an okay Saturday and a quiet Sunday. Was everyone broke? Is the economy hitting geeks a little harder this year despite supposed improvement elsewhere? Was it the bad weather on Saturday? We did okay, but I definitely feel like we need to find new avenues to explore and eventually Book Fairs (more on this in a couple of months re: our non-BMS projects).

Another update so soon? Here’s a great opportunity for you guys to commission that picture you’ve had sitting in your head for the last year. Friend and collaborator Brian Brinlee is now taking commissions!

Brian Brinlee has been a penciler for the past few years on an indy title called Sky Pirates of Valendor by Jolly Rogue Studios. Sky Pirates recently completed its first series and is now available as a collected trade, as well as an anthology. While Brian is currently working on the second series, he has also illustrated for the Comicbook Artists Guild in their Iconic anthology as well as several covers, pin-ups, and books for various self-publishers.

“Sky Pirates of Valendor recounts the adventures of Pirate Captain Tobin Manheim and the rest of the crew of the Rogue’s Revenge. Set in the fantasy world of Valendor where giant continents float on oceans of sky! A mix of steampunk and high fantasy where magic co-exists with futuristic technology, Valendor is a fully realized world, with complex social structures, a guild-driven economic system, and a host of political intrigue.”

As fellow fans of the fantasy genre Brian and I are currently working on zombie slaying gunslinger comic called Runeslingers. Previews will start appearing in the coming months as we get closer to completing the first chapter. In the meantime, don’t miss your opportunity to take advantage of the window in Brian schedule for commissions. Check out Brian’s beautiful work over at DeviantArt.

As my last post of the year I wanted to give everyone an update on recent events. In a nutshell, 2011 has been an interesting year. 7+ years of marriage and more deeply in love than ever before is always a good sign. While my health issues have hindered the progress of my writing, I am more determined than ever to debut some of my stories in 2012.

I have chronic sinusitis, despite surgeries and treatments, however this is unfortunately coupled with a herniated cervical disc. The neck pain caused by the disc herniation extends to my arms and hands and has flared up frequently to the point where it is difficult to type. Just three weeks ago my neck got so bad I could hardly stand without severe pain and worried I was not going to be able to move again. Fortunately, after three days of narcotics and rest I started to see the light. I’m now wearing a neck brace most of the day and have spine surgery (anterior cervical discectomy) scheduled for January 9th which will put me out of work for at least 3 weeks. I had no other option but to take unpaid family medical leave so there’s that added financial tension. Despite all this, I’m enthusiastic about the projects currently in the works. First, an update on our most recent convention appearance…

Richmond Comic Con Report

Leanne Hannah and I attended Richmond’s Virginia Comic Con in October where we met fans and introduced some new readers to our work. This was our second appearance at the Virginia Comic Con in three months and while it is a small show, the staff and attendees are very welcoming. We were interviewed as a husband and wife team by a gentleman and camera crew, though his details appear to be lost so who knows where it will end up.

I do not expect we will be doing another Virginia show for sometime, however. We really need to tighten our purse strings and be more strategic in our convention appearance planning in 2012. For all those that met us in Virginia, thank you for your hospitality and kindness. A special thank you to Matt and Suzanne Wieringo for giving us a wonderful place to stay and without whom the weekend would not have been nearly as enjoyable.

Matt has an amazing indie comic in the works called The Hand Me Down Horror. Absolutely amazing stuff and I genuinely can not wait until the art is finished. It might be a long wait, of course. Day jobs are a bitch.

MY CURRENT PROJECTS: UPDATE

While my manga project with Leanne Hannah remains untitled for now, the first concept art has finally begun and Leanne will start work on the 3 page prologue in the next couple of weeks. Leanne has also updated her site with an end of the year blog and our Christmas pinup for Blue Milk Special. I will post some previews in the next month.

As reported previously, pages from Brian Brinlee are coming in for our Runeslingers project. We will soon be ready to engage a colorist and are currently reviewing submissions. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the colorist position so far. We should have some preview pages in early 2012.

The Adeline project with artist Danielle Ellison is still in the design phases though the first batch of pages should be completed early 2012.

Happy New Year! Best wishes for 2012!

Pages from Brian Brinlee are starting to come in and they look fantastic! We will soon be ready to engage a colorist. Thank you to everyone who has contacted me about the colorist position so far.

Meanwhile, thumbs for my collaborative project with Danielle Ellison are looking great and the first batch of pages should follow.

Finally, my first ever manga project with Leanne Hannah is about to begin the character sketching phase. Illustrations to appear here soon. Hopefully!

I hope to have a more detailed post with images from the progress of both in November. Next update, however will be a con report from my upcoming appearance at Virginia Comic Con in Richmond on October 29th and 30th. If you will be there feel free to say hello.