Mid Ohio Kick Off Party at Packrat Comics

Mid-Ohio Con is landing in Columbus this Saturday and Sunday, but the fun begins on FRIDAY at Packrat Comics in Hilliard! 


Beginning at 1pm, comic artist Steve Scott will be at Packrat signing comics. His most recent work includes Batman prior to the DC relaunch, X-Men Forever, Wolverine and JLA! He'll be here all afternoon to sign your copy of Batman 713...the issue that shows the second location of Packrat in Gotham City next to the Wayne Foundation!

Then, at 7pm the annual turkey dinner will be served to get the Mid Ohio Kick Off Party in full swing! There's free transportation to and from the convention center, plenty of free food and drinks, and an exclusive showing of our Mid Ohio Comic Con Publishing Contest comic book winners in their brand new art gallery. There's also the charity comic book Texas hold `em poker tournament, live music with disco lights & a fog machine.  So come to Packrat Comics and join the fun!


Shuttle Service provided by Packrat Comics:  Starting at 6:30pm and every 30 minutes thereafter there will be a shuttle to pick up party goers at 400 High Street in front of the Columbus Convention Center on the corner of Goodale and High.   RSVP on the Facebook Event to reserve space on the Packrat Comics Kick Off Party Shuttle.

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Green Brain Comics Celebrates 10 Years

In celebration of their 10th Anniversary, Detroit's comic shop supreme Green Brain Comics kicks off a summer full of events with the inaugural exhibition in their new art gallery space.

Entitled "The Best of the Green Brain Comic Jams" this exhibition features some of the most unique, humorous and downright baffling pieces of comic art created by a host of local and visiting cartoonists. These works have been culled from a huge library of collaborative works created over the last several years at monthly Comic Jams.

"We have been inviting local cartoonists to collaborate on comic jams on the second Wednesday of the month for years." says Dan Merritt, co-owner of Green Brain Comics "And we thought it would be great to open our gallery space by showing off some of the gems that were created right here by some of our good friends and talented cartoonists."

The opening reception runs from 7pm to 10pm on Saturday, June 20, 2009.

And just six days later, author James Danky will present a slideshow and be signing his book, Underground Classics on Friday June 26th from 5pm to 7pm. Mr. Danky is both co-author (along with Denis Kitchen) and co-curator (same) of the art exhibit Underground Classics: The Transformation of Comics Into Comix (running May 2 through July 12, 2009 at the Chazen Museum of Art in Madison, WI).

Underground Classics provides the first serious survey of underground comix as art, turning the spotlight on these influential and largely underappreciated artists. Essays from the book’s co-writers and co-curators James Danky and Denis Kitchen, alongside essays by Paul Buhle, Patrick Rosenkranz, Jay Lynch, and Trina Robbins, offer a thorough reflection and appraisal of the underground movement. Over 125 original drawings, paintings, sculptures, and artifacts are featured, loaned from private collections and the artists themselves, making Underground Classics indispensable for the serious-minded comics fan and for the casual reader alike.

So, if you're in the neighborhood, visit Green Brain Comics at 13210 Michigan Avenue in East Downtown Dearborn and see what Jams they've got on the walls! More information can be found at www.greenbrain.biz or by calling 313-582-9444.

Scarlet Veronica signings this week

I just came from the Ogre and there was a signing there today by the creators of a book called Scarlet Veronica, a horror comedy from Ape Entertainment. I haven't read it yet, but it looks like it'll appeal to Buffy fans.

Tomorrow, they'll appear at Hobby Central in Delaware and back at the Ogre on Saturday. Unfortunately, their website doesn't list times, so you'll have to call ahead.

Laughing Ogre: (614) A-MR-OGRE
Hobby Central: (740) 363-0381‎

Harvey visiting Heroes

I just came across some photos of Cleveland's hometown hero Harvey Pekar (along with the phenomenally talented Alison Bechdel) from a few weeks ago where he made an appearance at Heroes Aren't Hard Find for a book signing and then to the ImaginOn library, where they delivered a dual lecture on comics and graphic novels.

I got the chance to meet Harvey earlier this year and contrary to what you might think (after reading or watching American Splendor), Harvey is a very nice, sweet guy. Also, I got a chance to visit Heroes, and look forward to going down there again next year.

Akron Ohio in the Comics News again

Ohio native Derf (John Backderf), author of My Friend Dahmer (yes, that Dahmer) and the alt comic strip The City, has recently been getting a fair amount of attention from both the comics press and mainstream news for his latest book, Punk Rock and Trailer Parks. If you're up in the Akron area visit Square Records (824 W. Market St.) on Friday from 6-8p and maybe you can get Derf to sign your Winnebago.

Getting back into the swing of things

Over the summer, this blog was left fallow and that's entirely my fault. But recent events and circumstances have rejuvenated me and I will (along with some of my fellow Sunday Comixers) be updating this site with the sort of information you readers have come to expect. Such as this one (be warned, this event is probably not for the kiddies nor for the faint of heart!):

Nicole Hollander Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial: A Reading

Tue, Oct 21, 2008 - 7:00 PM
Wexner Film/Video Theater

Nicole Hollander is the creator of the comic strip Sylvia, which appears in over 80 newspapers across the country. On October 21, she will read from Tales of Graceful Aging from the Planet Denial, her humorous and very personal reflection on the realities of aging. Famed cartoonist Jules Feiffer calls the book, “infectious, smart, wacky, laugh-out-loud funny and gorgeously written.” Ms Hollander is alos the author/illustrator of Cats with Attitude and Psycho Kitties. A book signing at the Wexner Center Store follows.

This event is co-sponsored by the Cartoon Research Library, Wexner Center for the Arts, Project Narrative, Department of Women's Studies, and Geriatrics and Gerentology Center.

Weekend Hangover

This post is very late...

I don't drink, but boy oh boy, did I get drunk last weekend! Not on alcohol but on comics. On Friday night, I hung out with a hundred or so people at the Wexner Center to celebrate Jeff Smith's Bone and Beyond show there. I got the chance to chat with the likes of Scott McCloud and Harvey Pekar (who was in town for the Ohioana Book Festival). I was telling my friends Chuck & Sam, who were with me, that it was the first time (in a long time) that I've been giddy about loving comic books. The party continued on Saturday afternoon with a "public conversation" between Scott McCloud (who acted more like an interviewer) and Jeff Smith at the Mershon Auditorium. The conversation was great and the Q&A session was fantastic. There was a book signing afterwards. and I ended up being close to the end of the line and had some great conversations with the other McCloud & Smith readers.


I scoured the internets to find some well-written and informative articles about the event(s) and came up with the following:

• From the horse's mouth-- Boneville's photo journal of Smith & Co. setting up the gallery at the Wex (part one & two).
• Local newspaper The Columbus Dispatch published a nice article in their Arts section.
• Local writer J. Caleb Mozzocco wrote two far superior, more in depth articles about the exhibitSmith/McCloud conversation on his blog, Every Day Is Like Wednesday.
• A great Comic Related Recap of the weekend. There's loads of pictures on the Comic Related website: here, here, here, here and here.
• Yours truly took a few snapshots, too.
  

I'm sure there's more to be found, but I'm still recovering.

Futuristic Robots & Fashionable Book Signings

Two Days with Two Posts regarding PANEL...

1) Actually, not so much PANEL as much as Dara Naraghi. His adaptation of Cory Doctorow's "I, Robot" (illustrated by Erich Owen) is now available at your local comic book shop. It's one of the short story's to be featured in IDW Publishing's Cory Doctorow's Futuristic Tales of the Here and Now. (Yeah... that title just rolls off the tongue, doesn't it?).

2) Also, Dara will be signing copies of his new graphic novel Lifelike (also published by IDW) this Saturday (tomorrow!) from noon to 4 pm at the Waldenbooks at Polaris Fashion Place. (Hm. Being as there is interior artwork by other PANEL members Andy Bennett, Tom Williams, and Tim McClurg, I guess this post is not all about Dara...)

Upcoming Events at the Toonseum

I can't be on top of everything all the time...

Now on exhibition at ToonSeum,
at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, 10 Children’s Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

January 19th-February 28th:

Drawn in Black and White: Wee Pals and the Work of Morrie Turner.

Featuring original groundbreaking original art from the comic strip Wee Pals by Morrie Turner, “The Jackie Robinson of the Funny Pages.”

Also on display original art from Jump Start, Fat Albert, and others influenced by Morrie’s work.

Now, check this out:

February 16th--

Drawn in Black and White: A Celebration of African-American Cartoonist!

Featuring demonstrations, book signings, and workshops by Morrie Turner (Wee Pals) Robb Armstrong (Jump Start) and Don Peoples (Editorial Cartoonist and Freelance Illustrator).

Special panel discussion: African Americans in the Cartoon Arts at 3:00pm, reception honoring Morrie to follow. Exhibit is included with paid admission to the Children’s Museum; panel discussion is free. Museum admission is $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and children 2 to 18, and free for younger than 2. More info can be found here and at pittsburghkids.org

and then, on the next day...

February 17th:

Presidential Toons with Rob Rogers (Editorial Cartoonist of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette) and Joe Wos, cartoonist in residence of the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh/ToonSeum. Join Joe and Rob for a special story about our national bird and gain unique insight into how an editorial cartoonist draws our presidents.

Interview with Sci-Fi Smith

As posted on PW Comics Week:

After taking a successful plunge into mainstream comics with last year’s Shazam: The Monster Society of project for DC Comics, Jeff Smith is returning to the world of self publishing with his new series, RASL, which debuts in February. But fans of Smith’s long-running and internationally acclaimed independent series Bone be warned: RASL is a departure from kid-friendly material. Planned as a quarterly series, RASL is a blend of science fiction and noir, following an art thief who jumps dimensions to steal famed paintings. Read the "Let’s get ready to RASL" interview here.

Hmmm... It seems the Spring of `08 is the Trifecta of Self Publishing. Mr. Smith's new book is being published in February. Terry Moore returns to self publishing with his comic, Echo, available in March and Dave Sim will be merging onto the road he helped to pave with his "secret project" (which is not so secret anymore), Glamourpuss, to be launched in April.

Also of note, all three of these artists will be appearing in Columbus this Spring: Dave Sim will be at S.P.A.C.E. on March 1, and Jeff Smith & Terry Moore will speaking at the Wex Center in conjunction with Mr. Smith's Bone art exhibit. (More announcement to come regarding the Bone Exhibit.)

Gem City Comic Con

Mark your calendars: the 3rd annual Gem City Comic Con will be opening their doors to comic book readers and gamers on Sunday, April 6th in the Wright State University Student Union from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As the Dayton Daily News reported last year in an interview with Sunday Comix member Sean Forney, GCCC is "well on its way to becoming one of the region's hottest comic-book gatherings."

This year's guests will include such Ohio artists as Mr. Forney, Eric Adams (Lackluster), David Aikins (Let's Draw Studios), Max Ink (Blink), Dan Davis (Scholastic), Andy Bennett (Panel), as well as special guests Billy Tan (Marvel, Top Cow) & the legendary writer Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula, The New Teen Titans as well as the creator of the comic book character Blade.)

In addition to over a two dozen retailers selling comics, toys and collectibles, the good folks at Bell Book and Comic will be hosting a sanctioned Magic the Gathering tournament (Booster Draft), a Heroclix sealed event and a UFS tournament.

Lifelike is a Laughing Matter

(Just in case you can't read the above uber cool flyer Tom Williams created...) Local writer Dara Naraghi will be signing copies of his graphic novel, Lifelike (published by IDW) on Wednesday, January 16 from 5-8pm at the Laughing Ogre. He will be joined by 3 of the book's artists Andy Bennett, Tom Williams, and Tim McClurg.

So, what is Lifelike, anyway? Originally published online thru Komikwerks, Lifelike is a series of vignettes showing unrelated snapshots of ordinary life. The series – using an amazingly wide array of artists and art styles – becomes a collected work much more than the sum of its parts: an author’s true narrative vision. From the sentimental to the shocking, the familiar to the unknown, it's all here.