- CREAM CiTY COMiCS - AMADO via BLOG -

City Sidewalks!

2012-01-15T07:47:00.011-06:00

Hello!

How much attention do you pay to whether the area in which you live or work or play has sidewalks? Commuting to and from work via bike and/or bus has given me ample time to examine such things. I also notice traffic signage, lights, and crosswalk markings (or lack thereof).

In the city, we sometimes plan routes around town with the amount of stop signs/lights in mind. The fewer signs and lights we run into, the better time we can make getting to where we're going. And, many times, we conveniently fail to come to a complete stop before reaching pedestrian crosswalks... in cars and on motor/pedal bikes alike. When you stop to consider how much we "don't see" these signs and markings you come to realize how much we take them for granted. I'm not exempt from this. But they were created to help not hurt us.

I have always commented, whether in a car or the saddle of a bike, on how crazy pedestrians in the 'burbs are. They walk and jog in the street... y'know... where cars and non-attentive drivers rule with an iron first (and an annoying horn). Those suburbanites put their lives in the hands of gas-guzzling automobiles in the sun, rain, sleet and snow. Don't get the wrong impression. The peds wear bright clothing and reflective vests, but drivers notoriously want and believe the streets belong to them... and them alone. The attitude grows more maniacal as you travel further from the city centers around the world. I could excuse this sense of entitlement, if not for the fact there are some [sign] marked bicycle routes in the suburbs. Our city planners don't seem to think painted bike lanes in the suburbs are important safety measures. Weird.

The greatest insult to pedestrian intelligence and safety, however, is in suburban industrial parks. On my route to work, for instance, there are staggered sidewalks. By this I mean the sidewalks alternate between the two (North & South) sides of the street. Hey! At least they have 'em, eh? Wrong. To use these sidewalks, pedestrians are forced to cross the street every other block. There are no painted crosswalks or signs to control traffic as hardworking people step out into what could be there peril. Right about now, you may be thinking drivers take this into consideration as they cruise down the mile stretch of unmarked road. That's sweet of you... and absolutely off the mark. Everyone seems to put the pedal to metal, and cars scream down that street like banshee steeds onto a blood-drenched battlefield.

So, why does any of this bother me so much I feel the need to write about it, right?

It is said we can judge the health of our communities/cities by how safe it is on the streets (for our children).

I'll let that marinate a minute...

Can your children walk around, on a sidewalk, safely in your neighborhood? Count your sidewalks. Do your children cross the street via a marked/painted walkway with signage to help slow drivers? Pay attention the next time you're in your car. Does your family have immediate access to painted bike lanes (for recreation and exercise)? You know the drill.

The streets are paid for out of OUR tax dollars. Shouldn't WE be able to traverse them safely... with or without a car? Is an additional three feet of grass between our homes and the nearest person really worth a potential victim on our streets? Do we want to end up like Toronto, Canada -- where the city is removing painted bike lanes in response to drivers complaining those lanes should be used for motorized traffic?

I leave you with this quote from Jane Jacobs' The Death & Life of Great American Cities:

“A city street equipped to handle strangers, and to make a safety asset, in itself, out of the presence of strangers, as the streets of successful city neighborhoods always do, must have three main qualities:

First, there must be a clear demarcation between what is public space and what is private space. Public and private spaces cannot ooze into each other as they do typically in suburban settings or in projects.

Second, there must be eyes upon the street, eyes belonging to those we might call the natural proprietors of the street. The buildings on a street equipped to handle strangers and to insure the safety of both residents and strangers, must be oriented to the street. They cannot turn their backs or blank sides on it and leave it blind.

And third, the sidewalk must have users on it fairly continuously, both to add to the number of effective eyes on the street and to induce the people in buildings along the street to watch the sidewalks in sufficient numbers. Nobody enjoys sitting on a stoop or looking out a window at an empty street. Almost nobody does such a thing. Large numbers of people entertain themselves, off and on, by watching street activity.”

Think about it.

Peace

- @

Advert-City!

2012-01-02T07:42:00.013-06:00

What in the Sam Hill is that?

Oh... Sorry.

Hello!

On my commute to work... through the urban sprawl outside Brew City... I see A LOT of billboards. Generally speaking, billboards bug me. I feel as though I'm constantly bombarded with someone else's opinions on what I should wear on my wrist... or what car I should be seen in... or what lawyer I should hire should I ever had need to sue my neighbor. The worst assault, though, wrought by billboards is the fact the people behind them aren't putting any effort into the overall design/aesthetics. Most are downright embarrassments to the printed art form. And if you're going to insist on crashing in on my shopping sprees, you could have the decency to come at me in style.

Still, some billboard messages are of the political persuasion. You know, the kind designed to sway our leanings in one direction or another. These, despite the fact they are often the least visually appealing of them all, are somewhat entertaining. I found the one suggesting Obama was the political heir apparent to the Bush Administration encouraging. Of course, I was prematurely giving my fellow taxpayers credit for attacking our bipartisan government for the sickness they've spread throughout Washington, DC. In reality, some group wanted me to vote for career Republicans in Independent's clothing. But at least we were using the giant posters for politics... rather than consumption. I don't think we, as a nation, need any more encouragement to consume. But truly engaging in our Democratic system is something we've been sleeping on since Slick Willie lulled us to sleep with laws that made it easier to purchase homes (despite the fact he required we trade in our entire working class). Wow.

Last week, I noticed a billboard which read...

"DON'T FIX IT, SELL IT".

The ad itself is sponsored by some organization which is working as a network for leeches looking to take advantage of the misfortunes of USAmericans who've found themselves fiscally unable to repair their homes. On the surface, it seems like the right thing to do. I mean, what could be wiser than dumping an investment once you realize you can't afford the upkeep? Well... according to my parents... once could never bind oneself to an investment of which you can't afford the upkeep. Thank God for my parents. There were lots of little gems like that one they imparted with us (in our childhood). I'm uncertain as to what the motivation was. Maybe they were buried in debt and didn't want the same for their children, but I took the advice to heart.

Moving on (or this could very easily morph into a gush over my folks blog)...

As the bus drove past this sign, the overall message communicated in the sentiments thereon began to vex my soul. If this is what we do to the place we share with our parents, siblings, spouses and children, is everything or everyone else also subject to the philosophy?

1) If your school isn't working for you, drop out. Education is over-rated anyway. Right? I mean, who needs to be well-rounded? Next thing you know, we'll be cutting literature, art, music and pays ed classes from the school curriculum. Oops!

2) If your job isn't working for you, quit and give up on working. The next job will likely rub you the wrong way too. Instead, simply collect unemployment indefinitely.

3) If you manage/supervise personnel, and they aren't performing to your every expectation, don't retrain them. Don't sit them down and talk through their performance versus your expectations... Fire them all.

4) If your chosen transportation doesn't meet your every desire or provide the proper level of social status, trade it in for another you can't afford. What does it matter? If you're already doing entry two, it's coming from someone else's pocket anyway.

5) If your significant other suffers from the human condition, cut the ties that bind and jump into another relationship. Repeat often and you won't have to learn how to live with others or give them the opportunities to learn to deal with you. Let's all avoid the chance to develop the skills necessary to live in a world with people who don't think, feel, and express exactly as we do. Facebook instead! I just learned (from a news source) two of the most common status updates on Facebook are "It's complicated" and "It's over". Really?!

6) In fact, don't commit to anything at all. Why should you? In the end, it all proves to be imperfect... which will only remind you of your failings. If you admit you aren't perfect, you may feel the need to do something about your unsavory traits. Right?

7) Don't strive for anything... not even mediocrity. You may fail to achieve. This could lead to you examining why you failed, which only leads to the temptation to develop the tenacity to be successful the next time around.

I DON'T GET IT!

We barely communicate as it is. Oh, yeah. 'Cause to communicate you must be social. That's more work on self. It's a never ending story of avoiding responsibility.

Is that the world in which we want to live? Do we toss problems into the wind rather than going through the process of examining, considering, deciding, preparing, and repairing if/when possible? Gosh... I hope not. It certainly isn't the pledge we sing on New Year's Eve...

"Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
And auld lang syne?

Chorus:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!

We twa hae run about the braes,
And pu'd the gowans fine,
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit
Sin auld lang syne.

We twa hae paidl't in the burn
Frae morning sun till dine,
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin auld lang syne.

And there's a hand, my trusty fiere,
And gie's a hand o' thine,
And we'll tak a right guid willie-waught
For auld lang syne!

And surely ye'll be your pint' stowp,
And surely I'll be mine,
And we'll tak a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne!"

Translation:

"Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintances be forgotten,
And days of long ago !

Chorus:
For old long ago, my dear
For old long ago,
We will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago.

We two have run about the hillsides
And pulled the daisies fine,
But we have wandered many a weary foot
For old long ago.

We two have paddled (waded) in the stream
From noon until dinner time,
But seas between us broad have roared
Since old long ago.

And there is a hand, my trusty friend,
And give us a hand of yours,
And we will take a goodwill draught (of ale)
For old long ago!

And surely you will pay for your pint,
And surely I will pay for mine!
And we will take a cup of kindness yet
For old long ago!"
- Robert Burnes (Auld Lang Syne)

Sleep on it!

Happy 2012!!

Peace

- @

No Bikes On The Bridge!

2011-12-20T05:48:00.002-06:00

Hello!

I'm going to cut to the chase with this entry. There will not be a protected ped/bike lane when the City of Milwaukee restores the Hoan Bridge, a celebrated (by most) Cream City icon.

I've had several conversations with cyclists and non-cyclists regarding the proposal to put bicyclists and pedestrians into the thought process of restoring the bridge. I've heard decent conversations supporting and against said proposals.

The arguments against the proposal have come, oddly, from bicyclists. My fellow cyclists generally think the money the City would have used for the updates ought to be used to improve, repair, and add to existing bike lanes. While I understand the point of view, I don't think those taxpayers are seeing the big picture. 1) Bicyclists aren't the only people-powered taxpayers in the mix. I'll get to the second missing part of the big picture in a moment. I would like to hammer out something regarding this first point.

My biggest problem with drivers and driving in the USA is the fact drivers behave as though they are reason roadways exist. This is not the truth. They may be only reason highways/speedways exist, but roads existed LONG before the automobile first sputtered its engine. And what were we using to maneuver ourselves at a quicker pace than walking? That's right the Velocipede and, finally, approximately 13 years prior to Benz and Ford rolling out their first production models, the Penny-Farthing & Safety Bicycle.

When I heard cyclists voicing their desire for the money for updating the bridge going into existing bike lanes instead, I heard the thought process of drivers. Pedestrians, Skaters, and Rollerbladers also deserve to be considered when the City is using OUR money for roads and protected lanes... much in the same way bicyclists deserve to be considered when designing driving lanes and stops.

Moving on to 2) We've go to begin taking the bicycle serious somewhere. I thought a major historical site and local icon was a fantastic start gate. The Hoan Bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge of Milwaukee. One of the coolest things to do when on either coast is to visit and walk/skate/blade/bike their respective iconic bridges. Why not bring that kind of thing to our City? I mean, Cream City has a gorgeous Eastern horizon view. But you only have a split second to enjoy it while speeding past in a car. Imagine how nice it would be to STOP & ENJOY this natural resource while traveling from one side of the city to another.

And, for those cyclists who train for tours/races here, imagine having a serious grade to climb connected to the Oak Leaf Trail. As someone who doesn't mind pushing myself on even the most leisurely rides, I definitely would rather take my chances on that hill than on the busy and less protected flats of 1st or 2nd street.

It makes me wonder whether, maybe, local politics had something to do with striking the idea of protected lanes for peds/bikes. You know... "OCCUPY THE BRIDGE"? If so, we've lost something greater than protected lanes. We've lost a serious connection of the people to their CITY. Our bikes, blades, skates, boards, and feet are serious. They are integral tools in us exercising our freedoms. These forms of transportations require nothing but food and some minor upkeep (exercise and dirt cheap tune-ups) to utilize. That's POWER on a very personal level cars don't afford us. And, on a morbid note, the only time a car connects you to the City is when you're left on the pavement after a horrible accident, mechanical failure or loss of expensive fuel.

In these troubled economic times people are increasingly using bikes for commuting and exercise. It's time our local government considers this fact more when planning road/street/bridge expenditures. The present Oak Leaf Trail is a very good thing, but nowhere near the end-all of meeting the needs of taxpaying cyclists and pedestrians.

The Netherlands did not become the cycling haven it is today overnight. It took cutting edge planning and bold action to step/roll/skate/pedal away from a strictly car culture. Take note as you click the post title above.

Merry Christmas (and any other holiday you may be celebrating this time of year)!

Peace... Love... & Joy

- @

"There is nothing like walking to get the feel of a country. A fine landscape is like a piece of music; it must be taken at the right tempo. Even a bicycle goes too fast." - Paul Scott Mowrer

Winter Wonder-City!

2011-12-14T19:26:00.009-06:00

Hello!

With "the season of giving" in full swing, I thought I would share another story about riding on these Cream City streets. What new anecdote do I have to impart to you? I'm glad you asked.

Stopping at lights/STOP signs in traffic can be somewhat tricky. Many... make that most... sources/guidelines (including the Department Of Transportation) suggest the best place to be while at a stop is away from the curb. Curb leaners stand the chance of getting caught with the dreaded "right hook".

The right hook is what happens when a driver makes a right turn, and clips you because said driver didn't notice you at the stop. The closer you are to the curb, the more invisible you become. As you can imagine, the busier the traffic you're riding in the more oblivious to your presence drivers become. This translates into the more visible you should be by positioning yourself where you know they are more likely to notice. Furthermore, when there are three or more vehicles ahead of you at the stop you should actually position yourself in traffic (behind the vehicles). This is a great segue into one my newest bicycling adventure.

A few days ago, on my work commute, I decided to take a less peaceful route to work. This route is one I've been using as Old Man Winter makes his way into town. Basically, I ride to a nearby (home) bus stop and take the bus to a stop within 2-3 miles from work. I get off at that stop and ride the remainder of the distance to work. Reads fairly nice, doesn't it? That's because I haven't written in the bit about there being no painted bike lane on that particular street yet. And, with no painted lane, I need to be bold enough to hold my place on the road.

Well, I do just that. And, at stops, I make certain I'm at least the recommended three feet from the curb. Three plus feet from the curb places me and my bike just poking into traffic, and nearly impossible to fall victim to the right hook. I peek over my left shoulder at one particular stop, and notice a car approaching from behind with right turn light flashing away. There is no turn lane at the stop, so the car is forced to stop behind me.

I must admit to feeling a bit of concern about practicing defensive bicycling methods in rush hour traffic. But I remind myself this is the most crucial time to put this knowledge to good use. I, and other cyclists, are most vulnerable to inattentive drivers when said drivers are in a hurry. I also remind myself of the fact no stop lights in the city of Milwaukee are longer than a (reported) 90 second wait. A minute and a half isn't going to make much of a difference to anyone at this time of day. Right? Well, my motored counterpart isn't operating from the same set of rules/guidelines/safety practices as I am on this particular morning. The driver lays on the car horn. I, attempting to stay in my "happy place", do not turn around. Something tells me I know exactly why I don't want to turn around. And... if you've read any of my previous entries... you, too, know why I don't want to turn around.

The driver, once again, lays on the horn. I turn around in hopes, maybe, I dropped something and the driver simply wants to be a good neighbor. No... no such luck. As soon as my head is turned in the direction of the car, the driver begins motioning AND shouting for me to get on the sidewalk. The car window is up, so I can only hear a muffled shouting on my side of the glass. Phew! Thank God for little blessings. I think, "You should walk over and shrewdly instruct this person to check out bicycle road rights/rules on the dot.org". I think better of it when a scenario of the car driving over my bike plays out in my mind. I shout, "I'm a vehicle on the road. I have the same rights as you", and shrug my shoulders. I mean, what else can I do? The driver can't hear me through the glass, and I'm not prepared to walk over to attempt a drawn-out debate. I can only hope hope this individual is angry enough to mention it to a person whose opinion she actually values, and that truly person knows the rules of the road. Maybe they'll visit the DoT website together?

I turn to face the direction of travel. I hear another car horn. This time I will not turn around... it's not the same car. I think to myself, "Oh no! The natives are getting restless". With all the tension over the political and economic direction this state feels we should be headed, a person on a bike must seem (to some) as a proud, defiant liberal... especially when riding in the month of December. I mean, who does that... Right? What self-respecting Capitalist would give up absolute comfort to engage in a fun, healthy, and fiscally conservative form of transportation? Are these people two of the out-of-control, hardcore political conservatives I've seen and read about? Will they debark the vehicles to burn me at the stake, like a witch in Salem? Against my better judgement, I turn - expecting a stronger dose of scolding. To my delight it is a coworker, and she brings a little sunshine to my cloudy commute in saying "Good morning, Amado".

She, then, begins honking the car horn and signaling to the other driver. The driver won't look in her direction. She simply cuts a burning gaze in the direction she wants to turn. The light changes, and we're all THANKFULLY moving again.

For the umpteenth time since getting back on two wheels, the guidelines I am so studious about reading and memorizing pay off. I look up toward the heavens and say, "Thank you". And I recall Bicycle Times, the DoT website, and every other source I use to learn my rights and gain knowledge regarding my safety. My bicycle, while fun to ride, isn't a toy. It is a (FREE-WOOHOO) registered, moving vehicle. My lights alert pedestrians, as well as drivers, I'm on the road. My (front & back) brakes help me stop when the need arises. My personal state of awareness allows me to navigate safely through MKE and beyond. If I (on my bike) want to be taken seriously on the streets of Cream or any other city, I ought to conduct myself as a serious mode of transportation... especially while traveling in rush hour traffic.

Finally, as indicated in the title of the blog, I live in Milwaukee WI. Unfortunately, the city salts to deal with snow & ice. I'm not too keen on dealing with salt on my bike or riding 15+ mile commutes in single digits above, or double digits below, zero weather... which means I'll soon park the bike until the March thaw. My knit cap is off to all the riders who ride throughout Wisconsin and Minnesota winters. The winters of the two states are notoriously brutal... known even in parts of Europe. The missus is from Europe, and the only European she's met who didn't shrink at the thought of an upcoming Wisconsin or Minnesota winter is a coworker... from Russia.

But parking my bike until March 1 will also give me time to tweak my bike a bit AND work on some much neglected art projects.

Stay warm & tolerant!

Peace

- @

"Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind; it requires the same effort of the brain that it takes to balance oneself on a bicycle." - Helen Keller

The City & The Sprawl!

2011-12-07T19:26:00.004-06:00

Hello!

This week, as true winter weather draws nigh and the city (trees and other vegetation) is stripped naked, I've been thinking a lot about URBAN SPRAWL. Well, this evil spawn of "modern times" is always on my mind. By this, I mean to point out the fact I ride through A LOT of urban sprawl daily... en route to work. In my pack is a copy of David Byrne's Bicycle Diaries. I took a break reading that book to read And The Hippos Were Boiled In Their Tanks, which is the collaborative work of William S Burroughs & Jack Kerouac. Both books are (in their own ways) examinations of the human condition, our immediate environment(s), and the effects of one on the other. Hippos does this in a retelling of the event credited with acting as the catalyst of the Beat movement. Bicycle Diaries achieves its examination with a sort of Johnny-on-the-scene recording of what the author sees/thinks as he travels cities of the world on a bike. And this examination more directly relates to this edition of my ramblings.

*Note to reader: What you are about to read is a culmination of many commutes, and it represents the better route to work. The bright side to this story is I get to experience this in reverse on my way home. - @

The beginnings of my daily rides are pleasant enough. Despite the fact Milwaukee doesn't quite have its collective act together when it comes to urban cycling, we're slowly moving in the right direction. We have painted, not particularly well protected or maintained, bike lanes sprinkled throughout the city. And there are reasonably planned Oak Leaf Trail entrances/exits from many of our major city streets. Though it's evident our local government isn't looking to commuting by bicycle in Cream City as a viable means of personal transport... yet... there are a decent amount of areas to park/lock your bike in the downtown and immediately adjacent areas. So, the beginning of my commute is through a semi-dense city with a long history of... and long breaks from... bustling. It is evident people actually LIVE here.

Many of the local businesses of my childhood are gone. The good news is new businesses quickly occupy the vacant space in a dense city. There is always someone with what he/she believes is a killer, new idea. Seeing the "Opening Soon", "Now Open" and/or "Open" signs as I make my way to the nearest Oak Leaf Trail entry fills my heart with a warm feeling. I may not be the most social animal on the planet, but I love knowing I live in a breathing, beating and ever-growing community. It's one in which I can patronize locally... watering the seeds we call "killer, new ideas".

Once I'm in the trail, I join another segment of our bustling society... cyclists and pedestrians. It's a community of which I am extremely proud to count myself among. These are people who either begin their day with an early stroll/run/roll or a ride to their place of education/employment. They have, are or will contribute to the vitality of this city. And do so without necessarily adding to the pollution a "civilized" network generates. These are MY people. They've made a choice for which not everyone is up.

As we all ease and zip past one another (with occasional G'morings, 'ellos and nods), I can't help but take in the sights to my left and right. It is the history of my city from the viewpoint of a buried train track those who came before me once utilized to do just what I'm doing. I imagine them making their way out of the downtown area and thinking about expanding the city to these parts... The East Side/Riverwest... Shorewood... Whitefish Bay! And they managed this expansion without completely cutting themselves off from the city center and lake (Bayview mirrors this vibe on the southeast side of the city).

The trail spits me out near Bayshore Mall. It's a mall at which I've never felt guilty spending my hard-earned cash. I don't get the feeling I'm spending outside my community, although (technically) I am. I'm glad they've designed it to look like a small city, though. It appears a little more like the shopping arcades of Europe... without the amazing historical sites and people living above the shops.

On my way to reconnect with the trail, I must cross a fairly busy street. To make matters worse this street runs parallel to one of the key components of successful sprawl... a highway. For lack of a more profound manner in which to express what I feel when I see a highway, they kinda suck. Don't get me wrong. They have their place and usefulness. But, as if life wasn't hard enough to keep up with, highways get us from point A to point B faster. Sometimes I wonder whether highways are an evil tool used to shroud the blight on society that is urban sprawl. It's as if builders and planners sat down in some dark, secret, underground cavern and agreed, "If we can just get them to drive fast enough, they won't notice we're totally destroying the land they value so much to the point they won't even value it anymore".

Anyway, I get back on the trail and drive through the quaint little communities set up along and nearby the Milwaukee River. I'm already feeling lonely. There aren't many people to which to say G'morning or 'ello. And when I do spot people... and attempt a connection... they often give me a look I can only compare to what my phone or computer seems to be telling me when I can't get a signal... "Sorry, Charlie". I'm knee deep in the sprawl! People are already forgetting we rely on one another to make it through this thing called life. And the further north and west (away from The Lake and city) I ride the worse the situation.

I take a moment before turning into traffic and bid farewell to the squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, raccoons and birds. We've, no doubt, been on their societal nerves since we started building beyond the nearest water source. I pedal off the part of the trail which actually looks like a trail, and make my way back onto the streets. This is where the Oak Life Trail gets sketchy. The trail is marked by little, green street signs. There are no painted bikes lanes. And the view is absolutely depressing. This is Mad Max... but in the really real world. Never mind the fact the rare person I see is locked away from his/her immediate surroundings, the surroundings themselves are crumbling before my eyes. Yes! This must be it! It's the end game for Urban Sprawl.

Revolution after revolution turns the smile on my Chevy Chase upside down. The cracks, chunks of missing concrete/tar, variety of debris, and broken glass underneath me serve to remind NO ONE is really living around this part of town. When a business closes out here no one notices. How do I know this? Oh... the huge vacant lots'o'plenty provide plenty of understanding. When people aren't living in a place people don't maintain it. Think of the absentee landlord. Now, think of the absentee landlord who isn't collecting a dime on his/her property. Add to that the fact they can't sell the land AND still have to pay taxes. Does this land owner care whether the grass is green or whether the streets and sidewalks are people-friendly? Does this developer care whether or not a vacant car lot, an out-of-business "family" restaurant franchise or a lot vacated by a department store chain is a constant eyesore... a black eye... on the neighborhood? Can you imagine riding or walking in that environment?

The neighboring communities aren't obviously (psychologically) effected, because no one really lives there. Oh sure... they eat, shower, sleep and grow there. But that isn't all there is to living. To truly thrive a community needs local businesses at which people can work and take part in commerce. People need to walk/run/roll/pedal around and spread their wings. And that's when the psychological effect sprawl has on us reveals itself... we stop walking, running, pedaling. We drive, even when the distance to our destination is less than 1/2 mile away.

Okay, I will balance the previous statement by admitting it isn't all due to The Sprawl. Part of this strange behavior is a byproduct of U.S. car culture. We drive (even short distances), and we create reasons to drive (like, traveling to another community to spend money on things we could just as easily purchase in our own neighborhood). On foot or a bike you must first consider whether what you want to buy justifies the distance traveled, because the cost is immediate rather than shrouded in a gas tank.

Back to the absentee landlord bit...

Business owners in the city, as neighbors themselves, tend to give back to their communities. Why? They understand their business will sizzle as the immediate environment does. And patrons from the community love strolling into those shops, because they feel a vested interest in making sure that place continues to be a part of their commercial family.

You don't get that palpable interaction with a business owner who buys a huge lot in the middle of an isolated community. That investor is there to make fast money and get out faster. These blocks will be abandoned when there is no money left to spend. The communities are left penniless... with blocks of painted line lots.

It's not simply theoretical -- it's happening. And it's appalling.

This is URBAN SPRAWL in all its splendor.

I don't think people, in general, have the time to consider this stuff when they're traveling at warp speed in their gas guzzler(s). They're too busy consuming to consider. We see and feel it all on our bicycles.

Ride on!

Peace

- @

"The truth hurts. Maybe not as much as jumping on a bicycle with a seat missing, but it hurts."- Naked Gun 2 1/2.

Cars... Cranks & the City!

2011-11-29T19:23:00.015-06:00

Hello!

About once every 2-3 weeks some nutcase in an expensive automobile deems it necessary to remind me my eco-friendly bicycle is slower than a gas-guzzling automobile.

On my 15 mile commute home (from work) this evening, for example, a nice/shiny/new VW SUV driver felt the need to rev his engine as he edged his way towards me from behind -- at a stop. Ahead of me was a cyclist with no lights (after dusk) who couldn't decide whether he wanted to ride on the sidewalk or the street. As we waited for our turn to make our way through the STOP sign, the SUV jockey kept revving his engine. I wondered whether he was simply trying to challenge me in a friendly drag race. But I was ON A BIKE. Of course, I did my best to ignore him. It wasn't a difficult task. Milwaukee boasted 40-55 mph winds today, and I was riding at night in a busy part of the city during rush hour.

We finally got our chance to re-enter moving traffic when the brilliant VW pulled alongside me... and continued to rev that motor. When I glanced over my shoulder, to check traffic behind me, he sped past. And he leered in my direction with a slight sneer painted on his Chevy Chase. I'll be -- a car is faster than my pedal rocket.

As I mentioned earlier, this happens on a semi-regular basis. It's not always the same driver... which makes the happening even more remarkable. It means there is no dearth of drivers who think drag racing against bicycles proves their superiority. And, yes, it's always a male. I'm a male... a Latin one at that... I begrudgingly accept the whole men gauging their manhood based on their prowess over other men. But I was riding a single gear bike in low 30s weather during a wind advisory, and this guy's in a nice warm, fast, wind resistant, motorized coach. Nonetheless, even on a sunny, calm day... and a bike of 500 gears... I'm bowing out of a race against a car, hombre.

It's just a weird thing I go through every so often. So far, I've experienced this ritual with the same GTO 4 times, a few pick-up trucks, a Cadillac, one Hummer, and this nutty VW SUV (click the title for a giggle). "Does this happen to any other cyclists?", is what races through my mind during these surreal moments. Well... does it happen to you?!

And I thought "Roadies" were a bit loony.

Keep on pedaling!

Peace

- @

"Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride." -JFK

City... Cold & Cranks!

2011-11-12T10:47:00.005-06:00

Hello!

I had my first real experience riding in the cold this week. As the name of the blog indicates, I live in Milwaukee WI... the second coldest city in the US. It is November... winter begins flirting with the idea of hanging out a few times before it finally sets up shop.

I'd always assumed my cold-riding threshold would be at a slightly warmer temperature than I was actually able to ride recently. I recall reading about a reasonable cold weather threshold of 50 degrees. [I've found] as long as my fingers, ears, neck and shins are covered I am fairly comfortable... even below 40 degrees.

This week, we had temps in the upper 20s to low 30s. Cycling generates a bit of body heat. The heat builds with distance (and hills). I do think December 1st will end up being the date I park (and tinker around with) my trusty two-wheeler for the winter. I don't fancy pedaling a road bike through snow and well below zero wind chills. I know skipping the ride December through February will be torturous, though. Maybe that's the reason the lower 30s didn't feel so bad? Maybe that has something to do with the fact riding in (even) cold + rain puts a smile on my face? I'm fairly certain this eventuality has more than a little to do with the joy I had while cranking through flurries Thursday.

Like most creative people, I have more ideas scribbled into notebooks and thumb nailed into sketchbooks than I have time to realize them. But I've felt inspired while riding and reading/re-reading my copies of Bicycle Times magazine. Recently, the publication featured an Italian gentleman called Paolo Chiossi. The bikes he creates are nothing short of artistic brilliance. Inspiration has kicked into overdrive. You can check out his site via the title link above or in the 'artistes' section of this blog.

We've got comfortable temps and sun today. I'm off!

Enjoy your weekend!

Peace

- @

City Life By Bike!

2011-10-12T19:32:00.006-05:00

Hello!

Why is it the simplest things in life often bring us the most pleasure? I don't mean simple as in comes easy... I mean simple as in humble.

Pleasure... humble... These are words which immediately spring to mind when I look at/think of my bicycle. Humble in its invention and its operation, is the bike.

While riding, I have extra time to sort things out. This is time I would not have zipping around in a car. I'm not anti-car, but let's be honest. The only great advantages of the automobile are; 1) shelter from the elements while traveling and 2) less time traveling (read; sort things out time). Riding in the elements isn't always so bad. At the end of a ride on a hot... or cold... or windy... or rainy... day you feel as though you've accomplished something. You learn something about your character and of what you're made. And I've never experienced a whole lot of self-reflection while blowing my stack behind the wheel. If anything, I find myself... and others... to be very negative while driving. People drive too slow or too fast or don't signal properly or don't notice pedestrians or cyclists in the streets or blah, blah. blah. So, what is done with the time saved in travel?

On my bike, I find myself wanting to engage with others in simple ways. I enjoy exchanging GOOD MORNINGs with walkers, runners and other cyclists. I enjoy the sun prickling at my skin. I enjoy the wind cooling me as my revolutions heat me up. I enjoy listening to nature... man, I'm a weirdo. I enjoy watching squirrels, chipmunks, birds and rabbits do what they do. These are things we consciously or unconsciously avoid while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. The motor vehicle "shelters" us from it all.

PLUS...

I've read and heard other cyclists claim to have their brightest ideas while riding. I don't doubt it for a second. But they believe it's the simplicity of controlling a bike -balance, pedal, steer, lean- which has transformed them into geniuses. I don't/can't/won't buy that! It's the H-U-M-I-L-I-T-Y. We are at the mercy of the elements, the capabilities of the bikes, and our conditioning. That level of S-I-M-P-L-I-C-I-T-Y creates an open, or more importantly, E-M-P-T-Y mind. A humble/simple/open/empty (through a deeper connection to your surroundings) mind is a ripe place for learning. And what could be better than learning how you want to live out your day/week/month/year/life? Now, that's pleasure.

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving” -Albert Einstein

Enjoy your ride, genius!

Peace

- @

City... Cycle... Times!

2011-10-01T13:46:00.003-05:00

Hello!

I recently picked up issue 13 of Bicycle Times magazine, and was pleasantly surprised to see they published an email I'd sent. It recalls the 'first rain' ride I posted about in July. It is the first thing I've had in print in some time (as I focus on my personal life)... so I thought I'd share. If you aren't familiar with the magazine, it's a good time to pick it up. The current issue is the first printed on 90% recycled paper... on the presses of a Wisconsin-based company. There is always great information/advice for the novice, and great point-of-interest bits for the seasoned cyclist. The magazine contiues to publish some pretty cool art as well as Yehuda Moon strips.

This week brought a new elemental experience... STRONG WINDS. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Of course, I've dealt with lighter winds... that probably prepared me for it. We've also had some colder temperatures as of late. But it simply makes the ride more comfortable (back doesn't get as sweaty under the pack). I'm sorting out the what-to-wear (for comfort and warmth) nonsense now. Why did this seem so easy when I was 14... on my Mongoose?

It's time to get back in the saddle.

Enjoy your weekend!

Peace

- @

City... Cycle... Create!

2011-09-17T15:40:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone!

I'm currently reading two books... one of which came as a recommendation from Cory (the bike fixer). David Byrne, of Talking Heads fame, wrote a book called The Bicycle Diaries. It's very similar to the book called The Motorcycle Diaries... written by Ernesto "El Che" Guevara. In lieu of writing a book about bicycles, Byrne has put together the thoughts which come to him while touring the world on his bicycle(s). It's an introspective book filled with observations from the saddle of what is arguably the most useful machine ever invented. But this is not a preachy or soapbox-type of read. And the best part of The Bicycle Diaries is you don't need to be a cyclist to relate to Mister Byrne. You simply need a realistic point-of-view and a strong sense of reason.

The second book is called The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom & Wanderings. This is most definitely a book for people who love bikes AND enjoy illustrations (comic strips). The book is quite simply a collection of bicycling essays, editorials, comics and interviews compiled by Jim Joyce. It's a fun and, at 152 pages, short read. In fact, I enjoyed the book so much I cracked open the Alley Cat anthology to which I contributed in 2007. I wish I would have known Eric 'The Vegan Ninja' Lappegard, the person for which the book was dedicated. I wish I'd have rediscovered my love for the "safety bicycle" prior to his passing. I wish I could have created comics with him... possibly comics about cycling.

Anyway...

Reading these books add to the appreciation I already have for my two-wheeler. And riding my bike to work and/or round-about town gives me extra time to appreciate my life (the missus, parents, siblings, extended family, friends, art, music, film, travel, etc). With only a month or two of decent Wisconsin riding weather left in 2011, I'm relishing every second I'm able to spend on the saddle of my Jamis. I hope you're relishing every second of your life too.

Happy reading!

Peace

- @

City... Cranks & Cinema!

2011-08-27T16:40:00.010-05:00

Hello!

Since getting back on a bike, I find myself spending a bit of time looking for books and films related to life on two wheels. Just as the title suggests, here are some cinematic triumphs you may want to look into. The emphasis in these films, for me, is real life... really living... on a bicycle. There are lots of other films focusing on bicycling as a sport. This short list includes none of those films. I'm not interested in me... on a bike... as a sporting event, although I must admit to enjoying sport bicycling as a spectator. But I'm, personally, more interested in bikes as a part of daily life (at work and play). Anyway, this is my list of top films with bicycles as an integral part of the the plot or p.o.v.

Bicycle Thieves:
This '40s Italian Neo-Realist film is extraordinary. The film is about, and was filmed on location in, post-WWII Italy. Without giving too much away, it involves a war-torn family, a job requiring a bike, and the different ways class impacted Italian nationals directly after the war ended. I don't think there will ever be a finer bicycle film made... in any country or era.

Pee Wee's Big Adventure:
This '80s uber-classic must be the cult favorite of all who either love the '80s, love their bikes... or both. If you haven't seen this film (and you are USAmerican), you ought to beat yourself about the face and head. Yeah... it's surrealist comedy... not real life. But it's close. And who could resist Pee Wee's antics? Certainly not this bicyclist.

Malena:
This is another Italian film set during and just after WWII. It is a contemporary period film which touches on class systems... the effect the Roman Catholic faith and hardcore Nationalism had on the people of the time... and a boy becoming a young man (among other things). It's not about a bike, but the point-of-view of the main character is most often from the saddle of his two-wheeler.

Beijing Bicycle:
This is a Chinese-made film which touches on many of the themes covered in Bicycle Thieves. It's not as good as the best bicycle film of all-time, but it's interesting to see how little the world (and humans, in general) has changed. Seeing the sheer amount of bicyclists in this film is mind-blowing. The depiction of a bicycle as a means to earn a living, an efficient commuting machine, a status symbol, and a "toy" adds much where the direct narrative is lacking.

And that is "my" update for the month of August.

Happy viewing!

Peace

- @

Cream City Critique!

2011-07-29T15:59:00.003-05:00

Hello!

So, I've found myself on the slow boat again.

I was websurfing for books on bikes a couple'o'weeks ago, and found three seemingly interesting books; Bicycle: The History (for the fetishists and/or geeks), Pedaling Revolution (for the politiks and/or anti-establishment hipsters) and Bike Snob: Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling (for cycling teens & adults and/or counter-culture enthusiasts). As a huge fan of counter-culture movements and a bike-riding adult, I went for Bike Snob first.

This book contains a very brief history of the bicycle, along with the ins/outs of what we refer to as "bicycle culture". The author adds comedy, a bit sarcasm and personal anecdotes to keep the reader pensively flipping to the next page in fits of laughter. Truth be told, whether you're currently riding a bike or not, you've noticed all the people and situations covered in the book... that is... so long as you've had any exposure to bikes.

Also included in this volume are some sweet illustrations by Christopher Koelle (poor attempt at a comics tie-in) and a plethora of quotes from notable public figures.

BikeSnobNYC's observations regarding the world of bicyles (more... the people who ride them) ring true. This guy knows his subject matter like Captain Kangaroo knows furry sidies. As an added bonus, a lot of the stuff between the covers lends itself to understanding the consumer in us all.

There is a link to his blog in this entry title and under the "Resources" banner of this blog.

Enjoy your ride!

Peace

- @

City... Cranks & Comics!

2011-07-25T19:22:00.006-05:00

Hello everyone!

I've been commuting to and from work (a few days a week) since getting back on a bike a few weeks ago. On my off days, I use public transportation... and read about riding bikes (along with other interests). The biggest challenge of people-powered commuting isn't the ride itself. It is making the commitment to actually doing it at all. After driving to this particular job for 2 1/2 years, and knowing how long it takes in a car, I was a bit intimidated.

Can I do it? Am I willing to give up an additional 20-30 minutes (each way) of my life to get to the workplace? What am I going to do, if we get locked into a heat wave or something?

Well, I can do it and have done consistantly. I'm not giving up an additional 20-30 minutes a day to get to work... I'm using that time to enjoy the fact I'm not 6 feet under.

The Beatnik, nature and I got together again on my lengthy work commute. I enjoyed the sprinkles as I made my way North and West on the Oak Leaf Trial. Oddly enough, I later enjoyed the more than sprinkles, thunder & lightning... kinda. By mile 12 I was grinning with every revolution. And, finally, when I reached work I knew I experienced something for the first time as an adult. I enjoyed bicycling... after a handful of decades out of the saddle, and in my running shoes.

The heat earlier in the week was one thing... you just want to get out of it and into a cold pint or iced water. Riding in the rain... once I locked into the reality of the trip... was like reverting back to my aged 5 (ish) self and seeing my orange Kent parked under the Christmas tree. That bike was so amazing, although I didn't realize it at the time. I was just happy Santa (my parents) saw fit to get me that bike! But it was... Christmas in Wisconsin. I had months to wait until I could take it out for spin. I recall my brother and I trying them out in the house when we thought our parents were none the wiser. And I know we would have taken those orange Kents into the lily-white snow had we been given the choice... training wheels and ALL!

I'm all grown up now. Well... sorta. And neither my wonderful mom nor protective dad could keep me off that bike (rain, hail, sleet or snow).

I'm sure riding in the elements isn't for everyone. I'm not even sure it's for me. But I know there are few moments logged into my memory which have filled me with such a strong sense of being alive. I just thought I'd share. Living is also an artform, afterall.

Happy week!

Peace

- @

The City on Yehuda Moon!

2011-07-12T15:49:00.008-05:00

Hello everyone!

Ever been on the slow boat to anything?

I know I have.

Exhibit A: I've been sleeping on Rick Smith and his bicycle loving comic strip, Yehuda Moon. If not for the fact I finally got back on a bike last month, I probably would still be clueless (regarding this strip, of course). Rick Smith is also responsible for Shuck.

Check out Yehuda Moon by clicking on the title above. On the site you'll learn how you can own a copy (or more) of Yehuda: Volume 1. You should also pedal over to the Press section of this blog and check out Bicycle Times. They've printed some groovy art (from various artistes) on the covers and interiors of their magazine.

Enjoy!

Peace

- @

CCC Update-ish

2011-06-30T16:53:00.000-05:00

A lot of time has passed since I last updated anyone on anything I've been working on. The truth is, I've been doing more work on day-to-day living than I have drawing. But I have made the time to write a treatment for a cool, new anthology series I'd like to get rolling before the end of summer. I've already shared the idea with IIC's Bud Burgy, and he is onboard with the project.

I will posting again soon. Until then...

Peace

-AR

RLSH: City & Beyond!

2011-02-01T11:27:00.020-06:00

Hello everyone!

I want to focus on the Real-Life Superhero Movement... which is seemingly sweeping over the world as of late. To be 100% honest, it's not all that new.

I toyed with the "real world" superhero genre in 2001-2002. I created a character called THE RANSOM. The title character of this comic, published in Cream City Comics: Inkblot, is a desk jockey looking for something useful to do with his life. Sick of hearing about muggings, kidnappings and rapes in his beloved hometown, The Ransom (emotionally) snaps and becomes an unmasked vigilante. A few years later, in 2005-2006, I created another superhero which wasn't super at all... THE DEAD CRICKET! He appeared throughout the Cream City Comics/Bud Burgy Inc.-published MUSCLES & FIGHTS series. For any readers familiar with the character and backstory, TDC is an ordinary working stiff with aspirations of being something... or someone... more significant. Specifically, he has daydreams/fantasies of himself as a superhero. In a way, The Dead Cricket! is a more humorous exercise of what I'd already examined with The Ransom... disatisfaction with everyday life and human inner rage as we see the world/civilization around us tumbling down.

But, even before those projects, the idea of a "real world' in which superheroes exist could be found in published comic books... Zorro, The Spirit, Batman, V For Vendetta, The Watchmen, Mystery Men, Sin City, and a few others immediately SPRING to mind. Television and film have brought live action versions of these characters to the screen, as well as creating animated RLSHs like; The Incredibles, Despicable Me (super-villain) and Megamind.

Well, just when you thought the superhero comics craze couldn't get any... erm... CRAZIER...

In 2004, a person known as "Kevlex" responded a question posed by Mark Schmidt asking why there were no Real-Life Superheroes in existence by creating the World Superhero Registry. The Hero Coalition, founded in 2006, was the first attempt to connect crimefighters through an online MEGA NETWORK. Since that time, various sites/forums have surfaced catering to local crime fighters around the globe. In 2008, a website was created to research and archive the activities of these self-proclaimed Real-Life Superheroes. And just what kinds of activities do these masked (and unmasked) CRUSADERS perform? They take part in food drives and community fundraisers. They walk the streets, by night, in search of crimes to prevent. And they are covered in documentaries, such as; Your Friendly Neighborhood Hero: The Documentary Film About RLSH (2008).

For me, this is the wildest spin-off of comics in the US since serious comic book shop debates and in-fighting about the goings-on in the latest issue of (fill in the blank) comic book. These well-meaning individuals have been covered on programs like GOOD MORNING AMERICA, they've been written about by US and European magazines, and they've been lampooned on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE.

Whether or not I think donning a costume/uniform and patrolling the streets is a good idea... I DO NOT... is immaterial. It's nice to know people still care enough to become involved in their respective communities. But let's hope these citizens don't draw too much attention from the amazing heroes around us all the time; soup kitchen/homeless shelter volunteers, The Salvation Army, The Goodwill, educators, social counselors, EMTs, fire fighters, police officers, military personnel and other civil/community servants.

You can read more about this wild PHENOMENON by clicking the entry title.

Happy reading!

Peace

-AR

Karma 13

2010-12-08T16:58:00.002-06:00

Hello everyone!

I should be reporting the latest on Super Depressed Girl (SDG) sometime next week. In the meantime, I thought I'd take the belated time to post a link (click title) to a new Milwaukee alt band called Karma 13. Heather Rosplock, Mike Jakubiak, Dennis Meer and David Harris are scheduled to perform at Milwaukee's Firehouse Pub, 2758 South 35th Street, @ 8:00 PM on December 20th.

You're all invited.

Peace

-AR

SDG, The Eye & The Night!

2010-11-15T13:45:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone!

Yes... I am well aware it has been a better than a month since the last SDG update. The project is still moving along, and we are waiting for the word on a few crucial points of interest. I will be sure to post here as soon as that word comes through.

For those not in the know, check out Bernie Gonzalez's blog (under Windy City links). News on his new, at least new to the general public, EvilEye project can be found there. I have been privy to see a lot of this work as it progressed, and it is nothing short of topnotch.

Finally, if you have not been keeping up with Alberto Rios, you should check out his blog. He has been involved in several Gallery Nights this year. The works produced for those shows are brilliant bits of psychedelic pop art.

Until next month...

Peace

-AR

Cream City Update

2010-09-10T14:51:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone!

Now, with submission packets in the mail, I am set to begin the next step of the SDG project. I want to be ahead of the game if/when things fall into place. Luck is found where preparedness meets opportunity.

I'll keep updating here as things progress.

Peace

-AR

SDG Update... Again!

2010-08-19T09:34:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone!

The artwork for this SDG project is completed. I'm giving things the thrice over to ensure I'm happy with what I'll be presenting in my submission packets. The work is solid. It's different enough to feel fresh... for me. But it's not so different it will feel completely foreign... for anyone familiar with the character.

During this process, I've been looking at older versions of SDG and my approach to the title character. I'm grateful for the time I took to write the character over'n'over... as it makes working on Super Depressed Girl that much easier now. I hope the ease of characterization comes through with each written & drawn line.

I'll keep updating here, and I hope I will have some exciting news sooner than later.

Enjoy the cons in Chicago and the Twin Cities this weekend!

Peace

-AR

SDG Update... cont!

2010-08-03T15:55:00.003-05:00

Hello everyone!

I am still plugging away at SDG. The pencils are pretty tight... I'm working on little details and inks this week. I've also been working the kinks out of the text... there is a really nice flow to everything now. I hope to have the artwork completely inked by next week, which will give me extra time to go over some of the future plans before presenting it to a publisher.

For those unaware, SDG began as a doodle on a napkin... some time in 2001. Sat with a colleague in a local restaurant, I put together a simple drawing of a "Goth" character... and scribed Super Depressed Girl underneath. I didn't know what to, or whether I would, do anything with the new creation. But I dug the name and couldn't leave her on said napkin.

Work on an illustrated novel began in 2001-2002. I'd decided on that format after illustrating a novel for Doug Paul. Things didn't work out, and I translated the prose to an OGN format. I have to thank Galvo and Bernie G for their patience in dealing with me through that process... especially because neither format ever saw print. SDG made a few small appearances in pin-ups and short stories (for various publishers) from 2002 through 2005.

Fastforward to 2007-2008 and the Muscles & Fights series with Bud Burgy, Inc.

The anthology series, packed with so many talented creators, helped me regain interest in SDG and two of my other creations. I also resurrected a team name I'd first used in 1995... The Goon Squad. SDG was, now, part of the line-up... along with The Cadaver and The Dead Cricket. Most people have only seen SDG within the context of the Muscles & Fights series. I'm looking forward to reactions to the new presentation and style.

That's all for now.

Peace

-AR

SDG Update!

2010-07-21T16:42:00.001-05:00

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to keep you in-the-loop on what yours truly is up to.

As you may know... SDG has appeared in Grrl Scouts, Pulpo, and several self-published works since 2002. I'm wrapping up the pencils on the first SDG solo project this week. This particular volume isn't huge, but I want to get things just right. I've also been working out the designs/formats for the next two SDG books, as well as jotting down content ideas. The plan is to pitch the entire project this autumn. How appropriate, eh?

Stayed tuned.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Comics: SDG

2010-06-15T12:39:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to share some news on what I've been up to lately. Apart from major changes in my personal life, I am working on a Super Depressed Girl project. This effort is a departure from what I've done with the character before, especially in format. This project will be "all me"... as opposed to my past collaborations. The plan is to have all the work completed in August for pitch purposes. I am very happy with the work produced so far.

I will have the completed artwork with me at M.I.X., in the Twin Cities. I hope to have some special SDG pieces with me as well. If all goes well, I'll post some of the work on this blog.

Peace

-AR

C2E2: 1 Day Away!

2010-04-15T09:00:00.001-05:00

With the convention beginning tomorrow, I just wanted to remind comics/art lovers of the goings-on at Reggie's Rock Club throughout the weekend. Friday-Sunday Reggie's will be hosting various events.

Friday night, Bud Burgy and I will be selling books; from our Muscles & Fights series, Night Light Coimcs' Buzz Pop, and Continuity Guy from Bud Burgy & Danno Klonowski. There will also be original art for sale. Reggie's has some amazing entertainment booked the night as well. The fun begins at 8PM.

Saturday & Sunday nights, PopCult will be hosting the mayhem.

Click the title for more details. Don't miss it!

Peace

-AR

El Maestro

2010-03-29T18:38:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone!

I'd just like to share some background on an important documentary - in the works. The subject of the documentary is the Puerto Rican social revolutionary, Pedro Albizu Campos. Before being unjustifiably incarcerated, Albizu led the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party towards the island's sovereignty and political freedom from the United States. Revered by respected Latin American leaders including; Gabriela Mistral, Simon Bolivar, and Ernesto Guevara, Albizu was a man of unwaivering spirit. Check out the link above to learn more about this world class hero.

Enjoy!

Peace

-AR

City... PopCult @ Reggie's

2010-03-24T09:13:00.004-05:00

Hello everyone!

Reggie's Rock Club, in Chicago IL, is Ground Zero for post C2E2 convention parties the weekend of April 16-18, 2010.

Friday, April 16 Reggie's is hosting what I'm sure will be a night of insanity. There will be Booze, Broads (Superhero-themed Burlesque Show) & Bands... Comics, Original and (possibly) Live Art for sale. This event kicks off at 8pm. http://www.recordbreakers.net/

Sat & Sun, April 17-18 Reggie's will be hosting PopCult and the 'OhNo' crew. http://www.facebook.com/pages/PopCult/304493133517

Read more about the C2E2 convention by clicking on the title above.

This is a great way to kick off the 2010 convention season. Don't miss out! I hope to see you there.

Peace

-AR

City... Pulp & The Eye: 2

2010-03-18T10:02:00.011-05:00

Hello everyone!

Here is Part 2 of my interview with Indiepulp.com/Evileye Books. In this part of our interview, we dive deeper into what the future of comics may hold - as well as where/how Evileye Books fits. I suggest checking out the sites by clicking the titles above or finding the links to the right. Enjoy!

AR: You have some truly exciting things going on. And (it seems) the future holds a lot more excitement, which makes a perfect segue into my next question...

In what direction do you believe the conversation/industry is moving?

MM: There are a two pressure points I like to gauge.
One is the social pressure from the popularity of comics-based movies. It is forcing a bit of a change in the perception of comics and comics fans. In a sense, fanboys and girls are having to grow up in front of the media. This is part of what gives credence to comics lit like the new graphic novel, Stitches, for example. So we've begun to expand both the public and self-image of comics away from the old cape-wearing, primary-colored heroes stereotype toward a more realistic —dare I say post modern- take. We're growing up, which presents an entirely different set of problems for comics. But that's for another time.

Another force building steam is technology within comics. In terms of its effect on old mediums like print, this will be the year defined by two buzzwords: Tablets and Paywalls. At least fifty different tablet computers will be introduced into the consumer space this year, the most anticipated being Apple's iPad. This presents a potential new delivery channel for comics, one that I think dovetails with the aging comics demographic and just may well save the periodical format. The social relief felt by having comics neatly archived and organized inside a portable device where fanboys can finally sit at a café to read them without the fear of being laughed at can't be underestimated.

**Note: Which also harkens the need for change in general public attitude in regards to comics as a form of literature, rather than the past time of children. - AR

As an aside, digital comics pose interesting questions for the Direct Market, among them a navel-gazing exercise of what their inherent value is to comic book fans. I think the DM will have to look again at how to recapture the idea of collectables; how to tap into the distribution of digital comics; and how to make their stores more engaging.

AR: I've heard this point-of-view before. I think it was none other than Stan Lee who put a lot of capital into digital comics before it went belly up. What has changed or is changing about digital publishing since the collapse of that venture?

MM: The delivery channel. In this case, the emergence of portable, highly-capable computer-like devices. Smartphones and now tablets. They bring back a semblance of the intimacy that we all feel when we read print comics or graphic novels. In the aggregate, they will be more ubiquitous than comics and comics shops themselves. Even if you only capture a fractional share of mobile device users to read your comics, it would likely be a market larger than all comic book shop patrons combined because the pie of mobile device users is so much larger.

Tablets will bring with them a sea-change in how we value comics and other traditional print mediums. On this platform, we see the clash between the crowd that clamors for the Internet to be free and the reality that content is hard and expensive to produce. The tablet will encourage the evolution of our definitions of what a newspaper or a book can be. Experiments will surface to make digital comics more than just flipping through "pages" on a screen. Motion comics are an early experiment, but they fail because they feel like bad animation. This innovation will help preserve the value of paying for comics as well as drive more diversity in pricing and products.

AR: True. I do agree, to a certain extent, some of that failure is due to the cheap trick of motion comics. But there are still many people who simply love printed literature.

I also agree public perception of the medium has to change. But would you agree the comics community, itself, has/is doing little to improve the image of comics outside the local comic shop? I mean, capes'n'tights is a dirty word. Still, I don't think little Johnny is ready for Grrl Scouts, Heavy Liquid, American Elf or Blankets yet. Erik Larsen has been railing against updating Spider-man and Superman to suit the tastes of adult readers. What are your thoughts?

MM: With regard to kids and comics, part of the trouble the Direct Market faces is the aging customer base, which begets adult-oriented comics, which tends to exclude a younger reader, one that is serviced well by Scholastic with BONE and manga for girls. A bright spot, though, is the recent wave of kid's titles from Disney published by BOOM! Studios. But now that Marvel is owned by Disney, I wonder how long BOOM! can keep that relationship going. That, of course, presents a new opportunity for the indie segment to pick up the ball (just as it did in the eighties and nineties) to introduce comics for a more mature audience, today, indies may be in a great position to introduce a whole new wave of children-oriented comics. AMULET is a good recent example.

AR: James Kochalka has also been on the frontline of indies producing children-oriented (comic) books, such as; Squirrelly Gray and Johnny Boo. So there is definitely a move to create new readership. And these, obviously work better in print... creating opportunities for adults and children to sit down a read together.

MM: On the matter of exposing comics to a broader base, I suspect a seismic event could occur if John Lasseter and Joe Quesada ever get together to do a Marvel-based Pixar film. If that happens, the marketing push alone could ensure the creation of an entirely new generation of readers interested in comics. That would present a very interesting opportunity -- and problem -- for the Direct Market retailers. I wonder if they would be ready to move beyond their geek underground status. It would also present an interesting situation for comics publishers across the board, whom have been focused on the older comics reader.

AR: Now, that would be very exciting. There is certainly an abundance of animation-influenced artists out there the establishment has had trouble introducing through standard channels. I can only think of a small handful who've enjoyed success. But even they have met opposition. New comics could be created to feed Pixar animated features which would, in turn, deliver a broader reader base to the comics.

Many of the 'perception' challenges we're citing here are bigger issues in the US than in - let's say - France and Japan. Would you agree with that statement? In much of Europe and Japan, comics are not merely a geek's game or just another form of entertainment for children. With the exception of the hipster/indie readers, this is the painted picture of comics here. What have Europe and Japan done differently... without the use of technology? And do you find yourself taking a similar approach with Evileye Books while embracing the digital?

MM: I can't speak very intelligently about European comics or manga from a business perspective, other than to say that I wish we had the broad acceptance in the US they enjoy across demographic groups there. Then we'd have as many comics shops as Barnes & Nobles and coffee houses with comics racks.

AR: I don't know about other cities, but indepedent coffee houses, being community-oriented, are very comics friendly. They encourage local creators selling their wares on their shelves. I'd love to see more of that happen.

Anyway, if I'm reading you and the marketplace correctly, the Digital Age may be the last hope for adult comics. To be sure, there are some comics-friendly co-ops and coffee houses in the US... but not nearly as many handheld digital devices potentially owned by domestic consumers. And that is a difficult point to argue against. This, of course, explains the need for progressive and aggressive outfits like Evileye Books.

MM: The thing about open markets is that any variable, no matter how small, can change the course of the market. So I would be weary of phrases like "last hope".

However, the evidence I do see is that US comics do not have the critical mass they need at the retail level to be a cultural force. They either need to move beyond the Direct Market or the DM has to evolve to embrace more demographic segments. The realistic scenario is a LOT of both. Until that happens, the rise of digital technologies like tablets offer an opportunity for comics publishers to reach audiences in a bigger pond, as it were, than the DM. The potential is in the critical mass of a new kind of reader.

AR: And maybe comics will be devoid of some of the negative stigmas mentioned earlier when we see that "new kind of reader". Are you hitting the convention circuit in 2010? Making your rounds at bookstores?

MM: The more we look at the current comics convention model, the more we believe it's broken, and does a disservice to indie publishers. So it's an ongoing study to see which events, if any, make sense for us.

AR: Which is bizarre when you consider how many indie publishers hand over their hard-earned cash to support the conventions. Of course, the relatively recent rise of the live art aftershows, hosted by indie creators, is a creative approach to promotion outside the convention hall.

AR: Do you have any parting words for readers?

MM: These are exciting times for comics and publishing. I'm glad we're around in this time in history to see it happen and play a part in it.

AR: Thank you! It's always good to see positive and creative approaches in the evolution of the medium. I'm glad your a part of it too. Best of luck!

Make sure you check in at Indiepulp.com and Evileye Books regularly for reviews, updates, submission opportunities, and the general excitement indie comics are generating.

Peace

-AR

City... Pulp & The Eye: 1

2010-03-10T10:40:00.007-06:00

Hello everyone!

I'm back with what is both a return to form and a change of pace for my Cream City Conversations series. Appropriately enough, I'm using the new tone of these pieces to introduce a relatively new publisher. This 'conversation' will be posted in parts. I hope breaking this article up in this manner will afford me the chance to deliver deeper insight to the process behind the literary force of comics. Enjoy!

AR: Hello. For the benefit of those who don't know you, please introduce yourself.

MM(Cue voice echo machine): I am known by many names; Aaron, Nathaniel, Ommus, A.N., even my given name (Mike), and sometimes by names that should ever be uttered to a sensitive human being like myself. But why I use a pen name is a long story best left for a night drinking Knob Creek with the fellas.

I am Editorial Director of Evileye Books, which publishes both graphic novels and prose fiction books. I also started Indiepulp.com a few years ago.

AR: I've taken the liberty of writing about Indiepulp.com, in the past. What was the inspiration behind that project?

MM: It wasn't so much inspiration as frustration. I'm a comics fanboy through and through. I enjoy all kinds of comics; capes, underground, noir, horror, comics lit—all of it. So I consume a great deal of media that talks about their creators and the stories themselves. The usual suspects. I won't name them here because they are good guys and have actually gotten better.

But for a while, I noticed there was very little news coverage, review or commentary about comics not published by the Big Two. When it was covered it was because there was some sort of connection to the bigger publishers, like when a Brian Michael Bendis puts out POWERS through Image, but writes for Marvel... that sort of thing.

I grew frustrated so I decided to launch a blog myself to talk about comics from everybody except the Big Two. For quite a few years the loyal five or six followers of the blog have kept me going.

But a lot has changed since then. The mainstream online comics news media are now doing a decent job of covering independent creators and titles, though I wish they would do more. As the media has changed, and my goals and interests have grown, Indiepulp.com is about to change as well.

AR: So, to summarize the mission of Indiepulp.com is to give mainstream style/quality coverage and reviews to independently published comics/graphic novels. Would that be a fair statement?

MM: Not at all. Its goal has never been to be a copycat of other sites... it has always been far too personal for that. And, anyway, there are many sites that provide news about comics, and do a great job at it—better than we ever could.

In that sense, we're not looking to compete. Think of the site as part of a larger conversation within the community of comics and their creators. We don't want to be the one that takes over a conversation at a party; we just want to add an interesting dimension to it, one that, when we started, was missing.

AR: Got it. And this part of the conversation would be the one sites like Sequential Tart, The Comics Journal, and the Daily Cross Hatch have also played a great role in in developing?

MM: Yes, and we can include the bigger comics news sites as well. Of late, they've been paying more attention to the indie segment, and they've done a decent job of covering it.

AR: I'm aware of the fact Indiepulp.com has enjoyed the support of well respected mainstays such as Jim Mahfood and Sam Hiti. How did those relationships develop? Do you think reaching out to well known indie mavericks has added street cred to Indiepulp.com and/or contributed to your success?

MM: You mention some great creators. I met Jim a few years ago at Wizard Chicago. I've never met Sam. In both cases, I approached them by email, asking first for help in providing masthead images for the launch of the site.

As for street cred, I'm afraid I don't think much about that. We like comics for their cultural, literary, aesthetic and entertainment value, and we talk about the ones we find intriguing without trying to talk about everything published or be the end-all site of comics. Hopefully, there are a few others out there that feel the same way.

AR: Definitely. You mentioned change is in store for Indiepulp.com. Are there any details you can share with us?

MM:Two key events have come to pass that affect the original mission of Indiepulp.com.

The first is that today there are many—and I mean many—websites that now cover non-mainstream comics very well. Some of this is due to the Hollywood effect of bringing attention to comics; some the bookstore effect of having graphic novels available to a broader consumer segment than the Direct Market. And some of it is due to the critical success of an emerging segment of comics, Comics Lit (books like the award-winning American-Born Chinese, Blankets, Footnotes in Gaza, and so many others). Our original goal of giving light to indie comics and their creators is still valid. But simply reviewing indie comics is no longer as unique as it used to be. As the comics conversation evolves from the almost embryonic stage of simply getting news out there, the challenge becomes how do we evolve our own contribution to the conversation?

AR: That is a very good point, and a grand task to take on. Cream City Conversations started from much of same frustration you mentioned earlier. We decided to spotlight creators in which we believed to take the conversation to the heart of who these people are. I think this insight is important... in much the same way the Abstract Expressionist and, to a larger degree, the Pop Art movements empowered gallery patrons.

You mentioned a second key event?

MM: The second event is the launch of Evileye Books, which takes my commitment to comics and prose fiction from being a hobby to a professional level. I've raised the bar for ourselves to produce work worth reading... that entertains... but also contributes to the tradition of the genres we publish. So, for example, when we got together with horror writer, Mike Oliveri to launch THE PACK novels and comics, we knew we wanted not just to publish werewolf or horror books. With the series we want to contribute to the popular mythos of werewolves by exploring areas that have never been touched upon. It's the same with the horror genre: we knew we didn't want to just publish slasher fiction. We want to experiment with the blending of genres to create something new, and hopefully interesting, which is why the prose book series of THE PACK is a mashup of the supernatural/noir mystery/thriller genres.

AR: Evileye Books. I was surprised to see a new publisher on the scene during trying economic times. What kinds of different things are you doing to promote longevity?

MM: Evileye Books has been in the making for twenty years. The problem has been timing and waiting for technology to catch up to the industry needs. Publishing has been broken for decades. But it's like the oil industry, it's engrained in our economy and the players are not to thrilled with the idea of killing their cash cows. So they "milk" the system until they absolutely have to change. The moment of change is here.

The key problem has always been the aggregate cost of issuing a book title because original content is expensive to produce (it begins to sound like a litany, doesn't it?). The second problem has been that, despite the number of bookstores filled with books, the distribution system is highly inefficient, in that it works well for new titles, but is not so great for backlist and specialty titles. That inefficiency adds to costs related to publishing a book.

When so much of the revenue of a cover price goes to pay for production and distribution, it's no wonder a writer's royalties have been so abysmal. But, you know, nature abhors a vacuum. So here come Amazon.com and the digital frontier of e-books and a new platform to read them on, and like Emeril likes to say, BAM! you have a new paradigm shift in the making. Evileye Books was launched because publishing is finally making sense again, for publishers, writers and readers.

AR: We'll tackle the impact of the Digital Age in our next segment.

Peace

-AR

The Colder The City

2010-02-01T11:23:00.000-06:00

Hello everyone!

Milwaukee's own Mark Medrek has entered the realm of literary, local tourism. Click on the title to read his article on the non-alcoholic culture of Cream City. It's a great snapshot for locals as well as newcomers.

Enjoy!

Peace

-AR

The City Zeph Built

2010-02-01T11:12:00.003-06:00

Hello everyone!

Happy much-belated New Year.

I just wanted to share this article (click title to access) on friend and brilliant artist, Zeph Farmby. He was kind enough to lend answers, experience, and advice here a while back. Amazingly enough, his future looks to dwarf his already larger-than-life past. Congratulations Zeph!

Peace

-AR

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T20:01:00.002-06:00

May you and yours grow closer over the holidays. And check out the link above when you return to work.

Peace & Love

-AR

Pulp City

2009-12-01T17:17:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone!

When I started this blog a few years ago, I mentioned a handful of fancy Indie e-Rags I hoped would seek out little (at least in the US) known comics and creators for their editorials. One site has truly captured the essence of their moniker. That site is Indie Pulp.

Michael Martinez teamed with Bernie Gonzalez, founder of Element X Studios, to create what would almost instantaneously become a very special longterm project. I must admit, I was a bit skeptical at first. The site (linked in the blog title above) is polished to a distinct sheen. It is very easy to mistake it for another run-of-mill 'edgy' mainstream production. Truth be told, Indie Pulp couldn't be any less a fake, if it was printing the comics featured there in a damp basement.

Matthew Brady is the resident site editor and reviewer of all the amazing comics plastered all over IP. He's done a remarkable job... including enough interior art to give his readers a solid idea of what they can expect to see on their LCS shelves. Many indie mainstays have lent their art to help give the site its brilliant look.

If you aren't already, it wouldn't be a bad idea to frequent Indie Pulp. They are doing their part to make sure indie comics don't stay underground.

Peace

-AR

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

2009-10-31T15:17:00.000-05:00

My favorite holiday is finally here.

Where to go? What costume to wear? What candy to plow into first? Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a copy of Muscles & Frights to bring a little laughter into your scares tonight.

Enjoy yourself!

Peace

-AR

New Links!

2009-10-20T12:15:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone!

There is little I enjoy more than sharing cool stuff with other artists and art lovers. I've added new links to this blog and updated old ones. This is a great place to keep up with what is going on with the people and creations you already know and/or, for newcomers, study the art form. Feel free to surf away, and continue to stay tuned for future updates.

Peace

-AR

City Sketch

2009-10-14T18:40:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone!

Check out a quick pin-up I did for Dan Klonowski (better known as Danno) by clicking on the title of this entry. It's not much... But I'm finally drawing again. It's about time I start adding new art on this site soon to keep you up-to-date on what I'm working on. Let's hope that happens more often than not.

Peace

-AR

Back To The City

2009-10-13T16:26:00.005-05:00

Hello everyone!

With Fallcon over, I'm back in Cream City.

There was plenty of amazing product to pick up at the con:

Bud Burgy and I had the entire Muscles & Fights library, including the Halloween special (Muscles & Frights). All these releases can be purchased at Lost World Of Wonders-MKE, The Source-MPLS/SP, and Chicago Comics-CHI as well as lulu.com and amazon.com. We're especially proud of the manner in which Muscles & Frights raised the bar on brawling goodness. Big thanks to those who gave up their hard-earned cash for a copy.

Danno was there with his Manly Tales Of Cowardice monster of a franchise. It's always good to see him so busy with fans of the series. He and Bud are hard at work with their Continuity Guy ongoing... do yourself a favor.

Kevin Cannon had his amazing Top Shelf/fancy pants HC edition of Far Arden. Of course, it just makes me feel extra special for owning one of the 100 self-published copies he sold prior to striking it rich. The guy blows me away with his attention-to-detail presentation.

Sam Hiti was also there with his shiny-covered historical series. You can always count on him to have plenty of new merch to choose from.

The really big news and, for my money, greatest value for buck at the show was BIG FUNNY. Congratulations to Steve Stwalley, Zander Cannon, and the rest of the International Cartoonist Conspiracy for their efforts!

Special thanks to Dan Olson, Justin Cermak and Ryan Dow for the time they took to catch me up on what they have in the works.

For any and all curious about what these talented individuals are spilling their life-blood to produce, hop on over to the links found on this blog. Happy hunting.

That's all, for now.

Peace

-AR

Cream City @ Fallcon 2009

2009-09-22T10:35:00.004-05:00

Hello Everyone!

My favorite convention of the year is just around the corner (Oct 10 &11). I will be there with copies of various OGNs published with my good friend Bud Burgy. I will also have original art (from those projects) for sale, and hope to have a decent start on my new project to display. Remember to catch up with all your favorite Cartoonist Conspiracy creators too! Learn more about the con and the Midwest Comic Book Association by clicking the title of this entry.

Peace

-AR

Psychedelic Son of the City

2009-07-30T13:16:00.002-05:00

Hello again!

It's been a while since I had something excite me enough to write about it. Today, the silence can be broken.

Last year I was introduced to the art of Stan Ewert, the son referred to in the title of this entry. I was effectively blown away at first glance. Stan is one of the scariest cats you've never heard of. Mix Crumb, Escher, Final Fantasy Tactics, classic D&D, 60s-70s poster art, add a dash of Stairway To Heaven and you are just scratching the surface of the first Ewert mindtrip I was exposed to a year ago.

Until very recently, his works were reserved for a private collection of connected pieces of Ewert's imagination. But lucky art freaks everywhere can finally purchase prints of what is sure to become a heavy underground sensation.

For a more intimate idea of what I'm gushing about, head over to www.ewertartimages.com

If you're attending Wizard World Chicago, check out Alberto 'Ponbiki' Rios in Artist's Alley. He'll have graphic novels, sketchbooks, original art and other great swag to choose from.

One last thing...

Tank Girl tpbs will finally be available in the original black & white versions. The books will be packed with cool extras. I have ONE and it's far superior to the 'colour' versions already in circulation.

Peace

-AR

Quiet In The City

2009-06-24T10:24:00.000-05:00

Hello Everyone!

As the title suggests, all has been fairly quiet here. I am still contemplating my next move in art... and lamenting the third death of my iBook G4. The ideas for new books are still in infancy stages, and whether or not there will be a resurrection of Super Depressed Girl has yet to be decided.

There are no new (and exciting) books to report on at the moment. But Ponbiki and Galvo are still kicking all forms of artistic arse at zuda.com.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Update Plus!

2009-06-01T09:33:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I'd like to share some fairly exciting news.

1) The Cream City Comics (with Bud Burgy, Inc.) library is available on Amazon now. I received an Email (from Lulu) last week informing me Heavee Underground was submitted to Amazon. I later found out the Muscles & Fights series, including Muscles & Frights, is available through Amazon too. Good news. Thanks to all the contributors involved!

2) As of today, Sam Kieth's My Inner Bimbo and Scott Morse's newest Ancient Book are available for purchase. My Inner Bimbo has been packaged a bit differently than Ojo was... it's much bigger (which translates to more raw looking art).

3) I saw Yeah Yeah Yeahs play at The Rave last night. Of course, Karen O and company did everything right... which included an acoustic version of their breakthrough hit Maps. But the real treat of the evening was the opening band, Grand Ole Party. The San Diego trio blew the lid off the joint. I picked up a copy of their DH Records debut, Humanimals, and received a free CDR sample from their upcoming September release. The disc includes two songs... You Can't See Me and Love Button... which are nothing short of brilliant. If you like checking out live gigs, this is probably the show you don't want to miss this year. And support Grand Ole Party with your 10 bucks... you won't be disappointed.

Peace

-AR

Cream City on Cavallaro

2009-05-18T06:57:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

I'm back with some good old-fashioned gushing over a comics veteran I've only just discovered. As I surfed to learn more about him on the 'net', I was disappointed with how little available reviews there are... thus, the following gush fest.

Mike Cavallaro started his career in comics studying at the Joe Kubert school (later dropping out for Rock'n'Roll)... then... coloring for Valiant in the '90s (remember them). He also produced work for DC cards. But, as the dust from the '90s comics explosion settled, he shifted gears... expanding his skillset in animation. As a member of the Deep6 and a regular contributor to ACT-I-VATE web comix, Mike has created several fine sequential gems including the book which brought him to my attention... PARADE (with fireworks).

PARADE easily exhibits the imagination and prowess of its creator. The command of space, design, ink, color, light, shadow, emotion and pacing are all on... erm... parade in this graphic historical biography. I won't go into the specific visuals or storyline here because I believe a large part of the excitement the reader gets from a comic is discovering them on his/her own. I will say the price point, $12.99 US, is an absolute steal. And the packaging? Fugetaboutit.

Big thanks is due to Shadowline/Image Comics for helping Cavallaro realize the printed version of his creation. Let's hope works like PARADE, TRANSIT, MISSING THE BOAT and SURREAL ADVENTURES OF EDGAR ALLAN POO become a regular thing at Shadowline.

Enjoy!

Peace

-AR

**Note: On the inside back cover of PARADE (with fireworks) you'll see a cool looking title called MISSING THE BOAT. The creative team on that book is Shady and DWELLEPHANT... not Wellephant. Respect to the Cream City legend. Check out the links listings to learn more about both Cavallaro and Dwellephant.

Sons of the City

2009-04-28T07:08:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

As promised a couple posts ago, I'd like to spend a little time on the fact "not all free is good". Book fans of all stripes are all too aware of that theory since Milwaukee became Schwartz Bookstores-free.

Schwartz bookshops served the Cream City community for 82 years, since 1927, when Harry Schwartz started his first store in the back of a beauty shop. And didn't only serve by selling books. He supported local and national authors with in-store book signings, and... at times... with his checkbook (funding the publication of books).

Schwartz was succeeded by his family and, eventually, opened 5 stores in total. This feat marked Schwartz Bookstores as the most successful independent bookstore chain in the state, if not the country. Of course, times change and people often change with it. Internet shopping, large corporate bookstore chains, and a shaky economy have all contributed to hard times for the Schwartz family. In early 2009, shoppers on Schwartz's mailing list received the official news the stores would be closing at the end of March. This is truly sad news for a community which seems so proud to support locally-owned business.

Could anything have been done to save the stores? Probably not, but it does raise the question of what waits for us in the future. What happens to the local comic book shops? Where will independent/self-published authors sell their wares now? Will life for those authors be the same, if they cannot establish personal relationships with the people responsible for selling their artwork? Time will tell.

On the upside of Cream City sons making good on their life passion, I've added a new link to the Cream City links listing. Damian Valentine Mayek, working simply as Damian Valentine Music, has an amazing story about what can happen to those who pursue their dreams with self-belief. Please check out his site, especially the bio section, to learn more about this amazing musical and visual artist.

Hats off to Schwartz and Mayek for giving the Cream City faithful one more reason to be proud of the city they hail as home.

Peace

-AR

New Booty

2009-04-19T11:23:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone!

Sorry to disappoint, but the title above is in no way a reference to the latest hit from the flavor of the week in the rap game. The title doesn't refer to a new Chris Rock comedy routine either. I'm simply sharing some cool stuff I've been fortunate enough to get my grubby mitts on recently.

1) Title: Bardin the Superrealist. Author: Max (Francesc Capdevila). Publisher: Fantagraphics Books. This hardcover collection of psychedelic strips written and illustrated by the Spanish artiste (Max) was released in 2006, but I've only now discovered the gem. God, art, vice, life, death, philosophy... no stone is left unturned in a style familiar to fans of Walt & Skeezix, Krazy Ignatz and Jimmy Corrigan.

2) Title: Notes Over Yonder and Tiger! Tiger! Tiger! Author: Scott Morse. Publisher: Red Window/AdHouse Books. Those fortunate fans keeping up with Scott Morse over the years have noted a constant exploration of story styles, format and presentation. This is an artist who really doesn't know the meaning of fear or limitations. Notes and Tiger! are his most recent reminders life and art are always linked firmly in the mind, soul & heart of an artist. It's worth noting Tiger! is clearly marked volume one so I'm looking forward to more in the series. If you keep up with his blog, you are aware there is a new addition to the "Ancient" book series coming our way soon. Mister Morse is also working on other projects (somehow) when not at his day job with Pixar Animation Studios.

3) Title: Birth Of A Nation. Author: Aaron McGruder/Reginald Hudlin/Kyle Baker. Publisher: Crown Publishers. Ah... politics, solcial commentary, comedy, and purty drawings enclosed between two hard covers. Reads like a dream come true, doesn't it? I thought so too. Unfortunately, it took me all of 4 years to discover this fine work. Fortunately, good art... in any medium... never grows old or stale. This is, yet, another brilliant example of comics as serious literature.

4) Title: Your Career In Animation. Author: David B Levy. Publisher: Allworth Press. Okay, Okay... no... I am not an animator. BUT... I love animation... AND... I would love to be an animator... AND... it serves as a great companion to my copies of Eisner's Shop Talk, Eisner/Miller and Comics & Sequential Art. I don't think any artist's library is complete without a small collection of books tackling the subject of art and commerce.

So... now you're probably wondering what kind of reviews I consider the above. Well, they aren't reviews at all. I'm simply passing on information in hopes you'll become interested enough to get up, get out, pick up, read and form your own opinion .

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Jennifer Young

2009-04-06T09:19:00.000-05:00

As promised Saturday, here's the latest on Jennifer Young. I will prove a bit wordier than usual in this 'conversation' so I'll keep this intro short and sweet. Enjoy!

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Jennifer "Jenny Bunny Bunns" Young, Atlanta, GA

2) What have you been up to lately? What are projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Because I've transitioned to a different tattoo studio - the first one since my apprenticeship, I'm wrapping up The Apprentice Diaries, my comic strip diary of my life as a new female tattoo artist. Volume 8 will be my last. Now that I've left my "alma mater" to move onto a new studio, I've renamed my comic strip diary The Inkbunny Diaries. Both hardcopy versions will be available on my website and various book selling sites (Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Borders) and Lulu.com.

Other than that, in the past year I've been getting back into the art-show circuit, starting in the Atlanta area. The first one I did in 3-4 years was last December, and since then I've been in 4-5 art shows and did a spot in a lecture series at The Contemporary in Atlanta, GA. They can be a little stressful if the deadline is short notice, but it pushes me to draw for myself, which I rarely do otherwise. And it pushes me to explore different avenues and to delve deeper into familiar themes.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

My website is probably the most convenient way to see everything I do and how to get stuff! I'm also on Facebook and Myspace, too.
www.myspace.com/jyoungart
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Jenny-Bunns-Young/9002583889

www.theinkbunnydiaries.com

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

I just released my final "Diary of an Apprentice" volume (8) a few of months ago. I was also really excited to be in the recently released Anthology, Muscles & Frights! YAY! Other than that, I've got a few art shows coming up, the one I'm most looking forward to is at the Youngblood Gallery in Atlanta, GA, opening January 10th!

*Note: Great news all around. Did I ever send you a personal copy of Muscles & Frights or did you slip through the cracks when you didn't show at Fallcon? Whoops! -AR

As for my new comic strip diary series, "The Inkbunny Diaries", I'm debating whether I should submit it to publishers, or keep going with self-publishing at Lulu.com.

*Note: Your army of fans would probably be the best sounding board on this. Either way, I know your books will continue to look amazing AND be very entertaining. -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

Yes! This year I've applied more of my art nouveau influences in, including my tattoo work. I've invested in getting new materials to help supplement my graphic design and illustrative work, like getting a wacom tablet and new software, etc.

*Note: Mucha is at the top of my most beloved artists ever... in any medium. I've always enjoyed seeing the At Nouveau influence in other artists. -AR

6) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

Of course it's always good to keep "in shape". However, lately, I have not really kept a set sketchbook. I just use loose papers or different paper pads, depending on what I'm doing. I think working at a tattoo shop has made me form these habits - not that other tattoo artists do this... it's just been so hectic between work and side-work that it's all I've been able to use whenever I have time.

*Note: After a (too) long hiatus from drawing and painting I've put some sketches together -recently- and I also put together an ink drawing for someone... what a relief. I feel ready to put together more finished work now. I suppose there must be some relation between constant sketching and final product productivity. -AR

7) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

I like the sketchy look. I often think, as far as my own work, anyway, that my sketches look better than the final draft. I just enjoy the loose line work laying under the stronger lines. There's something very beautiful in those lines - like happy accidents, etc.

*Note: I wish I had the patience for this. I love some of my brush works, but I feel too... erm... exposed when showing that work. My usual tight pen work makes me feel some sort of strange, unexplainable security. -AR

8) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

The only one I make time to go to these days, because of my busy work and travel schedule, is the Minnesota FallCon. I always look forward to seeing everyone there each year - it really brings me back to my Midwestern roots, haha! Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts with a new tattoo shop I moved to, I could not make this 2008 one :(

*Note: You were sorely missed Jenn. I think you would have loved the ICC lounge. -AR

9) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

I'm bringing as much stuff as I possibly freaking can.

10) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

Between everything I'm doing and involved with, there is very little time for reading, unfortunately. In fact, BECAUSE everything's been so hectic, I no longer have the attention span for reading. So instead, I've been following webcomics & blogs, such as:

http://ryandow.com/ic/

http://bewilderedkid.com/blog/

http://www.baristagirl.com/

http://www.thoughtmarker.blogspot.com/

http://corinna-tomrlova.squarespace.com/dear-dairy/

And a plethora of misc. others.

As far as film and TV, I recently saw Bolt, and LOVED it. I'm also following the shows House and Dexter.

11) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Ha! One thing life has taught me - always work toward long-term goals, but never plan too far ahead. There are too many surprises down the road.

Thanks, Jenn!

There you go, folks. I hope you'll check out some of the sites shared in the 'conversation'. The economy being what it is, we could use all the free stuff we can get our grubby little mitts on.

But not all that is free is good... I'll be letting you in on what I mean next installment.

Peace

-AR

Rise Of The Ogre

2009-04-04T12:39:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

After a long, long hiatus... I'm coming back with more frequent updates and other posts. This time I really mean it.

My first order of business will be posting a new Jenny 'Bunns' Young interview. Miss Young has been busy changing her website, pumping out those illustrated diaries, inflicting inky pain on patrons, and other mayhem. Look for this to surface within a week.

Have a nice weekend.

Peace

-AR

Don't Call It A Comeback!

2009-01-12T16:08:00.000-06:00

Hello all,

Yes. I do realize it's been a while since I've posted or even poked my head in to see whether anyone's even noticed the absence of any news.

Well, I'm back with... news.

Here is a link to something in the works. I hope to have some more updates about it in subsequent posts. http://selfmadescampitch.blogspot.com

Peace

-AR

Cream City On Ice

2008-12-01T11:28:00.000-06:00

Hello all!

Well, winter has officially struck the home of the world's largest outdoor music festival. Snowstorms, freezing temperatures and other crap weather fun will be omnipresent for the next 2-4 months. Of course, this also means the rest of the Midwest is suffering along with us.

The brightside to this fact is underground artists will truly go underground, and hibernate/create cool new projects until the Spring thaw. If anyone has any projects they would like to shout, just send me an email with the details... I'll make sure they get posted here.

Until next time... stay warm.

Peace

-AR

The Slowboat from Cream City

2008-11-12T13:12:00.001-06:00

Hello all!

I'm back to inform (for those not two weeks ahead of me on the newsfront) you Muscles & Frights managed to get a little coverage on the web just before Halloween. Ain't It Cool News review: www.aintitcool.com/node/38909 and our press release: http://breenibooks.blogspot.com/2008/10/haunted-hosts_06.html

Thanks to everyone out there hyping the book... and the series. It wouldn't have happened without you.

Peace

-AR

New Beginnings & Old Traditions

2008-11-05T08:54:00.000-06:00

Hello all!

What a great day it is!!!

It's sunny AND warm in the Cream City, there will be new comics to sift through at noon, we're remembering Guy Fawkes, and the US of A has a new President... one which represents far more than a name or political affiliation could ever have done.

Where were you last night? Who were you with? What were you doing? Remember.

A friend sent me this text message last night. I'd like to share it.

"Remember the 5th of November. The gun powder, treason and plot... Viva la resistance!!"

Enjoy your new comics... under a new sky... and world. I now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Non-comical Commentary

2008-11-04T09:04:00.000-06:00

Hello all!

If you're not already planning to, I encourage you to vote today. Regardless of the outcome of the election, it is quite possibly the most important and (could-be) pivotal point in our life history.

There has been a lot of talk and campaigning based on "change". There is no doubt we desperately need it. To be sure, we have only two choices for true change this Election Day... Obama (not the Democratic Party) and Third (Independent) Party. I'll leave it to you, kind reader, to figure out what "change" I'm referring to.

Enjoy yourselves today and tonight. Take in the sights and sounds around you. Remember where you were and what you were doing... you may be recalling it all to your children one day. More importantly, future generations will no doubt be reading about 4th November 2008 in their history books... and not just in the United States of America.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Update

2008-11-03T17:01:00.000-06:00

Hello!

Things are quiet... with con season over.

Bud Burgy Inc. and Cream City Comics are still plotting out strategies and such for what is next on our collective creative plate. More than likely, we will be working on separate projects for a while. One thing is for certain... we want our series in the grubby mitts of more comic book loving readers.

I've got it on good word people have been asking about Muscles & Frights in local shops... thanks so much to those on the lookout.

Stay tuned for more to come.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Changes

2008-10-21T19:13:00.001-05:00

Hello all!

Comics convention is over (for me) and it's evident the seasons are a'changing.

Fallcon's 20th seemed to be a massive success. It's always good to catch up with friends I haven't seen in a while... that's at least one thing technology will never be able to replace.

Unfortunately, our book order did not arrive before the con was over. But you can order them online or, if you live in Milwaukee or Chicago, pick up copies at your local. If they don't have the books, ask them why and put in a request.

There are some very interesting projects on the horizon I hope to be in a position to share with you soon. Stayed tuned.

I'll be back on track with the 'interviews' soon.

Some people have requested I start sharing some of my art on this blog. I'm giving it serious consideration... we'll see what happens.

Peace

-AR

Cream City @ Fallcon

2008-10-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

Well, Fallcon '08 is behind us. Hopefully, some of you made it and were able to enjoy all the new releases and activities.

The shipping gods were not with us, and Muscles & Frights was only represented by a proof copy. Still, people stopped by to have a look.

The International Cartoonist Conspiracy was out in full force. A tip of the ICC fez to all involved in setting the lounge. Ideas are already flying about what can be done to improve the scene and raise awareness next year.

Although, the convention year (for most) is over there is still time and opportunity to catch-up on your Muscles & Fights/International Cartoonist Conspiracy reading. Click away on the links featured on this blog learn more.

Have a great time at your local shop today.

Peace

-AR

Cream City in the Twin Cities

2008-10-03T09:27:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

Just a quick note to inform you... Bud and I may only have copies of Muscles & Fights 1 and 2 for sale at Fallcon. Hopefully, the shipping gods will be with us and you'll be able to pick up Muscles & Fights 3 and Muscles & Frights from us direct. In any case, we will definitely have a preview copy of each book for you to peruse. And, don't forget, I will have original art from the Muscles & Fights series for sale!

Make sure you stop by the International Cartoonist Conspiracy lounge.

Have fun this weekend and be safe.

Peace

-AR

Muscles & Frights... The Beast Unleashed!

2008-09-30T09:24:00.001-05:00

Hello all,

At long last, Muscles & Frights... the resurrected corpse of our Muscles & Fights trilogy (thanks Kevin)... has been proofed, and is available for purchase at www.lulu.com

I'll be honest with you, kind reader, I've never been so proud of my own publication. This book most definitely takes the series Bud Burgy and I put our collective pint-adled brains behind to the next level. Thanks so much to every contributor involved (see a full list at www.musclesandfights.com). Special thanks -once again- is due to Kevin McCarthy, Dan Olson, Marcus Muller, and Bernie Gonzalez. Without your input it wouldn't have been the same party.

Fallcon marks the soft release for the book (along with Muscliest & Fightiest). Our full-on fright fest will be slashing its way to you 31 October 2008... Halloween. Yes, this means we'll be throwing another release party... costumed this time around.

See you this weekend.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Update!

2008-09-22T19:24:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm back from NYC and in good company.

I thought you might like to know we think we've finally got all the kinks (not the band) out of Muscliest & Fightiest, and Muscles & Frights is already uploaded on lulu.com.

It's been a "topsy-turvy weird year"... but all has worked out for the best. Thanks so much to all kind enough to support our crazy trilogy. Special thanks to all encouraging us to put together more works... such enthusiasm spawned Muscles & Frights, afterall. On the subject of Muscles & Frights, BIG THANKS to Dan Olson, Marcus Muller and Bernie Gonzalez for their help in taking the series to the next level.

Make sure you get out to Fallcon. We'll be there with the entire boozin' & brusin' Bud Burgy, Inc./Cream City Comics library. I'll also have original art for sale!!!

Until next time...

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Danno

2008-09-09T18:52:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm back with another 'interview'. But, before I get into that, I'm gonna take this opportunity to give you the latest on M&F3. Well... the curse of the third volume in our little fisticuffs trilogy continues to plague us. I received my proof copy in the mail and there were some printing problems... AGAIN. Bud and I are hoping to have them ironed out soon. As I post this Muscles & Frights is being compiled as well.

And now... we return to our regularly scheduled programming. A meeting with the hardest working man in undeground funny books.

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

I am Danno Klonowski(dank!) from Northeast Minneapolis.

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Well... it's been a busy few months to say the least. My "main" book, MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE, has been more or less on hold (I put out an issue #ZERO which was just my 2007 24 Hour Day story) while I've been working on all the following: MUSCLES AND FIGHTIEST--I did the final 10 page chapter in the SUPERMARKET VIGILANTE M&F trilogy....or did I finish that in 2007? I don't remember exactly...

UPTOWN GIRL vs TOMMY CHICAGO vs MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE--I may not have completed a whole issue of MANLY TALES this year so far, but BRIAN BASTIAN(the writer of Tommy Chicago)and BOB LIPSKI(the writer/artist of Uptown Girl) and I teamed-up to do a 64 page crossover of our characters. The crossover was great fun to do. Some pages Bob penciled and inked himself, and some I did. But, for the most part, Bob laid-out the book and, then, I did the finishes over that. My favorite pages, however, are the 5 pages I penciled and Bob inked. It was a great exercise and it's basically become the next logical step in creating the ever-expanding Minneapolis cartoonists version of a shared universe.

UPTOWN GIRL PRESENTS--When I finished the crossover I was in an Uptown Girl mode... so I coughed out a short crossover I had been promising Bob for about 5 years involving some of the D-list UPTOWN GIRL characters and my old D-list characters Mullet Clown, Liederhosen Punk, and Bitterness the Wrassler.

TOMMY CHICAGO--Bob and Brian have been making Tommy Chicago a couple times a year for a while now. But Bob just became a papa so he chose to complete the last 2 issues of TC and then step down. This made me quite sad since Tommy Chicago is easily my favorite mini-comic so I asked Bob and Brian if it would be possible for me to take over. They both thought it was a wonderful idea... later this year Brian and I are launching TOMMY CHICAGO #1 (vol.2).

To prepare for this I drew the Tommy Chicago half of this years UPTOWN GIRL/TOMMY CHICAGO Free Comic Book Day book.I also just completed over 50 internet-exclusive drawings for the soon-to-be-updated-this-summer www.tommychicago.com. Watch for that.

LUTEFISK SUSHI--Minneapolis' once every 18 months or so mini-comic/art event Lutefisk Sushi went down in May(see www.cartoonistconspiracy.com/sushi) and was a monster success.

In addition to doing a 8 page MANLY TALES mini(written by Brian Bastian) for the Sushi Box, I was also 1/4th of the curating team. My responsibilities mostly involved getting drunk, calling people names, and hanging artwork. I was also in charge of the POTTY HUMOR exhibit in the gallery's bathroom, the contents of which sound exactly like the title implies.

SUPER FANTASTICA--I did a short 4-page story for Daniel J. Olson's second issue of Super Fantastica(www.superfantasticacomix.com) about my youth. Okay...so that's all the crap I've done so far.

Here's what I'm working on right now: GOOD MINNESOTAN #3--Raighne & Meghan Hogan put out the best(only?) avant garde comic book anthology in Minnesota entitled 'The Good Minnesotan'(www.2dcloud.com), and they've asked me to be part of the third issue. I don't know that my art necessarily fits in with the vibe of the book, but I've gone all out to create a strange enough "story" that I think it'll fit in nicely.

MUSCLES AND FRIGHTS--I won't be contributing a full story to this MUSCLES AND... anthology, but I'm being kept pretty busy inking a PLUNGER-MAN story Ryan Dow(www.ryandow.com) has written and penciled. Also, everyones favorite Eisner-winner Zander Cannon(www.bigtimeattic.com/blog) and I are doing one of those fight jams that are so popular nowadays.

TOMMY CHICAGO #1 (vol.2)--Like I said, Brian Bastian and I are relaunching Tommy Chicago with an all-new issue #1. I finally started penciling it last night, and it should rock your funny bone into a stupor....or something...

MANLY TALES #5--Again, as stated before, MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE has been on kinda a hiatus, but not really. I've been slowly penciling a page here and there for issue #5 since January. This issue will be 45 pages long and finally reveal the origin of one of our 'heroes'. I'll be working on the inking of it while I work on Tommy Chicago, so hopefully I'll be finishing both of them by late summer/early fall.

CITY PAGES--OH YEAH! The local call girl/stripper advertisement disguised as a weekly hipster new source, the CITY PAGES, will have their second annual COMIX ISSUE out soon. Lots of us Minneapolis locals submitted stuff, so it'll be fun to see what made the cut. Check out www.citypages.com sometime in the near future to find out for yourself. That's it (for now).Sorry it too so damn long.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

SUPER FANTASTICA and the LUTEFISK SUSHI box are available in town, or check their websites contact info for info on how to order them.The rest of the release dates will remain absolutely top secret... until question #10...

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

Well, MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE is pretty planned out. It's going to be three 8-issue story arcs, and although I was planning on being done with the first arc this year, it looks like that'll have to wait until 2009(which SUCKS because as much as I like everything I'm setting with these first 8 issues, #'s 9-16 should be pretty awesome and I can't wait to get started on them).

TOMMY CHICAGO, after this years release of #1, should hopefully come out twice a year starting in 2009.In the "WHO KNOWS WHEN I'LL GET AROUND TO THIS" category: I have a 120 page MONSTER PIG-FACE BOY script I've been sitting on for a year, as well as an elaborate plan for a SUPERMARKET VIGILANTE SUPER SPECIAL I'd like to do. There's also plenty of loose talk about a sequel(or two) to the UPTOWN GIRL/TOMMY CHICAGO/MANLY TALES crossover.

And, I'm planning a UPTOWN GIRL crossover of sorts in MANLY TALES #10 that is going to probably lead into a spin-off book/one-shot Bob and I will do together--but again, that'll be in 2010 or something, so don't hold your breath.

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

I do painting occasionally. In fact, I just finished a large 4x6 foot thing I had been working on periodically for about a year. But I should clarify--my "painting" only really retains that title because I use brushes and acrylic and enamel paint to create the pictures, the reality is I'm just doing really elaborate, time-consuming cartoons when I "paint".

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

The last couple years have been a time where I think I really found my "style" cartooning-wise, and have learned plenty of tricks and cheats and short-hand ways of doing what I want. So I'm pretty proud of that. I'm now trying my hand at using what I've learned to ink over others and see what kinda results that brings. It's pretty exciting to see Bob or Ryan's pencils morph into this amalgam of our styles and create a whole new look. My big hope is to eventually work with everyone I know--with them doing pencils and me inking, or me penciling and them inking, or me writing and them drawing, or etc etc etc. I'm just having a blast collaborating with my co-Conspirators.

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

No! And I know I should. In fact, just the other day I ran into Conspirator Ken Avidor(www.bicyclopolis.blogspot.com) at a parade by my house and his first question was: "Did you bring your sketchbook?" GAH! .... no.... But Ken does the most wonderful, elaborate sketchbooks I know of, and I hope that someday they will be published for the world to see his genius/madness.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Well, I may not have a sketchbook, but I'm constantly roughing-out ideas at work (or someplace else I shouldn't be drawing) far in advance of when I put the idea into the actual comic. It's usually character sketches or rough page layouts, but they usually all come in somewhat handy at some point.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchandise [personally]?

Ummm...I have a mortgage and kids, this doesn't leave a lot of time/money for conventioneering about the country. Oh yeah... and I'm a veritable nobody so most conventions are kinda a wash for me anyway. Moving on the more applicable question #10...

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

FALLCON is where all the time I've put into this year pays off(without breaking even, that is)! This year expect all that crap I mentioned above---I should also point out the people who run FALLCON give you a FREE TABLE! That's right, FREE TABLE SPACE AT FALLCON! The Fallcon people want Fallcon to become a HUGE indie show on par with MOCCA or SPX, and I think that's a pretty admirable goal (considering the Midwest is pretty much lacking a giant, fabulous indie comic Mecca). So I encourage all indie creators to make the trek to Minneapolis/St Paul come the October. Ok, so Fallcon falls on the same weekend as SPX this year, but SPX doesn't offer FREE tables!!! Check out mncba.com if you're a creator interested in a FREE TABLE!!!..............................FREE!................................

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

I've continued being a horrible reader, only picking up lately(this week) Kurt Vonnegut's last book "Armageddon in Retrospect" and the Jessica Abel/Matt Madden book on making comics.

Otherwise, I've read lots of comics lately, including highlights: Warren Ellis' superhero work (the Authority and Planetary), books by Jason, and SHOOTING WAR by Anthony Lappe and Dan Goldman. I've also been really into audio books by David Sedaris and David Rackoff.

As far as TV goes, I don't watch broadcast TV but instead catch up very slowly on DVD. Right now I'm really into the 'Venture Bros','Extras', 'Strangers with Candy', and 'I'm Alan Partridge'(a great British series by Steve Coogan).

I heard 'SPACED', possibly the best sitcom ever, is finally coming out in America on DVD soon and I highly suggest EVERYONE run out and by a copy.(FYI-'Spaced' is the show Simon Pegg/Nick Frost/Edgar Wright/Jessica Stevenson did before hitting it big with 'Shaun of the Dead', and... yeah... it' perfection).

Movies? I feel like I'm way behind on movies. But 'THE MIST' was my favorite film of 2007, and if you haven't seen it yet-DO SO NOW!!!

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Hopefully, I'll finish series one of MANLY TALES OF COWARDICE and get out issues 6,7,and 8. Also, there'll be at least 2 TOMMY CHICAGO's(#2 and the 2009 Free Comic Book Day book). And if there's a MUSCLIER and FRIGHTER I'll be there. And a ton of other stuff, I'm sure.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

The End Of Days is near! So thanks for spending some of your last moments on earth reading my self-indulgent B.S.---danno "In the old times it was not a crime." www.staplegenius.com
www.tommychicago.com
www.alteredesthetics.com/danno
www.cartoonistconspiracy.com
www.musclesandfights.com

Thanks Dank!

Peace People... I'm off to NYC!

-AR

M&F3 Update!

2008-09-03T19:33:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I should be receiving the proof for M&F3 this week (hopefully before Friday). I'll be back with more of an update once that happens.

Also, if you've got some interesting projects in the works or ideas on what you'd like to see on this blogspot, don't hesistate to drop me a line.

Peace

-AR

Muscles & Fights 3 - Muscles & Frights Update!

2008-08-25T15:07:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

As the title of this post suggests, I've got an update on what's going on in the Bud Burgy Inc/Cream City Comics publishing world.

Muscles & Fights 3: Muscliest & Fightiest!

The final installment in the M&F trilogy is finally online. Bud and I are asking people to hold off ordering copies for a week or so. We are awaiting our preview copy which should be in our grubby mitts soon.

Bud and I have been going back'n'forth on what to do for the release party this time around. Originally, we'd planned to combine M&F3 and Muscles & Frights release parties and hold the duo event the weekend of FallCon... that plan has since changed. Rather than kicking off the duo event in early October we'll be waiting until later that month. However, the book will be available for purchase at FallCon, and contributors can pick-up their copies from us there as well.

We would like to get together with all the contributors at FallCon - Saturday night, though.

Muscles & Frights!

Muscles & Frights is still moving along as scheduled. Big thanks to all the contributors. As a matter of fact, the response to this monster of an anthology (yeah-yeah-yeah... horrible pun) was so massive, we've decided to divide the book into two volumes. The release party for Muscles & Frights, which will also serve as the official release of M&F3, will be held Friday 31 October 2008... HALLOWEEN. More details on that are coming.

So... there you have it. You're all caught up on M&F Publishing news. You keep reading 'em and we'll keep making 'em.

Big thanks again to you all!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Justin Cermak

2008-08-19T10:58:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

Back with another 'interview update'. Spanky Cermak, the creator of such titles as Space Sherrif and Dynamite Pilot is here to give us the 4-1-1 on what he's been up to since we last touched base. He's a man of little words... but what he says is something deserving of our attention.

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Spanky Cermak, MPLS, MN

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Chicago Party! It was smaller but I had a blast. Currently, this second I am taking a break from writing three titles. An new Space Sheriff and Happy Space Boy ISSUE X (origins!), a follow up to the un-yet released Dynamite Pilot and a new short story for Muscles and Frights.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

If you've missed your last few issues of Space Sheriff,6,7,8 and 9, bug your retailer to carry them. Dynamite Pilot will be out on Diamond Distribution soon.

4) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I no longer keep a sketch book. If I'm going to draw, it needs to be something that needs to get drawn.

5) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

I'm going to have SSAHSBX ready. Are you ready? Otherwise, I'm planning on going to APE in San Francisco and NYC Comic-con in '09.

6) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

*Note: A sit-down conversation with Spanky is as enigmatic... usually accompanied by a stare you feel is cutting through you. -AR

I'm in the midst of a kick ass book it rules! I just watched the the coolest movie, it was awesome! I just watched the stupidest TV show and it sucked.

7) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

You're The best! HIGH FIVE!

*Note: Your check is in the mail, pal. -AR

Thanks, Spanky!

There you have... short'n'sweet... as promised. Make sure to pick-up a copy of Dynamite Pilot upon release. It is widely considered to be some of Spanky's most engaging work.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Marcus Muller

2008-08-12T13:52:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm back with the second of two 'interviews' with Marcus Muller. In addition to working with him in art studios situations (in the past), I've also had the distinct pleasure of publishing some of his work. Part Don Bluth-part Japanese block print, Marcus' work jumps of the page... or pulls you into in, and envelops you forever.

It's good to have him back.

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Marcus Muller and I live just on the outskirts of the town Hebron in Harvard, Illinois. If you drive too fast you may miss it.

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

I had a King of the Unknown short story in the Muscles and Fights Vol. 3 anthology, was going to do a full length King of the Unknown story for the horror themed Muscles and Frights but had to drop out because my brother didn't have time to tone it between work and school. You will see that comic some day, though. Other than that, I'm working on a mini-series with a writer that I can't really say too much about until it's closer to completion.

*Note: That's a drag about the lack of time to work out the Muscles & Frights story... glad to have you contribute some vintage monster images for us, though. You, fine reader, can view one of said images on www.musclesandfights.com -AR

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

The Muscles and Fights vol.3 anthology is out now so check out their website for more info (www.musclesandfights.com) and just check my blog for updates on anything else I'm working on www.marcusmuller.blogspot.com

Although I should warn you, I'm a huge slacker when it comes to updating my blog. I have tons of stuff I could put on there it's just a royal pain to get my scanner to work right, and putz around with everything. So whenever the planets align correctly and there's a full moon expect stuff on there.

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

Again, the big project I'm working on is the mini-series I've been trying like crazy to get done. It should, hopefully, be released by this time next year at which time I can talk more about it.

*Note: I'm looking forward to it already. -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

I've been doing some motorcycle decal designs for some people at my brothers work for some extra scratch, and for those I'm using a different style. Also, for one of them I inked it with some pretty ghetto materials: bic pen, Sharpie, and a magic marker. You could probably get a contact high just by standing too close to that piece of paper but whatever gets the job done I say.

*Note: That's one of many benefits in working on art old school style. -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

Well, I think from time to time it's always good to change things up just so you're work doesn't stay the same and can evolve a bit. An artist should never be content with their work because that's the day they're done. Of course, this is coming from someone who wants to tear his artwork in half the moment he's done working on it so (of course) I want to improve.

*Note: The old 'rip it up once it's done' syndrome. I, too, suffer from that illness. -AR

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I do keep a sketchbook but I don't use them as much as I used to. Loose leaf and scrap paper has pretty much taken its place for me, and most of the time it's either just doodles or I'm trying to work an image out on it for a comic page.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Like I mentioned, I use it a lot to work stuff out for a comic. Or, sometimes, I may draw something in there and think it may work for a colored pin-up image... so I'll scan it in, print it out, and light table a clean version of it.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

This year I'm not really attending to many conventions, and if I am it's as a spectator and not behind a table. Over the past couple of years I've gotten really burned out on cons.

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

That's the one convention I actually wish I was going to. But most likely won't be able to make it to... next year for sure, though.

*Note: It'll be cool to hang out with you there and see your reaction to being treated like an 'artist'... even though you aren't necessarily making the big bucks. -AR

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

Hmm... well I don't watch too much television, and if I'm reading anything it's usually probably not anything written within the past couple of decades. But, like most everyone you've already interviewed, I do watch Lost.. and also my brother just got me hooked on Flight of the Conchords which is great.. oh yeah, and I watch House too. Oh yeah, and I'm eagerly awaiting for the third season of Venture Bros. to finish so they come out with the DVD because I don't have cable (I know, I think I'm one of the few people in the world who doesn't have cable). As for comics, I read most of the stuff I've been getting is for the artwork like Eric Canete's stuff on Iron Man: Enter the Mandarin and Gabriel Ba on Umbrella Acadamy. Great lookin' stuff.

*Note: That's a lot of... erm... non-television, there, Marcus. Great taste in comics creators. -AR

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Just the mini-series and hopefully some more King of the Unknown which is always incredibly fun to do. Other than that, who knows?

13) Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Um, nope.

Thanks, Marcus!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Matthew Kriske

2008-08-05T11:30:00.000-05:00

Hello, all!

This next 'conversation' is with (as promised) a huge fan of Kevin Cannon. He's much more, though. Also a regular contributor to the M&F series... this guy is a fine artist in his own right. But I'll let him tell you all about it.

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Matthew Kriske, Minneapolis, MN

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

I've been keeping fairly busy with a steady stream of commission work and other projects. Off the top of my head, so far in 2008 I did a two page comic for Muscles and Fights 3, A three-pager for Uptown Girl Presents #3, I did a brief stint as the guest artist for the Big Time Attic webcomic, and I just wrapped up a one-page comic for the City Pages. Also, I've been hard at work on book that collects my artwork and sketches over the past year, that is nearly half complete (I'm only taking the best stuff, hence the longevity of the project).

*Note: Reads like a busy schedule and interesting new release on the horizon. I'm already looking forward to it, Matt. -AR

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

Musclesandfights.com, otherwise DreamHaven Books and the Source should be a pretty safe bet. The Big Time Attic ones can be seen if you actually take the time to go back through their archives and look for them. City Pages has a pretty wide distribution, so basically anywhere.

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

I'm still hoping to put something together for Muscles and Frights, so we'll see what comes together for that one.
I, generally, try to keep involved in any local stuff that comes together, so I'll always be out there somewhere.

Otherwise the artbook, which actually has a title now... so I can stop calling it the artbook... should be printed and ready for Fallcon. Christmas is my fallback date. It should clock in around 70-90ish pages, and will feature an introduction by the legendary Kevin Cannon.

*Note: (The title is "Oddment", by the way.) -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

I had some fun doing sketches that resembled old photographs a while back, which can be seen on my blog, but other than that I have a pretty familiar handling of my materials. I suppose the only other thing of particular note is that I've become mildly known for my paintings on shoes, which I've perfected a bit.

*Note: I've seen some of those "old photo" sketches and they're brilliant. Check them out! -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

With the shoes, I think of it in the least pretentious manner really. I bought a pair of shoes, painted them up, and people liked what they saw, so it snowballed from there. They are still just shoes, no matter how good the painting turns out, and I'll throw my pair out when they become ratty as hell.

Not exactly what I consider high art, but who am I to complain, if someone else is footin' my bill? (Yep, that was an awful pun, for which I will not apologize.)

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

Indeed, I do. Given enough time, I'll get a finished book out of it. I would personally recommend it... as it keeps you open to trying new things and keeps you in practice as well.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Pick up a copy of "Oddment" coming Fall of 2008, and all shall be revealed.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

MicroCon has came and gone, so FallCon might be the only other one this year. Otherwise I'm usually available for commission, so people can get something personal that way.

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

My fingers are very much crossed that everything will come together and I'll have a shiny new book for most of the Convention goers to ignore, and I'll probably have a new batch of artwork to sell at reasonable prices.

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

Recommendations for reading: Mona and Other Tales by Reinaldo Arenas, anything by Clive Barker or David Sedaris, Far Arden by Kevin Cannon (Coming in 2009, I'm told), That Salty Air by Tim Sievert, Luna Maris by Steven Archer, and The Portrait by Iain Pears. There are also a few comic artists who I will buy anything they put out. They are as follows: Dave Crosland, Jim Mahfood, Vince Locke, Michael Zulli, Zander Cannon, Kevin Cannon, Sam Hiti, and anything that is local as well as good.

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Graphic Novel.

13) Do you have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Um...Support good artists, expand your horizons and try reading new things (i.e. not just the big two), get out there and try making your own comics or doing your own thing, whatever that might be. (Yep, that was corny as fuck.)

*Note: We won't hold our breath for your apology. -AR

Thanks, Matt!

Have a great week, folks. And, if you're in the Midwest, get out there and enjoy what's left of our Summer. 'Cos you know Winter will be here in no time flat.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Kevin Cannon

2008-07-26T15:03:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm back with another e-interview. This time up is a cartoonist I hold in the highest regard. His praise-worthy work has never left anything but dumbstruck... so it's always nice to have an excuse to hype his unholy name.

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Kevin Cannon, Minneapolis MN.

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

I found a publisher for "Far Arden", and I'm writing the script for a second Shanks book.

*Note: I've mentioned Far Arden here before. Kevin was kind enough to autograph a copy from his self-published small print run. I think it's absolutely brilliant. There isn't enough time or energy to say just how much I admire Kevin and his craft. -AR

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

Far Arden will come out April 2009. I also co-illustrated a book called "The Stuff of Life", which is a non-fiction graphic novel about genetics and DNA, and that's coming out in January. Zander Cannon also did illustrations and Mark Schultz wrote it.

*Note: If you don't know, anything Kevin and Zander team-up for is a book worth purchasing. So, cop it when it's released! -AR

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

Zander Cannon and I are illustrating a graphic novel for Simon & Schuster. That one will be coming out summer '09.

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

I'm rediscovering the series 7 brush, and doing some acrylic painting.

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

Painting in acrylic has always been difficult for me because I can never get the fine lines and smooth gradients I see in my head. So now I'm trying to embrace that, and work bigger and not worry too much about details. Working in black & white all day makes working with paint a real trip.

*Note: Something tell me your exploration in acrylics will be even grander than your established work in black & white. You may quote me on that, folks. -AR

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

No, I never got into sketchbooks. I keep lots of notebooks for writing, but I mainly do sketches on loose leaf paper so I can move them around easily and put them in a folder when I'm done with them.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Sometimes doodles will end up becoming stories, but these are on random sheets of paper, not in a sketchbook. The character Elephant Bear was doodled on a book convention program cover, and later became a short comic story.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the> comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchandise [personally]?

Nowhere this summer, but I'll be at FallCon this fall.

*Note: Stop by and pick-up whatever Kevin and his pals have at FallCon... you won't be sorry you did. -AR

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

It's always nice to have a new mini-comic for each show, so I'll try to produce something like that. Nothing in the works yet, though!

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

I've been big into Eric Rohmer's films lately. I highly recommend "The Aviator's Wife." Other than that I've been reading "Kon-Tiki" by Thor Heyerdahl and "The South Pole" by Roald Amundsen.

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Just that Simon & Schuster book.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

If you're going to the San Diego Con, say hi to Zander! He'll be in artist's alley.

Thanks, Kevin!

Next up is an artist who is even more enthusiastic about Kevin's work than I am. Stop in next week to learn more about this amazing talent.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Jon Sloan

2008-07-21T11:51:00.001-05:00

Hello all!

Another happy Monday and I'm back with another 'interview'. This time up brings us the return of Jon Sloan. It's always great to listen to Jon's excitement about the medium. I hope at least a hint of that comes through your computer screen.

Enjoy!

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Jon Sloan, I live in the Northwest Minneapolis metro area.

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Still juggling my duties as an Art Teacher, Security Guard, and Tae Kwon Do Instructor. I've been busy working on my submission for "Muscles And Frights", as well as working on my book "Sa-Bom Jim"... I've also done my first spot illustration for a corporate newsletter for Cargill Corp., as well as contributed to the "Lutefisk Sushi C event this past Spring.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

The submission for "Lutefisk Sushi C" is in a limited edition box set with other works. Remaining copies should be available at FallCon. "Muscles And Frights" is slated to be released at FallCon, and I will have copies of my book available for sale, as well as have a portfolio of my work at my table for convention goers to see.

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

I am going to be featuring a back-up story in issues #7 and #8 of "Sa-Bom Jim" that will be written and drawn by Earl Luckes. I've been in contact with Earl, and his story really looks good so far. I'm excited to see how another person will be interpreting my work. The projected release will be this Fall.

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

Yes, as a matter of fact. For the "Muscles And Frights" story, I am red-lining my drawing style quite a bit, going for more realistic drawing as opposed to my regular loose, cartoony style. I am also experimenting with using pencils as well as inks in my finished images.

*Note: Reads cool, Jon. I'm already looking forward to it. -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

To give you a bit of a teaser, the story does involve zombies, so I've had to really examine anatomy to make sure things look authentic enough for what I'm doing. This is taking more time for me to draw, due to the unfamiliarity of this new style, as well as constantly making certain that I don't slip up and ruin what I've been working hard at.

As far as mediums, working with the pencils are more natural for me... as that's what I've been drawing with ever since I graduated up from crayons as a little kid. Inking has always been my nemesis, I always feel that I lose quite a bit of my drawing quality when I ink my work. I hope that by working more with both of these media, I can bring out more quality in my artwork.

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I have a few sketchbooks that I doodle in sometimes. I'm trying to become more practiced in doodling and sketching out ideas and details, mostly for future use. I think it's a necessary tool for an artist to have. It's a good repository for ideas, even if you don't have any use for them at the time you draw them. Having a sketchbook and working in it is a great way to keep your skills sharp.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Yes, when I was trying to think up the character design for Sa-Bom Jim, I ended up looking through my sketchbooks I drew when I was a student at St. Cloud State. I found a few thumbnail sketches of a martial arts character I drew. It was from this basic idea that I built the look for Jim.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

I am planning on being at FallCon this year again, where I am eager to meet more of the comics-reading public as well as hobnob with other comics creators. Folks will be able to buy books from my table, as well as go to my website: www.sa-bomjimcomic.com.

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

I don't quite know yet. I hope to... I am in training to test for my 5th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, also slated for this Fall. If I am able to have something special for this show, I will announce it on my website.

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

With my work schedule, I haven't been able to see all the movies I wanted to see this Summer. Within the last year or so, the two books that have stood out for me have been "An Anthology of Graphic Fiction, Cartoons, & True Stories" Edited by Ivan Brunetti, and "Will Eisner's New York: Life In The Big City".

*Note: It's always good to see other artists are reading Eisner's wonderful works. His stuff is among my most prized personal library pieces. -AR

Brunetti's anthology is a wonderful collection of work done by outstanding artists in the field of alternative comics, and is something every comics person should read. Eisner's book is a collection of his New York City stories in one volume, but is a great read for literature as well as analyzing the works of this late master.

*Note: I'll have to look up that Brunetti anthology. Thanks for mentioning it. -AR

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

The one question I always ask myself at the completion of one project is "What's next?". I definitely want to get more issues of Sa-Bom Jim done, and I'm batting around ideas for some separate projects, hopefully collaborating more with other members of the ICC.

*Note: That reads really cool. You can count me in! -AR

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Just a stray thought from an interview with Frank Miller done years ago when he said "This is a great artform to be working in....and this is a GREAT time to be doing comics!"

*Note: Amen!

Thanks, Jon!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Mike Toft

2008-07-14T14:02:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm back with another 'conversation'. Before I get into that, I have another reading suggestion for you.

Last week, the comic book reading community had another great reason to be proud of this great literary form rush their local comic shops... NAT TURNER.

In a medium unbalanced by its spandex-clad offspring, it's always nice to see something unexpected arrive on a Wednesday (or Thursday after a national holiday). Sure, we have the garden variety 'slice-of-life' books, and many of them are amazing. But comics is a big enough biz to offer even more. Historical books are nothing new to graphic novels but really, really good ones just don't seem to get the same limelight of the aforementioned comics.

It's a shame.

NAT TURNER was originally self-published by Kyle Baker in 2006. What is basically a silent book is peppered with excerpts from The Confessions of Nat Turner, the few books written about the man, memoirs of other self-freed slaves, and memoirs of various slave traders/owners.

Right about now, you may be thinking... "Didn't Black History Month already happen this year?" or "Did Cream City Comics just become some feel good, politically correct blog?"

But I'm here to tell you this about brilliant comics I haven't read much press about. You'll have to trust me and look it up online or at your LCS.

Still looking for a reason to even look into the subject?

In 2006, NAT TURNER received several Glyph & Eisner Awards as well as a few other awards well into 2007. And I'm certain the book will receive even more awards stretching into 2008 and 2009 thanks to the new 207 page, duo-toned, beefed-up, $12.95 (SC) edition. This baby is also available in a HC edition. Related graphic reading: MAUS, THE PROTOCOL, TRUTH: RED, WHITE & BLACK.

Of course, this begs the questions...

Why haven't we heard more about this great piece of work? I think the answer is probably related to the reason Nat Turner usually turns up as a paragraph or three in American history books.

Okay, that takes care of that bit of business. Let's get on with the 'conversations'. This latest addition to the interview line-up is a newcomer to our fold. Well, Mike isn't exactly new... especially if you're a mini-comic fan living in the Twin Cities.

For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Mike Toft. Minneapolis, MN

2) What have you been up to lately? What are projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Right now, I'm working on a story for Muscles and Frights. I just did a strip for City Pages about the RNC coming to Saint Paul. They used it on their web site (not in the printed version, damn them). The main other things are the mini for the Lutefisk Sushi Volume C show and Brain Food #14, which I finished back in April.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

At this point, I still have some copies of Brain Food #14 and the Lutefisk Sushi mini. Also a tiny number of back issues of Brain Food. Send a buck to me at PO Box 7246, Minneapolis MN 55407, and I'll send you a copy of #14 and the Sushi mini. What a deal!

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

There's the Muscles and Fights 3, which I assume is coming out one of these months. Bud Burgy is in control of that. The next thing I'll work on is a mini for FallCon, so that needs to be done by early October. That's about it. Drawing is more of a winter thing for me.

*Note: The third volume of M&F is completed but the release has been put on-hold due to revisions and such. The official release with coincide with the Muscles & Frights release party. -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

Trying to be more abstract and less detail-oriented at the pencil stage. Also drawing originals smaller, with the goal of drawing faster. Smaller page equals less time per page, right?

*Note: In theory? Yes. Of course, laziness and lack of time/'inspiration' always have a say in the matter too. -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of> your thoughts on that process.>

See the previous question.

*Note: Will do, Mike.

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I keep a sketchbook to work on copying stuff from books or from artists I like. Also, for the occasional life drawing -- either models or quick sketches of people in coffee places. And to practice drawing things I'm not good at... like cars, for example.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Sometimes I work out how I want something to look in the sketchbook, then try to import that into an issue of Brain Food.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

The best place is the PO Box I mentioned in question 3.

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

I'll be there. I'll do a mini specifically for that, and also be peddling Brain Food #14.

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and> where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

Reading: The Bible and The Koran. (I'm serious. If more people actually read them, fewer people would take them seriously. And we could all get on with our lives). The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins. Far Arden by local hero Kevin Cannon. I just picked up a pile of books with some of my economic stimulus check. A mix of comic books and book books. Should keep me busy for a year at least. Watching: Reruns of Family Guy and The Simpsons. They're each on about 15 times a week here right now. American Dad... up and down, but the good episodes are hilarious. Team America: World Police. One of my all-time favorite movies... I'm serious. Lake of Fire. A kick-ass documentary about abortion... should be required viewing for everyone in the country. Weeds... I haven't seen season 3 yet, so don't say anything. The Wire... I haven't seen season 5 yet, so don't say anything.

*Note: Just how small is the paper you're working on now, Mike? By the way, I've red the bible. And I think, even if you don't believe in it, it's a great piece of world literature. -AR

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

I don't plan that far ahead.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Stop thinking and start doing.

*Note: Amen! -AR

Thanks, Mike!

So, there you have it... another interesting interview to get you through another Monday.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Commentary

2008-07-09T19:16:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

We've still got a few days before I post the next 'conversation' but I wanted to drop in and mention a couple of things.

1) I recently picked up the Batman: Gotham Knights 2-disc DVD... WOW! I'd already seen the leaked animated feature-length film, but I had to own yet another brilliant Studio 4 Degrees/Madhouse/Production IG team-up. Why did I opt for the 2-disc set (which cost me 7 bucks more)? A documentary on Bob Kane and 4 Bruce Timm Batman: Animated Series episodes. Now... I'm not really a superhero comics reader/show viewer. But I love the Legends Of The Dark Knight episode based on various takes on the caped crusader. And I'm an absolute sucker for a good documentary. If it interests you at all... check it out.

2) My partner-in-crime, Bud Burgy, took time out of his insane schedule to post a special Halloween/Muscles & Frights piece by Muscles & Fights alum Marcus Muller. If you've seen Marcus' stories in the Muscles & Fights books you know he's an amazing talent. This latest offering drives the point further. Check it out at www.muscelsandfights.com

So that's it, for now. Get back to Mark's interview... or drawing your own comics... or reading some cool indie comics. Will ya?!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Mark Miller

2008-07-07T10:53:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday!

Okay... so maybe your Mondays aren't of the happy variety. But I've got a new 'conversation' to share which always makes me happy (any day of the week).

Mark Miller participated in the first wave of e-interviews, and he's back for more. I'm not gonna ramble on much this time. I'll leave all the fancy blurb business to a true wordsmith...

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Mark L. Miller originally from Lima, OH, now residing in Chicago, IL.

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

I've been up to my ears with AICN Comics lately, which leaves me little time to do much else.

AICN Comics is the comic book section of Harry Knowles' Ain't It Cool News.com entertainment website that focuses mainly on movie news, rumors, and reviews, but the small corner of the site that myself and a few others (affectionately referred to as The AICN Comics @$$Holes) have carved out for ourselves is dedicated to comic book reviews, news, previews, interviews, and other things that end in ews.

I edit, image, and code the column and contribute reviews of both independent and mainstream comics for our biweekly column that drops on Mondays and Wednesdays (News on Mon, Reviews on Wed).

Other than that, I've been working on my own stuff whenever I get a chance or inspiration hits. I'm currently trying to develop a more mainstream comic book universe and a few projects that I'd like to develop into more personal "prose & picture" pieces or full on novellas. Nothing concrete yet, but I am looking for an artist to share some of my ideas with and help develop them (*hint*hint*).

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

AICN Comics is a mouseclick away at Ain't It Cool.com . It's mostly a mainstream comics crowd, but I try to sneak in independent comics every week to enlighten the masses. So many people are afraid to buy outside the mainstream. But there's some amazing stuff out there. That's why I try to include reviews of independents, manga, and webcomics in every column. Who knows, I may convert some of those strictly DC/Marvel folks.

*Note: It's a dream we all share... I'm sure. -AR

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

I'm currently starting a new job, which hopefully will allow me more time to write. Although my background is in art, I've always thought of myself more as a writer than anything else. No dates yet. But I'm hoping to develop some stuff that would be fit to print by next year.

In the meantime, I am working on a new submission for MUSCLES & FRIGHTS. My last endeavor was more of an exercise in what I could get away with. I learned a lot of what I could and couldn't do given the limited resources I had.

It was a blast to work within those restrictions, though, because it makes you become more creative. I was using the copy machine from my day job, carbon paper, stone age paint computer programs, photography, and good old fashioned sketching for my submission to MUSCLES & FIGHTS III. TALES OF JACKASSERY was fun and I was really pleased with how it turned out.

*Note: Your "exercise" ended up being a favorite among many. I can hardly wait to see what you come up with next. I'm especially happy to know you're seriously looking at putting together some of those ideas with an artist. And, yes, the hint is noted. -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

Although it's not completely new to me, for my MUSCLES & FRIGHTS submission, I'm working on scratchboard for the first time in quite a while. I used to love working with scratchboard because it was more like sculpting a picture than actually drawing it. It's been fun rediscovering how to do it.

*Note: Reads very cool, indeed. -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

Omaha Perez, the guy who wrote and drew HOLMES which was recently collected by AIT: Planet Lar did a dream sequence with scratchboard (I think the covers to his HOLMES miniseries were done this way too). I remembered how much fun it was and also how much hard work it took to fully understand the medium.

After reading that book, I always had that bee in the back of my brainpan that I wanted to work with scratchboard again. When I thought up the story for MUSCLES & FRIGHTS, it was a dark one and it totally lent itself to that type of medium.

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I keep several sketchbooks. One in my bag which rarely leaves my side. One by my bed. One by the desk. One by the couch. You never know when the inspiration hits. I don't know if it's a good idea for everyone, but it is for me because if I don't write this shit down ASAP, I'm going to lose it. There's nothing more frustrating than trying to remember a winner of an idea that's been lost to the ether, alcohol, a hectic day, whatever...

*Note: That's devotion... and good to know. -AR

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

My sketchbooks are filled with art and text. Sometimes it's a phrase I hear on the bus or subway. Sometimes, I doodle while on the phone and I don't even know what it is. Some of my favorite drawings and paintings came from a period of my life when I worked at a telemarketing job.

I always had a pad of paper as I went through my phone script. It always made me nervous to ask people for money and I really didn't believe in or support the job I was doing, so to ease the nervousness I would doodle.

Sometimes the coolest things would appear on the page as I was trying to squeeze a $10.00 pledge from some poor schmoe who just graduated and couldn't find a job out of college to save his life. Sometimes I didn't even know I was doing it until the call ended and I really had a chance to look at the picture.

It's almost like subliminal art, coming from some kind of Zen like place where if you consciously try to go there, you can't do it. If you believe in that sort of thing, that is...

*Note: Wow! That reads like the habit of a musician or film maker (the sketchbook bit). I'm working on tapping into my own "subliminal art" these days. It feels odd... but I like it. -AR

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchandise [personally]?

Well, I've got a cool ten-pager in MUSCLES & FIGHTS III. TALES OF JACKASSERY. The Overreactor vs The Projector. Just two guys with psychological quirks beating the snot out of one another. Stopping. Then doing it all over again. I think you know the guys who published that one, don't you, Amado?

*Note: Why, yes I do. Unless I'm mistaken, they're two nutty guys from the two coldest cities in the US. -AR

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

I won't be there but the next time I sip some Templeton Rye Whiskey, I shall toast the con, wherever I am. After my prayer for world peace, that is.

*Note: See, this isn't a site just about weird art stuff... it's about saving the planet too. -AR

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

I'm freaking addicted to GHOST HUNTERS. And I don't know why. It's extremely dumb. There's rarely anything supernatural going on. Mainly I just kind of play a drinking game with it and do a shot every time someone says "What the hell was that?" which is an exclamation shouted at least ten times an episode. But I never miss an episode.

*Note: When I was living in a place with cable, I was also addicted to that show. It's one of the few TV programs I actually miss watching. -AR

I'm addicted to LOST, DEXTER, and FAMILY GUY too. I missed FREAKS & GEEKS the first time around, but a buddy of mine let me borrow his dvd collection and I can't get enough of it.

As far as movies, I'm a whore for anything from blockbuster to made-in-your-basement-with-duct-tape flicks. I'm a big fan of horror films (yet what passes for horror these days is very sad). I haven't seen it yet, but I want to see Stuart Gordon's new flick called STUCK, which I think is about a white trash girl who hits a bum with her car and accidentally drags him home under her car.

Apparently, it's a true story and this chick kept on telling the guy stuck under her car that she was getting an ambulance, then procrastinated for days before actually doing anything about it. It's one of those stories that speaks volumes of how apathetic we've all become. Or at least that's what I've read about it.

*Note: How very sad is that? Jeez! -AR

Comics-wise: My gig at AICN Comics kind of requires me to read a little bit of everything. From BATMAN to RASL, I'm reading it. I did really like this book called REX from a guy named Danijel Zezelj. It's an intense revenge story with amazingly gritty art. I also just finished a collection of WONDERMARK webcomics from Dark Horse called BEARDS OF OUR FOREFATHERS. There's some hilarious stuff in that one.

*Note: REX?! Yes! I picked that up when it was released (a few weeks ago). I think it's absolutely brilliant. His command of black & white is something special. I've been wanting to contact the Canadian publisher responsible for getting it on shelves. I keep forgetting... thanks for reminding me, Mark. -AR

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Hopefully, I can finish my MUSCLES & FRIGHTS submission by the deadline. Here I am going on about it and with my luck, I won't finish it in time or it won't be picked to be in the anthology. How embarrassing...

Hopefully when the dust settles at my new day job, I'll be able to plan out the rest of my year. Until then, I got nothin'.

*Note: You write/illustrate it, Mark... it'll be published. -AR

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

NO! They're mine. And I know how much you want them. But too bad. They're all mine.

OK, I'll share one. I really love the way Cream City and the rest of the MUSCLES & FIGHTS contributors work to help give voice to the independent scene. To me, there's nothing more fun than to sit down and read a comic book that is filled with new ideas; ideas that make you think differently or even ideas that make you turn off your brain and just enjoy the act of tuning out and reading a comic for a moment.

During the day, I work with a lot of kids and it saddens me to see so many of them have never read a comic book. On the last Free Comic Book Day, my LCS gave me a bunch of comics to give to the kids. They loved them. It really made me happy to see these kids discovering comics.

Sadly, or maybe not so sadly, I can attribute a large part of what I know today from reading comics. They've made me open minded, creative, and somewhat literate. It's really cool that Cream City helps give comic book readers/creators/lovers like me a voice and a chance to express themselves in this way.

*Note: Well, that's what community is all about. Right, Mark? It doesn't work, if we don't ban together and get the job done. It really is a pleasure to share these 'voices' with other people. Thanks to the International Cartoonist Conspiracy and every other group and individual making the effort. -AR

Thanks, Mark!

Well, folks. That's another 'conversation' down. There are still more coming your way. I hope you're finding them entertaining and informative.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Troy Little

2008-06-30T12:05:00.001-05:00

Hello all!

Back... again... with another e-interview. This time up is someone I've never actually met (in-person) but whom I was a studio mate with a while back. The studio was simply a blogpsot put together by Wesley Green (Greenyfly Productions) called Independent Propaganda. The blogpsot was cool and the members were... are... even cooler. Every member had or has something really unique of their own going and this next victim of CCCs is no exception. So...

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

I would be Troy Little and I currently reside in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

*Note: Another [technically] international interview. WooHoo! -AR

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

I'm working on the final few pages of my second graphic novel "Angora Napkin". It's about a pop music trio of girls who are unbelievably peppy yet find themselves mired in horrific situations. It's pretty twisted and funny.

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

The book has been picked up by IDW and will be released world wide in comic shops and book stores as a deluxe hard cover book in January, 2009. IDW will also be releasing the TBP edition of my first book "Chiaroscuro" in October 2008. Pick up a free 48 page preview of both books at the IDW booth at Comic Con San Diego!

*Note: Well aware of "Chiaroscuro", and I'm glad it's gonna have a sans dustcover release. Those things drive me crazy. The hardcover edition of the book is cool, though. I was really happy to see it collected. -AR

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

"Angora Napkin" has also been picked up by Teletoon for an animated pilot. Air date will be in March 2009.

*Note: Very happy for... and jealous of... you at the same time. -AR

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

Well, the cartoon is a bit of a switch. I work in animation as my day job and do the comic work when I can find the time. It'll be interesting to bring these characters to life in this format. I've spent the last 2 years doing the graphic novel so up until this point they've been static and B&W characters. Originally "Angora Napkin" was designed for animation but I never expected it would really happen!

*Note: I guess this pretty much proves the long wait of the DIY graphic novel has proven its worth, then. -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

It's a big switch, working with colour, movement and fully painted backgrounds. Then finding actors that can add a voice to this show adds another dimension. Then there's the ability to add the music to the group, something that doesn't translate very well in the silent comic medium.

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

I think it's a great thing for artist to keep a sketchbook. Personally I don't really keep one, mostly because I'm too busy to sketch and doodle much (I have a day job, infant twins and a comic/animated show in the works, cut me some slack!). When I find time to draw it usually has to be practical. I'm sure keeping a sketchbook would improve my drawing ability a lot, I hope to pick up the habit in the future.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Nope, see #7.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

I'll be at SPX for the first time ever this October! I've been planning this for years, this year I'll be there. I'm also the Artist in Residence at the Arts Guild in PEI July 12-21. It will be open to the public to get a sneak peek at the comic and cartoon.

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

Alas, I can not be there.

*Note: You'll be missed. Well, I haven't really met you yet but your work will definitely be missed. -AR

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year.. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

I'm reading "Lolita" by Nabokov. I don't watch much TV, with the exceptions of "Lost" and "Battlestar Galactica" which sadly are on hiatus at the moment. I liked the new "Indy" movie, but then again I'm an old school junkie for that stuff.

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

Once the "Angora Napkin" graphic novel and cartoon are out of the way it's back to work on "Chiaroscuro Book II". I'll also be publishing a fiction lit novel called "Hide Your Life Away" by author Carol Little this Fall.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

I'm to tired to think.

*Note: And we can see why. Make sure to check out Troy's blog in the 'Artistes' section of the CCC links.

Thanks, Troy!

There you go. Another 'conversation' in the bin. I hope it proves entertaining and enlightening. If you'd like to get involved with CCC by including your answers to these questions, simply copy'n'paste these questions to an e-mail [answers included] and send them my way. Have a great week!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Matt Chicorel

2008-06-25T16:27:00.000-05:00

Hello again!

Wow... two posts in one week, I'm on a roll (if you've been keeping up with how little I've been keeping up lately).

I'm stoked about this update/conversation because I've been hoping to include this Cream City-based artist to the line-up of talent interviewed here. Why this artist? He was the number conspirator present when the idea for Muscles & Fights first came into being. He also graced us with his art in one of the 3 volumes.

So... without further ado...

1) For the uninitiated, your name and location?

Matt Chicorel - Milwaukee [WI].

2) What have you been up to lately? What projects have you been attached to in the first 6 months of 2008?

Regular comics in the LOVE IN THE TIME OF SCABIES zine, various album and poster art, and the first printed NLC book in a long time--BUZZPOP #1

*Note: (And Matt has very kindly offered to send me a copy... COOL!).

3) When and where can people pick up and/or see these works?

nightlightcomics.com, or from me if i'm around.

4) What projects and events are on the horizon? Do you have release dates in-mind at present? If so, indulge us.

Milwaukee Zine Fest for now. [I'll] probably start doing cons again next year when I've got some more printed material and/or money.

5) Have you been working in any new mediums or experimenting with your known style and tools, at all?

I did a poster on legal sized paper instead of 11x17 the other day...fucked me up.

*Note: Are you implying you got the stuffing kicked outta you by a sheet of paper, Matt? -AR

6) If you've been trying new things, share a bit of your thoughts on that process.

It's been a long time since I had mushrooms, but I got some the other day and it was grrrrrrrrreat.

*Note: Not quite the info I was after but I'm sure they were for medicinal purposes so that'll work -AR

7) Do you keep a sketchbook? If so, what do you get out of this process? Do you think it's a good thing, in general, for an artist to do?

Yeah, but I haven't been drawing in it as much as I probably should. It's important to have around though, that's for sure.

8) Do you ever use these sketchbook drawings for your printed works? If so, please explain how the sketchbook art informs your finished work.

Not unless it fucking rules.

9) With convention season in full swing, where can the comic book reading public expect to see you and purchase your merchadise [personally]?

...cons are still too expensive right now

10) The big convention this year has got to be Fallcon 2008. If you plan to be there, will you have anything special for that particular show?

Probably won't be able to make this one. Fuck. Next year?

*Note: Hopefully, with some work that "fucking rules". Right, Matt? -AR

11) Now we're caught up on what you're doing and where we can see this year. What are you reading and watching these days? Is there any particular book or film you'd like to make sure people are looking for?

My roomate just rented Kung Fu Hustle, and then I bought it cause it's super awesome! The only tv show I watch is Lost. Love it. I wOrk at the comic store, so I read too much... Monster Zoo (Doug TenNapel's new book) just came out-- that was good. Madman. Amazing Spidey. Detective. 100 Bullets. Futurama. Hickee. Atomic Robo!! Mouseguard.

12) Anything already in the works for 2009?

I've got some plans, but I'll have to wait and see what gets done. All in good time, though.

13) Do have any other thoughts you'd like to share?

Wish I didn't have to be up this early.

And, hey, I still gotta get me a copy of HEAVEE UNDERGROUND. Drop by the store one day, or should I just order it from lulu or whatever?

NIGHT LIGHT COMICS
est. 2004
Milwaukee, WI
www.nightlightcomics.com
www.myspace.com/nightlightcomics

*Note: No, Matt... I'll eventually make it back to the store and deliver the copy of Heavee Underground. I'm looking forward to seeing Buzzpop too! -AR

Thanks, Matt!

There you have it, folks. I'm back in the saddle again. There are more on the way. Until next time... keep the faith.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations: Update

2008-06-24T13:46:00.000-05:00

Hello all,

For those interested parties... I am happy to inform you the new batch of questions has been sent and [I hope] we'll see some new names involved. Of course, some of the participants from the last round will make a return too. We've gotta stay 'in the know'.

So, check back soon. I hope to have some new stuff up later this week or early next.

Peace

-AR

All Apologies

2008-06-17T20:27:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I logged on here.

Well, I was in Spain for two weeks and I've been job hunting as well as wrapping up my time with those 7th and 8th grade kids I wrote about before.

Let me say, the work with the kids ended up working out all right. I'm not saying it was all we set out to produce (not as many kids did the work as we'd hoped), but we produced the page count we wanted. Actually, those little buggers exceeded what we'd reported we'd have for the final project.

For the final product, we put together a book from the comic book pages the kids produced. Unfortunately, time was not on our side so we went with a different packaging than I'd originally hoped for. In the end, it's about the kids' not my wants and desires.

I hope we planted a few seeds of what one can do when one puts his/her mind to it and follows through on paper.

Much respect and thanks is due the great Zeph Farmby for his efforts while I was in Spain. He's an amazing talent... more than that... he's a cool cat with as much soul as he's got skills.

The interviews will make their return soon... seriously.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Shorts

2008-05-07T18:06:00.000-05:00

Hey all! Back with some more 'shorts'.

1) I was fortunate enough to pick up Anthology #2 of Yves Chaland's Lombard series recently. I feel horrible for not looking into his work much earlier. It seems he was light years ahead of the comics industry [stylistically]. The subject matter in his work was also ahead of the times. Chaland took true European hstorical events and created action/crime noir/comedy/dramas around them. He passed away at the early age of 33 in 1990. Humanoids has collected his Lombard series in two oversized, hardcover volumes. Pick them up!

2) The latest Lutefisk Sushi seems to have been a massive success. I'm so jealous of the Twin Cities lot. I'm sure there'll be photos of the event on www.musclesandfights.com

3) Jim 'food one' Mahfood dropped Mix Tape, an art book packed with his color flyer/poster work, and Stupid Comics: Phoenix Edition some weeks ago. I've been a huge supporter of his work for years and these are some sweet additions to any/all Mahfood collection.

4) The long-awaited third Portishead album dropped last week. If you don't already have it, it's called... THIRD... and it's amazing. They sped up the tempo on a few tracks and even included some acoustic surprises. It turns out to be worth the wait.

5) Ever heard of Holly Golightly? If you haven't but have seen Broken Flowers, you've at least heard her voice. She sings on The Greenhornes' There Is An End. She's also appeared on some White Stripes' tunes. I dig her voice... her solo stuff is some fine listening. Check her out.

6) An official Heavee Underground [Cream City] release party is finally in the works. I'll update you as the plan solidifies. If all goes well, should be happening 25 July 2008.

Keep supporting your local and non-local underground/indie scenes.

Have a great week!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Shorts

2008-04-28T20:30:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

Just dropping in with a few entertainment suggestions you may wanna look into.

1) Brian Jonestown Massacre: My Bloody Underground 'A' Records. First debuted as a rough mix @ www.brianjonestownmassacre.com, the latest release by indie champion Anton Newcombe is finally available in CD format. Still very lo-fi, this album serves as a departure for the band as well as a natural shift. Past tunes like Starcleaner and Seer hinted this album would eventually come.

2) David Lines: The Modfather/My Life With Paul Weller. While in the UK (with Bud Burgy) promoting our Muscles & Fights anthology series I stumbled across this little gem of literature. This autobiography moves along nicely with the music of The Jam and Style Council as a soundtrack to modern living. A great story of a young boy stumbling his way to manhood... accompanied by the music, desert boots, Fred Perry shirts, white 501 Levi's and smart hair cuts... this book is a keeper (whether or not you're a Mod).

3) Wes Anderson: The Darjeeling, LTD. I don't know whether you're into indie films... especially of the Anderson variety... but you should definitely check out his latest. Accompanied by the short film he debuted on the internet, this film is filled with all the stuff I love about modern cinema.

That's all for now.

Have fun and be safe... and support independent music, literature, film and COMICS!

Peace

-AR

Cream City Comics: Promotionalize

2008-04-18T16:36:00.000-05:00

Hello all!

I'm back... after a much needed break away to work on some other projects and a trip to Spain. On that note, should the opportunity ever present itself, visit Malaga. If you've ever been to Puerto Rico (the greatest island in the Caribbean), you have an idea of how amazing Malaga is. More than anything else, the Spanish seem to have a firm grip on one vital life skill... how to enjoy... erm... life. On second thought, stay away from Malaga! I love it and I'd like to keep it all to myself.

Enough of that. I'd like to turn you onto three new releases you may or may not have in your personal library yet... Muscles & Fights III: Muscliest & Fightiest (Bud Burgy/Cream City Comics), Far Arden (Kevin Cannon) and Three Shadows (First/Second/Cyril Pedrosa).

Now, as much as I'd like to brag about the quality of the last installment in the Muscles & Fights trilogy, I think you should head on over to www.musclesandfights.com and see for yourself. Bud's been kind enough to put a link up that'll take you to our store at www.lulu.com

A few interviews ago I hosted Kevin (I'm just beggin' for Amado to break my hands) Cannon right here @ the Cream City Comics blogspot. Well, as mentioned before, Kevin released Far Arden recently and has given me more reason to break said hands. I'm on the hunt and, if you're an artist with any amount of self-respect, you oughta join me. Of course, you could simply head over to Kevin's site (linked here under the Twin Cities) and hope he's still got copies to sell.

All joking aside, I think Kevin Cannon is among the greatest living cartoonists. Support his work and improve your library.

Finally, there is Three Shadows by French animator-turn-genius-funny book creator... Cyril Pedrosa. Pedrosa has put together a monster of an emotional tale in Three Shadows and you owe it to your permanent library to have this work included therein. First/Second has a much deserved reputation for a [pretty much] flawless collection of masterworks... all stuff I wish I'd done.

That's all for now. I hope you're all revved up for summer... by the looks of where the indie comics scene is headed... it's gonna be a scorcher.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Comics: Heavee?

2008-04-04T20:07:00.000-05:00

Hello again!

It's Friday night and soon I'll be out enjoying it.

I thought I'd answer a question which recently came to my attention. Why is 'heavy' spelled 'heavee' in Heavee Underground? The answer is very simple, actually. Years ago, when the thought was to put it together as an anthology, I was talking to Jim Mahfood, Mike Huddleston and Dave Crosland about the concept.

They all seemed to be down to do whatever I needed for the book... providing their schedules allowed. I was picking up Dave & Deb's anthology and Dave wrote "Heavee!!!" on the cover. On the first page of the book he wrote "Yes!". I dug his spelling of the word and decided to lift it for my book. I've since noticed there are a few DJs also using that spelling. Damn! I thought it was a totally original spelling Dave came up with.

I kinda look at it the way the underground cats in the '60s started using "comix" instead of "comics" or how Krazy Kat is spelled without a single 'c'. We're still using "comix" and hero worshipping Herriman today. I hope Heavee Underground endures half as long.

I hope that wraps the question up nicely with some sort of sense. And for those scrutinizing the spelling with such fervor... shame on you. It's only a funny book.

Have a great weekend. Be safe.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Continued... Zeph Farmby

2008-04-02T15:19:00.000-05:00

Hello again!

Back from my trip and ready for another. I had such a good time.

Anyway, I'm happy to be calling attention to the super talented Zeph Farmby once again. He was recently interviewed and was kind enough to lend me the link. I've included it here for you to check out at your convenience. Enjoy.

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1378314717/bclid1419799826/bctid1459251913

By the way, I also picked up Tim Sievert's That Salty Air today. It's a gorgeous book at a very affordable price (only 10 bucks). At 110 pages, that's 11 pages free. Have that!

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/catalog.php?type=12&title=575

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conundrums

2008-03-21T13:44:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone!

Before I head off for a short vacation, I wanted to share a bit about a recent experience in an art class I'm teaching.

I don't know about you, but my grade school art classes were (for the most part) pretty well stocked with students interested in learning about... art. When I was younger I was completely unaware of the apparent fact there are lots of kids taking art classes out of duty rather than choice. I didn't take art for one half of the year and gym the second half. Gym was linked with home economics or something... art was another animal, altogether.

What happened? When did learning how to express yourself on a more personal level become an easy way to bring up your grade point average? Has this always been the case? Was I blinded to this due to my interest in art studies?

I'm worried about a society with no appreciation for self-expression. This becomes especially worrying when adverts are constantly bombarding us with the message of buying the next biggest, fastest, shiniest, multi-playingest toy in the bin... all in the name of 'fitting in'.

Hey, I'm an American... born and bred. I understand the consumer mindset. I'm not some guy living in a shed on some mountain in the North Pacific of the continent. But does all this hoarding of new societal gadgets need to equal forsaking the tools necessary for building society in the first place?

I've been to the mountaintop... and I see children, at the prime of the self-expression age, completely unable to pull an idea out of their heads without being connected to some sort of a machine.

"Can I look something up on the internet... real quick?"

"Do you have a drawing I can look at?"

"Comic books are stupid!"

"I'm sick of drawing!"

These are just some of the things I've heard come from the mouths of grade school art students. What's going on? Does this alarm you? It should. Written language would not have been possible had art not come first. But we don't need to go that deep. How many times have you heard a child voice an idea abut how they could improve a video game or an animated film? Yet, these children shut down when there is a blank page staring them in the face rather than a blinking screen.

Think about it. Get angry. Calm down. Come up with ways to strike back. And exercise those ideas.

We don't need to worry about whether or not web comics, manga, super heroes and/or illustrated diaries will take over the market... 'cos the kids aren't reading, writing or drawing anymore.

Oh! Pick up the latest issue of AdBusters.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Zeph Farmby

2008-03-12T15:30:00.001-05:00

Hello again!

It's been a while since I promised you a proper introduction to this next artist. Orginally from the Windy City... now living in Cream City, Zeph is a new acquaintence and collaborator. From city walls to school halls, Zeph has been slinging his brand of urban flavor across the map. I'm fortunate to be working with him in a special studio project with A.W.E. and M.P.S.

This interview is another departure, of sorts, but that should be expected by now. The idea is to eliminate art barriers and expose art fans and artists alike to nex visual arts.

So...

CCC: Your name and location for those who don't know.

Zeph Farmby aka Mr. I-Amaze-Eyez repping Chi-City

CCC: Do you most often work in a studio setting or solo? If you've worked in both settings, describe how each benefits and/or hinders you.

I work mostly in a solo studio setting. So it’s both when you think about it –ya know! I’ve worked in both settings and they both can be beneficial. One benefit in working in a solo setting is that it allows me to really zone out. Meaning I can act a fool while my music is BLASTING as loud as possible…sometimes I keep one of my favorite songs on repeat because that’s what I’m really feeling at that moment. The benefit in working in a studio with other artists is that it strokes the competitive side of me. I can observe fellow artists’ work and be inspired to make the piece I’m working on more detailed and take it somewhere no one has ever thought of. I’ll combine colors that others may be afraid to use and in the end, create a more noticeable, memorable piece. No matter what, wherever I am, I must have my music. So being in a studio space where there other near by artists might not like the sound of Hip-Hop blaring can cause issues. I’ve been notified plenty of times to “Turn It Down”. But the loud music helps me focus…I’m focused man! This may sound weird but artists will understand where I’m coming from. All in all, there’s no hindrance here – just positive energy…

CCC: How do you approach your process?

My approach to every painting or project is to start out with a rough sketch. Sketching out my thoughts first allows me time to make changes to the rough before starting the final stage. The medium that I want to work with will come to me while creating the rough draft, always keeping in mind the deadline. After I choose the medium, I then either scan in my sketch or, if it’s an oil painting, I move to starting the under painting. Let’s just use the oil painting for the example. After the under painting is complete, I drop in all of my colors. When working with oil paint, I begin with my dark colors. I layer each color, beginning with darks and ending with the highlights. The final stage of my process is no turning back (well sometimes I make additional changes-LOL!) so I can complete the project either to meet a deadline or be ready for an art show.

CCC: Your tools of the trade?

My tools of the trade are Graffiti, Murals, Illustration, Installations, Graphic Design, Oil, Acrylic, Charcoal, Apparel Designs, T-shirt designs, Web lay-out, Web design. There’s more…shall I continue?

CCC: How often do you sit and sketch? How are your sketches used in your process?

I sketch daily to keep my skills fresh but also to keep up on my commissions - LOL!! I sketch to begin each process. The sketched designed acts as the proof that clients “ok” for me to move forward and complete the final work. Sticking to this process helps a lot.

CCC: How do you approach finishing a piece?

How do I know when it's complete? It’s really just a feeling I get while finishing up.
Creative influences? Music, other arts, other artists etc?

Most of my creative influences/inspiration comes from within, first, because I strive to be the best at everything I touch. I’m also inspired by seeing my last finished piece and trying to take the next one a step further. It also comes from music I listen to, books I read and/or seeing a movie, photos etc. I get inspiration from other artists whose work I like as well as seeing other graffiti artists’ work. I’m greatly inspired by older artists like Ernie Barnes. Even just remembering the painting, “Sugar Shack”, or early works of “Futura 2000”, and the artist “Seen” or others from my community, makes me want to go paint!

CCC: What are some things you think should be avoided in the creative process?
One thing in particular you should avoid in the creative process is “DON’T BITE OTHER ARTISTS’ WORK!!”

CCC: List some great creative resources?

One of my best creative resources is a bookstore. Visit your local bookstore (Borders, Barnes & Noble, etc). Go to the Art Museum to study the artists that are considered to be “Great”. I will also sometimes watch movies related to my craft like “Beat Street” and “Style Wars”.

CCC: Could take us through some of your past, present and future projects?

Definitely, Some of my past projects have been really interesting. One that sticks out the most is a mural I did in a salon. The project had to be completed in 3 days. The size of the mural was 7’ X 64’. I got it done in 2 days (2 of the longest and hardest days of my career –LOL!). I’ve also worked on some ads for Barack Obama to encourage a younger demographic to register to vote. A current project that I’m involved with is completing a poster for a new cartoon that’ll be out in the near future. I also have a painting titled “The R” inside the Museum of Science & Industry in Chicago. My future projects are really big (but I can’t speak on those just yet... some industry stuff). I’m working on updating my website and creating a product line for my company (I-Amaze-Eyez). You will be able to see/purchase products such as: T-shirts, stickers, posters, DVDs, Mix-tapes and more [I want to give more details on the products but I don’t want anyone to bite my idea before I can actually do it, ya know!]. Also a very important project for me will be completing my book, “Misunderstood”. It will be available to purchase in stores and online.

CCC: What are some of those past and present experiences like?

My experiences have been a real rollercoaster ride because even though I speak on my projects like they come easy, IT’S REALLY HARD!! Going through bad deals with clients and trying to maintain and make a name for myself is tough! Not tough enough to make me quit, but after a while you get a tougher outer layer of skin to help with dealing with issues that come with being in this business. Being self-employed is a lot harder than what people with regular 9 to 5 think (No dis to people who work the 9 to 5). It’s just not working for 8 hours then come back tomorrow and start over again. Being a self-employed artist is a 24/7 life. It’s not a job anymore it becomes your life.

CCC: Are you active in your community (art or otherwise)?

Yes, most definitely.

CCC: If so, why is it important to work in/for the community?

It’s important to be active in the community because we have to reflect back on our future generations. Being from where I am from, people don’t believe having a career in art can really happen. How many artists does the average person know, or better yet see on TV? NONE! If people don’t see it on TV or even hear about it on a regular basis it doesn’t exist in their mind. Well, I won’t say it doesn’t exist but sometimes art isn’t given enough credit. Artists really are the ones who control the minds of others (That’s something to dwell on –LOL!).

CCC: Share any other parting words of advice or encouragement with us?

You just do you….Umma do me! LOL!!

Thanks, Zeph!

Peace

-AR

Heavee Underground: 2nd Review!

2008-03-10T19:19:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the folks at BadLit, my new graphic novel has received another shining review.

You never know what to expect when you're putting one of these things together. I mean, one of these little buggers can easily take weeks, months or years out of your life. Once you send them out for a review... into the hands of someone you know is reading and reviewing dozens of books a month... they are no longer yours alone.

Anyway, read the review... when you have the chance. Let me know what you think and, if you've read the book, feel free to let me know what you've taken from the experience. http://www.badlit.com/?p=796

Happy reading.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Conversations with Dan Olson

2008-02-29T15:44:00.000-06:00

Okay, folks.

I intended my next entry to be an introduction to my teaching partner-in-crime but my buddy, Dan Olson finally got his interview in to me so I wanna make sure he gets his time in the... erm... Cream City limelight. Dan is one of those crazy internet "slice-o-life" comics people. I love what they do... it's daring... there are so many different takes on the genre. Dan has also graced the pages of Muscles & Fights. I respect him a great deal.

CCC: For those who don't know, Name and location?

Daniel J. Olson. St. Paul, Minnesota.

CCC: How did you become interested in creating comics?

I can recall three points in time where my interest in comics began. My father was always a big fan of the "funnies pages," which led to myself becoming a big fan of Peanuts and Calvin and Hobbes. In elementary school years I started reading The New Mutants comic. Also, during elementary school I was hooked on the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon, which I later found out was a comic itself! I don't know when I decided "that I wanted to make comics". But I know that these are three of the catalysts for my interest in the medium.

CCC: What was your first published work? Did you self-publish that work?

The first time I ever self-published was while I was attending The Art Institutes International of the Twin Cities. I rehashed a story I had done in eighth grade with a buddy of mine. I printed a total of ten copies, which I look back at now and have discovered what a horrible job I did putting it together. Later, that same story would again be reinvented to be included in the Muscles and Fights 2 (MF2) anthology.

CCC: If you self-publish, what do you gain from that experience?

Would web comics be considered self-publishing? If so, I create a weekly web-comic for my blog bewilderedkid.com. I've learned how important it is to meet my Thursday deadline. I've also gained an outlet to vent various frustrations and I can allow my characters to assume different feelings and roles that I play within my own life. I also just released the first of hopefully many editions of a quarterly mini-comic anthology entitled Super Fantastica Comix (SFC).

I learned through that experience to let somebody else handle the printing side of things if you don't know how to do it yourself.

CCC: If you've been published by other publishers, compare the experience to self-publishing.

Well, I've been published once in the Muscles and Fights 2 (MF2) anthology and once in the Winter 2008 edition of Super Fantastica Comix (SFC). Since I had only created web comics up until being published in MF2, I had to take into account that everything I was creating for MF2 was going to be composed and printed by somebody else, so I needed it to be perfect before I sent it to the editor.

After the MF2 story, I was able to determine what I needed from others for the Super Fantastica Comix anthology. It was difficult to create SFC, since this time I had to rely on others to get the dimensions and specifications correct. Both publishing experiences have opened my eyes to a new way (at least to me) to distribute my work. I also learned that I need a new scanner.

CCC: Give us a list of your published works (self-published or otherwise)?

* bewilderedkid comix at bewilderedkid.com
* a comic posted on the City Pages website for the "Tales of the Twin Cities"
* Alley Cats: Cats on Bikes (With Ninjas!) Tribute Anthology for Eric Lappegaard
* "Tale of the Cursed Coin" - Muscles and Fights 2
* "The Mess-adventures of Super Maxi-Pad Girl - Muscles and Fights 3
* "Catalyst: Toast" - Super Fantastica Comix! Winter 2008

CCC: Describe the art scene where you live. If you've lived elsewhere and were producing art there, compare those scenes.

The art scene here is better than any other I have been involved in. Besides the Twin Cities, I have also lived in both Madison, WI and Phoenix, AZ. There seems to be more of an art-friendly community here in the Twin Cities than in Madison and Phoenix. Both the artists and the consumers of art are very accepting and active. There are so many great institutions in the Twin Cities that you can always find some art happening, showing, or exposition to attend on any night of the week.

CCC: Do you belong to any online or 'real world' art groups? If so, list them and describe what that/those group/s benefit you.

I belong to the International Cartoonist Conspiracy Minneapolis and St. Paul cells. Everyone is so damned friendly and supportive at the monthly jam sessions. I just see some of the work that these people create and it just blows me away. Being in contact with so many talented people motivates me to produce better and more creative work.

CCC: What is your ultimate or immediate goal in creating comics?

My ultimate goal is to create a particular graphic novel that I have been researching about for the past year. It has to deal with a few issues that are very close to my heart. When I finally get this project completed, which I am guessing will still take a few years, it will be a complete departure from the type of work I am currently creating.

CCC: What do you think is lacking from the underground art scene? If you had the power, what would you do to address that void?

This is a tricky question. I would say money, but you can't pour a TON of money into the underground art scene. Here's why I believe you shouldn't flood a ton of money into this scene. Creativity is generally sparked by a hunger or a wanting to express oneself. If you throw a whole bunch of money at somebody it can dictate what they create and how they create it.

For example, I create my web-comics for free. I don't get any money out of it. Instead I get the satisfaction that I created something. If I did get paid a TON of money for creating my web-comic I would be more susceptible to changing my art and what I want to express so as not to step on the toes of whoever is cutting the checks. However, with that being said, I do think that there should be more capital spent on the arts in general, because artists also have to eat.

Maybe my answer is more convoluted than I intended it to be.

CCC: Do you blog? MySpace? ComicSpace? If so, what kinds of things do you communicate through it and what is your ultimate goal in using that site?

I do blog. I host my web-comics at my blog. I have a MySpace account. I use it for three purposes, staying in touch with friends, meeting new creative types, and promoting my website. I also have a ComicSpace account, but ComicSpace kind of lost a bit of steam after their server crashed in the summer of 2007.

CCC: Do you read any other creators' blogs? If so, what do you think of them?

Absolutely! I read many other blogs. I check out Ryan Dow's Introspective Comics (ryandow.com/ic) on a weekly basis, he is in the midst of creating his own online graphic novel.

I read this blog, Cream City Comics, because it is such a damn good idea!

The Big Time Attic blog (bigtimeattic.com/blog) is most helpful with their cartooning tips and tricks.

Steven Stwalley's stwallskull.com is a great repository for cartooning, comic, and comix news.

I read Jim Mahfood's blog (foodoneart.blogspot.com) on a daily basis, his stuff just blows me away.

Jennifer Young of Diary of an Apprentice (theapprenticediaries.blogspot.com) always inspires me to keep my eyes open everyday for new material.

I enjoy Kevin McCarthy's blog (mccarthy-comics.blogspot.com) as well, he has a unique style to his art and storytelling that I admire - I just wish I could see more of his series Fantasy Fighter!

I enjoy Matthew Kriske's blog (matthewkriske.blogspot.com/), he is a very talented kid that is going to go places.

I also enjoy Remrand Le Compte's blog (mindbase21.be/mic/), he has a very unique style that I enjoy, although he keeps saying that he hasn't found his style yet. I am certain I am forgetting some blogs and I'm sure they will let me know.

CCC: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy reading satire, historical non-fiction, comics and graphic novels of any sort. As is the case with most of the people that I know, I have a large stack of books and comics that are sitting on my shelf just waiting to be read. Also, I do like the Harry Potter books.

CCC: What kinds of standards and/or expectations do you place on a comics purchase?

I won't buy something if it looks like somebody just slapped it together for the sake of making a comic. I would rather wait months for a comic to come out and have someone actually care about it's composition and the storytelling than wait for the newest monthly issue of "Big Time Super Hero Movie Character" to come out where the creative team changes with every fourth issue. Although I can't blame people for trying to make a living on their characters and projects, you have to make certain you don't destroy the integrity of the final product. That is what turns me off from most of my comic purchases.

CCC: What is your favorite indie publisher?

I have a few. Top Shelf, Oni Press, Fantagraphics, Drawn and Quarterly, Adhouse Books and MF Press.

CCC: What is it about that publisher you find unique?

Really? I have enjoyed everything I've read that Top Shelf has put out. I am a big fan of Oni Press for about ten years... I have been a fan of their catalog since I read the Clerks comic, which features art by Jim Mahfood. Fantagraphics puts out some great stuff... I'm currently plowing through the Complete Peanuts. Drawn and Quarterly is good stuff too... I have Jason Lutes' Berlin and Joe Sacco's War's End that I have on that endless pile of books I've yet to read. I also like AdHouse Books... they've done some interesting work. And of course, I'd have to include MF Press... without whom I'd not be able to have my first published work!

CCC: Who is your favorite creator/writer/illustrator?

Of all time, hands down, Charles Schulz.

CCC: Give us a short list of indie creators you believe are sort of shaping the future of comics (indie and/or mainstream)?

Craig Thompson, Hope Larson, Jeffrey Brown, Jim Mahfood, Anders Nilsen, and Nicholas Gurewitch.

CCC: If you could change one thing about the modern comics 'industry' what would it be?

I would change the distribution. Diamond Comics Distribution has made it nearly impossible for new publishers to be successful. A few years ago or so they decided to not fill orders that didn't exceed a minimum dollar amount. Of course, some hailed this as a step toward greater professionalism, but others, such as myself grieved and feared for the smaller, independent publishers, who would likely get swallowed up by this brave new market.

I understand business. I understand that Diamond doesn't want a bunch of product sitting in their warehouses that they will end up losing money on due to depreciation. HOWEVER, I also believe there has to be another way than just cutting off these small publishers. I have some ideas, but it would make this interview longer than it probably needs to be.

CCC: Give a shout out to any site and/or underground comic you think people ought to be checking into.

Okay here goes: Amado Rodriguez (Heavee Underground)
Bud Burgy (Co-publisher Muscles and Fights franchise, Meatfist and Gronk): budburgy.com
Danno Klonowski (Manly Tales of Cowardice, Supermarket Vigilante): staplegenius.com
Jennifer Young (The Apprentice Diaries): http://theapprenticediaries.blogspot.com/
Kevin Cannon (Big Time Attic, Far Arden): http://www.kevincannon.org/Kevin McCarthy (The Seekers, Fantasy Fighter): http://mccarthy-comics.blogspot.com/
Matthew Kriske (His sketchbook that he will get around to publishing one of these days): http://www.matthewkriske.blogspot.com/
Muscles and Fights: http://www.musclesandfights.com/
Rembrand Le Compte (Make it Count!): http://www.mindbase21.be/mic/
Ryan Dow (Introspective Comics, Plunger Man): http://www.ryandow.com/ic/
Steven Stwalley (Soapy the Chicken): http://www.soapythechicken.com/ (Also, check out http://www.stwallskull.com/)
Super Fantastica Comix: http://www.superfantasticacomix.com/
Zander Cannon (Big Time Attic, The Replacement God): http://www.bigtimeattic.com/blog

Thanks Dan!

Have a great weekend.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Comics: Promotionalize

2008-02-27T15:12:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone!

Let me fill you in on what I've [already] got going on for 2008.

1) I've joined an organization called Artists Working in Education. For my part, I'll be teaching graphic storytelling to a 7th grade art class. I'm really excited about this gig 'cos I suggested we compile the stories the students create into an anthology and publish it. And they said "yes"! I'm so stoked about it.

Can you imagine what these students will gain from being part of such a detailed process? Nevermind those actually interested in comics... I'm thinking about any student suffering any sort of self-image problems. I mean, think back to the time when you were a pre-teen *shudders*

Well, for me, it wasn't too bad 'cos I had the guidance of Carl Evans... my 7th and 8th grade art teacher. But I can easily recall just how awkward that time in my life, apart from art, was.

I'll have a teaching partner for the "sessions". He'll be handling the illustration side while I cover the writing. We're planning some spill over and all so it'll be a very complete experience for everyone involved. We're even planning a 'research' trip to the art museum and they've got some great [relevant] exhibits going on now!

2) Muscles & Fights 3 will be released to coincide with the one year anniversary of volume 1. I can't wait to see this thing put together. Which reminds me... I need to get my backside to the Twin Cities soon.

3) I'm putting together my thoughts for a Cream City Comics: Heavee Underground release party. I've already spoken to an artist, my A.W.E. partner-in-crime, about throwing up some killer live art. I plan to hang original pages from the graphic novel and hope to have a DJ and live B-Boy crew performing.

4) Muscles & Frights, the first book published under our MF Press banner should make its way to bookshelves near Halloween 2008.

5) I'm putting together my plan for a solo release I'd like to have out prior to November.

Inbetween time, I'll be keeping you up-to-date with news from Cream City and the underground [in general].

Up next week, I'll be introducing you to my aforementioned partner-in-crime.

Stay warm and positive.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Coverage: Anthologize

2008-02-18T13:59:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone!

This week I thought it might be a good idea to share some of my favorite anthologies. I don't know about you but I love those fine collections of talented storytellers.

Why do I love anthologies so much? There are a few very good reasons...

1) More bang for your buck. Anthologies [typically] have a much larger page count than your average graphic novel.

2) Originality... anthologies have nothing to compete with save other anthologies. How do they handle the competition? Themed collections, and packaging/general dress.

3) Varied storytelling techniques/approach and style while dealing with the same subject matter.

4) Marketing... athologies can't be marketed and hyped like other books. If an anthology doesn't have the goods, it's more difficult to get consumers to spend their cold, hard cash. This is why the first 3 items on my list really matter most.

My love for anthologies varies... based on the publisher. The quality of the art/story is not what varies as much as the quality of the overall package. And this will be my jumping off point for this weeks entry.

Publisher: AdHouse Books

Title: Project Telstar

Theme: Futuristic/Sci-fi/Fantasy

Packaging: Embossed and die-cut over

Cool factor: Metallic blue ink for color

Publisher: AdHouse Books

Title: Project Superior

Theme: Superheroes

Packaging: Old, tattered, pulp-look cover

Cool factor: Truly new approaches to the superhero genre

Publisher: AdHouse Books

Title: Project Romantic

Theme: Love/Romance

Packaging: Strong, simple, romantic design cover

Cool factor: Completes the "Project" trilogy

Publisher: Dark Horse Books

Title: Happy Endings

Theme: Strong focus on story endings

Packaging: Frank Miller cover

Cool factor: Features a black & white Sam Kieth story

Publisher: Dark Horse Books

Title: Autobiographix

Theme: Authors tell true personal tales

Packaging: Inkwash artwork, grade a stock and cover design

Cool factor: Will Eisner's tale of the day he first felt like a true artist

Publisher: Image Comics

Title: Afterworks

Theme: Animator collective takes on comics

Packaging: Strong graphic design

Cool factor: The anthology animation/comics fans have been waiting for

Publisher: Image Comics

Title: Four Letter Worlds

Theme: Authors tell tales inspired by a four letter word

Packaging: Pastel-colored graphic design

Cool factor: Scott Morses' tale about his passion for and drive in art

Publisher: Bud Burgy/Cream City Comics

Title: Muscles & Fights

Theme: "I like it when there's muscles... and they fight".

Packaging: Neon-colored coffee table look

Cool factor: United Midwestern comics front

Publisher: Pulpo Press

Title: Pulpo

Theme: EnterVoid warriors attack paper with ink

Packaging: Slick and explosive artwork colored by Galvo

Cool factor: The raw energy of EnterVoid sans a computer screen

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin

Title: Best American Comics

Theme: Established underground creators select short stories created by other underground artists

Packaging: Hardcover

Cool factor: It's the inaugural comics volume of the "Best American" series

There are certainly lots more out there I've missed or haven't yet read. But theses babies really get it right.

What? That's not enough?

Check out a book published by Ait/Planet Lar called Monster Attack Network: http://ait-planetlar.com/monsterattack.shtml

Happy reading.

Peace

-AR

Cream City Coverage: Project Freedom

2008-02-12T13:59:00.001-06:00

Hello everyone! I hope you enjoyed those last two 'conversations' as well as the review of Heavee Underground on the AICN website.

Early on, I stated this blog would be a place I'd use to promote and inform on my work as well as the work of other creators. So far, I've been focusing on creators I [personally] know. What I'd like to do... for a spell... is write about creators I've read little about and became familiar with only by happenstance.

Over the years I've seen several trends come and go.

In the late '90s it seemed everyone and his brother was aping Art Adams, Jim Lee and/or Joe Madureira. In the case of Jim Lee, it seemed he was recruiting artists heavily influenced by Neal Adams... as he had been before them. In the case of Art Adams, it seemed he was having none of it. It had gotten to the point he was drawing parodies of artists he felt were 'ripping him off'. Joe Madureira went so far as to make sure he included in-comic jabs and uppercuts to one particular artist he felt was borrowing too much. I never understood that last one 'cos Madureira was mixing Art Adams with Masami Obari's Fatal Fury to achieve his style.

And, if you weren't seeing that stuff, there was no shortage of people influenced by Japanese comics.

In the earlier part of this decade there was a major surge of mainstream creators influenced by the likes of Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz and Mike Mignola. And who could forget all the people continuing to completely rip off Frazetta?

In the second part of this decade there has risen a keen interest on animation styles of the '40s-'50s, which I think is really cool. I just don't want those styles to take over the market as the styles before them have.

All this trend stuff is great. In fact, most great artists pick up new techniques where they can. It becomes a problem when the trend becomes the 'new rule of craft'. There is no magic formula to creating great comics... apart from freeing yourself up enough to create... great comics.

... which brings me back to writing about artists/creators I've recently come across through happenstance...

THERE IS NO MAGIC FORMULA TO CREATING GREAT COMICS... APART FROM FREEING YOURSELF UP ENOUGH TO CREATE... GREAT COMICS.

Let's face it, the people responsible for creating this artform rarely, if ever, had to contend with trends 'cos... well... they were busy creating this artform. One great trend I've seen in comics, a trend I feel is long overdue, is looking to the past in search of the future.

This search is not creating new George Herrimans, E C Segars, Frank Kings, Charles Schulzs, Will Eisners and/or Harvey Kurtzmans. Nah... to claim that would make no sense at all. This search is uncovering the freedom to create first time cats like...

Jordan Crane
www.reddingk.com
The Clouds Above; a book which appears to be a children's novel but is anything but. The dialogue in Clouds is nothing short of magical. Crane writes the way people talk and that's no easy task. It's very easy, with dialogue, to take it too far... to go over-the-top. This book is pretty. I mean, the character design and overall style of the book is one thing. But Crane didn't stop there, he decided to use a color palette you don't usually see in a graphic novel.
The Last Lonely Saturday; a short graphic novel... gentle-looking enough for a child. But this book is filled with a story that is more likely to touch people over 30. And Crane accomplishes this without any dialogue and a completely different treatment of color and tone.

Jacob Chabot
www.beetlebugcomics.com
The Mighty Skullboy Army; a book starring a boy with a skull for a head dressed in what appears to be a Brooks Bros suit - hellbent on corporate takeover. This is a task he believes he can exact from his classroom. Skullboy is aided by a robot (Unit 1) and a monkey (Unit 2). His adversary? Mod Dog... is by all accounts... just a dog doing whatever it is dogs do.

This is the kind of stuff I can imagine being created in the early days of comics, yet, they feel altogether modern... 'cos they are. The point isn't to copy an idea, crystalize a hypothesis or dump all you've done before to follow a trend that is happening now.

The point is to regain the freedom the early days of comics afforded its creators. And, if that be case, it isn't a trend at all... it's a paradigm shift.

Who's up for some comics gumbo?!

-AR

Peace

Cream City Conversations with AREX

2008-02-08T15:47:00.000-06:00

Well, it's been a while. These 'conversations' have been great. I'm still waiting for others which may not even make it back to me. In the meantime, I thought I'd do something I was holding off on until I was ready to move on to next stage of 'conversations'. I'm gonna put myself in the hot seat.

Take it away, freakboy...

CCC: For those who don't know, Name and location?

Amado 'AREX' Rodriguez, Cream City WI... I'm known to change my pen name a lot, though.

CCC: How did you become interested in creating comics?

The earliest memory I have is my mother buying me a Marvel Annual with this cool Hulk versus Spider-man story in it. I'm not claiming it was then I knew I wanted to create comics but it certainly got me ultra-interested in them.

I became interested in creating comics in a roundabout sorta way, actually. I had this crummy job... but I worked with some pretty cool people. A lot of them were absolutely hilarious and I'd goof around... draw comic strips starring the lot. I guess that was in... oh... 1995 or 1996.

I can recall the time clearly 'cos Nirvana was still the biggest band in the world... even after Cobain passed away and Oasis was claiming to be the next in line. It was a great time to be into music. People say the '90s were like the '60s but they were like... the '90s. The underground was getting it's second or third wind.

I remember, at about the same time, there was a comic that'd been out for a little while called The Maxx. It blew me away... I'd taken a long hiatus from comic book reading. I probably thought I'd grown out of them. But there was no "too old" for reading The Maxx.

From the moment I read... I guess it was... erm... issue 5 or 6, I dreamt of being able to create something that impactful. No painting I'd ever put on canvas even came close to the power one panel of The Maxx held. I wanted to be a part of whatever creative movement was responsible for that level of vigor.

Thinking back, I need to give partial credit to my 7th and 8th grade art teacher, Carl Evans. He made me reproduce Frazetta paintings and encouraged me to look to illustration as the future of fine art. Hat off to you, Mister Evans. You had it pegged.

CCC: What was your first published work? Did you self-publish that work?

Actually, my first published work was in the fan pages of The Maxx. Sam Kieth was kind enough to print the doodles I'd included in the fan mail I sent him. I just couldn't contain myself. I feel like a total geek repeating this story but that's the power of comics. The artform is so damn free the creator can imbue the books with that much force. I felt compelled to write those letters!

CCC: If you self-publish, what do you gain from that experience?

I love self-publishing. I love the freedom it offers. No one to advise you to write/draw more marketable... that reminds me... check out Tom Hart's Unmarketable ogns. They're great. Anyway... yeah... it's about the freedom, for me. If the book is a success, it's due to what you chose to do with that freedom.

By the way... I've been meaning to drop out of the comics game for years now. Yeah... I've wanted to jump back into painting really bad. But something about these funnybooks won't let me go. Every once in a while I set time aside to complete a few paintings... some as commissions and others as gifts.

CCC: If you've been published by other publishers, compare the experience to self-publishing.

I've had my work published by Image (just those doodles in The Maxx and a pin-up in Mahfood's Grrl Scouts: Work Sucks) and Radio Comix. The Radio Comix gig was called Mangaphile. I think I made 2 issues of that. In every case, there was no Editor telling me what to do. If I impressed, they published. End of story. Not much different than how I judge my artwork for my self-publishing. I've also done work for a Young American Comics anthology.

CCC: Give us a list of your published works (self-published or otherwise)?

*The Maxx. Thanks, Sam. I appreciate you digging those doodles. 1995.

*Stratejo (with Jerod Luening). I also inked for another artist (at the time) but that's work I'd rather not mention. 1998-1999.

*Psyberverse which was a mini-comic anthology I did (solo) with three different stories... one of which was the second version of The Goon Squad. 1999.

*Host which was a book I did with a couple Milwaukee cats... one of which being the talented and funny Jerod Luening. The theme of that one was angels. I didn't come up with the concept but I thought it was a cool collection of pin-ups. 1999-2000.

*Radio Comix: Mangaphile. I believe that was issues 14 and 15. 1999.

*Cream City Comics: Inkblot anthology. 2002-2003.

*Cream City Comics: Corrupted Data anthology. 2002-2003.

*Grrl Scouts: Work Sucks. Yep... the 40 oz joint. 2003.

*One Wizard Place. I provided the illustrations for this download-only novel. I also co-wrote and illustrated a Super Depressed Girl novel which I never released. Thanks to Gabe for coloring those images. 2003

*Pulpo. This is an awesome anthology published by two brilliant cats out of Chitown, known as Galvo & Toast. 2004.

*I also co-wrote and illustrated an as-of-yet unpublished graphic novel called Super Depressed Girl during this time but I became blah on the book when people started hitting me up with money talk. I can't create under that kinda pressure. I like to create for the joy of creating. "Do what you love and the money will follow." The only reason I'm mentioning this sucker is 'cos some of the pages were used in Muscles & Fights volume 1. 2004.

*Element X Studios: Atomic. This is a really cool artbook with some of, in my opinion, the best artists you've never heard or read about... unless you follow Ain't It Cool News' Indie Jones section. 2005.

*Diary Of An Apprentice. Jennifer Young was kind enough to ask me to produce a pin-up and afterword for, I think, volume 4 or 5 of her amazing illustrated diaries. She's such a cool and talented person. 2007.

*Muscles & Fights volumes 1-3. This is a cool anthology I publish with Bud Burgy. We've a spin-off, Muscles & Frights, already in the works. 2007-2008.

*Young American Comics: small town/BIG CITY. They still haven't sent me my copies of this anthology. It's a great looking book, though. And YAC are some cool people. 2007.

*Alleycat: Cats On Bikes With Ninjas. This anthology has been mentioned several times but I'd like to add it's a testament to the spiritual nature of this artform. I came to know just how inspirational the subject, Eric, of the book is by what was done to make sure it held up to his level of exellence. 2007.

*Cream City Comics: Heavee Underground. "Consider Yourselves Warned!" 2007.

*Of course, I've created loads of mini-comics and whatnot. I've inked for a few artists but I can't be arsed to list all that stuff. I think that about does it. Whatever I've been foolhardy enough to omit can be lumped into this last listing. Each of those projects is just as important to me, though. At the time I gave it what I had.

*There's a book... an anthology... I saw recently which had some old work I'd inked credited to another artist. The same publisher reprinted a story I'd inked AND published years ago and credited it to AREX. AREX did not create that work. AR... or ARJR... or ROD... or whatever name I was using back then did. AREX hadn't been born when that work was produced. I wanted to take this opportunity to clear that up... for the record.

CCC: Describe the art scene where you live. If you've lived elsewhere and were producing art there, compare those scenes.

I'm from Milwau... Cream City. The scene is scattered here. I mean, you have all these cool groups of artists but they're segregated into gallery and art collectives... which aren't really collective at all. It's like a bunch of small cliques... which is too band 'cos if they'd all organize they could exact more change in the local scene. I give credit to everybody gutsy enough to tread the harsh terrain of the Midwest with art... it's a lonely journey, indeed. Too many people concerned with being cool... or trendy... or punk... or whatever is keeping them from getting together with other pockets of artists. It frustrates the tar outta me.

I'm really envious of what the Twin Cities have going on.

But... there are newer groups like MARN and AWE getting it together in Cream City. It's looking good for the future. Check out the links for MARN and AWE to see just how brilliant they are.

CCC: Do you belong to any online or 'real world' art groups? If so, list them and describe what that/those group/s benefit you.

'Real World'? The International Cartoonists Conspiracy which other 'conversations' have mentioned. They're awesome and I can hardly wait for Kevin McCarthy to move here so we can get the Cream City cell going.

There's also Artists Working in Education. I've just signed on with them to teach students how to create superheroes. I'll chalk Muscles & Fights up as being the training ground for this. I'd like to go into that more but I'll save it for another time.

CCC: What is your ultimate or immediate goal in creating comics?

I'm gonna come off as a pretentious idiot here but I'm also interviewing myself so... WHO CARES?

I hope I touch people through the comics I create.... even if what they feel is the urge to break my hands... just take me out. Have that!

CCC: What do you think is lacking from the underground art scene? If you had the power, what would you do to address that void?

Two things, actually. Self-belief and organization. The underground art scene's been around since, pretty much, the dawn of comics and it's still scattered. When are we gonna pull our heads out of our... erm... anyway... get it together so we can all benefit equally based on what we invest? And I'm not simply talking currency. Y'know?

CCC: Do you blog? MySpace? ComicSpace? If so, what kinds of things do you communicate through it and what is your ultimate goal in using that site?

This is my blog. I set it up to do rather than wish. I hope it's inspiring other people to take similar action. Cats like Danno and Stwalley are amazing. They continue to fill me with pride in the artform.

I don't MySpace... that monster can easily suck your time. I only learned of ComicSpace recently. I haven't heard anything about it positive enough to interest me in signing on. I guess it's another hit on a search engine, though. And that's not a bad thing... at all.

I'm not the big 'techie' type. So, If I'm gonna use the internet for art... it's gonna be to... I dunno... further my personal mission in regards to what I'd like to see done. This blog is a perfect example of what I've just stated.

CCC: Do you read any other creators' blogs? If so, what do you think of them?

I don't keep up with blogs religiously but I read them. I like a lot of the illustrated diary-type stuff. I think the people responsible for those things are some of the bravest artists ever. It takes a lotta guts to put yourself out there like that.

CCC: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

Y'know... I love history and philosophy... especially, the Far East variety. I don't read enough of it but I love it. I also love reading about artists I admire from, pretty much, every discipline. I also love slice-of-life comics... some of that stuff is something to aspire to.

CCC: What kinds of standards and/or expectations do you place on a comics purchase?

Knock my socks off, baby! Don't regurgitate something I've seen a million times before. I wanna see something I put down and wish I'd come up with. In fact, the best stuff fills me with the urge to break the hands of the creator... just take him or her out. Ring familiar?

CCC: What is your favorite indie publisher?

There are a couple and if you check out my publisher links you'll find them all there. Fantagraphics, AdHouse, Top Shelf, AiT/Planet Lar and FirstSecond have me the most stoked about the future of the industry, though. They're treatment of the artform is topnotch. You'd never see a Marvel or a DC give relative no-name creators the fine treatment these indie houses offer as a standard mode of operation. I also think Muscles & Fights Press rocks!

CCC: Who is your favorite creator/writer/illustrator?

They're in my heroes links.

CCC: Give us a short list of indie creators you believe are sort of shaping the future of comics (indie and/or mainstream)?

This list is always gonna be different depending on who's putting it together... another testament to the breadth of the artform. But what I really think is, every creator putting work together and making an actual honest effort to have that work seen by others is shaping the furture of comics. If you're trying something different or doing the same old crap someone else did before you... you're shaping the future of comics.

If you're a creator and you're reading this and you still don't feel an obligation to yourself...

CCC: If you could change one thing about the modern comics 'industry' what would it be?

Romance, monsters, crime, etc comics came first. The indies are the DIRECT and LEGITIMATE offspring of the original comics. If anything, the superheroes are the bastard offspring. If the indies can get together as a COMMUNITY there's no end to the audiences they can reach.

CCC: Give a shout out to any site and/or underground comic you think people ought to be checking into.

Check out my links... seriously. Take the time out to explore every one of them. And put aside the time to explore the links on the sites my links take you to. You'll be amazed at what you find.

Before I log-off, I wanna share a couple quotes with you...

"The future of comics is in the past." - Art Spiegelman

"Knowing is not enough... We must apply.
Willing is not enough... We must do." - Bruce Lee

That's it. I'm signing off for the weekend. Take care of yourselves and love one another.

-AR

Peace

Heavee Underground: Review!

2008-02-06T18:35:00.000-06:00

I just thought I'd pop in and let people know Heavee Underground received its first review today. http://www.aintitcool.com/node/35519

I particularly enjoyed the distance the review placed between wannabe Hollywood versions of Hip-Hop flicks and this book.

Big thanks fo Ain't It Cool News for taking the time to break the book down for what it is... especially seeing beyond the muscial subject matter.

Alberto, Bernie, Tim, Jim, Gabe, Dave and Bud... thanks for helping me get this thing together and my backside in gear.

-AR

Peace

You may now return to enjoying Ryan's brilliant interview.

Cream City Conversations with Ryan Dow

2008-02-04T13:45:00.000-06:00

I'm back! So much great art, so many cool creators and, seemingly, so little time to share them all.

At some point, I'd like to begin the process of reviewing the comics I'm reading for the readers of this blog. I often find not many people shopping at my local comic shop are reading the comics I am. My first clue suggesting the fact are the comics I read are typically sold in increments of one... and rarely, if ever, ordered again.

Anyway, this situation got me to thinking there may be other people out there looking for something new with less time to shop around than I have at my disposal... so why not help them out by promoting books they may find worth their precious time and money. Right?

Well, if you agree with what you've just read, I hope you've looked into EVERY creator I've interviewed and/or mentioned in this blog. That would be a good starting place as some of them share their work... FREE.

On the subject of FREE work. My next 'conversation' is with Ryan Dow. I've gotta admit, I gave up on comics a long time ago... then came Sam Kieth's The Maxx. When web-comics hit the scene the I was also skeptical. I mean, not only was I anti-computers but there was rumor web-comics would take over the market. I wasn't having any of that. I like my comics and art, in general, original or in-print. Then came James Kochalka, Jennifer Young and people like...

Ryan Dow...

CCC: For those who don't know, Name and location?

My name is Ryan Dow and I live in St Louis Park, MN.

CCC: How did you become interested in creating comics?

I think a big inspiration for me was seeing a televised biography of Charles Schulz called You Don't Look 40 Charlie Brown... when I was very young. It covered his youthful artistic inclinations, his struggles with syndication and the development of the Peanuts franchise. It also feature a lot of popular cartoonists at the time saying how hey felt about Shultz. It was the first real glipse at how comics were created and I was fascinated.

CCC: What was your first published work? Did you self-publish that work?

The day after seeing You Don't Look 40 Charlie Brown, I drew a trippy 2-page comic about my favorite Pound Puppy, Brownie. My dad showed this to the local newspaper editor who thought it was cute and ran it in the paper. This was in a town of about 700 people, mind you. Getting in the local paper wasn't that much of an accomplishment.

*Note: You were one of 700 people to have your artwork published in a newspaper, Ryan. What in Sam Hill are you on about, man?

CCC: If you self-publish, what do you gain from that experience?

The nice thing about self-publishing is that you make the rules. You decide what format the comic is going to take and what your goals are. You make the deadlines. You decide how much you want to invest. You can walk away at any time (or so I keep telling myself).

*Note: Tell me about it, brother. You ain't just whistling Dixie.

CCC: If you've been published by other publishers, compare the experience to self-publishing.

When you're making something for a publisher you're playing by someone else's rules. Someone else decides on the page sizes, document resolution and, ultimately, what they're going to print. It takes more discipline, but it can be a great learning experience. I didn't give much thought to things like page size and resolution until after making comics for anthologies like Muscles and Fights.

CCC: Give us a list of your published works (self-published or otherwise)?

I used to draw gag cartoons for my college newspaper, the Wartburg Trumpet. I had a strip published on the City Pages website. I have a one-page comic in the Eric Lappegard tribute anthology Cats on Bikes with Ninjas. I have a ten-page story in Muscles and Fights 2 and in the soon-to-be-published Muscles and Fights 3.I have three mini-comics that I hand out as promotional items. And last -but not least- I run a weekly webcomic called Introspective Comics, which can be found at http://www.ryandow.com/ic.

CCC: Describe the art scene where you live. If you've lived elsewhere and were producing art there, compare those scenes.

I don't think I would have started making comics again if it wasn't for the art scene here. You see, I've spent most of my life living in small towns. There my obsession with comics would often make me feel like an outcast, like something was wrong with me. Here there's enough outcasts that we can form our own little clubs and validate our sad little lives.

*Note: Sad? Little? And "lives" in the same sentence?! We're definitely going to need a dose of 'Act Right' at little Ryan's place.

CCC: Do you belong to any online or 'real world' art groups? If so, list them and describe what that/those group/s benefit you.

I've made so many friends through the International Cartoonist Conspiracy. There's a lot of talent and goodwill in that group, which is weird considering how we meet once or twice a month to draw crude and socially reprehensible jam comics.

*Note: Ryan... you're really pushing your luck with me, pal. You're about two bad answers away from a serious pummeling.

CCC: What is your ultimate or immediate goal in creating comics? Are there other mediums you enjoy working in? If so, what? How do you display this other work?

I don't know why I create comics. I know that I'm not trying to be a superstar or make a living of it. I think I would go crazy if I tried to do that. I do want people to read my comics and, hopefully, enjoy them. But why am I making comics instead of writing poetry or tooling around with flash animation? I don't know. There's something about comics that fascinates me. It's not just the writing. It's not just the art. It's that phenomenon in between, the interaction of words and sequential images. Something about it just clicks with me and I don't know why.

*Note: Okay, okay... that answer just wiped your slate clean. Why aren't you writing poetry? That was poetry, my man.

CCC: What do you think is lacking from the underground art scene? If you had the power, what would you do to address that void?

ComicSpace, currently, has a marketplace set up where you can sell original art. What I think would be great is if you could order mini-comics through ComicSpace. That way, if someone from North Carolina friends me, I could easily order their minis if I wanted to. In other words, I think it would be cool to have a single mass marketplace like Amazon or iTunes for mini-comics.

*Note: Ain't nuttin to it but to do it. There was a time I wished there was a site or magazine solely focused on promoting other creators. A site specializing on interviewing unknown to little known talent. Dig?

CCC: Do you blog? MySpace? ComicSpace? If so, what kinds of things do you communicate through it and what is your ultimate goal in using that site?

I am currently on MySpace, ComicSpace, and Facebook. I also have a blog at http://www.ryandow.com/, but its not as cool as your blog. I guess I use it for self-promotion, but to be honest, I don't like blogging that much.

CCC: Do you read any other creators' blogs? If so, what do you think of them?

Here are the blogs I read on a regular basis:http://www.bewilderedkid.com/ – A weekly webcomic by Daniel Olson. He's created his own little universe filled with iconic characters that symbolize various aspects of his life.
http://www.bigtimeattic.com/ – These guys are pros.
http://mccarthy-comics.blogspot.com/ - Another pro, very talented. *Note: He's also been kind enough not to send me an e-mail about how the Packers lost face to the Giants. Of course, he's a native New Yorker... there's still time.
http://www.cartoonistconspiracy.com/ – We meet once or twice a month to draw crude and socially reprehensible jam comics.
http://www.stwallskull.com/blog/ - This man will not let go of the past.
http://www.askacutenerdgirl.com/ – Not a comics creator, but she does moderate the Powers letter page. Ask her a New Avengers continuity question at your peril.
And Danno needs to get his own damn blog already!
I also listen to the following podcast:http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=49535&cmd=tc – Webcomics Weekly, a podcast about making webcomics from some seasoned pros.

CCC: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

Most of the comics I read come from libraries. I'm a lot more willing to try something out if I can get it for free and reading comics from libraries has definitely changed my buying habits. I would have never given series like Concrete , Powers, Invincible, DMZ, Promethea or Scott Pilgrim a chance if I had not read them in a library first. I also read of lot of local stuff like Uptown Girl, Manly Tales of Cowardice, Sa-Bom-Jim and Brain Food.

CCC: What kinds of standards and/or expectations do you place on a comics purchase?

I tend to be more forgiving on self-published comics, especially if it's from someone I've met in real life. Making comics is hard work and, if you're pushing yourself and setting your own deadlines, you're bound to make mistakes.

Tom Brazelton makes a webcomic called Theater Hopper and he once said, "Everything looks right at 1:00 in the morning". I can't sum it up any better than that. I'm a lot less forgiving on published comics because people are paid to make them and, more importantly, people are paid to EDIT them. Writers and artists make mistakes. That's why there are editors.

CCC: What is your favorite indie publisher?

I don't really think I have a favorite. I've been reading a lot from Oni lately.

CCC: What is it about that publisher you find unique?

I don't know. I just like Scott Pilgrim and Local.

CCC: What are some the local venues for showing your work? Is/are that/those venue/s open to artists from other communities showing there?

There's a Lutefisk Sushi show coming up. As long as you make 160 copies of a minicomic, I don't think they'll turn anyone away.

CCC: Who is your favorite creator/writer/illustrator?

Oh, I don't know. The first thing that popped into my head was Paul Chadwick. Go dig up some of his Concrete anthologies! Alex Robinson is cool too. I got to meet him at a comic shop the other day. He signed my Lower Regions. I like saying that more than I should. Also, Box Office Poison and Tricked are classics that every fan of the medium should read.

CCC: Is there an artist working in another medium you follow?

None that I can think of.

*Note: I hope you've at least given thought to checking out some of the non-comics links on this site, Ryan. And that goes for you, kind reader, as well.

CCC: Give us a short list of indie creators you believe are sort of shaping the future of comics (indie and/or mainstream)?

I think that Scott Kurtz and his cohorts at Webcomics Weekly -- http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=49535&cmd=tc- have the influence to inspire a new generation of web cartoonists.

I also think that Scott McCloud, despite his often unrealistic idealism, will have a huge influence on the next generation of cartoonists.

CCC: If you could change one thing about the modern comics 'industry' what would it be?

I think the biggest problems in comics right now is distribution. I've heard people say, “Well, people don't read comics anymore because they've got DVDs and video games". But the thing is, DVDs and video games are readily available in every department store and bookstore in America. If you could only get video games at specialty shops, their popularity would plummet. It's great that comics are now available at Target. I would love to see them at other mass distributors as well... even, shudder, Wal-Mart.

CCC: Share a bit of advice for other creators.

I think the hardest thing about making comics as an adult is being comfortable with failure. Because, if you make comics, on some level you will fail. Maybe the comic doesn't live up to your expectations... maybe it doesn't connect with your audience as much as you would like... maybe everyone avoids your table at a convention or addresses you with mild disinterest. On some level, things aren't going to live up to your expectations. Then, you have to suck it up and try to make your next comic better. It's all rather quixotic.

Wow. That's some great advice. I can't think of anything to add to this interview.

Thanks, Ryan!

-AR

Peace

Cream City Conversations with Kevin Cannon

2008-01-31T14:40:00.000-06:00

Next up is a guy whose hands I'm glad I didn't break and whose artwork I've been lucky enough to publish (with Bud Burgy) in Muscles & Fights. I could go on about how amazing Kevin's hand lettering is or how rich his background art is. Instead, I think I'll let you read Kevin in his own words.

CCC: For those who don't know, Name and location?

Kevin Cannon, Minneapolis, MN

CCC: How did you become interested in creating comics?

I used to copy the dailies as a kid and, then, produced my own TMNT comics in middle school. I'm not sure where the interest came from ... I guess it always existed. My uncle is an artist so maybe it's in the genes.

CCC: What was your first published work? Did you self-publish that work?

I wrote and drew five comic strips for my college paper, the Grinnell Scarlet and Black. In 2002, using college funds, I published an 80-page collection of one of those strips, Johnny Cavalier.

CCC: If you self-publish, what do you gain from that experience?

Printing Johnny Cavalier was eye-opening, in that it threw me head first into the challenges of off-set printing and book design. Maybe the best thing I learned was that there are experts out there and it pays to learn from their expertise. For instance, I worked closely with Jim Powers [Grinnell's art director] and he gave me great tips about scanning, resolution and Photoshop. I also worked one on one with a local off-set printer and he taught me all about paper grades, cover stock, binding styles ... things I hadn't known I should even be thinking about.

CCC: If you've been published by other publishers, compare the experience to self-publishing.

Right now my company, Big Time Attic, which I co-own with Zander Cannon, is publishing a graphic novel with Farrar, Straus and Giroux. The process is more stressful than self-publishing in that everything has to be perfect and on time. All of the art and text are being vetted by outside experts and they have an entire production staff making sure that all of our deliveries are spot-on.

Of course, that stress dissolves when you realize that this whole team out there in New York is working its collective ass off tomake you look good. Also, we have the pleasure of working with an amazing editor, Howard Zimmerman, who's overseeing every step of the process and keeping us in line. Unlike self-publishing, where I can shut out the world and get my project done in solitude, publishing through FSG means weekly or even daily emails with our editor, publisher or production team.

CCC: Give us a list of your published works (self-published or otherwise)?

*Johnny Cavalier (2002)
*Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards (2005)
*Project: Romantic (2006)
*Far Arden (online) (2008)

CCC: Describe the art scene where you live. If you've lived elsewhere and were producing art there, compare those scenes.

Minneapolis has a thriving, energetic art scene. But I often feel like everyone groups themselves into cliques, like in high school. To crudely generalize, you've got the Cartoonist Conspiracy, which is like the "drama club" -- a lot of very enthusiastic artists at all skill levels who all feel that production of comics goes hand in hand with the social aspect.

I think the Conspiracy has become the face of Minneapolis comics simply because they're out there putting on shows, blogging, doing magazine interviews and TV appearances.

Minneapolis has its handful of famous creators like Sam Hiti, Peter Gross and Ryan Kelly who are able to make a living at their comics. Let's call them the "lettermen" in this analogy. They steer clear of most Conspiracy functions, but you'll see them at all the local comics shows.

There's also a huge group of comics students at MCAD ("freshmen")... comics fans who meet to talk about comics ("AV club").

Nick Post and the MNCBA who organize FallCon and MicroCon ("student government"?)... My point is that there's a huge comics community in the Twin Cities, but it exists in self-aggregating pockets and these pockets rarely mingle except at a Conspiracy gallery show or an MNCBA convention. Uh... I've also lived in New York and our scene is better than theirs.

*Note: I am getting sick of reading... and hearing about... and talking about how great the Twin Cities art scene is. Aren't you? I'm half joking but, if you're reading this news for the n-teenth time, it should spur you to want a thriving scene in your city. Of course, the great Kevin McCarthy and I will be rectifying the situation in Cream City soon enough.

CCC: Do you belong to any online or 'real world' art groups? If so, list them and describe what that/those group/s benefit you.

I'm a card-carrying member of the International Cartoonist Conspiracy. We meet once a month to draw jam comics and we're almost always planning something in the public eye, like the City Pages Comix Issue, the Schmapples Tribute and the upcoming LutefiskSushi Volume C show at Altered Esthetics.

*Note: Yeah, that's right. Just keep bragging, Cannon. Why I oughta...

CCC: What is your ultimate or immediate goal in creating comics? Are there other mediums you enjoy working in? If so, what? How do you display this other work?

My immediate goal is to keep Big Time Attic successful. Ultimately, Zander and I would like to spend our days only working on our own books and properties. In the meantime, though, we have to take on a few corporate art projects here and there to remain in the black.

That's not such a bad thing, though. These non-comics jobs have included painting backgrounds for animated TV shows, photo touch-up for Target's NASCAR team and game concepting for Cartoon Network. My personal goal outside of work is to produce a library of pulp fiction graphic novels. If I can make money at that, fine. But I'm more interested in creating the books and getting them in front of an audience.

*Note: If you're smart, you'll be in line ahead of me when all those beautiful books are released.

CCC: What do you think is lacking from the underground art scene? If you had the power, what would you do to address that void?

Money. If I had gobs of money I'd invest in cartoonists the way Xeric does, but on a local level.

CCC: Do you blog? MySpace? ComicSpace? If so, what kinds of things do you communicate through it and what is your ultimate goal in using that site?

I'm on the Facebook, but not for comics reasons. Zander and I blog on bigtimeattic.com/blog. Our main goal is to have a spot on the web where people can find useful tips and tricks about cartooning. There are some comics and gags on there too. But I think our most rewarding posts disseminate information like "Here is a brush and here is how you use it." We also use the BTA blog as a vehicle to announce upcoming events and get people's opinions about stuff.

CCC: Do you read any other creators' blogs? If so, what do you think of them?

I check cartoonistconspiracy.com and comicsreporter.com often to keep my pulse on what's happening in comics. And, then, every so often I'll check in to local creators' blogs... like Ryan Kelly, Brittney Sabo, and Tim Sievert. However, reading creators' blogs gets me down a lot of the time. Everytime I look at Ryan Kelly's blog I think "Goddamn it, how does he make comics AND make those gorgeous paintings?"

*Note: I can teach you how to break his hands without leaving marks, Kevin. Tim is a brilliant artist, though. Look out for his book from Top Shelf this year.

CCC: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

Mostly historical non-fiction. But every so often I like to throw in a classic that I either missed or didn't understand in high school. I just finished Macbeth, I'm working on Schulz and after that I'll try to tackle some Jack London.

CCC: What kinds of standards and/or expectations do you place on a comics purchase?

The only expectation I have about comics is that they'll be expensive. I grew up only buying comics that were in the cheap bin at Half Price Books, so it feels strange to pay full price for a book. When I do go to Big Brain I like buying from smaller publishers or self-published work.

*Note: See how great this guy is? And his work is better than his answers.

CCC: What is your favorite indie publisher?

G.T. Labs. Jim Ottaviani is the writer/publisher of this very niche-focused company (science graphic novels). He has the curiosity of a child, the mind of a scientist, and the body of an olympic runner.

CCC: What is it about that publisher you find unique?

It's clear that Jim gets excited telling stories about science and has taken difficult steps to be able to share those stories with the world. I wish I had read his books in high school!

CCC: What are some the local venues for showing your work? Is/are that/those venue/s open to artists from other communities showing there?

It seems like there's always a gallery show around the corner that you can put your work in. For example, there are some pretty cool guys named Amado and Bud who just hung a comics show in Diamond's Coffee Shoppe, featuring art from their second "Muscles and Fights" anthology.

*Note: Ah, shucks. The check's in the mail, Kevin.

CCC: Who is your favorite creator/writer/illustrator?

Julie Doucet

CCC: Is there an artist working in another medium you follow?

Eric Rohmer

CCC: Give us a short list of indie creators you believe are sort of shaping the future of comics (indie and/or mainstream)?

I think Austin English and Jeffry Brown are the future of comics. Their styles and stories epitomize what comics should be: a medium that the everyman can not only consume but create. They are to modern comics what Die Brücke was to printmaking a hundred years ago.

CCC: If you could change one thing about the modern comics 'industry' what would it be?

People's tastes. Who the hell reads superhero comics? I don't know a single person who waits for the next X-Men to come out.

*Note: I swear... Kevin is the person responsible for those words. I did not, could not and would not plug in a bunch of my own answers and attach Kevin's name to them. I will say this, though. The problem I have with X-Men and other super hero books isn't people reading those books. My problem with those books is the same people keep reading them and want those books to grow up with them. Will, Stan, Jack and the rest of the old greats created those books perfectly for a particular audience. They should have been left in their original forms so people could enjoy them as they were. The Spirit is an example of a title allowed to live perfectly ever-after. I know what I did when super heroes weren't doing it for me anymore... check my publishers links.

CCC: Give a shout out to any site and/or underground comic you think people ought to be checking into.

http://lamano21.com/This is Zak Sally's publishing company. He represents amazing talent... guys who straddle that often gray and blurry art-meets-comics divide.

CCC: Share a bit of advice for other creators.

Carve out an hour and just make something.

Reads like sound advice to me.

Thanks, Kevin!

-AR

Peace

Cream City Conversations with Jon Sloan

2008-01-28T14:40:00.000-06:00

Hello. Guess who's back with another 'conversation'.

I'm really stoked about having the opportunity to introduce people [who don't know] to this next creator. Besides drawing and writing and publishing his book, "Sa-Bom Jim"... Jon is a practitioner/Instructor in the Korean combative art of Tae Kwon Do. Bud Burgy and I have been fortunate enough to include demonstrations by Jon at our M&F release parties as well as include his work in our series.

Jon...

CCC: For those who don't know, Name and location?

Jon Sloan, I live in the north-west Minneapolis Metro Area.

CCC: How did you become interested in creating comics?

I have always been a huge fan of cartoons and comics. I first learned to draw by copying the comic strip characters, especially "Peanuts". I had always been weary about submitting material to syndicates and large publishing houses because I thought my material wasn't up to par. This changed in the Spring of '03 when I met Bob Lipski ("Uptown Girl" creator) and saw that I could do this sort of thing on my own.

CCC: What was your first published work? Did you self-publish that work?

Aside from a few small projects I did here and there for high school flyers and programs, my first published work was "Sa-Bom Jim #1". It was entirely self-published.

CCC: If you self-publish, what do you gain from that experience?

A huge amount of respect for people who are able to publish more often than myself! The one thing I believe it continually teaches me is what I need to do to improve my writing, artwork, and storytelling. I'm sure a lot of people would agree that while that first-ever issue looks all impressive when you see it for the first time, you tend to cringe a little when you look back on it years later thinking "My God! How did I let this thing see print???"

CCC: If you've been published by other publishers, compare the experience to self-publishing.

I love the results that other people have turned out with publishing my work so far ("Muscles And Fights" 1, 2, soon 3 and "Uptown Girl Presents" #2). Yet, it's a lot different when someone else handles my work besides myself. There's a small feeling of detachment when you hand over your pages to someone else and simply have to wait and see what the end result is. Self-publishing for me is a bit more personal, and I get to see the finished result sooner due to the low-budget way I put my book together.

CCC: Give us a list of your published works (self-published or otherwise)?

Ok, to start it from the top: "Sa-Bom Jim" #0-6, "The Koffee Klutch" #1, Contributor to "Muscles And Fights" vol. 1-3, "Uptown Girl Presents" #2 (contributed a 24 page Walrus story), "Alley Cat! Cats On Bikes (With Ninjas!): A Tribute To Eric Lappegard" (contributed a 2-page story).

CCC: Describe the art scene where you live. If you've lived elsewhere and were producing art there, compare those scenes.

I am still exploring the Minneapolis art scene. So far, I am enjoying it quite a lot. The feeling of community with The Int'l Cartoonist Conspiracy is wonderful! This is totally different from when I was living in Duluth and especially in Mankato, MN. There was not much as far as an art scene in Duluth or Mankato that I was aware of, much less anyone that was known locally who were doing comics.

CCC: Do you belong to any online or 'real world' art groups? If so, list them and describe what that/those group/s benefit you.

As was mentioned before, The Int'l Cartoonist Conspiracy! The monthly jams (when I can get to them) are wonderful... I appreciate the networking and news about various projects that I find out about through them. A great group of people and I look forward to working with them in more projects/events in the future.

CCC: What is your ultimate or immediate goal in creating comics?

To tell stories and be creative. I had always wanted to be a cartoonist growing up and this gives me a chance to put my material out to the public. I figured that I had spent enough time on the sidelines and I wanted to be a contributor... not just another spectator.

CCC: What do you think is lacking from the underground art scene? If you had the power, what would you do to address that void?

Mostly exposure. I feel a lot of people give indy/underground comics a bad rap simply because they don't have one of the logos from the "Big Two" slapped on the cover. I would give equal print space to advertise indies as well as mainstreams and promote more local book events within stores to let folks know that there's more to choose from than the flying spandex books their inundated with.

CCC: Do you blog? MySpace? ComicSpace? If so, what kinds of things do you communicate through it and what is your ultimate goal in using that site?

I blog on my MySpace page as well as Blogspot. In these blogs, I usually vent about issues that are bothering me or something exciting is coming up... more or less your usual whiny/angsty stuff.

CCC: Do you read any other creators' blogs? If so, what do you think of them?

I read Paul Taylor's (Wapsi Square) Livejournal entries and have just started reading entries of Ryan Dow. I enjoy them and it gives me a little bit of comfort that other folks have stuff going on in their lives that bothers them to no end just like I do.

CCC: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

Well, as far as actual non-comic/non-graphic novels go, any good books on Art, artistic techniques, or art history/biography are good for a decent read. I am always on the lookout for books about the "other" John Sloan, who was affiliated with "The Ashcan School" in the early 20th Century. Martial arts books about technique or philosophy are good, such as Sun Tsu's "Art of War" and especially Musashi's "Book Of Five Rings". A good book on Japanese swords and swordsmanship will hold my interest for a great while. I do read some science fiction and I have made it a goal to read some of the classics by authors such as H.G Wells, Asimov, Bram Stoker, Mary Shelley, and Gaston Leroux. F. Scott Fitzgerald is also a favorite writer of mine.

CCC: What kinds of standards and/or expectations do you place on a comics purchase?

After the comics implosion of the early '90's, I became a bit more fussy about who/what I read. The experience kinda soured me on superhero titles, so I focused more on humor and alternative titles instead. When I look for a particular title the story has to grab my interest. If the story can't keep me going, then, I won't bother anymore with a book. The book has to have an original slant on an idea for me to notice it and give it a look.

CCC: What is your favorite indie publisher?

I guess... I try to focus on the individual book than who is publishing it. Another habit I've kicked since the early "90's. I want to see the book and not who's putting it out.

CCC: Who is your favorite creator/writer/illustrator?

As far as nationally know people: George Perez (DC/Marvel/Ind.) has always been a constant favorite, John Kovalic (Dork Tower), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Marvel/DC projects), Aaron Williams ("Nodwick", "PS 238"), Jolly Blackburn ("Knights Of The Dinner Table"). Local talent: Bob Lipski, DANK!, Kevin Cannon, and other members of The Conspiracy.:)

CCC: Give us a short list of indie creators you believe are sort of shaping the future of comics (indie and/or mainstream)?

Alan Moore for writing, definitely. I just wish the Hollywood idiots would stay true to his books when they make movies of them. I think Neil Gaiman and Frank Miller helped turn a few heads in the 80's as well as recently to different writing and storytelling that have jump-started many an indy comic creator. The list grows due to more and more artists that I see. I think a lot of indy folks are shaping the way we look at comics simply by turning out more and more indy comics (Yeah, I know that's pretty vague, sorry!)

*Note: I really don't find that answer vague... at all. Change should come from the inside out... any other way is temporal... a fad. Every indie creator actually publishing AND pushing his/her work is shaping the future of comics. That is why it's so critical we steer clear of inbred-style writing and illustrating.

CCC: If you could change one thing about the modern comics 'industry' what would it be?

Sorry, this has to be TWO things.

Firstly: Knock it off with giving us multiple books about the same crap! I'm sure everyone else can agree with me that the X-Men were a lot more interesting when you could number all their books on one hand and still have a couple fingers left over. Really, their stuff has gotten so derivative that it's no wonder that they see turning their characters into ZOMBIES as a novel approach.

Secondly: They truly need to see beyond the idea that superheroes, manga and top names in the business are the only things worth printing. If they would open their eyes to the immense creative market that is outside their blinders, maybe, they would take more of a chance on something new.

*Once again, we are the system. If we don't evolve ourselves AND, in turn, change the way the system operates, who will?

CCC: Give a shout out to any site and/or underground comic you think people ought to be checking into.

Bob Lipski http://www.uptowngirlcomic.com/

Danno http://www.staplegenius.com/

Paul Taylor http://www.wapsisquare.com/

Ryan Dow http://www.ryandow.com/

Bud Burgy http://www.meatfistandgronk.com/

There is a ton more people that I can't think of off-hand. Like I said before, the more people's art/comics I see, the longer the list grows!

And so it does...

Thanks, Jon!

-AR

**I'd like to give special mention to a creator I've only, sadly, discovered recently. Fortunately, classic... quality... spirited work never grows stale. Jordan Crane is, in my opinion, one of the most exciting voices in modern comics. The palette he implores as well as the general subject matter, dialogue, layout and visual style in his work is something to aspire to. A big thanks is due to Fantagraphics for publishing The Clouds Above. Crane is the designer of FB's MOME anthology in addition to having his own small press shop, Red Ink: www.reddingk.com

Peace

Cream City Conversations with Justin Cermak

2008-01-23T14:02:00.001-06:00

Hello. I'm back after a healthy dose of community with many of the hardcore supporters of Muscles & Fights. Last Saturday was fantastic... a slow start to an in-store signing [at The Source] grew into a great finish. And, of course, the Musclier & Fightier release party [at Diamonds Coffee Shoppe] was a smashing success.

Bud and I debuted Bud's M&F t-shirt and my Heavee Underground ogn along with our ongoing anthology series (contact Bud through the M&F site for t-shirt inquiries). Jon Sloan and his able assistant kicked Tae Kwon Do @$$ all over the place which included some intense Kendo and board breaking.

Bud will have photos up soon on the Muscles & Fights website. For now you can read more here: http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2008/01/22/muscles-and-fights-2-release-party/#more-913
It's worth noting, while there are some editorial mistakes in the report, Daily Cross Hatch is supporting their community which is most important.

Enough of that, for now. Let's get back to my 'Conversations' series. Up next is Justin 'Spanky' Cermak. A man of very few unprinted words, Mr. Cermak puts his money where his mouth is everytime he hits a lily white slab of illustration board. I'd go on about this brilliant cartoonist but it'll read better if I leave it to him.

CCC: For those who don't know, Name and location?

Justin "Spanky" Cermak, MPLS, MN.

CCC: How did you become interested in creating comics?

I think it was inborn.

CCC: What was your first published work? Did you self-publish that work?

The first comic I brought to press was Space Sheriff and Happy Space Boy issues #1-5 graphic novel and I actually got Diamond Distribution to distribute it.

CCC: If you self-publish, what do you gain from that experience?

There is so much to learn and even more to know; dealing with printers, getting your book out and on the road meeting the public... for me, that's the best part.

CCC: Give us a list of your published works (self-published or otherwise)?

Space Sheriff and Happy Space Boy, Dynamite Pilot and countless other small projects that didn't get too far.

CCC: Describe the art scene where you live. If you've lived elsewhere and were producing art there, compare those scenes.

The Minneapolis/St. Paul Art scene is huge! There are three main parts, all equally good. There is the NE (including the U of M scene) with many artist lofts, galleries and bars to see good bands , St. Paul has a lot of professional artist lofts around and the Southside, "REPRESENT" with MCAD, and tons of awesome galleries like Intermedia Arts and a billion great coffee shops with weirdos on every corner.

CCC: Do you belong to any online or 'real world' art groups? If so, list them and describe what that/those group/s benefit you.

International Comic Book Conspiracy, MPLS chapter. It's a 'skull and bones' thing, you shouldn't understand.

CCC: What is your ultimate or immediate goal in creating comics?

Turn these scripts into gold, solid gold! And to make what I want.

CCC: What do you think is lacking from the underground art scene? If you had the power, what would you do to address that void?

Government grants big enough to live on (40k) and not have to work, like they do in Sweden for the musicains, and free universal health care for everybody!

*Note: I don't know about the socialized health care but I'm all for those 40k grants for creative people who're contributing to society with their work.

CCC: Do you blog? MySpace? ComicSpace? If so, what kinds of things do you communicate through it and what is your ultimate goal in using that site?

I do both but not nearly enough; I still have the basic page layout from when I began on MySpace. On the other hand, I have put up almost everything I have ever done on comicspace... that is a great site.

CCC: What kinds of books do you enjoy reading?

I've really enjoyed books on physics, physicists and music... now I'm on to Russian literature.

CCC: What kinds of standards and/or expectations do you place on a comics purchase?

?Que?

*Note: Apparently, Spanky doesn't have any standards or expectations when it comes to purchasing comics. He just buys 'em for the love of it. Whatta guy! Make sure you hit'em up next time you spot him at a con.

CCC: What is your favorite indie artist/publication?

Geoff Darrow, Hellboy, Conan and Judge Dredd.

CCC: What is it about them you find unique?

Hell, damn, ass-good drawing styles.

CCC: Who is your favorite creator/writer/illustrator?

Steve Purcell, creator of Sam and Max.

CCC: Give us a short list of indie creators you believe are sort of shaping the future of comics (indie and/or mainstream)?

Hellboy, that stark graphic style is hot!

*Note: The creator of Hellboy, for the uninitiated, is Mike Mignola. The most notable artists to tackle Hellboy (besides Mignola) are Duncan Fegredo and Bill Wray. Duncan illustrates the book in a style similar to Mignola... Bill did anything and everything he could get away with.

CCC: If you could change one thing about the modern comics 'industry' what would it be?

"I only read Spider-man". Monogamy in comic love is boring, grab a title that isn't superhero related.

CCC: Give a shout out to any site and/or underground comic you think people ought to be checking into.

M & F, Forever!

*Note: I did not pay Spanky to shout-out our book. Bud may have but I most certainly did not.

Thanks, Spanky!

-AR

So... there you go... another edition of 'the indie loving machine' I like to call Cream City Comics/Conversations.

Peace