Available Now: Amazing Arizona Comics #45!

Amazing Arizona Comics #45 is now available in print or full-color digital! Learn the strange truth behind the last four -- eight -- twelve -- years of American politics, with the most hair-raising conspiracy theory you've ever heard of!

Click here to select your print or digital copy today!

Amazing Arizona Comics #44 Now Available!

Amazing Arizona Comics #44 is now available for digital download and in print -- featuring TWO brand new stories! June Monsoon vs. The Beer Bugs! Speed Cameron vs. K.A.R.E.N.! Read it to believe it!

Click HERE for the 99 cent digital download...

...and/or click HERE for the $2 print edition. Price INCLUDES shipping! 

Shop TRIBE Direct for more indie comics goodness, including all back issues of Amazing Arizona Comics, and stay tuned for #45, coming next month!

Welcome to Amazing Arizona Comics!

The Latest Amazing Arizona Comics

The end of 2019 saw the release of Amazing Arizona Comics issues #38-39, featuring the origin of Samantha Brero, and #40, an issue-long adventure starring yours truly and inked by some of the best cartoonists I know.  

These issues, along with the entire Amazing Arizona Comics catalog, are now available via TRIBE Direct, a fellow self-publisher and new distributor of small press comics. The TRIBE team has done an incredible job organizing and offering my comics these past few months -- check out everything they have to offer!

Now Available!

Now available!  The Amazing Arizona Comics 24 Hour Full Color Comic Special was drawn and colored in the window of downtown Glendale's Drawn to Comics from 1 p.m. on June 23, 2018 to 1 p.m. on June 24, 2018, with sponsorships to support the Tempe-based Foster Hope Foundation.  Now, the comic is available for purchase at Drawn to Comics and Ash Avenue Comics, with more shops and online purchasing coming soon!

What if Phoenix was suddenly in the grip of a never-ending caffeine rush?  Would all of that energy make the world a better place . . . or send us all to our doom?  The Arizonauts discover the answer . . . and it will SHOCK you!  

This Friday, August 3, I'll be selling copies of this and all issues of Amazing Arizona Comics at  the Wasted Ink Zine Distro (2222 N. 16th St.) for Phoenix's monthly First Friday.  If you're in the Valley, come by to pick up your issue and to get a free superhero sketch from yours truly!

Stay tuned for more news about this and future issues of Amazing Arizona Comics!

Amazing Arizona Comics #2 Trailer

Amazing Arizona Comics Month continues!  Phoenix Comic Fest is next week, and I'll soon share my itinerary for the weekend, so you know where and when to find me.

In the meantime, dig this trailer for 2010's Amazing Arizona Comics #2, featuring June Monsoon, Al Gore, and the truth behind that year's burst of the Tempe Town Lake Dam!

The Secret Origin of Wigwam, part 1

We can't explore roadside attractions, specifically in Arizona, without discussing Route 66.  I love America's mother road -- so much so, that I've gleefully elected to tell the adventures of Mother Road, Defender of Route 66, in Amazing Arizona Comics.  A short Mother Road adventure appears in the latest issue of Amazing Arizona Comics, which will be available at Phoenix Comic Fest later this month.  

Mother Road usually doesn't travel alone.  Her sidekick, Wigwam, rides and fights at her side.  Where would a hard-traveling hero like Mother Road meet a practically living cartoon like Wigwam?  Well, his is an interesting story that has never been told . . . until now. That's right, you're in for a three-day analysis of Wigwam's origin, which, unsurprisingly, starts on Route 66.

A few years ago, the Sedona Sorceress, Crystal Vortex, was vexed by struggling businesses on America's most historic highway.  She attempted to cast a spell to bring some "life" back to the road, but the spell manifested itself quite literally.  The roadside giants that attract photo-happy tourists came to life, charging on a populace that all but forsook them.

Fortunately, Speed Cameron raced northward from Phoenix and held the line agains the likes of the Two Guns Cowboy, the Jack Rabbit, and a horde of Holbrook dinosaurs.  Fortunately, Crystal thought of a spell to reverse her first one, and since the sentient statues stayed so close to the highway, everything went back to normal easily enough.

Well, most of the attractions stayed near the highway.  Some of the newly living roadside legends wandered a bit from the beaten path, and perhaps weren't affected by Crystal's reversal spell.  Stayed tuned . . .

Bonus!  If you'd like to read this original strip in its entirety, just click here to start!

What Is Family Fun Bot?

The Arizona desert is littered with roadside oddities, and many of them inspire the superheroic adventures of Amazing Arizona Comics.  In some case, they inspire the superheroes, themselves.

All week long, as a part of Amazing Arizona Comics Month, I'll be featuring some of the quirkier corners of Arizona, and how they make Amazing Arizona Comics one of the most unique minicomics on the market today!

If you've driven through the small town of Eloy, between Phoenix and Tucson on the I-10 freeway, you've undoubtedly spotted the remains of Family Fun World, a multi-faceted theme park that never made it to opening day.  According to the blog The Weird AZ Challenge:

This property was purchased by Richard Songers in 1995 with the intent of creating an amusement park, zoo, race track and concert arena, this extravaganza was to be called Family Fun World. But after several years of development Songers was forced to give up the Family Fun World dream for lack of funds.

For years, one of the remains of Family Fun World was a robot that stood right on the edge of the highway.  The best image of the robot online is by Jeremiah Ellsworth.  Check out his Flickr for more amazing pictures.

The robot has since disappeared, and many wonder why.  Some assume vandals are to blame. As the author of a superhero comic book, my theories are a little more controversial.  I presume that the robot has achieved sentience and now fights alongside the Arizonauts.  I don't blame you if you don't believe me, but I've chronicled Family Fun Bot's meeting with Sam Brero, so take it or leave it!  

Of course, I once travelled to the site of Family Fun World, and despite "No Trespassing" signs, I felt it was my duty to discover the truth.  I documented the experience, and, I must admit, my footage is some of the best shots of those forbidden grounds you'll find anywhere.  The roadside robot and baskets are well documented, but here's a look at everything else.  If your interest is piqued, the whole story of Family Fun Bot's first meeting with Sam Brero is documented in Amazing Arizona Comics #16, available now.  

Thank You, Free Comic Book Day!

If you're visiting the ol' blog because you picked up a free issue of Amazing Arizona Comics yesterday, thank you for stopping by!  If you're a regular fan that's been visiting daily in May for Amazing Arizona Comics Month, welcome back!  I've had a great first week updating you with sketches, motion comics, and character insights -- and we're just getting started.

I wanted to use today's post to say thank you to all of the comic shops that carry and support Amazing Arizona Comics.  Specifically, I'd like to thank Drawn to Comics for hosting a great event yesterday.  Dozens of artists were set up in the Velma Teague Branch of the Glendale Library, and I was happy for the reminder that comics are a powerful reading tool for kids.  You don't have "comic book" without book, and, as we fans are often swept away by beautiful art and unique character designs, the words are an often overlooked part of the equation.  My favorite comic books are stories that I'll remember the rest of my life, and I can quote those issues just as folks can quote any other kind of literature that impacts them.  The symbiotic relationship between text and pictures is what makes the comic book such an important and unique medium.

Anyway, back to the yesterday's event, I set up an Amazing Arizona Comics pop-up shop, and folks enjoyed perusing back issues to complete their collection.  I especially enjoyed sketching for fans in a more lounge-y way, so don't be surprised if I lug a recliner to Phoenix Comic Fest at the end of the month!

I'd also like to thank Ash Avenue Comics in Tempe.  Their independent comics rack is the best in the state, and if you're looking for small press, self-published or alternative comix, Ash Avenue is the place to be.

Side note: My girlfriend and I concluded Free Comic Book Day at Castaway's, one of our favorite karaoke bars in Phoenix.  A birthday party insisted on singing Alice in Chains songs most of the night, so while someone sang the hit "Rooster," I drew a rooster man for him.  I guess I couldn't stop sketching, but it was kind of fun to keep the "free comics" thing going just a little while longer!

Come back tomorrow for more background info about Amazing Arizona Comics, as I post more behind-the-scenes stuff all month long!  I appreciate your reading, in print -- and online!

Amazing Arizona Comics Month Begins Tomorrow!

Hello, Amazing Arizona Comics fan!  I know 2018 has been a quiet year here on the Amazing Arizona Comics blog, but that's about to change!  I'm officially declaring that May is Amazing Arizona Comics Month!  

Why May, you ask?  Well, May boasts two important events for Amazing Arizona Comics.  May starts with Free Comic Book Day, on its first Saturday.  Every year I send free issues of Amazing Arizona Comics all across the state, from Flagstaff to Bisbee and everywhere in between, and, this year, I'll be at Drawn to Comics selling and giving away minicomics.  Then, May ends with Phoenix Comic Fest, a four day celebration of comics culture in Arizona.  I'm always happy to meet old and new fans alike at my table in artists' alley, and this year will be no exception.

So, throughout the month of May, I'll be posting back issue spotlights, future issue previews, character bios, and much more.  That's right -- the fun starts right here, tomorrow!  Amazing Arizona Comics started back in 2010, and it isn't slowing down, especially since we're so close to issue #50!  Thank you for coming along for the ride, past, present, and future.  This minicomic really is a statewide story, and I couldn't tell it without you.

In the meantime, if you really enjoy daily updates, I do my best to keep things interesting on Instagram @amazingazcomics.  Follow me there for posts all year long!

The Amazing Arizona Comics Winter Tour!

Orko at Phoenix FanFest.

I know I promised more tales from Phoenix Comicon's FanFest last month, but like Orko here conjuring a sketch of Cringer, I've concocted more chances for you to find Amazing Arizona Comics in and around Phoenix!  (Dig that cameo from another magician behind Orko -- imagine that crossover!)

That's right, the Amazing Arizona Comics Winter Tour has begun!  Thanks to {9} the Gallery for hosting my first stop during their First Friday exhibit opening (which is a tremendous exhibit, by the way -- catch it while you can).   With Christmas right around the corner, folks seemed interested in comics co-starring Santa Claus, and following her amazing year in theaters, Wonder Woman was a popular request for sketches.

Sketching at First Friday.  Picture courtesy Kathleen Plasko.

Drinking and drawing at Palo Verde.

The tour continued last Thursday at the Palo Verde Lounge, where Bunny Vomit creator Birdie Birdashaw, B-Sides publisher Marna Kay, and I hosted the first in a series of drink and draw events.  We set up a small pop-up shop of comics and zines, and I sold some back issues of Amazing Arizona Comics right out of the back of my truck.  Thanks to everyone that came, had a brew, and drew!

We may have had a crowded house, but don't worry, folks -- it's not over yet!  I'll be at Drawn to Comics on Saturday, December 16th, set up next to Forever Etched Mirrors and Glass. Come by for a free sketch, and locally self-published minicomic starring Speed Cameron, Santa Claus, and more of Arizona's own superheroes.  They make great stocking stuffers, and, to me, the real gift is this chance to share my stories with you.  'Tis the season, after all!

Kirby For A Day Continues!

Kirby For A Day continues!  Have you watched the latest episode of the webseries I hosted about four Arizona artists attempting the 24 Hour Comic Challenge to honor Jack Kirby's 100th birthday earlier this year?  No?  Well, here's your chance!

What do geeks talk about in the wee hours?  These geeks talk about everything, including how much The Big Bang Theory stinks.  Wait, what?  You gotta see it to believe it!

And come back here later this week for more memories from Phoenix Comicon's FanFest!

Phoenix FanFest: Zeddemore, Nothing Less!

When my family moved from Connecticut to Arizona in 1988, I had no idea what a monsoon was.  The first time the summer sky turned red and heavy, I pulled on my blue, plastic Ghostbusters proton pack, walked outside, and proclaimed, "This is it!  This is definitely it!"  My foam proton stream did little to quell the stormy weather, but, hey, I can't say I didn't try.

The original Ghostbusters movie remains one of my favorite movies of all time.  I quote it several times a week and watch it a few times a year.  As a kid, I watched the cartoon, played with the toys, and read stories about the supernatural in the hopes that it was all real.  Most importantly, I shared these experiences with my friends.  I especially remember the nights we'd watch and re-watch the "ghost boy" scene in Three Men And A Baby.  That was the closest we ever came to actually catching Zuul. 

Beyond humanity's endless fascination with the supernatural, I think the timeless success of the Ghostbusters franchise is the enduring camaraderie of three friends from college, and the new recruit turned brother-in-arms.  Peter, Ray, and Egon were obviously bound by their eccentricities (and their tolerance of each other's eccentricities), but Winston brought a humanity that made them even more charming.  Yes, Winston was us, any one of us that foolishly pulled on a proton pack to "join the guys."

So, when Ernie Hudson was at Phoenix Comicon's FanFest last weekend, I was thrilled to see so many Ghostbusters in the crowd.  I drew Slimer for some of them, and the brief but poignant memories we shared about the Ghostbusters made me feel like a kid again. That's one of the many super powers of comic con.  It hands you that smoking trap and makes you feel right at home.

Come back later this week for more memories from Phoenix Comicon's FanFest, and information on where to find Amazing Arizona Comics next!

Last Sunday: Phoenix Zine Fest!

As my last post plugged, so this post pontificates!  Thank you, Wasted Ink Zine Distro, for organizing an amazing sophomore Phoenix Zine Fest!

A happy customer with the latest issue of Amazing Arizona Comics,
and the Klute's poetry collection with a cover by yours truly.

This year's PZF was at the Unexpected Art Gallery, a venue that has taken the Valley by storm with its diverse programming and potential.  I must say, parking, checking in, and setting up my table were all very smooth and easy, and I'm grateful to the volunteer team that made the day very exhibitor-friendly.  Comic con organizers often forget that exhibitors are their first paying customers, with their marketing emphasis on attendees, and I'm glad PZF remembered our value and prioritized our desire to do business.  And, boy, business was had!

Amazing Arizona Comics was on full display, alongside the my poetry chapbooks and fanzines, and folks were interested everything!  That's what's great about "zines" -- the distinction can include anything self-published, including minicomics.  The crowd was equally assorted, and I was happy to see some young faces interested in alt press and self-publishing.

The young man between his parents is an up and coming self publisher.
The kid on the end was stoked for his Spider-man sketch.

Even the DJ was awesome, and when it comes to music at a show, I'm a cranky old man.  This guy offered a great mix of oldies and hip hop that breached and reached all tastes -- including a few requesting Monkees tunes for yours truly.  These are my people!

This guy's name is Russ and he draws political comics.  Yes, the other guy!

And the exhibitions aren't over, people!  This weekend, Amazing Arizona Comics will be set up alongside Forever Etched Mirrors and Glass at AZ Cosfest in downtown Phoenix.  Just find the details on Facebook, then find us offering etches and sketches to anyone interested.  Thank you for your support, all!

This Sunday: PHX Zine Fest!

This Sunday, I'll be at this year's PHX Zine Fest, an event that celebrates self-publishers here in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. I've attended the LA Zine Fest, and exhibited at the Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco and SPX in Maryland, so I'm excited to have a show of this scope and focus right here in the Valley! If you're in or around Phoenix, please come support some of the best alternative press you'll ever find, including my own Amazing Arizona Comics, Karaoke Comics, my fanzines Far & Wee and My Talk Show Life, and more!

If you can't make it to PHX Zine Fest, you can find Amazing Arizona Comics at AZ Cosfest, Phoenix Comicon's FanFest, and Drawn to Comics' Brightest Saturday, all coming soon!  Come back here for details!

Kirby For A Day: Chapter 1

Here it is -- the first episode of Kirby For A Day!  You may remember when I first talked about this project in August.  August 28th would've been Jack Kirby's 100th birthday, and since I've been organizing Kirby-themed birthday celebrations in Phoenix for the past few years, I wanted to do something really special.  I asked some friends if they'd attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge -- drawing to a Kirby-themed prompt -- and let me record the whole thing.  They agreed, and this is the result!

Kirby For A Day is a web-based miniseries about four artists' 24 hours at the drawing board.  We filmed over the last weekend of August at Drawn to Comics in Glendale, and, always, my sincere thanks to Ken and Susan Brown for hosting this overnight event.  An overwhelming amount of appreciation goes to my brother Kyle, for editing that footage into the episodes we'll post over the next few weeks.  We're making this series via "the Marvel method," as I give Kyle the general concept of each episode, and he brings it to life.  In this way, he's the Kirby to my Stan Lee, pushing the theme of the show that much further.

So . . . please watch!  My closest associates in self-publishing dedicated a great deal of time and energy to make this project happen, and they deserve your eyes and ears . . . if only for a few minutes every week.  Stay tuned!

Thank You, YumaCon!

The past few weeks have been busy here at Amazing Arizona Comics!  This year's fall tour has officially begun, with a soft launch at Tommy Cannon's Motion Comics Bonanza last month, and continuing this past weekend at YumaCon 2017!

Yuma may be en route to San Diego, home of the most famous comic con around, but its small show boasts the heart and spirit of all great comic book shows, with an emphasis on manga and anime.  Fans enjoyed perusing Amazing Arizona Comics and scoring a free sketch, as you can see from these handsome smiles!

My thanks to everyone that swung by the table, which I was happy to share with Forever Etched Mirrors and Glass.  See you next year!

But, wait!  There's more!  The first episode of Kirby For A Day is live on YouTube! Have you watched it yet?  Find it on the KazBro Productions channel, or come back here on Wednesday for a new post with some exclusive commentary.  Behold, four Arizona artists honoring Jack Kirby's 100th birthday by attempting the 24 Hour Comic Challenge!

The Desert Creature Chronicles: The Driftwood Man of Congress

Arizona's highways are home to some of the nation's most peculiar roadside creatures.  As the creator of a minicomic all about my state's strangeness, I've decided to meet these creatures face to face!  Behold, the first entry in my ongoing travelogue: The Desert Creature Chronicles!

A small population of people almost always guarantees that a monster or two dwells among them.  Well, Congress is a small town in Yavapai County.  On any given year, more people may be elected to Congress than might actually live in Congress.  

Let's keep the comparison going.  You've heard of a straw man in Congress?  How about a Driftwood Man from Congress?  He stands in front of the "Ye Ol' Trading Post" antique store, and the owner insists that he was made by a local artist.  I think that's only part of the story.

If I had to guess, I'd say a craftsman constructed the Driftwood Man to keep him company in the lonely desert.  A desperate spell turned the would-be folk art into a golem, so the Driftwood Man can actually come alive when given the right command. One can only hope that he doesn't fall under the employ of an evil passer-by.

This theory proves true, as just a bit further down the road, a horse made of similar driftwood stands outside of a lumberyard.  The horse was probably made so the Driftwood Man wasn't the only one of his kind.  After all, his maker knew well the consequences of loneliness.

The Driftwood Man may soon appear in Amazing Arizona Comics, especially since wood creatures like Groot have been a feature of superhero comics for a long time.  In fact, one of them just appeared on this list of nutty DC Comics covers!

You might expect a cactus man in a small desert town like Congress, but Arizona is a state full of the unexpected.  It's just a part of our roots . . . aw, c'mon!  You knew I had to say it sooner or later. 

Come back soon for more cool Arizona creatures, and the latest on Amazing Arizona Comics!

We came, we saw, we honored!

It's over!  Phoenix's 3rd annual celebration of Jack Kirby's birthday has passed, and this year we honored the King's 100th birthday with a multifaceted three day event I won't soon forget . . . because I recorded the whole thing!

Firstly, I'd like to thank Drawn to Comics for hosting the 24 Hour Kirby Comic Challenge.  Drawn to Comics has come up a lot here lately, not just because I co-host a podcast with shop owner Ken Brown, but because he and his wife Susan are incredible supporters of local artists like myself.  Who else would let five weirdos lock themselves in a comic shop for 24 straight hours?  

One of those weirdos was me -- the rest were four of my favorite people in Phoenix (well, one of them is in Sedona, but that's Phoenix adjacent, so it counts).  Birdie Birdashaw, Derk Harron, the Janimal, and Zoe Sugg agreed to attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge to honor Kirby, while I documented the whole thing in an attempt to create a webseries of the day.  Here's a picture of them as the sun rose over Glendale, bushy-eyed but strong-willed -- as you'll see when that webseries drops on YouTube later this year!

That Monday, the 28th, the day of Kirby's actual birthday, 10 of the Valley's funniest people gathered to roast the King's first, and perhaps most important creation -- Captain America!  My thanks to Monkey Pants Bar & Grill in Tempe for hosting our event.  If you're ever hankering wings and/or karaoke near ASU, Monkey Pants is the place.

I'll post the roast on Phoenix Tonight's YouTube page soon, but in the meantime, here's a shot of me with the Avengers in attendance.  I guess Stark had an expo, or something.

My appreciation to the comedians that made the night hilarious, and particularly to the Captain himself, who made both the 24 Hour Comic Challenge and this roast some of the most memorable events in this fanboy's life.  Follow him on Instagram @stevenrogersusa.   

I'm scheduled posts for autumn even as you read this, and of course I'm working on the latest issues of Amazing Arizona Comics, so keep your eyes glued to this very blog for the latest!

To Honor A King!

It's here!  Jack Kirby -- the King of Comics -- would've turned 100 years old on Monday, August 28, and fans here in Phoenix are planning a multi-dimensional three-day extravaganza to honor him.

At his zenith, Kirby drew five to eight pages a day, at his board for 10 to 12 hours, so we're celebrating his productivity in a special way.  On Saturday, August 26, four local artists will attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge -- they'll try drawing a 24 page comic book in 24 consecutive hours.  If that isn't hard enough, they'll pull a Kirby-inspired topic from a hat first, to use as inspiration for their story.  If you're in or around Phoenix, join us at Drawn to Comics in downtown Glendale to see the cartoonists in action, and answer Kirby trivia questions for prizes, including sketches from the artists themselves!  The festivities will start at 1 p.m. -- and everything will be recorded for a webseries we'll drop later this year.

Dig the artists' websites before you see them in action!

Birdie Birdashaw: Bunny Vomit

Derk Harron: DerkArt

Jan Marc Quisumbing: The Janimal Draws

Zoe Sugg: Zuzu Cartoons

Then, on Monday, the 28th, ten comedians will roast Captain America -- Kirby's first, most famous creation -- at Monkey Pants Bar in Tempe, at 8 p.m.  The dais will feature some of the funniest people in the Valley . . . and Captain America himself!  Kirby fancied his drawing prowess as "performance."  He was a fan of cinema and pulp magazines, so a comedy show in his honor is as eclectic as the man himself.  A raffle -- featuring some pretty cool prizes, if I do say so myself -- will benefit the Hero Initiative, so your dollar bills.

Jack Kirby inspired a lot of people.  He created a legion of timeless characters and demonstrated a work ethic that sets a high standard for anyone writing or drawing comics today.  Honoring him is as humbling as it is fun, and I hope you'll join us, if not in person, then in the future, as we post pictures and videos from these events.  Happy birthday, Jack!

Appreciation Week, part 5

Welcome back to Appreciation Week, where I thank the people and places that have brought you Amazing Arizona Comics this summer!  Today's shout-out -- Wasted Ink Zine Distro at The Hive!

Wasted Ink Zine Distro is an amazing zine and minicomics shop, open during the weekends and on special events, in Central Phoenix's The Hive, an artists' co-op that also hosts Silent Flight Coffee, the Bees' Knees Boutique, and a sweet little gallery. WIZD has carried Amazing Arizona Comics since they opened over a year ago, and I'm very grateful.

Fun Fact!  Did you know I host a live, local late night talk show?  It's true!  It's called Phoenix Tonight, and new episodes are posted monthly on YouTube.  Yes, I deliver a monologue, perform comedy bits from my desk, and interview local celebrity guests!  I've had a few notable guests from the comic industry, from my self-publishing friends Birdie Birdashaw and Tommy Cannon, to published writers like Brian Augustyn, to local shop owners like Drew Sully and Ken Brown.  It's exciting to have this unique way to combine my love of comics with late night talk shows!

Taping Phoenix Tonight with Steve Rude

Well, the latest episode was filmed at The Hive just last week, and my first guest was none other than comics legend Steve Rude!  He answered my questions about the beginning of his career, his latest projects, and meeting Jack Kirby.  The episode will be posted on YouTube soon -- click the link above to subscribe now, so you can catch it as soon as it comes out!

Many thanks to Wasted Ink and The Hive for making that show happen.  If you're ever in Central Phoenix, grab a coffee, enjoy some art in their gallery, and shop!

Next: Pants!