Meet Samantha Brero!

Amazing Arizona Comics Month continues!  Today's post starts with a shout-out to my friend Derk Harron.  I was a guest on his new podcast, Here Comes the Pitch, featuring local writers and artists pitching story ideas to each other.  The latest episode features Derk's pitch for The Helmet, a fun concept that struck me similarly to Marvel's The Sentry in its scope and potential for exploring the history of superhero comics.  Listen to our episode on iTunes, SoundCloud, iHeart Radio, or his own website, right here!

If you don't already know,  this Saturday is Free Comic Book Day.  Comic book shops across the country will be giving away free comics, made specifically for this special day -- and, for many shops in Arizona, Amazing Arizona Comics will be among their priceless offerings. This year's FCBD story is an excerpt from Amazing Arizona Comics #33, featuring Sam and Samantha Brero.  If you aren't in Arizona, or your local comic shop runs out of issues, have no fear -- Sam Brero's story will appear right here, on this very blog, on Saturday in a very special way.  In the meantime, I'm excited to introduce you to Sam's friend, Samantha Brero.

Samantha's origin story hasn't been shared in the pages of Amazing Arizona Comics yet, but we know that she and Sam have similar alien sombreros that, when donned by a worthy wearer, transform him or her into their personal perception of a hero.  Samantha's look is obviously inspired by "la adelita," or the warrior women of the Mexican Revolution.  "La Adelita" was once a musical ballad and has developed to describe strong women throughout Mexican culture.  Samantha Brero was clearly an admirer, and now a successor to the title.

Tomorrow, I'll be at Drawn to Comics in downtown Glendale, giving away copies of Sam and Samantha Brero's latest adventure.  If you can't catch me there (or even if you can), come back here to see the Arizonauts face . . . "The Cold Hand of Justice!"

The Drawn to Comics Podcast

Since I started self-publishing Amazing Arizona Comics in 2010, I've been very lucky to meet some incredible people in the local comics scene.  Among them is Ken Brown, who runs a great local comics shop in downtown Glendale, Arizona.  This year, his Drawn to Comics was named one of the nation's best comic book stores in the country by TravelandLeisure.com, and it's the setting of my webseries Kirby For A Day.

Last year,  Ken asked me to join him for a podcast hosted by the Geek News Network, and I was honored.  We get together and record a few times a month, and I've begun posting the shows on my feed, too, clickable right here, in the right column.  Dig our last two episodes, as we talk the latest comic news over breakfast at Bitz-ee Mama's in Glendale.  It's superhero analysis as you've never heard it before -- through mouthfuls of bacon!

Seriously, Ken is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, and his insight as a fan and retailer is invaluable.  Even if you aren't in Arizona, you can support Drawn to Comics . . . by listening to it!  Perfect for those holiday roadtrips!  If you are in Arizona, come say hi to Ken and me this Saturday.  I'll be at Drawn to Comics for its Holiday Artist Series, with Forever Etched Mirrors and Glass.  Come see what all the hype is about!

Appreciation Week Begins!

It's been nearly two months since I've updated the ol' blog . . . no, I didn't take that long to recover from this year's 24 Hour Comic Challenge, thankyouverymuch!  I've been busy making and selling Amazing Arizona Comics, of course!

I owe this busy summer to a lot of folks willing to take a chance on Amazing Arizona Comics, so I thought I'd spend the next few days expressing my appreciation to local and state-away businesses that have offered time and space to me these past several weeks.  You can never have enough gratitude, people!

Speaking of that 24 Hour Comic Challenge, my first Gratitude Platitude goes out to Drawn to Comics.  Ken and Susan Brown were kind enough to let me draw in their storefront window again, and they've upped the ante of their hospitality by agreeing to host a part of this year's Phoenix Celebrates Jack Kirby's 100th Birthday (more to come on that next week). Drawn to Comics recently won a spot on TravelandLeisure.com's Best Comic Book Stores in U.S. list, so I couldn't be more honored to work with them.  

Fun Fact!  Did you know DTC's Ken Brown and I co-host a podcast, aptly called the Drawn to Comics Podcast?  It's true! Here's an episode where Ken and I talk about our recent comics-related happenings, on SoundCloud.

If you're in the Metro Phoenix area, visit Drawn to Comics and tell 'em Russ sent ya.  It's a great shop, run by great people that love comics.  Oh, and here's the cover to that issue I drew in their window. . .

Next: San Diego or bust!

Stuck In Traffic: The Podcast

By night, I'm a joke-telling, minicomic-making machine . . . but by day, I often find myself stuck in traffic.  That's when I have thoughts -- deep, sometimes angry thoughts -- about the world, the way it works, and how we can make it better.  I've begun recording these rants as micro-podcasts.  Here's the latest episode.  It may not seem related to Amazing Arizona Comics, but consider that these monologues are recorded on the streets of Phoenix, and like the heroes in those minicomics, they want to save the world from itself. Is that too much to ask?

Thank You, Phoenix Comicon!

This year's Phoenix Comicon was an incredible success for Amazing Arizona Comics, thanks to the many fans that visited the table for the latest issue or a free sketch -- and the fully funded completion of the Amazing Arizona Comics Monthly 2015 Kickstarter!  Whether you help financially, or with moral support, your support is very much appreciated.  You're helping tell our Arizona story, and I thank you for it.

Speaking of storytelling, here's the next episode of the KaraokeFanboy Podcast, which, following a replay of my KTAR interview from the Phoenix Comicon floor, features an interview with Jaclyn Rene Cosplay and Chris Stawisky, all about cosplay.  Enjoy!