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!

Thank You, FanFest!

Last weekend was Phoenix Comicon's FanFest, and Amazing Arizona Comics shared a table with Forever Etched Mirrors & Glass.  I had a fun time saying hi to friends from past shows and meeting fans looking for minicomics or a free sketch, like this great group of kids from the Prescott Library's comic book club.  I'll post more about the show (and where to find me next) later this week, but I wanted to say thanks to everyone that swung by the table to catch our etches and sketches.  More to come!

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!

Appreciation Week, Part 2!

Welcome back to my Week of Appreciation!  This week, I'm saying thanks to the people and places that have made this summer a great one for Amazing Arizona Comics.  Today: Comickaze Comic Books and More in San Diego!  

Tens of thousands of pop culture enthusiasts flock to San Diego every July for the big comic con, and this year I was no exception -- except, I wasn't headed to the heart of the action in the historic Gaslamp District.  Comickaze Comic Books just a few miles away was hosting a remote artists' alley at the same time.  The opportunity both to be in town yet be away from the claustrophobia of the con really appealed to me, so my incredibly talented buddy Dave and I hit the road for sunny San Diego that fateful weekend!

Fun Fact: Dave drew the cover for Amazing Arizona Comics #28, featuring Speed Cameron and Santa Claus fighting zombies on the light rail! Find his work at The Vasic -- it's the best brushwork you'll see in comics this side of Paul Pope.

Comickaze is nestled in a Naval barracks-turned-shopping complex called Liberty Station, and the grounds are very cool.  I didn't realize we'd be so close to the San Diego Comic Art Museum.  I've read so much about that place, especially since TMNT co-creator Kevin Eastman seems to help curate.  I spent an awestruck hour in there, marveling at the Kirby and Dave Stevens originals in the gallery, and chuckling at the familiarity of Eastman's messy studio (pictured below).  For a comic book lover, it was a quiet, spiritual experience, in contrast to the hustle and bustle of the con crowd.

Not that they didn't come in due time. WildStorm Productions hosted a signing at the museum that night, and fans eager to see Jim Lee and company started lining up early. Dave had a chance to meet some of his idols in the industry, so it was a great taste of comic con culture all around.

Comickaze is a cool shop, lined with an extensive selection of graphic novels -- and their kids' corner is very cool.  That day, they were wisely playing YouTube clips of Marvel's TL;DR on a TV monitor; I had never heard of that series, but what a fun way to tease and promote books in a comic shop. Thank you, Comickaze, for a great day in San Diego!

Shout-outs to my friends the Berreths for letting us crash at their place, and to Ruben and Jessica for hanging out.  See you again soon!

Next: 9!

My Top Two Memories from Phoenix Comicon '17!

This is it!  The post nearly a month in the making!  I've been sharing my top 10 memories from Phoenix Comicon . . . and here, finally, are my top two!

2.  Speed Cameron Cosplay!

Last year, when a young man coincidentally named Cameron came to my table in Artists' Alley, cosplaying as Amazing Arizona Comics hero Speed Cameron, I cried.

True cosplayers (not the fans that wear store-bought Halloween costumes, though they get an "A" for effort) are incredible artists, implementing a blend of practical crafting and fashion design to transform two-dimensional character designs into affordable, portable costumes.  It's not easy.

When I designed Speed Cameron, I never thought anyone would dress up as him.  I didn't think of how back-heavy his head piece would be, or if his stripes were painted or adhered.  (For the record, after drawing him a few times, I presumed he applied reflective tape to a gray bicycling suit.)  Cameron and his mom overcame those obstacles and, like any cardboard Iron Man, made a likeness as believable as it is unbelievable.  Many of the characters we see represented via cosplay were my heroes when I was a kid.  That Speed Cameron now dwells among them is an overwhelming thought -- not to mention a blast to see!

You can see quite a few pics of Cameron as Speed Cameron from this and last year on my Instagram, @amazingazcomics.   This one is my new favorites.

1.  Sue

My first Phoenix Comicon, I had a table next to Sue, a crafter that makes pop culture-themed accessories.  Dr. Who hair bows, Supernatural pencil bags . . . you name it, it's probably been on her table at some point.  I quickly became friends with Sue and her granddaughters, Alicia and Paige, and we agreed to team-up for every show.  We secure neighboring tables, and I always have someone to watch my stuff when I run to the bathroom!  It's an incredible partnership -- and friendship -- perhaps initially unlikely because Sue is an older woman and I'm a 30-something dude, but she and I have a lot in common, including a love for Monkee Davy Jones.  In many ways, sitting with Sue for the four days of comic con is the lynchpin of my year.  Regardless of anything else that might happen, personally or professionally for 361 days, for four days Sue will be there with a portable phone charger, a funny story, and one of the biggest hearts I've ever known. I snuck this picture of her on Sunday, because she was just reading a Batman comic.  She was into it.  That's one cool lady.

My thanks to everyone that visited the table, bought some comics, or caught me on the floor of Phoenix Comicon this year.  I had a great time, and I'm happy to see Amazing Arizona Comics is catching on.  Believe me, there's more to come!

Top 10 Favorite Moments from Phoenix Comicon!

Hey, gang!  Welcome to my next favorite moment from this year's Phoenix Comicon!

9. Familiar Character Cosplay!

I'm getting old.  I don't recognize half of the characters I see fellow fans cosplaying at comic con.  From anime to video games to Dr. Who, I just don't have the geek cred to keep up with everything that's popular . . . which is why it's so exciting to see characters I loved as a kid!  Sherlock Holmes?  The Greatest American Hero?!  THE SORCERESS?! It's nice to know the worlds I inhabited as a child are still vibrant in the multiverse. 

Thank You, Phoenix Comicon 2017!

If you're visiting Amazing Arizona Comics because you picked up an issue or a sketch from my Artists Alley table at Phoenix Comicon, welcome to my little corner of the Internet!  Phoenix Comicon was a historical show this year, for many reasons, but I'd like to focus on the positive and share my top 10 favorite moments from the weekend.  Come back over the next few days to see the list in its entirety!  Firstly . . .

10. High Concept Sci-Fi Horror Mash-up! by the Klute

My friend the Klute -- national award-winning slam poet -- asked me to illustrate the cover of his latest nerd-centric poetry collection, and I couldn't be more honored.  Dig poems that feature Aquaman, Frankenstein's monster, Cthulhu, and more in this sweet softcover edition.  Copies are still available via therealklute@gmail.com on Paypal!