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!

Appreciation Week, part 6

Appreciation Week concludes -- with pants!

This week, I've been thanking the people and places that have brought you Amazing Arizona Comics this summer.  Today, I'm thanking a venue that helps keep my drawing arm moving, and that will host an event at the end of August to celebrate comics culture in an unique way.

My latest whiteboard drawing: Sparky v. Monkey.

I'm talking about Monkey Pants Bar in Tempe.  I've recently begun drawing on their whiteboard biweekly, illustrating their monthly drink and event specials.  It's been a lot of fun.  Every job I've had, there's been a whiteboard to draw on, and I'm grateful to Monkey Pants for letting me keep the dry erase love alive.  In other news --

Fun Fact!  Did you know that Jack Kirby's birthday is at the end of August?  It's true!  Jack Kirby, the guy that co-wrote and drew many of the comics that founded the Marvel Universe, was born on August 28th exactly 100 years ago.  Cities around the country will celebrate, and Phoenix is no exception.

On Saturday, August 26, four of my fellow artists will attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge at Drawn to Comics, inspired by common themes in Kirby's work.  Then, on Monday the 28th, the Valley's funniest comedians will gather at Monkey Pants to roast Kirby's most important creation -- Captain America!  And, yes, Cap will be there to take his lumps!  It's gonna be fun, funny, and downright weird.  Much more info to come!

So, again, my thanks to Monkey Pants, for taking a risk on this li'l ol' artist and his kooky visions.  Sometimes that's an art in and of itself.