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!

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!