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!

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!