Available Now: Amazing Arizona Comics #45!

Amazing Arizona Comics #45 is now available in print or full-color digital! Learn the strange truth behind the last four -- eight -- twelve -- years of American politics, with the most hair-raising conspiracy theory you've ever heard of!

Click here to select your print or digital copy today!

Happy Free Comic Book Day 2020!

Thank you for visiting Amazing Arizona Comics! Saturday, May 2, 2020, was Free Comic Book Day, and I made this sizzle reel to participate in Drawn to Comics' virtual event. Click that link and take a tour of the Valley's coolest cartoonists!

My gratitude to everyone that has supported Amazing Arizona Comics during quarantine by requesting the complimentary issues I offered in April and by buying book via TRIBE Direct! Purchasing issues now lets me know you'll want more later! Issues #41-#43, coming soon!

Welcome to Amazing Arizona Comics!

The Latest Amazing Arizona Comics

The end of 2019 saw the release of Amazing Arizona Comics issues #38-39, featuring the origin of Samantha Brero, and #40, an issue-long adventure starring yours truly and inked by some of the best cartoonists I know.  

These issues, along with the entire Amazing Arizona Comics catalog, are now available via TRIBE Direct, a fellow self-publisher and new distributor of small press comics. The TRIBE team has done an incredible job organizing and offering my comics these past few months -- check out everything they have to offer!

Amazing Arizona Comics #1 Trailer

You heard it here first: May is officially Amazing Arizona Comics Month!  All month long, I'll be posting back issue spotlights, future issue previews, character bios, and much more.  Today, our first offering for Amazing Arizona Comics Month, falls under the "much more" category.

My brother Kyle joined me on producing Amazing Arizona Comics a few years ago, coloring every issue from that point both forward and backward. He lives in Connecticut, but, like me, he grew up in Arizona, so he's very familiar with much of the subtext of our stories.  Here's a rare photo of him and me at a comic con together (specifically, the Small Press Expo in Maryland).

As if his coloring duties weren't enough, Kyle has decided to animate some of our stories, starting with teaser trailers for key back issues.  So, to kick off Amazing Arizona Comics Month, here's the debut of the teaser trailer for Amazing Arizona Comics #1!  Makes sense, right?

Incidentally, you can follow all of our video production projects on our YouTube channel, KazBro Productions, including our comics-themed miniseries Kirby For A Day and Phoenix's own talk show, Phoenix Tonight.  Subscribe to see more motion comics, coming soon!

Kirby For A Day: Chapter 2

The second episode of Kirby For A Day is on Facebook now!  Check out four Arizona artists honoring Jack Kirby's 100th birthday with the 24 Hour Comic Challenge -- filmed on location at Drawn to Comics in Glendale!  Of course, it's hosted by me, and masterfully edited by my brother Kyle.  These episodes are short and sweet -- check it out here!  Now!

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 5

Welcome back to Appreciation Week, where I thank the people and places that have brought you Amazing Arizona Comics this summer!  Today's shout-out -- Wasted Ink Zine Distro at The Hive!

Wasted Ink Zine Distro is an amazing zine and minicomics shop, open during the weekends and on special events, in Central Phoenix's The Hive, an artists' co-op that also hosts Silent Flight Coffee, the Bees' Knees Boutique, and a sweet little gallery. WIZD has carried Amazing Arizona Comics since they opened over a year ago, and I'm very grateful.

Fun Fact!  Did you know I host a live, local late night talk show?  It's true!  It's called Phoenix Tonight, and new episodes are posted monthly on YouTube.  Yes, I deliver a monologue, perform comedy bits from my desk, and interview local celebrity guests!  I've had a few notable guests from the comic industry, from my self-publishing friends Birdie Birdashaw and Tommy Cannon, to published writers like Brian Augustyn, to local shop owners like Drew Sully and Ken Brown.  It's exciting to have this unique way to combine my love of comics with late night talk shows!

Taping Phoenix Tonight with Steve Rude

Well, the latest episode was filmed at The Hive just last week, and my first guest was none other than comics legend Steve Rude!  He answered my questions about the beginning of his career, his latest projects, and meeting Jack Kirby.  The episode will be posted on YouTube soon -- click the link above to subscribe now, so you can catch it as soon as it comes out!

Many thanks to Wasted Ink and The Hive for making that show happen.  If you're ever in Central Phoenix, grab a coffee, enjoy some art in their gallery, and shop!

Next: Pants!

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!

March Sale!

March is a month full of holidays, if you look close enough at the calendar!  The 14th is Pi Day, the 15th is the Ides of March, and of course the 17th is St. Patrick's Day. Last year, Santa Claus and the Arizonauts experienced the best and worst of these tumultuous times, as St. Nick tried to reconnect with his humanity by driving a cab in the Valley, only to have some leprechauns flee their fare on Mill Avenue.  It probably happens more often than you'd think!  Fortunately, the mishap gave Santa a chance to use his new utility belt . . . 

Meanwhile, the Arizonauts were battling the alien 3.1Force in Black Canyon City, home of the world's best pie! 

Here's your opportunity to snag this adventure, featured in Amazing Arizona Comics #21, along with issues #19 and #20, for only $3.14! That's right -- this three pack is usually $5, but for a limited time, it's only $3.14 in honor of all of March's special days.  Postage included! Featuring covers by Brent Otey, the Janimal, and J.P. Manzanares!

Just click the Paypal button below, and please include your mailing address!  Issues will be mailed shortly after purchase.

It's Another Labor Day Weekend Sale!

That's right, folks!  Just click the Paypal button below, include your address, and for only $3 receive three totally random issues of Amazing Arizona Comics via the good ol'-fashioned U.S. Postal Service -- this week!  That's normally a $5 value!  Forget pumpkin spice lattes -- this is how to kick off autumn, baby!

The offer will indeed expire at the end of Labor Day -- so act now!

It's Another Labor Day Weekend Sale!

That's right, folks!  Just click the Paypal button below, include your address, and for only $3 receive three totally random issues of Amazing Arizona Comics via the good ol'-fashioned U.S. Postal Service -- this week!  That's normally a $5 value!  Forget pumpkin spice lattes -- this is how to kick off autumn, baby!

The offer will indeed expire at the end of Labor Day -- so act now!

Friend of Amazing Arizona Comics: Birdie Birdashaw!

Wow, I've really done a terrible job maintaining this blog.  Thankfully, that's because I've been drawing the comic!  The first act of Santa's yearlong adventure with the Arizonauts concluded in Amazing Arizona Comics #22, but we still have two acts to go, jumping headfirst into the sweltering summertime!  Issues are available in the "Buy The Comics" tab above.

To encourage my interest in updating you online, I've decided to share some "Friends of Amazing Arizona Comics" -- the artist friends whose work I admire and that inspire me to keep putting pen to paper.

The first is Birdie Birdashaw, Phoneix-based webcomic cartoonist and haiku master.  Recently, for an episode of my live, local late night talk show Phoenix Tonight, Birdie contributed an illustration for our kooky comic con cosplay comedy bit. So, with only the name to compel him, Birdie visualized the guy dressed as his favorite demonic do-gooder that was unprepared for the Arizona heat -- it's Hot As Hellboy!

Speaking of comic con, at this year's Phoenix Comicon, I beheld Birdie's brilliance as a haiku writer.  He asked me to join him for a panel about the poetry of comics, and I was honored to oblige.  Toward the end of our discussion, Birdie accepted topics from the audience to draft impromptu haiku -- kind of like a "Who's 5-7-5 lines is it?"

Someone shouted, "Write about the first time you wrote a poem!"  In two minutes, maybe, Birdie wrote and read this:

she made me angry

I listened to such sad songs

my first broken heart

-- Birdie Birdashaw

It was moment of spontaneity, wit, and vulnerability I won't soon forget.  One of our panel attendees sketched us during our chat, and I've cropped her pictures to recreate how Birdie and I sat on stage.

So, maybe you weren't there in real life, but now you can virtually experience our panel, gazing at that sketch and marveling at Birdie's ability!

Check out Birdie's webcomic at Bunny Vomit.  It's an anthropomorphic autobiography that keeps the comic strip format fresh and funny.  If you drop him a line, tell him Amazing Arizona Comics sent you!

Hello, Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest!

Welcome to Amazing Arizona Comics!  If you're visiting my site because you swung by my table at Phoenix Comicon's Fan Fest, thank you for your support!  You'll notice this is the first post in a while, but that isn't because I haven't been productive.  I've managed to self-publish a new issue of my little local superhero satire monthly since May, with no plans of stopping now.  In fact, you may have picked up a preview for next year's mega-arc, featuring Santa Claus . . . that same prologue is below, but in color, thanks to my brother's contribution to my series.

As we get closer to the new year, I'll update with more previews, including where and when to find the books when they drop monthly.  Back issues can be easily ordered here via Paypal, as well.

If you love looking at Arizona news, culture, and history through a silly superhero lens, you're in the right place!  Stay tuned!

Oh, and if you scored a sketch from me during the show, please post it on Instagram, tagging @amazingazcomics.  I enjoyed doing it, and I love sharing them.