DEDLOCK #1

Written and Illustrated by A.E. Sparrow

Standard Comic
Black & White
Page Count: 24

Cover Price $2.50 (POD)

Lady Draca Infernia suddenly finds herself without an empire to rule. Face-to-face with the man who helped orchestrate her downfall, she uses every trick in her bag to avenge her loss. But this man isn’t all he seems to be, and before too long the pair find their lives to be linked…in more ways than one!

When the clandestine Ordo Draco Infernium is purchased by an outside investor, its offices liquidated and its arsenal of doomsday devices confiscated, Lady Draca Infernia suddenly finds herself on the streets with no marketable skills. Determined to restore her evil empire to its former levels of glory, she finds her way blocked by one man…with matrimony on his mind!

Deadlock #1 is available through IndyPlanet.com.

Or you can stop by booth T22 at the Phoenix Comicon Memorial Day weekend and meet Al face to face…

…if you DARE!

Al will also be pimping his comic THUGS! with artist partner Stephen Reid (aka “Flint Lockjaw“) at Cactuscon.

You can check out THUGS! online here.

Al’s a great guy and has great taste in head wear!

Lin

Dedlock #1 TM and © 2010 Al Sparrow/Studio Fugazi. All rights reserved.

Read the adventures of Commander Milyo and his Agents of C.O.L.T. assault team along with the action-packed outer space excitement of Blacks Danger in Space!

If you enjoy classic cartoons like G.I. Joe, & Flash Gordon, then this is just what you need! Written by award-winning writer Shawn Pryor and featuring the artwork of the talented Andrew Charipar, this book is 72 pages of fun for all ages.

If you’d like to see more head on over to PKD Media online or stop by their booth at the Summit City Con May 22nd in Fort Wayne, IN.

Every customer that orders a copy of Agents of C.O.L.T. – Volume 1: Recipe For Destruction will receive a “FREE HEAD SKETCH” by C.O.L.T. artist Andrew Charipar!

You can pre-order your copy at the following online locations:

http://www.dcbservice.com

http://www.heroescorner.com

Don’t delay, get your copy of Agents of C.O.L.T. today!

Escape From The Asylum is an art show inspired by the Batman comics and features work by artists Jamond Bullock, John Bullock, Patrick  Tabor, Joseph Boyd, and Tony Brown.

Show runs from May 15-29, 2010 at Marshall Arts Gallery- 639 Marshall Ave. in Memphis, TN (just down the street from Sun Studios). Show is open to the public Mon-Fri 10am-7pm. For more info click here.

See ya at the opening reception- Saturday, May 15 from 6-10pm.

I personally think that comics are a collaborative creation- writers, pencilers, inkers, colorists, letterers, and editors are all a team.

If one creator gets more money, everyone should.  Royalties, bonuses, comp copies, whatever. Unless it’s a solo book, no one person is the book. Some creators’ names sell more books than others, and if they get a bigger piece of the pie that’s probably fair. But their comics wouldn’t get done without the rest of the creative team. Share the wealth.

On newsarama.com Image Comics’ Erik Larson was quoted as saying, “I don’t know of a colorist that moves the needle–so I don’t think they should get royalties–same with letterers. Sorry.”

Dave McCaig replied, “Print your books in black and white. Put your money where your mouth is if you think colorists are not essential to the team.”

I tend to agree, and other than Owly I don’t know many comics that can do without lettering, too. And every comic should have a good editor.

I’ve seen inkers save pencilers on a book.  I’ve seen colorists save inkers. I’ve picked up books because I really dug the colors or inks. I’ve also seen both butcher a book, too-and I’ve dropped a book because of bad inks/colors. Bad balloon placement and fonts can take a reader out of a story. And without a letterer and the credits how would we know who did what on a comic!

I’m not crazy that there’s a food chain in comics- and that colorists and letterers tend to be considered at the bottom of it.

Shame when they’ve had to pull a late writer or penciler’s fat out of the deadline fire.

Lin

Mike and the Ninja creator BrianRhodes (L) and well, the Ninja- or at least one of them.

There was one on Saturday (Josh) and one on Sunday (Thomas- above).

Mike and the Ninja is a webcomic where things just never go right for Mike and when he meets a ninja named Stu his life is never the same again.

What I really liked about meeting the MATN Crew was that they had a good table set up, including printed copies of the comic (some standing up, some fanned out on the table), fliers, stickers, a price list, and the name of the comic across the front of the table. But what really made them stand out was a booth ninja! The ninja would stand very still in front of the booth and when someone would walk in front of their table the ninja would spring into action and hand the potential reader a flier or sticker while striking a martial arts pose. It was a lot of fun to watch, especially when the ninja would catch someone not paying attention to their surroundings! The creator of Mike and the Ninja and “introvert at heart” Brian Rhodes decided to try something new at his hometown show this year when his cardboard stand up of  Stu the ninja was damaged earlier in a move. He enlisted a couple friends to don a mask and black ninja attire and help him promote his comic. It worked, and worked well. One of the other things I noticed was the Mike and the Ninja web address (URL) on all of their promotional items. Why is that so important some folks may ask- well, for a webcomic it’s everything. You’d be surprised at how many creators forget to promote their website.

I’ve said it before, if you’re going to set up at a show bring a friend. Most shows will let you bring an extra person to work your table, if not it’s worth paying a bit extra to have another body there. If you’re a bit shy and have a friend who isn’t bring them, give them a tee with your logo or art on it and let them be your pitch man(or pitch woman). If you have a friend who doesn’t mind dressing up as one of the characters in your book bring them. If nothing else you’ll get a bit more attention for your booth/table and have someone there to talk to and/or watch your booth if you want to do sketches,  go see some of the show, meet with editors, or go visit the restroom- very important for a weekend show!

Good luck to Brian and “Mike and the Ninja”.

Lin/neenjah

Free Comic Book Day is a single day – the first Saturday in May each year – when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

I’ll be at the Cape Girardeau Comic Con this weekend.  Cape Comic Con is partnering with FCBD (Free Comic Book Day) and will be giving away free comics Saturday, May 1
while supplies last.

If you’re in the Memphis area stop by Comic Cellar or Comics and Collectibles. If you’re in Phoenix stop by Samurai Comics and say hi to my Bushi Tales partner and DC Comics artist Dave Beaty.

To find out more about FCBD click here.

The SIVADS of March!

March 25-28

A four-day tribute through art, film, music and words to the late Watson Davis, the innovative Malco ad man and ballyhoo specialist known for his elaborate movie promotions and who, in his guise as the ‘horror host’ known as Sivad (on the “Fantastic Features” program from 1962 to 1972 on WHBQ-TV Channel 13), was one of the most influential and beloved Memphis pop-culture heroes of the era, with a popularity that crossed generational and racial lines. He also scared the willies outta me as a kid here in Memphis in the late 60″s!

The new Art Of Bushi Tales book is now available!

Written and Illustrated by Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, Micah Stewart

Standard Sized Trade Paperback
Full Color
Page Count: 100
POD

$19.95 (+s/h)

Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, and Micah Stewart take you behind the scenes in the Art of Bushi Tales. See the scripted page come alive from pencil sketches to painted art. Includes a special guest artist gallery featuring art by Bret Blevins, Scott Clark, Greg Cravens, Andrew Charipar, Harold Jennett, Martheus Antone Wade, and more! A must have for art lovers and Bushi Tales fans.

It’s is the 31st century of man and the ancient world has returned. Four female Samurai are sent on a quest by Hachiman, the god of war, in this post-apocalyptic series created by Dave Beaty (X-men: Sword of the Braddocks, Adventure Comics, Brightest Day) and Lin Workman (Stargodz, Scared Silly, CGS: The End).

The book is available from Indy Planet. If you’d like to have one personalized or pick up a copy in person Dave, Micah and I will all be at the Phoenix Comicon (Cactuscon) this May, so if you’re in the area stop by the Bushi Tales booth and say hi.

I should have news on the Bushi Tales trade paperback coming soon- stay “tooned”!

Lin

I’ll be on Channel 3′s Live at 9 morning show this Monday morning talking about the upcoming MidSouthCon (March 12-14 in Olive Branch, MS).

I’ve been on before with Alex and Marybeth pimping my comic Bushi Tales. This time I’ll be pimping the art and comics programming MSC will have to offer sci-fi fans next month at the con.

This year’s con will have Kevin J. Anderson, Gail Simone, Billy Tackett, John Jackson Miller, and many more!

I’ll have at least one of my paintings there, and should be doing some sketching live.

You can see one of my paintings in an interview about the con on Fox13 here. (Thanks, Carlin!)

Lin

Here are a couple of his new projects that are coming out soon-

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #7 (OF 7)

On Sale FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Written by JAMES ROBINSON; Art by MAURO CASCIOLI with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

This is the big one! After the catastrophes seen in issues #5 and #6, a hero loses control, leading to an unexpected ending that will fundamentally change the lives of the World’s Greatest Heroes forever. This issue launches a major storyline in the DC Universe and is not to be missed.

TITANS #23

On sale MARCH 17

Written by EDDIE BERGANZA

Art by ANGEL UNZUETA with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

Spotlight on Red Arrow! As Roy Harper lies in critical condition after the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5, his fever dreams show him the perfect future life he wants for the Titans. Unfortunately for him, it’s a life the Titans will never see.

Be sure to stop by the Bushi Tales table at the Pheonix Cactuscon this May to see what else Dave has been up to.

Hopefully he’ll be able to announce what else he’s got lined up soon.

Congrats, Dave!

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Lex Luthor For Sale

If you’d like one of my paintings now’s your chance!

I originally did this to show at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL a couple years ago, and ended up donating it to the HERO Initiative art auction at the Phoenix Cactuscon. Noel Neill (the ORIGINAL Lois Lane) was kind enough to sign it for me before the auction (she starred with Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns).

Well, it’s back up for auction- this time on ebay by Brandon Ladd Burkey, owner of Crossroads Entertainment Co., LLC. and the guy who bought it in Phoenix. Minimum bid is $200 and apparently you get one of my sketchbooks, too.

Best I remember this one is approx. 2′x3′ and it’s airbrush acrylic on canvas.

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PHOENIX OR BUST!

Speaking of PHX, it’s official- Dave and I have been listed as guests for this May’s Phoenix Cactuscon. We’ll be there with Micah and Nicki and are looking forward to checking out the new con digs!

Oh- Noel Neill will be there, too!

Hope to see you there-

Lin