SPACE Specials & Freebies

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for free passes and maybe a tee shirt or two.

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2010 SPACE Prize Finalists

We are proud to announce the Finalists for the 2010 SPACE Prize.

General Category:

Cragmore Book One by Pat N. Lewis
The Ginkgo and the Marriage Tree by Amber Scharf
Lackluster World #6 by Eric Adams
Mirror Mind by Tory Woollcott
Panel 13 to 15 Edited by Dara Naraghi, Tony Goins & Sean McGurr
Radio Free Gahanna by James Moore & Joel Jackson
Reed Gunther #3 by Shane Houghton & Chris Houghton
Spud & Harry by Mike Kitchen
Tiny Life- Left by Nick Jones & Nicolas Colacitti
Trickster Edited Matt Dembicki

Minicomic/ Short Story Category:

Board of Superheroes #2 by Matt Feazell
Candy or Medicine #7, 8 &9 &Free Comic Book Day Special Edited by Josh Blair
Cowboy Songs of the Old West by Brent Bowman
Flesh by Tory Woollcott
Plastic Farm #15-17 by Rafer Roberts & Matt Dembicki
Reed Gunther in Stupid Cows by Shane Houghton & Chris Houghton
Rooster Jack vs the Mermaids by Ben Zmith, Laura Ault & Adam Hansen
Ultimate Loss Kisses #11 by Brian John Mitchell & Dave Sim
Veggie Dog Saturn #4 by Jason Young
Xoc #1-3 by Matt Dembicki

Webcomics Category:

Champ 2010 by Jed Collins
Pretty Jeff by Jeff Gibbons
Short Pants Romance by Jordan Lowe & Michael K. Easton
Super Haters by Nick Marino
Timeless by Mike Indovina
Urban Fey by Rhea Ewing & Kimberley Long-Ewing

Go to http://www.backporchcomics.com/space_prize.htm
For more information about the SPACE Prize.

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The End

Seven years ago Eric Adams came to SPACE to aquaint the world with his new series Lackluster World. We set him up at the worst table we could possibly find, in the little room away from the crowds. He persevered. He continued to come to SPACE each year with another new issue of Lackluster World and dispite our best efforts the popularity of his series continued to grow. At SPACE 2011 he will return with the premiere of the final issue of Lackluster World entitled "The End". Just wait to see what we do to him!

Unsuspecting Eric at SPACE 2009.

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Lump of Coal #4 Now Available

The Art Explorer Post 407 Comics Group is back with another Lump of Coal,the mini-comic stocking stuffer for that scrooge in your life. It's the fourth issue of Christmas strips with a bad attitude. All proceeds go to the Post for art supplies and trips. 20 page mini for 0nly $1.50

Available at http://www.backporchcomics.com/back_porch_comics.htm
Update:

Now available at The Laughing Ogre, Packrat Comics and the Devonshire Elementary Craft Show on December 4

http://www.greatschools.org/ohio/columbus/549-Devonshire-Alternative-Elementary-School/

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Lucy Shelton Caswell retires from cartoon library

Lucy Shelton Caswell plans to retire as Curator of the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum, effective December 31, 2010. Starting in March, she will return part time as Curator for Special Projects.
Associate Curator Jenny Robb will become Curator on January 1, 2011.
Congratulations to both Lucy and Jenny. We wish them the best in their new roles.

Read more: http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2010/11/12/lucy-shelton-caswell-retires-from-cartoon-library/#ixzz15NJsOJpv

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Genghis Con November 27

The small press, independent print media, underground comix exposition GENGHIS CON is back for year two in 2010, at The Beachland Ballroom, in Cleveland Ohio. The Saturday after Thanksgiving, this year it's November 27th, from noon to 6pm.
Beachland Ballroom 15711 Waterloo Cleveland OH
SPACE Exhibitors Andy Bennett, Dara Naraghi, Dave Arhar ,Kris Lachowski, Michael Neno, Molly Durst, Pat Lewis, Tom Williams, Ray Tomzcak and Bob Corby will be in attendance.
http://genghisconcleveland.blogspot.com/

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Up! Fair Nov. 19-20

The Up! Fair , A celebration of sequential art and the independent publisher, is scheduled for November 19 & 20 in Lexington KY. SPACE Exhibitors, Justin Stewart, Kenn Minter, Ryan Dow, Eric Adams, Chad Strohl , Chad Strohl and Victor Dandridge will be in attendance. http://mlatcomics.com/upfair/


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Mid-Ohio Con

Mid-Ohio Con will take place on 11/6 & 11/7 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center 400 N. High St. Columbus OH
In attendence will be SPACE exhibitors Chris Pritchard, Clint Basinger, Dustin Carson, Frank Cvetkovic, Joseph Morris, Justin Castaneda, Nik Havert, Penny Dreadful Press, RAK Graphics, Steven Myers, Studio Akumakaze, Tom Scioli, Tony Goins, Andy Bennett, Dara Naraghi, Lora Innes, Sean McKeever, Dean Stahl and Bob Corby For more info go to
http://midohiocon.blogspot.com/

Back Porch Comics will be giving out free hand printed "SPACE" bags. Also Oh,Comics! #19 "Fire" will be available.

See a preview at Back Porch Comics.

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Congrats are in order...

What do fellow exhibitors Nate Powell, Paul Hornschemier, and myself have in common? We all got married in the past couple of months. No not to each other, though Paul does have good birthing hips. High fives all around.


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SPACE on the Move

SPACE is on the move. SPACE is now a sponsor of 24 hour comics day at Packrat Comics on 10/2 http://www.24hourcomicsday.com/
SPACE 2010 Photos are up on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/28474162@N08/sets/72157623919593728/
We are also now on Twitter http://twitter.com/SPACE_CON , facebook http://www.facebook.com/people/Bob-Corby/1000482943 and on poopsheet http://poopsheetfoundation.com/jomsocial/101-bob-corby/profile with almost daily updates and info on SPACE, SPACE exhibitors and other small press news.
We will be at Pix (Pittsburgh Indy Comics Expo) 10/16-17 http://homepage.mac.com/bem/PIX/index.html
And Back Porch Comics will have Oh,Comics! #19 "Fire" ready to go at Mid-Ohio Com 11/6-7 http://midohiocon.blogspot.com/
SPACE (Small Press & Alternatve Comics Expo)
March 19 & 20, 2011
Ramada Plaza Hotel & Conference Center
4900 Sinclair Road Columbus, OH 43229
http://www.backcporchcomics.com/


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Two things...

Haven't been on here in a whiles yo.

Coming up fast on what will be a nice fall for comic fans in the 614 area code:

Beginning on October 8th, The Columbus Museum ofArt will be showing originals from Robert Crumb's Genesis adaptation. Part of a touring exhibit. I'm pretty stoked about that. The exhibit runs thru mid-January 2010.

Also from October 14th thru the 17th, the OSU Cartoon Library will be hosting the Bi-annual Festival of Cartoon Art. There'll be quite a few panels of interest and a great guest list. Highlights include Matt Groening, Art Spiegelman, Patrick McDonnell, Roz Chast, and many more.

Then there's the Mid-Ohio Con. November 6-7th.

Past exhibitor, Steve Hamaker has a nice write-up in the local alt-weekly this week. His collected Fish N' Chips is now available for pre-order thru Diamond (order code# AUG100915F). Kid friendly and delicious.

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Champion City Comic Con this Saturday

Champion City Con 2010 is almost here. September 11, 2010 at Wittenberg,

Here's a taste of what is in store for you this year. For more and up to date information visit www.championcitycon.com .

Overnight guests can receive a discounted rate at Country Inn & Suites by reserving as a Champion City Con attendee. 937-322-2200 or at http://www.countryinns.com/ .

Hack/Slash invades Champion City! Series creator and writer Tim Seeley will be here along with series artist Daniel Leister. Rumor has it that Cassie herself may even make an appearance. (...and the omnibus came in today, and it's awesome, cause you can't find any back issues... ever).

Vendors, Special Guests and friends are welcome to attend "An Evening with Hack/Slash and Ron Fortier"- Dinner and drinks at a local establishment with Tim, Daniel and Ron from 6pm-8pm Friday, September 10.

Please email riles@mainstcomicsandgames.com if you plan to attend as seating is limited to 40. There is no charge to attend. Dinner and drinks are extra.

There are far too many creators, writers and artists to name them all... so I'll just throw out a few:

Ron Fortier- Daughter of Dracula, Green Hornet, Terminator and much more. Ron's appearance is sponsored by Chuck Moore and Comic Related. www.comicrelated.com

Josh Medors- Conan, Frank Frazetta's Dark Kingdom, Vengeance of Moon Knight and he even did some early work on Hack/Slash. Josh is battling a very aggressive form of spinal cancer and will be the recipient of this year's Champion City Live Auction proceeds.

Chad Lambert, Andy McGinn, Matt Smith, Freestyle Komics, Studio Akumakaze, Dave Arhar, Dustin Carson, Sean Forney and many, many more. I'll have a complete list on the convention site soon. www.championcitycon.com

Attending vendors include:

Main Street Comics & Games, Bell, Book & Comics, Super-Fly Comics & Games, Fearless Readers, SC Collectibles, Dark Star Books, Gem City Comics, Mutant Cactus, Ben-Lore Publishing, several private collectors and more. Look for the debut of the 2011 Champion City Girls calendar. I will give you one peek.(Which apparently you'll have to scroll back up to see.)

Back Porch Comics will be present in the vendors’ area. Hope to see you there

There is also a full day of programming planned.

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737 N. Fountain Ave.

in Springfield, Ohio. The convention 10am-6pm and admission is $4 with kids under 12 free.

SPACE 2010 Photos up on Flickr

SPACE 2010 Photos up on Flickr

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2010 SPACE Prize Entries!

All the 2010 SPACE Prize entries are up at http://www.backporchcomics.com/space_prize.htm

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Pictures from SMACC

The pictures I took at SMACC are up at ComicRelated.


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S.M.A.C.C. This Weekend!

I'll be at SM.A.C.C. all weekend with the new SPACE flyer, pins and maybe a tee shirt or two. Hope to see you there.

SMACC, Southern Michigan's Arts and Creativity Conference, is a combination public arts and crafts show with an ALL-NIGHT film festival and concert. It is also an opportunity for independent artists, authors, actors, fashion designers, sculptors, wood-workers, filmmakers and other creators to develop collaborations.

SMACC will be held Saturday through Sunday, July 24 and 25, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan 11am-7pm each day, with concert and film festival lasting ALL NIGHT! Stay the night at the Doubletree for special SMACC rates starting at $79.95 per night! (Tell them you want the SMACC rate!)

Doubletree Hotel Dearborn
5801 Southfield Expressway
Detroit, MI 48228

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2010 Harvey Award nominations for SPACE Exhibitors

BEST ARTIST
Guy Davis, “BPRD: BLACK GODDESS”, Dark Horse Comics

BEST COLORIST
Steve Hamaker, “BONE: CROWN OF HORNS”, Graphix

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
Kevin Huizenga‘s “GANGES”, Fantagraphics Books

Good luck, guys.

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Jim Rugg's Steet Angel Trailer

The short film based on Jim Rugg (SPACE Exhibitor)
and Brian Maruca’s STREET ANGEL comic will be
screened on Thursday at this year’s San Diego
Comic-Con, as part of the indie film festival. The
film already won Best International Film, Best
Director and Best Actress at the Phoenix Comic-Con
and was made in Australia.

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SPACE is now on Twitter.

twitter.com/SPACE_CON

SMACC, Southern Michigan's Arts and Creativity Conference July 24 & 25

SMACC, Southern Michigan's Arts and Creativity Conference, is a combination public arts and crafts show with an ALL-NIGHT film festival and concert. It is also an opportunity for independent artists, authors, actors, fashion designers, sculptors, wood-workers, filmmakers and other creators to develop collaborations.SMACC is being held on July 24-25th, 2010 at the Doubletree Hotel in Dearborn, Michigan.
Tickets will be $10 at the door ($8 for children), but ADVANCE TICKETS are available now! Only FIVE dollars apiece!
Order at http://smacc2010.us/

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Final SPACE Interviews & Archive at Comic Related

Two hours worth of exhibitor interviews are up at Comic Related Related Recap
Also CR has archived all their SPACE coverage right here.

More Video by UVN at Blip TV

SPACE 2010 Episode 2
SPACE 2010 Episode 3
SPACE 2010 Episode 4


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UVN at SPACE 2009 on Time Warner Cable

Underground Video Network at SPACE 2009 highlight video is now available on Time Warner Cable Local On Demand Channel 411 (Columbus, Oh and Northwest Ohio).


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SPACE Interviews and Book Review Podcasts

Related Recap # 196 Brian and Raichal at SPACE with Nate Powell, Mike Watson, David Branstetter and Steven Hines
Ric's Comics Episode 14: Bruce in S.P.A.C.E. Bruce Rosenberger talks about SPACE and some of the books he went home with.


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More SPACE Coverage

Review by Dirk Bauman
Zone 4 SPACE Part 2 over at Comics Related

Zone 4 SPACE Podcast at ComicRelated

Zone 4 Podcast at ComicRelated

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Even More Reports & Photos

Con Report by Dirk Bauman
Con Report by Allen Freeman
Con Report by Josh Blair

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More SPACE Stuff

Video by Rafer Roberts
SPACE 2010 Gallery 5 at ComicRelated
The Rest of the Realy Long Panel by Rafer


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More Free Comicbook Day

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SPACE Prize Presentations at UVN

SPACE Prize Presentations video at Underground Video Network

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More SPACE Reports & Photos

Article in the OSU Lantern
Photos by Dan Taylor
SPACE 2010 Gallery 3 at ComicRelated
SPACE 2010 Gallery 4 at ComicRelated

Free Comicbook Day

Art Explorer Post 407 will be at Packrat Comics for Free Comicbook Day. Here what's happening:

Join Packrat Comics May 1, 2010 for a meet and greet with Nicholas Brendon of Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer during Free Comic Book Day. Free Concert with stand up comedians to follow. Check out www.packratcomics.com to stay informed of all the upcoming events at Packrat Comics!Free Comic Book Day

UPDATED WITH SCHEDULE FOR THE DAY!Saturday May 1, 2010 beginning at 10amFCBD is only a few days away. Below is the schedule for the day! See you May 1!

10:00AM - OPEN - Get your Free Comics face painted & jump around in the bouncy castle. Visit our artist alley section to meet the following great creators: Darryl Banks, Chris Sprouse, Josh Medors (in at 11am), Uko Smith, Dan Davis, Victor Dandridge, Mike Watson, Sean Forney, JD Larabee, Molly Durst, Joel Jackson, Stratos, Scott DM Simmons, Eric Adams, and Joshua Peters!10:30AM - Join us for some free play Mario Brothers video games in the Annex! Fun for all!10:30AM-11:30AM - Meet & Greet brunch with Nicholas Brendon. Limited to 20 participants and tickets can be purchased from either this blog or our facebook page via paypal. Tickets are $80 ea. (direction will be emailed to ticket holders)

11:00AM - Meet the Stormtroopers from Darth Vaders 501st

11:00-2:00PM - Gaming Demos - get a free War Machine Heroclix by visiting the annex and giving an RPG a try. Learn to play Magic the Gathering, Heroclix or D&D!

12:00-5:00PM - Nicholas Brendon Autograph Session (Time permitting we will host a pannel session with Nicholas from 4:30-5pm)

1:00PM - Costume Contest - Kids & Adults

2:00-4:00PM - Live Ammeture Wrestling!5:00 Nerd Night Kick Off

5:00- Video Game Play/Tournament (depending on turnout)

5:00PM - First round of our Charity Comic Book Poker Tournament (Texas Hold'Em) - buy in is $25, that gets you 25 comic from the annex to use as poker chips and to keep what you win. Have your books ready for the first hand at 5pm, as Nicholas Brendon will be an honorary player.

6:00 - Magic the Gathering Booster Draft Tournmant

5:00-10pPM- Free Concert - Comic Book Trivia between bands!

5:00- The Out

6:00 - Huge Euge

7:00 - Nerd Table

8:00 - Seven Book Trilogy

9:00 - Moto Virus

7:00PM - Second round of Charity Comic Book Poker Tournament (Texas Hold'Em) - buy in is $25, that gets you 25 comics from the annex to use as chips, you keep what you win!
Packrat Comics

3872 Lattimer Street

Hilliard, Ohio 43026

614-527-8450

packratcomics@sbcglobal.net

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First Batch of Con Reports & Photos

Video by Josh Flowers and Greg Nicholson

Photos by John Oak Dalton

Recap by Lora Innes

Photos by Adam Hansen

Con report by Shane and Chris Houghton

Photos by D. Blake Werts on Poopsheet

SPACE Day 1 at ComicRelated

SPACE Day 2 at ComicRelated

SPACE 2010 Gallery 1 at ComicRelated

SPACE 2010 Gallery 2 at ComicRelated

Comments at The Beat

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Thanks!

SPACE 2010 was a great time. Thanks to everyone who attended for making it such a great show. Hope everyone had a safe trip home. We'll be posting links to any con reports right here and evetually a list of the mountain of incredible comics that were submitted for the 2010 SPACE Prize.

SPACE Swag!

Only a few days until SPACE and it's time to show off the swag. The first 200 + people in the door will recieve a free hand printed SPACE Comics bag. Large enough to hold about 25 standard sized comics and about 100 minicomics. Since it's printed from a hand craved block and handed printed it can be re-purposed as art.

We also have not just one but two new tee shirts. A new Tom Williams two-tone design screen printed at Back Porch Comics world head quarters and the SPACE Star logo printed on a plain black tee. Sticking to our plead to screw the recession both are priced at $10.00.

See you at SPACE. See SPACE at you?(If you buy a tee shirt.)

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Ehibitor: Eric Adams

1) Tell us a little about yourself.

I'm Eric Adams. By night, I'm the creator and self-publisher of LACKLUSTER WORLD. By day, I'm the creative director of TURNSTYLE CREATIVE.

There's more coffee than blood in these veins.



2) Tell us about your comics. (In particular were did the idea for Lackluster World come from?)

The Hollywood pitch: LACKLUSTER WORLD is like FIGHT CLUB meeting OFFICESPACE in PLEASANTVILLE.

LACKLUSTER WORLD is the story of an albino man named Fahrenheit resisting the pressure he feels to change to the conforming standards of 'lackluster world'. In retaliation, he creates large-scale acts of vandalism at night and using his employment as a newspaper journalist, writes op-ed articles about said vandalism in a kind of one-two punch of media manipulation that will, ideally, sway the public away from its satisfaction of 'routine'. Adding to Fahrenheit's troubles are his aggressively religious brother and sister, Kelvin and Celsius, as they attempt to convert him to their beliefs through all forms of crazy proselytizing methods. That description may sound like some serious drama (and in a way I guess it is), but LW is a funnybook too. Sometimes, I worry I've gotten too slapsticky with it.

Where the ideas for that came from? Everywhere and nowhere. I wanted to write a story that challenged the ideas of organized religion, media manipulation, and group-think, but also included some more personal topics like how important is family and what really defines a friendship. When I started, I literally wrote a list of fragmented plot ideas, character concepts, visuals, etc and after a few months of trying to make those fragments fit together, they did! LW was birthed.



3) How long have you been self-publishing?

S.P.A.C.E. 2010 will be the beginning of my 7th year.



4) Why did you decide to start self-publishing your comics?

Because jumping into the flames is the best way to learn how not to be burned. I'm a one man show writing, drawing, publishing and marketing my comics and it has been an excellent learning experience that I would recommend to any creator that is just starting out. Self-publishing means you have to quickly learn what matters, what doesn't, and you have to force yourself to understand comickry from all its angles because you can't fall back on anyone else to handle a situation for you.

Also, I have control issues.



5) Who are your main artistic influences--both in and out of comics?

Comics-wise my biggest influence is probably Charles Burns because it was his book, BLACK HOLE, that really made me want to start making comics. I gush over Jim Rugg's art. Like-wise with Brian K. Vaughn's writing.

I watch more films than I do read comics so I'm more influenced that way. I draw immense influence from films by Wes Anderson, Darren Aronofsky, Sofia Coppola, Todd Solondz, Danny Boyle, and Christopher Nolan.



6) What comics do you read?

Lately, I've been reading a lot of Yoshihiro Tatsumi books. The only ongoing series I'm into at present is EX MACHINA, which is wrapping up soon and I'm about 20 issues behind.

Overall, I'm a terrible comic reader. I have piles and piles of unread comics.



7) What are some of your favorite books? (the kind without pictures)

All of Max Barry's books (Syrup, Jennifer Government, and Company).
Some favorites of mine that no one else has heard of (but should!) are PLEASE by Peter Darbyshire and APATHY AND OTHER SMALL VICTORIES by Paul Neilan. I also enjoy Chuck Palahniuk, Douglas Coupland, and Kurt Vonnegut.



8) Why do you thrive even in the dark corner recesses of a comic convention?

Well, I don't ALWAYS thrive, but I tend to do well more often than I do not.

Years ago, I worked as a designer of tradeshow exhibits. From there, I moved to an advertising agency where I learned the ins and outs of branding, print design, web design, marketing, public relations, and web programming. Today, I run my own small agency in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In short, I have lot of experience with promotion, marketing, and what stands out from the crowd. I just apply that knowledge to what I'm doing with comics.



9) Why are either you or Matt Feazell always the first one to sign up for SPACE each year?

It's the hats.


10) Will you have anything new for SPACE? Or are you working on anything new? Is there a series planned after LW?

LACKLUSTER WORLD #6 is finished and will be at SPACE! I'm calling it part one of the big two-part finale. Here's the plot description:

"While institutionalized, Kelvin embarks on an existential adventure with Jesus! Meanwhile, Celsius is alone for the first time and, desperate for normalcy, she employs Fahrenheit to play Kelvin's role in her life. Fahrenheit tries to sort things out between her, Herman's developing affection towards her, and the still-growing crowd of fanatics he's unintentionally inspired."

It's double-sized at 48 pages and only $6.00!

After LW, there are 3 or 4 big story ideas I want to work on and I've not decided which to do first or if comics is necessarily the best format for each of them -- the alternatives being a novel or film. I'll figure it out once I complete LACKLUSTER WORLD #7, the next and final issue of the series.



11) A priest, a rabbi and a chicken walk into a bar. What happens next?

They each run up a tab and at the end of the night are asked to cash out. The priest has no money, but offers his services in exchange. He tells the bartender he can bless the bar, its customers, and its drinks. The rabbi also has no money and offers similar services in exchange. The chicken reaches for her purse and lays down the cash for all three tabs. The priest and rabbi are very gracious and in turn offer to bless her. She replies, "Bless me? Where were to you to bless me when I was repeatedly raped by the rooster in the coop? Where were you to bless me when the farmers took all of my eggs away to be eaten, or raised my children into a life of servitude? Where were you to bless me when the farmers came to tear out all of my feathers and eat me?"

The priest and rabbi look at each other. Then, back to the chicken.

"God bless you, chicken."

"Shalom."

The chicken went home and cried herself to sleep, knowing tomorrow she would once again go to that bar and try to find the answers in the bottom of a glass.

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Exhibitor Bios are Up

The SPACE exhibitor bois as written by themselves are up at Bios

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Trickster-Anthology, Exhibit & Podcast

Trickster is a four year long comics anthology project edited by Matt Dembicki featuring original art from Evan Keeling, Mike Short and Andrew Cohen, Pat Lewis and Andy Bennett and more. The book features Trickster stories from more than 20 Native American storytellers illustrated by some of today's most dynamic indie comics artists! And we’re proud to bring you the Trickster exhibit and also to be premiering “Trickster” right here at SPACE!

...and here's the Matt Dembicki podcast interview.

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New Poster & Programing

There's a brand new poster by the esteemed Tom Williams up on the media kit page.
Also the programing is up on the programing page.

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Podcast: Interview with Joe Foo

Thanks to Joe Foo, creator of the webcomic Desmond's Comics, for agreeing to participate in our first podcast. The sound quality is a little wonky but it was an experiment. We may be doing more after we figure a few things out. And now the Joe Foo Interview

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Exhibitor: Suzanne Baumann

1) Tell us a little about yourself.
I live in Hamtramck, MI, a couple of blocks in from the Detroit border, and keep active in the cartooning and art scene that exists here. Five days a week I drive out to the suburbs to work as some sort of graphic designer/web developer hybrid. I’ve become interested in organic gardening in recent years and my backyard is covered in vegetables when it’s not covered in snow. Comic jams are my favorite sport.

2) Tell us about your comics.
They’re minicomics; mostly humorous, and the humor is usually a mixture of mundane and absurd, with lots of wordplay thrown in. Mostly. Usually. Three ongoing series have emerged over the years: As Eavesdropped, which is a collection of single-page comics based on overheard conversations; Turtleneck Boy, an anthology series open to all contributors as long as they include the title character in their submission; and The (x) of Ball Point, a sketchbook series I give away for free. In addition to these I’ve made tons of one-shot minis over the years. Whenever I have the time and an idea, I’ll make a minicomic.

3) How long have you been self-publishing?
Since 1995.

4) Why did you decide to start self-publishing your comics?
It wasn’t so much a decision as a revelation: “Really? I can print up my own comics and staple them together into a book and total strangers will buy and read them?” I like to make things, so I had no excuse not to do that.

5) Who are your main artistic influences--both in and out of comics?
I hate answering that question, because I’m influenced by everything; even things I don’t particularly like and wouldn’t want to recommend to others. If I had to narrow it down, though, I’d say the 20th century has made a big impact on my work.

6) What comics do you read?
Whatever makes its way into my hands, I read. I never really got into a regular comics-reading habit, but fortunately I accumulate a wide variety of good stuff at shows like SPACE; and through friends, colleagues, etc. It all goes on the pile and gets read by me eventually. Sean Bieri (fellow Hamtramck cartoonist) started a graphic novel book club last year, so now I’m actually reading them on a regular basis. I’m on my way to becoming a legitimate comics geek.

7) What are some of your favorite books? (the kind without pictures)
I’m especially fascinated with ephemera: magazines, textbooks, political books predicting all sorts utopian and dystopian scenarios that may or may not have come true… stuff that usually gets tossed out because it’s 20, 50, 100 years past its relevance. I read history books, too, but I really like augmenting that with the materials people were actually soaking in at the time.

8) Where did Turtle-neck Boy come from?
He came from a self-imposed deadline. I had jokes for a mini-comic scripted out, but no characters in mind for it. A comic convention was coming up fast and I wanted to have something new out, so I used myself for one of the characters and picked Turtleneck Boy (a random doodle from my sketchbook) to be my sidekick.
I didn’t want to give off the impression that Turtleneck Boy was a real guy, so I called him my imaginary friend on the cover. Then I decided that making up cartoon friends for myself was actually kinda sad, so at the last minute I added a page at the end saying “Turtleneck Boy can be your friend, too! Submit your own comic!” and people did, so now it’s an ongoing anthology series.
No one’s submitted a Turtleneck Boy origin story yet, so honestly I’m not sure where he really came from.

9) What’s in the water in Hamtramck ?
Hydrogen, oxygen, and other.

10) Will you have anything new for SPACE? Or are you working on anything new?
After a long absence, I’ve gotten back to the aforementioned Turtleneck Boy. Issue number six should be ready by SPACE, and hopefully a couple of free minis as well.


11) A chicken walks into a doctor’s office and says “_______________”.
“How can I get in on one of those health insurance coops I’ve heard so much about?”
(sorry.)

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Beyond BAM! POW! SHAZAM!

Beyond BAM! POW! SHAZAM! Saturday March 27, 7-10 pm Galleria Evangelia kicks off the spring season with an homage to comics, art and literature’s bastard love child. “Marvel” at quirky views of everyday life and politics by Columbus Dispatch Editorial illustrator Jeff Stahler, nationally syndicated cartoonist Steve Boreman, creator of “Little Dog Lost”: CCAD professors Stewart McKissick, Ben Mahan and freelancer Raymond Tomczak. Veteran Uko Smith along with young upstarts Jonathon Riddle, Mathew Calvert and Salim Cortes take comics out of the shadows of the super heroes into the literature of the future. Besides Riddle and Tomczak , Columbus' comics collective, Sunday Comix, will be represented by work from Sue Lense and Bob Corby. Join us for an evening with quirky and cosmic characters. The show runs for March 27 to April 10, 2010. See gallery hours below.

Galleria Evangelia
4269 North High St
Columbus, OH, 43214
614-354-6557
Fri - Sat: Noon - 8:00 pm
Sun: Noon - 5:00 pm
Mon-Thurs: by appointment

Exhibitor: Brian John Mitchell

You've had a chance to see the SPACE Anthology. Now meet the guy who put it together.

Brian John Mitchell makes mini-comics the size of a pack of matches for Silber Media. Some are slice of life comics & some are sci-fi horror & some are westerns. Currently out are XO, Worms, Lost Kisses, Just A Man, & Marked. Don’t be surprised if there’s a couple more series by the time SPACE comes around.
He wanted to be a writer as a child, but it didn't work out because he lost interest when he found out it wouldn't come easily for him. He had short stories & poetry published a few times when he was 17. At 19 he started a music zine called QRD which still continues online. At 21 he self-produced a hand stitched book of short stories called Subhorrea which was followed by the never printed 4 Hours Old. At 22 he started the now defunct business-card-sized zine Random Kisses, a poetry zine with an edge towards swearing & violence. At 23 he started Zombie Kisses, a zine about life after a zombie plague & personal responsibilities. In 2004 at age 29 he came back to zining with his smallest zine & first regular comic, Lost Kisses which is 50% Lad-Lit & 50% Charlie Brown. He is best known as the head of Silber Records & for his musical works under the names Remora & Small Life Form. He has a few other mini-comics called xo (about a recovering murderer with art by Melissa Gardner), Worms (a surrealist adventure with art by Kimberlee Traub), Marked (art by Jeremy Johnson), & Just A Man (art by Andrew White).

1) Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in 1975. I run a record label to make money & spend a lot of time taking care of my grandmother who has dementia (by a lot of time I mean about 13 hours a day).

2) Tell us about your comics.

Well, the first thing anybody would say when mentioning my comics is that they are only as big as a pack of matches with one panel on each page. Given that fact, I try to tell a lot of different stories. I have cowboy stuff & slice of life stuff & Lovecraftian things & a hitman story & then I’m working on a post-apocalyptic thing as well. I guess eventually I’ll do a superhero book as well, just to round things out.

3) How long have you been self-publishing?

Well, my girlfriend in high school did a zine in 1993 & so that’s when I was exposed to the small press as something I could really do myself. I started my own music zine in 1994, but it took 6 months to put it out.

4) Why did you decide to start self-publishing your comics?

I was asked to do a zine for the San Jose Museum of Contemporary Art in 2004 & I didn’t have anything I was doing at the time because I had a bad case of the girlfriends sucking away my money & energy at the time (2004). So I just wrote & drew this little comic that would only take one sheet of paper to print & it was well received, so I’ve just stuck with it.

5) Who are your main artistic influences--both in and out of comics?

I grew up on 1980s Marvel & all that stuff is forever trapped in my brain. That said, I like to think my big influences in comics are Frank Miller (particularly Daredevil & to a lesser extent Sin City), Will Eisner (I strangely haven’t really read anything before his “come back” in the 1970s), Matt Wagner (Grendel, I haven’t even read Mage for some reason), Peter Milligan (I liked Shade a lot & some of his other Vertigo stuff as well & his X-Force stuff was pretty great as well), Sam Kieth (The Maxx specifically, but Batman Secrets & some of his other work is great as well), John Ostrander (Wasteland & Grim Jack were two of the edgy books I liked in middle school), & Dave Sim (Cerebus obviously, & he actually drew a comic for me, truly ridiculous). It’s probably worth noting that my main interest in comics is the storytelling & how well the art compliments a story rather than how “good” the art actually is. Out of comics the big influences to my comics are probably Lovecraft, Kafka, Robert E. Howard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Joe Lansdale, Kathe Koja, Kathy Acker, & John O’Brien. Pretty much anything from between World War I & World War II in America is good in fiction or cinema.

6) What comics do you read?

Nowhere Band (webcomic) is always great. There’s another webcomic called Masquerade that I like a lot. I’ll read a Grendel book anytime it comes out. I read Dave Sim’s stuff as it comes out. But I generally buy trades & graphic novels over individual issues, I just want to read an entire story & I can’t remember things well enough to wait a month (or sometimes a couple of years) until the next installment comes. I’d rather read it five years out. I like Josh Howard quite a bit & wish the Pander Brothers would do more work. If I had more time & money I’d probably read a lot more & maybe get back into Marvel, but for now I feel satisfied knowing what’s going on in Marvel & DC by reading blogs & listening to some podcasts.

7) What are some of your favorite books? (the kind without pictures)

Wetwork by Philip Nutman, The Assault on Tony’s & Leaving Las Vegas by John O’Brien, A Fighting Man of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs, Brief Interviews with Hideous Men by David Foster Wallace, Working by Studs Terkel, Dreemz by Ben Stein, Songwriters on Songwriting (I can’t remember the author), Comic Book Writers on Comic Book Writing (or whatever that book is called)

8) You have mistakenly volunteered to head up the SPACE Downloadable Anthology Project. What were you thinking?

I was thinking people would send me stuff & it wouldn’t be that much work to lay out as long as they followed the specs. I have a feeling it might not come to fruition unfortunately. It’s hard to get people to do things sometimes. (Brian failed to realize the deadline was a few days away-Bob C.)

9) What is Silber Records and what's your connection with it?

Silber Records is a record label I run/own. It’s not just a little vanity label which is what people assume sometimes. We have over 80 releases & maybe a dozen artists in the roster right now. It’s on the cusp of me making a living as long as I live in poverty.

10) Will you have anything new for SPACE? Or are you working on anything new?

I try to put out as much stuff as I can. Last year at SPACE I had ten issues of Lost Kisses, four issues of XO, & three issues of Worms – so a total of 17 books. Right now I have eight more comics that I did since last year & I’m hoping to have eight more before April comes around. Also the Lost Kisses DVD is out now. & I guess the big news is Dave Sim drew Ultimate Lost Kisses #11.

11) How many chickens does it take to screw in a light bulb?

It only takes one, but the only one that could do it died a long time ago.

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SPACE Anthology 2010 Now available at ComicsXP!

With only a month to go before the show, the SPACE Anthology 2010 is ready to be downloaded for FREE at ComicsXP. SA10 is the first free download at ComicsXP and includes the work of 30 SPACE exhibitors in 24 complete stories. Sample some of the incredible and diverse work which will be at the SPACE 2010. Check out the line up.



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"The Art and History of the Cartoon"- The Works Museum

News Release

Media Contact:Lyn Logan-Grimes, Museum Art Coordinator

The Works: 740-349-9277, ext. 232mailto:232lvn.logan-grimes@attheworks.org

'The Art and History of the Cartoon,' exhibit coming to The Works Museum
NEWARK, OH -The Works Museum in Newark Ohio will host a special exhibit titled "The Art and History of the Cartoon: An Overview of Comics Evolution as Seen byArtists Past and Present."

The exhibit will be held in The Works main gallery from March 26 through May 10,2010. The opening reception for the show will be Friday, March 26 from 6:00 to 8:00p.m. Admission to the reception and exhibit is free.

The exhibit will include works by nationally published artists David Mack, Andy Bennett, Scott Simmons, Michael Neno, Max Ink and Russell Merritt.

Mack is the artist and author of "Kabuki" and has been a cover artist for books such as "Daredevil" and "Wolverine."

Merritt, a Licking County artist, is helping coordinate the exhibit with The Works Museum Art Coordinator, Lyn Logan-Grimes."For comic fans, this exhibit will offer an opportunity to see comics as art and artinspired by comics," said Merritt.

Artists from the Columbus Comics Writers and Artists Group, "Sunday Comix," will also have art in the exhtbit.In addition to contemporary works, historical pieces and information on Ohio's role in the history of comics and cartooning will also be featured in the exhibit. 'The Works is a family destination and educational facility located at 55 S. 1st Streetin Newark, Ohio. Museum, gallery and gift shop are open Tuesday through Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sundays (Oct. -April) from noon to 5:00 p.m.For more information, call 740-349-9277 or visit the web site at http://www.attheworks.org/.
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Exhibitor: Matt Feazell

1) Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in Iowa. I went off to college in Illinois at SIU in Carbondale where I majored in Journalism. I didn't do too good at that but I enjoyed working in the production room of the daily student paper. Eventually I started working at real newspapers and ad agencies.

2) Tell us about your comics.
I draw the adventures of The Amazing Cynicalman, America's laid-off superhero. It started off as a series of 8-page minicomics and now it's a newspaper weekly that you can also read on my web site.

3) How long have you been self-publishing?(Is any of your work available in ditto?)
I contributed to Steve Shipley's "Dynamite" ditto-zine back in '73-'74. My first self-published zine was "Fan-Thing" in 1975. I did my first photocopied comics in 1979 and the first issue of Cynicalman ("Not Available Comics" #14) was my first minicomic.

4) Why did you decide to start self-publishing your comics?
Cause it was cool! There was no decision to make. It was just the natural thing to do.

5) Who are your main artistic influences--both in and out of comics?
Jack Kirby, Stan Lee, Alex Toth, Hank Ketcham, Charles Schulz, The Clash, Ramones, Talking Heads, Tim Conrad, Woody Allen, Elvis Costello,

6) What comics do you read?
Acme Novelty Library, King Kat Comics, anything self-published that people send me in the mail. That's about it.

7) What are some of your favorite books? (the kind without pictures)
"The History" by Herodotus. "The Outline of World History" by H.G. Wells. Do maps count as pictures?

8) You suprized us at SPACE last year with the Amazing Cynicalman Movie trailer. Is there any news on that project? I wanted to audition for a part but the comute is a killer.
All the latest news is under the "Movie" link on http://www.cynicalman.com/! We just finished shooting the Mom & Dad's Boarding House flashback scene. Jim Mackey and I reprised our roles as John Q. Cynicle and "Dad."

9) Why are either you or Eric Adams always the first one to sign up for SPACE each year?
I guess everybody else has to think about it for a while first. I like being able to pay with a PayPal transfer cause all my money in my Paypal account has come in from sales of minicomics and prints and I prefer to spend it on small press stuff like SPACE.

10) Will you have anything new for SPACE? Or are you working on anything new?
We will be able to show off the first three or four scenes of the Cynicalman movie. The job interview scene intercut with flashbacks of John Q. Cynicle in college at home and at a series of crappy jobs.

11) Why did the chicken cross the road?
To walk in to the bar across the street with a horse and a dog.
The bartender says "we don't serve dogs in here, you'll have to leave."
The dog says, "Come on fellas, let's get out of here."
The chicken and the horse look at each other and say "Whatta ya know, a talking dog!"

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