Happy Free Comic Book Day!

I don't usually hit up the comic store on Free Comic Book Day - there are often just a few comics that I want to check out and they're just stuck in my folder at the shop I get most of my comics at, anyway, so I don't feel the need to make the special trip.  Yesterday, though, I wanted to drop off some comics of my own to give away, so I made the trip to Evil Genius Comics in California, PA, which had just moved to a new location...only a few doors down from the old location, but to a new, bigger store.  The new place looks great - much more like an "actual" store, if that makes sense - so I took a few pictures.

The store had a big table filled with free comics, and I added three to the ranks: the Magic Bullet #2, Teddy and the Yeti's Back and a few copies of Mr. Massive.  I picked up a number of the other books being offered, like 2000AD, the Tick, Spider-Man...nine in total, which was more than I expected to grab.  I also bought two Venture Bros. figures which are, for sure, awesome.

I was impressed with the new store's layout.  There's still a bunch of room for gaming, but now there's room for, well, other stuff, too.  Take a look:

Hey, it's the back of Franks and Beans actor Larry Franks!  What a coincidence!

If you're in the California, PA area (it's right across the street from the Cal U campus), I hope you'll check out the new store - it's bigger and, I think, better.  It was a fun day.  Later, I got some food from a local restaurant and found this sign:

It says "public phone", but you can't read most of it because the tree is enveloping the sign.  I think that's fantastic.

Q&A with Fubar's Jeff McComsey, part 2

Today I'll finish up my conversation with Jeff McComsey, man of many talents who also has a great looking beard.  Seriously, he must have started growing that thing years ago.

You can read the first part of this question-and-answer session here!

McClelland: As a writer/artist, you might look at the creation process a bit differently than someone who just does one or the other.  Do you ever draw first with the intention of adding dialogue later?  What differences do you notice with your style when drawing from someone else's script as opposed to being in control of the entire process?

McComsey: I like to switch up between working from my own writing to someone else’s finished scripts.  Sitting down and banging out a little short story by myself is very satisfying but I find that good comic writers know how to move a story a lot better than I do when I kind of make it up as I go along.  My stuff tends to meander along when I write my own stuff. 


McClelland : What do you enjoy about working from some else's script?


McComsey: I love different peoples' pacing from panel to panel. I know that working from a script usually has me stretching away from my comfort zone more often than when I just roll with my stuff.

McClelland: Who are some of your artistic influences in the comic industry (or otherwise)?

McComsey: I’m a big fan of British writers and artists. 2000AD is a personal favorite of mine. I love guys like Dave Gibbon, Colin Wilson and Garth Ennis.  I constantly find myself inspired by my small press brothers and sisters who have been turning out some excellent work.

Film is a big influence, particularly when I’m composing a shot. Older films are great sources of reference on how to frame shots and stage lighting.

McClelland: What are your thoughts on sandwich meat?  Do you have a favorite and why?

McComsey: I like a good sandwich. I like deli ham sliced very thin. That’s the key. I feel like the flavor and texture are much nicer when it’s thinly sliced. I find the older I get the spicier I like my Deli meats.  The other key to a good sandwich is good bread/roll.

McClelland: Feel free to use this last question to sell a potential reader on FUBAR.  What should they expect?  Why should they buy it?  Where can they get it?  WILL THERE BE ANOTHER?!

McComsey: FUBAR has something for all comic fans. If you like zombie books, you’ll like FUBAR. If you love World War II comics, you’ll love FUBAR. If you love indie comic art, you’ll love FUBAR. It’s 15 short stories that collect into a 184 page book for $12.00. I feel that FUBAR contains some work from guys and girls who will be prolific creators in the near future worth keeping an eye on.  FUBAR is available at your local comic shops or online via amazon.com or through Barnes and Noble.  We will be releasing a second volume of FUBAR in the early fall of 2011. Stay tuned!

Many thanks for Jeff for answering all of my weird questions...especially the one about sandwich meat, which was actually pretty interesting now that I read the whole thing again.  I'm more of an oven-roasted turkey guy myself, all things considered.

Be sure to pick up volume one of FUBAR from your local comic shop or from Amazon.com, and check out Jeff's websites here and here!

Craxl

Yesterday I posted a clip of one of the stories to appear in Teddy and the Yeti issue #3 - I thought I'd stick to that train of thought and post Duane's initial drawing of the villain Craxl.  This would work great as an extra feature at the back of the book (or - gasp! - in a trade collection), but I'm as always pressed for space...so I don't know if I'll have the opportunity.  Thanks for giving me the space, Internets!

One of Duane's artistic strengths is drawing strange, frightening creatures - check out 2000AD #1575 and his zombie dog monsters for further proof - and I think he really outdid himself with this terror-inducing character.  It really is creepy!  The caption for the character sheet is "Yeti's nightmare", and that plays into the story, but regardless, it's a nightmarish design that manages to freak me out a little each time I see it.