Other Comics News Parade-O-Links 01272013

(The Avengers #89 cover by Sal Buscema who celebrated a birthday this week.  Image stolen from Steve Does Comics.)

Here are some things I found interesting in the world of minicomics, comic books, graphic novels, small press, self publishing, zines, webcomics, cartoons, digital comics, other, etc. during the week ending 01272013:

"Your archaic view of creatives is part of what keeps jobs of this industry undervalued. Congratulations, you’ve officially locked out a great percentage of talented, friendly, hard working creatives who would originally have had great interest in attending your convention." - Jordie Bellaire. 

• Jeezziz people.  So much bitchin' and moanin' and crying this week.  The twitter blew up with "should I quit the comics?"  Why don't the comics love me?  Why won't the comics buy me a sub sandwich and rub my feet?  Why do the comics love other people so much and not return my emails?  Boo the ducking who.  Here's the thing about making comics. It's just making comics.  Get some paper and a pencil and go crazy.  Stop when you don't feel like doing it anymore.  Then maybe later, start making them again.  Or not.  There are all kinds of things that people that don't make comics do that seem to be totally rewarding.  I mean, some people can watch the crap out of some TV.  I hear about people getting famous for watching TV every day.  Or maybe you could play video games.  That would be super rewarding right?  Maybe join a guild or something.  And when you walk the street, people will step back and say, "There goes a video game player.  That person is contributing to society!"  Or maybe movies might be your thing?  You could pay your money and be a part of the magic.  Become a fan of a franchise.  Argue on twitter with lesser movie watchers about how stupid their opinions are.  Or maybe sports is where it's at.  I hear that if your favorite team wins the Super Bowl you you get to feel good about yourself for a solid 18 hours.  I mean why make art at all?  Why make anything?  Why do anything?  Why express yourself in any way?  What's the point?  Why create a tangible thing that could be enjoyed by tens of peoples?  Just sit down, shut up, plug into your cell pad pod phone and die.  Or not.  It's just comics.  You don't kneed anyone to justify it.  Do you think the average grandma gives a singe solitary F if someone thinks she should stop working on puzzles or knitting?  Do you think my dad gives a single solitary F if someone thinks he's not getting as many turkeys as he used to when he goes hunting?  You know when you stop a thing?  When you don't feel like doing that thing any more.  And then, maybe later, you might feel like doing it again.  And that's okay too.  Artists don't retire.  They just die.  There ain't no rules to this thing and the seat belts are just for show.  Anyone that thinks there are rules in art is a coward.  It's just comics.  It doesn't owe you anything.  The guy that created Spider-Man lives out of a freaking hotel room.  And he still makes comics.  It's just comics.
• My dear faithful loyal can't-live-without-it readers will have by now noticed that I frequently post videos featuring Francis and Boogie2998.  What you may not know is that both of those guys are one guy named Steven Williams.  I grew up with Steven.  His mom ran the head start.  We were on the drama team together in high school.  He graduated the year after me.  He's super smart.  Super funny.  But most of all he's a really good guy.  So, I'm super excited that he is featured in Volkswagon's new commercial that will hopefully be shown during the Super Bowl.  I think that before this, the closest anyone from my town ever came to fame was the time the Daily Show showed up to make fun of the next town over for selling their Christmas lights.  I don't know how these things work but the video below is a "pre-release" video.  Whatever that means.  But, do me a favor, watch it and hit the "like" button about thirty times.  Thanks.
• I'm writing this while listening to this so any thing that does not make sense should be blamed on Robert Newsome. 
• Apparently, one day this week was open mouth kiss a colorist day or something. 
• Speaking of color, Jim Rugg stumbled upon the amazing discovery that comics colored on a lighted screen and presented on a lighted screen are brighter than those on paper. 
• Look.  You have probably already don this, but if not, just go read that Rob Liefled script.  Trust me.  Abbey Coleslaw did a pretty good parody of it, but honestly, the real thing is funnier. 
• Here are some freaking staggering photos of early 1900s Paris.  Now I get why Paris was such a big deal. 
• "Abbey Coleslaw" is cheap and I'm bigger than that.  Usually.  Just wanted to see if anyone was paying attention. 
• RIP Skummie. 
• There is going to be another movie about Steve Ditko's Doctor Strange.  What?  You want a link for that? Google people.  Google. 

• Shonen Jump relaunched their website and, I guess, the way I understand it, maybe, it is that it now has the comics in English on the same day they come out in Japan?  Or something that means a lot to people that read Shonen Jump.  Anyway, I can't keep up with it but, I did go through the sampler and it was a lot of fun.  That One-Punch Man is genius. Oh, and in Japan, they only have 48 weeks in a year.  Which is terrifying. (And probably not true.  Joey Weiser totally explained it to me but pretending that there are only 48 weeks in Japan is way funnier.  For me.  I'm laughing for you.  I carry a heavy load.)
• Speaking of manga, the Comics Reporter leads me to believe that this will be something. 
• So, you can read most of Kyle Baker's creator owned comics online.  Right now. 
• Josh Simmons has a tumblr. Not safe for work anywhere.
• Oh, and Patrick Dean has one too.  It's just the best. 
• People.  You can read Howard the Duck newspaper strips online.  Until you can't anymore. 
• Well, I guess the cat's out of the bag.  I'm not dating Danica Patrick.  This guy, was probably a sophomore in high school when Danica was posing for FHM.  Oh man I bet his friends hate his guts. 
• Have I ever talked to you people about Star Wars?  I like Star Wars.  They are my favorite wars.  My pal Paul McDonald likes Star Wars a lot.  So much, he wrote a book about it.  He recently wrote about the passing of his mother as, literally, only he could. 
• Oh, and again with the Star Wars.  J.J. Abrams?  Well, alright. 
• "The only good news is, out of it all, ya beat the hospital. Lets see ‘em collect your bills now!"
• "But, to repeat, I STILL don't know how long the book is. No idea. Conservative guess, it could be another 200 pages -- maybe 300."
• Comics blogging up-and-comer Gary Groth talks about EC Comics. 
• Jog talks about Howard Chaykin's Black Kiss 2 as all good comics types should.  (I'm ashamed to say that I have not read it yet.  Other than some online previews I've never laid eyes on the thing.  It's not exactly filling up the racks of rural American comic shops and Wal-Mart was fresh out.  My plan was to try and pick up a bunch of them during the coming con season but I'll probably break down and get it off eBay when I get my tax return.  I dream big.)
• Ed Kramer.  DragonCon.  And really bad lousy journalism.  Sigh.  I just can't.  I just can't even get into this story or the pathetic "journalism" exhibited by the many comics websites that have covered it, but, let me just say this- you can totally hit up wikipedia and check the bare minimum facts of your story before you hit the "publish" button.  Hell, maybe even read some of the articles from your own website or newspaper first.  Seriously people... THE MAN STILL OWNS 34 #[](%ING PERCENT OF DRAGONCON!  HE IS PROFITING OFF TEENAGERS DRESSING UP AS FIONA AND CAKE AND WALKING IN THEIR PARADE!  Gah.
• Last weekend the HeroesCon folks threw a minicon in Charlotte.  And from the look of these photos, it was great. 
• The Dollar Bin wants you to vote for things.  
• I like Microcosm Publishing.  Let's take a look at their catalog. 
• Ya know, those Barbie comics were pretty good.  For, ya know, comics about a doll.  I see them in the dollar bins from time to time and get them for my girls.  The like 'em and wish there were more of 'em.
• Chris Sims says that The Batman ain't down with the guns.  But don't take Chris Sims word for it, let Chris Sims tell you about it. 

(Image stolen from... I don't know where actually.  Forwarded to me by a friend at work.  Hi Keenan.)

THE BEST SINGLE NEW PRINT COMIC I READ THIS WEEK

(Image stolen from Comic Vine.)
...was X-O Manowar #9 by Robert Venditti, Trevor Hairsine, Brian Reber and a bunch of other people.  This comic, like the previous eight issues and most of the Valiant books I've seen so far is quality from cover to cover.  Great cover art, nice book design, bold logos that jump out from the comic racks, nice production, nice editorial material, nice house ads, high quality art, colors, letters and writing.  A very good comic.  I love the X-O Manowar series and how Venditti has handled it as a sci-fi and historical mash up rather than a super hero book.  I'm a sucker for sci-fi and when you hand your space Visigoth a crazy energy sword thing it is going to be hard to lose me.  And while Venditti could probably just tell the artist to draw 20 odd pages of swords and explosions and space smashing and I would probably be okay, the story is really moving and the characters/entities involved are making some unexpected choices along the way to keep it interesting.  Is that what good drama is?  Maybe?  I was just an English minor so they never showed me the full back of tricks.  This particular issue may the best yet.  (Although those first four were really strong.)  After I put this issue down I felt like it had been non-stop action.  X-O faces off against some bad alien dudes in some similar armor so the stakes seemed higher.  But when I flip back through it I realize that this thing covers a lot of ground.  There is a lot of dialog and exposition moving the story from one phase into what will be the next story arc but it did not feel like set up.  It just felt, like, um, you know, entertaiment.  And nerds, you know what I mean right? You know how comics publishers will set up their big story arcs for months with hype and ads but feed you garbage filler in in the issues leading up to it?  No filler her.  And that's a big part of what I have liked about all of Venditti's work so far is that almost every panel moves the story.  And this artist, Trevor Hairsine, he's pretty good too.  I like his work here a lot.  He's got some Neal Adams moments in there that are very cool.  Right up there with Cary Nord.  And that is another great thing about these books.  Even though there have been three artists in just 9 issues the art has been consistent.  Not saying the guys all draw the same but saying the quality, tone and overall look of the book has been consistent.  And when you consider, that DC can't even get one artist to complete one full issue of a lot of their books, I really appreciate that consistency.  Editorial at Valiant apparently knows what they are doing. 

• And finally... a good crowd has gathered to wish our superhero well.

Oh, and one more last thing!  Did you know you can leave comments on these posts here at file under other?  It's true!  And, I'll probably respond.  Twitter and facebook killed the message boards but that's no reason why you can't argue with me, praise me or leave me recipes.  It's your intronet.  Have fun!

And that's just a taste of some of the interesting things going out there in the wonderful world of comics and things. I can't keep up with it all but I do keep up with a lot of it on twitter and I try to re-tweet the good stuff. You should probably follow me there. If you did something to make comics better this week then high-five!

Your best pal ever,

Shannon Smith

p.s. Say you want a leader but you can't seem to make up your mind. I think you'd better close it and let me guide you to my twitter feed.

p.p.s. Let's pretend we went to high school together on facebook.

p.p.p.s. Google + is another place you can read the same thing I posted here.

p.p.p.p.s. I'll tumblr for ya.

Dracula the Unconquered by Sims, Downer and Krach

Dracula the Unconquered #2.  Story by Chris Sims.  Art by Steve Downer.  Letters by Josh Krach.

Digital comic at Action Age Comics on sale for $1.00.

Editor's note:  The image samples below are not full pages.  The full pages have even more cool stuff in them.

I love Dracula but I'm a hard sale on Dracula movies or comics because I love a very specific Dracula.  When I was a kid my local library had a stack of Marvel's Gene Colan drawn Tomb of Dracula.  Gene Colan would become one of my favorite artists and when I think Dracula I see his Dracula.  That is a very big shadow for a comic to have to stand in but Dracula the Unconquered is its own kind of Dracula comic.  I don't really need another Dracula horror comic.  I've got my Marvel Essential Dracula collection and musky back issues for that.  This is a comedy adventure Dracula comic.  More like the "Animated Adventures" version of Tomb of Dracula.

Adventure Dracula is a clever twist.  Dracula is still Dracula.  The themes and settings are still horror based.  All of the Dracula ingredients are there.  It is the execution that is different.  The writing and art are much more playful.  Action adventure Dracula sounds a bit silly but it works and is a lot of fun.

The premise of the book is simple.  Dracula is back from the dead, again, but this time instead of being hell bent on turning mankind into an army of undead he is hell bent on stopping another guy from turning mankind into an army of undead.  So, Dracula is the good guy.  Sort of.  He's still Dracula.  He has a female sidekick to bounce dialog off of because internal monologues can slow things down in an adventure comic.  Non-dead human sidekick also makes the action more interesting because she really could get offed at any moment and, unlike Dracula, stay dead.  (Unless she didn't.  It is a comic.)

In Sim's story for this specific issue, Dracula wants to gather up his arsenal to fight his rival so he goes to his old home only to find that it has been filled with death traps.  Death traps everybody!  This allows Dracula's new sidekick to see him in action and get an idea of what kind of adventure she has gotten herself into.  But more importantly it gives Downer a lot of cool stuff to draw.  And he is really good at it.  (See image above.  I love that stuff.)  Downer's soft clean design is not what I would expect in a horror comic but it great for this adventure stuff.  He draws the action, gadgets and traps really well.  I particularly liked the giant music box cylinder based intercom system.  He also pretty sharp with the characters' acting and gestures.  I'm very impressed with his colors.  Great pallet choices.   Dark enough to be spooky but still warm.  Not a lot of gimmicks.  Just solid coloring.

I had a lot of fun with this comic.  Dracula, death traps, some jokes, some twists, some turns, a surprise from Dracula's past (spoiler averted) and a enough questions to make me anxious for the next installment.  

Your best pal ever,

Shannon Smith

p.s. Say you want a leader but you can't seem to make up your mind. I think you'd better close it and let me guide you to my twitter feed.

p.p.s. Let's pretend we went to high school together on facebook.

p.p.p.s. Google + is another place you can read the same thing I posted here.

p.p.p.p.s. I'll tumblr for ya.

Fluke Mini-Comics and Zine Festival 2012 guest report by Henry Eudy

Pic totally stolen without permission from Jono Ruelas facebook page.  

This past Saturday was Fluke day in Athens, GA.  The annual trip to Fluke is one of my favorite weekends of any year but due to circumstances beyond my control I had to cancel at the next to last minute.  I was downtrodden not just for myself but for you dear reader.  An annual Fluke reportt has become a beloved tradition here at file under other.  Missing it would be like that time my family went to Disney World without me.  So, I did what any devastated person would do.  I turned to twitter and asked Charlotte cartoonist and pal Henry Eudy to write a report about Fluke for file under other.  

Take it away Henry!

Pic of Henry 'E.U.D.O.K." Eudy totally stolen without permission from Rico Renzi's twitter feed. 

Hey Shannon, 

Here's a quick rundown of my impressions of this year's FLUKE show. Firstly, I should say that FLUKE is my very favorite comic book show of the entire year. I look forward to it, I dream about it, I yearn to be there all through the rest of the crappy time I'm alive. FLUKE always feels like home even if I do have to drive 250 miles to get there. I gotta think the move to the 40 Watt is the greatest thing since Abraham Lincoln sliced bread and fed all the Indians and pilgrims for 40 days and nights. It's a fabulous venue and the show just hums with energy (and booze) through the entire length. 

I'm sad to say a little of that energy was in regress due to the lack of a few favorite and familiar faces. One, yours, of course, dear Shannon but also the absence of Josh Latta put a tear in everybody's tall boy. Come back to us Josh, you are so missed. Even so, there were many of the standard FLUKE cadre in attendance plus a seeming over abundance of very young SCAD students out on their first endeavors as comic book hucksters. So many shy and innocent faces sitting over their folded and stapled goods, sweating it out, wondering who they thought they were fooling trying to be something akin to an "artist". I was one of those kids, four years ago, doing my very first show in a town far away from my own, hoping no one could tell I was a fraud. I hope those kids caught the fever on their first times like I did and I hope they'll be back, making themselves real cartoonists staple by staple and fold by fold. But, anyway, I'm getting romantic here. Does it show that I've been drinking?

Anyhow, here's how my trip went. I arrived with my pal and FLUKE first-timer Rico Renzi in tow about 8:30am, well before the doors were scheduled to open, and captured an amazing parking space at the side of the building that I managed to hold a full 13 hours. As we passed by the 40 Watt front entrance on a trek through town for biscuits, we glimpsed Patrick (Dean) and Robert (Newsome) already furiously arranging tables within. When we returned a little after 9, only the faintest signs of a line were evident and I ended up waiting the shortest amount of time ever to gain entrance to the inner sanctum. By 9:30 people were being permitted inside and barren tabletops were quickly being converted into storefronts. 

Everything seemed to go very, very smoothly. In a short time Rico and I were joined by fellow Charlotte dweller Bridgit Sheide, and we constructed a flotilla of Queen City power along the edge of the stage. The public was admitted around 11ish, I suppose, but it's always a little hard to tell because already the exhibitors were out and about casing their compatriots and buying up a few pre-opening items. I made sure right away to buy a copy of Audrey Morris' "Power Drive A" anthology. I've kept my little eye on Audrey since last year when I was sorely impressed by her "Jawsome 1999" and there was no way I was missing getting a copy of her latest bit of amazement. As fortune might have it, I found here squeezed in right next to my good buddy Adam Casey who was making a triumphant return to the show after a few years in the wilderness. Adam had a really funtastic new "Drac-Drac-Drac-Drac-Dracula" mini and I was able to get a neat Hamburglar in prison drawing from him as well. Then I sat at my table and was a good little comic seller for a good spell. 

Pic of J. Chris Campbell's Fluke setup totally stolen without permission from J. Chris Campbell's facebook page. 

The crowd didn't seem quite as large as last year, perhaps because of the event coinciding with Record Store Day. Nerds only have so much money to blow on one weekend, I totally understand. Also there appeared to be a large bro-fest of terrible music and even worse people in a lot across the street from the club that may have detoured the more sensitive mini-comic patrons. I can't know for sure, but the crowd seemed a touch thinner. Still, the people that were there were major quality consumers and I actually sold my items quite briskly. Plus I had a lot of great conversations with culture savvy strangers. 

When I rose from my seat a second time I hit some of the majors in the room. I got Joey Weiser's new "Merman Theater", a handful of David Mack minis including a great little book about Athens itself and some lovely "Monsters in Transit" note cards. Drew Weing seemed to have nothing of his own new to sell but I snatched up the new issue of Eleanor's (Davis) "Beouija" sketchbook from their table. 

I dropped by the Dollar Bin to see Shawn and Adam Daughhetee and purchased a little charmer from Shawn about the time she was treed by cows. It's called "The Time I Was Treed by Cows." Sure, I was getting pretty thirsty by this time and I sauntered over by the bar where I paused to buy a pretty handsome FLUKE 2012 t-shirt and Patrick Dean's absolutely incredible new comic "Sometimes I Think About You at Night". Patrick's work is always amazing but this one.... wow. I got a beer and said hello to my friend Tara [Fend] Harris whom I met last year with her regular conspirator Alison Burke. She had a second volume of their co-created post apocalyptic survival tale "A.R.R.O." for sale and I made arrangements to claim one for myself. I also picked up "Dungeon World" and "Tales of Haunt" from the affable and future-minded Doug Metcalfe before returning to my spot to get my drink on. I did a little trading, most notably with Jordan Fitch Mooney who gave one of my favorite things of the show, "The A-Z Guide to Dispatching Your Enemies."

We comicers, we sold, we talked up, we chatted, we pretended to flick boogers across the crowded room. Suddenly the sweet, short hours were in their last minutes and so my tablemates and I started to replace our wares and count our money. I regretted I had visited so few tables and not sprinted from my chair more often. 

I never did see what Dean Trippe had as offerings and neglected my chance to get a collected Ninjasaur from Jason Horn. Neither did I properly visit the gauntlet of power ladies that was Jackie Lewis, Erin Gladstone and Cassie Hart Kelly, all seated neatly in the row opposite. And a great many of those hopeful, innocent faces... I'm sorry I missed you guys. I can be a real jerk sometimes. 

So, it was out the door, out for pizza and then hauling it back home. I spent the whole of Sunday sleeping it off and dreaming of next year when FLUKE will re-open to the waiting and wistful world and all will be right. 

Sorry I don't really have any pictures. I'm not much of a pictures taking person. Still, maybe you can find an image or two to steal some place or you can just insert a pic of Sam Elliot every once in a while to keep the public calm and let 'em know everything is gonna be alright. Best of luck! Hope to see you on the convention floor real soon. 

-- YOUR bestest pal forever,

Henry Eudy          

Pic of Fluke Co-Grand Poobahs Robert Newsome and Patrick Dean totally stolen without permission from Shawn Daughhetee's facebook album of Fluke pics. 

Thanks Henry!  You are the Absolute Hardback Edition best!  I hope to see you (and you dear reader) at HeroesCon.  Don't forget your drinkin' shoes.  Everyone go read every word and study every drawing on Henry's website, write a report about it, hand written, double spaced, due by 3rd period Friday.  Also follow Henry on twitter and all that nonsense. 

Thanks as well to the fine folks from whom I stole the above photos.  If you, or anyone has, photo sets or show reports that you would like to see posted here then let me know.  I tried to provide links to all of the people mentioned in Henry's Report but I had trouble finding a few of names.  Also I drank a Manhattan and got tired. (With Rye of course.  I mean c'mon.  I'm no savage.)

UPDATES:

• Chris Sims at Comics Alliance has posted about five great minicomics from Fluke.  Read it here. 
• The Dollar Bin has their Fluke 2012 re-cap podcast up.  Go listen. 
• At Space/Love/Robots, Kyle Nolan has a nice Fluke report with a bunch of photos. Look at it with your eyeballs here. 
• And here is a report with some more photos from Missy Kulik.  I think I stole some photos from her.  Maybe. 

Your best pal ever,

Shannon Smith   

p.s.  Say you want a leader but you can't seem to make up your mind.  I think you'd better close it and let me guide you to my twitter feed.

p.p.s. Let's pretend we went to high school together on facebook.

p.p.p.s. Google + is another place you can read the same thing I posted here.

p.p.p.p.s. I'll tumblr for ya.

Aww Fluke yeah 2011.

The 10 anniversary Fluke Mini-Comics and Zine Fest was at the end of last month.  I know you may be questioning why I should even bother commenting on a show that happened so long ago.  Well, I'll tell you why.  In a few months from now I'll start thinking about what the best stuff of 2011 was/is/will be and I'll need this post to refresh my memory.  And, maybe you will need this post to refresh your memory.

I've been meaning to post about Fluke but things beyond my control have left me either too busy or physically unable to.  A few days after Fluke I had surgery.  I was certain that I would be able to get back to work and comics as soon as I got home from surgery.  The doctor laughed at me and told me that there was no way I would be able to function on the drugs she was going to give me.  It turns out, the only thing a person can successfully do on lortab and oxycodone is watch Twin Peaks and Doctor Who. 

So um, better late than blah blah blah.

My adventure began when... wait, stop right there.  Before I forget, let's talk about how I forgot to take my camera so all of the photographs in this post are stolen from Heather and Seth at Exile on Plain Street.  Exile is a really nice blog.  You should check out.  Who am I to tell you what to do?  A freaking genius.  That's who.  Seriously, they have multiple reports on Fluke and an enormous Flikr collection of Fluke pics.  And Heather and Seth are fine people.  Thanks!

Where was I?

Let's dial up the wayback machine to to Thursday, April 21 11:30 PM.  There I am.  Everything is under control.  Things at work ended up being a lot more hectic than they should have but I've got my PDF ready to print my new minicomic.  I've got the cover read to roll.  I've got Friday off so I'll have all morning to print the mini and then drive to Georgia.  I should be in Georgia before dark and have plenty of time to visit family before heading over to Lattaland.  Yeah.  This is going to be just fine.

Friday, April 22 10:00 AM.  Things spiral out of control at work.  I end up stuck working almost the whole day.  But that's okay.  Nothing can stop me.  I'll just shoot my PDF over to the UPS store via the magic of teh intronets and they will have my new minicomic ready for me as I roll out of town. 

Friday, April 22 4:00 PM.  I roll into the the UPS store to get my book.  Turns out the file did not send.  No worries.  I have the flash drive.  The clerk is really busy but I wait.  Eventually he prints a test copy.  The pages are flipped.  The printer does not want to print it as a booklet.  No worries.  Adjustments will be made.

Friday, April 22 6:00 PM.  Adjustments failed.  I can't wait any longer.  Gotta hit the road without my new minicomic.  Destination Lattaland.

So, since the UPS store is so far away from my house, this puts me hitting the road from the Bristol area instead of my home in the Shire.  That puts me driving south toward Georgia through Tennessee and both the North and South Cackalakies. At some point, close to dark, driving down Interstate 26 in Tennessee, I notice some Bible folk on the side of the highway.  It looks like a live Nativity scene.  Or at least that is how my brain processes the images I see.  Eventually, my brain comes to terms with the fact that a live Nativity on Good Friday does not make any dang sense and I realize that it is a live crucifiction!  

There were a bunch of Christmas padgent shepherd looking folk standing around three crosses.  On the crosses were three fellows wearing not much more than what appeared to be white bed sheets dipped in red paint.  Now, I love me some Jesus for sure.  But, that was odd.  And still I drove on...

It got dark.  Real dark.  Foggy dark.  It was hard to see so I let two cans of Red Bull handle the navigation.  They would argue between themselves at points about which exit to take and about which way was the fastest.  But it worked out.  I had written down directions to Lattaland but it was too dark for the Red Bull cans to read them.  By the time we hit Asheville, I knew the Red Bull cans were going to need some help.  I did what I could do to help by calling my wife on the cell phone.  I greeted her with a panic attack and then had her tell me exit by exit which turns to take.  I relayed this back to the Red Bull cans and we made it through greater North and South Cackalacky alive.

Let me just pause to ask a question of any Cackalackians out there.  Is "Future I-26" ever going to become "Now I-26".  It's been years folks.  Can we get to work on that?  Call a congressman or something?  Thanks.

Eventually I hit Interstate 85 South and tears of joy rolled down my cheeks.  It would be close to 1 AM when I made it to Lattaland, home of Josh Latta, his gracious wife Beth, three large silent dogs, at least one cat and many, many, many comics and toys.

Josh is a good friend of mine so it was super cool to talk comics and look at toys with him.  I even got to look at some original Rashy Rabbit stuff.  But, we were both really tired.  So by 2 AM we were asleep.

Saturday, April 23 7:30ish AM.  I open my eyes to see the face of large silent dog about six inches from my nose.  I think it was smiling. Josh had good coffee ready in the kitchen.  I hit the shower.  I got dressed and came down stairs just as Beth was putting the final touches on a breakfast feast.  Eggs, hash browns, sausage gravy and toast.   A very good breakfast.  Thanks Beth!

By a bit after 9:00 we were ready to hit the road for Athens so we did.  On the way there, Josh and I worked out everything that is wrong with comics.  If Marvel and DC would like to purchase this information for a great many dollars they are welcome to email me.

Saturday, April 23 10:30 AM.  We got to Fluke and there was a really long line from the entrance of the 40 Watt to the street.  Longest line I've seen for Fluke.  Saw some old pals in line.  The weather was perfect.  It was a nice morning.  At 11:00 sharp they started letting us inside.  The line moved quickly.  I've never been to the 40 Watt but it's a nice venue.  It has a big open room which turned out to be a great place for a small press show.  The tables filled up... well, pretty much instantly.  I find one half table near the back.  I was bummed that I was not near my pals but then The Top Shelf/Wide Awake Press Axis of Comics Goodness shifted things around and made room for both Josh and I over in their area.

It's always great to hang out with team WAP and team Top Shelf.  I've known most of those guys for as long as I've been making comics.  I worked with Robert Venditti at Borders back in the day.  I met Josh Latta through absent WAPpie Brad McGinty who I also worked with at Borders.  I met J. Chris Campbell at a comics show through Brad and Josh and I met Andy Runton at the show where he had his very first Owly minicomic.  It was sad that Brad could not be there.  I can only think of two or three shows I've set up at without Brad.

It turned out to be a great location.  We were just past the entrance and near the rest rooms so I think every one that entered the show came by our tables at least once.

Before I was even settled in I was selling comics and drawing in sketch books.  Robert Newsome came by and presented each of us with a lovely "certificate of table".  The show flew by for me.  I stayed busy the whole day to the point that I did not get to talk to everyone I wanted to.  Which is good but bittersweet.  

I've been making minicomics and going to conventions since 2002 so I've made lot of great friends that I only see once or twice a year at these shows.  I wish we all had the time and money to just hang out for another day without the business of comics.

And now some pictures I pasted in here weeks ago in totally random order.

That is Adam Daughetee of the Dollar Bin and his hat.  He is the Serpico of comics.  In the back ground of this pic I am talking to Rich Tomasso.  Rich used to live and work within walking distance of a Borders where I worked.  He was also at a lot of the first comics shows I went to as a creator.  He's a great guy and I've always liked talking with him.  And I happen to be a really big fan of his comics.  I think he is easily one of the most underrated cartoonists of the past decade.  Don't take my word for it though, you can check out a lot of his stuff online.  Rich said that he would have some new stuff in print in the US in the near future.  That will be super cool.

My pal Brad McGinty moved far far away from Fluke and could not attend this year.  This made the water come out of many eyes.  In tribute to our pal Brad a bunch of us put together a piece of jam art called Brad Fest.  This is not the finished version but it's close.  This features J. Chris Campbell (I think he started the thing), Josh Latta, Ashely Holt and myself.  I drew Brad as the naked cherub thing.  Because, that's how I always see him in my mind and in my heart.

This is Chris Sims on the left and Chad Bowers on the right.  They work on a bunch of comics together that are knee slappin' ha ha funny.  I've been reading Chris's blog since back when it was on blogger and I also read his stuff on Comics Aliance so I wanted to say "hi".   I did.  He and Chad also said hi.  And we traded comics.  Fluke magic.  Josh Latta and I are in the background of that photo.  I'm almost certain that we are looking at Patrick Dean's hair.

That's J. Chris Campbell creator of wonderful comics about robots and cowboys and firemen and bugs and all things good.  You want to know who is nicer than J. Chris Campbell?  No one.

That's a bunch of people getting their Fluke on.

That's Drew Weing on the left.  I wanted to say hi to Drew and get a copy of his new book but his table was super busy all day and I never got to it.  I think I'll see him at HeroesCon.

That's Henry Eudy seated and wearing the light red shirt.  Henry is a swell fellow and I like his comics lots.  I did not get to speak with him as much as I would have liked but, again, there is always HeroesCon.

There's that jerk J. Chris Campbell again and his pal Andy Rutton.  Andy is a super nice guy.  You want to know who is nicer than Andy Rutton?  No one.

Hey, it's Dustin Harbin.  Or as I call him in my mind, "The Dharbin".  I've known Dustin through HeroesCon for several years but this was the first show I've been to where he was set up as a creator as opposed to running the thing or promoting HeroesCon.  I've been following his comics online since right at the time he started posting them.  It was cool to pick up a couple of his books that I was missing.  I even got an original from his Diary strips.  One of my favorite of his strips to be exact.  Thanks Dustin!

That is Josh Latta making the magic happen.  I love tableing next to Josh.  He's one of the two or three funniest guys on Earth so his exchanges with his vast army of Rashy Rabbit fans are worth the trip to the show.  It's also neat to watch him draw.  He draws really small.  I learn a lot every time I hang with Josh.  I think Josh sold a lot of Rashy books that day.  He was busy.

Here are some guys I don't know actually making minicomics at the show.  As it should be.

Here is a drawing Patrick Dean did of Pinky and the Brain.  I heart Patrick Dean's drawing.

Oh, and that's Patrick Dean commanding someone to obey.  Patrick Dean is Doctor Who only without two hearts, a TARDIS and an English accent.  Oh alright, he has two hearts.

That's me on the left and Josh Latta on the right.  I think that was right as we were finishing setting up because we were both sold out of some of the comics pictured really early.  Oh what we could do to help the world if we could just get back the hours we spent agonizing over what t-shirt to wear.

Some of my comics.  I'm sure it was the Phillip cover that the camera was after.

This was the stuff I had for sale.  I sold out of Small Bible and SSAD1.  I think I sold out of Brush and Pen but I might have a few of those stashed away.  If you missed out on those books then,  at least you have your health.  Unless you don't.

After the show we made the traditional visit to the great Bizarro Wuxtry comics shop.  I had to get out of there fast before I spent money.  After that we had dinner with team Dollar Bin, team Exile, team WAP and team Top Shelf at Transmetropolitan.  I think that was my 3rd post-Fluke dinner at Transmet.  They have good cheap pizza and enough room upstairs to seat a large group.  It was swell.

And now, let's take a look at some of the loot I scored:

Rashy Rabbit Droppin' Anchor by Josh Latta.

I'm not going to say a whole lot about this one at this time because I'm already working on a full length review.  The Cliff's Notes version of that review is that it is a great comic.  I expected the art would be great and that it would be very funny but I think the overall storytelling is getting stronger with each issue.  Love this comic.

Not My Small Diary 16 edited by Delaine Green. 

I was very exited to pick this up.  I love Not My Small Diary.  It is an anthology series of diary comics.  Some great.  Some not so great.  All interesting.  John Porcellino, Julia Wertz, Noah Van Sciver and a lot of my favorite diary cartoonists are in this thing.  I always discover a lot of new folks through these as well.  It might be the best anthology in minicomics.  Certainly the best value.

Resurrection 8.

This is not a minicomic and totally not my normal thing but I'm glad I got it because it has a backup story by Chris Sims, Chad Bowers and Rusty Shackles.  The backup story takes place near where I used to live so that was funny.  Both the main story and the back up were really good.  Good dialog.  Good art.  The colors were not over bearing.  The letters were not annoying.  (I tend to hate computer lettering.)  I can't afford monthly pamphlet comics but I would certainly be happy if someone shoplifted a trade paperback of this and let me borrow it.

AX Vol. One.

This is the alternative manga anthology that Top Shelf is putting out.  I've only had time to read about a quarter of it but I really love this thing.  They had me at Yoshihiro Tatsumi.

Double Click by J. Chris Campbell.

This is one of J. Chris's beatifully made pocket sized minis.  Somehow I had missed this one before.  It's just  a collection of odds and ends but it's full of fantastic little characters, robots and gags.

Franklin's Rescue by Allen Spetnagel.

This is a great looking little full color minicomic.  The cover has this out of focus thing going on that gives it a 3D feel.  Very nice colors. Nice little sci-fi story.  Neat style that blends art comics with sunday funnies.  I dig it.

Dharbin No. 2 by Dustin Harbin.

This is a very well put together minicomic.  Simple but strong.  Nice yellowish paper.  Red staples!  Did you know they made red staples?!?  Great comics.  I had seen most of this before online but Harbin's drawing style really looks best on paper.  This is basically a one man anthology comic.  I love that type of thing.  Harbin did a good job picking out the order for the comics.  He breaks it up really well.  He juxtaposes styles nicely and breaks things up with some lovey sketches.  A very well designed minicomic.

Diary Comics Number 1 by Dustin Harbin.

This book collects Harbin's diary comics.  I've already talked about the online form of these comics quite a bit in my 2009 and 2010 best of lists.  I read a lot of diary comcis and Harbin's are some of the best.  This book is gorgeous.  Koyama Press did a wonderful job.  Just six bucks! Amazing.

Hairball by Chew.

Straight up black and white minicomic with a nice color cover on shiny paper.  Great cartooning in this thing.  Funny stuff.  A bit slight.

Our Lady of Sweet Revenge by Joy Taney.

This is a pamphlet sized comic but it has the home made feel of a minicomic.  The cover looks like a hand painted ransom note.  The story is a fantasy thing that is not my cup of tea but the art is amazing.  Great drawing.  Great colors.  Wow.

The 2011 Fluke Anthology edited (I assume) by Patrick Dean and Robert Newsome.

This is the big thick anthology minicomic that came with the price of admission to the show.  I've got a three pager in there that I'm pretty proud of.  It's a great comic.  Great stuff from Joey Wiser, Sally Madden, Mark Campos and a new Blar comic by Drew Weing.  Yes, I would have two cans of Red Bull drive me six hours to Georgia for this minicomic.

The Chronicles of Frogshway by Allen Spetnagel.

This is a pocket sized mini that uses the trick where you cut and old one piece of paper to make an 8 page comic. I love that trick.  I've not seen anyone do it in few years.  It's perfect for minicomics.  The comic is good too.  Funny.  Clever stuff from that Spetnagel fellow. 

Bit Lip by Patrick Dean.

This minicomic collects a lot of Dean's dirty comics for grown-ups.  "Twelve Couples In Love" is the subtitle.  It is hilarious and amazing looking.  Dean is one of my favorite drawers.  I just love his style so much.  Very glad to have a copy of this one.

The Hightlight of the Prague by Allen Spetnagel.

Another clever little mini from Spetnagel.  There is some dark, twisted and funny stuff going on in that guy's head.

Public Domain Catalogue by Ashley Holt.

This book collects a bunch of characters that Holt has created for anyone to use.  Holt's drawing here is wonderful and the characters are hilarious. Vlad the Undersea Vampire Monkey.  The Wax Tadpole. Autobiolad.  Jonny Kafkaesque.  Hilarious!  Ashley also gave me a CD with four songs on it.  It's great.  Reminds me a bit of Faith No More.  That is a compliment.

Our Trip to Fluke by the Dollar Bin gang and pals.

This is a neat little mini that collects a bunch of one page gags about folks' previous trips to Fluke.  Good idea.  Good looking little minicomic.

Interchapter Issue One by Shawn Daughetee.

This is a neat looking pocket sized color minicomic.  I'm not sure how it was printed but it looks like each page was hand colored.  It's really well made.  Nice paper.  The story is about a turtle crossing the road.  It says that is is based on Chapter 3 of the Grapes of Wrath.  All I remember about my high school reading of the Grapes of Wrath is horrible, horrible depressing sadness.  I prefer the turtle story.

All in all a nice stack of comics.  It was encouraging to see so many people still in love with minicomics as a medium.  Great to see so many new young faces making minicomics.  I've been afraid for a while that the ease of the web and print on demand would put a dent in minicomics but so far it seems to keep on growing.  Much love to Patrick, Robert and all the folks that helped make Fluke happen.  God bless us everyone.

After the show and dinner I made the six hour drive back to Virginia already missing my pals before I was out of Georgia.  I made it home in time to set out my Easter Bunny traps but, I'm sad to report, that once again, the Easter Bunny out smarted me and evaded my traps.  Well, there is always next year.

Your best pal ever,

Shannon Smith