The Lonely Cache
Posted on September 7, 2024 by Bruce

Of Monkeys and MINIs

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Bruce
4238
My personal badge – Minion #4238
Each year I try to take on some stupidly monumental creative task to push myself and drive myself just a little closer to the funny farm… This year I’ve so far tackled a few things including getting the past two years of comic strips published in a comic. While I am proud of that effort there has been another project I’ve been working on for a while and I think (hope) it’s finally done. I’ve created individual badges for Cecil’s MINIons for MINI Takes the States.

What am I talking about?  OK in 2006 MINIUSA started this crazy owner appreciation event called MINI Takes the States (MTTS), it’s a rally/party held every two years. What your car company doesn’t do this kind of thing?  If you’ve read this comic for a while you know a few things- I own a MINI (and a Mini), I actually did a comic strip in 2010 for MINIUSA in conjunction with MTTS.  So when MINIUSA announced in 2012 they were going coast to coast I created a small group on Facebook to help coordinate what we were going to do.  These were people Sue, Cecil, and I had met along our travels starting with MINI United in 2009.  I created a simple oval design for “Minions Take The States” and had magnet badges made for the handful of people in the group.  Skip to 2013 and MINIUSA announcing MTTS 2014 -San Francisco to Boston.  After a 2012 and many other MINI related events, our merry little band has grown to about 55 people and stupid me I say “Hey!  I’ll design MINIon badges for everyone- just let me know if you have a number (four-digit) that is significant to you and that can be your MINIon number.”  Kind of like the MINI JCW GP having unique numbers – I imagined sitting back and drawing a few generic minions- just a bunch of monkeys with fezzes, pretty simple.  I started a spread sheet and took names and numbers.

Then I did something really, really stupid… I did a special monkey.  I don’t remember which one I did first, but I opened the floodgates.  I started getting special requests for MINIons.  I was up for the challenge it was going to be  fun, and I had a bunch of time to get them done.  I had set up a bunch of numbers in the spreadsheet & special monkeys for those numbers (#1701- Star Trek, #2814- Green Lantern, #0451- a fireman, etc.) so doing ones for other people wasn’t much different.  It actually is, when you just play with an idea, it’s fun, and you don’t have anyone else tied to the idea.  When you start working on someone else’s idea it’s their vision, not yours.  Years ago someone suggested I contact a MINI enthusiast magazine about doing a comic strip for them (like I do for FTF Geocacher).  I actually had contacted them in 2009 when I first started out, and was ignored, but I tried again.  When I spoke to the guy in charge he basically wanted his characters, his ideas, I would just draw the pictures… Not my thing, I wanted to bring my characters to his magazine and he wanted nothing to do with it.  Like the old time comic industry the artist puts in the effort designing characters and in the end he owns nothing… work for hire- not my thing.  So I’m now working with friends who have ideas as to how “their Minion” should look, they know how they want it to end up, “I want Cecil dressed as a…” but for me I wasn’t drawing Cecil, I was drawing one of his minions- one of his numerous clones.  Cecil is unique- his clones are also, but in a different way.  I reminded myself that Cecil is my creation I know his backstory, I know things that unless you’ve read this comic from the very beginning you would be blissfully unaware.  Then the requests for changes came in.  “I love it! but…”  Most were simple, some required a complete redo.  Some were numerous… and reminded me why I’m not a professional graphic designer or an “expert”. I draw for fun, it keeps me sane… If I actually got paid to do this stuff I’d need to be locked away in Arkham.

Then as with any project you have a few Veruca Salt types… “I want it now!” I am sorry I was unable to get all of these badges done overnight, but I was trying to get them done in a manner that I would be proud of the final product.  Which I am.  In the end there are 44 unique badges, along with a special oval design for the event.  Each minion monkey was hand draw and then colored, placed on the badge and tweaked so that it looked good.  Throughout the process I ended up losing files and had to recreate them, layers vanished. I learned a lot about my friends and myself.  For those who pushed me with requests- I thank you, you helped me to be a better artist.  For those who didn’t push, I thank you for giving me the freedom to explore.  Either way it’s nice to have friends who help you to be a better person.  The generic oval was redesigned a bunch of times, until inspiration came one night… and was drawn the next morning.  The actual logistics now that the designing part is done is being taken care of by a couple of MINIons, which I appreciate.  Cecil’s Cafe Press Store has some generic items for MTTS if you are interested.

What’s my next project?  Nothing for the short term, I’ve got a classroom to set up and a comic to keep posting.  Then again, Lego is a sponsor of MTTS 2014 and the Mini Cooper Lego set is coming out in August… my worlds are colliding.

Here are the finished badges for 2014
Here are the finished badges for 2014, click to get a much, much bigger view

Comics in the Classroom – What’s in Your Library?

Posted on June 17, 2014 by Bruce
A section of my personal library not all of these make it into my classroom.
A section of my personal library not all of these make it into my classroom.
Fortunately, or unfortunately I’m moving classrooms so I’m having to reorganize and sadly clean out not only my stuff but also whatever the previous occupant of this classroom decided to leave… I’m sure it’s all really important, but c’mon… Mimeograph books?!?! This ordeal has given me the perfect opportunity to take a look at what is in my current comic library, what holes I need to fill, and what, due to my grade level, I may want to keep at home.  I thought I’d share what my basic library contains, and what I’m going to add to it as time permits.  I teach third grade, I have taught all the way up to fifth and all the way down to first. When I first started teaching I heard an author talk about his time as a graduate assistant in an introductory literature class.  While all the other classes had reading lists of the classics he had things like “The Princess Bride” (before the movie).  His reasoning was this- he was supposed to teach certain skills to help students tackle a text, any text.  If the student couldn’t understand what they were reading, how could you really master the skill?  You spent most of your time translating what the author meant or deciphering olde English.   I use comics and graphic novels in the same way.  If my goal is to get students to understand character traits then why not talk about the cousins in “Bone” then when we are reading a more challenging text, circle round to those traits we already mastered, “Isn’t this character like Phoney Bone?”.  Although when you get to the end Bone is definitely a deep story. As you look at creating your classroom comic book library please understand your mileage may differ… you know your class, the families, and your community.  Make sure to read every book you put out there and be comfortable enough with the content in case someone throws a fit over it.  Not all comics are created equal.  Make sure to check out a Parent’s Guide to the Best Kids Comics and get on the Diamond Bookshelf mailing list to see what’s new.  Diamond is the major comics distributor for the the US so if they talk about it, your local comic shop can get it.  Also check out Reading with Pictures and join their community to see what else people suggest for your specific grade level. If you are using reading programs like Accelerated Reader check to see what quizzes are available for various titles.  It’s always a nice check to see if the kids are actually reading. Series: Bone by Jeff Smith I started with the Scholastic editions when they first came out and soon realized that my students could not wait until the next book came out.  I passed along my complete Bone (in one 1300 volume) to a few students and finally had to buy another copy.  The students enjoyed carrying around this massive tome and didn’t mine that it wasn’t in color. Amelia Rules by Jimmy Gownley I started off with these as individual issues and then picked up the trades.  Life as a kid with a strong female character dealing with issues that kids can relate to. The Dreamland Chronicles by Christian Scott Sava When I first started looking at webcomics I stumbled upon this one.  The story of a guy who returns to “Dreamland” where kids go when they sleep in order to save the realm and help his friends. Currently available in print (seven volumes) but on hiatus as the creator works on a film. Tiny Titans by Art Balthazar and Franco Yes, it’s mainstream, but Tiny Titans, now back in print as a monthly title is just fun.  Each issue has small individual stories that tie together using characters from the DC Universe.  The artwork is a joy and a great inspiration for kids. Leave it to Chance by James Robinson & Paul Smith (Sadly out of print) this is the story of the mystic protector of Devil’s Echo.  Chance Falconer wants to follow in her father’s footsteps, but he won’t allow it so being a “strong female character” she goes ahead and does it anyway.  The first arc (Shaman’s Rain) can be a little hard for the kids to get into initially, but once they do they are hooked.   Mouse Guard by David Petersen “Mice with Swords”  Fantasy Tale about the mice who keep order in the realm.  Beautifully illustrated, David Petersen is available on Ustream to watch his process.  better for upper elementary, I’ve had former students hunt me down to get the most recent story.  Mouse Guard is the story, Legends of the Guard is an anthology in which other creators tell a tale from the same universe. Owly by Andy Runton  Wordless comics great for younger audiences tells the story of Owly, Wormy and their friends in the forest.  What I like about it is by being wordless you can have kids of any age, tell you the story. Individual Graphic Novel Titles: Smile by Raina Telgemeier Bio-comic that kids can get into, when I brought this into my 4th grade class it vanished for weeks being passed from kid to kid until almost the whole class had read it. Monthly Comics I’ll be Adding: New Comic Book Day is Wednesday so teach your class some patience by picking up individual issues that they have to wait and remember what was going on. Tiny Titans – back after a hiatus, this playful kids version of the DC Universe has multiple short stories that are tied together by a central theme each issue. Scribblenauts Unmasked – When DC released a version of Scribblenauts (a great video game you should check out players are confronted with a puzzle that they must solve by creating things using a magic notepad.  You write “hammer” and a hammer appears) a companion/extension comic was created in which the characters from Scribblenauts help save the DC Universe. Princess Ugg – I’m always a little leery suggesting a comic when only one issue is out but I lie this premise and the idea of a strong female character.  This comic is telling the story of a barabarian princess heading off to princess school… and hijinks ensue. Herobear and the Kid – one of my favorites that took forever to get the issues out… Drawn in “rough animation” style so kids who draw can see the underlying work it tells the story of Tyler who moves into his grandfather’s house upon his grandfather’s death.  He has the typical problems of a kid in a new school plus all his grandfather gave him was a broken pocket watch and s stuffed bear… a stuffed bear that happens to turn into Herobear!  It is back after a long hiatus and is being published in 5 issue arcs so hopefully it won’t require you to wait a year between issues. Trade or Graphic Novel Titles I’ll be Adding to my third grade classroom: Drama & Sisters by Raina Telgemeier Amulet (Series) by Kazu Kibuishi Lunch Lady (Series) Squish (Series) Baby Mouse (Series) You’ll notice I have left off a lot of mainstream DC & Marvel titles.  Basically, these tend to talk down to kids, and are in many cases not very good for the kids- which is why so many adults think of comics as the candy of books.  There are some great stories out there, but in my journey through comic book shops, most things produced by major publishers are junk food.  Your mileage may vary… check out a few titles and see what you think.  The first trade for the second volume of Ultimate Spider-Man – introducing Mile Morales) is very well done and and really engaging to upper elementary/middle school kids.  There are hundreds of titles out there and I know I’m missing some great ones, so please feel free to share your suggestions in the comments.  Buyer Beware When I was a first starting out I used to go by the rule that if it was approved by the Comics Code Authority that meant the comic was basically similar in content to what the kids would see on prime time television.  The Code was established as a watchdog agency censoring the content of comics so they were appropriate after a number of hearings dealing with some of the horror comics in the 50’s.  There are books written on the subject, so I’m just giving you a very brief overview.  The code went away pretty recently and comic publishers now rate comics as Mature, Teen, or Everyone – All Ages kind of like what they do with video games.  They are self regulated, so a Teen comic may be OK for your elementary classroom, you need to decide.  You know your students, families and community better than anyone else. I just remember when a friend handed me a long box (around 200 comics) as a donation for my school.  I started handing them out to teachers seeing that they all were approved by the code… a few days later I was called into the principal’s office- she had a stack of comics and I found out that the comic code had failed me… It seems that Batman & Detective Comics were a little more mature- the surveillance scene in a strip club was tastefully done, but inappropriate. So make sure, like anything else you put in your classroom you have read it and approve of the content. So go out talk to the folks at your local comic shop and read some comics! Next time: Ideas for Integrating Comics into your Classroom.

Comics in the Classroom- a quick overview

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Bruce
 
Gronk by Katie Cook
Gronk by Katie Cook
As many of you know my day job is teaching elementary school which is why there tends to be no mature stuff in this comic, we might use fancy vocabulary, but for the most part it’s kid friendly.  I actually get a little upset when a creator takes a perfectly good all ages story and ruins it by putting in one word (just to be cool? just because they can? just to show everyone that they are edgy and “mature”?). I’ve already commented on publishers being clueless (Action Cat #2 came out this week- funny, the majority of the ads were all ages- hopefully they will reprint issue #1 in the same manner so I can put it in my classroom).  Once a week I’m going to discuss comics in the classroom and how other teachers can use these powerful tools to engage students and enhance learning.  Just remember “With Great Power comes great responsibility.” Some of this comes from the panel I was part of at Indy PopCon with Jim McClain (Solution Squad) and other pieces come from years of using comics with kids and seeing how other teachers have embraced comics. Vocabulary: Comic Strip – Basically a joke or gag told in a specific number of panels Comic Book – A book which tells a story using the medium of comics (panels, balloons, etc.) Trade Paperback – A bound edition containing a number of comics, usually a complete story arc. Graphic Novel – A bound edition usually containing one story.  At the elementary level what most people consider Graphic Novels aren’t appropriate as the content is too mature. In my Classroom:  Even though it is reading, I tend to not allow my students to read comic strips in class.  I prefer comic books and trade paperbacks since they build on each other and tell a complete story.  I tell my students that while it is reading, there is more I can teach them through a comic book. If they want to check out and read books with comic strips at home, during their “free time” that’s fine, but during class time no comic strips (I also discourage joke books, and some other “fluff” books). Some overall basic resources to start with…
  • A Parent’s Guide to the Best Kids’ Comics – I have purchased three copies of this and only have one left!  This is a great resource for comics sorted by age.  It also includes If you liked this recommendations so what do you get that kid who loved Bone to keep them reading?
  • Search the Web for good webcomics – Sadly some of the best stuff for kids is being produced independently so you need to check out the web and See what’s available.  I tend to have my students reading The Dreamland Chronicles or Little Guardians (both of which are available in print also) . unfortunately not many of the comics online are in long form so they tend to be just strips. Also web creators aren’t always timely about updating their comics (like me).  So kids tend to have to wait (and wait, and wait)
  • Your Local Comic Book Shop-  I know it’s scary in there, and not all shops are created equal, but there is no harm in asking.  Some shops will donate or at least give schools a discount.  The more we, as educators, talk to comic shops the bigger and better their all ages sections will be.
  • Raising a Reader from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund
  • Reading With Pictures – an online community and creator of “The Graphic Textbook” which is now going by “Reading With Pictures- Comics that Make Kids Smarter” and should be available in August -as a Kickstarter supporter I better get my copies before they are for sale to the general public (just sayin’)
  • Teaching with Comics and Illustrated Novels
  • I’ve started to put together a resource website for the teachers at my school about comics, it is a work in progress so keep that in mind (and it has a strong focus on STEM).
I know there are a lot more and I’ll keep adding to the list as I post more, but I’d like to keep these short,  Next week when we look at some specific titles that should be in your classroom comics library!

What Really Happens in Artist Alley – Indy PopCon 2014

Posted on June 4, 2014 by Bruce
IMG_2436
My Table in Artist Alley
“Excited” would not be a word I would use to describe my feelings as I prepared for “tabling” at Indy PopCon- “terrified” would probably be a better word.  While I am a teacher and spend hours each day in front of an audience (i.e. my class) I’m not very good at or comfortable with just talking to people.  If you have known me for a while you might have forgotten that I hide in the corners of rooms and quietly add something to a conversation when I hear them.  After a while I do come out of my shell, but for the most part, I’m fine hiding out and getting a feel for the crowd… its called “being an introvert.”  So here I was setting up a table at a Convention that will have thousands of people potentially tens of thousands of people what was I thinking?!? Set up began Thursday for the people who were bringing in lots of stuff (not me).  I had about 70 copies of my book, about 350 buttons, 15 prints, a banner, an old cigar box, business cards, drawing supplies and a couple of pads of paper in various sizes.  It almost all fit into a large box that fit in the boot of my MINI Roadster.  I showed up Thursday evening to get things ready… because I’m that way.  15 minutes later I had everything set up and Sue was asking me if I wanted to put it all away so nothing would get stolen.  I took the change out of the cash box, and went to look around the Hall which was huge and at the time fairly empty.
IMG_2441
The View from my Table
Indy PopCon is a strange beast, it seems  the idea is to have a convention that embraces all forms of popular culture not just one.  So as I walked around, I saw a wide variety of stuff in the booths that were setting up.  The organizers had done their homework, put together a Kickstarter to help with initial funding, and visited the other new convention, the Indiana Comic-Con, which had been held months earlier with a few issues.  Their communication was exemplary, keeping everyone informed.  Being my first big con, I was very happy with everything I had seen so far.  Still nervous, but I felt that with all the prep and changes they had made to accommodate more people it would be a fantastic success for everyone involved. The first day of Indy PopCon coincided with the last day of school so since I had set up already I headed to school to say my goodbyes, and then head off to PopCon.  I didn’t realize that there would be high school graduation ceremonies, a convention of Methodists, and the State Democratic Convention all happening around PopCon. I was in typical Con wear for me (my nifty comic Hawaiian shirt and my flying monkey fez.  I arrived (early- this is the way I try to do things especially when I’m nervous) and rearranged some things sat down and started to draw.  I wanted to have some samples of monkey sketch cards and a commission so the throngs of people would know what I could do. The nice thing was I was really close to some great comic creators (Little Guardians, Chris & Gin, Samantha Kyle, and Ron Braun) in case things did get weird… Hey! who brought that laser pointer?!?
IMG_2437
Friday
IMG_2447
Saturday
IMG_2462
Sunday
I was able to complete a lot of work and avoid talking to people since most people do what I do when walking through Artist Alley the first time- they stay in the middle of the aisle and avoid eye contact. Those that stopped I talked about my comic “It started off as a biocomic and then I realized my life was boring (ha ha) so I added the evil monkey bent on world domination and his scores of clone minions that live in my basement to spice things up (ha ha).”  I talk to kids much easier than adults, but since for many kids it was still a school day, it was mostly adults.  Sales wise I sold mostly to my friends who stopped by to see how I was doing and be supportive (thank you all).  I survived the first day without a mark on me, and actually was pleased with how things had gone.  Saturday I wore my Star Trek Red Shirt, figuring that this was the day I would get pummeled with people and being new had little chance of survival.  It actually was kind of nice.  I made my typical jokes about this being my “Walking Dead” costume, and stuff like that.  Not what I had expected, but what was great was drawing some more and talking to the friends who stopped by to check things out. Sunday I helped at a panel on Comics in the Classroom with Jim McClain and again enjoyed myself (dressed in my TARDIS fez and new TARDIS bow tie).  As the con came to a close I was happy to have given it a try and enjoyed it (although I was exhausted).
IMG_2456
A commission for some friends.
How’d I do?  I “made table” which to me meant I made enough money to pay for my table space.  Being my first con I was happy with the result.  Some people weren’t as happy, but they had more experience, and kept comparing to other cons. Was I swamped? No.  Did get to be obnoxious yelling at people to “buy my stuff”?  or “Hey! Look at me!” I hope not, I said “Hi” as people passed and went into my little talk if they stopped to look at things.  I was a little surprised that the posters didn’t sell at all, but that’s okay.  Mostly I had fun.  I learned a lot from the experience and am looking forward to taking that knowledge to the next Con, whenever and where ever it will be.  Some of the things I need to consider are how many of these things do I go to- I’m not really sure right now.  For right now Indy PopCon is on my calendar for next year, along with a repeat visit to the INDYpendent Show.  However my current priority is to get more comic strips drawn, tell more & better stories, and be ready to make “My Geek Odyssey” issue #2 before May of 2015!

Daze of Future Passed… My First Book.

Posted on June 3, 2014 by Bruce
coverMy first convention appearance has already been blogged about (The INDYpendent Show) which was a great opportunity to teach a little about comics, and get told how I needed to step up my game… So I did.  The first thing I worked on was getting something else printed, more than a print.  I depressingly looked at the comics I had produced recently and realized that I could put together a 16 page comic book with two years worth of comic strips.  Many of my self publishing friends had given me a drop dead date for having something ready, and that date had come and gone when I finally was able to start this project.  I looked around the interwebs and remembered a few publishing company names from conventions and went to Ka-Blam out of Florida.  They had an online pricing tool and promised a quick turn around so I could have my books in time for the Indy PopCon (which I will blog about a little later).  I realized that about a third of the comics still needed to be colored so I decided a black & white book was in my future.  As I was working on getting the book laid out (fine, avoiding the scariness of laying out the book) I designed some buttons to sell also.   I tried a few different ideas for a cover and decided to go with one I drew while waiting for a meeting to start, which has shaped the design of the covers for the future.  Once everything was turned in, it was just waiting for the comics to arrive. As the time passed I got anxious like waiting for my first MINI, I checked the  progress on the Ka-Blam website until I saw that the book had shipped. The package arrived earlier than I had anticipated, and I was very pleased with how they had turned out.  I kept telling myself this was a learning experience, and I would figure out what I did wrong, and fix it for the next book- I was already thinking about the next book before the first book was in my hands. There’s something strangely scary about seeing your work in print.  For the past five years I’ve been working on this comic and it’s just been pixels on a screen.  Pixels aren’t real, no matter how much I looked at the comics I published here they were always intangible.  When My Geek Odyssey appeared in FTF Geocacher Magazine, it didn’t faze me since I know a lot of people to contribute to hobbiest magazines, they write, I draw- no big deal.  When I opened that box and stared down at my cover, an homage to Uncanny X-Men #141, it all became real, I had actually done it.  While many a Con had called me a “Professional” it never really meant anything until I held that comic in my hands thumbed through it and found the one glaring error.  Then I remember the old Marvel No-Prize and decided this was another lesson I had to learn. I’ve already got ideas for next time, and issue 1.5… my first big thing is to start getting more comic strips out.  I’m planning on Tuesday & Thursday as a publishing schedule for the summer and hopefully into the school year.  I’ve got a bunch of stories I’m getting ready to tell, the first one being about our trip to Joyce Kilmer National Forest in North Carolina which started today.  I’m re-examining the direction of the comic and will see what path that takes me down.  I’ll take some side trips on My Geek Odyssey, but hopefully you’ll enjoy reading them as much as I will enjoy making them.  

All Ages Comics: Great Content- stupid, stupid, publishers

Posted on May 18, 2014 by Bruce
Some of you may have seen my Facebook post about this earlier in the week. On Wednesday I picked up an All Ages comic from my local shop I was purchasing it for my future classroom (more on that later). The cover was cute, reflecting the content of the comic. I have purchased other all ages comics from the same creators, and my students have really loved them.  So I have nothing against the comic itself and what was is “All Ages.”  Then I looked at the back cover, and cringed.  You see the publisher of this specific comic seemed to think that the “All Ages” audience (little kids) would also enjoy reading about a scantily clad, woman who bathes in blood.
TNActionCat01CovBaltazar
Looks kid-friendly enough doesn’t it?
Here’s the description of the all ages comics (from Previews) “THIS is it kids! The Cross-Over EPIC Event of a lifetime! Finally, CAPTAIN ACTION CAT meets ACTION CAT and the characters from AW YEAH COMICS! There is something EVIL out there and EVIL CAT is determined to find it! Even if it means searching throughout the SILVER AGE to do it! Could this blip on the screen be the one known as DOCTOR EVIL CAT?! We bet it is! What will happen when the SILVER AGE and the AW YEAH AGE collide! What does this mean to the Time-stream? The Fate of the comic world may change forever! PLUS, a mysterious frozen souvenir from the GOLDEN AGE makes a visit! Brought to you by the EISNER and HARVEY Award winning, New York Times best-selling Famous Cartoonists-Art Baltazar & Franco! CAPTAIN ACTION CAT is based on the classic Action-Figure Adventure-toy CAPTAIN ACTION! True story.” Here’s the description of the comic advertised on the back- “Set against the fairytale backdrop of knights and magic, Blood Queen begins with the heartbreaking plight of a royal child, teetering between life and death.  Summoned to save the princess, a young woman of untold power begins a journey that will uncover secrets, reveal forbidden desires, and stoke the fires of war.  Inspired by the notorious true story of the Countess Elizabeth Bathory, Blood Queen imagines the Renaissance era as a colorful nightmare of mayhem, lust, and sorcery.”  I will not show the ad, but you can see it (and what one cool cartoonist dad did to it) in the link below. To quote Sesame Street “One of these things is not like the other…”  As a teacher who LOVES comic books and wants to expose my kids to great stories and reading I sadly can’t put Captain Action Cat in my classroom library because for some strange reason I like to be employed and the rather “mature” ad on the back of this all ages comic makes it impossible.  I handed the comic to another teacher to use in her class as an example but warned don’t show the back cover, don’t let the kids read it, just show a page or two using your document camera.  I’m rebuilding my school comic library and unfortunately, some titles just might not make the cut… that makes me sad. So here’s my question, because this is not the first publisher to do something like this, “What are you thinking?”  I know, you have sell comics, and I know it is hard to change something that has been standardized for your entire line, but c’mon. How am I supposed to promote comics in the classroom to teacher who are already skeptical when all you give me are more reasons for them to say “No”?  See, I can’t fill my room with the stuff DC and Marvel produce, because for the most part they’re titles talk down to kids and are only based on cartoon shows that are tied to selling toys.  Worst case they are just a weird version of fumetti with screen shots from the cartoon instead of photos.  There are some great titles by regular publishers like Scholastic and Random House, but I want to make sure my kids get a variety of all ages comics.  Great comics for kids that challenge them come from the independent creators and they don’t tend to produce regularly, and then when they do the publisher puts a massive advertisement on the back and a few in the actual comic to make it impossible for me to have it in my classroom. I’m not the only one, but we shouldn’t ever have to go to such extremes:

CARTOONIST JOHN KOVALIC FOUND CHEESECAKE ON THE BACK OF HIS DAUGHTER’S COMIC BOOK… BUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WILL SOMETHING SOMETHING!

Thanks to the co-creator of Dexter’s Digs and The Brother’s Grant for sharing that link with me, it made me feel vindicated. Feel free to comment with your favorite All Ages title- I know I don’t know them all, and would love to get more into my new classroom. — That leads to the announcement that I will be returning to the classroom next school year!  After two years dealing with fun and frustration of working with teachers and administrators I am really looking forward to getting back to a classroom and test, and test, and test my students day in and day out.  Who knows I might end up discovering that they need to know about Countess Elizabeth Bathory and I’ve missed the chance to have third graders learn something new and important.  What does this mean for My Geek Odyssey?  I really don’t know, but I do know that when I was in the classroom before I was able to get a comic out more regularly, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed.  This summer I will be working on creating a sizable buffer (I know, I know, I’ve said that before) with lots of scantily clad monkeys in every strip. Remember I’ll be at Indy Pop Con Booth 238 stop by and say “Hi” or yell at me about being a prude who likes to be gainfully employed.  I’ll have stuff for sale.

What’s up & Where’s Bruce?

Posted on April 23, 2014 by Bruce
I’ve taken the past few weeks as this school year starts to wind down… you know it’s winding down when you can count on one hand the mandated assessments teachers have to give.  So I’ve been working on various things including taking some of the comics and getting them published in comic book form.  Part of this is to actually go through the process, and part of it is to have something tangible for when I go to conventions. Hopefully my first book of strips will be available at the end of May for Indy Pop Con.  It will contain story lines from the past two years, in glorious black and white.  Why black & white?  because first I’m being cheap, and second I realized that I have a few stories that I never got around to coloring, and that coloring takes time which I don’t have right now. It was easier to remove the color layer from the original and as needed on a handful of strips add some lines than to color 20 odd strips- maybe next time. Thanks to the MOOC I have been kinda working on I have more plans to hopefully get back into the regular schedule with the comic strip and have longer story arcs.  I have two ready to draw and another one bubbling  in my brain that I want to use.  While my summer is getting filled I still see a chance to get more comics done than last year. So where can you find me in the next few weeks? This weekend I’ll be in Chicago at C2E2 I don’t have a table but I’ll be hanging out with the monkey, so look for Cecil and you’ll find me.  There’s also a flashmob Sunday afternoon that I should be dropping by. Next weekend will find me in Fontana Village for MINIs on the Dragon.  Again look for Cecil who will be with his MINIons. While we will be staying at our favorite place in the world about 30 minutes away from the festivities, I know I’ll be hanging out with friends Saturday. Indiana Geocaching Spring Picnic– Cecil will be there and I’ll be tagging along. Triton Central Middle School Comic Con May 22 A friend is putting on a comic Con with her students and many of us from the Indy Webcomic Group will be attending sharing our knowledge. GeoWoodstock over Memorial Day –  Cecil and I will be wandering around (No, we don’t have any new pathtags). Indy Pop Con – I’ve got a table and am planning on doing a session with my friend Jim McClain on Comics in the Classroom and may be helping out with a few sessions with the Indy Webcomics Group.  I’ve got my square, I’ve got paper for sketches, I’ve got business cards, I’m almost ready! Once I get the cover done and the pages submitted I’ll start back on the comic (the only place to see it in full color) and get back into the swing of things!   Thank you all for your patience…

It’s a shopping frenzy!

Posted on April 12, 2014 by Sue
Yesterday I did one of those uniquely Hoosier things that should be experienced at least once in ones lifetime – I braved the Vera Bradley Outlet Sale. Over the years I would occasionally hear about this shopping frenzy in Fort Wayne where thousands of women would descend and literally shop ‘till they dropped.  When I saw a small news item that this was the week of the sale I thought I’d take a drive to see if the event lived up to the hype. To back up, in case you are unaware of this phenomenon,  “Vera Bradley is the name of a luggage design company founded by Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia Miller in 1982. It is an American design company best known for its patterned bags. The Fort Wayne, Indiana company produces a variety of products, including quilted cotton luggage, handbags and accessories.” (Thank you Wikipedia). The first thing I needed for this little jaunt was a ticket so I fired up the computer and found that not only did I need a $5 ticket to go on a weekday, I also needed to select the specific time slot I would attend and ‘register’ as a customer if I planned on buying anything.  This is some serious shopping!  So, after a number of clicks I had one ticket for the 2:30 – 5pm time slot – the morning was sold out – and a sheet with my ‘customer information.’ Friday morning arrived and it was time to hit the road!  On I-69 I noticed several vehicles crowded with laughing women and was pretty sure we were all heading to the same place.  Then I spotted a billboard advertising the sale – as I said, this is the big time! After an intermission to find a couple geocaches, I headed over to the Allen County War Memorial Coliseum for the big event.  I arrived about 2:45 thinking I could miss the line to get in but, oh no, the line was still all the way down the side of the building, around the corner and even doubling back on itself!
Line1
The line goes down there, around back, then doubles back on itself!
Line2
Almost there!
Roughly 97% of the crowd was female and there were lots of groups.  It was a very good-natured crowd and eventually we were at the door and, upon surrendering my ticket, I was given a large pink garbage bag and let in to the hall.  Wow, talk about sensory overload!
Wow!
WOW!
I wasn’t sure what to expect but it was rows upon rows of tables stacked with all types of merchandise from water bottles to suitcases to comforters.  After some initial disorientation I could tell there was a method to the madness, home goods were over there and wallet-type things over there and suitcase things in this area.  As I didn’t actually have a shopping list, I decided the wander up and down each aisle approach made the most sense to see everything while I was in among several thousand other people doing the same thing.
Lots of bags
Lots of bags
Quickly it was apparent that the pink bag was for ‘loot’ as people were tossing in items willy-nilly.  There were also signs on almost very wall (and many PA announcements) about ‘sorting’ and how the fire marshall doesn’t want people sitting on the floor.  It seems that the preferred method of shopping is to grab everything that strikes your fancy then find an area to review and discard the unwanted items.  By the time I left there were at least a half-dozen laundry rolling bins overflowing with these cast offs!
Not sorting.
Not sorting.
A PA announcement also let me in on the fact that the star-shaped balloons indicated tables where there were special markdowns and I saw one woman with 7 or 8 of one type of shoulder bag going for $20!  While this was the exception, I’d say most of the prices were 50-60% off of retail. It also struck me that Vera Bradley makes many more items than I had thought – aprons, coaster sets and flip flops were just a few of the unexpected things I stumbled upon. As I wandered, I did drop a few things into my big pink bag and also dropped some things into the cast off bin though people watching alone was totally worth the price of admission.  My big splurge was a large tote that I kept admiring as people carried them around the shopping floor.  I decided to take the plunge but, when I got to that table they were gone!  As I was standing there reconciling myself to leaving without it, a young women and her friend were standing nearby debating the merits of that very tote versus one of another pattern.  Fortunately for everyone, she went with the other pattern and I got the tote I wanted!
Pink bags waiting to check out!
Pink bags waiting to check out!
When I heard the announcement that there was only 45 minutes left in my session I headed toward check out to beat the crowd.  A big sign over the door reminded shoppers that the per-person limit for the sale is $3,500 (I later learned that this is the point of registering as a shopper) – it certainly was not a problem for me!
Seen in the check-out line. The bag in the center was the $20 deal.
Seen in the check-out line. The bag in the center was the $20 deal.  Wish the photo weren’t so fuzzy.
Check out is in a completely separate exhibit hall allowing them to clear the sales floor in preparation for the next group of shoppers!  The system is flawless, they have lots of registers and people directing people so the wait was actually pretty short.  Items come out of the pink bag, get rung up, and put in to a white bag.  Once the shopper crosses the line between pink and white there’s no going back!
Just in case you bought too much!
Just in case you bought too much!
In all, from getting in line to getting back to my car it was a little over two hours – long enough but not too long. Surprisingly, it actually was rather fun – I think going with no expectations and no shopping list was good because there was absolutely no pressure to buy anything – I could just experience the event. For those interested, the dates for 2015 are April 8-12.

The Con Experience… The INDYpendent Show

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Bruce
So if you’ve never been to Comic Convention but you want to talk to creators up close I can recommend the next INDYpendent Show (in December).  On Sunday I was fortunate enough to table at the first INDYpendent Show, a comic show with the mission to help those people who love comics and want to create their own, but either don’t know what steps to take or need a kick in the butt to get started.  I ended up the show being not only a wise sage giving advice, but also getting kicked a couple times.
The cartoonist at his table ready to impart wisdom and sell you stuff.
The cartoonist & Cecil at their table ready to impart wisdom and sell you stuff.
I arrived as prepared as I could be (which means I forgot stuff).  I came in and fumbled around setting up my banner, laying out a progression of original strips, and a print of Cecil riding Bernice (a story I need to tell).  I made a quick sign that said “Prints $5”  and sat back, calm and confident… OK maybe nervous and scared is a better description.  I was fortunate enough to be next to Jim McClain creator of Solution Squad, a friend and fellow teacher who has done this a few times.  I started to make a list of what I forgot or needed.  #1 was business cards.  While I had made business cards when I first started the comic, and around year two made another batch, I had either forgotten them or ran out.  Everyone who made it to my table had nothing with the website on it! doh!  Next thing on the list was some way to take credit cards… While I thought having cash to make change was good enough, and for this show it wasn’t a problem, but the next one, who knows? After setting up I helped Chris Ludden of Chris & Gin, The Brothers Grant, and Indy Webcomics Group with an educational session on “Bringing Your Character to Life” which, for the first session, was well attended.  We talked about some of the basics of drawing and expressions.  Chris and I agreed that we did more talking than we had intended, but when we asked the group to draw, they seemed to look like they were deer caught in the headlights. After that I was at my table for the 5 hours.  I happily sold my first print to a boy named Elliot and spoke to friends who stopped by and kids who were interested in how I created this comic.  I talked about Micron pens, and non-photo blue pencils the different between regular and Verithin Prismacolors (Verithin are harder and easier to work with IMHO).  Scanning as Line Art and the simplicity of Photoshop Elements for the beginner.  I chatted about hand lettering and the transition to digital lettering.  I just went on, and on, and on.  I talked about how and why character designs changed over time.  I played teacher, something I’ve been doing since at least 1983.  So I was in comfort zone.  Then I got my butt kicked. As a member of the Indy Webcomics Group I get to meet up with other local creators and we encourage each other with projects offer advice and criticism when needed.  Like I said I was next to Jim McClain someone who over the past year has become a close friend.  Jim knew me mostly as a teacher who admires his work, not as much as a comic creator.  He played the role of big brother sharing with me tips and tricks for conventions that he has picked up.  “Can I have one of your business cards?” was one of his first questions.  As we talked throughout the day during breaks in the crowd he asked me having a book… I made my typical excuses about not being ready, needing more time to polish little things like story and art.  A little bit later I noticed he was looking at the comic from day one.  He turned to me and just stated- “Next time you’re at a convention you need to have a book.  You’re more than ready.”  I jokingly replied, “You aren’t the first person to tell me that.”  He bluntly said, “I hope I’m the last.”  He wasn’t, a kid who admired my monkey drawings asked if I had a book he could buy… doh! I had a wonderful time, learning about how to table at a small convention and I’m really looking forward to the next INDYpendent Show, but before then I have the monster that is the Indy Pop Con and putting together a book, even a small one of Cecil’s greatest hits… wish me luck and I’ll keep you all updated as to the progress.

The Tipping Point

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Bruce
Years ago Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book about how when a certain number of events occur then someone goes out a tips a cow… or something like that. I think right now I’ve reached that proverbial tipping point when it comes to My Geek Odyssey.  As we start our fifth year I’m going back and looking at some things I’ve done (mostly what I haven’t done) and after a series of events am thinking about the direction we are headed. Basically the recent events that I elude start with Watching Dear Mr. Watterson on the flight to visit family over the holidays, & then on the same trip visiting the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco.  From there it seems that a lot of little and not so little things have been pushing me.  From the submissions for the Circle City Aerodrome art show. Having my first table at a Con (next week’s INDYpendent Show) which led to having a banner made.  Watching Stripped a wonderful documentary about the history & future of comic strips.  Hanging out with some wonderfully creative people  in the Indy Webcomics Group and teachers passionate about the power of comics in education. All added weight and then today- the proverbial straw the broke the camel’s back- A retrospective of Bill Watterson’s work at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State.
Cecil is ready to take a look at the exhibit.
Cecil is ready to take a look at the exhibit.
I came in thinking I needed to change some things up and had started taking some steps in that direction (signing up for a few MOOCs on Comics, rereading some of the classics like Scott McCloud’s Making Comics).  I left shattered… the whole “I am not worthy” vibe but also thinking “What can I do to become worthy?” Last night I got to a point in Making Comics where a small card fell out of the book… it was the original card I had made up when I started this whole crazy endeavor.  It was pretty simple.  one side was a section of my original drawing of Tink and me, on the other was the dictionary definitions of “Geek” and “Odyssey”.  As I looked at this card, I started thinking that maybe I’d strayed from my original intent… I still don’t know, but thank you Bill Watterson & the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum for giving me an idea as to what I need to do, and where I need to go. Like I said, I left the exhibit shattered… an emotional wreck.  Not something you would think could happen to someone looking at comic strips, but it happened to me.  I looked at the concise storytelling, the art, the layout of the comics… all were genius. IMG_1701The exhibit is divided into various sections including the original strips and pitch , something on each character along with the various reoccurring themes, the tools he used and his inspirations.  I started with the original concept and moved around the room taking it all in.  I know I need to return some weekend and just sit at every section and really take it all in.  It’s like watching a movie and knowing that you missed a bunch of things so you have to see it again, and again. Because of what I saw I am going to reexamine my past strips and see what I can learn and improve upon.  This is going to be a long process and with the real world intruding it will take more time than I can imagine, but I will update you as to the process and how it is going.  I’m not going to stop drawing, but as you have noticed my productivity has not be great recently… hopefully with this renewed vision it will improve, but that will take time. If you are in the area for the INDYpendent Show, I’ll be there and we can chat.  If you have the opportunity to visit the exhibit in Columbus, I recommend it… but if you ask me to come along, bring tissues.
I still get torn up by this comic... even in just pen & ink.
I still get torn up by this one… especially in just pen & ink.