Do Android Monkeys Dream of Electric Bananas?
Month: June 2015
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #0629
Wishing a Happy birthday to the person who puts up with me (and Cecil).
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1889
Look at the sky. It’s not dark and black and without character. The black is, in fact deep blue. And over there: lighter blue and blowing through the blues and blackness the winds swirling through the air and then shining, burning, bursting through: the stars! And you see how they roar their light. Everywhere we look, the complex magic of nature blazes before our eyes. (Vincent and the Doctor -2010)
Yes, that’s not a real quote, but it is a cool way to see the world. I recall as a kid one time realizing, as I was drawing, that what I was looking at didn’t have a nice neat black outline around it… It kind of freaked me out since I was probably 7ish at the time and had to figure out how I could draw something without a line around it. So, of course, I took up cartooning.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1952
I’m ooking in the rain, just ooking in the rain.
When I first came to live in Indiana during college, I first encountered a “summer shower” and realized that the rain I grew up with didn’t really count as “real rain.” I learned why windshield wipers have more than one speed and why some people carry SCUBA gear in their cars during the summer. Just like people in Indiana have no idea what real traffic is, or real fog, as someone raised in Southern California, real rain was a new experience. What I still enjoy is driving along and actually watching the line of rain approaching. That wall of grey the moves closer and closer… giving me time to prepare for the drenching.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #14-556
Every once in while I go a little political. Unfortunately, as a teacher in Indiana, that can be like taking your life in your hands. An early court case defined teachers as “moral exemplars” which can be hard when society has issues with what their actual morals are- which is Indiana in a nutshell.
As for today’s MINIon- I have many close friends who today’s SCOTUS decision impacted. I celebrate with you the only way I can- this monkey’s for you- congratulations! Sue, Cecil, & I love you all.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1980 A-Ah!!!
I’m sure I’ve mentioned at some time that one of my most memorable comic experiences growing up was Alex Raymond’s “Flash Gordon.” It started off as far as I can tell with a way for my parents to keep my brother and I quiet as we moved. I was given volume one and my brother volume two of the original series. The artwork was amazing , the story was great and for the longest time I tracked down the entire 5 volumes that had been published leading up to Flash, Dale, & Zarkov’s return to Earth. After that as a kid I figured the story ended. It wasn’t until later that I discovered that there were more adventures (including a return to Mongo). This of course after I had lost the original compendiums I had purchased growing up. And then there’s the film versions… Buster Crabbe’s Serials and the 1980 version which drips of camp, but actually isn’t that bad when it comes to paying homage to the art of Alex Raymond and his ideas of what Mongo looked like. Tonight I have the chance to see that film again on the big screen as the opening event for Indy Pop Con. So take a walk with me down memory lane…
Flash – a-ah – saviour of the universe
Flash – a-ah – he’ll save everyone of us
Flash – a-ah – he’s a miracle
Flash – a-ah – king of the impossible
He’s for everyone of us
Stand for everyone of us
He’ll save with a mighty hand
Every man every woman
Every child – with a mighty flash
Flash – a-ah
Flash – a-ah – he’ll save everyone of us
Just a man
With a man’s courage
He knows nothing but a man
But he can never fail
No one but the pure in heart
May find the golden grail
Oh oh – oh oh
Flash
If you want a modern take on what really would happen to a spacefaring hero returning to Earth after saving a planet I highly recommend Mark Millar’s “Starlight.” Fantastic story, that I hear might become a film in the near future… sadly, I don’t think Queen will be doing the soundtrack.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1966
I guess I should stop watching the news and all the commentary about China’s role in the world.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1929
“SSSKREEEONKG!!!”
or at least that’s kinda what “Godzilla, King of the Monsters” comics said…
I remember watching Godzilla as a kid and just thinking how awesome it was. Then to discover the urban legend that the original film was in color, until it was brought over to the U.S. and the scenes with “Steve Martin” aka Raymond Burr had been shot in black & white so they had to reprocess the film in black & white to match the U.S. footage. Correct or not, you can tell by the interesting cuts that something had been added.
A Year in MINIons- MINIon #1881
“The town of Nada, Texas was small…” That’s how one of my favorite picture books starts off. David Small’s Ruby Mae Has Something to Say is a great story about Universal understanding and the power of tinkering. If you haven’t had a chance to read it, I really suggest you do.
I decided on this specific MINIon because (Yes, I once built my own Bobatron) some close friends are expecting and one of their requests for the baby shower was to bring a copy of your favorite childhood book. Sue, having never had a childhood 😉 just defaulted to me and I had a to come up with a list. While Ruby Mae didn’t make the cut (so many books) the process reminded me that I wanted to do a MINIon based on the story. Many of the books on the list bring back memories of when I taught either first grade or preschool. Many are out of print which was something we decided would be an added bonus, knowing that no one would give the book we did. Sue couldn’t attend the shower because she’s more of a bath person… actually she was up in Ann Arbor with me.
What were on my short list?
1. Just Only John by Jack Kent – the story of a boy who wants to be something else and realizes that magic is a little fickle.
2. The Wuggie Norple Story by Daniel Pinkwater – C’mon just the character names are enough to put this on any list… “Lunchbox Louie, Bigfoot the Chipmunk, King Waffle…”
3. Big Bad Bruce by Bill Peet – uh, hello? a bear, named Bruce why shouldn’t this be on the list?
4. Ruby Mae Has Something to Say by David Small
“What no comics, or graphic novels?” you say. I knew the child’s father would be more than capable of taking care of that end, along with LEGO.
Wow… Best Con Ever: Kids Read Comics
You know how people tell you to go someplace over and over again and you think, “Maybe, when I have time.” I really don’t remember when I first heard something about the Kids Read Comics Convention in Ann Arbor, Michigan what I do know is I ignored it. Maybe I thought I should put that on the old bucket list, or maybe I just never wrote it down… I’m now kicking myself. I know recently some of my friends have pushed for me to go… You know who you are Jim, Chris, Ginger, & Lee. So I bit the bullet decided to take the weekend and blew my mind. I might have a few things wrong- I’m still processing everything.
I’m not a con newbie, I remember attending comic cons since I could drive. I’ve been to New York Comic Con, C2E2, and even trekked out to San Diego a few times… Those are all great, but for me, I’ll take Kids Read Comics. Remember, I’m a teacher, I’m an elementary school teacher, I like comics… This was a con for me and the little kid in me who tends to hide away too often. So what amazing stars of film and tv were there for $40 photo ops and $20 autographs? Umm… No one. It was a con emphasizing the awesomeness of comics, and focusing on the kids who read them. The cost of admission? Ummm… Nothing. Ok you had to bring unbridled joy and love of comics, and a willingness to embrace your inner kid, or at least put up with kids filled with joy. So far it sounds like some weird fantasyland that I dreamed up when I mixed up my hypertension medicine, but it isn’t.
Friday was for the adults, the teachers, librarians, and comic creators. The entire day dealt with lofty topics like “How to teach how to draw,” “The amazing history of comics in America & how they almost disappeared,” a panel of people from all over talking about creating comics, & using comics for learning, and finally a tour of a video game archive that definitely brought back waves of nostalgia. My poor brain was already full after just the pre-conference, but for my students I had to carry on and attempt to survive the first day of the actual con…
Kids Read Comics is divided into a mass of activities for kids of all ages, so many I got lost, and really need to bring an army of MINIons next time to report out. I’ll try to keep it simple by grouping them a bit:
Artist Alley- a chance to meet and talk (face to face) with amazing comic creators. I’m a big fan of the artist alley (once I get over my shyness) but recently I have found a glut of “dystopian zombie apocalypse” comics, or artists who have no concept of what “all ages” means. At Kids Read Comics it was wonderful! Every artist I spoke with had things that kids would like and parents wouldn’t blush at. When talking with the artists before I would buy something they’d usually tell me the age it was meant for, even a warning as to bad language that might work in an upper grade, but not younger kids. It was a dream. I walked out with my wallet a little lighter, but knowing that everything I had could work in my classroom. Here are just a few of the great creators who were at Kids Read Comics (Yes, Cecil needed to be in the picture, and somehow I lost a number of photos I thought I had taken- grrr.).
Quick Draw! & other drawing challenges- be it Quick Draw!, Iron Cartoonist, or Comics Quickfire it’s a great chance to see your new favorite cartoonists in action. As a really old kid what I liked best was seeing how each artist attacked their drawing. A wizard in space with a screwdriver? Sure! The drawings showed the people in the audience that there isn’t a “right” answer, but a lot a creativity can save the day!
Educational Sessions- Sessions geared for teens, or kids of all ages on storytelling technique, basic drawing, all the way to inking. I learned so much from the sessions I went to, these ideas have helped me as I reimagine the direction of My Geek Odyssey and Gizmo Girl.
Signings- Comics Rockstars… If you didn’t catch them at their Artist Alley table here’s your chance to get your favorite book signed by your favorite cartoonist. I waited in line for most creators, but it was worth it to be able to quietly mumble “I really like your work” or “My students love what you do.” Some artists were ones I have known others are new found idols… I think I’m getting better with the whole socializing thing, but I know I still need work.
Oh, and if you don’t have a copy of the book you wanted signed- Green Brain Comics has set up a table with copies of books from all the guests!
Other Amazing Activities- so many other things, drawing on the sidewalk next to your favorite cartoonist, dancing to the Shake-Ups in Ponyville, Awards ceremonies, ghosts, arts and crafts… So many things going on, my head is spinning.
Ok here’s the sad thing that I need to mention again- I didn’t get to do everything I wanted. I had to make choices. I didn’t get to all the venues- so many cool things and so few of me. You see Kids Read Comics wasn’t in just one place. The wonderful Ann Arbor District Library hosted many events, but so did the Ann Arbor Art Center, and Vault of Midnight Comics, and Robot Supply and Repair (826 Michigan). It was almost as if Ann Arbor had been taken over by comic book geeks and comic book geeks in the making… I’m now wanting to move, except I hear the further north you go, the colder it gets and I really have a thing against winter.
I’ll be going over my notes in the next few days to see how this will change my teaching, and this very comic. So here’s what I want YOU to consider- I’m around 4 hours away from this con- driving, and I went. What’s your excuse? I know I made a bunch of excuses over the years. If you live within a day’s drive and teach with, have comics in your classroom, or love all ages comics, the least you could do is take a day. You won’t regret it, in fact if you go next year and don’t learn something or discover something new, let me know, I’ll personally refund the cost of your registration to Kids Read Comics.*