Planet Comicon 2017: "Black Buttons" and Magnificent Cowlick Media

For my last post about Planet Comicon 2017, I want to feature "Black Buttons Vol. I", a collection of macabre stories by midwest writers, and Magnificent Cowlick Media, publisher of the anthology.

Mark Groves is the owner, writer, and pretty much doer of everything for Magnificent Cowlick Media. Included in his list of jobs is one-who-mans-the-table at Comicon.  I visited his table and chatted with Mark at length about the books his publishing company has to offer.  Mark is very energetic, friendly, talkative, and is passionately proud of the books he has published.  Mark is a contributing writer to his anthologies, but talks about the other authors' contributions more than his own.  Mark clearly loves this writing and publishing business, and effusively supports his collaborating writers.  

I picked up a copy of "Black Buttons Vol. 1", a collection of stories set in and around the Kansas City area. The setting makes reading it a little more special for area residents, but won't damper the experience for others.  The stories range from just a few pages to longer, near-novella length explorations of darkness.  Some favorites:

"Harry" by J.E. Peterson - you could call this "The Sandlot Gone Evil"

"Pray for Rain" by Mark Groves - a deeply complex tale of second sight set in Kansas City, 

"A Stake in the Heart" by Andrew Rambo - ok, based on the title you can probably guess it's a vampire story, but it's one of the funniest vampire stories I've ever read

"Checkmate" by Mark Groves - superbly paced, excellently executed story of revenge gone wrong

"Bring May Flowers" by Marissa Pelot.  Mark Groves calls this the best story in the book, one of a young girl's internal struggles and resolution.

What about the title, "Black Buttons"?  Well, as Mark explains in the forward, the title comes from a rural Missouri legend about cursed persons or families.  If you were cursed and you left a black button on the road, when someone else picked it up, the curse was transitioned to them. 

Do pick up "Black Buttons" from Magnificent Cowlick Media, but don't pick up any black buttons you see lying on the road....

Magnificent Cowlick Media has also published:

Black Buttons Vol. 2

Route 666: Four on the Floor

HELLZAPALOOZA: The Best Damned Rock Show Ever

Magnificent Cowlick Media

Magnificent Cowlick Media on Facebook

Planet Comicon 2017: TimeBangers

Now, this here is a family-friendly blog.  You know, Christmas Music, and tinsel, and ho ho ho and all that.  So it's with that consideration, and the ever-watching eye of Mrs. Santa, that I'll share with you some info about "TimeBangers" subtitled "One Does Not Simply Walk Into Tudor".

"TimeBangers" is about Beth and Tawny, old college friends now in their early 30's who reunite after several years and begin to reminisce about their particular brand of, ahem, research from their college days.  Jobless, single-parent Beth and her daughter move in with super-rich scientist Tawny, who has invented a time machine.  Beth and Tawny travel into the past to the court of King Henry the Eighth, with intentions to perform some field research experiments on the men of Olde England, including King Henry himself.  But, the best-laid plans, well, you know.....

I visited with the authors, Ivery Kirk and Luna Teague, at their Planet Comicon booth.  Ivery was not there initially, so I spent most of my time chatting with Luna (who also was a contributor to a story anthology I purchased at another booth - more on that in an upcoming post).  Luna is an effervescent bundle of energy, always smiling, and engaging to the fullest with visitors to her booth.  She told me about the book, and we chatted about many other things, including Christmas Music (!).  Of course, TimeBangers was available for sale, so I bought a copy.

I read TimeBangers over the course of just a few days.  It's a marvelously engaging book.  It's quick-paced, fun, a bit naughty here and there (and there, and over there too), and just pure escapist entertainment - you can't take it too seriously as you read it.  Set your Suspension of Disbelief Meter to "Fun" and just enjoy this literary ride.  I'm hoping that TimeBangers Book 2 is published soon.

TimeBangers website
Reve de Vie Publishers website
Amazon link
Interview with Ivery and Luna on The Fussy Librarian:  link
Luna Teague website
Ivery Kirk website

Planet Comicon 2017: Bictori

Bictori is the team of comic artists/authors Taylor Carlson and Stefanie Dao aka Fujiyosky, and "Knocking on the Sky" is their comic book creation.  I met the Bictori team at Planet Comicon and had a very nice chat with them about their comics.  Y'know, that's the best thing about these events - talking to these wonderful artists, learning about their work and their personal artistic journey.  And, supporting them with a purchase or two.  I've bought a few comics and books from the authors and artists at these events, and so far everything has been just splendid!

So, "Knocking on the Sky".  Taylor and Fujiyosky had the first two comics in a planned series of 6, plus (free with purchase of 1 and 2) the standalone pilot issue.  So I picked up all three, added them to my bag o' stuff, and brought them home.  A few days later, I picked them up out of the stack and read them while sitting outside on a lovely Spring Kansas City evening.  And, well, now I'm hooked.  The story involves a group of exquisitely developed characters, each with their own unique idiosyncrasy (or two).  The characters spring to life through the dialogue (a little salty at times), the artwork, and the visual story composition.  There are little arty additions throughout, such as a little, teeny word "point" when one of the characters points.  Persons who are dead are thusly indicated.  There are little visual style changes every now and then that really serve to keep a sense of motion and maintain the reader's high interest.  These are outstanding comics.

And, like I said, I'm hooked on the story.  Book 3 is supposed to be out in the Summer of '17.  I will have to keep up with Team Bictori so I can get books 3-6, whenever they are published.

I'm not going to give away any story or character spoilers.  It's much more fun to experience it all with your first (and subsequent) read(s).  One thing, though - check out this character's right arm:

Yeah...  It's metal...

Keep up with Bictori and "Knocking on the Sky" at the following websites,

http://knockingontheskycomic.com/

http://knockingontheskycomic.tumblr.com/

https://www.behance.net/bictori

Taylor Carlson: https://www.behance.net/tmcarlson

Stefanie Dao: https://www.behance.net/stefaniedao

Fujiyosky on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fujiyosky/

Planet Comicon 2017: Artist Chelsea Mann

Artist and comic author Chelsea Mann was one of my stops at Planet Comicon 2017 in Kansas City. Chelsea had many of her art prints available, as well as two of her comic books, "St. Martin Song" and "Let Me Live".

Chelsea's artwork is extraordinary.  If you browse though the artwork on her website http://philosoficate.com/ you'll see a wide spectrum of work.  All of it is recognizable as being comic-style, but within that artistic domain Chelsea experiments and explores through color, detail, expanse, precision, energy, and subtlety.  In her Gallery section, I'm drawn to the middle image on the third row, the old home on a snowy hill at night.  There is a sense of peace in this work, and to me it evokes a feeling of a quiet Christmas night.

I bought Chelsea's two comics while at Comicon.  Both of these are excellent stories brought to life by Chelsea's artwork.  The storytelling is vivid through her detailed, flowing, exacting composition. Both stories are tales of imagination and spirituality.  "Let Me Live" is especially beautiful throughout its 42 pages in its use of changing color schemas as the story moves along.

Last year I found a wonderful comic artist, Megan Fitts, at Planet Comicon who would up designing the artwork for my annual Christmas comps.  Chelsea's web page has information about commissions, so if anyone is needing something extra special for your annual comps, maybe Chelsea can work up something great!

Planet Comicon 2017

Hello there good readers!  It's time for a Springtime sojourn into the world of Planet Comicon, the 3-day extravaganza of comics, art, nerdery, sci-fi, fantasy, and high-priced celebrity autographs that was in Kansas City April 28-30.  I once again visited Planet Comicon for a day, spending many hours wandering the exhibit hall, talking to authors and artists, viewing many fine works of art, and marveling at the sheer magnitude of the event.  I'll write up a few posts about some of the artists that I met during the 'Con in the next few days.  Long time readers know that I like to support local artists, so giving them a little press and directing some attention to their work is my way of support (in addition to, in most cases, purchasing their wares).

Best Win:  I'm a life long Abbott and Costello fan, especially (duh) their "Who's On First" routine.  Comic strip artists Bill Amend (Fox Trot) and Stephan Pastis (Pearls Before Swine) have both done strips paying homage to "Who's On First".  Well, both of these artists were at Planet Comicon, so I found the strips, printed them on a single page, and was successful in getting them to sign it!  What a one-of-a-kind piece!

A Miss:  I had hoped to have Felicia Day sign my copy of her book "You're Never Weird on the Internet", as she was one of many celebrity guests meeting, greeting, and signing (for a not-really-nominal fee).  Alas, Felicia's line was 90-120 minutes long all day.  I'm not one to invest that amount of time just for an autograph, so my copy of the book remains unsigned.  And I had such a witty dialogue all ready for Ms. Day too....

Another Win:  With Felicia Day a no-go, I stopped by DMC's booth instead.  Last year, I had Mr. McDaniels sign a copy of "Christmas in Hollis" (awesome!).  This year I bought his comic, got an autograph, and posed with him for a pic.  Pretty cool.

Authors and Artists:  Here are some of the authors and artists I met during the day.  Look for more details about these fine folks in some upcoming posts:

Chelsea Mann - comics and artwork Philosoficate.com

Kerrts Kazuka - artwork - https://www.prettykittyemporium.net/home

Taylor Carlson - comics - https://www.behance.net/tmcarlson

Mark Groves - author - https://www.facebook.com/magcowmediabooks/

and finally, Ivery Kirk and Luna Teague, authors of this fine tome:http://www.timebangers.com/books/

Interesting stuff at Planet Comicon, my friends.