Showing posts with label Free Comic Book Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Free Comic Book Day. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Free Comic Book Day comics arriving in 2 research libraries


With help and gratitude from Big Planet Comics (Bethesda), Fantom Comics, and Victory Comics, I was able to put together 2 almost complete sets for the Library of Congress and Michigan State University (as well as for myself, natch, because I am a true collector). I delivered the LoC's set yesterday, and am almost ready to mail the other set to MSU.  Both sets are light on five comics - in case there's any other donors out there. And I do have extras if there are any other research libraries looking for issues.

Missing are:

10 TON PRESS
FCBD 2021 10 TON OF FUN SAMPLER
AUG 14, 2021

MAD CAVE STUDIOS
FCBD 2021 BOUNTIFUL GARDEN #1
AUG 14, 2021

NEW ENGLAND COMICS
FCBD 2021 THE TICK
AUG 14, 2021


DEVILS DUE
FCBD 2021 TRAILER PARK BOYS
AUG 14, 2021
 
 
SCOUT COMICS
FCBD 2021 WHITE ASH SEASON 2 #0
AUG 14, 2021
 
 

Tuesday, May 10, 2016

Meet a local comics writer: A chat with Jaron Johnson

by Mike Rhode

This past weekend was Free Comic Book Day, and I swung by Victory Comics in Falls Church, VA. They've had cartoonists set up for the past few years, and I got to meet a few new people and ask them our standard questions. Jaron Johnson, a comic book writer, was giving out copies of his Centerpiece "an illustrated anthology of poems written between the ages of 17 and 19. Through these pieces of prose and imagery, Centerpiece tells the story of Nomad a young man just trying to find his way in the world."

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I am a comic author and filmmaker, so my creation spreads across a few spectrums. The comics I've written span several art styles, but our current project employs a fun and unique blend of hand-drawn elements superimposed over still photography.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination? 
My illustrator, the incredibly talented Clark Campbell, draws with pencil, pen, and paper. He scans this at a high resolution to maintain the texture of the medium, then uses digital image editing software to combine our characters with still photography.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born? 
I was born in Cambridge, Ohio, in January of 1994.
 
Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in? 
I moved to the NoVA area a year and a half ago to grow and learn and improve my life. I was feeling a bit trapped and enclosed within the three towns I grew up in. Life afforded me a window of opportunity, and I leapt through it.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning? 
I cannot draw to save my life. All of the art education, writing and filmmaking, has been learned in the field.

Who are your influences?
 
This current project, Centerpiece, is heavily inspired, visually, by Don Hertzfeldt's animations. He is a brilliant animator and independent filmmaker. My writing influences are largely Kevin Smith, Woody Allen, and Zach Braff.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change? 
I am honestly quite satisfied with the direction my art is heading. There have certainly been bumps along the road, but these are most often opportunities to learn. We should seize and embrace these failures, and define ourselves not by the failures themselves, but by what we learn from them.

What work are you best-known for? 
I am best known for my writing as a whole, i suppose, but mostly my film work with Clark. I have also made awful music, and I've begun publishing my alternative forms of art.

What work are you most proud of? 
I am absolutely most proud of Centerpiece. But this remains to be the case, that I am always most proud of my recent works, because I view them as improvements on prior work.

What would you like to do  or work on in the future? 
I have several larger budget films that I would love to do. I also have two ongoing comic scripts which I would love to see illustrated and distributed.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block? 
Forcing a muse is nigh impossible, but if I've gone a long period of time and remained uninspired throughout, I will often exercise an internal rebel nature. I'll act recklessly for a while to remind myself of the power we all have, yet choose not to exercise each day. This is empowering and uplifting to me.

What do you think will be the future of your field?  
Tom DeLonge, who is an inspiration of mine, has been bridging several mediums of art together. He has spoken at length about how, with advances in technology, one can use the same computer to construct an award-winning album, edit together an action film, write a novel, and build a comic from the ground up. To illustrate that, he has since started creating multimedia projects. One fictional universe told through novels, comics, music - every form of art he has access to, he utilizes to tell a single story. I firmly believe this is the future of our artistic endeavors.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them? 
I have actually never attended a con in my life. Not to sound cliche, but I have struggled greatly with anxiety since high school, and the prospect of being any level of spotlighted makes me uneasy to say the least. I am not opposed to the idea, of course. I imagine it is something I will have to learn to overcome in time.

What's your favorite thing about DC? 
I really love the wonderful blends of cultures here. Where I'm from, we mostly have farm culture and small-town culture. I have learned a vast amount about outside cultures since moving to the DC area, and every time I learn something new I just get giddy in my garter.

Least favorite?
 
Admittedly, the social atmosphere here is colder than I'm used to. I come from an area with a population beneath 2,000, so I am used to warm smiles and waving to each other, wishing one another a good morning or evening. Everybody here, before you really get to know them, has a tendency to kind of give you a cold stare and an absence of words. It makes me feel an awful lot like an outsider.

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to? 
The National Building Museum and The Lincoln Memorial are my two favorites, so that's usually where I take folks who come to see me.

How about a favorite local restaurant? 
Charbroil Grill in Woodbridge is a fantastic place, and I eat there frequently. However, my favorite place is 29 Diner in Fairfax. This hole-in-the-wall has the nicest staff you could ever meet, and they're open 24-7, which is convenient for me because I work the night shift. The owner is incredibly involved in the local community, and so it reminds me a bit of home. Its a slice of small-town living orbital to one of the busiest places in the nation.

Do you have a website or blog? 
Certainly! You can find more about all of the creative work I and my colleagues do at www.DeathByTypewriter.com
 
We are also on Facebook, of course, at Facebook.com/DeathByTypewriteDeathByTypewriter. My personal Facebook page, where I talk about personal elements of my creative process, can be found at Facebook.com/JaronRMJohnson

Monday, May 05, 2014

Free Comic Book Day photos

Victory Comics in Falls Church:

Tangent cartoonists



Monica Marier


Big Planet Comics Vienna (Curls Studio aka Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo):










Big Planet Comics Bethesda (with Joe Sutliff):







Sunday, May 04, 2014

Big Planet Comic's Free Comic Book Day 2014

FCBD seems to have sunk into the public's conciousness.

Joel Pollack provided these pictures of the Bethesda store and notes, "...every BPC store had its best day ever. I'm guessing that's true for every participating store in the country. Photos by Stuart McIntire, a customer (box #6) and friend since day one (04/11/86)."

Darn, I'm box #45. It'll take me years to move up!

I'll have some more photographs soon.


Friday, May 02, 2014

Free Comic Book Day pre-planning

1. Here's my City Paper bit with some recommendations.


In preparation for the "Cartoonists Draw Blood" blood drive we are putting on with the American Red Cross later in the month (May 31 at Seekers Church near Takoma Metro), several of the contributing artists will be making appearances at local comic stores to promote and encourage people to sign up to donate blood.
Visit these fine creators on May 3 for FCBD:

Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski at Big Planet Comics 
426 Maple Avenue E., Vienna, VA
NOON to 2PM
Teresa Roberts Logan at Big Planet Comics 
1520 U Street, NW, Washington, DC
1PM to 3PM
Joe Sutliff  at Big Planet Comics 
4849 Cordell Avenue, Bethesda, MD
1PM to 3PM
Troy-Jeffrey Allen and Matt Rawson at Fantom Comics 
50 Massachusetts Avenue, NE, Washington, DC

3. 

Beyond Comics,18749 B North Frederick Rd, Gaithersburg, Maryland 20879 says
 
Of course...Free comics! Get additional comics with a non-perishable food donation. Meet comic artists Rafer Roberts, Carl Yonder and John Watkins-Chow!

Fantom Comics' Free Comic Book Day


Under new manager, Esther Kim, Fantom Comics has an ambitious FCBD schedule.
 
Fantom Comics Free Comic Book Day 2014!
Saturday, May 3rd, 10am-9pm
Union Station, 50 Mass Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

OVER 50 DIFFERENT FREE COMIC BOOKS!

25% off ALL GRAPHIC NOVELS!

FREE RAFFLE PRIZES ALL DAY!

COSTUME CONTEST WITH $100 SHOPPING SPREE PRIZE!

PREVIEW OF THE GEEK CHIC FASHION SHOW!

GOODIE BAGS FOR THE FIRST 50 CUSTOMERS!

FIRST 5 PEOPLE IN LINE GET A BAG FULL OF ONE OF EACH AND EVERY FREE COMIC BOOK!

LOCAL CREATORS TROY JEFFREY-ALLEN, MATT RAWSON, AND ANDREW COHEN MAKE AN APPEARANCE!


Friday, May 03, 2013

Game On Comics - Free Comic Book Day

From Louis the Magician and Game On! Comics

free comic book day 2

Wolverine wants you to come to Free Comic Book Day!  


awesome.
Free Comic Book Day - Hugh Jackman 2013
Our friend, Hugh Jackman, wants you to come to our store tomorrow!
OK, maybe we don't actually know Mr. Jackman but he does want you to come to our store anyway!

Accross the nation all comic book stores are celebrating Free Comic Book Day, tomorrow, May 4th.

Our store will have over 60 comic titles for FREE!  From comics for kids to comics for adults, we have everything you need.  
We open our doors at 11am and close at 8pm.  BUT COME EARLY!  Last year we gave away all of our titles.

Game On! Comics
310 Dominion RD NE
Vienna, VA 22180



We love Free Comic Book Day!
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310 Dominion RD NE, Vienna, VA 22180 - 703-242-3838

Fantom Comics: Free Comic Book Day



Come visit us at Fantom Comics on Saturday... May the 4th be with you.
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Fantom Comics

Costume Contests

Featuring cosplay chameleon
Pastel Moon
as a guest judge!


DC Conspiracy Creators

Troy-Jeffrey Allen & Matt Rawson:
Members of local comics collective DC Conspiracy will talk with fans and hand out free copies of Magic Bullet #6.

Glen Weldon

Author of Superman The Unathorized Biography will be on hand to celebrate Free Comic Book Day with Fantom

What? Did you say "Free Comics"????

That's right. Check out the schedule of events throughout the day to celebrate the greatest comic book holiday ever invented. Come visit Fantom Comics, walk away with a bunch of free comics, and take advantage of our fantastic sale!!!

Save 10% on all Graphic Novels!
(except Volume 1's of GN series - on those you save 20%!!!)


Copyright © 2013 Fantom Comics, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you have supported Fantom Comics in the past by purchasing digital comics through our website.
Our mailing address is:
Fantom Comics
50 Massachusetts Ave NE
Union Station - Mezzanine Level
Washington, DC 20002



Thursday, May 02, 2013

Free Comic Book Day and more this weekend

After the success of Awesome Con, we've still got a lot of comic-related events going on this weekend too. Iron Man 3 opens on Friday, and it's already been bigger than The Avengers in Europe.
Free Comic Book Day is on Saturday, and local comic book stores will have a selection of the 52 comics that were published this year. Big Planet Comics, our largest local chain, will have eight cartoonists spread between its four locations including Steve Artley, Michael Cowgill, Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Evan Keeling, Art Hondros, John Gallagher, and John Staton. Most of the cartoonists are in the DC Conspiracy co-op or have work in the book District Comics and the new free comics newspaper, Magic Bullet #6. Other cartoonists from the two publications include Troy-Jeffery Allen and Matt Rawson (along with Superman historian Glen Weldon) at Fantom Comics in Union Station and Rafer Roberts and John Shine at Beyond Comics in Gaithersburg. According to editor Carolyn Belefski, the issue is almost 'sold-out' so pick one up this weekend and get it signed as well.  Carolyn and her co-author Joe Carabeo will be at Laughing Ogre comics in Fairfax. Local comic critic Glen Weldon has suggestions about the comics for you on NPR.

Ranging a bit further afield Jacob Warrenfeltz will be at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis. Jacob had planned to have a special new publication, but now tells us "'Bella & Bunny Man Bridge' is a short 8-page mini comic that Zarmina Sulaiman and I  came up with.  It's a cute, kid friendly story about a fluffy white dog and her cool cat sidekick as they brave the adventure of investigating Clifton VA's "Bunny Man Bridge".  Our plan was to have this ready for Free Comic Book Day.  Unfortunately we aren't going to have the book back from the printer in time, so the next opportunity to get your hands on this new mini comic will be the DC Zine Fest, which is happening on July 20." Rounding out our list of local cartoonists, Steve Conley and Frank Cho will be appearing at Cards, Comics & Collectibles in Riestertown, Md along with Adam Kubert.

On Sunday, you can attend the world premiere of the musical Big Nate at Adventure Theater in Glen Echo, MD. Lincoln Peirce, the comic strip creator (and a close personal friend of Wimpy Kid's Jeff Kinney) will be at the play and signing books.

Also on Sunday, Marc Tyler Nobleman will be speaking about Batman co-creator Bill Finger at the Washington Hebrew Congregation (3935 Macomb St, NW) from 10:30-12:00 and signing copies of his book Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman.

Again, further afield, Kevin 'Kal' Kallaugher will be speaking at the Walters Museum in Baltimore at 2 pm to launch his new book, Daggers Drawn. The Express has an interview.

And I've interviewed most of the cartoonists mentioned here (and many others) if you want to study up before meeting them.

Sunday, April 28, 2013

May 4: Free Comic Book Day - Big Planet Comics plans

May 4 – Free Comic Book Day – With EIGHT creators!

FCBD2013
Saturday, May 4 is the 11th annual Free Comic Book Day! There are around 50 comics being given away this year, and we are proud to have EIGHT comics creators as guests this year!
All four stores! All day! (College Park is open til 7)
Bring your friends!
A list of the comics this year:
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/Home/1/1/27/981

Vienna store –
S. G. Artley (Exiles of Nod)
Michael Cowgill (Lil' P.I.)
Matt Dembicki (XOC)

U Street store –
Andrew Cohen (A Mutual Feeling)
Evan Keeling (Codename: Fifinella)

Bethesda store -
Art Hondros (Notes from the Cave Walls)
John Gallagher (Buzzboy)

College Park store -
John Staton (Empowered)

(Due to a family conflict, Ben Hatke will not be appearing)
For more information and a list of what comics we will be giving away for free, please check out the Free Comic Book Day webpage!