A Topnif homecoming

Thanks to all who scored that ticket to ride down the long and winding road of San Diego Comic Con 2009. I had an extraordinary convention, filled with laughs and friends and prospects of projects to come. There's some incredibly exciting things on the horizon so watch the blog for details. In the meantime, enjoy some of the blobs of paint that fell off of my brushes and onto pieces of art board as the week progressed, and some photos of the shenanigans, too. Special thanks and love to Allen Spiegel, Ronnie, Scott, and Emily Zoback, Ronnie del Carmen, Enrico Casarosa, Jeff Pidgeon, Anita Coulter, Michelle Coulter, Don Shank, Ted Mathot, Derek Thompson, Dave McKean, David Saylor, Sheila Keenan, Kent Williams, David Mack, Scotty Campbell, Jim Mahfood, Mike Huddleston and his girl Erin, my partner in crime Chris Pitzer, The Duartes, the Laudieros, and my wonderful family...







the RED WINDOW booth, featuring me, Ronnie, Enrico, Don, Jeff, Anita, and Michelle

Working away. This is a fun week, but work, nonetheless, at times...still, you gotta love a job like this.

Ronnie at work...always like watching a miracle unfold.

Kent Williams, me, Dave McKean, Jim Steranko, Barron Storey, Allen Spiegel, Bryan Talbot, David Mack at the Spiegel booth.

My son's first artistic offering, priced reasonably at $25,000.

Winding down with good pal Scott Zoback.

THE SAN DIEGO ODYSSEY begins!

I'm off to see friends old and new at the biggest nerdfest in the galaxy...follow the adventures on TWITTER! I'll try to post the fun bits as they come and post any fun pictures on TWITPIC.

SAN DIEGO WARES update and MAP!

Here's us, and some of our friends:
RED WINDOW INC. (Scott Morse, Ronnie del Carmen, Jeff Pidgeon, and Enrico Casarosa) 4800
Allen Spiegel Fine Arts (Dave McKean, Kent Williams, J Muth) 4700
Ted Mathot and Derek Thompson 1215
Bobby Rubio/Alcatraz High 1943
Jamie Baker/Rhode Montijo 1329
What Is Torch Tiger? 2302
Jill Thompson/ Brian Wood/ Cliff Chiang 1322
Mike Mignola 4901
Jeff Smith 2109
Fleet Street Scandal 1316
Samuel Hiti/ La Luz Comics 1831
Jim Mahfood EE05
Mike Huddleston EE06
Conduct Happiness 4830
Milky Way and the Galaxy Girls (Lauren Faust and Craig McCracken) 4834

You'll spot out booth easy with new banners on display. Monster Media in Riverside, CA did a FANTATIC job, and they're INCREDIBLY affordable.

We're down to five copies left of the SEX AND SCIENCE LIMITED EDITION...if you're looking to order one and are on the fence, now's the time, I think. Again, $60, painting by me, signatures by me, Don Shank, and POSSIBLY (more than likely) Lou Romano and Nate Wragg. We're working out how to get everyone's signatures on the books. So there you go. Drop a line at crazymorse*at*sbcglobal*dot*net! There's variations on two designs, depicted above and below. It's random which one you'll get...

Also, I've got a VERY small batch of X*POSITION t-shirts. This is my rock band who performed at the recent PIXARPALOOZA. It's a black logo on a white, soft (but not AMERICAN APPAREL style) t-shirt. I've got one small, one large, and some XL and XXL. $20 at the con.

Again, drop a line if you're looking for specific art...I might be able to hook you up...

More soon!

SAN DIEGO WARES PART 2

Mainly just an update with some pics of actual items...STRANGE SCIENCE FANTASY #1 and #2 are in and they turned out AMAZING. A great printer called Hatcher Press, Inc. hooked me up...the same guys that did THE TOTORO FOREST PROJECT and Ronnie's AND THERE YOU ARE volumes. These are stapled books, but squared and printed on extremely nice paper stock, very sturdy and meaty, and I love them. I think you will too, especially since there's only 50 of each available to the public! You'll get both books and two pieces of original art if you score a set at San Diego, again, $50.

Also, I received copies of LE SKETCH, a small run accordian-style art "book" that will be available soon from very select outlets. You won't be able to get it from me, I'm afraid, but I'll have a few to show at the con if you stop by. I believe, if you can find them, they're absolutely free.




Oh, I will indeed be taking commissions at San Diego again, painted, 8"x10", $100 each, anything you want, just bring reference. These will be black and white on a pre-textured board. You can scroll through old posts to see how they typically turn out...see the EMERALD CITY post, for example. Besides this, there'll be other art available, and maybe even an ukulele or two.

More soon!

SAN DIEGO WARES PT.1

It's that time, friends! San Diego Comic Con is mere days away and we'll be holding down the fort at Booth 4800 with colleagues Jeff Pidgeon, Ronnie del Carmen, and Enrico Casarosa (Bill Presing will be awol this year due to his nuptual celebration). We'll have plenty of love on hand, including:

*STRANGE SCIENCE FANTASY #1 and #2! We'll have these books LIMITED TO 50 COPIES (and we won't be reprinting in this format), signed and numbered, first come, first served. These puppies are printed on high quality paper stock while retaining that traditional floppy comic feel of the 50's. And to top it off, each book comes with a RANDOM PANEL OF ORIGINAL ART FROM THE STORY IN QUESTION. So that's 2 books, 2 pieces of original art, signed and numbered. Sold only as a set of two. Any left-overs will be offered exclusively on the blog, but this is a San Diego exclusive for now. Hit me early, like preview night...these might go quick! $50/set

*the remaining few ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE copies (both regular($20) and limited($60)...though we're down to less than 10 limited!)

*Warehouse finds of fan favorite books: SMACK DAB, and LITTLEGREYMAN ($5 each)!

*ORIGINAL ART, framed, from SEX AND SCIENCE. Go check out the NUCLEUS site for pics, but disregard those prices...we'll be blowing them out for MUCH less (Like in the $100-$150 range).

*Other art, including TIGER!TIGER!TIGER!...and if there's something you've been on the look out for and you think I might still have it, drop a line and ask.

*And of course, copies of TIGER!TIGER!TIGER! ($15), NOTES OVER YONDER ($10), NOBLE BOY ($5), and SCRAP METTLE ($30) Discounts on site for multiple purchases, of course.

*Plus more suprises! Stay tuned!

THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE limited editions

Here goes: Signed and numbered, edition of 50, signed by AT LEAST two of the artists, but more than likely all four. Each limited edition book will come with a unique hand-painted stamped image. The stamps used to create the art will be retired after these 50 books are produced. First come, first served, e-mail me at crazymorse*at*sbcglobal*dot*net if you want one. As I receive your e-mail, I'll let you know where to paypal funds to. PAYPAL ONLY, unless you're picking it up at San Diego Comic Con, then I'll take cash. These books should ship right before or right after the con in a timely fashion, and again, if you're attending the con, I'll set yours aside and you can pick it up on site. Please specify which number you'd like if you own the MYTH AND WAR limited and want a match.

$60 plus shipping (and international orders will get nailed with those lovely international rates, I'm afraid).

There will be approximately 100 copies on hand at the con, as well, at retail price, first come-first served. The book is indeed sold out at the distributor level, meaning you may or may not get one at a retailer or through Amazon, even if you've ordered, I'm afraid. Amazon will allocate as they receive books, and all their books will ship from me to them by tomorrow. If you're worried about scoring a copy, check with NUCLEUS or STUART NG and reserve a copy form them asap.

SEX AND SCIENCE news

This is a quick snippet, but I thought I should give you all a heads-up: THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE was plugged recently on the illustrious BOINGBOING and interest surged overnight. Amazon has placed an order so large that I can't fill it. We've vowed to NOT go back to press on these initial ANCIENT BOOK hardcovers (you'll recall that MYTH AND WAR sold out in a few months). It appears that SEX AND SCIENCE is now effectively "sold out" as well. I'm leaving the link to AMAZON in the sidebar as retailers often post with third party offerings, which may become the active way to get one very soon. Now, don't panic if you haven't gotten yours. I'll have limited quantities at San Diego, and there will indeed be a painted edition with signatures available on the blog in the coming week or two, so be vigilant and keep your eyes peeled. More soon, after I do actual inventory this morning.

THE PROJECTIONIST is coming! Plus, TWITTER!

It's true...you can follow me on Twitter. I folded to the power of the tweet. I'll do my best to keep you all informed of what's the latest...
just follow, true believers, follow!

THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE show and advanced copies

May 16th will see the official launch of THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE, hosted by our friends at GALLERY NUCLEUS. We'll have advanced copies of the book for sale at $20 a pop, as well as some prints and of course the originals, by myself, Lou Romano, Don Shank, and Nate Wragg. Please come by and grab a copy at what will probably be one of your ONLY CHANCES to get all 4 artists to sign (with Lou at Leika and Nate at Dreamworks, it's hard locking us all down these days!) Special thanks to Ronnie del Carmen for the photos of the unveiling just minutes ago...

EMERALD CITY wrap-up!

Thanks again to all who came out and made EMERALD CITY CON the convention to beat! We had a blast and I can't wait to hit that show again. Posted above are a few of the commissions I did during the show, along with a post-con wrap-up comic by Jim Mahfood!

NEWS!

Thanks to everyone who came by at Emerald City this weekend! The show was AMAZING, so much fun and so much comics love. I can't wait to hit that show again in the future. I'll post a more comprehensive wrap up with scans of commissions (if you send 'em in) soon!

In other news, TIGER!TIGER!TIGER! has been graced with not one but TWO Eisner Award nominations, for BEST PAINTER/MULTIMEDIA ARTIST and BEST LETTERER! The Eisners are an amazing honor and I'm very thankful the book itself was recognized this year. Congrats to all the nominees, including Pixar buddies Enrico Casarosa(Venice Chronicles) and Steve Purcell (Sam and Max)!

We'll have TIGER!TIGER!TIGER! on hand in San Diego, of course, along with NOTES OVER YONDER and THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE.

Also available now is MAGIC PICKLE AND THE GARDEN OF EVIL, so grab a copy if you see it!

EMERALD CITY

So I'll be doing commissions of what you like, but I'm also bringing these 5 with me for immediate sale at the show. Just a heads-up. They'll run you $100 a pop or $450 for all 5 if you're so inclined. Find me early...I'd like to just offer these on site, so no reserves on them, I'm afraid. See you there!

EMERALD CITY!

EMERALD CITY COMIC CON is this weekend, folks! If you're in the Pacific Northwest, stop in and say hello, grab some comics, pick up some original art, and have some nerdy fun. This is a great show, I've been a guest twice before and am pleased to be a guest again this year. I'll be doing paintings for $100 a pop, anything you like, 8" x 10", black and white, just bring reference. I might also do a painting in trade if you bring me a sweet Kirby/Ditko monster comic like STRANGE TALES or TALES OF SUSPENSE or something. You can see samples of what I'm talking about below under the DC, H&B thread. I'll also have TIGER!TIGER!TIGER, NOTES OVER YONDER, and a preview copy of the first two chapters of TEN AGAINST THE WORLD and maybe even a preview of THE ANCIENT BOOK OF SEX AND SCIENCE. Sweet!

The image above is the cover for the charity book they've put together, featuring MONSTERS AND DAMES by me and a host of other luminaries. It's hardcover and awesome. You want it. Cover by Frank Cho (above).

STRANGE SCIENCE FANTASY

I'm in the works on a new idea, a new "ongoing" idea. I want some opinions from the folks that would maybe be buying such a thing. You guys.

I'm looking to launch STRANGE SCIENCE FANTASY as a series of 48 page, self-contained, Kirby/Ditko-esque comics. Each "issue" would contain a complete story featuring characters that might or might not appear in the next issue. Very much in the vein of STRANGE TALES, TALES TO ASTONISH!, and TALES OF SUSPENSE, pre-hero. We're talking about the meat of graphic novel ideas as 48 page old fashioned comics. So you get a lot of bang for your buck.

Interiors would be 2 color, and I'd love to do the books as hardcovers, but I want opinions on what YOU'D rather see: Good old fashioned floppy comics for $3.99, or nice hardcovers for more, maybe around $9.95-$12.95 a pop.

These would more than likely never be collected in another form (ie, no compilations), UNLESS I did them as floppies. Then you might get collections down the line.

Thoughts?

Launch date TBD...but they're in the works and coming your way in the coming months!

Oh, and TEN AGAINST THE WORLD will be a separate adventure...not under the STRANGE SCIENCE FANTASY umbrella. Just a heads up!

DC, H&B, and more

Le Sketch

I'm participating in a very cool sketchbook project called LE SKETCH, being run by Paulo Patricio and Matt Madden. LE SKETCH is given away in European cafes and bookstores for free, so if you're overseas, keep your eyes peeled. I'll have some of the "Scott Morse" issue at San Diego for early birds. Here's some of the work in my issue, though the final give-away product is greyscale and not all collage-y.