SLAM BANG COMICS

SPACE 2009, Columbus, Ohio--by Allen Freeman

2009-04-20T17:00:00.079-05:00

My booth at the SPACE show. May have to get 2 tables from now on! http://www.fanaticpress.com/

Above photo is about 1/3 of what I picked up at SPACE.

My friend and fellow publisher and artist Clint Basinger picked me up at 7:30am (Central Time) for our trip to SPACE this year. We had the car full to the brim with boxes, suitcases full of books and more as usual. The trip never seems to take 5.5 hours since we are talking the whole way. We did get stuck for maybe 1 hour between Louisville and Cinncinati where a huge tractor trailer full of boxes of bread had gone off to the left and took out the middle of a guard rail and went down into a rivine. As we went by I grabbed some quick shots of the mess. The truck was up on the road again hooked up to a large wrecker. It was missing the two front tires and most of the back end of the trailer part. Huge piles of bread packages and boxes were tangled up with wreckage. Of course as soon as we passed this the road was clear both lanes.....the hold up was all the watchers slowing down to view the damage.
We arrive at the ExtendedStay America on schedule around 3:00PM Eastern Time. We get checked in and the key card for the room is a grey rectangular plastic card with holes punched out of it. Like working the first computers back in 1958 or something. And they didn't work very well. Didn't want to open the door and when it did, it almost totally refused to let go of my card. The room was just average but did have a little kitchen and refridgerator that we never used. The beds were as hard as concrete and the tv in the room was about 15". I felt like we were back in time to like 1980 or something. We were told at the desk that there would be no room service. Well, you get what you pay for, uh, less than you pay for these days. And no free little bottles of shampoo in the bathroom either. I think I found an empty one.

Entering Columbus.

Clint monkeying around on the OSU campus.

We check in and rush to the OSU campus as they have a special opening of the Cartoon Museum and it only lasts from 3 to 5. Not a very convient time for us but we finally make it there with 10 minutes before they close! Clint and I see some other small press creators there and we enter the small museum and see an original Calvin and Hobbes sunday page, and a Charles Shultz "Peanuts" strip from April, 1956 (It was created 4 months before I was born.)

Some early artists on the giant art board that will be shown at SPACE the next day.

Those items alone were worth the rush to get there. The rest of the place looks great but we are escorted out by a not all that friendly lady and hit the road back to our hotel, ExtendedHell.

> Clint and I took off with Ryan and Joe Morris of http://www.torcpress.com/ They are looking over their menus at a resturant near the OSU campus called Mad Mex. They love this place. Now we do too!

On the wall near our booth at Mad Mex.

Near Mad Mex.

I go out to the lobby looking for a coke/water machine and find Larry Blake and a friend of his sitting in the lobby. Seeing Larry is one of the main reasons I go to SPACE each year. We used to see each other at the Chicago Cons in the 80's. Then the elevator comes down and it's Tim Corrigan! The "MAN" of small press. I'd just printed up a new MightyGuy comic book for Tim and later he comes to the room and I load him up with 1/2 the print run. He is impressed with the slick cover and loves the book. He will sell about 12 of them at the show and I sold 3.

Larry Blake in the lobby taken with my iPhone3G.

Day 1 of SPACE.

The Shriner's Convention Center. Under the statue: "No Man Stands So Tall as when he Stoops to Help a Child"

Clint Basinger (http://www.cosmicmoustachecomics.com/) busy working at his booth next to mine.

After going to McDonalds for breakfast Clint and I get to the Shrine Center and start unloading the car. This is probably the worst part of it all. You have to carry and drag tons of stuff into the event and set up your table. We were at the very back of the event in the right corner. So lots of walking involved. By the time the show starts at 10:00 I'm a sweaty mess......Oh well.

David Branstetter and wife of http://www.strawmancomics.com/

Bob Corby con organizer, publisher and artist, and I think that is his daughter running the SPACE sign-up booth.

Allen Freeman (me) and Christina Wald-- Illustrator extrodinaire from Cinncinati, OH.
http://www.christinawald.com/

Nic Havert of Pickle Press (http://www.picklepress.net/) Nic and I are going to co-produce a limited edition print of my art of his Witch character.) I also bought his new comic The Three Keys #2. Can't wait to read it! Tim Corrigan of New Voice Media http://mightyguycomics.tripod.com/index.html Tim is the reason I started going to the SPACE show, along with Larry Blake and Matt Feazell, etc...but mostly to see Tim.

The Old Folks of Small Press (Left to Right) Jim Main, Ian Shires, Wade Busby, Tim Corrigan, Larry Blake, Allen Freeman (me) and Jim Pack.

The annual giant art board with lots of creators work from SPACE covering it.

I handed out some of the contributor copies of Slam Bang #4 vol III, which I'd just gotten from my printer on Thursday, the day before we left for SPACE. That was cutting it close. But cutting it even closer was that the printer shipped the Mightyguy books, and #3 and #4 of Rock and Roll Death Wagon to my hotel. They were waiting for me when we arrived on Friday. That was a relief.

Nate Corrigan (Tim's older son) is a fantastic artist also, and publisher of Gumshoe Comics! Email him: mailto:natecorrigangumshoe@hotmail.com

I gave one to Tim Corrigan, Larry Blake, Jim Pack, Clint (of course), Brian Hagen and David Branstetter. Sam Gafford had contributed but it turns out when I was laying out the book I'd gone to move his strip from one part to another and it got skipped. Sam was crushed and I was very upset about it. I told him I'd put his story in the next issue no matter what the theme is (it's FAST FOOD).

Kel M. Crum http://www.dangerousbird.com/

The memorable display for the comic Left Handed Sophie.

So I'm hoping he forgives me in time. He put out Small Press Extra with my cover art on the front and back. it's a great magazine about small press and this is the SPACE special issue. Go to http://www.trufanpublications.com/spe.html to read about Small Press Extra. Don't see anything about this new issue on their site yet, so email them and ask about it.

Randy Paré on the right http://www.terikryder.com/

Mike Indovina of Satyr Play Productions: http://www.geocities.com/mikeindovian/Satyr.html

John Wilson of Comic Related.

Chuck Moore (Owner, Comic Related) interviewing Randy Paré. http://www.comicrelated.com/

Brian Hagen see his portfolio: http://www.brian-hagen.com/

Chris Martin artist on SCRAP by Studio Akumakaze http://www.myspace.com/akumakaze
(His art is so HOT I had to censor it....)

I met with lots of new artists and creators and tried to steer them towards contributing to my Slam Bang anthology. And then it was the end of day one. Clint and eventually get back to the hotel and check over our bounty of new comics. Then crash out.

DAY TWO

Clint and I hit the McDonald's for breakfast then rush over to the convention to set up. The crowd wasn't all that bad for a Sunday, at least at the start of the day. 10am till 5pm is the times for the show.

Matt Feazell artist and pubisher known for Cynicalman! http://www.cynicalman.com/

Clint Basinger's drawing in a fan's sketchbook.

Max Ink. Artist and Publisher: http://www.onwardstudio.com/

I got to announce over the intercom to everyone about the movie I made with Dean LeCrone called: "Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con" ….I did a great job doing that.

More info about the movie at: http://www.mutantsmovie.com/

Then about 5 people showed up. Sigh. And they had a small laptop playing the movie into a digital projector to a pretty good size screen. But the laptop didn’t want to start the movie at first…..but eventually did. But it didn’t take away the play buttons at the bottom, and about a 3” strip on the right from top to bottom was playing the movie but from a different section of the movie at the same time….weird…oh, there was no RED color in any of the movie….the digital projector must have been on the blink or they didn’t know how to adjust it……sheesh….but the worst part was they had part of the room partitioned off with some tables and chairs. As soon as the movie started this guy, girl and another guy sit down in those tables and they start talking….they talked all through the movie, and were still talking when I left. I’m too nice. I thought several times to go back there and tell them to move the meeting someplace else….sheesh.

But the few that saw it loved it!

Craig Bogart http://www.theineffables.com/

Wade Busby of Mr. Emergency! Hey, I inked his 3rd issue!

Weird Muse Comics cool table display and card holder. http://weirdmuse.ecrater.com/
Dan Taylor of Weird Muse Comics and Jim Main of Main Publishing. http://www.poopsheetfoundation.com/profile/JimMain

Larned Justin http://www.freewebs.com/candidcartoons

I sold more books and some of the Mutant DVD's and I'm pretty sure I got more people interested in contributing to Slam Bang #5 vol III, the FAST FOOD theme issue. (Deadline end of 2009.) So I had a great time and was just about the last person to leave. I had to go out to the car and get even more of my Slam Bang #4 vol III books out as I was selling them right up to the end of the show.
Larry Blake received a SPACE Lifetime Achievement Award, framed art of him in the center. The frame was signed by creators that really dig Larry and all his comics! Congratz Larry!

George Lane is a huge fan of small press, and a great artist too!mailto:KingGeo3@comcast.net

Russell Merritt of Banshuwa Studio. Russell contributed a great strip to Slam Bang #4 vol III, the music issue. Russell and I plan on working together one some comics in the future. Hope so. http://www.comicspace.com/banshuwa/

Left to right: Larry Blake, Jim Pack (Comet Tales)

Well the taking down the tables isn't all that much fun but Clint and I got the stuff back in the car, said goodbye to a few last minute folks and drove to the Wendy's and ate our lunch/dinner. Then just as it started to rain down pretty hard....head out for the 5.5 hour drive back to KY.

Now I've got to gear up for Free Comic Book Day, as Clint and I'll be setting up our tables in Evansville, IN at the Comic Quest in the morning, and then leaving at noon to set up in Owensboro which is where I live and near where Clint lives. We feel we should help out our own town as much as we can. Wish us luck.

Join:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SmallPressPalaver/ Small Press Palaver

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/UltraZine/ UtraZine

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/skeetsmonstersandheroes/ Steve Keeters Monters and Heroes

http://www.poopsheetfoundation.com/ Poopsheet Foundation

See you at SPACE 2010!
All the comics I picked up will eventually be reviewed in my Small Press Newsroom blog. http://smallpressnewsrooom.blogspot.com/

Send your comics for review to: Small Press Newsroom, c/o Allen Freeman, 6668 Waterford PL, Owensboro, KY 42303

Allen Freeman (http://www.fanaticpress.com/)

SPACE 2009 (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo

2009-04-19T09:22:00.004-05:00

I'm typing this Sunday at the start of day 2 of SPACE in Columbus, OH, April 19th. Yesterday was great with lots of people talking, and buying small press comics. My Fan-Atic Press booth was doing well, mostly selling my newest books, especially Slam Bang #4 Vol III the music theme issue. I also for the first time put out the complete 4 issues of Rock and Roll Death Wagon the series by Ed Bolman. Issues #3 and #4 arrived from the printer to the hotel I was staying at. That's cutting it close. Also Tim Corrigan's Mightyguy book that I published arrived. It's selling very well and looks pretty sharp. Tim Corrigan is set up this year at the show and was impressed with the printing of the books. Terry Huddleston of http://www.heroespress.com/ published all of my books again this year. Great job.

Yesterday I went around the convention buying books for review later on my http://smallpressnewsroom.blogspot.com/ site. I'll also be sending some of the books to Dan Burke for him to review in his YouTube show.

Next to me is Clint Basinger of http://www.cosmicmoustachcomics.com/ who is doing well at the show as usual. We came to the show together from the Owensboro, KY area. We got stuck in traffic for about 40 minutes along the way to Columbus as they were pulling a simi trail truck out of a ditch next to the road. It had taken out the guard rail and it lost all of it's load of bread products and the front wheels of the cab.

I'll be posting photos here soon as I get home of Dan Taylor, Matt Feazell, Tim Corrigan, Clint Basinger, Nate Corrigan, Larry Blake, Wade Busby and many more from the show.....along with some covers of the books I picked up.

Stay tuned.

---Allen

Mid-Ohio-Con 2008

2008-10-12T14:33:00.020-05:00

It was a fun show. I drove to the show with Clint Basinger and set up next to him http://www.cosmicmoustachecomics.com/ and we sold some stuff and made lots of contacts on Saturday. Sunday was much slower but I did have time to get interviewed by John Wilson of www.comicrelated.com Go here to listen to my interview which is part of a longer podcast. http://www.comicrelated.com/audio/relatedrecap041.html

If you only want to hear my interview go to www.fanaticpress.com "News" page and see a link at the top right....hit it.

I also shot about 15 mini interviews with my camcorder and will be posting them on YouTube soon. Email me at: fanaticpress@yahoo.com and I'll let you know when they are on there. Or just check: http://www.youtube.com/maknbacon off and on or just subscribe to my area and you'll be notified of each new video.

Drawings #2 was delivered by my printer Terry (www.heroespress.com) and they look awesome! 60 color pages of art by Anton Bogaty. Get it here: http://www.fanaticpress.com/ of course.

The Fan-Atic Press Films movie Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con was selected and shown at their Indy Movie Film Festival. Even though they didn't put in the movie titles in there convention book, and emailed me the wrong time for it on Saturday, it still had a decent turnout and everyone loved it! Some folks afterwards congradulated me on a very funny movie! I even sold a few of the DVD's on Sunday. And some fans walked by and said they already had bought one and loved it!

---Allen

Free Comic Book Day - May 3d

2008-05-06T15:28:00.018-05:00

DEAD RANGER covers.

Well it was a long day for Clint Basinger of Cosmic Moustache Comics (http://www.cosmicmoustachecomics.com/) and Allen Freeman (me) Fan-Atic Press (http://www.fanaticpress.com/) as we were guests at two place on the same day!

First we set up our booths at the Comic Quest in Evansville, IN. A great store that got a nice crowd to come by and get their free comics and see all the guests. The comic Dead Ranger #1 was debuted at this event with lots of the contributors to the issue in attendance as guests to sign the books.
Clint and I also unveiled out new comic: The Cosmic Norseman verses Morgana X #1. It sold very well. It's a comedy about a confusion that my character Morgana X thinks she has a contract to kill The Cosmic Norseman (Clint's character.). It is a true collaboration between Clint and I. With Clint writing the story and drawing most of the book and me doing the MX parts and coloring the cover etc.... (get it at http://www.fanaticpress.com/)

I sold some of my Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic Con DVD's and some of my other comics such as Slam Bang. So I did well. I also got to see artist Jason Craig draw on an expensive Les Paul guitar....and he did a great job.

Later in the day Clint and I went to give a presentation on how to create a comic book page at the Coolectors Mall in Owensboro. They also had a great turnout and we had a nice crowd eager to see our display of the process of how to create a comic book page. They asked questions and looked over the boards we had showing the verious stages of what it takes to create a comic page. We also sold well at this event. They did a great job and I got to even use the wireless mic and give the talk. Clint and I should take this show on the road!

See all the photos here:

So busy the only shots I got at the Coolectors Mall are Clint and I in front of the place. Clint is in the red shirt.

Dead Ranger

2008-03-29T14:03:00.004-05:00

Dead Ranger is a book that I helped work on. The Comic Quest Creators Alliance meets once a month and together we are putting out this comic. It will have 4 covers to chose from. This is the one I worked on myself. I also wrote the story for the 24 page comic and inked 2 pages.

This is the cover that Clint Basinger created. I did the colors.

I took a sketch by Jeff Lindell and inked and colored it and came up with this cover idea from it.
This book will be a 26 or 28 page comic out by Free Comic Book Day. Soon available from my web site. www.fanaticpress.com

Dave Stevens Interview from 1988. SUPER RARE

2008-03-12T22:59:00.009-05:00

The following is an interview that I did with Dave Stevens in 1988 over the phone for the first issue of the Rocketpack Newsletter (With Chuck Haspel). To my knowledge it has never been seen anywhere else till today:

Allen: How, when and where did your career begin? (Your interest in art, The Rocketeer...any formal training.)

Dave: My interest in art began when I was a tiny, tiny kid. My dad drew all the time and I grew up copying his stuff. I kept drawing and drawing. This Rocketter business came out of the blue in 1981--the story for that I'm sure I've told 100 times.

Allen: But not here...

Dave: Yeah, but you know it was a question of Pacific needing a backup feature--telling me I could do whatever I wanted to.

Allen: It wasn't something you gave a lot of thought to or...?

Dave: Not really.

Allen: You just came up with it when they asked you for something?

Dave: I just came up with the visuals for it. I had the image in my head and I had no idea how I was going to handle it or what kind of strip it would be. I had that image---that was it.

Allen: Why did they ask you for a backup?

Dave: They knew my work from when I lived in San Diego. They always liked my work, so I gave it a shot.

Allen: Any formal training?

Dave: No, unfortunately that was something that if I had it to do again I would certainly have gone to art school right after high school.

Allen: But you worked with someone?

Dave: I apprenticed with Russ Manning. But it was such a short stint. I really would have rather gone for a longer stretch with someone. It was just a job. It didn't involve him teaching me things, as I would have liked. What I did was on the job experience.

Allen: What year was this?

Dave: 1975, and it was great for what if was, but as far as him telling me what was wrong with my drawing and that kind of stuff, he really didn't correct me. All I was doing was pretty much technical things--inking incidental stuff that didn't really figure in as prominently as the lead characters do. It was basically a crash course in production.

Allen: Are you doing what you want and are you happy with the way your career has gone so far?

Dave: I've always done what I wanted in the sense that I've made a living off of art. I've never had to be a fry cook or anything. I'm happy that what I've done in comics so far, as as little as it is, has gotten me a lot of attention in all different areas. In that respect I'm happy. I'm tickled to death. I never could have gotten that kind of attention from anything else, really. I was laboring in animation and films (live action) for years and would probably still be there today.

Allen: Who did you work for? Different companies?

Dave: Everybody. In animation I worked at every studio in town.

Allen: Disney?

Dave: I was about to go there, but they wouldn't pay the wage I was currently getting. You see, at that time, Disney considered it a "privilege" to work for Disney. I think that's clear enough. They just had an attitude. Still do.

Allen: Can you tell us a couple of projects that you worked on animation-wise?

Dave: Probably just about every Saturday morning animation show that was done in the late '70's. I styled some shows, storyboarded some.

Allen: Is there any one in particular that you had your hand in where people could see your style?

Dave: Not really because that stuff goes through so many hands by the time it reaches the TV screen it isn't like you originally drew it. But there was an animated Godzilla series on in 1978 that I did a lot of work on. That was Doug Wildley's show. He also did a show Jana of the Jungle--which was like a modern day Sheena, and I did a lot of the rotoscoping on that. Unfortunately who knows where you're gonna find copies of some of those things. And I worked on Scooby-Doo, Super Friends, and all that other garbage.

Allen: You probably made quite a bit in animation from what I hear?

Dave: You mean money?

Allen: Yeah

Dave: Oh, no. Uh-uhh. Any money I made was gone right away.

Allen: Just to survive?

Dave: Well, it's espensive to live here and at the time I was earning apprentice scale wages in animation. I gradually got bumped up, so that by the end of my animation stay, I was making a pretty good dollar. But it wasn't until I got into live action that I made good money again. Once I started sharing a studio with Stout and Hescox, then I started to go whole hog into advertising.

Allen: What type of hard times did you go through?

Dave: Well, when I first went back to L.A. I went through some, uh, fairly hard times.

Allen: Where did you come from?

Dave: Well, Idaho, Oregon, then San Diego, then L.A. I was originally born in L.A., but grew up elsewhere. Once I got here it was a little tough. I didn't have any training in any capacity as far as tools, or techniques.

Allen: So how did you break into animation?

Dave: Well, I just went in on an interview and Wildley hired me right there. But that was just due to drawing ability. When I first came to L.A. I spent about my first year, or year and a half, hiring out as a storyboard artist and sketch artist, freelancing for advertising agencies. I actually had periods of really good earnings and really horrible slumps. I went through my periods of eating beans, tortillas, etc. But I'm sure everybody does. I was not feeling sorry for myself at all, I was happy to be there.

Allen: What would you do different and why? (As far as your career choices.)

Dave: I probably wouldn't have stayed in animation as long as I did. That life's a velvet cage once you get in. The money is good, the hours are cushy. They don't force you to tow-the-line. I mean you can get away with murder.

Allen: Did you punch a clock?

Dave: You do and you don't. Some places you do, some places you don't. I really abused my privileges. But it was one of those jobs where I would literally take other work in there and work on it.

Allen: And they didn't care?

Dave: Well, of course they cared, but I had no respect for the animation industry. I fought it tooth and nail. After I had been there a year and a half I hated it. I got to the point where I was hopping from state to state trying to find some place where I'd be happy. But they all operate at about the same level of incompetence. So, that's one choice I made, that looking back, wasn't a real good one.

Allen: It's scary making moves.

Dave: Well, I was used to a certain amount of money each week and didn't really want to get back into the grind of taking my portfolio around. If I had done that, if I had gotten out earlier, I probably wouldn't have gone into comics at all.

Allen: You mean if you wouldn't have left the animation studios?

Dave: No, if I had left. Well I did. I went straight to the A-Team building which was Spielburg and Milius and worked on the first Raiders. And I would have stayed there probably. But I kept flirting with animation. After I worked on that picture I went back to another animation studio for a while and then I got out of it altogether.

Allen: If you weren't an artist, what do you think you would be doing now?

Dave: I guess I've be restoring old cars.

Allen: Can you tell us what your plans for the future are?

Dave: Uh, restoring some old cars. Restoring the one I wrecked. I've got one more issue to wrap up on The Rocketeer, then I've got two graphic novels to do. One of them right away, one of them later.

Allen: Can you tell us about the one coming up?

Dave: I don't want to at this point. It's a subject that hasn't been done before in comics and if I blab about it now, I'm sure some brilliant soul at DC or Marvel may try and ace me, before I can get to it.

Allen: Will it be a Comico comic?

Dave: At the moment it's not going to be a comic, it's going to be a book. An illustrated book. No word ballooons. I'm trying to integrate text with illustrations.

Allen: You are writing the story?

Dave: So far, yeah. I may recruit someone to help at some point, but we'll see.

(This was the end of part 1. Part II promised to cover The Rocketeer movie, upcoming books, the convention scene, Marvel, Dave's coupe and much more.)

If I can find issue #2 of the Rocketpack Newsletter...I'll post the rest of the interview here.

===Allen
http://www.fanaticpress.com/

Dave Stevens passes away......

2008-03-12T22:39:00.012-05:00

OK, I just heard about the passing of Dave Stevens. He was 52. I'm sure most of you already know about this and have read all about Dave. I'll just stick to what I know.

In 1988 I assisted a fellow artist Chuck Haspel in putting together the first issue of The Rocketeer Newsletter. Here is the cover I did for that first issue.

I also called Dave who was helping us with new news about his work for the newsletter and interviewed him for like 2 hours or so. I had tons of audio to transcribe and I think we used it in issue #2 or something. If I can find that I'll post it.

Dave was very generous and sent us lots of pages and art long before it was seen anywhere else.

I met Dave around 1989 at the Chicago Comic Con. He was very friendly. Later during that show I was with Chuck at a resturant and Dave walked in for lunch. He didn't mind that we went all fan-crazy over seeing him there.

In 2004 I saw his booth at the San Diego Comic con. He remembered me!

In 2007 they had a 25 year tribute to the Rocketeer and they printed my cover art in that collector issue!

Here is another fan piece that was used for a small press cover that Chuck penciled and I inked and grey toned back in 1988.

I'll sure miss him. Chuck and I tried to draw more like him and I'm sure that improved our work tremendously!

Goodbye Dave.....I will never forget you or your work and you will always be one of my heroes!

===Allen Freeman (03/12/2008)

SKETCH CARD Benefit SALE on eBay!

2008-03-08T17:54:00.003-06:00

SKETCH CARD
GALLERY SHOW
& AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY BENEFIT AUCTION

Nearly 200 Artists and over 1,000 pieces
of Original Art Work!

Space Girl by Allen Freeman: HERE
Rocketeer by Allen Freeman: HERE
Captain Optimist (not Optimus...) by Allen Freeman: HERE

Baron Gator (needs to be rotated 90 degrees clockwise) by Allen Freeman: HERE

SPACE CON 2008 was GREAT!

2008-03-03T13:49:00.031-06:00

SLIDE SHOW ABOVE updated with more images:March 8th, 2008.

I went to the con with Clint Basinger of Cosmic Moustache Comics (http://www.cosmicmoustachecomics.com/) and we stayed with some of his relatives which saved us tons of money, thanks folks! The first day of the convention was Saturday, March 1st, and from the start I could tell this was going to be better than last years show, as far as the crowds, as people were coming it right at the start of the show, starting to buy stuff and talk it up. Sunday was slower but I was on a panel ANTHOLO-GEEZ. See more about it below.

SLAM BANG #3 vol III premieres at SPACE!
http://www.fanaticpress.com/

See all the photos I took at this show: http://www.flickr.com/photos/maknbacon/sets/72157604116752517
Last year the show was on very sunny, beautiful day and apparently was the first nice day outside since last Fall in Ohio so everyone wanted to get out in the sun avoiding our show most of the time. I did fine over all last year, but much better this year actually.

Mark Inneswho I'd known since 1989 or so was here from Canada, --my first time to meet him in person. A great guy. I'd helped him get his comic anthology THE COMIC EYE assembled for his printer and I'd contributed to the book. The book turned out fantastic and by the fact I saw lots of folks walking around with one and having me sign them, I'd say they sold well for him. They are a full size comic, square bound, 176 pages, with a Dave Sim cover. That cover didn't hurt him at all since Dave Sim was there and I got a signed one from Mark near the end of the show....cool scoop on that one!
----Rafer Roberts of Plastic Farm

I talked with Dan Taylor who had his booth and we always compare cameras as ours are similar. OK. his is a little better than mine. There Dan, happy now? His Weird Muse comics were there and I have another batch to review for him on my http://smallpressnewsroom.blogspot.com/ site. He will get a high rating even though he did try to bribe me. (Joke). See his stuff at: http://hometown.aol.com/taylordwt/index.html UPDATE: I just reviewed a batch of his new Mini Comix on my Small Press Newsroom!

Talked to Max Ink, Matt Feazell, Larry Blake, Dave Sim (for a sec), Bob Corby, Cal Crumb, the guys from http://www.comicbooknoise.com/ who I send audio to for their Indy Comic Podcast every Tuesday, check it out. (I'll dig up their names soon I promise.)
Dave Sim and some art on his table. Dave unveiled some amazing art from his new project Jewdenhass (Jew hatred). I got to see the book and most of the original art pages! Wow.

I was on a comic panel on Sunday afternoon about Anthologies. Mark Innes (Blind Bat Comics), Rafer Roberts (Plastic Farm) , Dara Naraghi (Ferret Press) and Bob Corby (Back Porch Comics and organizer of the Space Con). That was fun and Matt Dimbicki was the host. Great job Matt! Matt is busy working on his own anthology TRICKSTER. Check it out here: http://trickster-anthology.blogspot.com/

--Dan Taylor, Weird Muse Comics
I'll think of all the other folks I talked with soon and update this but just wanted to say the show was a big success for me as I premiered my new Slam Bang book 3 vol III, "Mostly True Stories" issue. Everyone loved it and some even said it was my best issue of the title so far. "blush". http://www.fanaticpress.com/
Stay tuned for more here soon!

Year Wrap Up / Mid-Ohio-Con Report 2007 -Allen Freeman

2007-12-03T18:47:00.000-06:00

2007 Wrap Up

Well this year I put out Slam Bang #2 vol III and I just put out Morgana X the paperback novel written by Christopher Moshier. I also put out Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con (DVD).

My father-in-law passed away in August, this was rough on my wife for sure but we knew it was coming since he was diagnosed with cancer in April. And it was advanced. We are planning a trip to Michigan between Christmas and New Year for her to see more of her relatives and for me to see MI for the first time. (I'll take tons of photos.)

I’m assembling a large 176 page anthology The Comic Eye, for a comic company, Blind Bat Press. They don’t know Adobe In-Design so I’m helping them out. The book looks great with lots of fantastic contributors. It is already mentioned in Diamond's Previews I think. I’m also starting to put together Slam Bang #3 vol III, the Mostly True Stories issue. Hope to have it out early 2008.

DEAD RANGER for The Comic Quest Creative Alliance group in Indiana that I’m a part of. Should be very interesting. The comic will be out by Free Comic Book Day (May 2^nd I think.)

Mid-Ohio-Con REPORT

I had a blast at Mid-Ohio-Con, Nov 23-25th. I was to split a table in the Artist Alley with Clint Basinger of www.cosmicmoustachecomics.com but the guy next to us never showed up so I got a full table to myself! I sold lots of Slam Bang and a few of the Mutants movie! I was sitting on Sunday drawing an alligator with goggles and outfit like a WW1 pilot flying some old contraption and people kept saying, "Wow, that's pretty cool." And

---Clint Basinger

before I had it inked in someone bought it from me! Clint is always drawing and getting attention so I tried it and it worked. Usually I'm too lazy to do it but will do it from now on. On Friday the day the vendors get to look around Clint and I bought a comic from Steve Rude and he signed it. Wanted an autograph from Micheal Golden, as I've always been a big fan of his. But he was charging way too much for it. You had to buy something $20 to $30 to get the autograph. I was stunned. No matter how famous I get. (Or don't get.) I'll never do that. You can't piss off your fans. That is #1.

I got photos of lots of stars from the Bronze Age Marvel days as you'll see from the photo links I have here. I got to meet Max Ink, who gave me his BLINK digest, who says he will contribute to my Slam Bang book. His work looks great! I saw Matt Feazell who bought my Mutants DVD. I went over and spent the money at

---The elusive Matt Feazell

his booth getting his Official Death of Antisocialman BODY BAG. A collection of 12 mini comics for $7 and I got two color sketches for $1 each. Plus a few other minis. I'll be reviewing all this at my Small Press Newsroom soon. I got to talk to long time small press creator and publisher Bruce Chrislip. He was telling me how Steve Willis was having a bad year. Got a divorce etc....Saw Chad Lambert, a great comic book writer for many different projects and companies. My booth was back to back with Bob Corby's Back Porch Comics booth and he and I got to talk. His daughter was going to run the booth (Attracting more comic buyers than Bob.) but she was sick so Bob had to do it. He had a new anthology out that looked good. I didn't get a copy since he was almost sold out. I'll see more of him in 3 months at the SPACE Con which he organizes every year. Love that show.

I got some photos of the original Santa and Rudolf from the 1963 cartoon! My wife is crazy about that cartoon and collects Bumbles. You know, that adorable, goofy abominable snowman.

--Bruce Chrislip

Other names at the con: Brian Hurtt, Craig Boldman, Hamtramck Idea Men, Herb Trimpe, Keith Pollard, Mark Evanier, Nic Halvert (Pickle Press Comics), Rich Buckler, Sergio Arogones,
Steven Black, Steve Rude, Terry Huddleston (a very funny new comic book printer, Imaginary Concepts Printing Solutions), Tony Isabella, actor who played The Silver Surfer, The Defuser, Jesse Rubenfeld, and more! Whew!

Comics I got at the show to review: The Faustians #1(Pennydreadfull Press), Into The Dust #1, #2 (Jesse Rubenfeld), Safewords, The Serial Squad, Woodboy, The Invisible World (Bad Place Productions), The Gardian Line ALPHA, Joe and Max #1, The Seekers #1, #2, CODE, Genesis #1, #2 (The Guardian Line), Runner's Paradox with music CD (Steve Peters-Awakening Comics), Blink-Barefoot in America-Breakfast in the Park (Max Ink), Official Death of Antisocialman BODY BAG, The Amazing Cynicalman #18m, #19 (Matt Feazell-Not Available Comics), The Wrecking Crew #1 (Triumvirate Publishing).

---Bob Corby signing the annual T-Shirt of the con.

I'll be making a point to attend and probably setting up a table at the Mid-Ohio-Con in the future as I had a great time and saw a lot of great comic creators there. Now, if I can only figure out why they didn't have a "free table".

---Your average fan of Slam Bang

Nick Halvert helping out a Booth Babe

---Original Santa and Rudolf from the cartoon of 1963. Here is the story: After the cartoon was made the puppets were thrown in a pile by the door of the studio. A worker there asked, "What is going to happen to the puppets?" They told him they were to be thrown away. So he grabbed up 9 of them. Unfortunately he still didn't know quite what he had. He gave them to his kids to play with and they eventually destroyed all but Santa and Rudolf, which were in bad shape. The puppets were not made to last or be played with. Years later the guy sold the 2 puppets and they were purchased and refurbished by a company that knew what they were worth!

---Chad Lambert

--Max Ink

Slide show of photos from Mid-Ohio-Con:http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=maknbacon&P=&AID=4981373&Show=Y

Or just the images (for slower internet connections):http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=maknbacon&P=&AID=4981373&Pres=Y

Interview with Cint Basinger of Cosmic Moustache Comics

2007-09-25T13:33:00.000-05:00

Interview with Chuck Haspel

2007-09-24T23:44:00.001-05:00

EK Card and Comic Show (With Reptiles!) Morehead, KY

2007-09-24T16:08:00.000-05:00

This what took place over the last weekend (September 22nd and 23rd) as Clint Basinger a comic artist and publisher of Backseat Drivers (Who I'd been emailing back and forth but was meeting for the first time, and I (Allen Freeman of Fan-Atic Press) drove from Owensboro, KY to Morehead, KY for the EK Card and Comic Show. Clint drive to Owensboro (He lives just outside Owensboro) and together we drove to Lexington. We went to Chuck Haspel's house where Chuck rents the downstairs of a nice house (1970’s?) in a nice neighborhood. Chuck and I had worked together on many commercial art projects over the years and comic books as he even helped me put out Slam Bang for a while. I'd not seen him since I moved to WA back in 1996. As we were following our MapQuest directions we were in his neighborhood and it said to go to the end of the road and take a left onto the road Chuck's house was on. We got to the end and the other road had no sign on it. But the house right there was the correct house number. So we called Chuck and he said, "Is there a old Cadillac parked out front." We said, "no". He said, "There is one in front of his house." We said, "Well it's not there now. " He said he come out front and look for us. We waited and no one came out from this house. Finally I called him back and we figure out that we needed to go around that corner and down a few more blocks, and then saw the correct house with the same house number as the one we were at. Oh, well.

--Left Chuck, right Clint.

He has two cats and no room for us to stay with him but we knew that and had planned to get a room at a hotel nearby. We saw his old west hand guns, and his shotgun and some of his art work here and there, under a pile of papers, against a wall, and some were on the wall. We also saw where he'd finally started working on the comic Captain Optimist #1 bringing back the character that we worked on (and put out 5 issues) back in the late 80's and early 90's. I take some photos and then we plan to all go see a movie.
--Chuck showing off his pistols.

Clint and I got a nice room at this place down not far from Chuck’s place. We got the room lined up then, with Chuck with us, go to see the movie 3:10 from Yuma. I’d seen it before but liked it so much I wanted to see it again.

--Boo, one of Chuck's cats

The movie was only $5 which was very cheap. Chuck loved it since he is a big Western movie fan (And Western History buff) and even owns 3 real pistols like the type from back in those days! With holsters! And Chuck owns a double barrel shotgun which he also keeps loaded…..(Another reason not to sleep over there.) Clint also liked the movie. Oh, and Chuck showed us his 3 guitars and even a ukulele someone had built for him.

---Captain Optimist (Chuck pencils/Allen inks)

We drop Chuck back at his house then go to our hotel as we are very tired. Clint and I talk comics and stuff till about 1:00am then decided we’d better get some sleep as we have to get up at 8:00 and get Chuck at 8:30am for the drive to Morehead, KY.

I’m shocked out of my sleep at 2:00am as there is a huge frat party going on right outside our door, to our right and above us. Seems we are in the middle of it. Super loud talking and laughing till about 3:00am….I kept thinking I’d stick my head out and tell them to get the hell out of here. But that would probably lead to the van getting smashed up. So that concluded my second night in a row with very little sleep.

Next morning we get Chuck and drive off to the show. Chuck assures us we don’t need the MapQuest page I’d printed out as he used to drive some delivery truck of some sort to that area all the time so he just tosses it down between the seats. We are still driving at 10:00am which is when the show starts. I asked if we missed the turn or something? Chuck says no as he is looking for exit 137. I then keep a watch on the mile markers and they go from 140 to 141 etc…and I mention that we must of passed 137 as the numbers are getting larger. Chuck agrees and we then drive another 8 miles trying to find a place to turnaround on this expressway. There is nothing. Finally a turnaround area but a policeman is right there having just pulled someone over…shit. So a few more miles and we see another turn around and illegally take it. Anyway we get to the show and it’s a nice new convention center. We go in and if you go to the right of the main table it’s the Card and Comic Show. If you go to the left it’s the Reptile Show! No kidding!

People are walking around in the comic show carrying snakes in containers they’d just bought at the Reptile Show! What a hoot! I can’t resist and go to the other side and take photos of the snakes, turtles, cats, toads, and other creatures for sale! That side is booming, hardly anyone is at the comic show. I see a guy with a flying squirrel on his arm, some people holding snakes, large tanks holding mice (Snake food I guess), and we see large snapping turtles and other interesting creatures. I'm also told there were some huge spiders on display and a python. One snake I saw had a price tag of $3000 on it.

---Allen tries out Clint's Cosmic Mustache

Meanwhile back at the comic/card show, I only sold some comics to Clint, Chuck and one other guy. But I did talk to a guy that says he has connections to getting stuff distributed internationally! Movies on DVD, and music CD’s for sure but he will look into books and comics.

---Clint's table

Clint on the other hand was doing OK and I saw him selling his comic series of 4 issues: Backseat Drivers. I read it all the night before and loved it. Very funny stuff. Strange but funny.

The event organizer had found a copy of Fright Night #12 and had me sign it. I donated a copy of Slam Bang to the event to be won from a drawing of the tickets sold but never hear them announce it. They do announce every 30 minutes about a snake they are giving away and pick a ticket and call out the winner. They do this at ear bleeding sound decibels all day long off and on.

--One of the many reptiles, this one cost $3000

We take Chuck back to his place in Lexington, KY, say good-bye, then drive to Frankfort, KY were I meet with a client and pick up some items to do art for another collector print. This time for Hygienists. So I now have all the dangerously sharp tools they use. I offer to give Clint a free cleaning but he just won't go for it so we drive off for Owensboro.

--Chuck's reptile mascot for next year's show. (Inks by AF)

=Allen 9-24-2007

Morgana X- The NOVEL is now OUT!

2007-09-14T13:30:00.000-05:00

ALL NEW STORY! Yeah, baby, the Morgana X, 162 page novel (6" x 9") written by Christopher Moshier with a cover by me (Allen Freeman) is out at last! This tells an all new story about Morgana X including an origin! Finally! You thought you'd never see it? Well here it is. Morgana was created by me back around 1987 or so. With the help of Quinton Hoover providing the art for the comic books and with me doing the inking etc...we put out Morgana X for Cat's Paw Comics and later for Sky Comics. So she was in about 6 comics between 1987 and 1994. And finally here is her story! Chris has taken the best characters from the comics and added even more! A super space adventure of the sexiest, galaxy spanning, assassin ever! Oh, and that's not all. There is a 14 page comic story by Allen Freeman and Quinton Hoover from the Sky Comics Special #1 way back in 1994! Not enough? How about a 5 page art gallery of covers used and unused! Get this while it's hot! www.fanaticpress.com

Books I like

2007-09-04T22:32:00.001-05:00

Wow, it is September.....

2007-09-03T16:40:00.000-05:00

I'm getting some great strips for Slam Bang #3 vol III. Most of them are true stories or just so darn good I'll have to use them anyway! Don't forget end of this month is the deadline. Be in the issue! Do some good. Hug a tree. Draw on a tree, and send it in.

=A

San Diego Comic-Con 2007.....

2007-08-05T00:32:00.000-05:00

Hey, I think I survived the 2007 San Diego International Comic-Con. I ran a booth in the small press zone and sold some Fan-Atic Press comics and mostly I sold the Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con DVD's. Yeah, I had a small DVD player running at the booth. Dean LeCrone the star of the movie also helped with the booth and we had tons of fun talking to the "stars" of the movie we shot there last year. They loved it! We even got them telling us what they thought of the movie on video. I'll be posting up lots of great comments and video at www.fanaticpressfilms.com soon. You can go there and see all the photos I took at the show this year. Got 200 photos up on Dotphoto. We really wanted to shoot another movie there this year but couldn't find anyone to relieve us long enough from the booth to do it. So we just shot a little here and there and I'll post it on YouTube and you can see it at the link above also.

The crowds were great on every day but Saturday. Yeah, that was a surprise. Turns out they were so afraid that the crowd was going to be too thick on Saturday they didn't sell any tickets at the door. So it was the least crowded day of the show. And everyone's day for slow sales so I heard. And it was true for us, Saturday was a bust. Sunday was very busy and we made up for Saturday.

We hooked up with Pirate Girl, Klingon, Girl that was with Fantastic Boy, Button Dude, Old Jedi, and more.....I even saw the guy that was at the end of our movie that Dean goofed on about missing the show and asking, "Where's my ticket?" And he had on the same shirt!

We sold a nice batch of the DVD's even though quite a few people would watch some of the movie and laugh and tell us how funny it is...only to wonder off and not buy one. We had the usual folks that say they will be back later. On Sunday there were a few of them that did just walk up and hand us money, so they actually meant what they said.

I saw lots of great costumes and got photos of most of them. Dean and I tried to go to one of the panels at the end of Saturday for the cast of the Sara Silverman show but the line was around and around the hallways and we gave up. That was the closest I've come to attending a panel in the 4 years I've attended the show. I did watch some of the panels highlights on www.ifc.com
site. I saw the one about the 25th anniversary of Blade Runner movie...that was cool.

I did have a celebrity sighting....I was just walking along and saw an interview in progress and it was Rosario Dawson! I got some great photos of her. I felt like paparazzi!

I had to buy another Teddy Scares bear for my wife Bonnie which was my only request from her this year. After lots of searching and looking in the program to no avail...I found them on Saturday and got the one she wanted. If you are not familiar with the Teddy Scares bears look http://www.teddyscares.com

I shot about 10 very crazy vader helmets and it turns out there are tons more and you can see them HERE!

I walked so much the first day getting the booth set up I'd rubbed my legs raw. I could hardly walk without pain. It was like a super atomic wedgy....this was so strange it had been a long time since that had happened to me. I'd been working out on the treadmill and to some Billy Blank's DVD's (TaeBo) and was in pretty good shape anticipating all the walking I'd be doing and lifting and dragging stuff around...but didn't prepare for the atomic wedgy! Anyway, I took it easy on the second day and soon recovered....I was very worried I'd miss the second day as walking only made it worse. But I was tough and pressed on.

On Thursday night of the con Dean took me to the meeting of the Southern California Cartoonists Society like we did last year. This year it was just a few blocks from the con so we walked there. Also this time there was no formal talk like before so we just met other members and chatted. Though they may have had more going on later, Dean and I had to split after a while since our hotel was 45 miles away and we needed sleep! I talked with Stan Yan, Michael Aushanker and Craig Boldman at our table and had a great time.

I really missed not having the time to see everything like I did last year but still had fun and was glad our booth was so popular. All the stars that discovered we had the movie out flocked to our table and I'm sure that peaked some interest in the crowd to check out what we had going on there, thus increasing our sales even more.

There were lots of Artist Alley tables this year more than last time I think, and there was still a strong group of small press and Indy comic companies. I was really glad to see that it wasn't shrinking like I thought it would since the cost of the tables had gone up so much....in 2008 the prices are the same as 2007 for a Small Press Table so that is also good news.

I'll be reviewing tons of comics I picked up for review in my Small Press Newsroom Blog: http://smallpressnewsroom.blogspot.com and I was showing a copy of Ka-Whump! #2 around the tables and they all wanted to buy one. Unfortunately I didn't have any with me at the show. But I did give out info on how they could order one. I also played up Small Press Extra and showed off the cover I just did for their issue #6.

Before the Comic-Con I was in Seattle, WA seeing my kids who still live there, Brigitte 19, Alaina 22 and Dustin 24. I gave a talk to the Cartoonist Northwest group on Saturday the 21st and saw John Lustig and Wade Busby there. We had about 15 or more at the meeting and I gave a talk about my years in the gaming biz, commercial art work, and comics. (My son Dustin shot it all on video) Then I showed them the movie Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic Con....and they loved it! I even sold some afterwards. They clapped at the end and all told me how impressed they were with Dean and my editing work etc....

After the meeting some of us met at the Hurricane Cafe for food and more talking. John Lustig showed me the newspaper cartoons of his Last Kiss I'd been coloring for him.

After this my son Dustin who was with me and driving me all round, took me to Kenmore, WA where I saw his band Violence Unfolds blow the roof off a small venue that also had two other bands play that night.

My friend Tim Jensen had joined us there and being a crack photographer he took photos of the band as I shot video. Then we played pool there for quite a while! What a night!

I'll be posting up some video very soon!

Now on to Wizard World Chicago Con in just a few days! This is my year of comic cons! I'm also now planning to have 1/2 a booth at the Mid-Ohio-Con in November in Columbus, OH.

==Allen
www.fanaticpress.com
www.fanaticpressfilms.com

Movie Premiere Huge Success!

2007-06-06T17:34:00.000-05:00

Or see the Slideshow larger: http://www.dotphoto.com/Go.asp?l=maknbacon&P=&AID=4553260&Show=Y

On June 2nd in Fallbrook, CA at the Mission Theatre at the "Comic and Animation Film Festival" was shown, for the first time on the big screen.....Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con! And it was a huge hit. Why? Because everyone there said so! They said, "I laughed till I had tears in my eyes!". No lie! They said that! And you can bet that Dean LeCrone, star of the movie, writer of the movie, and director (Plus the host for this event), was in tears. I'm Allen Freeman, the writer of this blog, and I was the cameraman/editor/designer/marketing guru/webmaster for the film and I was in tears! I couldn't believe what I was seeing and hearing! There was about 80 people in the audience and they were cat calling, whistling, laughing, and having a blast from the very start to the very end of the movie! They also loved Dean's hosting of the event, as he made fun of his helpers on stage (Robin: Brandon), commented about the guy in the booth (Chris) running the videos and movies, and kept the crowd in stitches right on up to the showing of the movie.

This movie was shot on location at the San Diego Comic-Con in July of 2006. Tons of time, airfare, blood-sweat-and-tears, went into this 41 minute movie and finally, on this day, it was all worth it! They liked it, they really liked it! I had thought they would as I'd shown the movie on a tiny 10" DVD player at my booth at the SPACE con in April to about 5 to 8 comic attendees and they loved it! They went on and on about how great, funny, inventive it all was. And sure, my relatives, parents and wife all said it was funny. But they had to. But having total strangers come up to me at the after-party of the Premiere saying,
"It was really great!"
"It should be on TV!"
"I was blown away!"
"I laughed till I cried!"

I'll post some photos here very soon to prove we had a crowd there. We had a storm trooper, and Robin and Batman, and the Autumn Fairy, and other costumed people in the crowd. Some for the show, some for the Masquerade contest etc....

I also got to ride in a limo for the first time. A very long black 2006 stretch limo. With Dean and me in the limo was Julie Coffman, Dean's date for the evening, and she sang two of the original songs for the movie! And we had Paul LeCrone in the limo, Dean's son of 13 who was in some of the extra features on the DVD. (You'll just have to see it.) One of my favorite stories (I have a bunch now) is where we needed some small bills to make change for when we sold the DVD's after the show. So the limo pulled up to a large grocery store in the very front. Bob the limo driver got out, came to the back near the store, opened the door and I got out. I went in and everyone in the store was looking at me. They were frozen....trying to figure out what star I was. Quickly I'm sure, they didn't recognize me, but they still were waiting to see what I was doing. I grabbed some water bottles and went to check out. The girl at the cash register was just starring at me. So was the girl waiting to bag the stuff. Then the cash register girl said, "That's all you came in for?" I said, "Well, actually I need some $5's for these $20's. She laughed and shook her head at the other girl. Then I ran out....I swear I didn't see anyone move the whole time.....HA!

I'll have some video clips of some of our limo experience here soon!

I flew in to San Diego from KY on May 31st, and Dean and I hung out at the Fallbrook Lodge. The hotel was so bad that Dean and I had to shoot a mock advertising commercial for the hotel! Right! I'll edit it and post it here soon! Yeah, it is pretty funny. The funniest part is that all the screwed up, missing, worn out, stuff we showcase about the Lodge is true! It was there! Ha!

I will probably add some of the footage of the Premiere and it's aftermath and put it on an extra DVD that we will sell separately from the movie. (The movie already has tons of extra features).
And in case you didn't already know, you can get the movie at: www.fanaticpressfilms.com

And yes, we are already getting orders online! And some emails praising the premiere and our movie! As we had a table set up at an after-party near the theater to sell the DVD's, which we did sell! Wow! Cool comments about the show, Dean's expert hosting job, our comic and cartooning portfolios and questions like: "Will you be shooting another con movie next month at the San Diego Comic-Con?"
Answer: YES!

Dean LeCrone LORD of COMIC CON!

==A

Dean LeCrone vs The Mutants of Comic-Con PREMIERE!

2007-05-24T12:21:00.000-05:00

Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con --AT LAST!

2007-05-01T11:51:00.003-05:00

(This is just a mock up of the box, may not be final design.)

I've been working day and night for the last few days (not to mention off and on for the last year) and I'm officially announcing that the DVD, "Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con" is finished. Well, the main 40 minute movie is done. Shot on location at the San Diego Comic-Con in 2006, this movie has been in production for almost a year!

Break out the beer!

The DVD will have tons of extra features that are not yet finished (extended interviews, a funky quiz, outtakes, and surprises!)....but I'm so excited about the main movie being done! A few lucky persons like Larned Justin, saw most of the movie at SPACE this year at my booth and from the responses I got it will be a huge hit! I'm not kidding, when 5-8 people all stand, eyes locked to the little DVD player, laughing every 2 minutes for almost 40 minutes....you know its got to be good! This is no ordinary con film. No, this is pure comedy by the masterminds of Dean LeCrone and Allen Freeman. Ok, I must admit that I only added to the fun factor with my creative editing skills, and by adding some of the ideas, most of the credit has to go to Dean LeCrone who improvised the interviews and antics on the film. And he later wrote tons of bits to enhance the footage taking it even farther! Even writing and singing songs! (But I don't want to give it all way...) I was mostly just the cameraman/tech-geek/designer in the background making all his ideas happen!

Anyway the movie "Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic-Con" will have an official premiere in San Diego on June 2nd in a real theater thanks to the Fallbrook Film Club. (Checking to see exactly what the name of that group is...) More details as that happens! Oh, and it is planned to have showings in another location in May in San Diego (San Diego Cartoonists Society), and showings in a theater in Seattle, WA (Historic University Theater)....isn't that crazy? We are also trying to sneak it into some programming at the San Diego Comic-Con this year (but that's a secret)....wish us luck!

Anyway, the DVD will be taking advance orders at www.fanaticpress.com and www.fanaticpressfilms.com soon....and will be sold at our booth at the San Diego Comic-Con this year in July!

More news as it happens!

===A

SPACE CON #8 a Two Day Event! April 21, 22. Official Report.

2007-04-24T16:09:00.000-05:00

Well where should I begin? First of all I had a very bad cold for almost 2 weeks before the SPACE (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo) convention this year. (Held every year in Columbus, Ohio.) I had to get the video ready and make up some boxes to sell at the show. Chris Moshier had shot most of the footage last year at this convention and even edited the footage into a great 2 disk package! All I had to do was make up a box cover design, and a label design for the disks. I did get it all done but it was very tough when you are blowing y0ur nose and your head feels like it is the size of the EPCOT world display. I also had just gotten a new camcorder to try out at the con this year. So was busy trying to learn how it worked. To top it off my dad was in the hospital with a weak heart. Everyone told me to go ahead and make it to the show. I always love this convention and can't wait to see my old friends in small press like Tim Corrigan, Larry Blake, Matt Feazell, Bob Corby etc....and to meet up with writer Chris Moshier who writes for Fan-Atic Press. He and I met up there last year where he and his friend Mike Hutchings video taped interviews for me last year.

Anyway, I decided to make it to the show and it was as much fun as always and I'm glad I made it. I had to drive 5 hours that Friday, but the weather was great. In fact the weather was almost too good.

Chris Moshier on the left with Ken Henson of the comic HORACE on the right.

SATURDAY:
The first day of SPACE con was a slow start. We figured that most people were so grateful for the nice weather at last that they wanted to go outside and enjoy it. Sales on my books was an alltime low for SPACE con at least for Saturday.

The highlight of my day was when I played the DVD I'd been working on: Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic Con. Where I filmed Dean a cartoonist who is also an actor who can improv extremely well. I filmed him interviewing costumed folks at the 2006 San Diego Comic con and we have the DVD movie about 90% done. Anyway I played it on my little DVD player at my booth and about 8 or 10 folks gathered around and laughed their heads off for the next 40 minutes! Some needed to be elsewhere and would start to leave but come back as they couldn't get enough of Dean and what he would do next at that con. It really will be a huge hit, I believe! A cult classic!

The crowd did increase and I also had a fan that had me sign about 10 of the comics I'd worked on and book covers I'd not seen in 20 years! That was a treat! I forgot to ask him where he found those comics.....

Craig Boldman writer for ARCHIE, and writer/artist for his own comics, gets interviewed.

Chris Moshier ran around to find certain creators that were on a list he had made up. He wanted this next DVD of SPACE to focus on the history of SPACE con, and have some more focused interviews on the founders of the convention and found out how it all got started. We used his tripod and my micraphone to get a more professional look to the video this time. We got some great interviews with such creators as: Bob Corby, Dave Sim, Tim Corrigan, Matt Feazell, and many, many others! I also ran around here and there and did some more mini interviews and tried to capture the look and feel of the convention this year. With 144 tables we were as usual only able to cover about 40 or 50 people if that. It is very hard to get around to everyone and we regret that we can't get to everyone, even when it is a 2 day event this time.

The night of the first day was to be the party at a place called MOMO2. Chris and I went to this party with Mike Huchings (who was in the POST SPEAK in the 2006 DVD) who helped us with the interviews a bit on Saturday afternoon and his girlfriend. MOMO2 was a teen hangout with computer games, bowling etc.....but we eventually ended up at the Applebee's resturant where we talked about the con and other pop culture.
Mike sporting his Fan-Atic Press t-shirt with his girlfriend. (I'm bad with names and can't remember her name right now, sorry.)

SUNDAY:
Chris had to leave and drive back to NY early on Sunday, so that left me to man the booth and try and video. Also I was on the panel "Old Timers Rant". Matt Feazell, Allen Freeman (that's me) and Larry Blake were to be on the panel but Larry couldn't make it so Tim Corrigan took his place. I tried to tape it but not sure if it turned out since I just set it up on a tripod and left it on. I think I got 1/2 of it before the tape ran out. Anyway the presenter or guy running the panel did a very good job. I'll find his name in the program and add it here later. Matt did most of the talking I think, and he was very entertaining. He even acted like an old man now and then, "You young folks don't know how great you have it now..." which was pretty funny. So the crowd which consited of Bob Corby, Dan W. Taylor and about 4 or 5 others were entertained and asked some great questions. It was the most fun I'd ever had being on a panel and I wasn't even nervous. My only problem was that my cold was still with me even though I thought I was getting over it. Halfway through the panel my throat went inside out on me and I felt like I had to cough. You know, the sort of cough that you feel will not ever end? I tried to hold it back and evidently wasn't doing very well and Tim gave me some of his drink. The water bottle machine was empty when I tried to get one right before the panel.

Dan W. Taylor artist and publisher

Then still struggling with the cough, Matt gave me a throat losenge! So they saved me. I recovered and was able to continue adding my great insight to the panel. We talked about some of the creators we wished were still producing comics like, Steve Willis, Ted Bolman, David Miller and more....

Larry Blake (L) with Tim Corrigan (R).

So I ended up selling enough books and DVD's to pay for my hotel for 3 nights (I only had to split it with Chris which also helped a lot!) and for my gas and food. So basically I broke even but made lots of new friends and contacts for future contributors to Slam Bang. I handed out flyers for the new Ka-Whump! #2 fanzine about small press comics, sold about 10 copies of the mag, and handed out my new postcards for Fan-Atic Press.

Microcosm Publishing were accross from my booth and seemed to get a nice crowd around their table off and on.

I'll be posting up some of the interviews and video footage here and there as I work on editing the DVD for SPACE CON 2007. Wish me luck! And sure, I hope to make it back to SPACE con in 2008! I love it! I still have my dumb cold a little as I can't shake it completely, my dad got out of the hospital and is doing better right now....in case you were wondering.

Here is an unknown comic fan with Larned Justin on the right. Larned and I went out to eat after the con on Sunday and chatted it up at Max and Irma's. Great hamburgers! And thanks Learned for helping me load my car after the show. I always bring too much stuff to this show.

Here is Tim Corrigan holding up a copy of Ka-Whump! #2. He said he was very impressed with the magazine and was hoping the small press community could support 3 zines about small press right now.

I have a few more photos that I may include here later. Mostly I was shooting video and will post up some of the clips here and there of the footage, so stay tuned!

----Allen Freeman 4/24/2007 www.fanaticpress.com

Additions and SPACE CON DVD 2006!

2007-04-15T16:47:00.000-05:00

Yep, I finally finished SPACE CON 2006 the 2 Disk Set DVD. Chris Moshier actually filmed most of it, and edited all of it. A nice hand of applause for the man Chris!! Truly a masterpiece and the best film about a comic con ever. Yeah, maybe even better than the one I made of this convention the year before, just maybe. I created a cover similar to the 2005 one as they are a nice set for your DVD shelf. Hint, hint. And I made the labels for both disks. Yeah this is a 2 disk set. On Disk 1: PRE PARTY action at a hip night spot the night before the con. INTERVIEWS with over 40 creators at the show! With some samples of their work and their names pop up so you know who is who. POST SPEAK: this is where Chris, Mike Hutchings, Todd Ritter and I (Allen Freeman) just chatted about the convention after it was over and some other shows we have attended etc....while eating Italian food. DISK 2 contains; COMIC PANEL, the one called "The Business of Comics" hosted by Eric Adams, starring, Rafer Roberts, Allen Freeman (me), Pam Bliss, and Paul Hornschemeier. Fun and informative! DAY PRIZE: is where Dave Sim and Gerhard handed out some awards to books submitted to them last year. (Fan-Atic Press won one for a story in Slam Bang #7 vol II!). And last but not least PICTURES; which is a cool slide show of photos taken during the show! Whew! Now you see why it had to be on 2 DVD's! Read more about it at the official site: www.fanaticpress.com

And we are gearing up to attend SPACE CON 2007 this coming weekend! Woooo, and Chris and I'll be video taping some interviews again and this time it will be sort of a documentary of SPACE CON itself! This is year 8 of the show and we will have some footage on our next DVD sh0wing some of the old days as well as the latest show! We will have a booth again this year mostly showcasing the new DVD and some other Fan-Atic Press and Making Comics Studios books! Haven #2 will be out at this show! Chris will debut the book and have issues #1 and #2 for sale!

I'm getting a new camcorder to capture all of this footage starting this coming weekend and continuing to San Diego Comic Con, and Wizard World Chicago! It's the brand new Canon HV20 and I'm very excited. Shooting in HD will be new, and we will have the appropriate mic's etc...and lighting and do this stuff up right!

More news as it happens!

My Best Buy experience.....

2007-04-05T13:50:00.000-05:00

My experience at shopping at Best Buy this week is so interesting I think that I'd like to share it with you.

On Monday I purchased a new router to speed up the connection to my wife's computer. We also asked them if there was anything that would allow her to see the internet anywhere she went with it. They said the SlingBox. After talking to them for 30 minutes and they even got their "expert" in on the conversation, we got the SlingBox AV. We also got me a new external hard drive call My Book. Ok, yeah, we maxed out the Best Buy credit card.

I get home and take everything out of the boxes. As I'm taking out the My Book I hear it rattling like a kids toy. Something is broken off and loose inside. Not good. I call them and they say bring it back. So I put it all back in the box and drive back over there. They have me go and look for another one on the shelf and there is one more. So I get home and it works fine. Then I hook up the router and it does work just not completely right. So after hours of messing with it I finally call tech support and Raji finally gets it all working. We only had one moment when I couldn't understand him at all. After having me click this, and that, he said now click AFLAG. I said what? He said, "AFLAG". I said what is "AFLAG". He said no, it's "AFLAG". I look over the page in desperation and see the only word starting with "A" and say, "is it APPLY?" and he says "Yes".

Now it is Tuesday and I go to hook up the SlingBox. It has a cool little window to play TV shows from your TV. But nothing ever mentions the internet. Finally after reading everything in the manuals, and their online info.....I realize it is only for watching TV or movies not internet. Their "experts" were on crack. So I get all the stuff and put it all back in the box as it was before and find my receipt.

Now it is Wednesday and I take back the SlingBox and tell them that I was "missinformed" by their staff. The girl doesn't care and gives me a refund. I go looking for a portable DVD player to use at the conventions I'll be setting up this summer to advertise the DVD's I'm selling of other comic conventions etc....I ask one guy and he finally says, "I only know how to figure up how much the tax will cost you. Let me get an expert." So this other guy just reads off the cards in front of the players (Like I can't read them?) as he also clearly knows less than the tax configuation dude. I finally decide on this nice black one with a 10.2" screen. I buy it and leave.

I get home and think that 3 hours of battery will not do me much good at the convention, it will have to last more like 8 hours. I go to the Best Buy web site looking for an add-on battery pack and see my same portable DVD player I just bought at the store, here online it is on sale for $38 less, and get this, PLUS a free leather case worth $35! Holy cow!

Now it is Thursday, I have the DVD player all boxed up like it was before, I go back to the store and tell them I'd rather take this back and order online. (I should have not said anything about online.) They go, "you can order it online right here!" So they punch in the web site and put my name in and bring up the same DVD player. And then they inform me that there is no sale! I see the screen and sure enough the sale is gone! They do have the free travel case still included though. The girl says, "The sales on the online store, change constantly, with no warning, sorry." Discouraged and confused, I say "OK." Then they tell me it has to be delivered as they don't have the case in the store. Both the player and the case have to be mailed seperately to my house! Gezzz....and that is an extra $8 shipping. (They can't hand me back the player I just gave them, I guess.) My "deal" is going to hell in a handbasket. So they ring it up at the same price I'd paid in the store the other day but with the free case, and $12 shipping and $11 tax.

All confused and a bit pissed I get home and jump on the site and to my super astonishment THE SALE IS STILL ON! Yes sportsfans, the sale never was gone. It was always there, save $38 and get the free case worth $35. Right in front of my face it is still on! What is going on with this store?

I call the store all confused and explain it all, and they put me on hold. 5 minutes later, they say, "hello can I help you.?" So I have to start the story all over. Then they say, "Just call our 1-888 number and tell them to cancel the order and then reorder it from your computer. We don't know why it didn't show up on our screen here at the store. Sorry."

So I call the store's 1-888 number and explain it all to the lady and she said that the store's don't see what you see on the screen as they have "special deals" they do or don't get. Sounds to me like a huge rip-off if you order from the store's online site from a store. And they figure most people will not go to all the trouble I did to get it straighened out. (Compare it to when you go to a grocery store and see signs stating 2 for $2 etc...then when you check out and later see the receipt there was no sale. If you complain they always say, "Must of been a computer glitch." But did you ever wonder why the mistake is always in their favor? Never to your advantage?)

The phone lady then cancelled my order, put it back on my card, then reordered the DVD player at the $38 less amount, and included the free $35 case. I still had to pay shipping, another $4 for the case. (The store didn't charge me for the free case shipping and when I looked over the receipt they gave me, no mention of the case! Woah, they were going to rip me off for the free case and the discounted price! Yikes!)

So as it all stands now I went from paying $208.64 including tax and shipping (no mention of the free case in the receipt) to paying $172.35 total, with the case clearly in the order. Even by paying an additional $4 for shipping the case seperately, I still paid $36.29 less? I think I paid even less for tax by not buying it at the brick and mortar store. Wow, it sure pays to stick to your guns and second (and triple) check everything they do.

Moral of the story is:

1.) never purchase anything from the store itself unless you have already checked the site and desperately need the item that very day.

2.) get all your info online from reviews and customer testimonies, never the sales staff.

3.) no matter what they say, never let them place your order to the online store for you or, you yourself, use their instore computer to order from their online store.

Sheesh.......

=A

Slam Bang #2 is out! Yeah baby!

2007-04-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

Slam Bang #2 vol III (or issue #42) is now out! It's 210 pages, largest issue of Slam Bang ever! And besides that it is 6" x 9" so it is even taller and wider than ever! Super slick printing job by RapidPOD. Yeah, this issue has it all, 50 or so contributors and a spanking new interview with Tim Corrigan as well. The cranky letters pages and the ads from the contributors in the back....didn't have room for the bio pages like last issue but thought I'd just post them on the www.fanaticpress.com web site eventually. To read all about the book check that same site. Cover by Doug Chaffee back cover by Mark Martin. So if you want an issue just go to that site and hit the STORE button or send $10 + $2. Make checks and money orders out to: Allen Freeman. Send it all to: Fan-Atic Press, 3106 Dade Cove, Owensboro, KY 42303-4567 You'll be glad you did!

Issue #1 vol III is getting rave reviews still. Check www.fanaticpress.com/reviews.html for some of the printed reviews I've gotten on the book. Then you'll be sure it's a quality book, you don't have to just take my word for it anymore!

To contribute to Slam Bang #3 vol III (Deadline June 2007) just send some web size comic pages to fanaticpress@yahoo.com and I'll get back to you about them. Make the pages image size 5.5" x 8.5" to fill the page up nicely. And make the story a TRUE STORY as that is the theme for this issue. Make the comic at least 4 pages long and can be up to 8 pages or so. Keep it PG-13 and have fun! Only send your best work, as you can imagine lots of people want to get in on this. It will be at least 200 pages, black and white interiors, color covers as usual.

--A

New Developments at Fan-Atic Press

2007-02-19T18:48:00.000-06:00

Ok, so not a lot has been happening at this blog for months, but I hope to get back on track with it and keep it going. First of all I've decided not to publish Ed Pun's comic Scarlet Fields. Why? Because I need the time to devote to Slam Bang #2 vol III, Drawings #2, and a host of other projects I'm trying to finish up from last year! But Ed promises to put the book out himself which is great because it's a fantastic comic and I know everyone will love it. That's right there will be an Anton Bogaty Drawings #2 this Spring! And boy does it look great. It will also be a 60 page color comic format. This sketchbook sure sold lots of copies and #2 will keep everyone happy that wanted more!

Also a new site www.fanaticpressfilms.com will cover the movies I've been shooting (Some with Chris Moshier of www.makingcomicsstudios.com ) such as the about to be released SPACE CON 2006, a two DVD set! Tons of extras like the awards ceremony, and the after con discussions! And the almost a year in the making: Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of ComicCon! Where I filmed Dean interviewing costumed folks at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con. Dean does lots of crazy things and this 40 minute movie will be a cult classic! Why take a year to get it done? Well Dean flew from San Diego to KY to help design the movie while I did the editing....Dean wrote most of the cool/crazy stuff you'll see that tied in all the cool footage from the convention. No, you haven't seen a convention film like this one. Tons of laughs and the extra features alone are as good if not better than what you see on most Hollywood DVD's! No lie!

Also on this site you can see the weekly updated VLOG by Chris and I. We have themes and we each shoot video based on that theme. Like "Introduction", "Pets", "Tricks", etc...and we have lots of them planned. At the site we now have 3 already up for your enjoyment. This site will soon have lots of free films, and more information on the DVD's I have for sale such as: SPACE CON 2005, North End Mafia "Axis of Evil" the DVD/CD set, and San Diego Comic-Con 2004.

So check that site often for more updates as it's in production right now.

New items have been added to www.fanaticpress.com as well. I have a new opening art screen each week that takes you into the site. Michael Wurl will be contributing a new wacky image where he makes fun of conventional comics and newspaper strips each week.....and there is a weekly updated web comic called MIAC by Ed Mulreany. 11 pages so far!

And until later check out this cover I just did for KA-WHUMP! The cool magazine about small press comics. This is issue #2, first mag size issue with color covers! Also this issue has an interview with me! So worth the cover price! Email me for how to get a copy. This comes out very soon. No, I'm not the publisher.

Slam Bang #2 vol III is almost done at last! Yeah! And it sports a long interview with Tim Corrigan! But don't forget the other comics and stories in this 200 page digest! This I plan to have out in early March! Woooooo. Yeah, I'm excited.

The theme for Slam Bang #3 vol III, is TRUE STORIES! Anything that you believe to be true, or read someplace and think could be true, or something that happened to you! Should be fun! Go for it. Deadline is around May 1st.

And now a photo of me to leave you with....