Cherry Capital Con Exclusive Print!

Here it is! The first official look at a print we're having this weekend at CHERRY CAPITAL CON! Its a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle print done by me and my buddies Sherief and Daniel. I pencilled most of it and did Raphael and Michelangelo. Sherief did Leo, inked most of it, some more of the background characters and colored the whole thing. Daniel did the Donatello. It came out super sweet and I am excited about it. Each of us will have 10 copies only of this print at our tables. So there's only a total of 30 in existence. The ONLY way to get it is to be at Cherry Capital Comic Con this weekend from one of us. Yet another reason to make plans to go to the show!!

I am beyond excited about the show. I desperately need a vacation and a con trip. Looking forward to it very much. Please make plans to come out and see all of us. Its going to be a happening.

See ya there!

CHERRY CAPITAL COMIC CON

Hey folks! Things are gearing up fast for my first major con of the year. I'll be at Cherry Captial Con in Traverse City, MI all weekend of May 23-25th. I'll have ALL my books (Anna, Pleasant Life, Artbook, Mayhem 3) and new prints, print cards, original art, cards and more. At the show, myself and my two local buddy artists Sherief and Daniel are jamming on an 11x17 TMNT print that will be a show exclusive! So if you are a Turtles fan and need a show exclusive print, this is your only chance to get it and get it signed by all three of us!!! I am also taking commissions at and before the show. But first, HERE IS THE LINK to find out info about the show.

But if you go to the show and want to find me, here is a map of the show floor and where I shall be set up:

I'm putting in a last call for commissions you can pre-order and pick up from me at the show. Only way to guarantee you will get your sketch done for sure. I do 1-2 characters 8x11 for $20, 11x17 for $40, add $10 for color to both. Simply EMAIL ME HERE and lets make it happen.

Below are some examples of what a commission from me looks like. Although I do draw small amount of backgrounds in yours if you want it. 

So thats it folks. I'm welll beyond excited. I haven't been to a show since last August and I am really needing a weekend of rock and roll and comics! Lets go up there and have some fun, shall we?

cheers, T

FREE COMIC DAY RECAP

Hey all! Whew what a day! I spent my 9:30am-4pm all day at Clems Comics in downtown Lansing for FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! This was my third year in a row and I always love coming out. Everyone is always very welcoming and nice and the kids are excited to get sketches and comics.

I was so busy at the show that I really didn't get to take many photos but I grabbed some from some friends. Here are some pics courtesy of my pals Cristen and Nick:

Again, a wonderful time. Thanks to all who came out to support local comic shop businesses and independent artists! Your money spent is more than just about buying a little cool thing to have. Its also putting food on my kids' table and keeping my lights on. I thank you. Also to Clem's Comics for allowing me back year after year and putting on a damn fun time. They really take care of us artists and we appreciate it. It was great to see friends new and old. Also a great pal dropped me off some great vinyl! YAY!

SO: With that, I have lots of materials to restock for my next trip: CHERRY CAPITAL COMIC CON on May 23-25th in Traverse City, MI. I got a couple new prints to finish coloring and do up for the show and other things. Also, I have got a slew of commission work lately, which is great. The wife and I talked about the recent murmurings of me possibly getting a part time night job. But with the increase in sales and freelance work, its now a reality that I am prolonging that decision. You guys all really came to my aid and I cannot thank you enough. Right now I have a huge TO DO list that is going to take me the rest of the month and thats great! My bills are getting paid and I am very happy! Thank you, Thank you!

In other news, I got my TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM books and my PLEASANT LIFE books back from the printer! So I am filling out preorders and kickstarter orders and they will be going out next week. Bare with me as I got a ton of stuff going on. But I am looking over the books and goddamn don't they look dope as hell! THANK YOU for the support! and if you haven't ordered Pleasant Life, you can right HERE

Whew... okay.. I know I got a million other things to say but I am exhausted. Better cut this one short. Have a great weekend!

Cheers, T

NEWS GALORE!

Hang on folks! This is a lot of info to get through so bare with me!

First of all, this weekend is the big FREE COMIC BOOK DAY signing! I'll be at Clems Comics in Downtown Lansing from 11-? on Saturday the 3rd for FCBD. I'll have books, art, prints, sketches and more! Kids 12 and under get free head sketches! I also made 4 new prints that will debut at the show! Fans of Sherlock, Game of Thrones, Star Trek and Doctor Who will be pleased. Also some re-colors of old favorites will debut at the show. All show details are HERE - It really is a great event and family friendly too. Doesn't cost a thing to come get a free sketch and comics for the kids. Plus come to see the artists draw! As a bonus, my buddies Sherief and Daniel will be with me at the show and we'll be doing art on an exclusive print that will debut at Cherry Captial Con! Its TMNT related. I started the art and they are going to finish it and it will be a show exclusive! So come see that and buy some stuff from us! All funds I make will go to pay for my trip to:

CHERRY CAPTIAL COMIC CON! May 23-25th. I'll be there all weekend. Copies of Anna, Pleasant Life and my Artbook will be there, guaranteed. (unless I sell out online suddenly! Who knows!) Details on that show are right HERE

The latest sketch card set I worked on is out. Its called Pinups and Pitbulls. Its through Galan Art. For those who found me via that set and come here, welcome! I do have APs available from that set and from the previous set he did, called Contemporary Pinup Puzzles. The cards are NSFW and for Adults. But EMAIL ME HERE if you are interested in any of them. Some are blank and can be commissioned for whatever you want! I also have some promo cards from the set. Here's a pic of them:

Okay a break from the plugs. Here's my dog Poppy and I. 

Okay, the BIG NEWS is that I got notice that my PLEASANT LIFE books and the ANNA REPRINT/REPRINT has shipped today! So I should have those next week and I will fill and ship orders by next weekend after sketching in all of them.

What is the ANNA REPRINT/REPRINT you ask? Well, after my review at Geek Life Podcast, I decided that I could touch up the colors on the first book a bit. I didn't want to go in and recolor the whole thing, but change the hue and saturation a bit. Also, I could fix a raised eye in some places. But as luck would have it, when I got the initial order of my books from Ka-blam, there were some mistakes in printing. Some cut offs, fonts not embedded and some damage in shipping. So, after talking with the agent there, they offered to reprint my order and I had to resubmit the files. So I took the opportunity to just recolor it a bit and then fix a couple mistakes here and there. So this is the REMASTERED ANNA POCALYPSE! And Ka-blam was gracious enough to let me keep the previous books as well. So I got double the amount! I mostly will be using the first order to give away and have as back stock and sell the main remastered ones.

Its essentially the same book but with minor color correction changes. Here's some page comparisons. The older page is on the left and the re-colored versions are on the right:

 So as you can see, its a little less "out of the tube" of color. Which was the complaint in the first place. Hey, it was my first time ever doing a color comic! Not too shabby for that eh? But trust me, Anna 2 will have a completely different color pallate. I already planned on that. So anyway, both ANNA and PLEASANT LIFE will be in stock by next week. Got your copies on order yet? If not, what you waiting for? Order online right now by going to my online store right HERE

This week, I got hired to do some commissions of sketch covers. The intention is to do them through the CGC and get them slabbed and graded. Here's a couple I have finished already:

The clients are great to work with and I am pleased with how it is going. Sketch covers scare me a bit because some covers have an off glossy stock that don't take my copic markers too well. But I am working slow and steady to make sure I don't get those muddy mixes of inks and markers. Luckily so far I've been okay with it.

Hey, you are keeping up with the IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW PODCAST right? You better be! Loads of inside info there and its all free! Have me in your ears for 15 minutes 2-3 times a week! Click on link there or subscribe via Itunes. FREE!

Over at STARSLAM, things are heating up big time. We're now in the fallout of the events of the death of Draid and how its effecting things. But there will be no rest for our heroes as a major baddie steps up to the plate! If you are over 18 and enjoy adult related content in your comics, go read it right HERE - New page up every Monday!

Lastly, I've been asked a lot recently for commissions and I am ALWAYS taking commissions. Adult related and not. ALWAYS! Simply EMAIL ME HERE  and we can discuss what you need done. All proceeds go to feed my family and keep my lights on. Thanks!

Okay, whew! I think thats everything. Thanks for reading and thanks for the spike in website hits and downloads! I appreciate it! We're rockin' and rollin' in this big 20th Anniversary in Self Publishing year. And with these shows coming up, we're ready to take off!!!

Cheers with peace and love,
T

PLEASANT LIFE COLLECTION is coming!!!

Holy crap have I had a productive month of February so far! After the major derailments that happened in my life in January, it feels good to emerge from that and take that as fuel for actual work to get done! Books are at the printer, I've made convention plans for this year and everything seems to be falling right into place!

Currently: Anna Pocalypse (reprint of first trade with new cover) and Captains Log: ARTBOOK 1994-2014 are at the printer. I should get a proof for the Artbook this week and an invoice for Anna very soon. But this week I have been working on this baby:

Its a book that collects all four of the previously released (and loooong out of print) PLEASANT LIFE comics. Its a comic I started back in 2002 and ended in 2007. This collection puts all 4 tradebooks and tons of supplementary material and NEW material all in one big volume. It should be manga sized and look great on the shelf!

Problem I had for the longest time was that when I built the first tradebook of PLIFE back in 2004, I saved the files as PDFS on a couple old ZIP discs. ZIP discs are hard to come by in today's age. Its like trying to make a FLAC Mp3 off of an Edison Cylinder! I tracked down two different external ZIP drives and bought cords and software for them. Both didn't work in any computer I have access to, and no one I know has a ZIP drive. Its just too out of date.

So I was left with only one option. I couldn't scan the original art pages because many of them are sold off over the years to friends/fans and some are just lost. But I did have one copy of the first tradebook in my archives. (Luckily I am a packrat and save one of everything!!) So I ended up having to scan those pages and touch them up as best I could. They will look a little fuzzy, but in all honesty, I can live with it. This is art I did back in 1999-2002 when I was working on the book. I didn't have it in me to scan the old black and white comics and REDO the tones, touch ups and retype every word balloon. The temptation to change things and go all "George Lucas" on it would be too great. Not to mention it would be giving me quadruple the work to do. So I decided that this is good enough to work with what I want to do for it. Its not like this is an IDW Artists' edition or something. If I ever get uber famous, maybe I'll do that. But at this point I just want to get the book completed and out so people can have it and read it. Besides, it don't look all that bad!

On the left is a page I scanned and knocked up the contrast on. On the right is a PDF from book two which I did have on a disc. Check it out:

So see? Its gonna be okay. Hey, at least you'll have the comics and you can read and enjoy em.

This book will have all four trades, tons of supplementary material including rare stories, aborted webcomic concept pages, pics of the real people/places that inspired the story, sketches, a script from the old series, the "pilot" comic AMAZING BUD that I did in high school circa 1995, new artist retrospective/commentary on BUD and other things, various sketches and production stuff/products made featuring the characters and an ALL NEW (EXCLUSIVE TO THIS COLLECTION) bonus story! Yes, I am drawing the gang again for a little quick story to add to the book. So you can see what my art looked like in 1999 all the way to now! It will be fun to draw the old gang again. Looking forward to it.

This collection will be a great thing for me personally and I want people to have it and enjoy it. I'm working hard to make it the best I possibly can and something I can be proud of. Ever hear the phrase that you "can't go back in time?" Bullshit! I'm proving it by doing this, baby!

I hope to have this whole thing assembled and ready by May. I will do a pre-order on it for those who want one. All total it will be around 460-480 pages, all for $20. WOW!

Wish me luck!

______________

In other news, the Kickstarter for MAYHEM #3 is doing great! We're over halfway funded and its only day four of the launch! Thanks to all who have supported so far. To look at the project and to donate, click HERE

STARSLAM is still rolling! Working on new pages this week. I'm in the home stretch of getting the first tradebook done, and I want it done before year end! YAY!

The Porn Store book and short story collection are being worked on as well, so don't worry. These things take time. But I haven't forgot about it. Just making the books I have DONE a priority for a minute to get them back into the online stores and for me to have at the cons this year.

Speaking of Cons, I'll be at the CHERRY CAPTIAL CON in Traverse City, MI on May 23-25th. I think I will be doing something for Free Comic Book Day but not sure where yet. Keep tuned in here for updates. And I will likely do some sort of con in the fall. This summer the wife is concentrating on playing music in a band again, so I want her to do that. So no June-July shows for me most likely. But around August/Sept I will be looking to get out and about to a show!

Thanks for reading!

T

New Con Appearance Announcement!

Official: I will be a guest at the upcoming Cherry Captial Con in Traverse City, MI in May. Its a ways away, but start planning now! Info is HERE -- I'm very excited to be hitting this con for the first time ever. I've lived in Michigan all my life and have never been to Traverse City. Looking forward to it. I hear its beautiful!

Also, don't forget Feb. 22nd, I will be at the MSU Comics Forum on the MSU campus. Details are HERE

There will be more dates added, but this is what we're saying right now. Very excited for the big year to come! Celebrating 20 years in self publishing at every stop. Celebrate with me this year!

--ADAM T.

Year End Lists - Xmas - More

Hey everyone! We're close to Santa's arrival! You got alla yer shoppin' done yet? Wife gets her bonus this week and thats when we are gonna rock and roll. We got all the kids squared away, but not ourselves! So looking to do that this weekend. I'm anticipating all vinyl-related materials. :)

Hey folks! The 200th Episode of the IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW is up, and we're at episode #202 now, where I do my annual year end TOP 5 lists and all that. I will redo it here in the blog (see below) but this is audio extra content, plus my list of RIPs of people we lost this year. Download and subscribe via Itunes right HERE. Its free! Can't beat that!

I've been working on some card commissions this week, however I did go through a bout of sickness too. It really derailed me. A nice feeling of weakness and nausea. Awesome. But I am back to 99% today and feeling good. I need to rock and roll on these cards and other commissions tonight and this weekend and get caught back up. I'm really behind on shit. I need to light the fire here!

Scott is having his year end/Xmas parties at school and that is fun. Holidays are great now that I get to celebrate with kids. I finally get over my sadness over the holiday season of bad old memories and get to make new ones. I enjoy shopping for them. I made my oldest son happy by scoring him an Xbox360 and we got some choice things for the other kids too. Very exciting times. I just gotta shop for myself and the wife now. She's easy. Jewelry, fuzzy pants/socks. Etc. But I got a few fun things in mind for her. I won't state it here in case she happens to read my bloggy.

2014 CONVENTION DATES are already beginning! The MSU COMICS FORUM in Lansing, MI will be On Feb 22nd on the campus of Michigan State University. I'll be set up there for the third year in a row! For info on the show go HERE.

Also, I am going to be at CHERRY CAPTIAL CON May 23-25th. My first time there! Details on the show are HERE.

Okay, without further bullshit, here's my LISTS of the year for 2013:

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BEST NEW ALBUM:

Ghost – Infantessimum

Alice in Chains – The Devil put Dinosaurs Here

Nine Inch Nails – Hesitation Marks

Rob Zombie – Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor

Pearl Jam – Lightning Bolt

Black Sabbath – 13

The Winery Dogs

Ghost – If you have Ghost EP

Nirvana – In Utero Deluxe

Saxon - Sacrifice

BEST SONGS FOR THE YEAR:

“Year Zero”  - Ghost

“Get Lucky” – Daft Punk

“Came Back Haunted” – NIN

“Hollow” – Alice in Chains

“Rare Jam” – Nirvana (In Utero Unreleased song)/Crucified – (cover) Ghost

BEST MOVIES:

(to be honest, I haven’t seen a lot of new movies this year. Its hard to get out of the house with the kids. But the two I have seen and will put on this list are)

Sound City—EASILY My favorite movie of the year

Gravity

(and yes, TREK isn’t on my list. WOW!)

BOOKS:

(these are books that I read this year and ranked)

Ghost Rider – Neil Peart

Smoke and Mirrors – Neil Gaiman

These are the Voyages – Cushman

The War of Art – Pressfield

Happy Endings – Jim Norton

(Hon. Mention: Girlvert – Ashley Blue)

BEST EVENTS:

Concerts I went to: Rush, Black Sabbath, Saxon. All fun events!

Wizard World – I sold well. It was a great vacation. The aftermath home was not so good, but the show itself went great.

Rediscovering my Love of Vinyl Records – This is a newer development but I am submerged deeply.

Wife’s New Job – Wife got a new job as the store manager of a FIVE BELOW and she’s kicking ass at it. The money is better, she’s getting treated better and she’s really performing well, so much so that the president of the company is noticing. This leads too…

Me quitting The Strip Club – A long time coming. Glad it finally happened. Read the aftermath in my upcoming tell all book! (Due 2014)

WORST EVENTS:

Bankruptsy – Declaring it was shameful but it worked out for the best for us. Happy we did it now. But we’re working on re-building.

Scotts Meds – Trying to figure out what will help him learn what he needs to has been a roller coaster.

Star Trek Into Darkness sucked my fat balls. Yes.

Dental Surgery – All year I was dealing with a broken, rotten wisdom tooth. Got it pulled in November and its been wonderful ever since. The surgery itself was easy as hell, but the anticipation sucked.

10^th Wedding Anniversary – Not the Anniversary sucked, but we couldn’t really do anything for it. I wanted to have a big event and gather our friends but with everything going on, it just seemed impossible. I regret that we couldn’t. Maybe for the 15^th or 20^th?

BEST TV SHOWS

Breaking Bad

Walking Dead

Toy Hunter

Doctor Who (especially the 50^th Special!)

For What its Worth (helped me rediscover vinyl)

TOP THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2014:

Finishing all my projects. Especially my written books.

My 20^th Anniversary in comics celebration and convention tour.

Delving deeper into my vinyl obsession.

Paying off all cars with the wife’s new job bonus structure.

Continuing improving myself physically and mentally and ignoring  old bad habits like focusing on internet hate and social media. Just disconnecting from it and not caring anymore.

Thanks for reading! Be safe this weekend! Peace and Love, Peace and Love.

T