SUPER SALE!

ANNOUNCED! Get all three of my books for $50! or All books plus 2 pages of art for $75!! Details: RIGHT HERE

This really is as good as it gets. ORDER NOW! Support indie publishers!

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Don't forget to download FREE episodes of my IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW PODCAST! Download HERE or subscribe via Itunes. FREE!!! M'kay?

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One last plug: Our KICKSTARTER is almost done. If you love horror comics of the old days, then check it out, please!

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In regular news, I've been productive as hell. 'Getting shit done' is my middle name!  Meanwhile I've been enjoying Walking Dead, Toy Hunter, Twilight Zones and other Netflix stuff. Plus I'm re-reading some newer comics I've bought but forgot to read. Such as All New Xmen and Batman.

Hope you guys have a safe week! Cheers, T

Juggling Act

Heyo! A bunch of updating type of things for your mind-grape.

Halloween happened this past week. Since it was raining we took the safe road and went to the local Mall where the stores were handing out candy. Scott-bot 2000 picked out his own costume:

 And since James T can't talk yet, the wife and I picked out something appropriate for him:

I've been busy working on commissions, writing stuff and trying to finish the mountain of things on my plate. The next three months are HEAVY production months for me. (So much for the sabbatical!) And I'm not complaining. It pays my bills. Right now I got two smaller card sets on my plate, plus some odds and ends for another one I did work for this last summer. That same company wants to make a comic book with me featuring a major historical literary character. So I pitched them a concept and a few story outlines and they loved them. I finished the main outline and some dialog in a script last night and sent it off for approval. I will probably start pages this next week or two. We're planning on a 4 issue run if all goes well. Its a paid gig and its gonna be awesome!

Beyond that, I've done regular commission work and writing when I can on the three books I plan to release hopefully next year. A couple of them, for sure. So expect A LOT from me next year!

STARSLAM continues! Every Monday, a new perverted strip is uploaded. Adults only. Read it at the adults only part of this site if you are over 18 and are into such things. I'm wrapping up art on that project so that I can launch a tradebook next year as well.

ARTBOOK: Some might not have heard but the original printer backed out of printing it. I understand their reasoning. But I got another printer in mind for the gig. I'm talking to them this week and hopefully the books will be printed and in your hands by Christmas.

PODCAST: The idiothead morning show podcast continues! Subscribe and download via Itunes right HERE -- and please make with the comments, subscriptions and downloads. It all helps fund the podcast, which is available for free. Thank you. Approaching episode #200!!!

Meanwhile when I am not working on these millions of things, this is who monopolizes my time:

James is walking now and into EVERYTHING! A real hand full. Also Scott and his autism is a constant challenge. We're working with doctors to get him the best care. He has little improvements every day and I'm excited to see that. But I will admit some fatigue does hit me hard.

And, if all of the above wasn't enough, the boys and I are planning and working on a TALES OF SEQUENTIAL MAYHEM #3! I started the art on it this week. Here's a spoiler page:

Its an EC HORROR COMICS tribute book just like the last one. Likely we will launch a Kickstarter for it in January. Look for it soon.

2014 20th ANNIVERSARY TOUR: Its shaping up. I'm 100% confirmed for Cherry Captial Con in May. Then I'll likely hit Motor City Con after that. Then maybe either NYCC or San Diego as a fan to pass out flyers and meet editors. We'll see what I can swing. I'd like to do a book signing or two at some local stores. We'll see.

Anyway folks, thanks for checking in. TONS going on. Lets hope my 20 years at this juggling act works out and I can keep these balls in the air. (Not MY balls, but the balls being various things... I mean... ah.. you know what I mean.)

Freelancing Life...

The above painting describes my brain today. This past week has been a crazy one. My first full week of unemployment (both day job and artwork related). Nothing has come in. Not any new work, nor payment for work I did MONTHS ago. In fact, I am chasing down about $1300 owed me right now. All editors and accounting offices giving me the heave-ho and excuse #8437-9042.

I have applied for various online jobs, put adverts in forums and other commission generating places, made my online store front and center on the site, updated website buttons and put the word out on various online media about my availability. I've applied for unemployment and other such assistance. I've talked with other artists that are experiencing the same down time as well. No complaints. It happens. Such is the life of the freelancer. Its something I will have to get used to. I was used to the pad of security of the day job to fall back on to feed my family. Now it all revolves around me.

I think the stress of the week prior has derailed me quite nicely. I did do some artwork though. Its up at the two deviantart sites. I colored some Starslam strips. I wrote about 10 pages on the adult book store novel. And I put together about 22 pages on the 20 year artbook collection. I'm fighting through it!

I think the major distraction was a loss of a 20 year friendship that I never saw coming. Its so damaging in fact, that its derailed some of my future plans when it comes to my work. This is because it involves someone who I based a comic book character on. THUS, it ruins my chances to reprint the book in which this character appears, for fear of retaliation. So I've had to wrestle with basically losing a friend, but also a project which I worked for 10 years on and it was closest to my heart. At this point, the book is dead. I cannot reprint it. I cannot make money off something I worked so hard on over the years.

No matter. I have many other ideas. There's Anna, Starslam, the artbook, the two novels, various freelance work, commissions and sketchcards, etc to keep me sane. Thank the lords for that. But no, I've just felt a bit lost lately. Last night I had horrible stomach pain too. Maybe its all caught up with me. I'm tired more often and I just cannot focus as well as I could a month ago. Its like I'm on the ropes or something, ready to fall down for the count.

But what is it the great Rocky Balboa said, and I quote it a lot in this blog every so often? "Its not how hard you hit, its how hard you can GET hit, and keep moving forward. How much you can take, and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" Yeah. You got it Rocko. I know this. Just gotta keep in there and keep in the game.

I think the feeling would be easier on me if these clients that owe me paid up already. I'm gonna start hounding them daily. I'm gonna start getting loud. I'm gonna start talking. They ain't gonna like me! HA! But ya know, my kids need food and thats what I am gonna do to make sure they get it. Anyway, I don't want this to seem like a sad blog or anything. Its far from it. I'm doing what I gotta do, and thats what this is all about. The seeds are planted. And any day now we'll see the growth. At least I'm trying!

Anyway, lately I've been re-watching SPACED on Netflix. Still trying to go through all the TREK DS9 seasons as well. I got the first Batman (Snyder/Capullo) tradebook to inspire me artistically. Been re-reading PREACHER too, as I do once a year since it ended. Just keeping happy and inspired. Just gotta keep rockin and doing my thang.

Thanks for checking back folks. I think today I'm gonna work on some new Starslam strips and some nudie girl cards. Why the hell not, eh? No boss over my shoulder to tell me NO eh? ;)

Cheers, T

Post-Convention thoughts...

Well folks, its been a crazy week. In what should have been a week of me coming down from the high of having a nice vacation (one I was sorely overdue), I returned home and hit the pavement face first with a nice bout of depression. There was family drama, some old friend betrayals, various minor worries about finances and check delays. And natch, everyone that owes me money either never responds to emails or simply just disappears. Um, I got bills to pay here! Guess I better work on my business practices.

On the positive side, those who listen to the IDIOTHEAD MORNING SHOW’s latest episode will know  I took the deep plunge and parted ways with my day job. Thus I am now a full time stay at home dad and artist. So there’s a whole wave of new and unique stresses and worries that come along with that. I gotta make my work into money for my family. Before it was always considered a bonus to what I did. Now I have to evaluate my “worth” and make it stick. I am considering all options at this point. I am going to be reprinting my long out of print comics (Anna Pocalypse and Pleasant Life). I will be making up a new table set up for next year to capitalize on the prints and print cards to keep that end of things rolling strong. And commissions/freelance work will need to get evaluated as well. I had considered doing a price increase and I think I will very soon. I have to revamp the online store here a bit and update things.

So that’s all on my mind. Luckily this week to help combat the stress and everything else, I got to spend some time with the wife. Its been refreshing to reconnect and enjoy our 10^th year Wedding anniversary. Both our schedules have been hectic the last month due to her new job and my various pressures. But starting tonight I am getting back to work. I am working on new samples to send out to various companies to look for freelance gigs. I gotta color and letter some new Star Slam strips as well. Any day now too I should have my Star Wars return AP cards for sale, as soon as I get them back from Topps. So that will help finances too.

Lastly, this week I have been putting together my big celebratory artbook collecting my best pieces and never before seen stuff from the last 20 years of me doing this. This should be available by Christmas, to celebrate twenty years of working in comics. I got about 15 pages left to put together and then the cover. I will be putting out a contest here on the site to help me name it, as well as ordering info. I am hoping to have this completed by Sept/October time and have it up for pre-order. Then have it shipping by November/December. We’ll see. But more on that later. Just know that its being worked on. It will have a lot of sketches, process stuff, pics of my favorite pages from all my comic work, history, bio pics, inside info on all my projects I’ve ever done up to this point and more. A real celebration of 20 years of hard work!

Anyway, things are getting better. We’re on the mend and hopefully get back to where I should have been after Wizard World, before everything slamming my emotions at once derailed me.

Thanks for checking back!

WW CHICAGO recap

Well I am back from WW Chicago. The show went excellent and I made sales goals and new friends. And hung out with old ones. Very relaxing! I wish I could say my return home was equally as great. Lots of drama and even a great stab in the back. Oh well. I'm a firm believer in that if your right eye is causing you suffering, cut it out and toss it. I'm going to be applying that way more often. Lots to think about.

Anyway, about the show: It went spectacular. I remember the first Wizard World I exhibited at, I made $50 at. Then the next about $100. This time was way beyond that. It felt great that I had earned myself to a level where I can walk out comfortably. Its not so much the money, but the feeling that people are digging what I am doing. It makes the hard work well worth it. I'll probably do a play by play on the next Idiothead.com Morning Show Podcast (downloadable at Itunes!).

But now... back to reality! (heh) Well, in the next coming months, there's gonna be some changes and some evolutions to me as a person and an artist. We'll see what comes of it. For now, lets look at some pics from the show! Hotel, show floor, commissions, Brian and I's trip to a Tiki Bar, my first Chicago style pizza and more! Thanks for reading, and thanks to all who came out to see me! You guys rock! Onward and upward.

Home Stretch for WW Chicago Con!

Hey folks! We're getting damn close! Right now its six days and a wake up until the big Wizard World Chicago Comic Con and my first con attendance in well over a year! Guess what? They got programming up and there's maps! Wanna know where I will be? Check it:

Wow! Table #A11. What a primo spot! Right next to Alan Davis, J Scott Campbell and Arthur Suydam! I'm facing out to the dealer/Autograph area, meaning traffic will be headed straight my way. When I saw this, I got nervous as hell! So I am working hard to scrounge up some racks to bring with me to help make my prints go on display in a better fashion. Plus, Captain Jack Harkness and the Doctor Who store are near me, and so the whovians will be right in the area. I had better be sure to display all my Dr. Who related stuff!

What will I be bringing? Well, I'll have new prints, print cards, original art, sketch cards, comics, and I will definitely be taking commissions all weekend at the show. If the wifi signal works, I should be able to take credit cards, no problem. I am coming loaded with extra stuff so I don't run out!

To say that I am excited is an understatement! I'll be hanging with my buddy Brian Maze, who I haven't seen since San Diego Comic Con, 2009. But we talk every week on the phone and it will be good to catch up with him again. Plus there are some people there I do want to try to meet, such as fellow sketch card artists. (and I might even try to indulge my Superman fandom by getting Brandon Routh's autograph. We'll see, eh?) I ain't worrying about buying a damn thing until Sunday. Til then, its all business! I'm all stocked up on new pens and paper. I am getting copic marker refills on Monday. We're gonna be ready!!The big bonus also is that I haven't had a vacation or a break from the home life in well over a year. I love the kids, but everyone needs a bit of a break now and then. The wife will be busy setting up and launching her new store (FIVE BELOW!), so my parents are coming up for the week to help watch the babies. I hope all goes well with that.

In addition to all this, on Tuesday, I am going to go see BLACK SABBATH in Clarkston, MI with my buddy Matt. Looking forward to that as well! \m/

Holy crap folks. This is going to be awesome. I got a great table. I got a great hotel and roommate to help with costs. I've pre-sold a nice amount of commissions for the show. I am well stocked on items to bring with me. I'm just ready. Its all I can think about! If you are coming, stop by and see me. Table #A11. You can find out details on the show and who else will be there by going right HERE.

I look forward to seeing you all there. Rock on!

Gearing up for WW Chicago!

Hey folks. Its a few days away! My first con appearance in well over a year! Its rare to get me in person anymore it seems, so you don't wanna miss out on it!

Wizard World Chicago. August 8-11th. Also going that weekend in the same area is a cool horror convention called FLASHBACK WEEKEND. So check out both shows. But come to see me! I should have my table assignment soon.

I am bringing new prints and comics with me. I will also be taking commissions at the show! I've already pre-sold some commissions and thanks to those who have purchased some! If you are interested in pre-purchasing a commission to pick up at the show, EMAIL ME HERE and we can discuss such matters.

Some new prints for the show:

In other news, I am SUPER busy! Commission work. Also sketch card work. I'm doing some base cards for a new card set coming out that I can't talk about. Also just got a deal to jump back aboard a major property that I have done in the past. Wish I could discuss more, but I can't. Only time will tell!

I think I can reveal that STAR WARS GALACTIC FILES 2 is coming out the end of this month and will feature cards by yours truly. I will have 11 AP return cards for sale when the set comes out. If interested, hit me up and we can discuss. Its too early to show em though. Gotta wait till the set comes out. But if I must say, these Star Wars cards came out much better than the last ones! I keep growing and trying to get better.... which is the goal of this whole thing right?

This Sunday, I will be at a fundraiser for Fragile X at a park in Holt. Some of my recent art will be up for auction there and I will be doing sketches via donation, all to benefit Fragile X research. Its a topic close to my heart because it has been linked to Autism. Work must be done, so we need your help! Its this Sunday, July 21st from 2-4pm at Vallhalla Park in Holt, MI. HERE is a link for more info and directions. Come on out!

Anyway, I got a shit-ton to get done and the wife's bday is tomorrow. So I gotta cruise. Hope you are enjoying everything I am doing and thanks for continuing to check back with me. Love ya!

T