Lightbox Podcast Interview

Rob Chandler, Chris Flick and Matt Stout were nice enough to have me on The Lightbox Podcast last week. I had a great discussion with those guys, and talked about my take on and experience with Zuda Comics, my Creating Comics! column over at Comic Related, and the 30 Characters Challenge.

Those guys put on an enjoyable show. If you'd like to listen to the entire interview, it's Episode 7, available on the widget below. And, for your added viewing pleasure, I made a video clip from the interview where I discuss 30 Characters along with art from all of the challengers.

30 Characters - 1 Week Down

So, I've made it through the first week of the 30 Characters Challenge! So far I've continued to push out new characters for Colosseum X and did some designs for upcoming Over characters as well. The creations others are churning out are pretty amazing as well.

I was inspired to cut the following video. Check it out, then head on over to the site!

30 Characters is Live!

Well, it went from a germ of an idea to a full-fledged month-long comics event in less than two weeks! That's right, November is 30 Characters Challenge Month.

We're up to 25 participants, and there are already 30+ characters posted on the site. How about that? Pretty cool, no?

My first two are up...characters from Colosseum X, my 2010 superhero slugfest I'm working on with Enrique Savoy, a local artist with major chops.

Check out Kurt Blackburn and Cason Cole, the antagonist and protagonist respectively.

30 Characters Challenge

Wow, have I been busy. Another month without much in the way of TJC blog updates...what with webcomics and columns and twitter and the behind the scenes things I'm doing, yeah, this blog is getting the short shafterino.

Which is a pity, because this is really my place of record for my journey doing this comics thing. As such, I'd be remiss not to mention the upcoming "30 Characters Challenge" I've gotten off the ground.

Next month, myself and a group of [brave, ambitious, foolish, insane] creators are challenging ourselves to create 30 new characters in 30 days...one for every day in November.

Why? Because the world needs new characters! (And I'm sure a whole host of other reasons as well.) For me, it's going to provide a structure around which to get off my duff and start populating the characters for the Colosseum universe.

You remember Colosseum, don't you? It's getting off the ground in a big way, and as soon as art starts coming in, I'll fill readers in on all the details. I'm working with a very strong artist on the project and researching the heck out of the thing. I'm hoping it has just the right combination of catchy high concept, killer visuals, and edgy, in your face writing that will make it a hit.

Anyway, here's a link to the 30 Characters site. Check it out! And sign up, if you dare!

Baltimore Comic-Con Photo Flood- Part II

More pics from Baltimore!
Had to throw up another shot of that Wolverine costume. This dude was not messing around.
Image had a big presence at this year's show, and the giant Image United banner could not be missed upon entering the convention hall.

I stayed for awhile to see the art auction held after the show ended on Saturday. Some serious money was being spent. You can't really see it here, but the auctioneer is holding up a Neil Adams Batman sketchcard. It went for $500. Wow.


Two really nice pieces. David Peterson was in attendance at the auction, and was there to hand it to the purchaser. That one went for around $500 as well.A Mike Oeming Thor. Apparently, this was done at the show. Someone handed him a marker and he just went to town on it. Dude has some serious chops. $450 or thereabouts.

And this was the highest selling item I saw at the auction. A fully painted Frank Cho Poison Ivy. Could have been yours for the low low price of $4250.

Baltimore Comic-Con Photo Flood- Part I

Hey everybody!

Still catching up on sleep and rest after a wild Baltimore Comic-Con. I'll be doing a full write up on my con experience over at Comic Related, but here I'm going to post all the pics I took.


Here was my Saturday set-up. As you can see, I had a whole lot of merchandise to sell.


Early Saturday, this was the view from my table.

The happiest Sith warriors you'll find anywhere.

I don't think you can label where my table was as in Artist's Alley. It was more like we were in Artist's Lane, which was along the back wall of the convention center (near the restrooms) and close to the vendors.


Some really great costumes this year.
You know what they say...Couples that dress up as psychopathic super villians together, stay together.

This Wolverine was not messing around.

Back with more pics soon...

Interviews and Mentions in the Blogosphere

Don't we all love to feel relevant? Comics reviewer extraordinaire MPD57 had some nice things to say about my work over at his blog recently when he took up the Herculean task of recapping/reviewing every Zuda Comics competitor to date. Thanks Mike! (And by the way, if you missed out on Mike's recent post Thirty Golden Rules for Submitting to Zuda, it's must read stuff for anyone thinking of giving the Zuda gauntlet a try...and some generally good advice for comics creators.

In other news, I spent a good deal of time at the recent New England Comic-Con talking to Scott Harris from The Vault, a solid comics blog. So much time, in fact, he broke up our conversation into a two part interview. Read Part I and Part II at your leisure.

Attending the Baltimore Comic-Con? Get a FREE SKETCH!

Saturday and Sunday, October 10th and 11th, you can find me in Artist's Alley at the Baltimore Comic- Con taking place at the Baltimore Convention Center. It's going to be a HUGE show, and as a special treat for con attendees, I'll be doing a number of absolutely FREE SKETCH CARDS!

Want one?

Here's the deal:

If you are attending the Baltimore Comic Con and would like a FREE SKETCH Card, email the following information to tylerjamescomics@gmail.com:

• Your name
• Sketch character request
• The day (or days) you'll be at the Con
  

I'll be drawing FREE SKETCH CARDS for a limited of comic fans who request them, so act fast. First come, first serve!

All you'll have to do to get your card is stop by my table in artist's alley at some point during the show, say hello, and pick up your FREE SKETCH CARD. Not a bad deal, huh?

...WANT AN EVEN BETTER DEAL?

Get your FREE SKETCH CARD + a FULL CHARACTER SKETCH (7 x10.5 cardboard) for just $8.00. You name the characters! They'll both be bagged and ready to pick up and pay for at the show.

...AND STILL YET A BETTER DEAL?

Get your FREE SKETCH CARD + an ORIGINAL FULL CHARACTER SKETCH COVER to the Tyler James Sketchbook, Vol. 1. Have the character of your choice adorn an original cover to my first 32 page sketchbook of great pinups, cover designs, and sketches from the past five years. All this for just $15.00. Order now by email, and pick up and pay at the show.



Remember, the free sketch cards are being given on a first come, first serve opportunity, so if you're interested and definitely plan on attending the show, send me an email now at tylerjamescomics@gmail.com.

Look What I Made!

With the help of two delightful gentlemen from Home Depot, I made this easy-to assemble, easy-to-break-down, easy-to-store, and lightweight banner stand out of PVC pipe! Total cost for the stand ~ $12.50. The thing stands a good 7 feet tall and is 3.5 feet wide...It's huge.

At the last convention I tabled at, there was a guy who was unable to find my table and thus went home without the sketch I drew for him. Ha! Never again!

How to Write for Marvel!

No, don't take my word for it. Take Marvel editor CB Cebulski's. If you're an aspiring comics professional, you should really be following CB on Twitter: @CBCebulski He routinely drops absolute gems of knowledge.

Case in point, this series of Tweets on 9/4/2009:

• Simply put, all Marvel editors handle their own writer recruitment on their titles & you need to get your PUBLISHED work into their hands.

• Marvel no longer has an open submission policy. Do not send us your scripts/ideas. You can't submit to Marvel unless you're asked to submit

• You get asked to submit by getting published elsewhere, or self-publishing, making a name for yourself and sending us your PUBLISHED work.

• Then, if an editor likes what he or she reads from you, they may reach out and ask you to pitch them on Marvel comics. That's how it works.
  

And there you have it. There's no magic bullet. Hearing this kind of thing is really encouraging actually. It puts the onus on you and your work. No one is going to make you a star and no one is going to just hand you a job. It's about earning it.