ANACON MARCH 16th!

I’m tabling with my sorry ol’ comics and my sorry ol’ ass and some sorry ol’ art prints at “AnaCon,” a totally FREE comics & science fiction event at the Anaheim Public Library. It’s happening this Saturday, March 16th, 11am-4pm. I am also moderating a panel on how comics & sci-fi can help engage reluctant readers. Featured panelists: Kelly Powers (AUHSD classified librarian), Emily Otis (APL), and Brianna Meli (APL). I have no idea how to moderate, having never done that before. At least, I don’t think I’ve done that before. At this point, I’ve done a lot of conventions and it all begins to blur. Will I do an okay job? Who knows? I hope so.

I’ve been to AnaCon before, and it’s a nice local event with plenty to see. People in costumes, if you’re into that. Sci-fi author Tim Powers will be there, and he’s great. One of my favorite sci-fi authors, in fact!

SLG ANNIVERSARY & ANTHOLOGY COMICS

The company who published almost all of my professionally/traditionally published comics work is Slave Labor Graphics, also known as SLG Publishing. I did a 2-page comic for their 20th Anniversary, which was a while ago. But every time I come across it again, it makes me laugh, so here:

I also did another 2-pager for an online anthology celebrating SLG's... 25th? I think. I sort of wasn't paying attention. But here it is:

CRUMPET the zine release

Half the point of the CRUMPET show was to officially release my new comics zine, "Crumpet," issue #1. The subtitle is "Variety Comics by Tommy Kovac," because basically "Crumpet" will now be my vehicle for episodic comics that are not library-related. All library-related comics go in "Smells Like Library." I like things organized (loosely) by subject.

The Hibbleton has this awesome "Bookmachine" zine library/store inside the main gallery. We moved one of the bookshelves from the Bookmachine room to the main gallery space, to be part of the CRUMPET show. I hung my "Tommy Kovac Library" sign across the top.

In case you missed the show, CRUMPET and my other zines can now be purchased through Etsy in MY SHOP.

COMICS : "Poison"

This one is really deep, and I figure college professors will probably start calling me, asking if they can include this in their classes.

COMICS : "Buttwing & Her Lip Gloss"

Here's a little Buttwing from me to you...

COMICS : "Heenie 2017"

All of a sudden I felt like drawing Heenie again, after a looooong time.

WE'RE HERE, WE'RE QUEER, DON'T CUSS...

The innocuous front side of the nameplate
     Just finished 2 days at WonderCon 2014 in Anaheim. Love having it in our hometown.
     Prism Comics asked me to be on a panel discussion called "We're Here, We're Queer, Now What? New Directions in LGBTQ Comics," or something to that effect.
     I've been on numerous panels at comics conventions since I started doing comics back in 1999, but this is the first time I've seen a warning on the back of my nameplate. Well, not just mine, everybody's had this on the back:

     The moderator had mentioned the "18 Warning," or else I might not have noticed it. I think it was on the back of ALL the nameplates for the entire convention, I don't think it was just for the GAY panels. But it's stupid, right? It doesn't even specify what it's supposed to mean. It doesn't say don't cuss, or don't show dirty images, it just says "...be AWARE that many members of your audience may be under 18 years of age." Well, no shit. I'm aware. So fucking what?
     But because of that stupid warning and my "awareness" of it, I was saying something in response to the moderator's question, and instead of saying, "fucking" like I had intended, I stammered out the awkward, "effing." Which I hate. Hate it when people puss out and substitute that. It's not like anybody of any age is going to be unaware that it stands for the real F word.
     Sigh. Whatever. I think I said "shit," and maybe even blurted out an entire "fuck" during the panel. I just thought it was funny more than anything, having that impotent little warning staring at us, begging us to think of the children.
     The other 3 creators on the panel were talking about graphic lesbian sex, gay "bear" culture, bisexualism and various other things some people might find taboo. But we were all "aware." ;)
     I don't think we should shelter kids from the idea of free speech, right?
     After my brain has settled a little, I might post more details and thoughts on the convention. It was really fun, especially since we hadn't been to a comics convention in a few years.

     In case you're wondering, I was on the panel with the following creators:
Josh Trujillo
Ed Luce
Shayna Why
Roger Klorese (moderator)

WONDERCON 2014, ANAHEIM CA!

     I'll be at WonderCon with my comics/graphic novels/Glitter Gaybies/Smells Like Library!
     On Saturday I'll be signing at the Prism Comics booth from 1pm-2pm. (Also probably on Sunday after the panel discussion)
     On Sunday I'll be on a panel discussion, and here are the details:
We're Here, We're Queer, Now What? - New Direction in LGBTQ Comics
Sunday, 4/20/14, 11:30a.m. - 12:30p.m.
Room: 210A
More lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters are making their mark on all corners of the comics world than ever before.   How do LGBTQ comics creators push the boundaries in a world where acceptance is more the norm?  Join creators Tommy Kovac (Skelebunnies, The Royal Historian of Oz), Ed Luce (Wuvable Oaf), Josh Trujillo (Love Machines, Anything That Loves), Shayna Why (Overshare Party) and others to be announced as they explore new directions and neglected subjects in LGBTQ-themed comics, how technology is changing the way people relate to each other and new methods of publishing comics.  Presented by Prism Comics and moderated by Roger Klorese (Board Member, Prism Comics).

     Spoiler alert: I have no idea what the new direction is for LGBTQ comics. North?

ORIGINAL ART : Doctor's Office Waiting Room Doodles

     I went with Anthony today to his doctor's appointment. Nothing major, just routine stuff. But we got stuck waiting for quite some time in one of those typical dingy waiting rooms, with nothing but strangers and medical posters to look at. So I doodled.








This is a puppet with legs and peener. He is projectile vomiting. This doesn't really have anything to do with a waiting room, because I was running out of ideas.