WONDERCON 2014 : Queer Directions panel

     Ed Luce (co-panelist) was kind enough to post a link to this article on Facebook, in which the journalist paraphrases our gay panel. Some of it is a little not-exactly-correct, but it's close enough and they said some very nice stuff about the panel overall. Too bad the photos weren't taken from a higher angle, and too bad they didn't use special flattering lighting on me, and maybe a wind machine. And vaseline on the lens.

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/04/25/there-were-many-directions-for-new-directions-in-lgbtq-comics-at-wondercon/

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?

MY SPECIAL DRAWING GLOVE


     I have big fat sweaty Slovak hands that tend to smudge and smear when I'm drawing. I usually have a scrap of paper underneath my hand to prevent that, but it occurred to me that I could use a fingerless glove instead, so I'm not always looking for scraps of paper or whatever. I'll probably have to wash the glove sometimes, but I think this is nicer.
     I blurred the piece I'm working on because it's for an upcoming Haunted Mansion-themed group art show at Bats Day in the Park Black Market, and we're not supposed to reveal any of our artwork until the show. Which is Saturday, May 17th, 2014.
     ALSO GLOVE-RELATED: I have to wear a napping glove to keep me from picking at some truly gross hangnails while I'm napping. I can't stop picking and prodding at them! One is totally sore and I'll probably have to just cut that finger off if I can't stop mashing at it. I'd wear the glove during the day, too, but it would prompt too many questions, and possibly lead to a Michael Jackson comparison, which I do not want.
     The napping glove looks like this:

     I also have a pair of skeleton gloves like this:

     -But the "bones" are 3D plastic or whatever, which makes them really awkward for anything other than a costume. If you're in the dark, though, they look pretty realistic and spooky, and it's fun to suddenly reach out with them and make somebody pee their pants. (probably myself)

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.

MAN, MYTH, & MAGIC : Creepy Kitties


     Just thought I'd share this. Issue #15 of Man Myth & Magic: An illustrated encyclopedia of the supernatural. I rescued it from some library or something at some point, enough years ago that I don't remember. I just know it's old and weird. I only have the cover of this issue left. It's from 1970, and the caption for the cover image reads:

Cats' wedding: 
exhibit in Potter's Museum at Bramber, Sussex 
Brian Netscher

PONY COMPETITION

     I found a great shelf in an antique store that I knew would be perfect for displaying My Little Ponys. All it needed was a new paint job. The problem is there are only 18 spots, and I'll have to select the very best ones out of my collection of over 70 ponies. I have new ones, old ones from the '80s, and random ones from decades between then and now. I appreciate the newer Friendship Is Magic ponies, but I prefer the vintage 1980s originals, especially when they started getting really weird and doing carousel ponies, glitter ponies, and ponies that aren't even ponies. (camel, zebra, lion, giraffe, etc.)
   
Pony Competition Staging Area

     All ponies gather in a staging area on the card catalog beneath the display shelf, to await judgement.

Tier One of nervous contestants

     Some ponies, like some people, just aren't good enough. Some of them wonder, "Am I too dirty? Mane too tangled?" 
     One vintage pony notices newer ponies scoffing at her partially rubbed off cutie mark. She lowers her head, hope fading with the sunset.

Tier 2 pony contestants wonder, "Are we on the lower tier for a reason? Did we do something wrong?"
Baby Rattles: ridden hard and put away wet?
     Baby Rattles is clearly vintage, and looking the worse for wear. He (she?) is a sleepy-time pony whose eyes are supposed to close when you tip her back into sleeping position. They only partially work now, and are pink-tinged and swollen around the edges. Has she been crying?
     Buck up, Baby Rattles. Judgement Day is upon you.

(to be continued)

ORIGINAL ART : Santa & His Elf (the e-card version)


     This is a drawing I did last week, but I've colored it in Photoshop and added a cheery caption so it's like an e-card now.
     I was inspired to make the drawing into a card because I received a Christmas card from Bentley Little, who is one of my favorite horror writers. He always designs his own scary/snarky Christmas cards, and I feel lucky to be on the list of recipients. Here's a combined scan of the front and inside of this year's card:

     In case you have trouble reading it, the inscription says, "Happy Holidays! (don't tell Sarah Palin, but I am a major general in the liberal/gay/atheist/Jewish war on Christmas)"