Friday night after work Nicki and I attended the summer Broad Avenue Art Walk.

It happens a few times a year (next one will be this fall) and has many of the shops, studios, and galleries on the block participate.

This time there was live music and dancing performances outdoors.

This time at the West Memorials gallery (my day job) we had art and photographs by three artists.

Paintings and folk art by Alex Warble.

Carousel photos by Nicole C. Perugini.

And poster art by Tom Foster.

That’s Tom.

We had a great turnout!

After enjoying some wine and cheese at West we headed east up Broad.

After checking out several spaces that way we came back down to Hollywood and over to a photography studio…

and caught a glass blowing demo across the street.

It was a lot of fun to watch, and we’ll have to go watch her play roller derby sometime!

It started to get late so we headed back across the street.

Then called it a night.

The next day Nicki headed over to Comics and Collectibles for their “Not At Comic Con” day. Picked up my pull list comics, a Joker Toon Tumbler glass, Nicki a Star Wars: Clone Wars trade, took a free shot of Red Bull, entered a Dark Horse contest, and picked up a couple passes to Scott Pilgrim for next week. After that we headed to Micheal’s to pick up some canvases for my upcoming art show and by Books-a-million to do some shopping. Nicki kept me updated on all the comic con news as we drove around. Watched a bit online when we got home (Gail Simone, Buddy Christ, Bender, and protesting Baptists all in one video- only at San Diego!) and some on G4 (not  lot of comic book coverage- much like San Diego). It was a great “Not At Comic Con” day, just didn’t see as many celebs as I normally do in San Diego.

Congrats to my Bushi Tales partner Dave Beaty for getting the chance to sign at the DC Comics booth on Saturday!

Lin

Admiral Ozzel (markers)- sold for $79.99 (+s/h).

Michael Sheard played Admiral Ozzel in Empire (the first officer to be forced choked by Darth Vader- and over a video conference call!)

He was a fan favorite at our local con- Midsouthcon.

This was taken at the last MSC he attended in 2005. (That’s Timmy, me, Michael and Dave.)

He passed away later that year at age 65.

He had written three autobiographies on his career, Yes, Mr. Bronson — Memoirs of a Bum Actor, Yes, Admiral — Sci-Fi and Further Memories, and Yes, School’s Out — Sci Fi Conventions, Parties and Much, Much More!

Lin

Let’s fix that!

Tim Brown and I headed up on Thursday afternoon, and as usual Timmy and I stopped at Lambert’s Cafe in Sikeston, MO.

Timmy happy! He had the hog jowls- or as I like to call them, “bacon on steroids”!

We got there just in time for the opening ceremony/skit.

It was funny as always!

Artists Alley/Writers Way was jumpin’ as always. That’s writer Josh Elder with Superman (Josh Boultinghouse).

Comics legend and Guest of Honor Carmine Infantino with Nicki Howe.

Me with my Bushi Tales partner and DC Comics artist and guest Dave Beaty.

My Bizarro painting found a good home.

We got to see the unveiling of the new Noel Neill/Lois Lane statue.

Papa Cliff drove Noel to the statue plaza in his Studebaker.

The statue was created in Utah by the same folks who created the Superman statue and now stands just up the street from it.

I got to meet the statue artist/sculptor Gary Ernest Smith.

Down at the chamber of commerce on Saturday Traci and Nicki inducted guest Sam Witwer into the Memphis Star Ward Fan Force.

Sam stars in the Star Wars: Force Unleashed game and comic, as well as in SMALLVILLE on TV, along with co-star Laura Vandervoort.

Laura, who is a martial artist, too- said she’d love to play Kimiyo in a Bushi Tales movie! (Did you hear that, Hollywood..?!)

Both Sam and Laura couldn’t have been nicer, but they both gushed when Trevor Hawkins presented them each with one of his paintings of them.

Friday and Saturday nights in AA/WW we had a showing of Superman II (with producer Ilya Salkind) and Fan Films sponsored by Inked Monkey.

As usual it was hot again in Metropolis- so hot some might have sold their soul for a Big Gulp!

But the heat and humidity didn’t stop the costumers from coming out in force.

The judges had a tough job again this year- tons of great costumes were entered!

The winners! Best Clark/Superman, Best Lois, crowd favorite (Doomsday), best hero (Steel), and best villain (Lobo).

Best group- The Avengers

The Avengers’ secret weapon- Tiny Thor!

And proof that cloning does exist!

Nicki and I had a great time and look forward to being back again next year.

Hope to see you there!

Lin

Bob Bretall is joined by guests Al Sparrow, Dave Beaty, and Lin Workman (Me!) in a round table episode of the Comic Book Page Podcast to reminisce about the 2010 Phoenix Comic Con. Listen to the highlights and see why we all think it should not be missed by anyone in the Southwestern US. Also mentioned is the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Nicki’s new website FanGirlWednesday.com, and strange goings on at the Phoenix Comicon’s art auction.

You can listen to the podcast here.

Photos from the con can be seen on the Comic Book Page forums.

Thanks, Bob!

Lin

Nicki and I did a bit of “speed tourism” and fit a ton of sightseeing, con-going, visiting with friends, birthday celebration, and even a bit of a family reunion all into one week.

We flew to Phoenix for Cactuscon (Phoenix Comicon) where we met Stan “The Man” Lee and ate at Alice Cooper’s restaurant Cooper’stown, drove up to Prescott Valley to Dave and Micah’s for the night, hiked in Sedona, stopped in Jerome, visited Glenn Canyon Dam and Lake Powell, had ho’made pie at the Thunderbird Restaurant in Utah with my folks on Nicki’s birthday, oohed and awed at Kaibab National Forest, ran into two fellow Memphians at the Vermillion Cliffs, saw a dust devil in Cameron, and were blown away by the south rim of the Grand Canyon.

We even managed to get engaged between all that!

I popped the question as Beetlejuice after emceeing the art auction at Cactuscon on Saturday night- which also happened to be our 1yr 9mo anniversary!

We went down to the Hard Rock with Dave and Micah after the auction and had some celebratory drinks and dinner.

It was a great night!

Pics from Cactuscon’s Preview Night and our flight to PHX up next…

Lin

It got a bit Batty this weekend in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

But we all had an Incredible time at Cape-Con…even without capes!

Ethan Van Sciver was there signing autographs and doing some awesome sketches.

I got a Flash and several Cyber-Frog comics signed-

and picked up more guano for the bat-cave.

Decided to leave the “Exploding Man Peter” in Cape.

The drive up Saturday morning got scary leaving Memphis/West Memphis, but cleared up once we hit Missouri.

Jon Carroll and Jack-Jack drove up from Memphis on Sunday.

Antone and Janet Wade got there on Friday before the reeeeaaaallly bad weather.

Not sure when the Ninja got there…

but Ghost Rider showed up Saturday to meet his creator Gary Friedrich.

Ghost Rider also joined a lot of supers on stage for the costume contest.

Thanks to Ken Murphy for another great show!

Speaking of great shows, Nicki and I will be heading out west to the Phoenix Comic Con (Cactuscon) Memorial Day weekend.

Dave, Bushi Tales, and I got a mention by Cactuson director Matt Solberg on the Andrew Long Show podcast.

If you’re in the Phoenix area Memorial Day weekend stop by the Bushi Tales booth at Cactuscon and say hi!

May the FOURTH be with you!

Lin

The new Art Of Bushi Tales book is now available!

Written and Illustrated by Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, Micah Stewart

Standard Sized Trade Paperback
Full Color
Page Count: 100
POD

$19.95 (+s/h)

Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, and Micah Stewart take you behind the scenes in the Art of Bushi Tales. See the scripted page come alive from pencil sketches to painted art. Includes a special guest artist gallery featuring art by Bret Blevins, Scott Clark, Greg Cravens, Andrew Charipar, Harold Jennett, Martheus Antone Wade, and more! A must have for art lovers and Bushi Tales fans.

It’s is the 31st century of man and the ancient world has returned. Four female Samurai are sent on a quest by Hachiman, the god of war, in this post-apocalyptic series created by Dave Beaty (X-men: Sword of the Braddocks, Adventure Comics, Brightest Day) and Lin Workman (Stargodz, Scared Silly, CGS: The End).

The book is available from Indy Planet. If you’d like to have one personalized or pick up a copy in person Dave, Micah and I will all be at the Phoenix Comicon (Cactuscon) this May, so if you’re in the area stop by the Bushi Tales booth and say hi.

I should have news on the Bushi Tales trade paperback coming soon- stay “tooned”!

Lin

Here are a couple of his new projects that are coming out soon-

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #7 (OF 7)

On Sale FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Written by JAMES ROBINSON; Art by MAURO CASCIOLI with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

This is the big one! After the catastrophes seen in issues #5 and #6, a hero loses control, leading to an unexpected ending that will fundamentally change the lives of the World’s Greatest Heroes forever. This issue launches a major storyline in the DC Universe and is not to be missed.

TITANS #23

On sale MARCH 17

Written by EDDIE BERGANZA

Art by ANGEL UNZUETA with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

Spotlight on Red Arrow! As Roy Harper lies in critical condition after the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5, his fever dreams show him the perfect future life he wants for the Titans. Unfortunately for him, it’s a life the Titans will never see.

Be sure to stop by the Bushi Tales table at the Pheonix Cactuscon this May to see what else Dave has been up to.

Hopefully he’ll be able to announce what else he’s got lined up soon.

Congrats, Dave!

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Lex Luthor For Sale

If you’d like one of my paintings now’s your chance!

I originally did this to show at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL a couple years ago, and ended up donating it to the HERO Initiative art auction at the Phoenix Cactuscon. Noel Neill (the ORIGINAL Lois Lane) was kind enough to sign it for me before the auction (she starred with Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns).

Well, it’s back up for auction- this time on ebay by Brandon Ladd Burkey, owner of Crossroads Entertainment Co., LLC. and the guy who bought it in Phoenix. Minimum bid is $200 and apparently you get one of my sketchbooks, too.

Best I remember this one is approx. 2′x3′ and it’s airbrush acrylic on canvas.

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PHOENIX OR BUST!

Speaking of PHX, it’s official- Dave and I have been listed as guests for this May’s Phoenix Cactuscon. We’ll be there with Micah and Nicki and are looking forward to checking out the new con digs!

Oh- Noel Neill will be there, too!

Hope to see you there-

Lin

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

Monday, January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. To participate, we formed the Comic Creator’s Alliance–a group of over eighty comic book creators (both web and print) who volunteered our artistic talents to raise money and awareness for this cause. You may not know it, but there are currently 27 million enslaved people worldwide- more than double the number of enslaved Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children every year are sold into slavery, most of it sexual. The US Department of Justice estimates 16,000 victims of human trafficking are brought into the United States every year. Unlike slavery in the 19th century, what is happening today is happening in secret. So it won’t end until awareness is raised, and people like you and me take a stand.

So here’s what we did: each creator contributed an original drawing of one of our own female characters, and combined them into a single wallpaper image. The wallpaper features characters from The Phoenix Requiem, Girls with Slingshots, Earthsong, Looking for Group, Shadowgirls, Marsh Rocket, The Uniques and three IDW Publishing titles: Fallen Angel, The Dreamland Chronicles and The Dreamer, and lots, lots more! Donate today to download this unique, once-in-a-lifetime wallpaper. The Donations Drive will last for two weeks, from January 11th – 24th. All proceeds will be split evenly between Love146 and Gracehaven House- two organizations working on rehabilitation of victims and prevention of this crime. To learn more about the Comic Creator’s Alliance visit www.comicalliance.weebly.com. To learn more about the problem, visit http://love146.org/slavery. (Note: contains adult themes and actual accounts of sex slavery.)

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BushiTales.com has donated art to this wallpaper, too.

Lin