In 2002 I self published a comic with some friends entitled “Robots R
Cool, Zombies R Jerks” about the inevitable robot/zombie war we all
know is coming and the frogs who are caught in the middle of it all.
The book was very Mad Magazine, with tons of great jokes, art, and
wacky gross out zombie vs robot carnage. My book was out before IDW’s
Zombies Vs Robots. My book was out before the Walking Dead. I’m still
immensely proud of that work.
We premiered the book at the San Diego Comic Con in 2002. Growing up I
had gone to every comic convention my family would drive me too. As a
“professional” I had attended the Chicago Wizard World in 1998, but
nothing had prepared me for SDCC.
San Diego Comic Con is ridiculously sized, with thousands of attendees
and exhibitors. For anyone who has been to our beloved New York Comic
Con, San Diego is easily twice that size and filled to the brim with
publishers, movie studios, toys, games and every other product you can
think of. This thing is as big as Asgard, and twice as magical.
My friend and I paid for our tickets, lodging and table out of pocket.
We sold 1,000 copies of our comic by hand at the con, making back our
table money but not our flight expenses. We made some friends, and got
featured in Mark Hamil’s Comic Book: The Movie.
It was a wonderful experience, and a true highlight on the small speck
of dust I call my career.
I went back to the SDCC in 2006 as a professional artist seeking work.
I didn’t get any. I did get in a fight with Sergio Aragones regarding
the price of a commission. I did leave the con with my suit cases full
of the most incredible haul of comic con swag you could imagine. I
picked up three original pages of my favorite comic book of all time,
Steve Purcell’s Sam and Max, which I bought personally from Steve
himself. I left with an empty wallet, Art Adams sketchbooks, signed
copies of Alan Moore’s Lost Girls (which was making it’s debut at the
show) and my personal copies of Roger Langridge’s early worked signed
by the man himself in one of his first, early US appearances.
I published more comics, had a great time exhibiting at Moca and the
New York comic cons. I grew as an artist and a writer. From all these
experiences, Jeff Ayers agreed to let me write for the Forbidden
Planet shop blog and newsletter.
I got married. I drew less. I had a baby. My artistic output shrunk to a pea.
On a whim I sent some writing samples to a noted comic book blog which
was looking for reporters. I passed. My first assignment?
You guessed it.
I’m happy to say that I will be attending this year’s San Diego Comic
Con as a freelance reporter for bleedingcool.com. I’ll be doing my
best to get content out to bleedingcool, as well as to you loyal
readers here at the Forbidden Planet. I will also be keeping an eye
out for creative opportunities in order to get back on the horse and
publish more books.
This week we celebrate the 4th of July, the holiday where we Americans
applaud the freedom we so often take for granted. In America you have
the peace and safety to discover your own hopes and dreams, and a
nurturing environment ready to award innovation and hard work.
I want to be a cartoonist. I want make a professional living writing
and drawing funny material for folks who like quality work. It has
been over 11 years since my first trip out west. So much has changed
in that time…but one thing has not:
The comic books of tomorrow are written by the creators of today.
I can’t wait to get a first hand look at the new talents, titles and
techniques that will make the comic of the future sensational! I
promise to bring you all back some great news, rumors, and reports, as
well as the hard hitting comic book journalism you have come to expect
from your ole’ Unkiedev.
Thank you for your continued attention. I’ll let you know how it goes!
Now go watch some fireworks, read some comic books, and do your best
to be YOUR best. You can do it!
