Lot of Milestones this year: I've learned better than to fight people's nostalgia fix regarding the purple guy. Same with the Sandman. Weird that this SDCC is the Sandmans' 25th Anniversary... and Maxx's 20th. This DC Sandman panel I'm on on Saturday, will be the the first time I've seen Neil in person since Mike and I first met him in San Francisco some 20 years ago... back when the Sandman first started.
Given my reclusive nature, possibly the last too. So at the risk of indulging in sentiment too, IDW will have some Big News at Comic Con... news that will hopefully fulfill *some* of that need for nostalgia.
Not all... but some. : )
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San Diego Comic Con SCHEDULE, 2013
Wed -
6: 00-7:00 pm - Evening Signing: IDW Booth (#2643): Worlds of Sam Kieth
(Check out the show-exclusive hardcover!... plus you can check out the regular version of the Hard cover too!)
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Thur -
1:00-2:00 pm: Signing, IDW Booth (#2643)
* 3:30-4:00 pm: Panel: Sam Kieth Special Announcement. Room 4
4:00-5:50 Oni - Signing - Booth (#1833)
(Check out the show-exclusive Dana and Nola print!.. and some preview Pages from the upcoming "Nola" Graphic Novel!)
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Fri -
11:00 am-12:00 noon: Signing, with Chris Ryall at IDW Booth (#2643)
* 4:00-5:00 pm: IDW Panel - Sam alongside Various IDW Creators - Room 4
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Sat -
10:00-11:00 am: Signing, IDW Booth (#2643)
* 3:15-4:15 pm: Sandman 25th Anniversary Panel, Room 6DE
* 5:00-6:00 pm: Sam Kieth 'Overview of Career' Panel, Room 9
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Sun -
11:00 am-12:00 noon: Signing, IDW Booth (#2643)
1:00: - 1:45…??? - Dark Horse Signing with John Layman - Dark Horse Booth (#2615)
DOODLES: The only way I'm gonna get through all Four Days I'm afraid I'll have to do small doodles rather than any full sketches. Here's what a doodle looks like. If you aren't thrilled with it just throw it up on ebay for a few bucks. But remember.. there are easier ways to make a few bucks than to stand in line for an hour for a friggin' doodle! : )
I'll be signing at the booths, and the Panels are mostly for info on various things or to ask questions. Course it's cool to being non IDW or Dark Horse Comics to get signed too. If you run into me on the floor, and you have ONE book with you want signed, that's cool. But more than one, I ask you please to use one of the times at the IDW book please.
I know these things can be a little crazy, but I also know it's tough standing in line too. I APPRECIATE the hell out you doing so!!! Without comic fans, there would be no lines, no comic-cons and comic creators in the first place. YOU guys and gals make all this stuff worth it.
Together... we can get through the madness!!!!
(Above) is a cool print I'll be signing at the Oni Booth too on Thursday.. i remember some fans said they wanted a print of this, so here's your chance!
Now, onto other stuff...
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Here's a guy I drawn in almost 20 years.. ( outside of a few commissions )...
There'll be some New Announcements at comic con about this. - (Note the new Maxx cover i did at the top of this blog... and thee one here.. )
I know i'll get tons of questions at comic con... over if I will EVER do a new Maxx series again???
I believe you already *know* the answer to that, given my feelings about it.
Another reason why I've avoided it is, (and it's a good thing)... i'm a different guy now. A new Maxx story wouldn't really feel the same, because I'm not the same.
And my guess is... your not the same either... if you picked up the a new Maxx today, I bet you'd read and understand it differently than you would've in high school, right?
I don't hate the Maxx, if i did i wouldn't have started drawing him in the first place. These covers i'm doing are my way to kinda prove why it's a good idea for me NOT to do any new Maxx comics. I'm doing you a favor, TRUST me... I'm even weirder now than i was in the maxx days..
So if i'm not doing any new Maxx series.. what's left then? Well.. that's what we'll explain at the con, (and i'll tell you some more on the blog, when i get back from the con.) - There's a TON of cool stuff planned. Tons of odds and ends, unseen stuff that's overflowing from my closet and can spill out into various projects.
Hopefully some Maxx buzz.. might draw Maxx fans to my Worlds are books too. Plus I'll meet with Kim and were getting serious about some New Toys ideas too.
But Drawing Maxx again.. doesn't feel as horrible as i thought. It's actually kinda...weirdly.. FUN, (long as i don't think about it too much.) Everything about how Maxx looks... is intuitively designed for me to enjoy the process... it is how I would draw everything if i could. Round backs. Huge feet.
Here's my version of the infamous 'splat' i did for the cover of Maxx 1.
You can see the feet of my characters widening back in the pre-Maxx days, all those textures on the boots in those old MCP covers on the back with Ghost Rider.
Just following my sub conscious really. That's what the Maxx was about. He just has a new home now is all.
Make you a deal, i won't rain on your Nostalgia parade about old Maxx stuff, just stay open to checking out newer stuff I do too, ( which i know... DUH... most of you do anyway!)
So we'll explain all these new Maxx-related projects in detail the con and on the blog like i said. And 'newer stuff' wise? .. next post will have more art book pages..
... see i wasn't totally spazzing out for the last three months!
Well, maybe a little bit.
