Awesome Con and Writer/Artist Dan Nokes Interviews

Our Resident Commercial Printing Expert Bryan Juergensen and Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters/The Crow/Oz Fame at Awesome Con 2013 Washington, D.C.

 

Last weekend (April 20-21, 2013)  I attended the 1^st Awesome Con, a comic book/pop culture convention, in Washington D.C.  While there I had a chance to interview the event coordinator Ben Penrod and writer/artist Dan Nokes. Before we get to the interviews and as this is primarily a history oriented comic blog, let us delve (ever so shallowly) into the history of comic-fandom and comic conventions.

One of the guiding hands behind modern day comic-fandom as we know it was a man named Jerry Bails who along with Shel Dorf (founder of the San Diego Comic Con) took over a small comic oriented convention in 1964 in Detroit. They re-christened the event as the Detroit Triple-Fan Fair (comics, movies and science fiction literature), and it ran from 1965-1978. Jerry Bails was serious about comics, not just as entertainment, but as a subject worthy of academic exploration.  Mr. Bails also founded a tiny little fan magazine (or fanzine if you prefer) called Alter Ego. The magazine (which continues today) was eventually taken over by a fellow named Roy Thomas.

 

 

 

Some of you might say wait…I know that name!! Well you damned well should (insert smiley face here) Roy Thomas was the man who took Robert E. Howard’s pulp hero Conan The Barbarian and made the character and the “sword and sorcery” genre a mainstay of the Marvel Comics lineup during the Bronze Age (1970-1979.) Alter Ego magazine is a storehouse of information for comic lovers and if you enjoy comic history, I highly recommend you check it out.

                                Roy Thomas

 

 So…back to the conventions. The San Diego Comic Con is easily the most well-known, but nearly every major city (and many small ones) have had long running comic conventions as well…except for D.C. Past conventions have been outside the city in Maryland or Virginia, Awesome Con (to the best of this writers knowledge) is the first in at least a decade to actually take place within the confines of the city.

Interview: Ben Penrod, Event Coordinator, Awesome Conventions LLC

 

Sounds Better: Why did you choose D.C. as your sight for this convention? Why not outside the city as others have done before?

Ben Penrod: This is an underserved comic community, and we wanted to bring it here for just that reason.

SB: You started this with Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Md. Correct?

BP: Yes, this, the Annapolis Comic Con and Southern Maryland Comic Con, are all done with Third Eye Comics. Steve Anderson (of Third Eye Comics) and I started this in 2009 with the Annapolis Con.

SB: This is a first year Con, how many vendors/exhibitors were you able to bring in?

BP: We have around 120 vendors including our guests. We could have easily added more, as we sold out well before we even announced the Con.[1]

SB: That is impressive! What I have been hearing from those in attendance: safe, clean, well-organized and inexpensive. Your take?

BP: Really? That is great to hear! As far as we are concerned this went better than expected, and with a great turnout!

SB: This will be an ongoing event, when will next year’s Con be taking place?

BP: April 19-20, 2014, and will be right here at the Washington Convention Center.

SB: Thank you Ben! So mark your calendars boys and girls, and support your local Con(s), your participation is what keeps these events coming back!

 Now if you have never attended a comic convention, you might ask, what is there to do?  Why should I go? Will there be scantily clad women dressed up as my favorite cartoon/comic/movie character? In order, many things to do (buy comics, play games, meet celebrities, meet artists, make new friends, et. al.), much fun to be had at a reasonable price, and erm…yes! The costumed patrons of comic conventions (cosplayers) are a dedicated bunch. Many spend hours upon hours making their costumes from scratch, and are for the most part a genial lot, willing to take pictures, and adding to the festive air. Costumed freaks? No, just costumed geeks out for a bit of fun.

                                The Lads and Lasses of Awesome Con

Interview: Dan Nokes, Writer/Artist, Owner 21^st Century Sandshark Studios

                                 Dan Nokes 

Dan Nokes is the Creative Director behind 21^st Century Sandshark Studios and author/illustrator of numerous creator owned comic titles.

Sounds Better: Dan, welcome and thank you for taking the time to talk to us.

Dan Nokes: Thank you for having me.

SB: Can you tell us a little about yourself, and your work?

DN: I am an indie comic creator/artist and writer from Maryland.

SB: What are some of the projects you have worked on?

DN: Self-published works include The Reptile and Mr. Amazing (2002), The Paranormals a 12 issue maxi-series (2003), The Pistoleers a western comic (2008) and most recently Adam and Eve Bizarre Love Triangle In the Zombie Apocalypse (now available in omnibus trade paperback.)

 

 

SB: Any other projects you’ve been working on?

DN: Yes, two web comics. Both of which can be found on my website: www.21sandshark.com

SB: How long have you been at this as an independent, and are you able to make a living?

DN: I started in my teen and early 20’s by sending out work to the big companies and never got a response. I decided this is what I want to do, and that my work was worth seeing, so I started doing it on my own. I’ve done this part time for 11 years and the last two years it has become my full time job. So far I have been able to support myself, and I hope that continues!

SB: As do we, many of those well-known names in comics were once, independent artists as well. You mentioned your web comic projects, please tell us more.

 

DN: The first is a comic entitled Impossible Space Tales of the Last Pit Stop, the idea here is what if Area 51 was a convenience store for aliens. Sort of a Men in Black meets Clerks. The second is The Reptile and Mr. Amazing; The Return of Kat Carson, the basic premise for this story, if you think of guys like Captain America who got their powers from a Super Soldier Serum or Nick Fury and the Infinity Formula, these are drugs that were tested on human beings. In this story our drug was first tested, back in the 1940’s, on your common house cat, who then gains sentience and super strength. The Kat Carson story, a joint project was penned by myself and drawn by my brother Will.

SB: And both of these are available on your website?

DN: Yes they are.

SB: Dan again, thanks for taking the time to share your work with us.

DN: It’s been my pleasure.

While people like Jerry Bails may have been the spark behind organized fandom, it is in fact you and I, and the many comic readers who came before us that love, appreciate and keep the art form alive. As an outlet, comic-cons are by their nature for the fans, and in turn they give artists a place to gain an audience and exposure.  So with that, I hope you can make your way to an event, and join in the fun near you. Next time on the Bubble, we will sit down with PLB Comics for an inside look at the start to finish process, and support of an independent comic. Until then kids, keep ‘em bagged and boarded!

 

 

 

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[1] Media Guests for the 1^st Awesome Con included: Ernie Hudson of Ghost Busters fame, Nicholas Brendon from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Billy West and Phil LaMarr of Futurama and Theodus Crane, former cast member of The Walking Dead. Please refer to website for list of Comic Guests and exhibitors: http://awesomecondc.com/

Comic Transitions: What's Old Is New...Again!

All forms of popular entertainment draw on their past for inspiration. Looking backward and manipulating ideas for a then current audience can be found in music, film, and any fine art medium. Comics are certainly no different in this regard; as we transition from the Golden Age to the Silver Age many characters lying dormant were reawakened and given new life.

 The end of the Golden Age saw a decline in the number of super hero titles being published. Romance, horror, westerns, crime stories and other non-super hero titles came to the fore and were the staple of the industry during this post-WW2 period. The decline and change in emphasis was a response to reader interest, as sales decreased the industry sought new ways to remain viable. This was a dark time for comic publishers, the ushering in of the nuclear age, two major wars nearly back to back, the increasing popularity of television, and other factors impinged on sales. Attempts to diversify subject matter within the medium was seen as a way to keep comics alive, idealism and nationalism gave way to grittier stories in the hopes of keeping an ever dwindling audience interested.

The Silver Age of comics (1956-1969) is a period of revitalization through manipulation. DC’s editor Julius Schwartz made the decision to have his in house artists and writers take characters already established within DC’s universe and give them another round; one with all new origins and costumes. The general consensus has the Silver Age starting with DC Comics Showcase #4 (October 1956), appearing in this issue were “Turtle Man” and the return of the World’s Fastest Man: The Flash. The Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick) first appears in Flash Comics #1 (January 1940) and was a DC staple appearing as a member of the Justice Society of America (JSA), in a solo title All Flash and in All Star Comics. Showcase #4 introduced Barry Allen as the new Flash. With no ties to Jay Garrick (who is mentioned as a comic character and not really having existed) Barry Allen’s Flash as envisaged by comic legend Carmine Infantino had a new origin, new look and was ready to (pardon the pun) run sales through the roof.

 

Showcase would become a center piece for re-introductions of several characters (as with the Flash in new incarnations) including a new Green Lantern. Another convention revisited early in the Silver Age was hero teams. Non powered teams included the Sea Devils and Jack Kirby’s Challengers of the Unknown (both premiered in Showcase). Another team (this one with super powers) of note first introduced in another title (Brave and the Bold #28, March 1960) was a serious hit for DC; The Justice League of America.[1] Drawing its inspiration directly from the Golden Age Justice Society, the Justice League (brainchild of Gardner Fox) quickly took off and became a title in its own right.

 

The success of the JLA spurred another legend none other than Stan Lee to devise a super hero team of his own for Marvel Comics. Thus was born The Fantastic Four (Fantastic Four #1, November 1961.) Penned by Lee and drawn by Jack Kirby the Fantastic Four was a watershed moment. Instead of the tried and true formulas of the past, where heroes simply defeated evil and then moved on to the next adventure, Fantastic Four gave us characters (Reed Richards/Mr. Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/The Human Torch, and Ben Grimm/The Thing) with relatable human problems.

 

The team of Stan Lee and Jack Kirby were responsible for much (but certainly not all, DC fans) of the Silver Age resurgence of the comic medium, devising some of the most popular comic characters to date. Besides the Fantastic Four, Lee and Kirby also co-created The Amazing Spider-Man, The X-Men, The Incredible Hulk, The Mighty Thor, The Invincible Iron Man and the Silver Surfer. While Lee was strictly a Marvel Comics man, his partner Jack Kirby was a pivot working for both Marvel and DC. As previously noted Kirby did the writing and artwork for DC’s The Challengers of the Unknown (first appearing in Showcase #6, February 1957), a title in which non-powered humans sought to right wrongs, and defeat the forces of…you know where this goes![2]  The team led by jet pilot Ace Morgan and featuring mountain climber Red Ryan, Olympic wrestling champion Rocky Davis and master diver Prof Haley, offered an alternative to the near invincible super hero archetype.[3]

 

One conventional comic style that survived the golden-silver transition was the war comic. Golden Age examples include G.I. Combat and Star Spangled Comics, which were mostly compilations or one off stories. The Silver Age war comics attempted to forge recognizable and continuing character sets that were easily identifiable. Examples from this timeframe include Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandoes (#1, May 1963) and Sgt. Rock and Easy Co. The latter penned by Robert Kanigher beginning with issue #81 of Our Army at War, would eventually have the title changed to Sgt. Rock (with issue # 302.) Kanigher’s writing was bolstered with art work by the incomparable Joe Kubert and (later by) Russ Heath.

 

All of the editors, writers and artists mentioned herein were working in the industry during the Golden Age and continued to do so for many years after the Silver Age began. By allowing the medium and characters to evolve and adapt to an audience that was looking for something new (yet…still old), they helped to ensure that comics had a future. We may see the “new” super hero movie of the moment as a natural choice to bring to the big screen, but in fact if not for pioneers who were willing to rework the past, we might be stuck with one hell of a lot more chick flicks. Dude, keep that in mind when next gazing upon your lovely little comic collection. So next time I will be bringing you a public service/informational piece as I break down levels of Geekdom, til then kids, keep ‘em bagged and boarded!

 

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[1] The team as it first appears in Brave and the Bold #28 members shown include Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, Green Lantern and the Flash. While neither Superman nor Batman appears in the issue it is indicated that they are already members of the team.

[2] Please note that the ever restless Kirby only worked on the first eight issues.

[3] On occasion female adventurer “June Robbins” was included in the cast.

Geriatric Heroes

 

 

Getting old sucks, if you don’t believe me, then just ask Old Man Logan! In Marvel Comics series Wolverine: Old Man Logan (Wolverine Vol.3 issues 66-72 and Wolverine: Old Man Logan Giant-Size #1, (August 2008-September 2009) the feral berserker has sheathed his claws in favor of domestic life. Umm...why? Why would an adamantium clawed killing machine decide to hang it up to spend time with a wife and kids? Good question, let’s find out.

Before we delve into this modern key series I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Bob Clarke. Mr. Clarke was an artist for MAD magazine, working on Spy vs. Spy and many great covers. I spent many summers as a kid laughing like a loon at his work, and he will be missed.

Full disclosure moment: I will never be accused of being a Wolverine fan. To be completely honest I wouldn’t normally purchase Wolverine or any X-related title (sorry Bendis, I realize Marvel is pretty much an all X-Men, all the time kind of place now) not my gig. There are many Marvel titles I have and do love, X-men has never been one (dear fanboy…I hear you, shut up.) I have been asked on many occasions “why, why dude” and “dude X-Men is the shit”…whatever. The writing and story lines were less satisfying than other team oriented titles for me. I know, I speaketh blasphemy and profane the good name of Professor X, but to each his own. I will take a good dose of Thor, Spidey, Conan, or Daredevil any day.

With that said, you might wonder why Wolverine, why now? Simple. The story kicks ass. No, I mean it really kicks ass!!! Many of you are well aware of Logan’s comic story (Alpha Flight, Weapon X, going to Hell, Daiken, X-23, part of the team, not part of the team, loves Jean etc. etc.- What? I said I don’t buy’em, I never said I hadn’t read them), but Old Man Logan, written by Mark Millar and penciled by Steve McNiven is a comic book achievement.

Millar crafts a story set far in a possible Marvel future, most of the world’s super-heroes have been killed off in an extinction event masterminded by the Red Skull. The country has been divided as spoils of war to the villains involved in the hero genocide. Logan (one of a few survivors) is residing in the American West with a wife and two small children, determined to never again use his claws (the answer "why" to that question is a real tear jerker for X-fans...oh and yeah I laughed, because apparently I'm evil,)

 

                          Red Skull's Trophy Room

 

Along comes a familiar face, and another survivor; Hawkeye. The Archer, who is now blind, begs Logan to escort him and a shipment of “drugs”, east to what was formerly New York. He promises Logan enough money to keep the gangs (roving inbred Hulks) from harassing him and his family. Logan agrees (reluctantly) and forewarns Hawkeye that he will not resort to violence to help him.

The adventure they set off upon leads them past newly carved landmarks in the American landscape. “Hammer Falls” where Mjolinir falls to earth after the death of The Mighty Thor, The New Mt. Rushmore, defaced with the visage of the Red Skull, amongst other new "monuments." It is this reimagining of our country that draws the reader in, each issue giving new windows into a world remade in the face of evil. The odds are certainly stacked against our heroes, and I won't go any further into the story as it would ruin a great run for you. Trust me, X-fan or no, you want to read this.

                                "Hammer Falls"

 

Issues of Wolverine: Old man Logan should be fairly easy to come by from your comic retailer. I invite you to check out this modern key series and wait for the “snnkktt”, you won’t be disappointed!!  Next time on “Bubble” we will examine a few Silver Age writers of note, until then boys and girls keep ‘em bagged and boarded!