And Lee Roy Lopez is just one of several creators... That are going to be exhibiting at S.P.A.C.E. this upcoming weekend!

So for those of you that don't know what 'S.P.A.C.E.' is all about... it is the 'Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo',  which is held each year in Columbus, Ohio.  This year it is celebrating its' 10th Year!  The event is organized by Bob Corby of Back Porch Comics.

Several of my Facebook Friends have told me that it has grown in size over the years since it first started, and has become one of the best shows for finding comic book creators all in one place, without all the 'mainstream distractions' that are seen at major conventions.

Plus for those that are not comic book writers, pencillers, inkers, etc., this is the show where you will find... "the old school zinesters, mini-comic makers, and lots and lots of the up-and-coming indies, all under one roof"!

I'm centering on just one comic book creator right now for this blog post, and that is Lee Roy Lopez.

Lee Roy is currently the penciller for "Into The Dark". Here is his 'bio' in his own words:  

"I've been with Speak Easy around the same time as Nathan Baker since early '08. Best group of talent ive been lucky enough to work with. This is the 2nd comic ive drawn the 1st still unpublished "Young Vindicators" with Ken Stutsman."

"Im a Muslim of Puerto Rican descent born and raised in Brooklyn, East New York but ive been living in Lakewood, Ohio for the past 5 years. You can catch my artwork on Facebook, myspace.com/lafamilialopez4 or comicspace.com/allpencils . Im looking forward to see everyone at Columbus."

Lee Roy mentions his work on "Into The Dark" which is also shown above at the top of this post.  Here are the details on this project:

Into the Dark - Ashcan edition

Created by Nathaniel Baker
Cover by Lee Roy Lopez & David Marshall
Pencils by Lee Roy Lopez
Inks by Roger Price
Written by Nathaniel Baker
Lettered by David Marshall

Welcome to Woodrow Asylum

Story One: Into the Dark

Into the Dark is a horror/suspense story that follows Kaleb Grey. Kaleb is your everyday under appreciated father, husband, fellow employee, and human being. Unbeknownst to him however he’s also something else. As the worst day plays out in front of him a minor lapse in time brings him to a room locked away from the world. What happened? How did I get here? Is this real? Am I going crazy? As Kaleb faces nightmares in every form, he must also face the truth that’s hidden somewhere deep in the darkness, maybe even his mind. So many questions, so little light...!

Thanks Lee Roy for bringing your project to my attention!  For those not able to attend the Expo, you can see more at his web site at: http://www.comicspace.com/allpencils

Besides Lee Roy Lopez attending this Expo, the following are others that will be exhibiting there.  I've added on a few more since my last blog about this show:

Marek Bennett, Doc Boucher, David Branstetter, Tim Broderick, Karen Chen, J.D. Elder, Tomm Gabbard, Howie Noeldechen, Randy Pare, Jonathan Hodges with Bad Place Productions, D Jason Meadows with Lead Slinger Studios, Bryan Borgman, Pat Lewis, Troy Boyle, and Bob Corby. 

Matter of fact, Troy Boyle just messaged me that he will have an artist's table at SPACE. He's at table #49 and will be doing sketches for free plus giving away tear sheets for his two upcoming comics from Dimestore - PINNACLE, and EARTHMAN!

Others attending but I'm not sure are exhibiting are: JK Carrier, Ian Shires, Brent Erwin, Allen Freeman, Carrie Cartwright, Matt Feazell, Darrell Goza, Tim Corrigan, Bruce Rosenberger, Heather Farr, and Molly Durst.

Expo Details:

SPACE 2009 April 18 & 19, 2009 at the Aladdin Shrine Center, Columbus, Ohio

10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday and
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sunday

Admission $5.00 for one day and $8.00 for both

For more information on this show go to:  http://www.backporchcomics.com/space.htm

(Please Note: A complimentary item for this mention was NOT provided by the artist nor the comic con!) 

The Facebook Comic Con...   Had its' Gala Premiere in mid-March of this year!

However, it didn't close down afterwards!  Indeed it is still going on with many comics creators having their Convention Tables open 24/7 !  Additionally there are still several 'Halls' where you can still see exhibits that were submitted.

During the Gala Premiere, one of the 'Halls' in the FBCC held a a special event in honor of the undisputed 'King of Comics'!

Facebook Comic Con was pleased to host a Jack Kirby-inspired Art Jam.   Stacey Aragon was the co-ordinator for this event, with Rand Hoppe the guest reviewer of the submissions.

They asked the following of those who wanted to join in the event.... "Help us in paying tribute to the man and the legend, by sketching your rendition of him and/or any Kirby created and/or co-created characters for inclusion in this special event. Renderings of other characters in Kirby's signature style are also welcome."

There were several submissions entered, but the two pictured above at the top of this blog post really grabbed me, because for me it is the 'Cover' of a comic or a magazine that will make me either pick it up to scan or just walk on by it for another...

   Mark Poe, (pictured to the left), submitted the above pictured two pieces of art, that he illustrated several years ago for the APAzine.  For those of you that have not yet joined Facebook as a member, and also not 'joined' the Facebook Comic Con, these are just two of the illustrations submitted that you could view.  Mark wrote the following for each of the submitted pieces:

2nd Illustration shown at top right of blog post (smaller) is...

FBCC ART JAM 1 | MARK POE | ALPHA OMEGA # 55

"Back in '94 I was Central Mailer for the APAzine Alpha Omega. When the news of Jack Kirby's passing away reached me I was greatly saddened as all his fans were. I did a tribute cover for Alpha Omega based on the cover art for Captain America # 193 by Kirby and John Romita, which heralded Jack's return to Marvel in the mid '70's. On my cover, Cap is unmasked as Jack with Stan Lee as the Falcon over a Kirby Cover collage background."

1st Illustration Shown at top left of blog post is...

FBCC ART JAM 1 | MARK POE | ALPHA OMEGA # 56

"I did another Kirby Tribute cover in the very next issue of the APAzine Alpha Omega #56 which was my inking over several separate Kirby pencil drawings which I made into a composite scene."

I appreciate Mark Poe allowing me to re-publish the two covers here, and invite you blog readers to check out the rest of the illustrations submitted to the Art Jam, by going to:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=67551443775

(Please Note: A complimentary item for this mention / review was NOT provided by the creator nor the comic con!)  

With almost 2,000 Facebook Friends...   And most of them creators in the comics field... It is hard, yet fun to keep up with what they are doing.  Sometimes projects just accidentally pop up in front of my eyes while I am on my laptop, and make me want to blog about them here!

One of those is Paul Dale's preview of his upcoming 'The Children of Captain Nemo' Graphic Novel.   He tells me that he figures the graphic novel should be ready for the upcoming San Diego Comic Con International in July 2009.

You are welcome to take a look at the 'Preview' by following the link below.   Note: I believe you have to be a Facebook member, and  probably a 'Facebook Friend' of Paul's  to view it.  He, 'Paul Dale' welcomes your 'Facebook Friends Request' so don't hesitate to befriend him!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2013085&id=1607045316&ref=mf

Another possible link if you are a Facebook member and can't add any more 'Friends' because you are 'maxed out', can be found here at Paul's  'Kapitan Kartoon' Fan Page: 

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127718355649

BTW, Paul informs me that as time goes on, he'll be adding adding color to the preview pages, and possibly even a soundtrack!  That's because he's drawing it in 'anime' style and the project is also being looked at as an animated series!

For those that don't know of Paul, he has a background in animation.  He worked with Epoch Inc., MGM, and Warner Bros. (on the Superman animated film 1997) in the past.  It is his work in comics that is new! 

Which reminds me that there is another page of earlier previews for this project as an animated screen play, as seen at:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2009754&id=1607045316&ref=share

Good luck to your endeavors Paul. Looking forward to seeing the finished graphic novel at the San Diego Comic Con International in July!

For those of you that are new to our blog today, we also have an ongoing 'Comic Con and Pop Culture Convention'  here at "Make It So Marketing Inc.", what with our daily blog posts,  and new listings of items for sale in our online eBay Featured Store! 

Thanks again to all of YOU reading our current and archived blog posts!

Amanda Stevens...   Was recently mentioned in one of my blog posts, when she was appearing at the Tampa Comic Con.  Her next stop is in Orlando, Florida at the 2009 FX Show, which is billed as "The Coolest Show on Earth"!

The 'Show' may not be taking place under a 'Big Top', indeed it is inside at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, but as they say they sure are bringing out all 'Three Rings' of excitement this year at this Show!  

I've already blogged about the announcement of artist/creator Michael Golden as the "Special Guest of Honor" for the FX Show.  Click here to see that post! 

For those that missed my earlier post on Amanda and didn't click on the above link... Amanda is a model and one of the main characters for (X) Origins Comic Book.  The comic book is available online at: superhumanexperiment.com, which is a pretty cool looking web site with info on the comic, the quest, What is (X)?, a trailer, and more.

So now you are tempted to stop in at the FX Show this upcoming weekend, but need something else to make it worthwhile for sure?

Well, other guests scheduled to join Amanda Stevens at the Orlando Convention Center include: Leonard Nimoy, Juliet Landau,  Jonathan Frakes, Mark Texeira, Matt Fraction, Arthur Suydam, Frank Brunner, Yaya Han, Eva Hopkins,  Dan Brereton, Billy Tucci, Chuck Dixon, Greg Horn, Dave Johnson, Doug Murray, Dave Nester, Phil Noto, Michael Oeming, Dan Panosian, Steve Rude,  Mark Goddard, James Kyson Lee,  Lindsay Wagner, Renee Witterstaetter, John Beatty, Tony Bedard, Jeremy Haun, Kathryn Immonen, Andy Kuhn, Laura Martin, Jose Marzan Jr, Pat Broderick, Marc Hammond, Michael Golden, Eva Hopkins, and many more!

For more information on this show go to:   http://www.fxshow.com

For more information on Amanda Stevens and her project: http://www.superhumanexperiment.com

(Please Note: A complimentary item for this mention was NOT provided by the creator nor the comic con!)