So now YOU see why I didn't post this blog on April 1st!  Even though I received the 'invite' in time to post it then, LOL! What 'invite' you ask? 

Here's the 'invite' that I received from Kurt Kolka:

Date:         Saturday, April 10, 2010
Time:         12:00pm - 3:00pm
Location:     Crossroads Book & Music
Street:       2755 Oak Valley Dr. (Oak Valley Center)
City/Town:    Ann Arbor, MI

So what's this all about?

Well, first here's the 'origin' blog that I posted about the Cardinal:  Click here for archived blog post!

Second, here's what's happening at the comic book signing:

*Signing for the new CARDINAL comic book;
*Special appearance by The Cardinal himself from noon to 1 p.m.;
*Cardinal Trading Cards;
*Direct-to-DVD Cardinal movie (filmed in Ann Arbor)

**Bring Friends; Kids Groups; Church groups; Anyone who loves Newspaper Comics or Comic Books, Graphic Novels, etc.!!!

***It's a comic event for the young and young in spirit!!!
 

Third, here's the actual link to the Facebook Event Page where YOU can be interactive with Kurt Kolka / THE CARDINAL / and Fans of both:

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=100818726625388 

BTW, In case you are wondering why all this is happening, here's a personal note from Kurt himself about his continual reporting on THE CARDINAL:

"It's a fun hobby. As my wife says, 'Most women have to deal with deer season; I have to deal with Cardinal season'."
 

My thanks to Kurt Kolka for informing me of this upcoming event on April 10th, 2010!  Tina and I won't be attending this one day event in Ann Arbor, Michigan; but I am glad I could tell my blog readers about this comic book signing.  Oh, and if YOU sight THE CARDINAL... at this signing...be sure to send me a pic!  

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now almost at the 3,100 total posts in number!  We'll be at that number this upcoming week!

So for those of YOU that are attending WonderCon for one or all three of those convention days; here's a chance to see even more comic art afterwards, even if you can't be there for the opening reception on April 3rd.

Here's the 'invite' that I received from Javier Hernandez:

Start Time:   Saturday, April 3, 2010 at 5:00pm
End Time:     Sunday, May 9, 2010 at 5:00pm
Location:     Encantada Gallery of Fine Arts
Street:       904 Valencia Street
City/Town:    San Francisco, CA

So what's this all about? Here's the actual 'invite' that is open to all as shown on the Facebook Event Page created by Javier:

Hey friends in Northern Cal (or those attending WonderCon that weekend!):

I'm having a solo art show at the Encantada Gallery of Fine Arts in San Francisco April 3- May 9. I'll be at the Opening Reception on Saturday, April 3! If you're in the area, please come visit the show, I'd love to see you there!

On Sunday, April 4, I'll be conducting a Cartoonist Workshop for kids at the Gallery. Check out my blog for details:
http://preview.tinyurl.com/COMIC-POP
 

BTW, Javier also states elsewhere, that he will also be at the Wonder Con itself on Friday per this message:

" FYI: On Friday, April 2, I'll be at Wondercon drawing at The Cartoon Art Museum's booth (#721)."
 

So, if you can only make it to the Con itself, stop by and say hi to Javier there!

And if you find yourself staying longer in San Francisco after the Wonder Con, or if you are residing in the Bay area, check out the above event, as it runs until May 9th!

Here is the link to the Event Page itself so YOU can be interactive with Javier and those that can make it: Facebook Event Page!

My thanks to Javier Hernandez for informing me of this upcoming event!  Tina and I won't be attending either the Con or the Solo Show, but I am glad I could tell my blog readers about these two happenings so that those in the area can make it!  

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now almost at the 3,100 total posts in number!

That's because he is a wealth of information on the early comics industry. Before I post where he will be headlined at, let me tell you just a little of what he has done in the World of Comics:

First I'm going to post a couple of links.

Here's the known credits for Allen Bellman's pencils in comics:

http://www.comics.org/penciller/name/allen%20bellman/sort/alpha/

Here's the known credits for Allen Bellman's inks in comics:

http://www.comics.org/inker/name/allen%20bellman/sort/alpha/

Okay... hopefully you are back now?!  Because if you are like me, you took a look at several of those credits while you were on those links!

Oh, and there are more credits that should be entered, but for those of you that don't know, 'credits' were not published usually during the Golden Age Of Comics!  So it is really good that today we have the Grand Comics Database to look at for info.  If you appreciate this resource, why don't you stop at their home page at: http://www.comics.org and click the 'Donate Button'?!

Okay, end of 'semi-commercial' for the GCD!

Back to Allen Bellman's Bio.  The following is from the 'Allen Bellman Fan Group' started by Jeff McLaughlin on Facebook:

"Allen Bellman was born in Manhattan and studied at the High School of Industrial Arts. He eventually became a staff artist at Timely during the Golden Age of comics. While still a teenager, he did the backgrounds for Syd Shores' Captain America in 1942, and eventually worked on titles such as: The Patriot, The Destroyer, The Human Torch, Jap Buster Johnson and Jet Dixon of the Space Squadron, All Winners Comics, Marvel Mystery, Sub Mariner Comics, Young Allies and so much more.

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now almost at the 3,100 total posts in number!!

5.5" x 8.5", 56 pgs. Following on from SEEDS, we present another anthology of comics about a basic need: SHELTER. From personal meanings of home, to foreclosures, to cooperatively-owned trailer parks, and beyond, this is a collection for any home. 25% of all proceeds from SHELTER go to local shelter organizations.

So again, the above shows that this is also a different type of publication.

So, was this also a FUN READ like 'SEEDS' was? (Click here for my review blog on SEEDS.)

Well, this publication reminded more of the 'Underground Comix' that I've read in the past.  Which always has its' fans and those that don't quite 'get' it.  Again, this is an anthology publication, so this is a mixture of story telling and artwork.

Some of the features in this issue that really jumped out at me were:

A Boy And His Robot by Jesse Durona

Houses & Stuff by Tom Pappalardo

Three Stories by Matt Young

I Set You Free by Marek Bennett

Home by Daniel Barlow and Colin Tedford

Gimmie Shelter by Matt Levin

Nebulous Prime by Bob Oxman & Cayetano Garza

As with 'SEEDS', this is definitely a 'message' publication.  Wether or not you 'get the message' or even care for the 'message', this publication has entertainment value in it as well as educational info.  I for one enjoyed seeing what these creators did with their features that were presented in this publication.

For more info on this publication and others that Trees & Hills sells, please see their web site at:

http://www.treesandhills.org/

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now almost 3,100 posts in number!!

She sent me the following:

"The Anatomy of a Successful Book Launch

Our latest client, Art Sobczak, launched his new book, Smart Calling, with an online book launch today. It’s already hit #1 in his category of Sales and Selling. Many of Michael’s friends in the comic book industry have asked me how we make this happen.   Here’s how an online book launch works:

Today, dozens of Art’s fellow sales trainers and friends are emailing their readers (over one million business people!) to recommend that they buy his book. We wrote the email message for them to use. The email contains a link to the book’s landing page, which we also wrote the copy for. Check it out here: https://bbp.infusionsoft.com/go/sc/MakeItSo/  

You’ll notice the landing page has several key elements: a strong visual image in the header, compelling marketing copy, a funny video, clear directions to buy (Step 1 and Step 2), endorsements of the book, and a bunch of terrific bonuses that book buyers will receive when they buy.  When you’re getting hundreds of dollars worth of gifts just for buying a $15 book, it’s a no-brainer!

Where did all the bonus gifts come from?  Art’s fellow sales trainers were happy to supply them so they would be seen on the landing page by the people buying the book.  

There are several lessons here for comic book creators and publishers:

1. Create a fun launch event online to generate interest in your publication
2. Give people a compelling reason to buy!
3. Call on your fellow creators to get the word out -- and, give them something in return.
4. Don’t do it all yourself. Art hired Make It So Marketing to manage his launch. While he ran his business, conducted several training seminars, published his weekly newsletter, and everything else he normally does, we managed all the details from securing his partners to testing the landing page.

If you’d like to explore how an online launch could work for you, email me at tina@MarketingTina.com "

Thanks Tina for taking the time tonight to send the above information for this guest blog post!

AND...My thanks again to all of YOU reading this blog and our archived blog posts, now almost 3,100 total posts in number!!