The Christmas time of year!

A lot of things are happening for the Box and Johnny Vega . Issue 4 is in a holding pattern until I am finished with the crossover with Darkslinger Comics. This is to say that that #4 is not been edited or anything, far from it.
The base colors have completed but the finishes and the back grounds are now being held up on.
But that’s okay.
Work still progresses. Currently issue ten is being scripted and thumb nailed out . that say a lot when a series is being looked forward that far in advance.
But hard work and getting thing printed is where I am at right now.
Fun stuff but hard work as well.
There is also a Corrax solo story that I have been working on as well.
But that will be set up long in advance and won’t be seen for a while.
Johnny is the focus for now.
Have a good Christmas.

To Puyallup and back again

Well there sports fans Al here with the latest:
The third issue of Pandora’s Garage is finally out and ready for sale. And in my opinion, it’s about time too! Having missed a show in Washington to sell I was a little bugged that the books could have not have been here sooner but that is why you have to plan in advance for these problems, this one was just another learning step along the way of doing things.
But it is here and here is the address for it and the previous two for the collection. I still have to find what happened to the website that I had posted Pandora’s Garage is at because they are not showing on the site for Ka-blam.com
It is at times like this that I wish the on line companies would keep us vendors appraised of the changes taking place in their system that might keep people from seeing the product.
Having empathy for your customers is something everybody needs to keep in mind.
But aside from that glitch, thing have been pretty good. I had a blast traveling out of town to the land north in Puyallup Washington. Again it seems like this is the place to sell artwork at, whether it be comic books or actual art but all of it good.
An original piece of art was handed off to Adam of Darkslinger Comics and then shortly there after another page of scratchboard (page 10 out of the Pandora’s Garage Volume 5) took off to find another home. that makes two page from that book to venture out into the world from it’s creator.
The Destination was Comic Evolution with the catch phrase “Have you evolved?” being on the lips of several people. Again it has to be one of the coolest shops I have been in and the owner Chuck is one of the nicest people you ever meet.
One of the big change ups for this show was the two readings taking place in the store one by Tony Morgan and his collaborator Anthony and the other from an editior of Planet Lovecraft reading a bit from a zombie story.
I will have to say that the most interesting part of the trip was the end part as both Adam and I sold a few comics at a rest stop as we were heading home.
Again a great time!

Printing Woes (again) and other Projects

Is there something in the air?
I have to wonder sometimes with all the cascading things going on right now with printing.
One of the worse things a comic creator and company ever wants to ever hear from a printer is “You have corrupted files”.
Well this was something I as wanting to hear for anyone else let alone for myself but here it is.
One of the key issues of working with others is communication and I have tried desperately to get that point across to others and only a few people really understand that concept.
I wish I could get that point across to printer. Some of less savvy artistic types aren’t blessed with the mathematical mind set to deal with code or understand the techy talk.
But that aside, the third issue of JOhnny will be printed up one way or another.
That is good thing the worry of having printed up and here before the 7th of November is a whole different thing.
Also in the news, the Box will be meeting up with a possible new editor to help with the transition of the issues of Pandora’s Garage into it’s new collection. That I have high hopes for.
Amongst all that, work is being prepped for the commission piece for Darkslinger Comics and work on fourth issue of Vega and layouts for the gothic horror story “Dreams of Elysium” have both worked on at the same time.
A busy time for me.

Another Month down and New Stuff

Well sports fans it has been nearly a month since I last posted and I have been under a great strain to get things done as well as move the office of Black Box Comix to a new location here in Portland Oregon.
Actually not that hard to do really when a lot of things are already done digitally but there are some new thing to rave about:

1) The third issue of Johnny Vega goes out today to the printers at Ka-blam printing. Yeah! Finally after a long look at a lot of the pages and the urging of a fan, there needed to be more backgrounds in the book so I took nearly two months (not counting time for other art projects to be worked on) reworking these images as well as adding more depth to the characters. Definitely a few steps up from the days when I was working on Johnny Vega in color #1.


2) Nearing the completion of The Garage Chronicles: A collection of Pandora’s Garage Volumes 1 though 5. This project has been a major undertaking as I have had to resize the format of the book and and add more pages to the book. The funny thing is as I was redoing the format I came across printed oddity, I had early on with Pandora, managed to reprint a duplicate page twice! The first true page appears in volume 2 on page 23 and then reprinted in volume 3 on page 14. You can imagine my shock that of all the people who have read and bought the book never made mention of it to me. Of course this has lead to speculation whether or not I I should have my own version of a Johnny Vega “No Prize” like marvel use to have back in the sixties and early seventies.
That is still under work.


3) Grand opening of a new comic Shop here in the PDX area called All About Heroes. Took place off of 107th and Holgate. If there was ever and action figure that you were looking for this would be the place to go.

4) Emerald City ComiCon beckons to the Box again for next year. As we have been working closely with Darkslinger Comics over the last year, we have doubled up and sharing the table cost and splitting the fees since times are tough. Show a little solidarity for each other. But this has turned to be a very cool partnership with the ride being supplied right to the place where we need to be and and the company along for the ride as well as co pilot. Though this kid does have a tendency to nod off early in the evening.

So there you have it. New news and events, new comics! Go read!
Alan

A new page for JV#3

Well here is another page down, a couple more left to do. At this rate, I might wanta start putting up pages on the internet so people could read the book that way. I know it can be done but still haven’t figured out how to post and get paid for it at the same time.
My friend from Darkslinger Comics, Adam Watson, has his work for “Ghost Assassin” posted to buy.
I am still brand new to that kind of work but I would love to get Johnny up there.
This page is #8 out of 24 for issue three. With half of the book already being done from about pages 11 up, it should be easy to get done, but every time I have said something like that I always get tripped up.
With myself and Black Box Comix relocation, several projects are on hold as packing takes precedence over everything else.
It’s again, because once you have gotten settled nobody likes to move again.
But I keep plugging away on the book. It’s look great.

A Grand Opening

One of the few things that I like when I have the chance is to check out a new comic shop that I never have been to. And Especially when you have been invited to show and sell your artwork in the process.
Yes, it is like taking candy from a baby but art whores are always gunning for the best way to get (easy) money back for their work. Today will be no different.
I would imagine that a comic shop would be like a street corner for vendors (whores) and collectors (the johns).
Of course I am sure that not everyone is in agreement about this but oh well, don’t be so damn touchy.
But again hanging out in a comic shop and being a nerd is always fun. And if I make some sales in the process of even better, that's what I am hoping for.
That’s what any real creator is looking to do and have people buy and laud over your work.
I am keeping my fingers crossed today.

New Pages

New pages. Always something cool to look at but hard to stay on track when you are work and slaving away at a nine to five kinda job. Kinda sucks but I have heard that a lot of indy companies do exactly that. So may be I am not in the wrong business after all. But since completing the commission piece of scratchboard art for Ty, it was back to the digital drawing pad and monitor (and hot freakin’ weather) to get this little bugger off to the printer so I can focus on two other projects of scratchboard for Darkslinger Comics and Manga sized collection of Pandora’s Garage Volumes 1-5.
When those two are done then it’s on to issue four.
With that being said I believe that there will another change coming around which will in our editorial staff as well.
Adam Watson from Darkslinger Comics has said he would step into the shoes as editor for Black Box Comix as well as Darkslinger.
We thank him for this.
So here you are with some of the latest addendum's to Johnny.

Captain Cure Commission Piece

News of the latest: Well work on Vega 3 has been temporally put on hold for a time as I finish a commission piece of scratchboard for my friend Ty. I t should be done by the time I see him next week up in Puyallup for a benefit in his name and for his family.
I am sure he’ll like his piece of artwork it since was deeply inspired by a comic character he loves so much, Batman.
By looking at the piece you can see it definitely comes through.

Images of Books to come

Hey there sport fans, Al here with the latest:
Things have been working fast and furious for the Box over the last couple months and show no sign of stopping either.
Scratchboard seems to be the way to go as far as artwork so I am looking to focus on that but the work on Johnny Vega continues on. And won’t stop until the story will it is done.
This is a currently un printed image of Rantings of the Floating Brain page three. 11”X17” Airbrush on Scratchboard and traditional Illustration. The Original is and has been sold at a March of Dimes event up in Puyallup Washington last weekend.
I was pretty stoked about that.
But I still have four other pages to go.
But will be printed up in the up coming Garage Chronicles. a collection of Pandora’s Garage volumes 1 - 5.

Another Page closer

There are times when things get within the closing distance of a project and you realize that what you have accomplished is best damn thing you have ever put together.
Well that is the way I feel about this project.
I hope it shows.

Another Page

Since Johnny vega has become...
The story grows and continues onward. I can only hope that most people will be checking out the story as it continues on. I know only the collection of the stories will really set people right about this character but I also know that it will only be after two collections of Vega are brought forth. Of this I am sure. At least that is the market as it stands here in Portland (an I suspect a lot of other places too.)
I also suspect that once a third copy of the collection is brought to bare that other factors may be tapped as well. We’re talking animation deals and the like.
I really think that Vega taps into the adventure of outer space but at the core of the character though it doesn't read like that with the first couple of issues that Vega is a modern space age hero with very real problems and human foibles, it’s evolution that has different plans for Vega.
So you heard it first.

And if your so inclined check out these as well:

The official website-
http://blackboxcomix.vpweb.com/

and our additional blog spaces-
http://www.myspace.com/bbccomix
http://blackbox13.deviantart.com
http://www.sketchloader.com/users/blackbox13

Art of issue #3 of Johnny Vega

Work on issue #3 is coming along pretty good all things considered as it’s pretty much a one man show here at Black Box Comix.
Issue three’s pages have taken longer to make because they have grown in depth of characters and the backgrounds of the comic.
This is not a bad thing though. When Mark Schultz was printing up Xenzoic Tales it took months for another issue to come out then it the year mark and then where is it at?
I don’t want to get to that point but I don’t want the readership if feel jipped because I was taking so long with the work.
Page 20 is at 1/4th done and looks like it could be done as early as this thursday night.
If that happens, onto the next page.
Yeeha!
In about three weeks time, I will be traveling up to Washington State for a Charity Event. I haven’t quite picked out what I want to go out but I’ll find something.
Alan

Reviews and new art.

Well sports fans, Al here with the latest:
It looks Black Box Comix is getting some of the coverage that I had always hopped for as the year continues on. A gentleman by the name of Calvin Daniels had done a review of Johnny Vega #2.You can read about it at http://www.webextra.yorktonthisweek.com/
under reviews.
This comes really at a good time for the box as we had a very awesome last weekend up in Olympia Washington. A small Show but some thing that comes at a much needed time when so many indipendant comic companies are struggling to just get their work out there.
The only thing I can say about this is stick to it man. I know where you guys have been and don't give up hope. If I can do it so can you.

New Things for Weekend

This work is all in preparation for an actual physical painting. The other is for a erotic/horror story done in scratchboard.

Hey there sporst fans AL here with the latest:
We’ll this weekend we will be heading to a show back in Spokane Washington this Saturaday.
For more info check out this as http://spokanecomicon.com/.
This will be our first time there so I hope that it will be fun.
We will be hitching a ride along with our friends from Darkslinger Comics as well.
On top of that in just two weeks later another trip to Washington will be taking place in Olympia. Here is the info about that show http://olympiacomicsfestival.org/
So work has been slow on issue three of Johnny as has been for the last couple of months. But trust me it will be all worth while.
So I have been working on a few solo projects just outside of the Johnny Realm so take a look.

And for other info check these sites out as well:
www.blackboxcomix.net
www.myspace.com/bbccomix
http://sketchloader.com/users/blackbox13
http://blackbox13.deviantart.com/gallery/

A new page done

It has been time since I have really jumped into working on these pages for issue three of Johnny Vega.
It seems that there are several people who want me to work with them on several projects but just not enough time to work on each one like I would want to. Johnny has been crossing over into other people universes recently which tells me there must be something that people like about him.
If this hold true, then it is only a matter of time before the public at large pick up on this.
Watchout!

the Show- Stumptown Comic Fest '09

The Stumptown Comic Fest of ‘09 has come and gone.
Some of the feel of the show had changed from last year as I was able to get away from the table and see what was being sold this time around.
I was impressed by how many new books had that finished and cleaned up look than years previously my only regret was that I didn’t have the third color comic ready and the manga sized Pandora’s Garage collection up and running.
I think that both would have made it fun for anyone to ready and buy.
But the show was fun and ended on a high note for me so I didn’t walk away with that empty feeling inside “no body likes my work” attitude.
But I did sell some of the books which made me happy and I got to see old friends from last year and that was cool.
Also many new ideas are flying around my head as new way of selling books by using a UPC code and the ISBN number for selling to bigger book sellers.
That was a huge boon for me as was the information about the photoshop and screens option and multiply option for color my scratchboard projects. That alone opened up a lot of things for me. I can’t wait to try them out when I get to the scratchboard again.
And then there are a few more shows coming up that I have to be ready for as well so I am expanding the playing field for the work which is what I need to do.
Here is to keeping my fingers crossed.

Today is Stumptown

Today is a new day and I have been lax on getting things posted here but it has been a rough and tumble kind of couple of months but today is where things pay off for themselves today. Today is the day for the Stumptown show here in Portland!
Our mayor Sam Adams has officially made this “Comic Book Month” here in town so we creators are all very excited !
There will be new posting here from the show as time goes for the next couple of days.
Yea, us!

The new Cover for DFA

Well I finally got finished the cover for this years Stumptown mini. I had problems with the original grayscale cover that I thought would have appealed to the masses but I realized that just ain’t the way to put things out there for potential buyers. So now that it done it time to work on the internal aspects of the book.

It’s been a while since I posted so I’ll post now. I just wish that I had more time to be able to devote to illustrating and writing my comics than just working paying bills and rent and the like.
But these days like everybody else not so easy to do and you go where the money is so there you have it.
I have been working on three projects to be completed by april. The DFA mini is now completed and just waiting to get to Kinko’s for printing up 35 booklets.
The third issue of Johnny Vega is taking it’s time because I don’t want to be a in a rush when it comes out.
With digital printing, if you make a mistake, it a very glaring mistake when you see it in print. This has already happened during the printing of the second issue of Johnny and fifth issue of Pandora’s Garage.
Lastly is Angry Robot. This was a story that was developed for a group of artist putting together their own comic book down in Eugene, Oregon. But artists like every artist I know, can be real flakey and this was one of the reasons why this fine amount of illustration never got printed until now.
I am looking forward to it.

Contemplation and Fans

The new book is coming together but now is the time to think, do I need to rush to get the book done or do the book right?
As a publisher I can understand that I need to be able to bring new material out on a regular basis and the Stumptown show is just a perfect way of doing that. But I do know that I have had some books that I have put together have suffered a artistically just to get the product out.
It’s a tough call when you have promised a lot and not quite begin able to deliver but things haven’t gotten to this point yet.
So take a look at what I have currently and know that I have two other pages that are nearly done since I made these jpegs.
I’ll be posting later.

One another note-Getting new young fans.
Last night was one of those kinda days when you are sitting back and watching tv and suddenly, you are barraged by questions about comics. Well anytime is a good time to talk about comics - especially if there are mine.
Two kids named Colin and Donovan came over last night as their mother was getting here hair done by one of my two roommates, Drake.
We had been talking and we got on the subject of the comic books that I had done.
Well this is fun for me because they had several questions that I answered with what seemed like a reasonable response.
Colin is 12 and Donovan just about 10- or so as he tells me.
This was about the time I started getting into comic books when I was a kid. Hopefully the first issue of Johnny Vega will bring them back for another.
Through the characters I hope I can influence them in a positive way.
I keep my fingers crossed.