So a lot of shit has happened to me since I started this comic two years ago. Not only has my art changed quite a bit, but so has my life! I’ve lived in five different places since I started this, had two different and weird jobs, plus two periods of unemployment, made tons of toys, and played god knows how many video games. Life has all taken us far, and I wanted to thank you, the reader, for sticking with me this whole time. I sometimes wonder why I do what I do, but I’ve gotten so much support lately, not just from friends and family, but from readers who really care. It’s really flattering! (not that the unique hits you give me isn’t flattering!)

So next week I have a nice treat planned out – updates and comics from characters from The Glass Urchin! That’s right, the real people who have been in this comic will be making their own comic stories and it’ll be a week-long GU celebration. It’ll also give me some much needed rest, after which I’ll be back again with updates and fun in the second week of July.

Want to see what little sister Mel wrote about me in her diary? How about the exciting “art” Harri and I saw last month? Tune in next week for those comics and more!

The first Wild Pig Con is in the bag! It was a little difficult to make sales there, given there was a HUGE 50% off sale (on all new graphic novels, books, etc. seriously) going on right in front of our tables, but it was still a great deal of fun!

Firstly I shared a table with Claire this time, and it was fun! I think we dorked out quite a bit. Out neighbor was the great Dern! who I haven’t seen since SPX, but who is always fun to table with/near. I also played my first actual battles with an actual person in my Soul Silver with him. Yay! I tried continuing down the row to meet and socialize with some others, who mainly seemed to be webcomickers. I met Joe and Phil who are (I didn’t know this) both sorta local guys! They were selling their wares but also were participating in the Wild Pig Super Art Fight! More on that later… Moving along, I met Brian of Bellen!, who I talked to about quitting your job, taking classes, and living in Jersey City. He currently lives in Philly but lived in Jersey City for five years! Nice! The next table over had our friends Kevin and Blondie, who do Caf-fiends! They’re talking me into showing up at Connecticon, it’s supposed to be THE webcomics show, so at the very least us NERDs might be able to visit for a day! Then a table over held Caldwell of Loldwell, who had to brave the NJ Transit bus system to get to Wild Pig! Then Jamie Hatton, the dude who introduced us all to this, of In His Likeness was tabling next. He has two neat compilation books out now! After Jamie, the Systemic Rosscott had some hip shirts and other merch for sale. Rounding the corner was the Super Art Fight table with our friends Nick and Marty. And I didn’t make it to the other tables after that (and thank goodness, because this was enough recap for one post!).

Some other cool people who stopped by our table includes: Bernie from Alien Loves Predator, Valerie from Friends of Lulu, and Gary of Fleen! It was great to see and/or meet you! ;P

The Super Art Fight was the first one I’ve been to, but has been going on for a while now. I loved it! It was very excitingin and I’m surprised at what quality work these artists can do from a standing position, with a crowd staring/yelling, with two sharpies and poster board in 30 minutes. It was great stuff and I hope to be at the next Super Art Fight event to cheer everyone on!

Many thanks to the gracious hosts of Wild Pig Con who were a lot more accommodating and organized than most other cons I’ve been to. You guys are awesome!

Well I know I don’t usually announce my con appearances until, uhmm, the week ahead of time, but I have to tell you about Intervention Con! That’s because yours truly and Bree will be guests at this great new show.

Do you like webcomics? Do you like humor? Do you like the internet? Then Intervention Con is the con for you. It features a bevy of awesome webcomickers and bloggers, and it’s hosted by the webcomic greats Onezumi and Harknell! It’s taking place on September 10 – 12 down in the DC area. Check the site for all the details, as pre-reg is still open!

The dates are the same as this year’s SPX but no worries – it’s in the same location as well! If you’ve ever wanted to meet all your print comic or webcomic artists in one weekend, then you’d better pick this one! If you’re an artist or a vendor, Intervention Con may also have a space for you at a better price and better service than most other cons can say. So check it out now! And BTW – if you’re looking for when us NERDs will be appearing at a con, look no further than the NERD Comics homepage, which lists all our appearances this year! I look forward to seeing you at the next con!

Like any modern comicker, there are a lot of artists I’ve admired and followed throughout my life. I’d like to take a little bit of time to thank those artists that have inspired me and continue to do so every day. I hope I’ll be able to update this from time to time and be a little bit informative as well.

One of my earlier influences, and probably one that a lot of comic artists can relate to, is Jeff Smith who wrote and drew the amazing and now classic adventure graphic novel, Bone. He also went on to do other great comic and non-comic work such as Shazam!, RASL, and Little Mouse. Like most people my age (and hopefully lots of new generations thanks to the full color reprints!), we’ll probably always hold his first great work, Bone, close to our hearts.

I could gush on and on about Jeff Smith’s amazing ability of inking, his great contributions to the world of comics, or his uncanny ability to meld comedy and drama in the most unlikely of packages… But that’s all been done before. We all know Jeff Smith is a wonderful storyteller, and time and time again has shown us dynamic and unique characters with amazing range of expression and depth. Like many other fans out there, I look forward to each new RASL adventure, and any new hint of projects soon to come.

Where Jeff Smith really inspired me was his sheer willpower. Back when I was first introduced to Smith through that fateful Disney Adventures issue back in 1994, I had a vague inkling of the comics industry as an unstoppable terror of brute force. Comics I loved, like Uncanny X-Men, had artists and authors who were so far away from anything I could do or think of myself, that I felt far removed from ever entertaining the thought of doing them myself. With Jeff Smith in his self-published book that he wrote and drew himself, my ten-year-old-self saw someone I could relate to. Here was someone who believed in his own story, who created and guided his ow characters, and who put it all together in one beautiful comic book. I was surprised and instantly hooked. I would go to our local comic store monthly (even though back then Bone came out once every other month), and I would ask about the new issues of Bone. Something about that rarity, the unsteadiness of Smith’s publishing schedule, the “underground” feel of his comic brought me closer to him. I rejoiced upon each new issue brought into my hands and despaired when he went on hiatuses, of which it seemed there might be no return. It was like an emotional whirlwind for my younger self, but Smith didn’t fail to disappoint even as he began finishing the series when I was nearing my twenties.

Now of course, we couldn’t imagine Bone having finished any other way. The Bone one volume edition is a gorgeous work and a true storytelling masterpiece, but on one aspect I feel it fails a little. Smith’s ten long years of hard work goes almost unnoticed under its pages, which flow from one to another with the same ease as Smith’s own pen. Of course, this is just as well! It makes for a greater story, and Jeff Smith has shown all of us how to make a story really great. But I’d like to thank that other side of Smith as well, the side that struggled with the story and pages and labored under the publishing deadlines. The Smith who set up tiny tables manned by himself at cons who had that drive that only a self-publisher could. Thank you for teaching me that comics don’t only take talent, artistry, and a good narrative, but also that comics take patience, drive, and endurance.

I hope one day I can thank Jeff Smith in person for all the inspiration he’s given me and countless others… For now I’ll have to settle with sending him a letter and my first book, which I have him (among others) to thank for. I also made him this fanart – an ode to two of my favorite comic artists ever:

You guys are assholes. I’m talking to you, hackers. Why you would want to hack a small group of (mostly) innocent comics, I have no idea. But you almost made me miss a goddamn update day, and for that you will… well I’m not sure. How * does * one get back at a hacker? In any case I will steadfastly stick to comicking as long as it annoys you Mr.Hacker.

Anyway, much apologies for the lateness. I took a vacation day today (it was fun but also stressful…), and I was away from my computer all day until now (clock says 11:56… phew!). I actually had this set to update at the usual 8 o’clock-ish time, but alas… the site was hacked and when it was restored, my Thursday comic upload had disappeared, as well as comments for the Hedge comic from yesterday (feel free to repost how awesome it was in the comments again!!!! ;P). Thanks for sticking with me folks!