Convention Virgin

Click the title of this post to check out my account of my first ever comic convention in Chicago just a few short weeks ago. :)

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Back from Chi-Town

I am finally back from Wizard World Chicago and I had a blast!!! It was so much fun, and very productive if I say so myself. Stay tuned for some possible announcements. :)

I'll also be doing a full write-up of my first convention experience for www.comicrelated.com here soon.

Tomorrow (Tuesday) it's back to business as usual. I'm glad to be home, but I had so much fun away, even though there were some missteps in getting there.

Plus it was Scott's birthday this past Saturday, so I got to hang with him on his birthday then watch him open presents from his wife when we got back to his house, which was cool.

It was very cool meeting all these people I had only talked to online or on the phone previously. I'll probably leave someone out, but it was cool finally meeting...

Scott Simmons
Chuck Kennedy and his brother Lou
Chuck Moore
Lance Stahlberg
Sean Taylor
Scott and Benita Story
Trin Gutierrez
Eric Rampson
Mike Dolce
Brent Erwin
Tom Stillwell
Derek Ruiz
Kris Simon
Joe Gentile

And I know there were others, but I'm drawing a blank at the moment (in my defense, I'm beat and it's 4:30am as I type this!).

I also got to meet some cool creators and celebrities. I got to meet Mick Foley (WWE) and got his autograph, Gail Kim (TNA), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Shannon Denton (EIC of Wildstorm), Josh Blaylock (DDP) and various others.

Not to mention sitting in on interviews with (and actually asking a couple myself) the creative team behind Batman: Gotham Knights, including: Bruce Timm, Alan Burnett, Greg Rucka, Brian Azarello and others! I was stoked for that, and it was really cool. More about that in the con report.

The best costumes of the con had to be Mojo and C3P0. The latter was very authentic, and the former was amazing! Check out ComicRelated.com for a few photo galleries.

Like I said, it was a blast and I am going back next year, hopefully with a table and a bunch of copies of Wannabez #1-3!

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Wizard World Chicago

Well, it's official. I will be at Wizard World Chicago.  I'll be there Friday night as well as Saturday and Sunday.  Right now I'm in Cincinnati with Scott (Wannabez artist) and we'll be driving up tomorrow.

It was a chore and a half getting this to work out.  I had originally wanted to rent a car, but ran into some problems.  When they finally got worked out the car ended up being more expensive than I had thought (and than they had told me), and it was so late by the time they had a car available that it was just better (and cheaper!) to ride up with Scott and miss a day and a half of the con.

I'll still have a lot of fun and get to meet a bunch of people I want to meet and hang out with.  So I'm really looking forward to it.

So, I'll probably be away from the internet for the remainder of the weekend.  If you need me just email me and don't expect to get a reply until Monday or, most likely, Tuesday.  And if you're in Chicago maybe I'll run into you!

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Today in the Life Of...

My cable was cut off early today thanks to some lack of communication and stuff. We obviously got it back on, or I wouldn't be typing this right now. But it put me behind in contacting everyone today, though I still managed to get some correspondence out.

Michael Kasinger, one of the artists I was going to work with for the CBC had to drop out due to his workload. But that's cool because the story I came up with for him is a really good one, I think, and without that push I might have never come up with it.

I haven't heard back from Jason Moser yet, so at this late stage (with just over a week to go) I doubt that one will happen either.

On the other hand, the one Scott and I are working on may just happen. And even if it doesn't we are still going to work on it as I mentioned before I believe.

Still waiting to hear about that potential job. I thought for certain I would have heard something by now, but nada. I've got a couple of other leads, so I hope they hurry up before I take something else!

One venture I was very excited about is now not going to happen. My partner had some doubts due to recent events, and her points were valid. I'm saddened by it, honestly, but I understand and all is good. It just wasn't meant to happen I suppose.

I finished up a small writing gig today and got another one, slightly larger, so that was cool.

I was adding up numbers for Wizard World Chicago, and it's going to take some doing for me to be able to make it this year. I have two options, one going for the whole four days, and one going just on the weekend. The latter is the cheaper of the two options, but it's a bit more of a hassle with all the logistics. So we'll just have to see how things go. I might not be able to do either.

I found - or rather they found me - a local music group that sounds pretty cool. It's hip-hop/r&b, but it's two white boys from Kentucky! Needless to say, I was surprised how good they sounded. I'll get a link and give them their own post here soon.

I reconnected with a friend last night via telephone and chatted for about 30 minutes, which was cool. We used to hang out all the time, but haven't for three or four years now.

The past two or three days I've not felt well, and I've just been sluggish and not very motivated. I've pushed through it and made quite the progress on things by and large, but I just haven't felt myself. I don't know what it is. Well, the not feeling good I know what it is, but not the other. I'm just frustrated with a lot of things this week, and the unknown in a lot of areas is probably the biggest culprit. So all of that has just got me out of sorts I guess. I'll bounce back, though. I always do, glory be to God.

And I suppose that's it. It's almost 2am, I'm tired but not sleepy, and though I have a ton to do, I'm bored and restless out of my mind! lol. So I think I'll try to lay down and watch a bit of TV and try to doze off if I can. More soon.

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I'll Be At Mid-Ohio-Con!

Well, it's official, sort of. I am listed on the guest list of www.midohiocon.com, so come visit me the first weekend of October!

Scott and I had signed up for the new Ohio Comic Con, then when MOC reemerged under new ownership rumors began running rampant that the two were merging. And while I've yet to personally receive any official confirmation, as I stated, according to MOC's website, I am listed, so they must have merged.

What sucks about that is my cousin's wedding, which was originally scheduled for October 12th, was moved to the 4th, and it's in Illinois, so now I'll miss her wedding (Ohio Comic Con was to be the last weekend of October, while MOC is the 4th through the 5th).

Anyway, if you're in Columbus, Ohio the first weekend of October please come by and check out Wannabez!

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Moving Away, Then Not, Then Maybe...

Well, folks, as most of you know, last week I went out of town. What most of you didn't know was why I went out of town, so let me break it down for you.

A few weeks ago I was contacted by an online comic retailer about a possible job opportunity. Basically they offered me the job based on my online work that they had followed, and wanted to fly me down and put me up for a week. So I went and spent the week down there checking the place out and learning what the job entailed.

The salary they offered was decent, and parts of the job were fun and exciting. Other parts were not quite as glamorous, but still a pretty cool experience.

So, after a week of wrestling with the decision to move away and take this job I accepted the position last Friday morning. They were thrilled, and thus a new chapter of my life was to begin.

24 hours later that changed a bit. I had emailed them to discuss a few details, and one arbitrary sentence at the end of the email I typed at 3am caused them to reevaluate things and they took the offer off the plate.

So, after emails and phone conversations trying to straighten all this out, now instead of moving down immediately (like tomorrow) as was planned, I'm waiting to hear, probably for a couple of weeks, whether this is still the direction they want to go or not.

All that said, it is still possible that in a few weeks I'll be moving away to take a nice job with some perks moving away from my home of the last 26 years. Then again, it's possible I won't. So I'll keep you posted. Not that it affects any of you, but in the transition there would definitely be some lag time for lettering projects and so forth.

The job itself is twofold. One side of it, the side I like, involves marketing, interviewing creators, managing content and so forth as I am familiar with and have done for the past two plus years. The other side is working convention booths, specifically the register and managing people, at twelve cons throughout the year. Not to mention driving the con truck to all these places. This is the part I'm not as crazy about, but is still pretty cool.

So anyway, I guess I'll have to wait and see what the final decision is, even though I had already accepted and they had already offered. I guess that's the way things go sometimes though.

In the meantime, I'm back home catching up on all my emails and starting back to lettering work today and tomorrow. I'm also looking out for other opportunities both locally and abroad just in case this falls through as last week's trip showed me that regardless of what happens I am ready for the next chapter in my life, and I'm ready to spread my wings and start more actively pursuing my ultimate goals.

If this particular job doesn't happen I am still doing my best to make preparations to make it to Wizard World Chicago at the end of next month. I'm not sure if it will work out or not, but I know a lot of people who will be there and I'd like to hook up with them if I can. And if I do get this job I'll be there as well, but I'll be stuck at the booth through the duration of the event.

So, that's what's up, people.

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In and Out

Well, after missing like two weeks of posting, the other day I tried to make up for it with three or four posts in one day, but then I disappear for a few more days.

Sorry, I just haven't really felt like being online more than I have to the past several days. This past weekend I didn't feel well, and plus my sleep schedule is all messed up again. I literally go to bed at a drastically different time every day, and I rarely sleep more than three hours at a time. Ugh.

I honestly haven't gotten a lot of lettering done in the past week, but I plan on making up for that the latter part of this week and the weekend. I have one small 5 page job to get done over the next couple of days, then another after that, and then some stuff for Hard Way Studios.

I'm also working on a website design (why, I don't know. lol), which is starting to come along. I did the forums first, now I've got the home page done, but we're considering trying a different look now, so... It's just a basic site as I know no Flash or anything, and it will be largely forum based, but it's still time consuming.

Haven't watched any movies recently surprisingly enough. I have been keeping up with my reality cooking shows though (Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen), as well as Ultimate Fighter and BSG. And of course wrestling. Aside from those, not much TV either, and no video games. I'm reading a little, but not much. Mainly I just work and sleep, and where the rest of the time goes I have no clue. lol

My secret little project I've hinted at for a while is off and running, I think. I may have scared someone involved with too many details, but we'll see.

Finances are rough at the moment, but I'm surviving as always. That said, I won't beg, but if you got jobs needing to be done that I'm capable of doing...

This year is going by so fast. I can't believe it's almost May already! Before I know it, the convention will be here, and then WW Texas if things work out on that front. This will be a cool year if things pan out.

I mentioned the Wannabez site going live a few days ago, and I believe I also mentioned the store. Yeah, I know, CafePress may not be the best avenue, and it can be pricey, but it's a start. That said, we want to add more stuff (specifically more images to go on the stuff), so let me know what you'd like to see. What characters you'd prefer on the products, what products you'd consider buying, and so forth.

With that, methinks it might be nappy time as I've been up since early last evening. Man, I gotta get back in a rhythm!

Ohio Comic Con Logos

I'm feeling a bit better at the moment and can't sleep, so I thought I'd lighten the mood and make a post not related to my gallbladder or any other bodily issues.

That said, when Scott and I first decided to make the trip to the Ohio Comic Con this October I wasn't crazy with their original logo:


So I went about redesigning the logo in hopes they would choose one of mine instead. Unfortunately, I was then informed that they were having a new logo designed, which turned out to be this:

So still not being pleased, I went ahead with my ideas and emailed them anyway. The first is a remake of their original logo, the next two are spins on the Ohio State logos, the fourth is a more comic-inspired logo, and the rest, admittedly, are spins on the New York Comic Con with a little Bengal love in the first, a star in the last.

Sadly, so far they haven't contacted me back about any of these, so it looks like we'll be stuck with the above. But since that is the case I just thought I'd share these with you. B-Out

Brand New Day

No, I'm not referring to a Spider-Man story arc with that title. Rather, I am declaring this a brand new day in the life of Brant W. Fowler.

Yeah, okay, that's kind of silly since it IS a brand new day, not just for me, but for everyone. But what I mean is that I've made some decisions recently that have been finalized as of today. Therefore, this is a new start in a way.

If I was taught anything from last week's tragedy it was that time is short, and we don't have a lot of it. We never know what's going to happen, and regrets aren't something I want to carry anymore. And I have a lot of them already, so there's no room for more.

Some decisions I won't talk about openly, but it is beyond time for them to be made, and so I've made them. They start this week... today even. Hence the title if you're not reading along.

One thing I will talk about is what Brant will be doing this year (and yes, I went third person on ya). Brant (see, did it again) will be going to cons this year, for the first time ever! One for sure will be the Ohio Comic Con in Columbus at the end of October. Scott and I will have a table in Artist's Alley and will have Wannabez merchandise, among other stuff, available!

We are also considering going to Indyfest USA on September 21st, also in Ohio, which is run by Dimestore Production's Ian Shires. We haven't made a decision on that one yet, but if we do, we'll also have a table there.

I am still contemplating making Wizard World Chicago and meeting up with my boy, Chuck while I'm at it. Lance from Rogue Wolf Entertainment (and now with Cold Cut Distribution) also lives in Chicago, so I'll meet up with him to if I go. That one's in June I.

And if I can possibly swing it (pray for a miracle), I'd love to make it to Wizard World Texas IF my buddy, Cary is going this year, mainly just to meet and hang out with him. That one's in November.

On top of the cons though, Cary and I are talking about going to Australia, and while we're there, meeting up with yet another good pal, Jason.

So if everything works out, this is going to be an exciting year for me. A busy one, but an exciting one!

There are several other things I will be changing and soon, but I can't talk about them right now. Just stay tuned, this will be my year.

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Moving Along

I finished up a small lettering job today that I'm hoping leads to something. Can't talk about it right now, but I'll keep you posted as I can.

I have another 5-page lettering job for a submission to finish today, and some pages of AOH to go. And some others of course. Still catching up, but doing it a steady, don't want to kill myself, rate, so that's always good. :)

I'm sending in a writing resume today for something. I won't say what until I know if it's going to pan out, but hopefully it will also lead to good things.

I'm still contemplating on whether or not to enter that Shadowline writing contest (as seen here) or not. The deadline is Thursday, but I just haven't come up with anything good enough to enter. Not that I've really given it much thought, mind you - just haven't had the time.

This year I am sincerely hoping to do some travelling, specifically to some conventions and so forth. We'll see how that all works out. I'd love to go to Wizard World Chicago and San Diego Comic Con. I was planning on going to Mid-Ohio Comic-Con, but since Roger Price, the guy who runs it, is stepping down, I'm not sure if there will be a show this year (depends on if anyone else buys it, and if they can produce a show in time). It's the closest one to me, so obviously the most logical one to attend. But I have friends in Chicago and would love to go to that one. And of course, I've never been to SDCC, so that would be an experience.

In fact, I've never been to any major con. I've only been to one local convention many years ago, and that's it. So I'd love to go to at least one con this year.

Then there's a possible trip to Australia at some point, but more about that as I know.

Suffice it to say, I'm hoping things work out better this year and I can actually get out and do the things I really want to do (I haven't even been on a vacation in about 5 years!).

So for now, I'll just keep moving along, and pray for a break here and there. :)

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