The Aftermath 2012

Hey there sports fans,  Al here with the latest: 

My typical Breakfast in Seattle

Emerald City ComiCon of 2012 is finally over and here is my personal pros and cons of this massive event starting this with the the first pro.

The Crowd the Second Morning

The Attendance was off the hook!  I'm not kidding about this .  I believe that Saturday's attendance was nearly the same for the entire event last year.  That may be an exaggeration but sure was full of people. I think that everyone in the booth would agree with that assessment.

The con of the crowd was that there was such a throng of people walkin' by it made it hard for anyone to stop by table with out causing a small traffic snarl.  Watching them  come and go was kinda like watching a tide.

The Awaiting the Onslaught

Pro #2 of the show- The first complements that we all received in the booth on the art was awesome.  That stuff always goes a long way for anybody.

Frank Lives- kinda.

Con #2 now strictly speaking for myself I think the scratchboard material kinda scares people off.  The stark black n white of work when you are constantly being bombarded with bright color at every turn your not sure what your looking at.  You know in your head that's it some comic related material but not sure of whether  you should touch it.   I saw quite a few people who seemed hesitant to pick the Scratch Pad art book or the individual 5"x7" scratchboards.  I would even venture to say that some people might even think of the work as a novelty.  A flash in the pan.

Blast them I say!  

Pro #3 The enthusiasm of the people who stopped by was infectious.  The sales that did happen  stopped others to see what was so cool about the work.  This amounted to several sketches being done to go along with our appreciation of the fans who bought the work.  Thanks to those folks.

A Silent Hill Nurse creepy!

The Planetary Express Crew + Hypno Toad and Bets.

Con #3 Being the con's GPS.  Now some people may not  have a problem with this but due such high traffic but  people seem to forgotten how to read their program floor maps.  I know it means comes with the territory but I think we got hit several times about "do you know where blankity blank blank is?"    So maybe there should be a comic info  booth there in up to the front manned  by the minions there.  Just an idea.

Pro #4 

The costumes were awesome.  There were some grisly awesome pieces of work there at the show.  

Con #4 

The costumes.  So awesome were these works of art that it stopped up traffic cruising by.  The consensus was please people find a place for photos to be taken elsewhere.

So with things being tied would I go back?

The answer to that is hell yes I would. 

I love the medium and want to support it in my way.  Knowing what sold I think I have a better idea of what to bring with me to sell at the show. 
  I have heard that there were  a few people who had some negative comments about the show but here is a link to the ECCC facebook page about what I felt about the show and maybe shead some light on those naysayers.   
 And that is it for the kid! 

The Last Week

Hey there  sports fans!   Al here with the latest:

Here I thought that I wasn't going to be able to write anything or produce any kind of art work but I happen to prove myself wrong on this account.  Corvis Corrax is on the move and smashing up cosmic fiends left and right and taking names.  there is no two ways about this big bird!

"Cosmic Confrontation" Corrax: The Seeker
2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

 Corvis is gonna fall what I call "Risky Sci-Fi".  A friend of mine asked what that meant.  To me, the term covers a variety of topics from sex, drugs, space rock n roll and all other types of social important stuff.  You know boring stuff.  Nah, that's just crap.  I plan on making this book fun but it is risky when you make the main character not human.  I don't think that you could have made Star Trek with Mister Spock as the lead or formed a show around Data for Next Gen.
  Roddenberry already tried with that in the 70's with the Questor Tapes.  And it didn't sell.  BUT with the way the world has been changing over the last couple of decades it might be time for a non human character to take the lead.
 So I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Emerald City ComiCon 2012 in a couple days!  Woot!

The Trifecta of Books for E.C.C.C. this year.  Left to Right "Scratch Pad"
2012 Copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA
"Ghost Assassin /Johnny Vega" Mini Crossover
2012 Copyright Adam Watson and Darkslinger Comics and Black Box Comix
"Weird Atomic Tales" Crossover
2012 Copyright Jason Z. Pott and NEOtrash Comix and Black Box Comix

On the Move!

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest: 

  This will be a short and sweet blog this time around.  As I had mentioned before the the business of Black Box is moving so with that taking place the updates wont be taking place for about the next two weeks from now.  

This is DEFINITELY NOT like loosing the laptop computer about a month ago I can honestly tell you.  Way different situation  going on here with Black Box. 

Now what might not be known to several of you faithful readers of this blog and the many readers of my emails that are sent out is this, many small time self publishers have a regular 9 to 5 day job.

I know that might surprise you but "How can you call yourself a publisher if you have a regular job?"  That's a easy answer, the economy and the internet.  Everybody that has a home computer or even a smartphone can set up online publishing fairly easy but that's the trick because it's so low in cost has made very attractive to people.  The other part of this penny dreadful is the economy.  I'm not going to stand here on the soap box and complain about the workings of the world but it is the world we live in and lack of people with money to buy entertainment with less and less money makes it hard everyday.     Even slightly bigger independent companies like Top Shelf Comics or Oni Press, the owners (I know at least one of the two these companies do this is a fact) work day jobs to support their passion for the illustrative narrative.  Black Box Visual Arts is no different.   But with a change of venue for the business that takes place at the same time as E.C.C.C. this year moving becomes even more dire.  So making the move early will making my coming back to work on the art that much easier in early April.

  Now there are a few books I want to work on such as adapting the first Corpse Cop story to scratchboard and a new work which I talked about in the old blog called "Arctic Wolf ".

"WHAT!?" Corrax the Seeker 2012
copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

  Also a potential one issue book featuring everybodies favorite birdman- Corvis Corrax!  I know a few people waiting this one. Johnny Vega's sidekick has always had a interest with people.  That why I will be looking at developing a single project with him in it.  That should be a lot of fun which comics should be.  There has been for over the last 20 years of making characters super serious and more "realistic"  I call bs on that.  

  My friend Jason of NEOtrash Comix have often times when traveling to a show together or just sitting around his apartment   the reason we got into reading comics.  The fun of it!  Perhaps I am still being naive about producing comics but it is that naivety that makes the images so cool.

CTS "INTO THE FRAY" 2012 copyright Alan Bennett and BBVA

  I will return with Black Box Visual Arts in about two weeks with news of the Emerald City ComiCon 2012 along with images and possible video as well.   

Mid Point

Hey there sports fans,  Al here with the latest: 

  The weeks begin to dwindle down towards the big show for E.C.C.C. this year.   

The Group-
2012 copyright Alan Bennett

The count down is standing at about two weeks now as things move to crunch time for any last minute projects to be done (banners, posters, prints and original art work). 

Paintings Progress 2012 copyright Alan Bennett

  SPEAKING ABOUT THE BANNER,

  This has been a major project for me as painting is not something I do on a regular basis.  So anyone who knows an artist that illustrates DOES NOT mean they can paint good.  Color can scare a illustrator real easy.  Mono chromatic images are usually are as far as a pen and ink guy wants to go.   But with the computer work I have done on the Johnny Vega, Man of the Future books  has helped a lot in this regard.  But as the banner nears completion the characters look good and the finish should earn a few nice complements from folks.

  THERE ARE A FEW CHANGES TAKING PLACE:
  What is meant by that is the office of Black Box is moving as well as some name changes to reflect the changing need of art.   In a world that is the constantly moving forward with acsess to new fast flowing media comics are waining in their sales.  THIS is particularly true of the show big companies like Marvel or DC.  With a character like Vega and him mirroring a lot of titles from them both the likelihood that he will ever be popular is further and further away.  This not to say that I will stop working on him but does say that the need for another space hero isn't as urgent as I had hoped.
  With the move in the works the name of Black Box is going to be change as well.   the new company name will be Black Box Visual Arts.  The reason for the name change is with all the recent sales of the scratchboard in the local gallery market and the commission work as well as wanting to be perceived as a serious illustrator not just someone who dables in art and just happens to work on comics the back company  gotta change with the times and artists who want to be successful have to adapt to the 21st century.

"MANIFESTING" 5"X7" scratchboard 2012 copyright Alan Bennett

   HOWEVER what this doesn't mean is that comics are going away.  Not by a long shot.  Other Vega books and Corpse Cop projects will still continue to be drawn up for the  shows.  So will the minis as well 'cause they're fun to do!

The Month to Come

Hey sports fans, Al here with the latest:


 
THE CROSSOVER IS COMPLETED!


   After nearly three years this monumental piece of work between two small press companies is now done.  Yea us!  The unveiling of this 60 page monster smack down will take place with this years Emerald City ComiCon in Seattle.  A major show with a major draw and potential major sales.   This show (outside of the San Diego Comic-Con ) is one of the biggest shows taking place here in the Northwest.  The NEOtrash crew, Devin and I are all looking forward to this event.  Also on top of the great personalities and great comics to bought is the fact there is a lot of great original art work to be bought.   So if you  happen to be in town for the show please stop by and say "hi" to us. 

"A Tale of Two Jo(h)nnys"
2012 copyright Jason Z. Pott &
Alan Bennett

2012 copyright Alan Bennett

"Hunting Party" 5"x7" scratchboard
2012 copyright Alan Bennett

ALSO TO BE SEEN AND RELEASED is the first art collected for scratchboard.  Now most of you who get these updates already know that this work has been a major change in the way I do a lot of my work.  Last years reveal of "Corpsecicle" really did well for me at the show so a book deicated to the scratchboard will be on show as well.
The title "Scratch Pad- a collection of art".  Its a collection of the illustrative art of scratchboard from the cover to cover. Of course this body of work encompasses all varieties of genres from fantasy to horror to science fiction.   Price has yet to be determined but a rough estimate would be around $8 bucks.   Unfortunately no mini will be available for this show.  Please no sad faces. : ( 


HOWEVER a mini of Weird Atomic Tales will be released in time for this years Stumptown Comic Fest. 
This brings me to the  next item of business, Stumptown.   Again this year Black Box Comix will be tabling with NEOtrash Comix.  With the crossover done it makes sense to keep the fires warm for the advent of another project and coming down the road.  Hopefully it won't take as long to finish.  
  And on top of that we have been confirmed for Stumptown.


AND AS FAR AS SHOWS GO 
There are really only five shows that I want to participate in this year.   One of which I am already in.  The Portland Love Show, E.C.C.C., Stumptown Comic Fest, The Jet City Comic Show and the Big 200.  I know recently I had said to a few people that I wanted to take a break from shows and books but once you've been bitten by the creative bug you can't stop.  Hopefully this won't mean a burn out for me.

"The Transformed Man" close up
2003 copyright Devon Deerouix 

 DEVON DEVEROUIX will be attending  this years show with us.   I first meet him at a Stumptown Show about 4 years ago and bought a postcard of "The Transformed Man"  a.k.a. William Shatner.  Being a fan of the Shat, I bought the card from him and he asked me if I knew the story behind it.  I had heard of a vauge rumor that Shatner during the late sixies  had in fact taken some acid while playing Captain Kirk for Star Trek so in fact he WAS Captain Kirk.  Devon added to this myth for me.  
   Devon is a very accomplished artist in his own right,  painter and illustrator.  
  For more of his work check out these links for examples of his work.
http://www.devondevereaux.com and 
http://www.cacklingimppress.com 




AND SINCE WE HAPPEN TO BE TALKING ABOUT SHOWS- 
NEOtrash Comix has been accepted into the STUMPTOWN COMIC FEST for 2012.  Nice to be invited back into our own neighborhood backyard.




COMMISSIONS: 
Still in a holding pattern for the time being.
As of this time a new commission has been put forth by a friend of mine who has also brought a upgrade as far computers go to help further along my work as a artist, Toby Person (a.k.a. Lupo Negro).  Toby has been a great friend and supporter for me personally and a supporter of Black Box Comix and it's books.  




THE POSTIT ADVENTURES:
 Where are we now with Johnny Vega?  Still on hold till I can access my external hard drive and rework the Postits.   




OTHER STUFF: 
Nothing new yet.  




OLD BBC BLOG
What a lot people I believe don't realize is "Tales from the Scratch Pad" are the new Black Box Comix Updates.  Check here if you want to see those old blogs.  That is of you want to read up on old stuff.
And so there you go.  A lot of things going on at Scratch Pad.

The Short of it

Here sports fans, Al here with the latest,

  It's been a dog's age as they say and I have been out of touch of sorts with all the work that has been pilled on me over the last month.  Lots of last minuet things such as the finishing touches on the CROSSOVER!   Thats right it is done and now just has be taken to a local printer to be printed up!

Weird Atomic Tales "Tale of Two
Jo(h)nnys" copyright 2012
Jason Z. Pott and Alan Bennett 

Yea!  This book has been literally a long time in coming but I think is awesome looking.  The more I look at it the more I like it.

  It also leads into other projects with Jason that may not be as huge a undertaking in the future.  It'll be fun!

  But I will be stepping back from the comics for a short time in creating.  I have to just for piece of mind.

  But I still am going to be working on a few projects here and there such as  commissions and gallery work.  There is serious changes that will be happening with this group of art projects and faith in the work to make it all happen.

"A.I. Wars" 5"x7" Scratchboard
copyright 2012 Alan Bennett

  The Postit Adventures will continue on but not for about three weeks as the the Emerald 

City ComiCon looms in the near future like within a month.

  This is the BIG SHOW that Corpse Cop "Corpsecile" sold out at  so with the booth I can only hope the same happens for the Crossover.

And that is it.

The Painting Transfer

Shear Craziness

Hey there sports fans, Al here with the latest:

The little iBook that did

 FIRSTLY I have to appoligize for the lack of the communication on my part.  There has been some serious hangs ups  from a technical POV.  My trusty little laptop that I have had for the last 7 years finally gave up the ghost when its harddrive decided to the crapout on me just as I was nearing the end of physical inking on the crossover with NEOtrash Comix.  Not great timing but a majority of the work had been already saved on a external harddrive.  So work wasn't completely lost.

  I do have to say that I have lost some data such as my email list to people to let them know what was going on with Black Box and the latest gallery work.  But I do have say for what I got out of my G4 ibook laptop was a total of 18 books (including the minis) 6 gallery shows.  So I have to show props for Brainiac.  Good job little guy!  But it won't be to long before I am able to get a new harddrive installed and try to pull info off the old one and have a portable drawing pad again.  

The New Set up

  So you may be asking yourself how am I being able to get the blog out?  Easy with a new  computer.

  It is fortunate that I have friends who are supportive of my efforts with the comics I have created over the last 12 years or so.

  Thank you Tobywan.

  So Black Box is up and running again.  Of course the website is the one major headache I do not want to deal with yet but maybe by the end of the year if the world doesn't implode on itself I might be able to get that working right.

  Galley work continues on with a price for the Portland Love Show 2012.  The art piece as always is another piece of wonderment entitled "Pygmalion Modern"  9"x12" Scratchboard.  Sale price $125.00 framed and under glass.

49 Pages of Smackdown Goodness! + Wrap around cover

,,

copyright 2012 by
Jason Z. Pott and Alan Bennett

"Pygmalion Modern"
copyright 2012 Alan Bennett

 
  GALLERY SHOWS:It's UNfortunate that some tools have gone on the fritz resently namely my computer so I am Limited to using touch pad on my phone the write my blog.

  Work on "the Portland Love Show - in the clouds" is still in the formative stages.  A central image has yet to appear to me but this has never stopped me before by forcing an image to be done.
  Again this year I an looking to another scratchboard piece.  What it will be this I have no idea.  But I do know it'll be cool.. THE CROSSOVER:
  This major EPIC of cooperation between independent publishers is rocking hard as last fifth of the book wIth blocking and inkling.  This is close to my personal deadline to have this project done. . 
  Am I hampered by the lack of a working computer?  A little.  I have depended on the computer to help out in many ways getting the work done.  But like so many times I have told people that you need to have a skeletal work and basic layout and inking is what I need to focus upon.  It was time to take my own advice on this.
  But I can assure you that this book will be done.

EMERALD CITY COMICON 2012:
  A few change ups in our roster have taken place for our table.
It is with a sad heart that the awesome Ben Perkins will  not be attending this years show in Seattle.  Previous engagements with potential contracts have made him have to bow out this year.
To catch Ben's Latest Pieces check out his Deviant Art blog at or his website down below. 

• http://www.brattyben.deviantart.com
• http://www.linkedin.com/in/bendesign

HOWEVER the phenomenal artwork rendered by Portland's own DEVON DEVEROUIX will be attending 
  Devon is a very accomplished artist in his own right.  A painter and illustrator. 
  For more of his work check out these links for examples of his work. http://www.devondevereaux.com
http://www.cacklingimppress.com

AND SINCE WE HAPPEN TO BE TALKING ABOUT SHOWS-
NEOtrash Comix has been accepted into the STUMPTOWN COMIC FEST for 2012.  Nice to be invited back into our own neighborhood backyard.

COMMISSIONS:
Still in a holding pattern for the time being. 

Now one the things that had been put on hold for the last month or so is commissions.  Now the one thing is I still have a holdover from last year "Pencil Trick".  But when Toby brough up the new G5 tower to replace my hurting ibook laptop he also asked me for a commission dealing with the King or the Monsters, the one and only Godzilla.  So now I have two to deal with.  Though I've been itching to work on him for a while.

As of this time a new commission has been put forth by a friend of mine who has also brought a upgrade as far computers go to help further along my work as a artist, Toby Person (a.k.a. Lupo Negro).  Toby has been a great friend and supporter for me personally and a supporter of Black Box Comix and it's books.   

THE POSTIT ADVENTURES:

Where are we now with Johnny Vega.  On hold till I can access my external hard drive and rework the Postits.   

OTHER STUFF:
Nothing new yet. 

OLD BBC BLOG
What a lot people I believe don't realize is "Tales from the Scratch Pad" are the new Black Box Comix Updates.  Check here if you want to see those old blogs.  That is of you want to read up on old stuff.
And so there you go.  A lot of things going on at Scratch Pad.