Comicbook beef in S.C.

There aren't very many "blaxpolitation" themed comics in print these days. So who'd have thought that two are currently being published in South Carolina?

I honestly don't know which came first, and I'm not just saying that so that I don't get killed in some dispute between these guys (you know how violent and antisocial comicbook artists can be — those guys are hardcore thugs.) One is titled Rachel Rage and is the work of John Aston and the other is titled World of Hurt, written and drawn by Columbia, S.C.'s Jay Potts. I recommend both of them, which you can read for free at their respective websites.

Last Sunday, at the HeroesCon in Charlotte, N.C,, the South Carolina blaxpolitation comicbook beef escalated when Potts drew the sketch you see above — which features Aston's character Rachel Rage proclaiming her love of World of Hurt. I was pretty sure Aston was reaching for that straight razor he keeps in his boot, but the crowd managed to keep the two artists apart (and out of jail.) Which is probably a good thing, because I hear Potts is the kind of guy who would bring a hand grenade to a knife fight. Shit could have got real bad, real quick.

NOTE: I've got a surprising amount of sketches from Aston over the years, and Potts is currently working on a sketch for me of Avery Brooks as Hawk, from the TV show Spencer for Hire (Brooks was the only reason I watched that show.) I'll post it when it arrives.

ANOTHER NOTE: Yes, most of this post is satire.

HeroesCon: Random Photos

Another HeroesCon came and went in Charlotte, N.C., last weekend. As usual, I was there, though it was my first time in 15+ years that I attended on a Sunday. The atmosphere was a lot more laid back on Sunday than on my previous Saturday visits, and the deals were amazing. Seriously: I picked up volumes 1-7 of the Essential Fantastic Four for $3 each. Suck it, Amazon.

I've still got art and related photos to post this week, but decided to share some of the more random images here together. These are pics taken by myself on Sunday, as well as photos contributed by The Hypno Pimp on his Saturday visit. Enjoy!

A Captain America State of Mind

I've got a busy day ahead, but wanted to let you folks know I've got a few neat items from last weekend's HeroeCon in Charlotte, N.C., to share with you this week. I didn't get a lot of photos (certainly not as many as I would have liked) but what I lack in quantity, hopefully I'll make up for in quality. Look for pics, stories and some original art to be posted here — including an inked sketch of Dune's Paul Atreides by Tom Scioli!

Meanwhile, if any of you are feeling mischievous, feel free to send the photo above to Aintitcool and tell them it's a spy image from the new Captain America movie. I'm in the mood for a good hoax.

HeroesCon 2007

So, any of you freaks going to the HeroesCon in Charlotte, N.C., this year? I've missed very few of them over the last 15 years, always attending on Saturday of the three-day event. Because of prior engagements this year, I'll probably be attending the con on the event's final day — Sunday — this year. Which is a first for me.

I've got a few photos from the previous events, but not nearly as many as I would have thought. Below are a few from 2007, when Rosario Dawson (sigh!) was the guest of honor.

The Hypno Pimp himself meets Steve Niles and artist Sarah Wilkerson. My current "life goal" involves splitting them up and making Sarah the next Mrs. The Creep.

 

This statue of Superman brought to you by the good folks at the Uncanny Valley.

Yeah, I'm a pervert so I'll just keep my mouth shut.

Harley Quinn: role model of co-dependent women everywhere.

You know what's weird about comic conventions? Seeing people physically fit enough to wear spandex superhero costumes. It's almost unsettling.

My friend Lee with Rosario Dawson, another future candidate for Mrs. The Creep.

About 1 second after this photo was taken, Egon got a little pissed and did his best Sean Penn impersonation. I was lucky that proton pack wasn't loaded, I guess.