The Thing Music and Art Festival Recap

The Thing music and arts festival had its inaugural event over this past weekend, August 24th and 25th right here in my neck of the woods at Fort Worden, a former early 1900s military base in Port Townsend, Washington. Sadly, due to family emergency I was only free to cover Sunday at THING, but I managed to pack a lot into my abbreviated visit.

Cool Projects #26

Due to some scheduling restraints, in this latest Cool Projects, I'd like to share a few of this weeks comics hitting shelves on August 21st...

Cool Projects #25

First off I want to give a shoutout to this great artist, Antony Hare, that has a very unique delivery style for collectors of his work.

Antony is a digital illustrator bring a really cool style in his art. He does portraits of celebrities and pop culture icons, comics, and has done commissioned word for many companies and publications.

A lot of artists will sell you actual prints, which is really cool, but in this case you get a high resolution file of the piece at a really affordable price through his online store. This allows you to use the illustration indefinitely at your discretion. You could use as screen savers, print it yourself or whatever.

Even Kevin Smith is a fan of Antony Hare's work, which is how I discovered. Check out his site and store for the digital downloads at www.ahpi.ca and www.tonicville.com respectively. Thanks to Antony for the art samples to share with you guys.

Boom Studios brings us a new horror adventure in Something Is Killing The Children.

This thriller brings us to a small town being terrorized by a series of murders, when a mysterious character, Erica Slaughter, shows up claiming to have the ability to stop the string of crimes.

Authorities become leery of her when she believes children's claim of monsters in the woods. Is Erica Slaughter a legit monster hunter, or just a crazy the police should worry more for the tight knit communities safety?

James Tynion spins this tale as the writer, with Werther Dell'Edera providing brilliant, dark visuals only fitting for this book. Boom Studios releases Something Is Killing The Children # 1 on September 4th. More info at boom-studios.com

Steve Strout is the media mastermind (haha) behind this site, host of the Comic Book Swap Meet, nerd, terrible artist, gamer, convention goer and comic book reader who spends more time rescuing toys from thrift shops than a normal adult should. He is also known around the northwest for his promotion of live music and stand-up comedy events and is the creator/producer of the Comic Book Swap Meet mini convention, and Olympic Peninsula Comedy Competition (which will make it's big return soon!). Follow him on Instagram at http://instagram.com/thestevestrout, and  He can be reached for comments at ptcomedy@yahoo.com on twitter at @thestevestrout

          

We Visited Page Turner Books in Kent, WA

I'm assuming you saw our recent post about our visit to the Retro Emporium in Kent, Washington. If not, check it out HERE.

While we were in the neighborhood, we stumbled across another great hidden gem of a shop that I felt needed to be mentioned, Page Turner Books. This place was definitely an unexpected surprise. 

Cool Projects #24

Were back with another Cool Projects article, featuring another great book from Valiant Comics and a crowdfunded comic that will have you feeling nostalgic for the books from the 80s and 90s!

This past week (July 31st) Valiant Comics released the first issues of Killers. Killers #1 is action packed right from the get go.

A series of retired ninja assassins are summoned by their mysterious sensei, Jonin back into the ninja operative life...but why? We will most definitely find out in the coming issues of this 5 book mini series, based on Valiants Ninjak comics. This looks like it's going to be a fun one.

The creative team of writer B. Clay Moore, with Fernando Dagnino doing the art, really tell this tale of this secret ninja organization perfectly. Check out Killers #1 from Valiant Comics.

And while on the topic of fun comics...I really think you guys will dig this indie comic in the crowdfunding stage.

Knuckle Supper Studios brings us Tales From Neroesville. Tales From Neroesville or TFN, brings us a universe full of superheroes, but issue one focuses on a pair of underdog heroes (Maybe less underdog, than underperformers), Airball and Lightning Doug featuring the creative team of D Jason Meadows, Andi Kurniawan, and Randy Sargent.

The two bumbling heroes start TFN issue 1 being outsmarted by a petty criminal, to be saved by a real superhero...who tips them off to a secret shindig for heros, which they weren't invited leading them to sneaking in to the party.

Tales From Neroesville is a very well put together comic, with some great art and straightforward dialogue. It reminds me of comics right our of the earlier days of Image Comics, with an abundance of over the top characters, put together with some great classic comic book art. This is really funny stuff, but really made me want to get to the next issue.

I think TFN would be a good project to support, especially if you love superheroes and have a sense of humor. It really brought to mind a 90s film called The Specials (from James Gunn). I'm definitely enjoying what I've seen.
Check out the Indiegogo campaign at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/tales-from-neroesville-issues-1-2-and-3?fbclid=IwAR19izj_wFvtojZ6-tnQ_bB01PsZSxIVcNTEQeEeR72I06e1MEt70XtOsQ0

Steve Strout is the media mastermind (haha) behind this site, host of the Comic Book Swap Meet, nerd, terrible artist, gamer, convention goer and comic book reader who spends more time rescuing toys from thrift shops than a normal adult should. He is also known around the northwest for his promotion of live music and stand-up comedy events and is the creator/producer of the Comic Book Swap Meet mini convention, and Olympic Peninsula Comedy Competition (which will make it's big return soon!). Follow him on Instagram at http://instagram.com/thestevestrout, and  He can be reached for comments at ptcomedy@yahoo.com on twitter at @thestevestrout

          

Guest Post: Jesse Daniel's SDCC experience

Our buddy Jesse Daniel sent us in a summary of his San Diego Comic Con experience this year including some great con going pointers. He a veteran so he knows what's up...check out and share Jesse's recap, and give him a follow on Instagram... www.instagram.com/the7thcandidate

The Return of the King: Attending the 50th San Diego Comic-Con

There's a certain sense of anticipation one feels when approaching the San Diego Convention Center from across Harbor Drive; seeing the infamous San Diego Comic-Con eye logo staring down at you from the many banners surrounding the venue, witnessing as the giant posters begin to decorate the many hotels that are adjacent, watching crews assembling offsite events that will be alive with patrons in only a few short days.