Download on iTunes or listen here.

“There are basically 10 alien species that are described in the main book and most of the stories that are written use those aliens that sort of cast alien types. Each story has a cast of characters that’s unique to the story however each author came up with their own set of characters.”

HAVE BLASTER is anthology of fiction created by today’s popular science fiction authors based on Taylor’s roleplaying game BULLDOGS by Galileo Games. The authors include: Mur Lafferty, Greg Stolze, Nathan Lowell, Eddy Webb, Gareth Skarka, Nathan Crowder, Jared Axelrod, and Christiana Ellis. It’s edited by J.R. Blackwell, who Brennan describes as integral in managing the entire project as an equal partner to him while he handled the Kickstarter management.

“There isn’t a lot of adult content. I would classify it as PG-13. The stories are mostly action oriented although there are a couple that have a little bit of suspense mixed in but it’s mostly space action.”

Marketing and distribution is a something Brennan is tackling on every front possible. He’s planning on getting HAVE BLASTER up on Amazon and DriveThru Fiction.

We spent about 50% of the hour talking about Kickstarter. Brennan has been involved with several successful campaigns. We covered what makes a good campaign, how it gets better after the first one, and the pros/cons of the back end interface in case you’re interested in launching your own project.

If you’re in the northwest NJ area on the weekends, Brennan and his daughter have a gaming night at Riverside Coffee & Tea in Clinton at 6pm. You can get the info and RSVP through Meetup.

LINKS:

Twitter

Galileo Games

DexCon 15

Balticon

TODAY’S DRINK RECIPE:

1 part VanGogh Caramel Vodka

2 parts Godiva liqueur

Drizzle inside of the glass with Hershey’s syrup.

Put liquids and ice into a shaker and … shake!

Pour into glass.

Top with whipped cream and chocolate covered espresso bean

VISIT OUR SPONSOR!

You can pick up your copy of GIMME SHELTER, a zombie apocalypse story by Galileo Games, at DriveThruFiction.

PHOTO BY BABS 2011

Amber Love 16-MAY-2012 This episode of VODKA O’CLOCK podcast my special guest is JAMES HATTON from the NJ STEAMPUNK WORLD’S FAIR which is happening this weekend May 18-20th in Piscataway.

Download on iTunes or listen here!

Join us for an hour to hear about all the incredible events planned for the SPWF. Unlike a comic con which is focused on panels and company announcements, the SPWF is a mecca for social gathering no matter what your “status” is in the steampunk subculture. You honestly don’t have to feel pressured to putting together the most elaborate aviatrix attire with real working mechanisms on your jetpack. There will certainly be people who have that but jeans and comfy clothes are perfectly fine.

The theme for the 2012 SPWF is THE CIRCUS so you will want to make your way to The Midway area as soon as you arrive. There’s rumor that a trapeze may actually get set up! There will be a “maker faire” style area. The absinthe tasting is available with the VIP pass.

Jamie is immersed in the entire NJ subculture scene including comics, horror, burlesque to the fine world of steampunk. You’ll be able to find him at places such as Roxy & Duke’s in Dunellen, Wild Pig Comic Cons, and every nook of the interwebs.

LINKS:

Steampunk World’s Fair Site

In His Likeness

Jamie Hatton on Twitter (and everywhere else just search “revvoice”)

JEN AS MOCKINGBIRD

16-MAY-2012 This is the second MOCKINGBIRD costume I’ve had the privilege of making. The first was back in 2009. I thought I documented it at HeroFashions (on blogger) but because the suit was a commission for my friend Jen and she was going to debut it at a convention, the steps were never posted. I waited until I got her convention pictures and then made a short post about that. It was the same time Jill was a Rage Lantern with the Dex-Starr prop I helped her make. So even though I never got to go to SDCC, my work was there!

A few weeks ago someone on The Superhero Costuming Forum spotted one of Jen’s San Diego pictures in the vast photo library of costumes. Jen had courteously credited me with the bodysuit’s design and construction. Paul sent me an email to see if I could make a similar suit for his wife Marie. I am terrible about checking my SCF email through the boards so it was simply luck that it hadn’t been sitting there too long which would have made Paul seek help elsewhere.

Last week, everything I touched with my sewing machine was a disaster and I pretty much swore off doing commissions. I had an identical experience in 2011 and said I needed to stop for a while until my confidence and skills returned. Two days ago I had even tossed an almost completed suit into the trash; I fished it out the next day and maybe when I’m not in Hulk rage mode, I’ll rip out the stitches and fix it. This meant I was down right terrified to start Marie’s Mockingbird costume when the fabric arrived today.

Right off the bat, my the draft of the pattern that had made on muslin was ruined when I looked at it upside-down and therefore confused the shoulder opening for the leg opening and cut it wider. When I realized what I had done, I threw the muslin pattern in the garbage and resorted to using the spandex mock up instead. It meant that there would be side seams which I was trying to avoid. It was something critical that I had to decide: to try and make a suit like Jen’s without side seams and hope it would come together properly OR use a pattern draft that had more pieces, more seams but was closer to the original figure skater commercial where this originated (Kwik Sew 3502). This time the fabric came from Spandex World, Milliskin Shiny Navy.

AVENGERS ALLIANCE

I love this classic style of leotard from the boom of comics. Mockingbird’s modern full bodysuit is gorgeous too but I haven’t tackled that one yet. I really enjoy the simpler ones when it comes to knowing my sewing limitations. According to ComicVine, Mockingbird aka Bobbi didn’t receive her first real costume until the Bronze Age of Comics and it was full bodysuit which looks like a fusion of the leotard – using the same style top half and bell sleeves – with the modern version that is full length. Today, in stead of a bird themed mask, Mockingbird wears beautiful amber goggles (much like my own) and more tactical accessories. As far as I know, Mockingbird is still happily part of the New Avengers. She’s also available in the Avengers Alliance video game.

Designing = 2 hours

Cutting = .5 hr

Sewing = 3.5 hours

	Since I had made a Mockingbird costume for my friend Jen in 2007, I was hoping I could use the same pattern. Marie's size was one up from Jen so I had to enlarge it slightly.
	The pattern pieces for the body suit were created in the new size. The sleeves in the XS were still fine to use.
	May 16, 2012 - The marathon began. You can see how much fabric just one sleeve takes which is why this "little" costume still requires 2.5 yards of fabric. I made the fold as lateral from the midline as I could get hoping to preserve some fabric. It didn't matter much. I could have put the fold right down the middle.
	Laying out the back and front of the bodysuit. The front pattern piece included the middle section of the body which would be in a contrast color - in this case white. I folded that part of the pattern piece out of the way to cut the navy.
	All of the pieces cut out including a small collar.
	I backed the collar piece with interfacing and zig zagged around the whole thing. Trimmed off as much of the white interfacing as possible.
	Simple hand stitching of the collar. It was folded in thirds so there would be no stitches visible from the front.
	A look at the finished collar.
	The collar was essentially a "tube" so I threaded a length of bias tape through the inside of it to use as a tie.
	Each sleeve was stitched with an overlocking stitch along the long seam. The wrist side was hemmed first by putting in an overlocking stitch around the whole thing then folding over the hem and top stitching.
	A look at the bell shaped sleeve.
	Primary construction is done. The panels of the back are stitched & zipper installed; the front panels are stitched to make a solid front; the sleeves are ready to install.
	The very exposed neckline of Mockingbird required that some top stitching be done along the vertical navy sides and the horizontal white chest piece.
	The front was attached to the back at the shoulders and side seams.
	A look at the costume almost completed. The sleeves installed to the bodysuit and the collar on display. The only part left is the installing the elastic around the legs.
	Another look at it almost completed. Because the dress form is on a peg stand not hanging, there's no way to display anything once legs are stitched.
	A view of the sleeve flared out.
	A view of the back on display. The pattern used a 22" inch zipper.
	The first step of installing the elastic is to cut the segments then hand stitch into loops. Second, install the loop of elastic close to the edge of the legholes using a zig zag stitch. Then fold over for a clean hem and top stitch.
	COMPLETED! The suit has to be hung to see the completed project.

SUPERHERO WEEKEND is OCT 6-7, 2012

The 2012 SUPERHERO WEEKEND should be bigger and better than ever. With a lot of support from comics fans, the creators, and publishers, we are looking forward to bringing new experiences this year. There will be a facepainter which is something we first tried this year for Free Comic Book Day. It was a success so we happily invited Rebecca back for Superhero Weekend. We are also very excited to welcome John Brown and his 1966 Batmobile to this year’s celebration! John will be able to wrangle at least three Bat vehicles for photo opportunities. The Star Wars 501st Legion is confirmed. The East Coast Avengers and League of Lanterns have been invited.

Full details about our artists and the cosplay casting are on the Facebook event page. You can RSVP there with the character you want to portray.

SUSAN STORM by ADAM HUGHES

In our first year, we started somewhere around $2,000 for the charity and each year it grew. 2010 was a record-breaking year not only for gross intake but also because the single item intake of the Adam Hughes’ Susan Storm-Richards sketch that fetched $7,000! That one piece alone was pretty much equivalent to the three previous years combined.

The event was focused on Wonder Woman as our figurehead for female role models in comics but at Comic Fusion, we’ve always allowed other characters in the auction as well. Last year we really encouraged opening up the pool for other characters in order to have the best diversity in our auction sketches.

GUESTS & PRESS:

We’re hoping some of our favorite guests will join us again like Joe Sinnott, Pete & Christie Marston and Jamal Igle. We’ve confirmed great artists Chris Flick, Tom Smith and Tom Schloendorn. If you’re an artist and interested in participating through donating a piece to the auction or coming in for a signing, please email me at amberlovescomics at gmail dot com. If you have a blog or podcast and would like to interview someone involved, you can contact me as well. The more media involvement, the better.

In 2010, I was able to write up some interviews with a few of the contributing artists. You can check the 2010 hub of articles.

2007:

2008:

2009:

2010:

2011:

	By moving up our date to earlier in October, we're hoping to avoid situations like this.	Stacy Korn with one of our special guests, Jamal Igle.
		Amber with special guest Neil Vokes

CLOCKWORK INTERIORS BY BRETT WELDELE

Amber Love 10-MAY-2012 This week’s episode of VODKA O’CLOCK features one of my Comics Experience cohorts of crime.. I mean, of COMICS, of course, PAUL ALLOR, writer and editor! It’s not just an hour-long infomercial about Comics Experience, I promise. You’ll get to know Paul and what makes him driven to creating comics full of deep characters and new worlds.

• Download on iTunes or listen here.

Paul tells me all about a deathrow inmate whose story he covered as a journalist and its incredible impact on the people of that inmate’s life. This story later inspired one of Paul’s comics in CLOCKWORK. The story X-ROW was illustrated by Aaron Houston. It’s one of the stories that shows how Paul tried to think outside the box and in comics that means outside the panel. He wrote panels that are not linear in a form typically structured around sequence. I wanted to get Paul’s insight about how to use a sympathetic villain.

“This is kind of a cliché but it’s really true that no one sees themselves as the villain of their own story. You always have to keep that in mind as well.”

CLOCKWORK INTERIORS BY CARL PETERSON

We compared Superman the Boy Scout to Batman, since ARKHAM ASYLUM by Grant Morrison was the first comic Paul read at the inappropriate age of 10. Superman brings something to table regarding our allegiances to parents or governments to which we feel we are obligated – how a character is burdened with that power between doing the right thing and making someone else proud.

“I think a hero can be interesting without being gritty and tortured.”

Paul’s modern favorites include Scott Snyder’s BATMAN yet he’s found his love of comics rooted deeply in the indie comics scene or “big” indie such as Dark Horse, Oni, and Image.

CLOCKWORK is Paul’s first volume of five-page stories with 12 different artists which he cleverly used as a writer’s portfolio. When visiting with editors and publishers at comic conventions, artists have the convenience of showing a portfolio either with actual folios and paper or even with novelties like iPads; but writers end up handing over a business card with nothing memorable to show for their work. Paul invested a lot of his own money into printing many copies of CLOCKWORK to hand to editors. Anything mailed out received a personalized cover letter targeted to that publisher.

Paul is writing a short story in OXYMORON for Comixtribe and is paired with one of his CLOCKWORK artists, Aaron Houston. There’s also a second volume of CLOCKWORK in the pipeline.

“I should have had something longer ready to put out right after CLOCKWORK came out. That’s the biggest mistake I have made is that I put all my effort into these five-page stories and I got that out there. And then I started working on something longer and as a result those efforts are just starting to come to fruition.”

WHY PAUL ISN'T AN ARTIST

Writing a five-page story can in many ways, be harder to accomplish than a typically sized one-shot of 22 pages. He learned an important lesson about not stopping. He achieved something important to his career with his first graphic novel and focused on the networking so much that creating anything new took a backseat.

Another important lesson learned is accepting your limitations. Paul wrote CLOCKWORK and despite having taken some necessary courses in art, design and lettering, Paul brought three other people on board just for the cover. As it turns out, he learned that he really enjoys lettering comics.

“I didn’t have the proper respect for what letterers do until I took that class,” Paul said about the Comics Experience Lettering course.

You can learn all about the artists of CLOCKWORK at the official site. You’ll be impressed by all of them. Some familiar names to bigger indie fans are JM Ken Niimura (I KILL GIANTS), Brett Weldele (THE SURROGATES), and Matthew Wilson (WONDER WOMAN). I gush ridiculously over Silvio dB who I predict will be a huge name in comics with the sci-fi and noir genre indie books.

Paul is the editor of Robert Anderson’s REX, ZOMBIE KILLER from Big Dog Ink. It’s a heartfelt comic with some violence but seems appropriate for younger audiences. Art is by Dafu Yu. Paul also edited DELUGE by JD Oliva and Richard Clark about a riveting crime story set just in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Also in the pipeline is GUTTER MAGIC by Rich Douek and Brett Barkley and colors by Donna Gregory (see video trailer below).

LINKS:

* CLOCKWORK can be found online for free or you can purchase a printed version.

* Paul’s blog that he swears he updates once every five years at least.

* Paul’s Twitter where he’s more susceptible to razzing.

* Comics Experience, the place where love happens, I mean comics.. where comics happen. Paul is the moderator of the CE book club. You would be amazed the sort of guests that we get.

GUTTER MAGIC TRAILER:

SLIM & POSH 4

This page had me worried for one reason. I’m quite against animal testing for human gain. I know it’s a requirement and understand the FDA logic (that’s our agency in the US). It still feels very wrong to me. I want people to know that their cosmetics and pharmaceuticals go through animal testing (unless specified) but I don’t like to preach about it. I was afraid that’s how it would come off. Awareness > Preaching.

I once wore a Body Shop t-shirt that states “Against Animal Testing” on it and a former boss asked me what alternate I could come up. I’m a mean bitch and said, “Prisoners.” I’m sorry but rapists, murderers, Ponzi scheme masterminds — they are treated too well in our US system; more money goes to care for a prisoner than for a student.

I don’t for one moment believe that is a serious option but I think there has to be something else besides animal testing.

Thanks to Elizabeth Voss, Andrew Moser, Jesse Parrino, Diana Meneses, Ashley Neuhaus, Ally Cat, and Gregg Gentile for adding a touch of flair to COMIC FUSION’S facade.

Inside the store, we were lucky to have Tom Schloendorn and Chris Muller cranking out sketches for the shoppers. Tom has already confirmed that he’ll be back for our huge fundraiser in October.

CAR SHOWS

The Flemington BID (Business Improvement District) asked if we’d have more costumers for the bi-monthly car shows. One year, I worked every single show alone pulling out all of my suits varying from Disney to Superhero. This year, we’d love to beef up these appearances.

* Would you be able to join us?

* How do you feel about having themes?

* Are you on Facebook if we organize each roll call as an Event?

Much of the business at COMIC FUSION is gaming, specifically Magic: The Gathering and Heroclix. MTG is a fantasy style like World of Warcraft or Dungeons & Dragons. I think it’s a great opportunity to celebrate the gaming community by having one of the Saturday cosplays inspired by it. Anything that you’d wear to a Ren Faire seems appropriate. Heroclix uses game pieces sculpted in DC and Marvel characters. We could declare a DC night and a Marvel night for the costumes.

SUPERHERO WEEKEND OCTOBER 6-7th

The COMIC FUSION staff and the board members of SAFE in Hunterdon are already having meetings to prepare for this year’s Superhero Weekend (formerly Wonder Woman Day). All benefits from the comic art auction and raffles go directly to SAFE to continue providing services for survivors of domestic violence. We’re already booking our in-store artists that are there for signings but might also be willing to do con sketches. The Star Wars 501st Legion is already booked to join us too.

I posed several questions last week and received a few great ideas. Let’s keep up this interaction to make 2012 the best Superhero Weekend ever!

* What else can we do to make the Comic Fusion SUPERHERO WEEKEND better?
* What would you like to see planned for activities in the store?
* Are you willing to help out?
* Can you sponsor the travel of a comic professional to make an appearance at the shop to draw people in?
* Will you be one of our cosplayers?

WEAPONS POLICY – only prop weapons allowed (plastic, foam, boffers) and no swinging swords/sabers on the sidewalk near other people; have common sense. If there is rehearsed stage combat, it needs to be done away from the pedestrian area.

I like to break up the process unless I’m under a really tight deadline.  One day on design; one day on cutting; one day on initial construction then build up from there. This pretty much keeps me from making more mistakes than I normally do. I have done marathons, making suits over a two-day stretch and it’s kind of fun but exhausting. I definitely get punchy and delirious doing marathon sewing.

The initial designing and pattern making took 2 hours; 1 day for cutting; 2 hours basting stitches; 2.5 hours one day just on the chest logo, sleeves and collar; 1 day spent 1 hour to install the zipper; next day 2 hours to put the elastic around the leg holes. Final sewing was making the sash one morning.

	I had previously done the design before on a separate day. I began laying everything out for the suit on April 6, 2012 using muslin for a pattern. I based it off of Kwik Sew #3502 and had to create custom modifications.
	Began the layout and cutting.
	The pieces all cut and laid out.
	Phase I sewing is basting stitches on the main parts to see if the design works.
	The chest emblem - the biggest problem and mistake I made was because of this logo. I used Wunder Under as fabric stabilizer and then forgot to peel off the paper backing. I sewed the paper INTO the suit! But don't worry, I figured out later how to fix it.
	I did three passes of zig zag stitching around the emblem to give it the best embroidery look possible. The first pass was with all purpose thread in a gold color but the final two passes were with some expensive metallic gold thread. It give it such a better "pop."
	By April 20th, there was a lot of progress. The sleeve may seem "unfinished" but there's a reason. The customer is going to make the gloves and stitch them in place. I hate making gloves!
	On May 3rd, I had an epiphany for how to fix the logo with the paper trapped inside. I cut into the suit from inside carefully not to go through; only the body suit part needed a slice in it; I could stick my hand in and peel off all the paper; then I loosely hand stitched the suit back together, not too tight because I didn't want a bumpy seam and I want it to be flexible.
	I tested the suit to make sure there weren't any glaring problems with it on a real body instead of the dress form.
	On May 4th, 2012 I fixed the logo as I thought of the night before and it actually worked well; then made the sash. The scarf was free form. I cut two lengths of spandex 14" across; stitched them together; checked where it would fall when tied around my waist & worked on it that way before realizing it was a scarf not a sash like the black version of the costume!; trimmed and did the final stitching. The ends are cut on angles and top stitched.

I’m dividing my time between my local shop where I work part time, COMIC FUSION on Saturday, May 5th from noon-3pm. Their FCBD event is planned to run until 5pm and then Saturday night gaming will take over around 6pm. We’re having a few of the best costumers spend some time with us which is always something Flemington people talk about months later. Our townspeople LOVE costumed folks. We have artists Chris Muller and Tom Schloendorn (from the Inkwell Awards) joining us inside to talk to people about comic art and do some free sketching. I’ll be photographer for the day and I’ll sketch too if people are interested in my doodles. The address is Comic Fusion, 42 Main St, Flemington, NJ 08822.

Then some of us will head over to the end of day one at WILD PIG’s con in the Embassy Suites of Somerset. There’s an after party planned at O’Brien’s Tavern and it will be exclusively for the WILD PIG attendees! Sunday, May 6th is the second and final day of the con. This is a sale that I talk about often. Tons of back issue bins for cheap and half-priced trades; first come, first served basis. The show is in combined effort with the Comic Geek Speak Supershow.