And don't call me Oberhaupt!

You know how sometimes you don't realize something is missing from your life until it just suddenly falls into your lap? Well, here's the mash-up you never knew you'd been waiting for:

The B.P.R.D.'s JOHANN KRAUS

as PERRY WHITE

artwork by Guy Davis

Loading up on Staple!

Another year has come and gone, and Staple! has another great show to notch in its straining belt. I don't have any numbers, or rumors of numbers, or anything beyond my own wobbly eye to judge by, but it seemed as if there were even more people there than last year — and that was nearly a sold-out show, if I'm remembering correctly.

But that's enough sloppy speculation — how 'bout some photographic proof? Staple! featured some great guests and exhibitors, with a good mix of styles and genres. It seriously took me hours to make my way through the two halls, mostly because I lingered over something neat at nearly every table. Here's a small sampling of what — and who — I saw:


B.P.R.D. artist Guy Davis (warning: sound) is one of the nicest guys you could hope to meet, and certainly one of the nicest comic book creators I've met. Davis was doing free — FREE — sketches for folks, and was cheerful and chatty even though a line stretched away from his table and down the aisle. I wasn't going to let a chance like that go by, and Davis did a sketch (which he's working on in this picture) that is so incredibly awesome that I can't wait to show it to you .

Except I'll have to, because like a dumb-ass I forgot it at home. Ahem.


Speaking of cool guys doing awesome sketches, Keith Quinn was also generously doing free sketches and drew this picture of the indomitable Perry White for me. When I asked for a Perry, Quinn at first was a little stumped because he couldn't remember what he looked like, but then got down to business. When he was done he told me the coolest thing ever: "I was thinking, 'What does Perry White look like?' And then I thought, 'Perry White is his job — he's a loose tie and rolled-up sleeves.'" That just about made my day. Be sure to check out Quinn's all-ages webcomic, Local Heroes.


Hell, yeah! Y'know, Staple! doesn't generally get a lot of people in costume, so it was a treat when these guys walked in. How often do you get to run into Lex Luthor, the Penguin, Superman (or is that the Death of Superman-era Eradicator?) and Doctor Fate? They all looked pretty great, but my favorite had to be Lex — just look at him! He's perfect! And you can't tell from the picture, but every green part of his gun was lit up to look like a Kryptonite-charged killer. I loved it.


Luthor and the Penguin seem to be reminding the Mike Pruitt (left) and Rod Nunley of Geek Bombast about the importance of "insurance." I'm assuming they paid up, because a podcast recorded at Staple! is at their site just waiting for your tender ears.

Some other people at the sixth annual Staple! indie expo included:

Austin artist and comic book creator, Diana Sprinkle

Paul Maybury, creator of Aqua Leung, Hard Candy, and
the Maxy J. Millionaire and Party Bear webcomics

Yehudi Mercado, creator of the awesome-looking Buffalo Speedway
(a graphic novel I'll be reading tonight)

Andy Runton of Owly fame, who was also giving people
a peek at an Owly cartoon.

There were many, many more folks there, and believe me, these pictures really don't do Staple! justice — it's a show you should see for yourself!

Staple! Bound

It's that time of year again; the weather is warming up, the sun is shining a little brighter and Staple! — one of the best indie cons in the region — is just over the horizon.

I seem to say this every time, but I have to because it's always true — Staple! gets better every single year. Now on its sixth go-round, the independent media expo will again be an event you should attend if you're anywhere near the Austin area on March 6. Heck, even if you're not you should consider attending since the line-up will include:

• Guy Davis, the current artist on B.P.R.D.

• Andy Runton, who cranks up the cute with Owly

• Chris Schweizer, author of the Crogan's Adventure series of graphic novels, who will also be giving a talk on entertaining and educational cartooning

• Jason Neulander, the Austin-based producer, director, and co-creator of The Intergalactic Nemesis, a radio drama/stage show that has since spawned a "live-action graphic novel" and, finally, a comic book.

That's only the tip of the 85-plus exhibitors iceberg, and without fail every guest, exhibitor, artist, writer and miscellaneous creator has been engaging, friendly and more than willing to spend time with fans. Staple! is always a good time, and I really think it's on the verge of going big-time — go now so you can say you knew-it-when. Besides, it's only $5 to get in — five bucks!

Also, I'll be volunteering again this year, so if you see what you suspect is a sasquatch at the ticket booth, be sure to say hello. And I wouldn't say no to a cookie.

This year I'm especially excited about the performance of the first two episodes of the live-action Intergalactic Nemesis. It's a crazy fusion of media wrapped around a scene-chewing pulp center, featuring three actors, a Foley artist and a keyboardist set against a backdrop showcasing the work of local graphic artist Tim Doyle. The story itself is a period-action-sci-fi-horor-space-opera set in 1933 following the adventures of reporter Molly Sloan and her assistant, Timmy Mendez, as they cross swords with mesmerist Mysterion the Magnificent. And an invasion of sludge-monsters from the planet Zygon. As you might guess, it's pretty fantastic.

More information about The Intergalactic Nemesis in all its forms (issue #2 of the comic is due in stores soon and will also be available at Staple!), as well as future performances can be found at the Web site.

And again, that's just part of what is planned for this year's expo, so I hope to see you there — if you're missing Staple!, you're missing out.

•••

Staple!

March 6, 2010
Monarch Event Center
Austin, Texas

Doors open at 11 a.m.
Tickets: $5