stormantic

This past Saturday, Isotope hosted Whitney Matheson of USA Today’s Pop Candy pop-culture blog who in turn invited Heroes artist Tim Sale as her special guest! People came from all over to meet up with Whitney, check out comics and have a great time! It was so exciting to see Isotope devotees and Pop Candy fans mingling! That’s what I loved most about this event–the social overlapping. How genius was it to have Whitney (a bright light of pop culture awesomeness) come to Isotope (the best comic book store in the universe) to meet up with Tim Sale (a superstar whose art soars in comics and on television) to throw a party? I love it when great things mix together like that! Everybody wins!

Thanks to Whitney and her amazing husband, Rhyne for bringing their inimitable brand of charm to the Isotope! It was a pleasure to meet them and to enjoy their company!

Whitney has great fans and I was surprised to hear that so many of them traveled as far as they did to meet up with her! Devotion is admirable, yes, but I found that Pop Candy folks are super sweet! Everyone I met was friendly, kind and gracious! Thank you all for your presence!

Thanks also to Tim Sale and his lovely girlfriend Christina for their time and energy as well! I know many people came away from this event very very happy (and I’m not just speaking from my own experience). Tim sketched some amazing art that night (and for much longer than originally planned).

You can read all about Whitney’s write up here and here. Thanks to all of the kind people who made mention of me in the comments section. I had to create a USA Today account just so I could thank them all properly. Consider this post another display of my gushing gratitude!

Tim Sale writes about his visit here.

James Sime, proprietor of Isotope, has a great wrap up here.

Matt Silady has photos here.

Wow! What a fantastic time! I’m a better person for having met and spent time with you all!

Oh yeah, the pic at the top is of Christina and yours truly. I’m holding a copy of Matt Maxwell’s Strangeways: Murder Moon! Get a copy from your local comics retailer today! Matt’s blog is here!

This is hands down my favorite Storm Sunday post! At last night’s event at the Isotope, artist Tim Sale drew me the pride & joy of my nascent collection of artist sketches. Tim had never drawn Ororo before and was really curious about my fascination with her. I talked his ear off about why Storm means so much to me after receiving this amazing piece of artwork! I’ve been a fan of Tim Sale’s since reading some battered copies of The Long Halloween. It was an honor to meet the man himself!

Not only is Tim an accomplished artist, as evidenced by his work for NBC’s Heroes, DC Comics and Marvel, I’m happy to say that he’s a perfect gentleman and a very kind, considerate and compassionate man. One would think this anyway after viewing his lush linework and emotive washes, but after having dinner with Tim and his lovely partner Christina, I am convinced of it. I was fortunate enough to hear stories about his career, his father and how Christina and he met. It was all so inspiring and amazing and my admiration for the man has increased a hundredfold!

After working last night’s event (which I will write about more fully in a separate post), I sat at my desk for a long time, just staring at this rendition of my namesake, my hero and my inspiration. There was a time (a very long time ago) when I believed that she was all I had to aspire to, because the flesh and blood people in my life weren’t people I wanted to emulate. These days, the universe is showing me just how wonderful and beautiful people can be. All of a sudden, I’m surrounded by them. And I feel very very fortunate and blessed that for a brief moment, Tim Sale was one of those people. I encourage you, dear reader, to seek out his work and make it a part of your collection.

***And for those of you in San Francisco, Tim has generously allowed Isotope to showcase original artwork from Heroes for a few weeks! Pop in and check out the work and pick up a copy of Batman: Dark Victory, Batman: The Long Halloween, or Superman: For All Seasons!

Folks, I’ve been remiss and haven’t given you the skinny on Writers Old Fashioned, an amazing group of comic writers (and artists) who I get to pal around with on the occasional Sunday. Fate is kind!

Writers Old Fashioned is full of fine folks with amazing talent and drive and we were out in fine fashion this WonderCon! Maybe you saw our booth in Artist’s Alley? Maybe you checked out the wares of Matt Silady, Kirsten Baldock, and Jason McNamara? Well, never fear if you were unable to grace us with your presence! Fate (i.e. the internet) has been kind in promoting what Writers Old Fashioned has been up to. Hint: We were busy busy bees!

David Brothers covers WonderCon Day 1 & Day 2:

http://www.4thletter.net/?p=961

http://www.4thletter.net/?p=984

Matt Silady reveals his “triple threat” plans for 2008:

http://tinyurl.com/2794zv

Newsarama shows us some love:

http://tinyurl.com/ywd8uj

Newsarama writes about the Isotope party for Darwyn Cooke (check out our very own Danger Bob working a Writers Old Fashion-able t-shirt):

http://tinyurl.com/2kgwlc
Pictures from the Isotope party honoring Ben Templesmith & Antony Johnston :

http://tinyurl.com/2xqphy
Pictures from the Isotope party honoring Darwyn Cooke:

http://tinyurl.com/2g236a

You can visit the Writers Old Fashioned website here. Check out everyone’s bios and see what they’ve got cooking! And check back on the website often as we update!! I’ll do my best to cross post over here as well! Jason McNamara and I ham it up at the Writers Old Fashioned booth. This man is a caution! His wit will astound you. Think you’re beyond blushing? Think you’ve heard it all? Well, don’t say I didn’t warn you! Be sure to check out his new comic The Martian Confederacy, drawn by Paige Braddock! It will be out in July 2008!

On the other hand, Emily Stackhouse is the epitome of etiquette. In this photo, she shows off her inimitable fashion sense while my head disappears into fluorescent lighting! Yippee! Ms. Stackhouse is working on a mini-comic called Brazilianoir! Be sure to keep an eye out for it!

Some more photos from WonderCon of some serious people playing dress up! Cobra Commander, Baroness, Storm Shadow.
Comics Creator Basie S., a Dalek and Doctor Who.
This guy was quick to agree to have his picture taken, but his expression is so dour that I wonder why he even bothered. Nice outfit though.
Holy Hogwarts! They’ve certainly got their brooms and wands at the ready!
I don’t know what this is from, I’m guessing some kind of manga? But I loved this costume. And he came to the Isotope party for Darwyn Cooke too (in costume! hardcore!)!

Those of you already immersed in the world of four color funnies already know that there are strong men who dress in brown knickers and drive big trucks to comic book stores all over the country on Wednesday to bring boxes of COMICS to specialty comic stores! But do you know about the COOLEST Comic Book Store that’s also a great place to hang out?

Well, let me introduce to you the Isotope! It’s a swanky comic book lounge stocked with the latest floppies, trade paperbacks, graphic novels, mini comics and staffed by fun folks who LOVE comics!

Seriously, it doesn’t matter to James Sime, Kirsten Baldock, Josh Richardson or Matt Silady whether you’re a Marvel Zombie, Vertigo Vixen, or Dark Horse Devotee! You can have your Hulk and Courtney Crumrin, your Fables and Suicide Squad, or your Persepolis and Madman!

So, if you live in San Francisco, get thee to Gough & Fell and tell ‘em I sent you! And if you don’t happen to live here, then check out their site (especially the Comic Rockstars Toilet Seat Museum) to feel the love, baby.

See you there on Wednesday!