If you missed the kick-off to this new Curls storyline, just click the “< Previous" arrow and check out the strip before this. I had a great time at Asbury Park Comic Con and wrote a blog all about our experiences there. Be sure to check it out. Our next confirmed tour date is Southern Maryland Comic-Con on July 7, 2012. Hope to see you then.
XOXO,
Carolyn
On Sunday, June 10, 2012 from 5 to 7PM, One More Page Books in Arlington, Virginia is hosting a fundraiser celebration to launch the Team Cul de Sac collection.
Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s contains original artwork from cartoonists and illustrators inspired by Richard Thompson’s comic strip Cul de Sac, including Bill Watterson (Calvin and Hobbes) and Garry Trudeau (Doonesbury). The originals will be sold at an online auction to raise money for Team Cul de Sac, which is part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The book comes out June 5, 2012 and One More Page Books have them available at the launch event or you can also pre-order the book from Sparking Design or Amazon. Several of the contributors live here in the DC area and will be on hand to sign copies.
Wine and light snacks to celebrate the launch of the book and a portion of the day’s sales will go to Team Cul de Sac.
I plan to attend this event since my Curls piece was selected to be a part of the book (http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2011/06/team-cul-de-sac.html) and to show my support for Team Culs de Sac! For more information about the news surrounding Team Cul de Sac, visit their blog here: http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com.
One More Page Books
2200 North Westmoreland Street #101
Arlington, VA 22213
On Saturday, May 12, 2012 Curls Studio journeyed to the land of Bam Bam Bigelow to exhibit at the first-ever Asbury Park Comic Con in New Jersey at Asbury Lanes, a bowling alley by day and rock club by night near the boardwalk. Since this was a new show, I wasn’t sure what to expect: the venue seemed cool, but my main concern as an exhibitor was the audience and hopes that people would show up. My expectations were mid-level with an exploring mind to check this show out, but this show soared above my estimate! We had a great time, ate tater tots, met new people, enjoyed awesome music, took photos in a cool retro photo booth, and did very well in regards of making table and more.
Many of the people we met had NEVER been to a comic convention before and were open about different types of books in the comic medium. Customers were looking for all-ages books and Kid Roxy and Black Magic Tales did very well! I got a few comments from guys about how they enjoy my art style and that even if the content isn’t ‘up their alley’ they respected the art. I take this as a compliment because my work is adorable and I understand if manly-men might not want to read it, but it’s great that they told me they enjoy the art. I would also instruct them to check out The Legettes!
There was also a little girl who came by the table four times for different purchases. She is our top repeat customer. It was so nice to see her with a little purse picking out a Curls patch, a button, and the first issue of Kid Roxy. I also drew her a sketch of Roxy Monroe from Black Magic Tales in her notebook. I think it’s awesome that kids read comics and can tell this segment of the comics industry will burst open soon. Many parents we talked to were enthusiastic to seek books and read with their children.
A treasure we got to discover after the show as we walked the boardwalk was Joe pointing out where the dance scene in the film “The Wrestler” between Mickey Rourke and Evan Rachel Wood took place. At first I didn’t believe him because it was such a random find, but the closer we got to the scene I realized Joe was correct. Another jewel to his film knowledge was presented! It is so great to stumble upon amazing landmarks like that. It reminded me of the time in 2009 at Pittsburgh Comicon where we saw the “Bean N Gone” in Monroeville, PA from Kevin Smith’s “Zack and Miri Make a Porno.”
The first annual Asbury Park Comic Con will kick-off on Saturday, May 12, 2012. The one day mini-convention will be held in the intimate setting of the Asbury Lanes, a small bowling alley and rock club at the Jersey Shore one block from the historic Asbury Park boardwalk.
Asbury Park Comic Con will feature a wide variety of comic book and pop culture purveyors as well as many comic book creators, artists and illustrators from the New York and Philadelphia metropolitan areas. Comic fans will have a rare opportunity to meet the artists, who will be available to sign books that will be sold at each artist’s table. Commissioned sketches are also available from many of the artists for a fee.
Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo will be representing Curls Studio with a table at Asbury Park Comic Con. We hope to see you there. Check out the website to see more of the fabulous guests who will be in appearing.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
10AM to 6PM
Asbury Lanes
209 4th Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Admission is $4 plus a .90 service charge. Visit www.asburyparkcomicon.com to reserve tickets to ensure entry in the event of high turnout.
I was lucky enough to take a rare non-comics related trip last month, yet still managed to get comics involved! Usually I spend my personal vacation time at New York Comic Con or other conventions along the east coast. This usually includes show prep, travel time, expenses, and loss of vacation days… so if I really think about it those aren’t vacations in the traditional sense at all! Don’t get me wrong, we do enjoy meeting fans at the shows, drawing commissions, and making Curls Studio more visible to the world, but let’s face it – that’s not a vacation. That’s working.
So it was such a treat to enjoy a relaxing time at Austin Books & Comics in Austin, Texas. Their store is amazing and had an excellent selection of material including indie, self-publishers, all-ages, back issues, trading cards, buttons, shirts, newly released comics, and more. In addition, everything was clean and the aisles were easy to navigate. Several comic stores I have seen seem mildewy and dark with the front display comics damaged by sun, but at Austin Books & Comics the books were in good condition and it was a fun experience to shop there. They even put on a lot of in-store events and support the local community of artists. Many of the local creators are tagged with signs to indicate their books including Bad Cat Comics #1 which features a hand-printed silkscreen cover. The employees were friendly and guided me next door to their other shop, Guzu Gallery, which focuses on art books, special children’s books, limited edition products, and designer toys.
In my eyes, Austin Books & Comics is doing it right by getting their customers excited and building a community base of fans and creators. The shop is beautiful and I hope more comic store head toward this direction. Even having a gigantic Hulk display is reason enough to come in the store.
Here is a photo of Jimmy Palmiotti’s Queen Crab on the shelves. Shameless plug: I have a pin-up in that book.
As you can see in the photo above, my (not so secret) stash from Austin is filled with many goodies that I look forward to reading. I also purchased a card game called Nuts and a pack of old ALF trading cards!
If you are interested in seeing more images from our trip, head on over to the Curls Studio Facebook page and give us a “like” while you’re there: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Curls-Studio/50763422380
We’re going out tonight
To kick out every light
Take anything we want
Take everything in sight
We’re goin’ til the world stops turning
While we burn it to the ground at night
YES! YES! YES! Curls Studio will be at WWE Monday Night RAW Live tonight April 9, 2012 from Washington, DC. We have even made signs in advance with your favorite characters CURLS and TOAST from http://www.curls-studio.com/curls and took photos so you can spot us in the crowd (we are in the 5th row off to the side corner), so record the show and if you see us send us a screen capture for a free gift of comics goodness from us. Email info[at]curls-studio.com to get in contact with us! You can watch live on your TV at 9PM eastern on USA Network. Enjoy the show.
