Back From Baltimore

I’m sure you guys are getting tired of hearing about Atomic Robo #1. But frankly that’s just too bad. Its my blog and I’ll post what I want.

And don’t forget to order Atomic Robo #2: Diamond order code SEPT07 3914. Red5 Pimps Our Wares –Go order Atomic Robo #2. NOW! Check out the Red5 link for easy on-line shopping.

This is a few weeks old yet new to me. (Its both good and bad that keeping track of Robo reviews is getting very difficult), but the guys at TheComicFanatic.com were really nice. To save you the scrolling and hunting I’m posting it here:

If you are looking to put a little fun into your monthly comic book reading, put Atomic Robo in your pull stack! Writer Brian Clevinger and artist Scott Wegener join forces to deliver a throwback of sorts…a fun retro, golden age-type comic book with a modern twist. And the star of this tale is none other than a smart @$$ robot whose job is to save the world!

Atomic Robo is the heroic creation of Nikola Tesla. Working behind the scenes, Atomic Robo has had his metallic hands in world shaping events over the years, fighting to save humanity. Think Mr. Roboto meets Captain America with just a dash of Deadpool… however, Cap never did it this way!

Although Atomic Robo has been active throughout history, this debut issue is set right before the events of World War II. In a throwback to a long gone, but not forgotten age of comics, it’s easy to tell who are the bad guys and who are the good guys. Real pulpy sci-fi that plays out like a potential Hollywood blockbuster.

Clevinger delivers some incredible dialogue that will instantly endear this new hero to readers. Atomic Robo is never at a loss for words, armed with more quips that actually weapons. The dialogue is snappy and tight and the story moves at a fantastic breakneck page-turning pace. This is one you won’t be able to put down.

As for the look of Atomic Robo #1…what can I say? Wegener delivers the perfect compliment to Clevinger’s story. A bit Mignola, a bit Oeming and all retro fun! Do not miss this one!

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The Baltimore ComiCon was good. Much more mellow than usual but, I liked it that way. Stanley Kubrick and Whitey Black were able to come along. I can’t imagine what a con would be like without these two anymore. I talked with Newsarama at the Baltimore ComiCon. Those guys are THE AWSUMZ. It was hugely gratifying when an hour or so after talking to the nice reporter lady from Newsarama that 2 of her companions returned to my table to buy Atomic Robo #1 after flipping through her copy.

I’m not sure exactly what Clevinger and I have done. But apparently it is comic book magic.

There was a really nice gathering on Saturday night to celebrate the life of Mike “Ringo” Wieringo. I never met Mike in person but I knew him through the various art forums I used to post to. Even as a well established industry pro he still took the time to scan the boards and comment on the work of us lowly “up-and-comers”. He always had something nice to say, and when he did critique it was always useful, and never mean.

On a lighter note, more than one anti-Atomic Robo person came to my table and had nothing but nice things to say about the book. What does that mean? Of course, you might be asking, “How does Scott know who these people are?” I don’t want to reveal my secret sources, but I will say that its very nice that a member of Team-Robo is insatiably curious as well as totally OCD.

But seriously, people who had given Robo luke-warm reviews or been blatantly hostile on certain news feeds came up, introduced themselves and were all sorts of sunshine and happiness. I’m confused, because I go out of my way to circumnavigate around the tables and booths of people whose work I don’t care for. Maybe they’ve been converted. lol

I was strangely pleased by the number of people who came to the table, gushed over the book, and then didn’t buy it. Not because they didn’t like it, but because they had already pre-ordered it. Which is probably better because then the retailers are seeing the book as well.

I stuck around after the Con to help my publisher Paul Ens at the Diamond Retailer’s show that happened on Monday/Tuesday. Talking to comic books fans at a regular show is great. Speaking directly with retailers –that’s fucking gold. And the retailers were really impressed with the line-up Red5 had to offer. I signed a few books, did a sketch, but mostly made comic book packets as fast as I could so Paul could hand them out. I’m really glad I stuck around, and not because I picked up so much swag at the retailer’s show that I needed to mail some of it home. But because meeting Paul in person and hanging out was a really great experience. I feel like I have a better understanding where he and Red5 are coming from, and where they want to go in the future. More than ever I’m really glad that Robo ended up at Red5.

So I left NH before noon on Friday and returned in the wee hours of the morning on Wednesday. I’m still tired. And since The Widget is back in school I’m also sick. I don’t know which exotic strand of the flu she gave us, but Dorinda and I are in sad shape.

For all you folks who have been patiently waiting for shirts –they arrived just in time for Baltimore and I set yours aside. I will mail them out this week. If the flu doesn’t kill me. Thanks for waiting!

Yesterday, despite wishing I was dead, I did Day for Kid’s with Double Midnight Comics. These guys have been huge supporters of Atomic Robo. Love. Them. I’ll be doing their GraniteCon at the end of the month. I was a zombie at DfK, and ahving the Widget along to “help” didn’t make the day go faster. But she had fun, and I did a bunch of sketches for the kids.

Okay, I’ve got some zombies to ink. . .if I can stay awake. I’m off.

Random Splendor:

A little Atomic Robo animation.

Oh Hell Yes!

The Stuff of Nightmares

Special Olympics Kung-Fu

Not a month yes has passed, and already I mock you Macio. we lol-catted the crap out of everything this weekend. I’m sure it was funny to no one but us.

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Workin’ hard. Sorta.

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Someone finally entered an image for the Legion of Brian no-contest contest! I love it. But the artist’s name is strangely not Brian.

From the mind of Whitey Black comes the future of Atomic Robo swag.

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I love this ad. Not because its funny. But because it makes my wife angry.

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How does one respond to this? There is just so, so, so much wrong with it.