Free Comic Book Day at Shellback Artworks, May 7, 2016!

I had a nice lunch with Eric Talbot today, and afterwards handed over to him two drawings I did recently, both of which he had agreed to apply his amazing inking talents to. One of them -- this group shot of the Turtles --

-- is intended to be used as the basis for an 11" by 17" color print (with Steve Lavigne colors!) which will be offered for sale at Steve's Shellback Artworks store in Wells, Maine on Free Comic Book Day, which is on May 7 this year (less than a month away!). Eric has also agreed to appear along with me and Steve at Shellback on that day. Yahoo!

If all goes well, and the ink flows readily, we might even have a second 11" by 17" color print available that day -- based on this drawing:

... featuring Leonardo in a life-and death struggle with a malevolent tree spirit! I don't know who will be doing the colors for this piece, but I think it will likely be Eric. I can't wait to see what he does with the inks on these two drawings! -- PL

Free Comic Book Day: May 2, 2015 signing at Shellback Artworks

I haven't actually counted, but I think I have done more signings at Steve Lavigne's "Shellback Artworks" comic and art supplies emporium than any other comic book store. This Saturday, May 2, along with Steve, I will be doing another one at Shellback, located at 1509 Post Road in Wells, Maine, for the annual "Free Comic Book Day" event. I believe there will be physical printed copies of issue #31 of TMNT Volume 4 for sale at Shellback (I've been told they exist, even though I have yet to actually see one!).

Should be fun! -- PL

[The photo above -- one of my favorites -- is from June of 2012, just before Steve opened Shellback Artworks... which means the store has been open almost three years. Way to go, Steve! Congratulations!]

Fun at Free Comic Book Day

I had a great time this weekend appearing with Steve Lavigne and Eric Talbot on Saturday -- "Free Comic Book Day" -- at Steve's "Shellback Artworks" store in Wells, Maine. JIm Lawson was sick and couldn't make it, which was a bummer (hope you get well soon, man!), but otherwise it went really well -- lots of people, lots of signing, and free pizza (courtesy of Steve and Denise).

Two things stood out as quite memorable, the first of which was the sixteen-year-old girl who showed up with her parents, all the way from Florida. This trip to Maine to see us (and later Kevin Eastman, who was signing over at Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH -- one town away from Somersworth, NH, where the first TMNT comics were printed) on "Free Comic Book Day" was her "sweet sixteen" birthday wish, and her parents (cool people, obviously) granted it. Here's Steve signing the back of her t-shirt, as he dad and mom look on:

I wish I could remember her name -- I think it might be Stephanie or Melanie, but given how bad I am with names, I'm probably wrong. (Maybe she'll see this and write in to correct me -- that would be nice.*) We were all very touched by how happy she seemed to be in meeting us and getting her Turtle stuff autographed.

The second thing was the unexpected appearance of someone from our two years in the early 1980's in Dover, NH, someone that I thought I'd probably never see again… but, in one of those strange and wonderful "small world"-type of phenomena, she happens to be a friend of Steve's wife Denise. Here's a photo of the two of us which Steve took:

The woman in the photo is Carol Salava, who was a Justice of the Peace in Dover when we lived there, and in the summer of 1983, officiated at our wedding in the back yard of our house on Union Street. I was quite frankly flabbergasted that she showed up at the signing, but very, very pleased to see her again. As you can see from the following photo of Carol marrying me and Jeannine back in 1983, we've both changed a little bit:

… but I have to say that Carol still has the warm, friendly personality I remember from our dealings with her in those early days. What an unexpected treat! -- PL

*And so she did, a few days after I posted this entry -- thanks, Melanie Servidio!

May 4, 2013: Free Comic Book Day at Shellback Artworks!

I'm late with this post (sorry, Steve!), but better late than never, right? This Saturday, May 4, I will be appearing at Steve Lavigne's "Shellback Artworks" comic book/art supplies store at 1509 Post Road in Wells, Maine, for the annual "Free Comic Book Day" event. I'll be signing stuff along with Steve and Jim Lawson this Saturday from noon until 4PM. See you there! -- PL

P.S. And if you want to see the other TMNT co-creator, Kevin Eastman, he'll be signing at Jetpack Comics in Rochester, NH, on the same day. I think it's about half an hour's drive from one place to the other.

More images from Free Comic Book Day 2009

Here are a few more photos from Free Comic Book Day last Saturday in Rochester, NH. This first one is of a young lady named Meagan Windham, who asked for -- and got -- her shirt signed by all of the Mirage dudes.



A photo of Jim Lawson signing her shirt was featured in an article in "Foster's Daily Democrat", a local paper -- here's the link for the online version: http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090503/GJNEWS_01/705039837

This little dude below is, I think, one of those "second generation" TMNT fans we've started to encounter at shows.



These two gentlemen came in their cool homemade costumes -- that's Brandon Berry as Casey Jones, and T.K. Travis as the Shredder.



There were some folks selling these cool horns at the show -- they're held on by elastics, and really fit quite well. I like how the positioning of the camera's lens in this one of Mike Dooney about to take a photo makes him look kind of like some weird Cyclops.



And here we all are, modeling the latest in demonic cranial excrescences.



Unfortunately, I lost the business card of the people who make these fine add-ons. I thought they were very nifty. -- PL

Free Comic Book Day in Rochester, NH

I'm back home after a busy, somewhat exhausting day at Free Comic Book Day in Rochester, NH. This event was put on by Ralph DiBernardo of Jetpack Comics (that's the name of his store in Rochester). Jim, Mike, Dan, Steve and I got there a little bit before 10AM, and I was signing almost non-stop from then until about 3PM, with a little break for lunch (ten minutes, at the table). As the event wound down towards its close at 4PM, I took advantage of the moment to take the photos which make up this panoramic view from my seat at the Mirage Studios tables.



Steve Lavigne and Mike Dooney can be seen on my left, and Jim Lawson is on my right. Dan Berger was behind Mike -- I don't think you can see him in this image.

I'd like to thank Ralph and all the people who showed up for FCBD... and my Mirage Studios pals for making it a fun trip. -- PL

On the road to FCBD...

I was originally planning to ride a motorcycle -- probably my Gold Wing -- to New Hampshire for Free Comic Book Day, along with Jim Lawson and Steve Lavigne. Unfortunately, the predicted weather for today and Saturday was just too iffy, and that plan got shelved.

So today Mike, Jim, Dan and I drove up to Portsmouth (where we're staying overnight) in my car. Here's a photo taken by Eric Talbot (who can't come with us, sob, weep, wail!) just before we took off from Mirage early this afternoon:



I drove, and I like to take some non-highway roads to get to Portsmouth. One of these led us close to "Madame Sherri's Castle" (which I have blogged about before), and I aksed the guys if they'd like to check it out. They were interested, so I took them there. Here's a photo I took of Jim bravely climbing to the top of the ruined staircase:



... and here's a photo of Jim, Mike and Dan with that same staircase:



This little digression, plus a stop at the Vermont Deli in Brattleboro (where Mike bought a cookie that was almost as big as his head), and a later one to a Toys 'R' Us for a bathroom break, may have led to our being a little bit late in meeting up with Steve Lavigne in Portsmouth. Okay, it was also my missing the entrance to Route 95, which led us to travel some miles up the coastal road to Portsmouth -- nice views of the ocean, but definitely not as quick.

But Steve forgave us, and we all had a nice dinner at the Rusty Hammer in the center of Portsmouth. Being a little tired after dinner, I bid adieu to the dudes, who were going out on the town, and headed back to the hotel. I hope they had a lot of fun. Not TOO much fun, though... we have to work tomorrow! -- PL

Jake Black benefit print at FCBD

Some of you may be aware that our friend Jake Black, writer on several issues of "Tales of the TMNT", was recently diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma. We're all rooting for Jake, and to help out a little with his medical bills, the dudes at Mirage put together this jam drawing, which we have made into a print to be sold for the first time at Free Comic Book Day in Rochester, NH, tomorrow. Mike Dooney started it off with his Leonardo, then I added Donatello, followed by Dan Berger's Casey Jones, Jim Lawson's Michelangelo, and Eric Talbot's Raphael. Here's the black and white art:



Our old bud Steve Lavigne agreed to color the piece, and although we didn't give him a lot of time, I think he turned in a sterling effort. Here's what the art on the final print will look like:



I'm pretty sure we'll be selling this 11 by 17 inch print for $20. Eric Talbot, who unfortunately couldn't come with us to this FCBD event, did sign all one hundred copies that we brought with us, and all the guys will be happy to add their signatures tomorrow for anyone who purchases a print. All proceeds will go to Jake. -- PL

(Art © 2009 by the respective artists, characters ™ and © 2009 Mirage Studios.)

To get more info on Jake and his health status, check out his blog at http://jakeboyslim.blogspot.com/2009/04/breaking-news-update-april-6.html

Fugitoid just misses the last shuttle to Free Comic Book Day

(Do they really have Free Comic Book Day on D'Hoonib? Hmm...)

Anyway, we're only a few hours away from heading up to New Hampshire for the FCBD event in Rochester. It's on Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall at 40 Columbus Ave, Rochester, NH. The doors open to the public at 10AM. Hope to see you there! -- PL