tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61183739952288290882024-02-19T11:23:04.059-08:00KaraokeFanboy PressThe writings and promotions of poet and Amazing Arizona Comics creator Russ Kazmierczak, Jr.KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.comBlogger407125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-59577311014514117372018-03-25T15:24:00.001-07:002018-03-25T15:59:57.149-07:00"The Frodis Caper," 50 Years Later<div style="text-align: justify;">
On this very date a scant fifty years ago, the Monkees saved the world. If you were around back then, you might not remember the evil Wizard Glick's plan to use the hypnotizing power of the stranded alien Frodis to brainwash the people of earth via television. Clearly, you were zoned out by those alien airwaves as the Monkees raced to their local TV studio, battled a two-headed org, and ultimately helped the Frodis recharge its powers and save the world. Don't worry, that's an understandable lapse in memory.</div>
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Yes, today marks the anniversary of <i>The Frodis Caper (aka 'Mijacogeo')</i>, the final first-run episode of <b>The Monkees</b>. Anybody that knows me for 10 minutes or so knows that I'm a huge, lifelong fan of the Monkees. I've contextualized my love of the Monkees on this and other blogs, not to mention public talks and performances around Phoenix, so I won't bother recapping how theirs was the first TV show I ever binged, the first albums I ever bought, or the first concert I ever attended. No need to repeat myself, time and time again.</div>
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While I'm a much bigger fan of their music than their TV show, <i>The Frodis Caper</i> is a close second to the cult-classic movie <i>Head</i> on my favorites list of their on-film appearances. It's a fun, remarkable snippet of their history for many reasons, all of which inform my creative process to this day. If may indulge a few of those reasons, I hope this post will be the first in a new series about things that inspire me, and accordingly the self-publishing of my minicomic <b><a href="http://amazingarizonacomics.com/" target="_blank">Amazing Arizona Comics</a></b>. </div>
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Firstly, <i>The Frodis Caper</i> marks the return of "The Monkeemen," the Monkees' infrequent superhero secret identities. Of course the plot of an evil wizard would demand superhero action, but just as quickly as the guys try to don their costumes, they're foiled by a new law that prevents changing in phone booths. Later, they consult the Monkeemen Manual, in its first and only appearance in Monkee-lore. I just love this stuff, because it jabs at that old phone booth Superman trope, and it also inadvertently mocks the future "super-suit guidebook" detail from another favorite TV show, <b>The Greatest American Hero</b>. If I ever write Monkees fan fiction, I just might imply that the Monkees super-suits (which, upon inspection, look a <i>lot</i> like Ralph Hinkley's tights) come from the very same aliens!</div>
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Secondly, the actual "caper" is a nefarious meta-message about the Monkees' very influence on America's youth. Just as Glick hoped to brainwash the world with televised hypnosis, the harshest criticism about the Monkees was that they had done just that, bypassing usual music industry methods of promotion and delivering their music directly into homes with their show, boosting record sales. Now, it <i>is</i> the industry standard to release multimedia prior to or alongside a record's release, but, in the '60s, critics and purists thought the Monkees perverted the process by skirting radio's monopoly-influence over popular music. So, it makes sense that this would be the guys' last TV episode. By defeating the wizard Glick, they defeated <i>themselves</i>, too!</div>
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Finally, <i>The Frodis Caper</i> was co-written and directed by Monkee Micky Dolenz. At that point in their careers, the Monkees seized a little more creative control over their media, and the guys tried to transform the show into something more representative of their tastes. Guest segments, like this episode's acoustic performance by Tim Buckley, teased the idea of a variety hour that never came to pass. Yes, the last segment in the Monkees' ongoing series didn't even feature a Monkee! As they gained more control over their careers, they became more apt to share their spotlight, from Jimi Hendrix on stage to Frank Zappa on screen. The Monkees didn't present morals at the ends of their shows, like my other favorite franchise <b>He-Man and the Masters of the Universe</b>, but closing this last episode with a friend's work speaks way louder than any cheesy one-liner ever could.</div>
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<i>The Frodis Caper </i>is a fan-favorite for its blatantly obnoxious use of quick cuts, non sequiturs, and general self-awareness as a TV show for kids. Micky presents the possibility of the Monkees as a band that <i>knows</i> they're in a television show, which would make for many more amazing conceptual episodes, if this wasn't their last. In their '90s reunion special, Davy does turn off the laugh track with a switch hidden in the wall of their pad, so this theory stands! Just imagine a Monkees story that establishes their on-screen personas as separate identities from the actual four actors/musicians that played them, perhaps on a parallel earth stuck in the '60s. <i>Those</i> Monkees could still be romp-stomping, reality-bending, struggling musicians, as their fans forever watch from the earth where the <i>real</i> Monkees grew up and became true legends -- a Frodis caper that still captures our attention to this very day.</div>
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<b>Blogger's Note:</b> <a href="http://monkeestv3.tripod.com/season2/mijacogeo.html" target="_blank">This website</a> has some great notes and research on <i>The Frodis Caper</i>, and practically all of the Monkees' stuff. Check it out!</div>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-74877987571323084152017-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:002017-09-07T09:00:32.930-07:00Jay Thomas, RIP<div style="text-align: justify;">
The end of August was busy with preparations of Phoenix's Jack Kirby birthday celebration, but now that we've honored the King, I'd like to acknowledge another cool, creative person that just recently passed away -- Jay Thomas. </div>
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Jay is best known for his roles on <b>Mork & Mindy</b>, <b>Murphy Brown</b>, and <b>Cheers</b>, but I knew him best for throwing a football at a meatball on <b>The Late Show with David Letterman</b> every Christmastime. In 2016, I wrote <a href="https://nerdvanamedia.com/television/late-show-holiday-traditions/116851/" target="_blank">an article for <b>Nerdvana Media</b></a> about what the tradition meant to me, and much to my surprise, Jay actually read it! One of his producers contacted me about talking to Jay on his Sirius XM radio show, and I was elated at the opportunity. <br />
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I'm sure I posted the interview here then, but I'm re-posting now so you can hear how gracious Jay was. Jay was a wry, tongue-in-cheek comedian, but he was kind and genuine with me. He let me talk about Letterman and plug my stuff, which was a Christmas gift I'll never forget. To Jay -- and his staff at the radio station -- thank you. We'll miss you, you hippie freak.<br />
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-16368483938941748952017-09-05T21:32:00.000-07:002017-09-05T21:34:03.294-07:00We came, we saw, we honored!<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's over! Phoenix's 3rd annual celebration of Jack Kirby's birthday has passed, and this year we honored the King's 100th birthday with a multifaceted three day event I won't soon forget, because I recorded the whole thing!</div>
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Firstly, I'd like to thank <b><a href="http://drawntocomics.com/" target="_blank">Drawn to Comics</a></b> for hosting the 24 Hour Kirby Comic Challenge. Drawn to Comics has come up a lot here lately, not just because I co-host a podcast with shop owner Ken Brown, but because he and his wife Susan are incredible supporters of local artists like myself. Who <i>else</i> would let five weirdos lock themselves in a comic shop for 24 straight hours? </div>
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One of those weirdos was me -- the rest were four of my favorite people in Phoenix (well, one of them is in Sedona, but that's Phoenix adjacent, so it counts). <a href="http://bunnyvomit.com/" target="_blank">Birdie Birdashaw</a>, <a href="http://derkart.com/" target="_blank">Derk Harron</a>, <a href="http://thejanimal.com/" target="_blank">the Janimal,</a> and <a href="http://zuzucartoons.com/" target="_blank">Zoe Sugg</a> agreed to attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge to honor Kirby, while I documented the whole thing in an attempt to create a webseries of the day. Here's a picture of them as the sun rose over Glendale, bushy-eyed but strong-willed -- as you'll see when that webseries drops on YouTube later this year!</div>
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That Monday, the 28th, the day of Kirby's actual birthday, 10 of the Valley's funniest people gathered to roast the King's first, and perhaps most important creation -- Captain America! My thanks to <b>Monkey Pants Bar & Grill</b> in Tempe for hosting our event. If you're ever hankering wings and/or karaoke near ASU, Monkey Pants is the place.</div>
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I'll post the roast on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJMEpU0vFOUzVxyYDDYu5tg" target="_blank"><b>Phoenix Tonight</b>'s YouTube page</a> soon, but in the meantime, here's a shot of me with the Avengers in attendance. I guess Stark had an expo, or something.</div>
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My appreciation to the comedians that made the night hilarious, and particularly to the Captain himself, who made both the 24 Hour Comic Challenge and this roast some of the most memorable events in this fanboy's life. Follow him on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/stevenrogersusa/" target="_blank">Instagram @stevenrogersusa</a>.</div>
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Keep your eyes glued to this blog for more posts this fall! Karaoke adventures, zines, and more zany fandom to come!</div>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-72236066361611284122017-08-23T16:18:00.000-07:002017-08-23T16:18:34.271-07:00To Honor A King!<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's here! Jack Kirby -- the King of Comics -- would've turned 100 years old on Monday, August 28, and fans here in Phoenix are planning a multi-dimensional three-day extravaganza to honor him.</div>
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At his zenith, Kirby drew five to eight pages a day, at his board for 10 to 12 hours, so we're celebrating his productivity in a special way. On Saturday, August 26, four local artists will attempt the 24 Hour Comic Challenge -- they'll try drawing a 24 page comic book in 24 consecutive hours. If that isn't hard enough, they'll pull a Kirby-inspired topic from a hat <i>first</i>, to use as inspiration for their story. If you're in or around Phoenix, join us at Drawn to Comics in downtown Glendale to see the cartoonists in action, and answer Kirby trivia questions for prizes, including sketches from the artists themselves! The festivities will start at 1 p.m. -- and everything will be recorded for a webseries we'll drop later this year.</div>
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Then, on Monday, the 28th, ten comedians will roast Captain America -- Kirby's first, most famous creation -- at Monkey Pants Bar in Tempe, 8 p.m. The dais will feature some of the funniest people in the Valley . . . and Captain America himself! Kirby fancied his drawing prowess as "performance." He was a fan of cinema and pulp magazines, so a comedy show in his honor is as eclectic as the man himself. A raffle -- featuring some pretty cool prizes, if I do say so myself -- will benefit the Hero Initiative, so bring some dollar bills.</div>
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Jack Kirby inspired a lot of people. He created a legion of timeless characters and demonstrated a work ethic that sets a high standard for anyone writing or drawing comics today. Honoring him is as humbling as it is fun, and I hope you'll join us, if not in person, then in the future, as we post pictures and videos from these events. Happy birthday, Jack!</div>
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-1101179315550400142017-08-18T22:27:00.001-07:002017-08-18T22:29:12.628-07:00CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 5<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's almost here! Micky Dolenz is <i>in</i> Phoenix -- he was live in studio on the morning news shows today -- and tomorrow night I'll be a raving fanboy at his concert at the Marquee in Tempe! I've blogging some of my favorite Dolenz Monkees songs this week, and it's been building to this! Two words:</div>
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Apparently, Shorty Blackwell was the name of Micky's cat. I didn't know that when I first heard this song as a kid -- the last song on their <i>Instant Replay</i> album. For me, "Shorty Blackwell" was my first psychedelic tune, a weird symphony of operatic chanting, horns, and piano solos that plays on a variety of emotions, from whimsy to melancholy and everything in between. Yesterday, I mentioned this song in contrast to "As We Go Along." "As We Go Along" is quiet, reflective, and organized. "Shorty" is loud, brash, and outright messy -- proving that Micky's vocals can handle anything.</div>
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I could write on and on about the narrative of the song, and what it's meant to me, but I'll let it speak for itself. Enjoy -- just as I'll enjoy Micky's show tomorrow night. Yes, there will be a field report!<br />
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-6697407702652012432017-08-17T10:00:00.000-07:002017-08-17T10:00:13.015-07:00CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 4<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">
Micky Dolenz is coming to the Marquee in Tempe this Saturday, and I, a lifelong Monkees fan, am counting the days with a look at some of my favorite Dolenz tunes . . . but first . . .</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgrH6FLLDTDyyilOKog1U6uHT3uO2Qxl5MiduGnYGsL7MO8d2FUtJBqtvvmZMy1ExWGH2HNJIEs-evO1X1gUqqNO7QYpHcRieFh2_i-GlH5FyUQBOalUVCF4s-MHqwUVSXJkfjIiZMhM/s1600/Screen+shot+2017-08-15+at+8.33.04+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="446" data-original-width="448" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFgrH6FLLDTDyyilOKog1U6uHT3uO2Qxl5MiduGnYGsL7MO8d2FUtJBqtvvmZMy1ExWGH2HNJIEs-evO1X1gUqqNO7QYpHcRieFh2_i-GlH5FyUQBOalUVCF4s-MHqwUVSXJkfjIiZMhM/s320/Screen+shot+2017-08-15+at+8.33.04+PM.png" width="320" /></a><b>Bonus!</b> Last Halloween, I dressed up as Micky, from his rug-wearing days during the Rainbow Room sessions! The Rainbow Room is famously known as the setting for the "Daydream Believer" video, and a few other great songs from that era were "performed" there, too. I found the rug (which, in my case, is actually a sheet) and the stripped shirt at Goodwill, but my buddy Jan miraculously provided the wig. My girlfriend and I were visiting his family in Sedona and were about to karaoke in Old Town Cottonwood, when I said on a whim, "I really should've found a brown curly wig to complete this get-up."</div>
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"I think we have one!" Jan exclaimed, digging through a costume box. Then, boom. I was Micky in, ahem, no time. It was a statewide effort!</div>
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Now, these posts are certainly not scheduled in any particular order. In the past, I've tried to list my favorite Monkees tunes, and it's simply impossible to pick an absolute favorite. Tomorrow's post comes close, especially as Micky songs go -- and this would be a close second, by way of revealing the breadth of his talents. I'll have to elaborate on the contrast <i>tomorrow</i>, lest I spoil the reveal now!</div>
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So, yes, <i>today</i> -- "As We Go Along," from the Monkees' controversial film <i>Head</i>. Poorly received then, cult classic now, <i>Head </i>is a trip, and its soundtrack is honestly a great audio representation of the film. I listened to the soundtrack long before I saw the movie -- maybe ten years passed between hearing that vinyl on my playroom turntable and finally catching the flick on late-night TBS. I thought seeing the movie would bridge the eclectic soundbytes on the album with, I don't know, plot? No such luck. <i>Head</i> must be seen to be believed. I love it.<br />
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In the both the film and on the record, "As We Go Along" is a reflective pause. The other songs are simply bombastic, visually and audibly. "As We Go Along" stands as a great ballad, then coupled with this montage from the film, it becomes a proclamation of exploration and growth, for better or worse. I've read write-ups that the rhythm of the song made for a difficult recording session for Micky, something about the song's timing. I'm not a musician -- I only know that he nails it. It's time<i>less </i>-- if, as the end of this video asks, anything can be.</div>
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-20283588956686441302017-08-16T10:00:00.000-07:002017-08-16T22:29:20.217-07:00CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 3<div style="text-align: justify;">
I love the Monkees. Always have, always will. Micky Dolenz is performing this weekend at the Marquee in Tempe, so I'm posting thoughts on some of my favorite Dolenz-sung Monkees tunes.</div>
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Admittedly, this wasn't an easy list to limit to just one post per day, for a meager five days until Micky's Saturday night show. I could've easily started a week ago, and I don't know if <i>that</i> would've been enough. Still, I'm pinpointing songs that grab me every time I hear them -- that I can't help but sing along to -- and we're talking <i>30 years running</i>.</div>
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By that standard, I <i>have </i>to include this tune: "All Of Your Toys." This song wasn't released on one of the Monkees' nine original-run albums, yet it was recorded in one of their very first sessions as an actual band, playing their own instruments in studio. That's right -- the Monkees fought for the rights to play their own instruments, after criticism called them out for having studio musicians, even as many other bands of that era did (and still do). The guys' origin as a made-for-TV band probably had a lot to do with that undue commentary. </div>
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So, this is a fitting tune for one of their "official first." They really were the producers' playthings, until they clipped the strings -- which one of the lessons I've learned from them. "I'm A Believer" was a great tune, but had the Monkees not sought the chance to prove themselves, they may have been lost to the annals of music history. This effort is proof of the pop music greatness that was to come, and a fandom that will last forever!</div>
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-18384193320293236282017-08-15T09:00:00.000-07:002017-08-15T09:00:33.725-07:00CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 2<div style="text-align: justify;">
I thought about calling this series "CoDoDoSolo: My Countdown to the Micky Dolenz Solo Show," since he'll be the only Monkee playing at the Marquee this weekend in Tempe, but I thought that was a long title and opted for an edit. Speaking of edits . . .</div>
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"Mommy And Daddy" is probably Micky's most controversial song. It appeared on "The Monkees Present," the album I admit to enjoying the least as a kid. Conversely, it has two of my favorite Papa Nez tunes -- "Listen to the Band" and "Good Clean Fun" -- and I remember really liking "Little Girl," but I didn't connect with the rest of the record. If the Monkees had their way, these songs should've been a part of their ideal double-vinyl set, where each of the guys would've had a side all their own. Especially sans Peter, I think "Present" was just a little too uneven for my young ears.</div>
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Of course, now I totally dig it -- especially Micky's "Mommy And Daddy." He penned the tune with his Native American roots in mind (that's what he's said) before the song quickly skews into a wild social commentary. Apparently his initial lyrics were so dark, producers strongly encouraged a re-write. Here's the original, unreleased version -- if anyone dismisses the Monkees as kids' stuff, just play them <i>this</i>!</div>
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The version that <i>was</i> released isn't much brighter. Micky perhaps wisely drops the references to JFK and outright murder, and the inquiry about Mommy's pills is a little less accusatory. Of course, it's all over YouTube if you really want to hear it -- and so is a clip or two of Micky himself explaining the song's origins. </div>
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Regardless, "Mommy And Daddy" really transcends its time, considering today's political climate. As much as I love the tune, I'm saddened that none of its questions have been answered yet, but I'm grateful we'll always have this music to help the pill go down.</div>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-78482818170494119702017-08-14T20:56:00.002-07:002017-08-14T20:56:58.457-07:00CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 1<div style="text-align: justify;">
I love the Monkees. Always have, always will. And Micky Dolenz is performing live this Saturday at the Marquee in Tempe.</div>
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I'm counting the days this week with some of my favorite Micky songs from the Monkees' extensive catalog. I thought I'd start with a bang: "Sometime In The Morning." </div>
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"Sometime In The Morning" is from the Monkees' second album, aptly titled <b>More of the Monkees</b>. It was written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin, a songwriting power couple that penned many amazing songs for the Monkees. Thanks to the magic of YouTube, you can hear Carole's guiding vocal track for Micky here:</div>
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Of course, I grew up with Micky's rendition, so when I first heard Carole's, her vocals were a bit haunting. At the time, I don't think this was meant for public consumption -- just in-studio, so Micky knew how to sing to the melody. Now, the demo stands as a powerful example of great pop lyric writing, straight from the artist's lips.</div>
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The Monkees' songs often debuted in "romps" on their TV show -- a romp was a video montage of the guys messing around, usually in a sped-up cartoonish fashion, sometimes confronting the villain of that episode. Those segments truly were the prototypical music video. "Sometime In The Morning" played for two romps, though "romp" hardly describes this sweet sequence starring the beautiful Rose Marie. By far one of my all-time favorite uses of a song in the Monkees' series:</div>
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"Sometime In The Morning" has become a staple for the Monkees' and Micky's solo concerts, and it took my breath away last year as the first half of a medley with their latest hit "Me & Magdalena." If I were to pick an "ultimate" live version, though, I'd offer this, from the online reality show <b>myRecordFantasy</b>. If the narrative is to be believed (and, ahem, I <i>am</i> a believer!) Micky didn't see this one coming. You see him search for the "in" with the vocals at the beginning, starting quietly, then building to fill the cafe with that great last chorus. I close the first installment of my countdown here, with the hopes that one day Micky will walk into the coffee shop where I'm drawing or whatever, to serenade. </div>
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-32505433019534413942017-04-04T13:25:00.002-07:002017-04-04T13:25:59.219-07:00Stuck In Traffic: The Podcast<iframe data-name="pb-iframe-player" frameborder="0" height="400" scrolling="no" src="https://www.podbean.com/media/player/zrwja-695f9f?from=yiiadmin&vjs=1&skin=1&fonts=Helvetica&auto=0&download=0" width="400"></iframe><br />
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By night, I'm a joke-telling, minicomic-making machine . . . but by day, I often find myself stuck in traffic. That's when I have thoughts -- <i>deep</i>, sometimes <i>angry</i> thoughts -- about the world, the way it works, and how we can make it better. I've begun recording these rants as micro-podcasts. Here's the latest episode. It may not seem related to <i>Amazing Arizona Comics</i>, but consider that these monologues <i>are</i> recorded on the streets of Phoenix, and like the heroes in those minicomics, they want to save the world from itself. Is that too much to ask?KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-1791600904977179972017-03-22T18:45:00.001-07:002017-03-22T18:45:52.369-07:00It's Been Awhile . . . It's been awhile . . . that should be a song!<br />
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Anyway, if you're still visiting this wasteland of a blog, thanks for keeping your eyes on my work. Yes, I'm still working -- I self-publish a mini-comic book series called <b><a href="http://amazingarizonacomics.com/" target="_blank">Amazing Arizona Comics</a></b>, which satirizes Arizona news, history, and culture with superhero adventure. I also host a late night talk show called <b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJMEpU0vFOUzVxyYDDYu5tg" target="_blank">Phoenix Tonight</a></b>, which features Arizona's best talent in a traditional talk show format. So, <i>there!</i></div>
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I've been dabbling with webcomics and podcasts, too, and I hope to keep this site active with all that stuff, so please come back for more! Here's one of my latest strip, featuring Speed Cameron from <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b>. </div>
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If you dig that, please find me on <a href="http://instagram.com/amazingazcomics" target="_blank">Instagram @amazingazcomics</a>, because I update that much more than this blog, though I hope to change that soon. Thanks for your patience -- and remember, buying a comic or zine always helps keep the creative fires burning! Just <a href="mailto:karaokefanboypress@gmail.com" target="_blank">drop me an email</a> and ask how!</div>
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-70491269565038665852016-09-30T19:34:00.000-07:002016-09-30T19:34:02.575-07:00October Is Gonna Be Scary!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I'm doing a lot of things in October, from hosting Phoenix's versions of <i>Saturday Night Live </i>and <i>The Tonight Show</i>, to selling <b><a href="http://amazingarizonacomics.com/" target="_blank">Amazing Arizona Comics</a></b> at a zine fest and a comic book show. I'm especially excited to talk about the Monkees' 50th anniversary at the first ever Ignite Phoenix Music on the 28th. Did you see my article about the Monkees on <a href="http://nerdvanamedia.com/" target="_blank">Nerdvana Media</a>? Check 'em out -- the celebration continues!</div>
<br />KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-16928774225830093222016-06-18T23:00:00.001-07:002016-06-19T13:26:06.716-07:00Stuck In The Middle With You: Observing Arizona's Trump Rally & Protests<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Right now, we’re living in the middle of a story. It began with Donald Trump announcing his run for the Presidency of the United States, and it’s destined to end in November. Until then, we don’t know what the next day will bring. Sometimes, being in the middle is a frustrating place to be.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the spirit of being in the middle, on the cusp of the unexpected, I loitered around today’s pre-rally Trump protest, and outside of the Trump rally itself.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The pre-rally protest was at Encanto Park in Central Phoenix.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I arrived around 1 p.m., thirty to forty protesters were listening to the last of several special speakers.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I heard a Mexican gentleman, via interpreter, describe his unfair treatment from the Phoenix Police Department and a lawyer discuss immigrant rights.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the sound system started crackling, perhaps as its own protest for having to work in the sweltering sun, the rally ended.</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fortunately, I had enough time to meet and talk to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/rob.mcelwain" target="_blank">Rob McElwain</a>. His art hung around the perimeter of the event. If you’ve driven through downtown Phoenix recently, you may be familiar with his work. Rob told me he sets up everyday outside of the Wells Fargo building, and hears stories about folks’ experiences with the police and sheriff’s departments. His protest murals feature caricatures of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Donald Trump on cardboard canvases, and considering the quantity in his portfolio, I presume his humble resources speak both to budget and portability. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">While Rob and I were chatting, a woman approached and also wanted pictures of him and his work. She offered us water and said she drove from Chandler just to make sure protesters remembered something to drink in the heat. Ironically, as we all shook hands and parted from a surprisingly delightful conversation, a friend was commenting on my Instagram picture of the scene that I should be careful. “They’re known to be dangerous.” I completely understand his commentary and concern, considering recent stories of protestors’ violence against rally attendees and police. In this case, my experience was exactly the opposite -- and quite eye-opening.</span></span>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve long enjoyed protest art and once self-published a zine featuring pictures I’d taken in Hollywood between 2002 and 2006 of anti-war signs, during George W. Bush’s “War on Terror.” Talking to Rob reminded me, <span style="font-size: large;">whether you love or hate these works of protest art, the amount of time they spend in the spotlight pales to the hours spent crafting them.</span> Today, they make a current, significant statement; tomorrow, whether or not their agenda comes to pass, they become pieces of nostalgia at best, or at worst, considering their often hasty construction, just plain trash. This century has a rich history of beautifully rendered propaganda, from the World War II poster to the tie-dyed peace-stuffs of the ‘70s. For Rob’s work, and others’ work like his, it’s best to be stuck in the middle. This is where it thrives.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the pre-rally protest and a Sonic raspberry limeade (hey, it was happy hour), I found free parking near the Veterans’ Memorial Coliseum, where Trump was scheduled to speak at 4 p.m. The area was already tagged with anti-Trump art and lined with “Trump Shops” of pro-Donald tees, pins, and stickers. At 2:45 p.m., traffic was flowing freely and a small cluster of protestors occupied the corner closest to the venue, in the shade of the Fairground’s marquee. Considering we were only 75 minutes to showtime, I expected more of a to-do.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Standing at the crosswalk across from the protest, a father held his son, all of four-years-old. The round-cheeked boy had a Trump hat on, and the father looked visibly nervous at the necessity of walking through the chanting crowd. He was breathing heavily. I aroused small talk until the green man beckoned us forward. At the curb we parted ways and shared a sigh of relief at the respectful ruckus. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I will say this about that moment and the entirety of my time among the protestors: <span style="font-size: large;">They were loud, and in some cases crude, but they never, ever, touched anyone with force or violence.</span> Trump supporters dwelt and debated among them for the two hours I loitered, and no one from either side crossed the line of confrontation. I was impressed and relieved -- and somewhat embarrassed that I was impressed and relieved.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, what proceeded has left me baffled and is the core reason I’ve decided to document these events. <a href="http://amazingarizonacomics.com/" target="_blank">I self-publish a comic book about uncanny conflict in Arizona</a>, so I dropped myself into the middle of today’s protest to experience, yes, uncanny conflict. Within the protest, a Trump supporter and a Trump denouncer would loudly debate, with a schoolyard-like crowd circling around them. Cell phones, news cameras, and voice recorders tentacled the scene, until the argument would end and the combatants would separate, rejoining their clans until the next rabble was roused. It looked like a rap battle. Topics were skimmed but the surface was rarely pierced, and if combatants rematched, they didn’t pick up where they left off but remained above the meniscus of truly meaningful debate.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This happened several times every hour, perhaps every ten minutes or so.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The regularity created a rhythm that, without meaning, lacked momentum.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At one point, someone offered to mediate the arguments. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIRQhCL6En2xeFcc_LxxqyXhBcpqBhYgq4ckUCks_SpAJnYphcDZp1dyIp6FCneSufdrAaY3CXSLMDSkWIv8kFBPiWLIe3sBtH3pIz1e3QvdZZFL3K5dQWLr2XnZ-i7M24N2-3J6H0c8/s1600/Islam+T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="Donald Trump protest Phoenix Arizona "Dump Trump" "protest art"" border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIRQhCL6En2xeFcc_LxxqyXhBcpqBhYgq4ckUCks_SpAJnYphcDZp1dyIp6FCneSufdrAaY3CXSLMDSkWIv8kFBPiWLIe3sBtH3pIz1e3QvdZZFL3K5dQWLr2XnZ-i7M24N2-3J6H0c8/s320/Islam+T.jpg" title="Donald Trump protest Phoenix Arizona "Dump Trump" "protest art"" width="320" /></a><span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“Which side are you on?” an anti-Trump protester asked.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">“I’m neutral,” the would-be mediator replied.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To paraphrase, the protester responded, “To be clear, nobody hates anybody here. There are people using Trump’s name to promote hate and racism, which results in people getting killed, and there are people that want that to stop. If you’re neutral, you’re doing nothing to stop the killing.” </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The villain of the piece, the guy evoking Trump’s name in these frequent face-offs, was wearing a “Fuck Islam” T-shirt. Apparently, he had been removed from the Coliseum shortly after the doors had opened and was now in enemy territory. He was the shining example of why we should ignore a book’s cover -- or, perhaps, the danger of putting one book’s cover on another tome. His arguments were articulate and even-tempered. He offered the guy dressed as the Democratic donkey (or an in-effigy jackass) water, since the costume undoubtedly amplified the heat. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At one point, he said to someone wearing a burqa, who identified as a transgendered Muslim, “I don’t care who you worship! I don’t care if you’re transgendered! Why should I care what you do with your life?”</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone pointed at his shirt and shouted, “We think you care because your shirt says Fuck Islam!”</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He pointed to the text and replied, “Yeah, because people are using <i>this</i> to kill <i>us</i>!”</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That particular round robin ended with the agreement that every religion has extremists. A few minutes later, the guy <i>hugged</i> one of his opponents. He may have worn an aggressive shirt and I don’t defend it, but, if actions speak louder, he was as peaceful as protesters come. <span style="font-size: large;">The news won’t report this. It doesn’t fit their narrative that two parties with such dramatically different opinions could come that close to camaraderie -- that they might, I dare say, meet in the middle.</span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, yes, this baffles me. I’m baffled because, for months, we’ve watched Republicans and Democrats first in Civil War, now on the brink of political battle, with roller-coaster polls rendering all prediction impossible. I’m baffled because the art I beheld today was evocative without inspiring violence, as we're told it does. I’m baffled because the arguments I overheard ended on the middle ground of agreeing to disagree, which is more agreement than I ever expected. I wanted to witness the uncanny. I ended up feeling hopeful.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In the spirit of being in the middle, on the cusp of the unexpected, I loitered around today’s pre-rally Trump protest, and outside of the Trump rally itself. Sometimes, being in the middle is an exciting place to be.</span></span></div>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-42077659494785914812015-12-04T07:25:00.001-08:002015-12-04T07:25:36.009-08:00Hello, Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest!Hello! If you're visiting my site because you swung by my table at Phoenix Comicon Fan Fest, thank you for the support! KaroakeFanboy Press is what I can my self-publishing effort, which began in 2009, and includes <b>Karaoke Comics</b>, the fanzine <b>Far & Wee</b>, and my main mini-comic, <b><a href="http://amazingarizonacomics.com/" target="_blank">Amazing Arizona Comics</a></b>. Please click that link to see what's coming up with my little local superhero satire!<br />
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I manage to drop a new issue of <b>Karaoke Comics</b> every year or so, so here's a preview of the latest issue, featuring Carrie O'Key against the amplification antagonist Mike Hogg. What's his motivation? You'll have to read the whole store to find out! These pages were beautifully colored by my brother, and I love his simple but elegant pallet choices here.<br />
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If you'd <i>like </i>to read the whole story, just drop me a line. Paypal buttons are coming soon, but I've been consumed with prepping for my <i>physical</i> presence at Fan Fest, my online presence has suffered. I'll come back to the virtual world in no time!<br />
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If you scored a sketch from me at Fan Fest, you can always <i>drag</i> me back online, kicking and screaming, by posting that drawing on Instagram and tagging @amazingazcomics. I love drawing for folks, and I'm honored when they share them.<br />
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Thanks again for visiting the site, and hopefully we'll see you again here soon!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupntFSID9QmAJCaS-lraRRlnFavjTcTwr6CQJc2gcinbgZyoOSVzeY_u0bm-JNwE4rkYfaqXTBD6NPLKkDHrRKpP525VxWT7Iz2rUULqvLryWtAGBfNH1fAaCgxVHOt3sgHfd0P2a8yw/s1600/KC+4+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Karaoke Comics comic books Russ Kazmierczak KaraokeFanboy Press" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiupntFSID9QmAJCaS-lraRRlnFavjTcTwr6CQJc2gcinbgZyoOSVzeY_u0bm-JNwE4rkYfaqXTBD6NPLKkDHrRKpP525VxWT7Iz2rUULqvLryWtAGBfNH1fAaCgxVHOt3sgHfd0P2a8yw/s320/KC+4+1.jpg" title="Karaoke Comics comic books Russ Kazmierczak KaraokeFanboy Press" width="202" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xx4eNRMCQhJkjkLjlZvg3jeIY5NcCryYAMcU93UPx52BgZAKBl_47vZ_h4ZJu0sABnbt206dwgkwTGNQbp4lNZhyphenhyphenYGHYgYoOxPzqYZGCrWgjGRu0DwC4jlVOY1ihPduK1LpN-rWPAwQ/s1600/KC+4+2.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img alt="Karaoke Comics comic books Russ Kazmierczak KaraokeFanboy Press" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9xx4eNRMCQhJkjkLjlZvg3jeIY5NcCryYAMcU93UPx52BgZAKBl_47vZ_h4ZJu0sABnbt206dwgkwTGNQbp4lNZhyphenhyphenYGHYgYoOxPzqYZGCrWgjGRu0DwC4jlVOY1ihPduK1LpN-rWPAwQ/s320/KC+4+2.jpg" title="Karaoke Comics comic books Russ Kazmierczak KaraokeFanboy Press" width="202" /></a>KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-29431478849456946432015-10-21T10:22:00.000-07:002015-10-21T10:25:07.814-07:00Is This The Future You've Been Waiting For?If "1985 me" appeared today to visit "2015 me," I think the first thing he would say is, "Wow, you still have Castle Grayskull?!"<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpOAqib7NKPAex2696D1R1zcxBDIn8qTaUYHcTzvvs77BgHQaRr7r7VXNHqAGnn-43dP80vQcLdN9EgtZQrRejVlbSTECJyBBjRuDSYfQ-URSw_jep_MFgkAhVusvq4PR666DOOM2DGE/s1600/BTTF.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnpOAqib7NKPAex2696D1R1zcxBDIn8qTaUYHcTzvvs77BgHQaRr7r7VXNHqAGnn-43dP80vQcLdN9EgtZQrRejVlbSTECJyBBjRuDSYfQ-URSw_jep_MFgkAhVusvq4PR666DOOM2DGE/s320/BTTF.jpg" width="320" /></a>I would proudly show him my pictures with each of the Monkees, and the innovations in action figure articulation technology since the '80s (though I miss squeezing Superman's legs to make him power punch). Most of all, I would tell him about <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b>. Since my family still lived in Connecticut in 1985, young me probably wouldn't even know what Arizona is, but the point isn't a geography lesson, anyway.</div>
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The point would be to encourage young me to keep drawing, to keep telling stories, to keep <i>caring</i> about that modern mythology that is superhero comic books. That I'm contributing to the medium that has shaped my life since 1985 . . . that's made this a future worth waiting for. </div>
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Forget hoverboards and <i>Jaws 19</i>. <b>Back to the Future Day </b>isn't about wondering if this the future that they predicted. It's about making this the future that you wanted. </div>
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<a href="http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/get_out/article_0b9f75fe-7458-11e5-8147-0f95dca21f36.html" target="_blank">You can read my column about <b>Back to the Future</b> in last weekend's <i>East Valley Tribune </i>here</a>, and later today I plan on posting some pencils for next year's <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> stories on (appropriately) <a href="http://AmazingArizonaComics.com/">AmazingArizonaComics.com</a>. Check 'em out!</div>
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-90214573752753233862015-09-28T11:46:00.006-07:002015-09-28T12:01:13.126-07:00Happiness: A Hero's Worst Enemy?I still have Batman on the brain.<br />
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Between Saturday's Batman Day, and tonight's second season, second episode of <b>Gotham</b> (Harvey Dent really <i>should</i> make an appearance), I'm thinking of last week's <b>Gotham</b> season premiere. Specifically, I'm thinking of the end, when --<br />
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(I'd say spoiler alert here, but <b>Gotham</b> is a prequel to Batman, so you should know this stuff is going to happen.)<br />
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-- Bruce and Alfred find an entrance to Thomas Wayne's secret underground study, soon to be the Batcave. In a prophetic letter to Bruce, Dr. Wayne knows his confused son is struggling between finding happiness and the truth. He begs of Bruce to choose happiness, "unless you feel a calling . . . a true calling."<br />
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Those words have resonated with me, for many reasons . . . but in the context of my beloved superheroes, I wonder:<i> </i>Is forsaking happiness essential to heroism? Is perpetual personal sacrifice one of the <i>lessons</i> to be learned from superhero mythology?<br />
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If Superman's first adventure in <b>Action Comics</b> #1 is the basis from which to judge the genre's original intentions (and I do believe it is), happiness is truly an ever-elusive concept to a vigilant hero. In just a few pages, Siegel and Shuster establish the tragic childhood, the bumbling secret identity, and the unrequited love that come with almost <i>every</i> superhero's story. <br />
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Of these three, the secret identity seems the most controllable concept. Just imagine, in those first few pages of <b>Action Comics</b> #1, if Clark Kent <i>didn't</i> hide his double life. He could break news stories <i>as</i> Superman, confront criminals with full disclosure to the police, and ask out Lois Lane with confidence. Imagine how <i>less tense</i> his life would seem, without that ongoing need to act like a klutz and cover his uniform. More Flash Gordon, less Zorro. I daresay the entire superhero concept would be completely different today.<br />
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Yet, Siegel and Shuster introduce the Clark Kent concept without explanation, nor does it seem that the readers required one. Superman shares no melodramatic inner monologue about his motives. It's just an accepted trope, along with the trappings, insistently implying that the good deeds are not enough. The message is clear: you can't be a savior without sacrifice. <br />
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Despite being the first example, Superman may be a <i>bad</i> example, because his origin and powers are a truly alien concept. Witnessing a loved one's murder is tragically yet undeniably much more down to earth, yet Bruce Wayne's choice "to become a bat" was just as accepted by readers. In the same way we imagined an integrated Superman, imagine a young Bruce Wayne, with all that grief and rage, grown to become a policeman and philanthropist. I'm sure those "what if" tales have been told, and Batman as a force of will always finds a way to resurface, but, in real life, orphans don't have that luxury. <br />
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Indeed, I'm concluding that superheroes exist as the unrealistic personification of survivor's guilt, which doesn't make for a happy ending. So, consider this . . .<br />
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I celebrated Batman Day by reading some of my favorite comics starring the Caped Crusader, which includes <b>Batman: Full Circle</b>. In it, Batman essentially confronts his parents' killer's son, who indeed uses survivor's guilt to trap and nearly defeat the Dark Knight. When Robin arrives and is imperiled, Batman snaps out of it, frees himself, and saves the day, effectively setting aside his grief to help his friend. <br />
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<i>That's</i> the lesson. Despite the inevitable tragedies of life, find purpose. Find partnership. Try to save yourself and you'll end up saving others, too. We accept our heroes' eccentricities because of the extremity of their mission, to save as many people as possible. The mask isn't a denial; it's a badge that proves their capability to help, and offer hope.<br />
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Behold how effectively <b>Gotham</b> establishes that you don't have a Batman without Jim Gordon, proving that the <i>potential</i> of grief is helping to relieve others of it. The end of the show won't be a kid donning a cowl, but a man paying it forward. It may not make him happy, but it offers contentment, and that's more than many people have.<br />
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When Siegel, Shuster, and their successors created these characters, they placed their readers' hardships in those golden pages as prevalently as the heroes trying to overcome them. <i>They</i> could've written happy endings, but they chose truth instead. They must've felt a calling. A true calling.<br />
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<br />KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-71947741829526434362015-09-26T14:23:00.001-07:002015-09-26T14:30:19.912-07:00When Comics Believed In Kids (part 2): Happy Batman Day!Apparently, it's Batman Day. I'm not sure what that means. For me, everyday is Batman Day.<br />
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When I was a sophomore in high school, my speech and debate coach loaned me his copy of <b>The Dark Knight Returns</b>. (His first and middle names are Alan Scott, the alias of the Golden Age Green Lantern, who has often been tied to Gotham City, so, kismet, perhaps.) I read the story twice in a single sitting, and, really, nothing's been the same since.<br />
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Last week, I started this essay called "When Comics Believed in Kids," and, without remembering that today is Batman Day, I planned on concluding those thoughts with a heavy emphasis on the Caped Crusader. See, Batman's story is one heavily mired in the mores of youth, from the young Bruce Wayne's witnessing his parents murder, to the legacy of Robins and Batgirls that have followed in his footsteps. Arguably, the very core of Batman's character is the unabashed embrace of a child's potential. <br />
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Through this lens, you'd think Batman comics could be an endless source of encouragement for kids, yet today's Batman books seem less for a younger audience than ever. Some would trace the "grown-up Batman" to <b>The Dark Knight Returns</b>, with its heady socio-political subplots and "grim-'n-gritty" violence. I even read an article this week that blames the mature themes in ABC's new <b>The Muppets</b> on Frank Miller's Batman! So, did <b>TDKR</b> hastily <i>grow up</i> comics, and all of pop culture?<br />
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My answer is simple: yes and no. I don't think Miller meant to ostracize young readers. Actually, I think his intention was quite the opposite. He brought comics back to their roots as a reality-mining medium, utilizing culture to tell a story about gods among men, as all good mythology does. When comics did this at the cusp of World War II, the enemy was easy to identify; superheroes could punch any swastika-wearing villain in the face without criticism of being "too real for kids." The image's violence was overshadowed by the nation's agreement that it was <i>right</i>.<br />
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In the mid-'80s, following the moral ambiguity of Vietnam and in the midst of the Cold War, what was right was less agreeable in America. That didn't stop Miller's Batman from doing what <i>he</i> thought was right; the cultural context was just much more complicated. (The swastikas were in different places, for example.) This complexity has been repeatedly misconstrued as "for mature audiences only." Again, I don't think that was Miller's intention; that's just how the audience, and Batman's subsequent creative teams, understood it. <br />
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Despite its "more realistic" approach, Miller's Batman work (including <b>Year One</b>) doesn't exclude the sidekick concept at all. In fact, it ups the ante with a young <i>girl</i> as Robin! In the end, Batman effectively saves Gotham from itself with an army of impressionable youngsters; Miller's Caped Crusader sees even the wayward Mutant Gang as an asset in the midst of chaos. <i>Kids can be heroes!</i><br />
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So, to answer the question, <b style="font-style: italic;">The Dark Knight Returns </b>didn't grow up comics,<b style="font-style: italic;"> </b>but our interpretation of it did. The mainstream Batman comic book effectively tested the waters with Jason Todd, dismissing Dick Grayson for a snot-nosed rebel, then asking the readership, via telephone poll, "Is this what you want?" This pre-social media meta-conversation with fans sealed the deal: comics weren't for kids anymore. <br />
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Don't misunderstand: I know Miller's Jason Todd died, too. In that context, he was dubbed "a good soldier." In <b>A Death In the Family</b>, Jason died bound and beaten, an apt allegory for how comics then perceived their young audience. Think about <i>that</i> -- comics weren't a whimsical parent's purchase, like gum and candy in the drug store check-out line. Comics had their <i>own</i> shops, and cover prices grew exponentially to sustain this new retail industry. Comics locked kids out, just as Jason was, when the Joker's bomb blew up.<br />
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Thankfully, comics-inspired media has kept kids' interest in superheroes, without dumbing down the material. From <b>Batman: The Animated Series</b> to the Marvel Cinematic Universe, parents and children alike find cape-and-cowl adventures that can be enjoyed on multiple levels, many times over, like my disintegrating copy of <b>The Dark Knight Returns</b>. It's the comics themselves that have kept kids at arm's length. Many worthwhile attempts exist to recruit young readers, and today's Batman Day is surely among them, but few efforts are more powerful than simply handing a kid a comic book, even an allegedly mature audiences only comic book, like my mentor did for me in high school. Just imagine, celebrating Batman Day by handing <b>The Dark Knight Returns</b> to a child today . . .<br />
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<i>A child!</i>KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-255753787365471792015-09-19T09:53:00.000-07:002015-09-19T10:14:57.731-07:00When Comics Believed In Kids (part 1)Kids today. If they aren't tackling referees during their varsity football games, they're shooting slingshots at traffic on the I-10. Remember the good old days, when kids could be superheroes, too?<br />
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When I think of the Texas high school footballers that tackled that ref, or the 18-year-old "I-10 shooter copycats," I remember my teenaged years and find no relation whatsoever. I'm not saying I wasn't capable of delinquency, but even my petty pranks had self-imposed limits. I'd t.p. a house without abandon, but I'd never, say, <i>egg</i> a house. My philosophy was simple: if we get caught in the act, we should be able to fix it immediately. Call me a lazy delinquent, but I didn't want to deal with the cops or any other consequences, if I could avoid it.<br />
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Today's youth seem to have a different standard. "If it doesn't get on YouTube, it isn't worth doing." Society's perpetual quest for celebrity is another topic entirely, but in this context it isn't exclusive from the personal sense of responsibility I'm addressing, and apparently mourning.<br />
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Surprise, surprise, I'll use Spider-man as an example. When Stan Lee and Steve Ditko created Spidey, they sought to establish a character to whom their young readers could relate. So, when puny Peter Parker gets powers, he doesn't take to the streets fighting crime, but he seeks fame and fortune as a wrestler. That arena could easily be likened to the YouTube or Snapchat of its day, so, in this and so many other ways, Marvel was ahead of its time. <br />
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Now, if you know the story, you remember a fame-drunk Peter letting a mugger pass, and this scoundrel soon murders Parker's beloved Uncle Ben. Spider-man pursues the killer, realizes its the mugger he let escape, and vows to fight crime. Now, what if -- Marvel fans are familiar with that question, too -- what if Peter <i>had</i> stopped the mugger in the hallway? Spidey could've pursued his wrestling career and achieved great celebrity <i>with</i> his Uncle Ben alive and well. The responsibility isn't exclusive from the fame.<br />
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Lee and Ditko presume that if a youth is capable of realizing his mistake, and willing to spend a lifetime correcting it, he's just that step away from achieving the responsibility in the first place. Peter succeeds a legacy of young superheroes that had it just as hard: Robin, Toro, Bucky, Speedy, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash . . . and that's just off the top of my head. While many of these youngsters were just adolescent echos of their mentors, meant to boost sales, the concept stands: a kid can do just as much good as an adult.<br />
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Captain America <i>tested</i> this philosophy every time he broke the fourth wall and encouraged kids to contribute to the war effort by recycling the very comics they just read. The message was clear: you don't <i>have</i> to punch Hitler in the face. Help with whatever you have, and, for those kids in the '40s, what they had was comics. Those kids <i>did</i> recycle their comics, bundling newsprint for the mill like a little newsboy legion (hmm . . .), and while their effort eventually made those old issues scarce and collectible, it also proved them <i>right</i>. Kids <i>were</i> heroes, too!<br />
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If comic books continued this legacy today, perhaps those slingshot wielding copycats, at the legally-adult age of <i>18-years-old</i>, wouldn't try to deflect and defend themselves as "kids that didn't know better," because we would counter that kids actually <i>do</i>.<br />
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<i>To be continued . . .</i>KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-8116137464807517582015-09-14T19:24:00.004-07:002015-09-14T19:27:21.869-07:00Show Me Arizona, Show Me Ourselves<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Helvetica;">“So why should I care about Spider-man?” she asked.</span><br />
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We were sitting outside of Trunk Space, waiting for Okilly Dokilly, the Phoenix-based Ned Flanders-inspired metal band, to start their first show ever. I was drawing caricatures and selling my homemade comics at the pre-concert carnival. In other words, it was the perfect place and time to pontificate superheroes.<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;"></span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I wasn’t stunned by the question, but I was struck by her choice of words. She didn’t ask why she should <i>like</i> Spider-man. That question is easy. Spider-man can sling and swing on webs, crawl on buildings, and knock out a bad guy with the flick of a finger. What’s <i>not</i> to like?</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">I had to explain why she should <i>care</i>. Caring implies an emotional investment that lasts past a 22-page comic book adventure, or a two hour movie. Indeed, <i>I</i> care about Spider-man, but I hadn’t wondered <i>why</i> in a long time. I took a moment to think about it, then answered.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">“When Spider-man was created in the early ‘60s, Stan Lee and his artists made him a teenager. At the time, teenaged superheroes were still just sidekicks, so Spider-man was the first solo superhero whose private life mirrored his young readers’ lives. He may have had to stop the Scorpion from robbing the bank, but he also had homework and chores. That’s still his role in comics. Superman is from another planet, and Batman is a millionaire, but how would any Average Joe deal with the chance to have powers or be a hero? That costume covers him head to toe . . . anybody and everybody can be Spider-man!”</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">She nodded slowly and replied, “Oh, I get it now!” We talked more about Batman (because who doesn’t want to talk more about Batman), and, when she left my table, I felt satisfied that I had shared some knowledge and spread my love of superheroes. After all, I am the self-appointed Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">As a comic book artist and fan, I’m often asked to explain the importance of comics and superheroes as more than a pop culture trend. Superhero comics are in fact a uniquely American medium and mythology, and, like all good stories, we’re introduced to them as children. My hope is to remind folks of their continued importance in adulthood, as entertainment and allegory for reality. To do so effectively, I’ve dubbed myself Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">In this completely imaginary role, I’ve discussed superhero comics at events like Ignite Phoenix and on shows like <i>Good Morning, Arizona</i>, and I’ve organized events like the Community Jam Comic and the recent Jack Kirby Birthday Celebration.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">My latest opportunity was last Saturday, September 12, at the Arizona Capital Museum. Editorial cartoonist Steve Benson and I discussed comics, politics, and Arizona at the opening of their latest exhibit, “Show Me Arizona: Illustrations of History.” Why should you care? You <i>live</i> in Arizona, don’t you? Their exhibit is a great chance to see where we’ve been, so we can chart a course for where we should go.</span></div>
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px;">Political cartoons are actually a lot like Spider-man. They represent regular people with spectacular power. In this case, those powers don’t include web-slinging or wall-crawling, but summarizing a feeling or opinion in a singular or short sequence of drawings. As artists, this is how we show you what we think. This is how we show you why <i>we</i> care.</span></div>
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Check out Fox 10's coverage of the gallery opening, including the gallery's hours so you can dig the exhibit soon, here:<br />
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-68148666003329294642015-09-06T10:35:00.000-07:002015-09-06T10:35:13.072-07:00These Dog Days Have Bite To Their Bark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FZlqjinjCCu85ogcLP07IczLRZt3jnnjDyT2CY3ugfidt2ZZjU2DZwlG7QyM9j4_B-m27xImasB0qeSMFYGVImflLWW82d6_2PTMgikjr73qxlu1ACIc_nW2QlXZD7zxUGp1xkmUv1w/s1600/Augustagram+LRX+promo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5FZlqjinjCCu85ogcLP07IczLRZt3jnnjDyT2CY3ugfidt2ZZjU2DZwlG7QyM9j4_B-m27xImasB0qeSMFYGVImflLWW82d6_2PTMgikjr73qxlu1ACIc_nW2QlXZD7zxUGp1xkmUv1w/s320/Augustagram+LRX+promo.jpg" width="320" /></a>August may be dubbed the "dog days of summer," but it was a surprisingly busy month for KaraokeFanboy Press and <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b>. Last month, I decided to post a new panel every day on Instagram, inspired by the news of that respective day, and I'm very happy with the result. I missed a day here and there, but in the end I have a 31-panel story that explores "a month in the life" of my homespun superheroes. If you haven't heard my interview about #Augustagram on our local NPR affiliate, <a href="http://theshow.kjzz.org/content/179936/valley-cartoonist-draws-daily-instagram-comic-satirizing-arizona-news" target="_blank">it's archived here</a>. The tale will be colored and collected in issue #15 of <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b>, due out later this month.<br />
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The end of August hailed Jack Kirby's birthday, and for years I've read of other cities celebrating the day with galleries, socials, and general to-dos. While I know Phoenix comics shops have hosted events to honor Kirby in the past, I wanted to do something worthy of those nationally promoted celebrations, something to put Phoenix on the map. The product was an evening that featured local artists and their Kirby-inspired work, an open mic of local poets and performers, and a drawing demonstration by none other than Steve Rude, whose tutelage and friendship with Jack Kirby gave our event the integrity and intimacy it deserved. I was happy to discuss the evening on <i>Good Morning, Arizona</i>, following the hilarious in-studio of antics of comedian Tom Green, and <a href="http://www.azfamily.com/clip/11799574/local-artists-draw-super-heroes" target="_blank">you can still watch me draw Captain America live right here</a>. Highlights of the Jack Kirby Birthday Celebration included:<br />
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<li>The gallery of local artists, including <b>Derk Harron</b> (top left), <b>Bryan Bg Graham</b> (top right), <b>Steve Failla</b> (bottom left), and <b>Eric Mengel</b> (bottom right).</li>
<li>Host <b>Jesse James Criscione</b>'s recount of his day with Jack Kirby, which, without exaggeration, completely changed his life.</li>
<li><b>Gary Bowers</b>' Jack Kirby birthday card, which he hopes to submit to the Kirby Museum by 2017 for Jack's 100th birthday.</li>
<li><b>Bob Leeper</b>'s discussion of Kirby's oft-overlooked influence over the romance comics genre.</li>
<li><b>Ashley Naftule</b>'s discovery of Kirby's storied "cigar box," and the diary entries therein.</li>
<li><b>JRC</b>'s kinesthetic recreation of the Kirby process, complete with virtual Kirby crackle and boom tubes.</li>
<li><b>Ernesto Moncada</b>'s sharing of finding Kirby through poorly reprinted, and usually out of order, Mexican comic books.</li>
<li><b>Tommy Cannon</b>'s charming greeting to Steve Rude, and his awesome Kirby-influenced poem.</li>
<li><b>Kevin Patterson</b>'s recount of discovering, and fearing, the real Yancy Street from Fantastic Four lore.</li>
<li><b>Eric Mengel</b>'s personal connection to the date of Kirby's birthday, and how the day celebrates his personal and artistic passions.</li>
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Final kudos go to Brick Cave Media, for their kind donation of a sound system, to my brother Kyle for setting up said sound system, and to Cynthia Black, proprietor of C-MOD, the venue that hosted us and sponsors many other great Phoenix events. Needless to say, I'll always remember that night . . . until <i>next </i>year's event tops it!</div>
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The busyness continues into September, with a few more amazing events just under my belt and still on the horizon. On Saturday, September 5, I was honored to join the pre-show carnival as the caricature artist at Okilly Dokilly's historic first concert. You may have heard of Okilly Dokilly: they're the Phoenix-based metal band inspired by the words, and fashion-sense, of <b>The Simpsons</b>' Ned Flanders. My favorite song on their setlist is "They Warned Me," a haunted refrain that turns a throwaway punchline into a haunting spiritual regret. I Simpsonized many fans (some of whom are pictured above), sold many comics, and enjoyed the festivities immensely, as it was a true example of how diverse and fun Phoenix culture is.</div>
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Finally, I'm extremely excited to join Steve Benson next Saturday, September 12, at the opening of the Arizona Capital Museum's "Show Me Arizona: Illustrations of History" opening gala. Benson is a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist, whose work appears in <i>The Arizona Republic</i>. I'm the creator of <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b>, which hasn't won any awards. Still, he and I are speaking on the topics of politics, cartooning, and Arizona, starting that morning at 11 a.m., and if you're in the area please come watch me hold back tears of joy at the opportunity.</div>
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While making <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> has given me an outlet to tell the stories buzzing about my head, it's also opened these doors of connectivity to my fellow creative types, from local artists and peers, to artistic heroes like Steve Rude and Steve Benson. I would call this, more than any sales of my books, a tremendous success, and I can't wait to see what happens next.</div>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-85798185936504334942015-08-23T08:42:00.001-07:002015-08-23T08:58:00.171-07:00This Is What You Need To LiveIf you're finding KaraokeFanboy Press through the <a href="http://poetrysuperhighway.com/" target="_blank"><b>Poetry Superhighway</b></a>, welcome to my corner of the Internet. I've been self-publishing my own comics and poetry in Phoenix since 2010, and this has been an exciting year for me.<br />
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In May, I ran a successful Kickstarter to self-publish my mini-comic book, <b><a href="http://amazingarizonacomics.com/" target="_blank">Amazing Arizona Comics</a></b>, monthly, and since then I've had several opportunities to share my work with the public: at <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7o1kXlOVXOU" target="_blank">Ignite Phoenix 17</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eqoz6EoZAKo" target="_blank">on my local NBC news</a>, and most recently <a href="http://theshow.kjzz.org/content/179936/valley-cartoonist-draws-daily-instagram-comic-satirizing-arizona-news" target="_blank">on NPR's local program <i>The Show</i></a>. With so much emphasis on my comics work, I thought my inclinations toward poetry might suffer, so I've made a proactive effort to keep writing, as much as I've been drawing.<br />
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This chapbook is one of the results. <b>This Is What You Need To Live</b> is a small collection of this year's writings, with another to follow toward the end of the year. My writing has taken an economic turn lately; my poems have become rather brief, in comparison to work from the past. So, I like the idea of my chapbook format adapting accordingly, measured at a mere 4.25" x 5.5". Yes, it's half of a sheet of paper, folded along the portrait orientation, creating a backpocket-sized digest you can take on the bus and probably read in the single ride. I hope its impression creates an urgency, that this must be read <i>now</i>, in its entirety . . . less of a whole record album, and more of an EP, really.
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<b>This Is What You Need To Live</b> is completely self-published (printed, folded, and stapled by yours truly), and the cost includes shipping. Even if the poetry doesn't impress you (and I <i>do</i> hope it does), rest assured that purchasing this chapbook supports an artist that still believes in handcrafting his work!</div>
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A special thanks to my friend and fellow Phoenix poet Gary Bowers, who was kind enough to write the intro to this chapbook. I'm a huge fan of his work, both writing and drawing, <a href="https://onewithclay.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">which can be found here</a>. Also, I'd like to thank Tristan Marshell, who asked me to feature at Glendale's Words in the Alley back in February, and I agreed, in spite of myself. That really got this ball rolling.<br />
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Finally, thank <i>you</i> for still reading blog posts to completion. I hope you'll spend some time and money on <b>This Is What You Need To Live</b>, because I do have more to come, and it is, for me, exactly as the title of this chapbook insists.</form>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-67749877908558567552015-08-09T11:04:00.000-07:002015-08-09T11:04:34.471-07:00Augustagram: Shaping Up a Daily WebcomicI love Instagram. I love that the format demands the viewer's attention to the single image, hyper-focused in the confines of a single, unmovable square. You can't zoom in, and you needn't rotate your phone to see the whole thing. It's just a perfectly proportioned picture, and while Instagram seems to allow an endless amount of caption text, "insta" really implies an immediacy . . . that <i>less</i> is <i>more</i>. <br />
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This economic, harmonious combination of picture and words is so what I love about comics. Indeed, Instagram dares us to capture real life <i>as</i> a comic book panel, in the same square shape Jack Kirby used in his six-panel page grids. With this in mind, I've decided to utilize Instagram to attempt a daily webcomic all August long, hence the term <i>Augustagram</i>. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 1: A woman found a dead frog in her Safeway sauerkraut, so Speed Cameron did, too. The panels are posted on Instagram in black and white, and my brother colors them afterward.</td></tr>
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The story, starring the characters from <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> of course, is told in daily panels that take place on their respective day. This isn't a new idea: Erik Larsen drew an each-panel-is-a-new-day story in <b>Savage Dragon</b> #144, and while you'd think the pace of the plot would be choppy, the consistency of the characters maintains a through-line that makes the real time pace even more fulfilling. This <i>is</i> their life, from the raucous to the routine -- which is exactly how we real people use Instagram.</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://instagram.com/amazingazcomics/">Follow Amazing Arizona Comics on Instagram by clicking here.</a></span></div>
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As the storyteller, I find the creative experience especially fun and challenging, because I'm thinking about characters I've drawn now for over five years in a totally different way. The existence of Speed Cameron and company <i>so</i> depends on current events, locally and nationwide, but how does that look when the news doesn't take the shape of a super-villain? How do stories about Cecil the Lion come up in their lives? What of news that takes a tragic turn, like a movie theater shooting? Some headlines are too fleeting to satirize in a comic I hope to reprint for years to come, and others are tragic to explore in stories I hope offer some respite from reality. Yet, when the focus is <i>in the moment</i>, the story becomes both theater and therapy. The only thing insistent and unavoidable is the present.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day 2: Rowdy Roddy Piper passed away on July 31. The news cycle moves so quickly, it's hard to remember what headlines moved us just one week ago.</td></tr>
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Thus, presently, August was my month of choice because it's really the only one void of holidays, so I wouldn't have that as a crutch. These are the dog days of summer, for sure, and I'm testing if my comic has bark <i>and</i> bite.</div>
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So, I hope you're following, or will now start to follow, this <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> Instagram webcomic all month long. Who knows what news stories will shape our heroes' lives? No doubt, the same news stories that shape <i>ours</i>. </div>
KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-58332551408672416262015-06-30T10:57:00.000-07:002015-07-12T10:08:08.505-07:00KaraokeFanboy Podcast & Amazing Arizona Comics Summer Sale!<div style="text-align: center;">
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In the latest episode of the KaraokeFanboy Podcast, I talk to my bro-ducer (that's brother + producer) Kyle about the 24 Hour Comic Challenge I completed on June 20-21, and to local poet <a href="http://batteredhive.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Shawnte Orion</a> about the poetry scene in Phoenix and beyond. We are Phoenix culture!</div>
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While you're here, I'm running a sale on all issues of <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> this month. Get the whole kitten kaboodle for just $20, which includes the latest issues included in my May/December Initiative, to self-publish monthly for the rest of the year. Just click the Paypal button below, and, remember, shipping is included!
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KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-49942403385857108882015-06-24T20:17:00.002-07:002015-06-24T20:19:05.469-07:0024 Hour Comic Challenge: Mission Accomplished!I'm sharing this post with <a href="http://AmazingArizonaComics.com/">AmazingArizonaComics.com</a>, because I'm so proud of the accomplishment, it <i>should</i> be posted twice:<br />
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My first 24 Hour Comic Book Challenge has been completed for over 48 hours now, as I write this, but I'm still thinking about the experience as one of the most thrillingly creative of my life. My writing and drawing process is often time sensitive, as so many stories in <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> are dependent on current events, but this was the first time the creation <i>was</i> the event, and several times throughout the challenge I wondered if I bit off more than I could chew.<br />
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When I publish the comic, I'll release an edition that has page-by-page thoughts on their inspirations, so I won't write too much here in the hopes that you buy the book and celebrate the accomplishment with me. I will say, here and now, elsewhere and forever, that I wouldn't have accomplished this feat without the support of Cynthia Black, proprietor of Hub, the furniture shop/creative space that hosted me. Her insight and support of the creative process was a driving force behind my efforts, and Hub as a stage for this thing provided the accountability I needed to get it done.<br />
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Also, I owe <a href="http://www.rainstormvideoandfilm.com/Index.html">Rainstorm Video and Film</a> and <a href="http://www.brickcavemedia.com/">Brick Cave Media</a> a great thanks for their moral support and technical insight. Rainstorm captured some footage of the event which may become a small package I'll share later, in addition to the 12 News clip above.<br />
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At the end of the day (literally), I learned, as cliched as it sounds, that I could do anything if I just set my mind to it. It really is just a matter of time.<br />
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Speaking of which, July is right around the corner, so . . .<br />
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Coming soon:<br />
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<br />KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6118373995228829088.post-3244499305354059012015-06-17T08:33:00.000-07:002015-06-24T20:18:53.638-07:00Amazing Arizona Comics Vlog 2Here's my latest <b>Amazing Arizona Comics</b> vlog, describing the 24 Hour Comic Challenge (as if you haven't heard <i>enough</i> about it!), and including a clip from my Galaxxy Show karaoke-meets-comics performance of the Crash Test Dummies' "Superman's Song." Bringing comics to foreign lands -- that's me, Arizona's Ambassador of Comics!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="305" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d4geh1EQndM" width="540"></iframe>KaraokeFanboyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16111034782315530527noreply@blogger.com0