We came, we saw, we honored!

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!

Firstly, I'd like to thank Drawn to Comics 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 else would let five weirdos lock themselves in a comic shop for 24 straight hours?  

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).  Birdie Birdashaw, Derk Harron, the Janimal, and Zoe Sugg 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!

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 Monkey Pants Bar & Grill in Tempe for hosting our event.  If you're ever hankering wings and/or karaoke near ASU, Monkey Pants is the place.

I'll post the roast on Phoenix Tonight's YouTube page soon, but in the meantime, here's a shot of me with the Avengers in attendance.  I guess Stark had an expo, or something.

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 Instagram @stevenrogersusa.

Keep your eyes glued to this blog for more posts this fall!  Karaoke adventures, zines, and more zany fandom to come!

CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 5

It's almost here!  Micky Dolenz is in 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:

Shorty Blackwell.

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 Instant Replay 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.

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!

CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 4

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 . . .

Bonus!  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."

"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!

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 tomorrow, lest I spoil the reveal now!

So, yes, today -- "As We Go Along," from the Monkees' controversial film Head.  Poorly received then, cult classic now, Head 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.  Head must be seen to be believed.  I love it.



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 timeless -- if, as the end of this video asks, anything can be.

CoDoDo: My Countdown to Micky Dolenz, part 3

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.

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 that 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 30 years running.

By that standard, I have 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.  

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!

Show Me Arizona, Show Me Ourselves

“So why should I care about Spider-man?” she asked.

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.

I wasn’t stunned by the question, but I was struck by her choice of words.  She didn’t ask why she should like 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 not to like?

I had to explain why she should care.  Caring implies an emotional investment that lasts past a 22-page comic book adventure, or a two hour movie.  Indeed, I care about Spider-man, but I hadn’t wondered why in a long time.  I took a moment to think about it, then answered.

“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!”

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.

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.

In this completely imaginary role, I’ve discussed superhero comics at events like Ignite Phoenix and on shows like Good Morning, Arizona, and I’ve organized events like the Community Jam Comic and the recent Jack Kirby Birthday Celebration.

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 live 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.

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 we care.

Check out Fox 10's coverage of the gallery opening, including the gallery's hours so you can dig the exhibit soon, here:

These Dog Days Have Bite To Their Bark

August may be dubbed the "dog days of summer," but it was a surprisingly busy month for KaraokeFanboy Press and Amazing Arizona Comics.  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, it's archived here.  The tale will be colored and collected in issue #15 of Amazing Arizona Comics, due out later this month.

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 Good Morning, Arizona, following the hilarious in-studio of antics of comedian Tom Green, and you can still watch me draw Captain America live right here.  Highlights of the Jack Kirby Birthday Celebration included:

• The gallery of local artists, including Derk Harron (top left), Bryan Bg Graham (top right), Steve Failla (bottom left), and Eric Mengel (bottom right).
• Host Jesse James Criscione's recount of his day with Jack Kirby, which, without exaggeration, completely changed his life.
• Gary Bowers' Jack Kirby birthday card, which he hopes to submit to the Kirby Museum by 2017 for Jack's 100th birthday.
• Bob Leeper's discussion of Kirby's oft-overlooked influence over the romance comics genre.
• Ashley Naftule's discovery of Kirby's storied "cigar box," and the diary entries therein.
• JRC's kinesthetic recreation of the Kirby process, complete with virtual Kirby crackle and boom tubes.
• Ernesto Moncada's sharing of finding Kirby through poorly reprinted, and usually out of order, Mexican comic books.
• Tommy Cannon's charming greeting to Steve Rude, and his awesome Kirby-influenced poem.
• Kevin Patterson's recount of discovering, and fearing, the real Yancy Street from Fantastic Four lore.
• Eric Mengel's personal connection to the date of Kirby's birthday, and how the day celebrates his personal and artistic passions.

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 next year's event tops it!

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 The Simpsons' 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.

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 The Arizona Republic.  I'm the creator of Amazing Arizona Comics, 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.

While making Amazing Arizona Comics 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.

Augustagram: Shaping Up a Daily Webcomic

I 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 less is more.

This economic, harmonious combination of picture and words is so what I love about comics.  Indeed, Instagram dares us to capture real life as 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 Augustagram.  

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.

The story, starring the characters from Amazing Arizona Comics 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 Savage Dragon #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 is their life, from the raucous to the routine -- which is exactly how we real people use Instagram.

Follow Amazing Arizona Comics on Instagram by clicking here.

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 so 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 in the moment, the story becomes both theater and therapy.  The only thing insistent and unavoidable is the present.

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.

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 and bite.

So, I hope you're following, or will now start to follow, this Amazing Arizona Comics Instagram webcomic all month long.  Who knows what news stories will shape our heroes' lives?  No doubt, the same news stories that shape ours.  

Russ Kazmierczak, Jr.: Arizona's Ambassador of Comics

I’m taking on a title.  Stan was “the man.”  Kirby was “the king.”  I’m happily accepting the role of ambassador.  

And from that day forward, Russ Kazmierczak, Jr., creator of Amazing Arizona Comics, was also known as . . . Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics!

Some things about being an ambassador:

1.  If I steal one of your comics, I’m not accountable to the law for my crime.  I have diplomatic immunity.

2.  I am an ambassador of comics -- not the ambassador of comics.  A popular biography about Joker creator Jerry Robinson is titled Ambassador of Comics -- just knowing that affirms my title as an ambassador of comics.  Countries have multiple ambassadors, after all, and these ambassadors have embassies.  My embassy is Arizona, and I love living here.  Thusly, I am Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics.

3.  I may have a sash made.

4.  My job is simple: I am comics’ messenger and representative.  I understand the nuances of comics, specifically but not exclusively superhero comics, as a definitively American graphic language and mythology, and I really want to share that with people.  That inspires this mission statement:

As Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics, I will read, study, make, and share comics in a way that examines and celebrates their progressive importance to the individual, the city, the country, and the culture.

I’ve already begun my mission, specifically here in Arizona, by bringing comics to different forums like poetry open mics, First Fridays, Bookman’s, Ignite Phoenix, KTAR talk radio, and last night’s Galaxxy Show.  (Most of those were just in the last 60 days or so.)  Today, I talked about comics and drew Batman for these kids in a parking lot.  Next weekend, I’ll draw a comic in a furniture store window.  I am not preaching to the choir.  I’m deliberately foraying into foreign lands, most often in person, first and foremost as a fan.

5.  Shameless self-promotion is not the point, but a very happy perk in my position as Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics.  I’m talking about comics, in general, with a special emphasis on superheroes, and Amazing Arizona Comics epitomizes my points about comics’ potential, as my own talent and confidence grows as a creator.  It’s a major vehicle, but not the voice at full volume.

6.  AAC is an abbreviation for both my title, Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics, and the title of my comic, Amazing Arizona Comics.  Coincidence?  Absolutely.

7.  Ambassadors really aren’t in charge of anything, so, to my fellow creators, this title bares no threat to you.  Continue to call yourselves whatever you want; just know that I’ve happily claimed Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics, and that I intend to fulfill all of the work and responsibility that said title entails.  It’s about building relationships, not kingdoms.  It’s about putting meaningful words to the visual, to tell a compelling, entertaining story . . . and isn’t that just like comics.

Russ Kazmierczak, Jr., Arizona’s Ambassador of Comics

Phoenix, Arizona

KaraokeFanboy Podcast Episode 9 & More!

Dig the next episode of the KaraokeFanboy Podcast, concluding my conversations with poet Gary Bowers, and comedian Rick Larsen.  These guys are foundational to the arts in Phoenix, and they'll inspire you where ever you live.

While you're enjoying a little media, dig the first Amazing Arizona Comics vlog.  I'll be posting these regularly as a thanks to my Kickstarter supporters, and to promote upcoming projects and events.

KaraokeFanboy Podcast Episode 8

My friend/local poet/graphic artist Gary Bowers recently asked me,

"Are there any new superpowers?  A power that hasn't been done?"

He and I talked about that, and more in the first part of this latest episode of the KaraokeFanboy Podcast.  Then, I chat with Rick Larsen, performer and self-publisher of a local fanzine . . .

a fanzine dedicated to the TV show Matlock.

Cover by awesome Arizona comic artist Brad Dwyer.

The next episode will drop soon and feature the second half of these conversations, with talk of poetry and improv in Phoenix.  If you're looking for the arts scene in Arizona, you've found it here!

KaraokeFanboy Podcast Episode 7

The audio in this episode suffers greatly, because much of it was recorded on the road, as my friends Bob, Rusty, and I toured the comic book stores of Metro Phoenix for Free Comic Book Day!  What you can hear is a serious spoiler for Avengers 2: Age of Ultron, so if you haven't seen it, don't listen!  You've been warned!

I plan on posting a new podcast every week for the rest of May, so stay tuned for some great interviews with local creative folks in Phoenix.

Thank You, Southwest Maker Fest and Phoenix Film Festival!

I exhibited at two great events this weekend, and I hope to return to both of them next year: the Southwest Maker Fest in downtown Mesa, and the Phoenix Film Festival's Geek Day.

I made the mistake of dubbing the Southwest Maker Fest an "art show," but it's really so much more.  Mesa's Main Street was lined with local innovators -- some of them were artists, but others were scientists, entrepreneurs . . . basically, all folks in the business of making, hence the event's name.  I was honored to be among them, with Batman, to boot!  If you swung by the table for one of the seventy sketches I cranked out that day, or if you picked up a comic, thank you, and see you next year!

The Phoenix Film Festival did a great job kicking off the local con season (starting in April with the Tucson Art Press Expo) with Geek Day, and fellow self-publishers the Janimal (with me on the red carpet, above) and T.R.I.B.E. Comics joined me in promoting our wares.  I'm especially grateful to actor Maiz Lucero (pictured below) for swinging by with his friends for caricatures -- thanks for keeping me busy, guys!

I mentioned TAPE -- I'll be there next month, with other events and projects soon to come, including this year's Free Comic Book Day story, spanning the entire state!  For more immediate updates, find and friend Speed Cameron on Facebook.  He's much faster at posting things than I am.

Turtles, Toys, and Other Places to Find KaraokeFanboy Online

I've been putting out a lot of content lately, per my new year's resolution to myself, and I want to make sure you're finding it online!

First of all, I've started a new vlog (that's video + blog = vlog, people!) called Comics I've Made, Comics I've Read, all about (wait for it) the comics I've made, and the comics I've read.  I'm two episodes deep, with a new episode sure to come before St. Patrick's Day.  Check out the latest:






Secondly, I'm really milking my interview with Kevin Eastman from the Amazing Arizona Comic Con (wouldn't you?) -- so you can read excerpts and inspirations over on Nerdvana, posted every Saturday in March to celebrate this month's Mini-Comics Day.

Finally, I have a new series that started today called I Forgot I Lost You, about toys and collectibles I've redisovered around Arizona.  You can find that on Pholx, which, in my opinion, transcends blog to straight-up online zine.

Everything is intentionally short and sweet, in the hopes that you'll check it out and enjoy.  I mean, a two minute video here, a few paragraphs there . . . and if you're reading this, you probably like what I like, so you'll dig it!  I swear!

Happy Birthday, Arizona!

Darkpaio says, "Happy Birthday, Arizona!"

If you love living in Arizona, the fact that Arizona's statehood anniversary is shared with Valentine's Day is the perfect coincidence for you!  While I hope to keep my updates weekly only, I couldn't let today pass without acknowledgement, so here's an abbreviated version of my new newsletter format, just to say, here's to you, Grand Canyon State!

Cool Cosplay

I get to see a lot of cool cosplay at the cons I attend, and rather than post endless slideshows of fat Batmen, I like to feature one great costume at a time, ideally revealing the wearer's creativity, originality, and, most importantly to me, practicality.  So, to celebrate Arizona's birthday, here's a nod to its Wild West roots with a Cowboy Green Lantern from last month's Amazing Arizona Comic Con!

Coming Soon . . .

Amazing Arizona Comics Quarterly is still in the works, with a story that takes place on this very day, starring our very state's first governor, who is entombed in Papago Park -- to rise in the instance his beloved land faces a crisis!  Behold, the GovernMummy!

Meet The Monkees

I'm a lifelong Monkees fan, and I've always wanted to meet them.  Several years ago, when I lived in Southern California, I met Micky Dolenz when he and his sister Coco performed a free concert in the park.  I thought that was a dream come true in itself.

Then, a year or more later, Peter Tork and his band, Shoe Suede Blues, performed in the city of Orange, and I snatched up tickets and met him.  Two out of four -- I was content.

Some time after that, the Monkees' movie Head screened at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.  Peter and Davy Jones did a panel for fans -- and I shared a remarkable moment with Davy that I'll treasure forever.  

Ever since the Monkees' heyday, Mike Nesmith removed himself from that teeny-bopper scene and pursued his own solo career in country rock and video production.  He rejoined the group for Davy's memorial last year, and my wife and I saw him with Micky and Peter at the Greek Theater in 2012, and just a few months ago at the Mesa Arts Center.  He didn't greet fans at either venue, and I resigned to the thought that I'd never meet him.

Last night, Mike started a solo tour, of all places, right here in Phoenix.  He offered a limited number of  "Conversation Passes" for a post-show meet and greet.  I got one.  I met him.  I don't mind telling you, I cried.

It's not every day you get to meet your heroes -- in this case, artists that have influenced me in more ways than I can ever acknowledge.  It is every day that you can honor them by pursuing the passion for creativity that their works instilled in you.  

Stay tuned.

REAL Amazing Arizona Adventures #1: The Hunt for the Naked Gargoyle

A few weeks ago, I walked in the shoes of a 1970s balladeer and looked for a demon in the desert.

The unpaved backroads of Paulden, Arizona are a labyrinth of yard sales and sinkholes,  but the romp was worth it to find David Smith’s anatomically correct gargoyle.  When my wife and I heard of the controversial statue on the news, she and I both knew I’d have to find it.  A Google search of the story revealed all of the details about Smith’s 9-foot metal monster, and how the gargoyle’s proportionate male genitalia had upset some of his neighbors, but his exact address was spared, probably wisely.  Still, as a comic chronicler of Arizona’s strangest events, I had to see it for myself.

So, on a warm Friday morning, I took the I-17 northward, continuing on AZ-89 about 30 miles past Prescott, through Chino Valley to the small town of Paulden, which is really just a smattering of homes on either side of the freeway.  Unfortunately, the gargoyle couldn’t be easily found at the end of a trail of running, horrified locals, so I decided to follow yard sale signs toward talkative types that might point me toward the girthy gargoyle.  Just call me Jack McGee.

Three yard sales later, I found the creature, silhouetted against the desert landscape by the early afternoon sun.  Admittedly, Smith’s property is very close to an elementary school, so I can understand why some locals might have found its towering presence in the front yard objectionable.  Alas, now, the gargoyle is pulled back from road, and its antagonistic anatomy isn’t as obvious, let alone offensive.

I thought about jumping his fence to get a closer look, since I didn’t see a vehicle on the property, but Smith’s barking dogs gave me long enough pause to see Smith himself, taking to his patio to investigate the ruckus.  Smith too was in silhouette, and from my squinting perspective he appeared like just another abstract force of nature among the nude demons and tumbleweeds of the barren terrain.  What question could I ask that those pesky reporters hadn’t posed during his fleeting fifteen minutes of fame?

“I’m here to see your gargoyle,” I called.

Smith chuckled, and went back inside.  I then realized, indeed, I had nothing new to ask, but he probably had nothing new to answer, either.  His statement was there, in plain view, embodied as a naked gargoyle that was unafraid of the confused, judgmental eyes of the world.  And it was proud to call Arizona its home.

I drove home that afternoon knowing exactly how it feels.

Speed Cameron's Free Comic Book Day Adventure!

Happy Free Comic Book Day!  If you picked up the print version of this little Speed Cameron strip somewhere around Phoenix, thank you for visiting the blog!  Remember, mention the Sign Spinner at Artists' Alley table 1723 at this year's Phoenix Comicon for a free sketch!

Bonus!  Come back tomorrow for another free comic strip, starring Picacho Pete in Tucson!

Wolverine in the Desert . . .

I drew this a few years ago, just getting around to putting it up now . . .

Sheriff Arpaio...Has...the Power!

"On Parallel Earth-1070, Sheriff Arpaio lost his last election . . .

. . . so he gave himself superpowers and took his office back."

-- June Monsoon, from Amazing Arizona Comics #8, coming soon

This Weekend: Amazing Arizona Comic Con!

This weekend, for the first time in print, The Swing Vote of Sheriff Ape-aio!  Visit Artists' Alley table A39 at the Amazing Arizona Comic Con to pick up your copy for only $1!  While supplies last!