Happy Birthday, Sheriff Joe Arpaio!

We interrupt our regularly scheduled series of Phoenix Comicon Memories to wish Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio a happy birthday -- on Flag Day, to boot!  Sheriff Joe's birthday is a holiday around these parts, since he plays a huge part in Amazing Arizona Comics, so let's take a look back at some of his most notable appearances!

Sheriff Joe first appeared in Amazing Arizona Comics on the cover of the very first issue, which in fact promised: "Now with more Sheriff Joe!"  As issue #1, that was an easy promise to keep!

Here's a detail from the recently colored edition of Amazing Arizona Comics #1, as tensions rise between Sheriff Joe and Speed Cameron.

In my predictions for 2012 (published in the local zine Pholx), I'd anticipated that Sheriff Joe would transcend the bonds of Earth to fight aliens off-planet.  Unfortunately, this only manifested in comic strip form.  That I can prove.

Aside from space-faring lawman, Sheriff Joe has found himself in a few different incarnations during the comic's run, including as Sheriff Scorpaio (coined by Bill Campana) and Sheriff Ape-aio (co-created with Bob Leeper).  His most nefarious incarnation, however, is undoubtedly Darkpaio, the despot from Parallel Earth-1070.

In the end, Flag Day is a celebration of patriotism, so we should end this homage to Sheriff Arpaio on a high note -- perhaps with a shot of him alongside other notables that share his birthday!

If you'd like to see the adventures of Joe Arpaio and the Agents of F.L.A.G. Day, drop a comment below.  Next year, you might just wake up to find a gift under your Flag Day tree!

Countdown to Phoenix Comicon 2013!

The countdown to Phoenix Comicon has begun!  Amazing Arizona Comics #8 will make its debut at Artists' Alley table #1723, so swing by and check out June Monsoon's adventure on Earth-1070.  Over the next week, I'll be posting panels from the new issue, so you can see what poor June is up against.

Here, Darkpaio gloats over the world he's created . . . a world of peace, at what cost . . .

Attack of the Tucson Tiki: Starring Picacho Pete!

Welcome back to KaraokeFanboy Press, and another free Amazing Arizona Comics strip!  Attack of the Tucson Tiki was distributed exclusively to Tucson comic book stores for Free Comic Book Day, but here's the story in color!  Special thanks to R Galaxy, Fantasy Comics, Heroes & Villains, and Charlie's Comics -- all great spots to pick up a funnybook just north of the border -- and to the Hut, home of the Tiki god that taunts this tale's tiny hero.

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!

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!

Sketchbook Sunday: The Tough Sheriff Returns

I'll be keeping the blog fresh with Sketchbook Sunday, a series of posts focusing on, well, some of my sketches.

This year's first few Sketchbook Sunday will look back on some of the political comic strips I hoped to draw during the 2012 election.  During an election, the news cycle moves so quickly, it's hard to create a story of any substantial length that will still be relevant when I'm done, so these concepts were quickly abandoned.  In this case . . .

What if Sheriff Arpaio didn't win the election?  Did anyone ever think that he might be more dangerous without the accountability of elected office?  Imagine a "retired" Arpaio unleashed -- vigilante-style -- in The Tough Sheriff Returns!  (Have fun comparing the panels I swiped from Frank Miller's classic The Dark Knight Returns!)

Fun addendum: Marc Maron recently interviewed Michael Keaton on his podcast WTF, and Keaton reveals how reading TDKR helped him define his role as Batman.  He also explains why he bowed out of the third film -- with interesting ties to Batman Begins!  I recommend listening, and you can find it here.