Amazing Arizona Comics -- Trading Cards?!

I played with the concept of a few con exclusives for this year's Phoenix Comicon -- and trading cards were high on my list of possibilities.  Over the next few days, I'll post some samples, coupled with the question: Would you be interested in a pack?

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!

2014 Phoenix Comicon Memories #2: KTAR Interview with Bruce St. James!

I had the amazing opportunity to talk to KTAR's Bruce St. James live on-air during this year's Phoenix Comicon, discussing geek culture, and of course Amazing Arizona Comics.  The video has a photo or two but is intended for the audio only -- so press play, kick back to listen, and enjoy!

Special thanks to Bruce and producer Michael Russell for the opportunity.  As a fan of their show, I was honored to chat with them!

The Sun Devil Fan Fair, The Winter Solider, and More!

What a great month for comics!  First . . .

Upcoming: Sun Devil Fan Fair & Amazing Arizona Comics Quarterly #1!

This weekend, some ASU fan clubs are hosting the first ever Sun Devil Fan Fair, a mini comic con on the Tempe Arizona State University Campus.  They're been gracious enough to squeeze me in, so if you're in town, come on by for a free sketch, or to pick up an issue of Amazing Arizona Comics! 

 

Unfortunately, I won't have any issues of Amazing Arizona Comics Quarterly #1 available yet, but pre-order is still available here at the discounted price of $2.50!  Remember, this is the first full-sized issue of Amazing Arizona Comics!  Buy it now!

Coming Soon . . .

Here's a panel from this year's Amazing Arizona Comics: Free Comic Book Day Special, starring the Arizonauts suffering the dog days of summer.  (And colored by my brother, Kyle.)  You gotta read it to believe it!  I hope to send issues to shops in Tucson, Flagstaff, and of course right here in Phoenix, so visit your local comic book store on Saturday, May 3, for this and more free comics!

Amazing Arizona Research

Last month, my wife and I cruised Route 66, and I've been posting pics from the trip -- here's my favorite billboard of all time!

Cool Cosplay

I can't post this without mentioning the release of Captain America: The Winter Soldier last weekend!  The concessions workers at the Westgate AMC Theater in Glendale were just as excited as I was -- and they dressed the part!  The "Winter Soldier's" garb is especially impressive in its effective simplicity!

This Week's Intake

Yes, I was thrilled to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier on its opening night.  I was also thrilled that the plot's driving force was (spoilers?) the current issue of national security versus personal privacy -- making Cap the vehicle for exploring a legitimate issue with the overtones of adventurous escapism.  Replace "S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarriers" with "unmanned drones" and Cap's plight in The Winter Soldier is practically ripped from the headlines, which, in my opinion, is always when superheroes are at their best.  Captain America: The Winter Soldier may be the best superhero movie to date.

My wife and I also went to the Phoenix Film Festival and caught The Joe Show, a documentary about Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio -- who, as you may know, has inspired many stories in Amazing Arizona Comics.  Considering Arpaio's track record for controversy and unabashed media hounding, as documented persuasively in The Joe Show, is it any wonder he managed to recruit a secret posse of super deputies?  That's perhaps the most believable of Joe's exploits yet!

See you at the Sun Devil Fan Fair!

Sheriff Joe's Birthday Surprise

Amazing Arizona Comics #8 Animated Cover!

Happy Labor Day!  This week, I'm rolling out some new animated gifs.

Last night, as I was learning more about making these fun little animations, I looked up and saw the "R.J. Cartoons" sticker I had made as a kid with my old label maker.  It's still clinging to the shelves over my desk, after all these years.  Now that I'm animating my own characters, however crudely, I feel like a childhood dream has come true.  I'm making cartoons!

Oh, if you didn't know, in Amazing Arizona Comics #8, June Monsoon teams up with the Arizonauts of Parallel Earth-1070 to defeat a despotic Sheriff Joe Arpaio, a.k.a. Darkpaio.  This issue is available for $2, but I'm afraid its cover doesn't move in real life.

 

Phoenix Comicon and Amazing Arizona Comics #8 Is Here!

Today's the day!  Phoenix Comicon begins, and Amazing Arizona Comics #8 debuts!  Just look for this cover in Artists' Alley, table #1723 -- KaraokeFanboy Press!  Ask for a free sketch while you're at it!

(Special thanks to my beautiful wife Casey for painting June and the city skyline for this issue's cover!)

June Monsoon vs. Darkpaio!

June Monsoon vs. Darkpaio -- and the fate of Earth-1070 hangs in the balance!  See how it all turns out at Phoenix Comicon this weekend, when Amazing Arizona Comics #8 debuts at Artists' Alley table #1723.

Recall Campaign, part 1

Here, the Arizonauts of Earth-1070 prepare their recall campaign of Darkpaio.  See how it all turns out in Amazing Arizona Comics #8, making its debut at Phoenix Comicon next week!

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 . . .

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

Happy Birthday, Arizona!

Today may be Valentine's Day, but it's also Arizona's 101st birthday, so to celebrate I'll be posting panels and previews from some upcoming projects featuring our Grand Canyon State.

Today's image is the cover of Amazing Arizona Comics #7 -- I've posted the exclusive covers of the Tucson Comic Con and Amazing Arizona Comic Con editions, but this is the standard cover (sans text and color), kicking off June Monsoon's adventure to Parallel Earth-1070.

To purchase this issue for a measly $2, just click here!

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.

Attack of the Sign Sprayer Slayer!

In this online exclusive strip, Sheriff Joe does whatever it takes to catch the vandals smearing his campaign signs!

Getting Back Into the Swing...

I'll be posting here with more regularity for the rest of the year, primarily with conceptual sketches from Amazing Arizona Comics and beyond, but until then I should mention "The Swing Vote of Sheriff Ape-aio," the serial strip that ran on Nerdvana last month (following the ambitious Speed Cameron's California Adventure, of course).  That's right -- before Sheriff Arpaio was campaigning for his own seat, he was endorsing Mitt Romney at the RNC, where he was transformed into an ape!  Guest starring Invisible President Obama, Clint Eastwood, Ben Quayle, and some mysterious visitors from -- Parallel Earth 1070?!  Check out the collection here!

Here's the trailer to whet your appetite:

Joe Arpaio & The Agents of F.L.A.G. (Day)!

For the whole story on this "lost cover," visit Nerdvana right now!

The Birthday Wishes Continue . . .

In today's East Valley Tribune:

Happy Birthday, Joe!

Over two years ago, Sheriff Arpaio inspired me to self-publish my own mini-comic book series about superheroes in Arizona, so, today, on his 80th birthday, I’d like to thank him for setting a high standard for doing whatever it takes to get in the news.

I'm asking for captions to this comic over at Nerdvana.  Stop by and wish Sheriff Joe a happy 80th!

Arizonauts Profile: Speed Cameron

And, of course, there's Speed Cameron.

Before he became a living speed camera, Speed Cameron was just Cameron Wheeler, a reckless youth that, one dark, stormy night, was struck by lightning and the flash of a speed trap at the same time.  He wasn't the first to join Sheriff Joe Arpaio's Arizonauts program, but his eagerness to defend the law quickly made him its leaders and spokesman.

When the Arizonauts went public, Speed Cameron led the charge to expose Sheriff Apraio's controversial methods, but revelations about his origin have driven him to leave the team and find himself anew -- starting in California.  Read all about in the upcoming miniseries Speed Cameron's California Adventure --

-- or discover the truth, as Speed Cameron did, in Amazing Arizona Comics #6 at Phoenix Comicon this weekend!  Find us at Artists' Alley table 437!