Heard from my Bushi Tales comics partner Dave Beaty this week. He had some good news- he had just turned in his two weeks notice at his day job so he could draw comics full time! For the past year or so he’s been doing some side work for DC, Marvel, and Aspen, with Scott Clark including last year’s X-Men: Sword of the Braddocks and the DCU Holiday Special.

Here are a couple of his new projects that are coming out soon-

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #7 (OF 7)

On Sale FEBRUARY 24, 2010

Written by JAMES ROBINSON; Art by MAURO CASCIOLI with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

This is the big one! After the catastrophes seen in issues #5 and #6, a hero loses control, leading to an unexpected ending that will fundamentally change the lives of the World’s Greatest Heroes forever. This issue launches a major storyline in the DC Universe and is not to be missed.

TITANS #23

On sale MARCH 17

Written by EDDIE BERGANZA

Art by ANGEL UNZUETA with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY!

Spotlight on Red Arrow! As Roy Harper lies in critical condition after the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5, his fever dreams show him the perfect future life he wants for the Titans. Unfortunately for him, it’s a life the Titans will never see.

Be sure to stop by the Bushi Tales table at the Pheonix Cactuscon this May to see what else Dave has been up to.

Hopefully he’ll be able to announce what else he’s got lined up soon.

Congrats, Dave!

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Lex Luthor For Sale

If you’d like one of my paintings now’s your chance!

I originally did this to show at the Superman Celebration in Metropolis, IL a couple years ago, and ended up donating it to the HERO Initiative art auction at the Phoenix Cactuscon. Noel Neill (the ORIGINAL Lois Lane) was kind enough to sign it for me before the auction (she starred with Kevin Spacey in Superman Returns).

Well, it’s back up for auction- this time on ebay by Brandon Ladd Burkey, owner of Crossroads Entertainment Co., LLC. and the guy who bought it in Phoenix. Minimum bid is $200 and apparently you get one of my sketchbooks, too.

Best I remember this one is approx. 2′x3′ and it’s airbrush acrylic on canvas.

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PHOENIX OR BUST!

Speaking of PHX, it’s official- Dave and I have been listed as guests for this May’s Phoenix Cactuscon. We’ll be there with Micah and Nicki and are looking forward to checking out the new con digs!

Oh- Noel Neill will be there, too!

Hope to see you there-

Lin

Tags: bushi tales, cactuscon, comic books, comic whore, comics, dave beaty, dc comics, Kevin Spacey, Lex Luthor, lin workman, metropolis, Noel Neill, Phoenix, superman celebration, Superman Returns

Hey gang-

Got a press release from Angie with Metropolis Tourism I thought I’d share…

Hello Superman Fans!

Here is the latest news from Metropolis, Illinois:

Comic Book & Toy Show set for March 6-7 in Metropolis, Illinois The city best known for its super hero connection will be the site of a Comic Book and Toy Show on Saturday and Sunday, March 6-7. The event will be held at the Riverfront Event Center inside Harrah’s Hotel, 100 Front St. in Metropolis. For the second year in a row, the show is being produced by Marc Ballard, the owner of Comic City in Nashville, Tenn. Ballard says that those who enter the doors of the Riverfront Event Center will see a variety of vendors showcasing comics from the 1940s to present-day, vintage Star Wars toys, autographed celebrity items, games, t-shirts, western items and more.

Admission into the show is $5 each day. All attending will receive a free poster and will be eligible for door prizes. Also, all who attend the Comic Book and Toy Show will receive free admission into the Super Museum and Americana Hollywood in Metropolis that weekend. Hours for the show are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday.

The featured guest for this year’s show is Mark Goddard, who is best known as Major Don West in the cult 1960s television series, Lost in Space. Goddard, now a special education teacher in Middleboro, Mass., attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and received his first acting role as “Cully” on the television series, Johnny Ringo in 1959. He went on to act in The Detectives, Lost In Space, Perry Mason, Adam 12, The Fall Guy, Mod Quad and the movie, Blue Sunshine. He also appeared in One Life to Live, The Doctors and General Hospital as well as on Broadway in The Act with Liza Minnelli. Goddard made a cameo appearance in 1998 in the movie, Lost in Space, as the general in charge of the Jupiter Mission, and superior officer to his former character, Major Don West.

Other guests scheduled to appear at the Metropolis Comic Book and Toy Show include: Jacob Rougmont, a writer of Marvel Comics Handbook and Index; Jason Craig, artist of Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash and Grim Fairy Tales; Gary Freidrick, creator of Ghost Rider; John Dugan, Grandpa from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie; Mike Nicolosi , actor from The Untouchables; and Tojo Yamamoto Jr., wrestler and owner of Renegade Pro Wrestling in Metropolis, and the son of the world famous wrestler Tojo Yamamoto. Regional artists, Will Woods, Jay Chuppe and Sean Dulany will be a part of the show as well as the Paducah Imperials Star Wars Fan Club. Celebrity guests and artists will be featured both days.

A popular part of the show is sure to be the costume contest. Anyone wishing to enter should attend the show in costume on Saturday and must be present at 4 p.m. in order to be eligible to win. The person chosen with the best all-around costume will be awarded a convention prize package consisting of passes to Nashville Comic Con, Fright Night Film Festival, Cincinnati Comic Con, next year’s Metropolis Con and a San Diego exclusive certified graded comic (only 10 made, valued at $200.)

A Saturday evening event is being planned, but details are not yet available.

For information about the Metropolis Comic Book and Toy Show , visit www.comiccitytn.com or call Ballard at 615-573-4537. For information about attractions and other happenings in the Metropolis area, visit www.metropolistourism.com, call 877-424-5025 or visit Metropolis Tourism on facebook.

Tags: comic books, convention, metropolis, superman celebration, toys

Here are a few conventions and events members of the MSCA will be attending next year-

Shadowcon XIV

January 8th & 9th, 2010

Holiday Inn Select

2240 Democrat Road

Memphis, TN 38132

http://www.shadowcon.org/

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Midsouthcon

March 12-14, 2010

Whispering Woods Hotel and Convention Center

11200 Goodman Road

Olive Branch, MS 38654

http://www.midsouthcon.org/

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CGS Super Show

March 27 & 28, 2010

Greater Reading Expo Center

Reading, PA

http://www.comicgeekspeak.com/supershow/

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Cape Comic Con (Cape-Con)

April?

Cape Girardeau, MO

http://www.capecomiccon.com./

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Free Comic Book Day

May 1st, 2010

Comic Cellar

3620 Austin Peay HWY Ste 2

Memphis, TN 38128

http://www.comiccellaronline.com/

http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

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Phoenix Comicon (Cactuscon)

May 27-30, 2010

Phoenix Convention Center & Hyatt Regency

Downtown Phoenix, AZ

http://www.phoenixcomicon.com/

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Metropolis Superman Celebration

June 10-13, 2010

Metropolis, IL (off I-24 north of Paducah, KY)

http://www.supermancelebration.net/

I’ll add more as I get the info.

Lin

Tags: Adam B. Shaw, Cape Girardeau, CGS, comic, comic books, Comic Geek Speak, comics, Comics and Collectibles, dave beaty, free comic book day, Gail Simone, Janet Wade, jetta, kevin l williams, lin workman, martheus antone wade, Memphis, metropolis, Mid-South CArtoonists Association, midsouthcon, MSCA, muley, Phoenix, shadowcon

HUMAN TARGET #1

Written by Len Wein and Peter Johnson
Art by Bruno Redondo & Sergio Sandoval and Chris Sprouse & Karl Story
Cover by Lee Bermejo
Photo variant cover

Hitting stores in February.

From CBR News-

On the heels of the highly anticipated Human Target FOX series comes a brand-new adventure pitting Christopher Chance against the organized crime…of the world! When he’s tasked with protecting a highly placed informant and collecting damaging evidence throughout Europe, every assassin and goon from Paris to Prague will be gunning for the Human Target!

From series creator Len Wein comes an all-new, all action-packed adventure featuring the art of Bruno Redondo (PUSH) and covers by some of the industry’s most popular creators!

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Noel Neill Statue Funding A Go!

This just in from Metropolis-

The Metropolis Chamber of Commerce has been eagerly awaiting a decision concerning its application for state tourism funds for the Noel Neil Statue, and the good news has finally arrived.

An Illinois Tourist Attraction Grant in the amount of $29,550 has been awarded to the Metro Chamber for the project that will give visitors yet another attraction to see while visiting Metropolis. The six foot bronze statue will depict Noel Neil as Lois Lane and will feature a pedestal that will be constructed of engraved bricks, similar to the Superman Statue.  The statue will grace the northeast corner of Eighth and Market streets.

For more info check out our forums.

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John Ostrander and Mary Mitchell Engaged!

Today on Facebook John Ostrander changes his relationship status with this post- “John is now engaged.”

He also commented, “Mary and I have been engaged for awhile. No date set until some financial stuff (my end) gets sorted out.”

John recently had to have eye surgery on both eyes, but is recovering nicely, and writing up a storm. He’s currently working on STAR WARS LEGACY, recently did SECRET SIX 15, and also working on the GRIMJACK: THE MANX CAT series from IDW.

John and writer Gail Simone are both working on part of “Blackest Night” with Suicide Squad #67 which will kick off a story that runs a total of three issues, all co-written by Ostrander and Simone. You can check out a Newsarama interview with John and Gail here.

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Girls Read Comics..?!!

Yes, Virginia…there are fan-girls.

In the lastest ComicWhore.com update MSCA webmaster and official Fan-Girl Nicki Howe discusses women in comics, how she got interested in comics, and what can be done about getting more female readers for the comics industry.

Tags: Blackest Night, comic, comic books, comic whore, comics, Fan-Girl, fangirl, Gail Simone, Human Target, john ostrander, Len Wein, Memphis, metropolis, Noel Neill, Secret Six, statue, Suicide Squad, superman celebration

This just in…
The Metropolis Superman Celebration Comics Guests of Honor will be DC Comics’ own Gail Simone and Mike Norton- with more to be announced soon!

And members of the MSCA will be attending as well- Kevin Williams, Muley The Mule, Adam Shaw, Penny Register-Shaw, Antone Wade, Janet Wade, Anakin Wade (first appearance!), Andrew Chandler, Lin Workman- along with Jay Chuppe will be back in artists alley again this year.

Tim Brown/Inked Monkey will be hosting the annual Metropolis Fan Film Festival again after hours in artists alley.

There will be comic panels, celeb Q&A, costume contests, a special screening of Superman and the Mole Men, Noel Neill’s favorite Adventures of Superman TV episodes, a George Reeves tribute film, fan film awards, the Metropolis premier of The Red Mullet movie, dance party, and much, much, more.

Hope to see you there!

http://www.SupermanCelebration.net

Tags: Adam Shaw, Anakin Wade, Andrew Chandler, Antone Wade, artists alley, comic books, comics, dc comics, fan films, Gail Simone, George Reeves, Inked Monkey, Janet Wade, Jay Chuppe, Kevin Williams, lin workman, metropolis, Mid-South CArtoonists Association, Mike Norton, MSCA, Muley The Mule, Noel Neill, Penny Register-Shaw, Red Mullet, superman celebration, Tim Brown