Archive | Signings

Signing: Josh Hale Fialkov at Isotope – August 6

By Jesse Russell on August 3, 2014 in Bay Area Comic News, Signings

Josh Hale Fialkov’s The Bunker was one of those rare comics that was a hit before it even landed on the racks. The comic, which originally launched as a successful digital title, was picked up by Oni Press in 2013 with the first issue dropping in February of 2014. In November, it was announced that Lionsgate would be adapting the comic for television. Thanks to that announcement the first few issues of The Bunker sold out before many readers could get their paws on it. This month the first four issues will be collected in graphic novel format and Fialkov will be visiting Isotope: The Comic Book Lounge, 326 Fell Street in San Francisco, on August 6 to celebrate the release. You can find the creator at the shop signing copies between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. More on the event pasted from the Isotope website:

THE BUNKER is a psych horror science fiction tale like no other. “When a group of friends discover a military survival bunker what they find will change their lives forever” is about all that can be said about the actual plot without spoiling the many surprises within. It’s a great exploration of the juxtaposition between pre-determined fate and freedom of choice, hapless young people in way over their heads, and of course a voyeuristic peek into the end of the world itself. No surprise this book has been so popular among comic fans.

Fialkov’s resume of awesome comics runs deep. From his new creator owned hit THE LIFE AFTER to his breakouts ELK’S RUN and ECHOES, to his latest Marvel work on ULTIMATE FF, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN and CATACALYSM (starring the grandest planet-eater of all Galactus) to his acclaimed DC work on ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN and the sleeper star of the New52 I. VAMPIRE, to the madcap cutup humor of PUNKS with Kody Chamberlain and one of our favorite crime noir graphic novels ever, TUMOR… the man just keeps putting out fantastic reads!

We here at the Isotope are absolutely thrilled to get to have him in. We’ve known Josh for a long time, back when that mighty resume was just a mad twinkle in his eye, either 2002 or 2003 when we were buying up armloads of his hilarious POORLY DRAWN ANIMALS mini-comics at the Alternative Press Expo. Watching his career explode since then has been nothing short of glorious.

What better creator to continue our Year of In-Store Amazement with?

Singing: Steve Lafler at Mission today and Dr. Comics tomorrow

By Jesse Russell on July 19, 2014 in Bay Area Comic News, Signings

Steve Lafler is kicking off the release of his new mini-series Death in Oaxaca at two Bay Area comic retailers this weekend. Today the cartoonist and illustrator will be at Mission: Comics and Art, 3520 20th Street in San Francisco, from 5:30 p.m. until 10 p.m. and tomorrow at Dr. Comics and Mr Games, 4101 Piedmont Ave. in Oakland, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
About the title:

The mundane, the sublime and the bizarre show up in their best party attire in the new comic book series from the creator of Dog Boy and Bughouse.Two expats move to remote Oaxaca, the fabled highland city in southern Mexico. Rex, earnest yet duplicitous, flees from mid-life crisis and fear of death. Beautiful Gertie, cynical but honest, is just plain bored and craves adventure. They contend with Lucha Libre wrestlers and an ancient vampire who prefers chicken, and enjoy the best fresh corn tortillas on the planet.

The title is being published by Alternative Comics. The first issue cover layout is below.

Signing: Bryan Lee O’Malley at Isoptope today!

By Jesse Russell on July 16, 2014 in Signings

It’s been a busy two months over here at The Shared Universe. I went and started a new job, which is never good for extracurricular vanity project productivity. As a result, a number of signings and comic-focused events have fallen through the cracks. One such event that has nearly fallen through the crack, but I’m snatching up at the last moment is today’s signing at Isotope: The Comic Book Lounge featuring Bryan Lee O’Malley. O’Malley, of Scott Pilgrim fame, dropped a new title yesterday called Seconds and he’ll be putting his autograph on it between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. You might want to get in line now. I would, but see the second sentence.

I lament my lateness in bringing this news, because there will also be an Isotope hoedown with O’Malley tonight after the store closes, but that event is full. Woe to the cocktail drinking comic fan short on low ball glasses.

Signing: Cruzader’s Omar Morales at Dr. Comics & Mr. Games on June 28

By Jesse Russell on June 23, 2014 in Bay Area Comic News, Signings

What’s better than a successful comic book Kickstarter campaign? A successful Kickstarter campaign that goes above and beyond the requested total.

Last November, Omar Morales beat his goal to raise $10,000 so he could fulfill his dream of publishing his graphic novel CruZader: Agent of the Vatican. The local creator had already completed the 140-pages of story, but faced a funding challenge when it came time to publish and distribute his book. Kickstarter and nearly 100 backers helped him fulfill his dream and to celebrate he’ll be hosting a “Launch Signing” at Dr. Comics and Mr. Games, 4014 Piedmont Avenue in Oakland on June 28. At the signing you can pick up a copy of the hardcover edition of CruZader and have it signed by Morales.

What’s the book about? From the Kickstarter page:

A reluctant priest is re-trained as a holy warrior for the Pope; he must embrace his destiny in order to defend the Vatican from an invading army of radical terrorists … who are much more than what they appear.The story of CruZader is about one man’s journey to find a higher calling and a higher meaning in life. Our hero, Antonio De La Cruz, is a humble man with out any super powers. He wields ancient and supernatural relics in battle, and those artifacts give him the edge he needs to defeat his enemies. Some of his weapons and tools include: the legendary Spear of Christ, the Holy Grail, the Shroud of Turin, holy water, rosary beads, and a thorny cilice. Like most people, he has a hot and cold working relationship with his boss – none other than the Pope himself. De La Cruz tires of traveling the world hunting vampires, killing werewolves, and performing exorcisms. He seeks to retire from his duties as the Pope’s super soldier … until the day comes for him to fulfill his role in a mysterious prophecy.

You can see a video of Morales receiving his book here:

Listen to his interview with “I Sell Comics” below:

Signing: Princess Ugg’s Ted Naifeh On June 7 at Isotope

By Jesse Russell on May 21, 2014 in Bay Area Comic News, Signings

My niece and nephew are both reaching an age where I can start shaping them to be better humans via the influence of comics. My nephew is easy as he’s already awash in all things Batman and Super Hero Squad. My niece, she’s a tougher egg to crack as she’s been led straight down the Disney princess path. There’s a cure for that: Princess Ugg.

From Oni Press:

Within the fairy-tale kingdom of Atraesca lies the prestigious Princess Academy, where young royals from all the five kingdoms come to get their education. But they’ve never before seen the like of Princess Ülga of Grimmeria. Armed with axe and sword, riding her war mammoth through the city gates, Ülga has come in search of schooling. But this barbarian princess might just end up schooling the people of Atraesca before that happens!

Princess Ugg is a new project by one-time Harvey Award nominee and two-time Eisner Award nominee Ted Naifeh. The writer/illustrator received his Eisner nods for his work on Courtney Crumrin and the Harvey nod for Polly and the Pirates. Naifeh will be appearing at Isotope – The Comic Book Lounge, 326 Fell Street in San Francisco, on June 7 between noon and 5 p.m.

Signing: East of West’s Nick Dragotta at Escapist on April 12

By Jesse Russell on April 10, 2014 in Signings

The always affable Nick Dragotta, who’s currently blowing minds illustrating East of West, will be signing at Escapist Comics on Saturday. Dragotta will be making his in-store appearance on April 12 at 3 p.m. Escapist, located at 3090 Claremont Street in Berkeley, will have a copies of East of West issues with blank covers on hand for those who desire illustrations.

Wednesday saw the second East of West trade drop in comic shops across these United States.

While we’re talking about signings it’s worth reminding readers that Darick Robertson will be scrawling his name and pictures on funny books at Two Cats, 320 Portal Avenue in San Francisco, on April 13 at 3 p.m.

Signing: William Harms at Escapist October 19

By Jesse Russell on October 9, 2013 in Signings

39 Minutes

Game and comic writer William Harms will be signing copies of his Top Cow book 39 Minutes at T he Escapist on October 19. Harms, who’s written for everyone from Marvel to 2K, received IGN’s “Best Story of the 2009” award for the PS3 title InFamous. In the world of comic writing he’s released a number of independent titles including Impaler and Bad Mojo and has lent his pen to established properties that include Captain America and Wolverine. In August, Top Cow released the hardcover trade paperback of Harms 2010 title 39 Minutes. The title was the company’s 2010 winner of their “Pilot Season” competition where fans determine which one-shot will be developed into a series. Harms will be signing at Escapist, 3090 Claremont Avenue in Berkeley, starting at 3 p.m. The description of 39 Minutes is below:

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TR!CKSTER plans month long one-year anniversary celebration

By Jesse Russell on October 5, 2013 in Exhibits, Signings

TR!CKSTER, 2631 Ashby Avenue in Berkeley, is planning a month of events to celebrate their one-year anniversary. The comic boutique, which specializes in creator-owned publications, let loose a torrent of events on their twitter account last week. Here’s the breakdown:

October 11: Halloween show!
October 18: The Gallery Girls return to TR!CKSTER for a “Witch and the Cat” themed drawing event from 6:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. More information at Facebook.
October 19: An opening reception at 5 p.m. for Alina Chau who’s promoting her new book Pickle, the Little Bird Who Doesn’t Tweet. Chau will be signing and showing off original work.
October 26: Monster bash celebrating the first year! Costumes encouraged!
October 27: Brian Schirmer is shooting for a Kickstarter hat trick for the final book in his Ultrasylvania series. As of this writing he’s only $300 short of his goal with more than 20 days left. He;ll be at TR!CKSTER signing copies of the first two volumes.

TR!CKSTER
2631 Ashby Ave
Berkeley, CA
(510) 665-8900
Tumblr: trickstertrickster
Twitter: @thetrickstore
Facebook: TheTRICKSTORE
Tue-Sun: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Comic event: Dirt Candy authors to speak at Omnivore Books

By Maddie Greene on September 6, 2013 in Books, Signings

Comics delight me to my core and cooking soothes my soul. So I loved Dirt Candy, a graphic novel that serves as both accessible cookbook and charming memoir, before I even owned it.

How brilliant of Chef Amanda Cohen, co-author Grady Hendrix, and artist Ryan Dunlavey to combine the two arts of cookery and comics! Illustrated recipes and techniques can be far more effective with images than in text alone—when Cohen explains how to easily smoke vegetables on my stovetop without fancy equipment, the set-up and technique feels within my grasp. And the apparent magic of a fast-moving chef’s knife translates perfectly to the bam!pow! excitement of a comic book layout. (I’m not alone in this belief—check out Anthony Bourdain’s graphic novel Get Jiro in which a sushi chef turns action hero.)

Dirt Candy made a zealot out of me. Not only was I on a mission to make my vegetables more interesting, I was a comics/cookery proselytizer. “The market is ripe for practical non-fiction in my comic shop!” I cried far and wide. “Let there be graphic novels for cocktails next! Try this spring pea flan I made!” Dirt Candy occupies such a tremendously unique niche that I fervently hope similar works follow.

Fans of good food (creative vegetable-based cuisine in particular) and good comics have the chance to hear Cohen and Hendrix talk on Sunday, Sept. 22 from 3-4pm at Omnivore Books in San Francisco. In her blog, Cohen calls it “the East Coast/West Coast Peace and Harmony Let’s Stop Hating Each Other And Eat Vegetables Instead Tour” and promises “I’ll be talking about cooking vegetables, eating vegetables, running a restaurant, graphic novels, why no one can find a line cook in Manhattan anymore, AND there will be free food for everyone.”

Launch Party: Isotope to launch “East of West” trade with Nick Dragotta themed cocktails

By Jesse Russell on September 4, 2013 in Signings

Nick Dragotta’s Death from “East of West”

When 2013 comes to a close there’s little doubt Jonathan Hickman and Nick Dragotta’s East of West will be on many “best of” lists. There have been many versions of the age old Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse story, but what’s unfolding in East of West is unlike any that have come before. In only the first handful of issues Hickman and Dragotta laid the groundwork for a future Earth that’s rich with storytelling possibilities. The title smashes genre barriers and becomes at once original and familiar. While at the core is a sci-fi western, a reader may taste a bit of Alphaville on one page, but three pages later the flavor of Lady Snowblood.

The title will see its first trade paperback hit the shelves later this month. To celebrate, Isotope has invited Dragotta for a launch party on September 21. Per Isotope tradition, mixologist Kirsten Baldock will serve up thematic cocktails based on Dragotta’s work. The full announcement from Isotope is below:

Our favorite new series of 2013 is definitely the post-apocalyptic western EAST OF WEST and we couldn’t be more excited to get to celebrate the launch of the collection with the book’s amazing artist… Nick Dragotta!

Nick’s art has dazzled us for a few years now with mystic arts and high mutant weirdness on X-STATIX PRESENTS: DEAD GIRL (with Isotope favorite Peter Milligan), explored the uncomfortable underbelly of the Marvel Universe on VENGEANCE (with another IsoFave Joe Casey), dazzled our poor little minds on FF (with yet another favorite ’round these parts Jonathan Hickman), transported us back to yesteryear on CAPTAIN AMERICA: FOREVER ALLIES (with comics legend Roger Stern), and always always brings a smile to our faces with his awesome site HOWTOONS.

Come celebrate with us! Our beloved Kirsten Baldock is crafting up a palette-stunning cocktail list based on Nick’s work in honor of the evening. Mister Dragotta promises a sketchbook-filling Four Horsemen styled evening… and we’re hoping he’ll bring in some original art for us to buy as well!

Isotope Presents: Nick Dragotta
EAST OF WEST Vol. 1 Launch Party
Saturday, September 21st 2013
8pm – Midnight

Are you ready for the Post-Apocalypse Now? We are!

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