The Adventurers Club

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 3 - Cosplay

Some more cosplay from day 3 of Heroes Con.

Suzann Knudsen does an amazing job of creating cosplay costumes that no one else seems to do. Last year she had my favorite costume of the weekend with an awesome Dazzler. This year in addition to this Black Canary she also appeared as Amethyst Princess of Gemworld. I didn't get any good pictures of Amethyst, but check around, others took some great photos of her. I think she also appeared as Wonder Woman, but sadly I missed that also.

Suzann Knudsen (@thatDJSpider) as a retro Black Canary

Killing Joke Joker

These guys were certainly one of the most unique cosplay groups of the weekend.

The Power Puff Girls

The Scarecrow

501st Legion

Harley and The Joker

'til Suzann creates retro Power Girl

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 2 - Phil Noto

Phil Noto is another artist I discovered by watching him paint at Heroes Con. He painted a beautiful Marvel Girl last year and this year he took on one of my all time favorite characters, Supergirl.

He did an amazing job and it was tough watching the auction later that evening knowing I had no chance to own this painting, but at least I was able to observe the creative process.

Here is a progressive look at Phil painting his contribution for the auction.

Phil Noto - Supergirl

Phil Noto - Supergirl

Phil Noto - Supergirl

Thanks for checking out my blog. Here at The Adventurers Club we are huge fans of a band called The Dollyrots. Here's their latest single. Check it out:

'til Phil paints another masterpiece next year

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 2 - Brian Stelfreeze

As much time as I've spent watching Brian Stelfreeze paint and sketch at Free Comic Book Day and Heroes Con, I've come to the realization that I'm a huge fan of his work.

I really wanted this Scooby Doo and Daphne painting Brian did for the auction, but alas it was not to be. I think Cat Staggs might have won it. Whoever has it, I hope you gave it a great place on the wall.

Here's a progression of Brian painting Daphne and Scooby Doo for the auction.

Brian Stelfreeze - Daphne and Scooby Doo

Brian Stelfreeze - Daphne and Scooby Doo

'til I win the next Brian Stelfreeze Painting

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 2 - Cosplay

Some more cosplay from Day 2 of Heroes Con.

Harley Quinn - Heroes Con 2011

Kick Ass (Tommy Lee Edwards'  kids) - Heroes Con 2011

Ridd1e as Snow White - Heroes Con 2011

Spiderman - Heroes Con 2011

Steampunks - Heroes Con 2011

'til Heroes Con 2012

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 2 - Miracole & Chris Burns

Those of you familiar with the web series Avengers Assemble already know the work of Miracole and Chris Burns. If you aren't familiar with the series, click the link and take a few minutes to introduce yourself to the show.

It was great seeing Miracole and Chris at Heroes Con and picking up the Gambit and Rogue print that they posed for. 

They will be debuting the new season of Avengers Assemble at DragonCon in July. We can't wait for season 2.

Chris and Miracole as Gambit and Rogue

Chris and Miracole in John Tyler Christopher's Gambit and Rogue

I ran into Miracole at the Studio Revolver booth and asked for a picture. Here's the amazing Miracole when she's not in costume.

'til the new season of Avengers Assemble

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 2 - Artists

My youngest son was the first of us to discover Mike Maihack, and I'm glad he did. Mike does amazing work. Check out Cleopatra in Space.

Mike Maihack

Stephanie Gladden was a pleasant discovery for me last year. I picked up her sketchbook, Girls of Monster Paradise, and fell in love with her style. Check out her new comic - Cricket and Plato.

Girls of Monster Paradise

Stephanie Gladden

Don Rosa's piece for the Heroes Con auction

Everyone that sees my picture of Don makes a comment about his expression. He draws Donald Duck, what do you expect!

Don Rosa

'til Heroes Con Day 3

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 1 - Artists

As a follow up to the cosplay post, I thought I'd show you a few of the amazing artists at this year's Heroes Con.

I missed watching Mark paint this year, last year he did an amazing Black Cat, but I hope he paints something next year.

Mark Brooks - Heroes Con 2011

Sara Richard remains one of my favorite artists, she has such a beautiful and unique style.

Sara Richard - Heroes Con 2011

Richard Thompson is the creator of Cul de Sac. The comic strip exhibit was one of the most amazing areas at the show.

Richard Thompson - Heroes Con 2011

Jim draws Gasoline Alley and Irwin Hasen is of course the legend behind such characters as Wildcat and Dondi.

Jim Scancarelli - Irwin Hasen - Heroes Con 2011

Marcus lives right here in town and is one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

Marcus Hamilton - Heroes Con 2011

If you get a chance pick up Echo's book. She has one of the most impressive portfolios I have ever seen.

Echo Chernik - Heroes Con 2011

If you haven't read Frank's Liberty Meadows strip, go find it and read it now. You will thank me.

Frank Cho - Heroes Con 2011

More artists, art and cosplay to come!

'til Heroes Con day 2

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

Heroes Con 2011 - Day 1 - Cosplay

Another year, another great Heroes Con. Here are a few cosplay pictures from the first day.

Riddle as The Wasp - Heroes Con 2011

Buck Rogers - Heroes Con 2011

Captain America - Heroes Con 2011

Red Skull - Heroes Con 2011

501st Legion - Mara Jade & Scout Trooper - Heroes Con 2011

Lessa Randall is a model for the Big Dog Ink book Penny For Your Soul.

'til Heroes Con on Saturday

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@adventuretom

 

Free Comic Book Day 2011

I hate that I'm missing Free Comic Book day this year, but I'm taking my oldest son on a college visit, and sometimes there are other priorities.

Riddle, of Riddle's Messy Wardrobe, as Zatanna - Free Comic Book Day 2010

Riddle as Zatanna

I can't just ignore it, so I'll dig up an oldie. The video below is Brian Stelfreeze from Heroes Aren't Hard to Find in 2010.

Brian is drawing Pinky and the Brain and the soundtrack is "Feed Me Pet Me" by The Dollyrots.

Free Comic Book Day

Free Comic Book Day

I hope you go and have fun!

'til Free Comic Book Day 2012

Keep the Adventure live,

@adventuretom

Today Nothing Happened - Heroes Con 2010

My favorite part of Heroes Con is discovering all of the new and independent talent that you don't see if you only stick with the mainstream publishers.

Some of the people you meet are going to be the stars of tomorrow and it's a lot of fun coming across their work before the rest of the world has discovered them.

Today Nothing Happened by Shazzbaa is just such a comic.

I discovered Shazzbaa quite by accident. While walking through the convention hall I noticed a funny hat worn by her table mate*. The funny hat caught my attention, so I stopped.

I stopped to chat, picked up business cards, took some pictures and moved on.

Sometimes I'm in too much of a hurry. My mistake.

   Shazzbaa at HeroesCon

I wish I would have spent more time talking to them and looking through their work. It wasn't until later when I returned from the Con, and spent time looking over the things I picked up, that I visited Shazzbaa's web comic "Today Nothing Happened".

I've seen a bunch of web comics in diary form and mostly they don't hold my attention, but I loved this one. After looking at a dozen or so of the latest strips, I went back to the beginning and spent the next hour or so reading through her comics.

She has a great style, the strips are fun, and most people will recognize a little of their own life in these daily looks into Shazzbaa's world.

    Today Nothing Happened © 2010 Shazzbaa

After scanning her website and failing to find an order page, I sent a note asking if I could buy her book that I had foolishly neglected to pick up at Heroes Con.

She wrote back promising a shopping section on her website soon. As a matter of fact she is currently working on the business side of her comics, and taking a month off from the strip. Now is a perfect time to stop by and read through her work and catch up before she gets going again.

I'm going to be watching Shazzbaa, I have a feeling everyone is going to know her name before too long.

'til more people discover the wonderful independent artists at the comic conventions

Keep the Adventure Alive,

Adventuretom

* More on Shazzbaa's table mate in another post coming very soon!

The "DC Comics Art of Adam Hughes" comes to Charlotte

Adam Hughes' book, "The DC Comics Art of Adam Hughes" is out this week. I was fortunate enough to pick up my copy when Adam came by Heroes Aren't Hard to Find in Charlotte. If you can't catch Adam at a signing, you can order it from Amazon, or pick it up at your favorite comic store.

 
   Adam Hughes and Justice Leaguer Ice* at Heroes for a book signing.

The art in the book is fantastic and it covers Adam's entire career at DC, from the very fun Justice League stuff, to the amazing Catwoman covers that Adam did during the run of that title. There are a lot of full page covers throughout the book, and I have to admit I'm tempted to buy another copy, so I can remove some of them for framing.

I'm a huge fan of the Maxwell Lord Justice League, and I really enjoyed the section on the JLA, including some of my favorite covers from that era. Adam refers to the JLA as the Copyright Retention League of America, referring to the second tier status of all the characters in the book, which I thought was pretty funny. Let's face it, as much as I love those guys, they aren't exactly DC's signature heroes.

Speaking of humor, I think that's the most unexpected part of the book. If you are a fan of Adam, you expect the exceptional art, you may not expect his humor. It starts with the introduction. Adam discusses his attempts to get a NAME to write the intro to his book and how he thought he could get Carrie Fisher or Mark Hamill. Both of them ended up being too busy, so Adam writes the intro himself, and because of that it's one of the best, and funniest, introductions I've seen.

Each selection throughout the book is accompanied by Adam's behind the scene look into the artistic process. At times educational, other times humorous, you even get an iTunes playlist Adam used while creating those amazing Selina Kyle covers.

No, this isn't your average comic art book.

Highly recommended. Buy it now, you won't regret it.

 

* "Ice" is one of our favorite Cosplayers. You've seen her as Catwoman and Zatanna. Visit her on the Web.

'til Adam takes over the cover art for Power Girl.

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@Adventuretom

Heroes Con 2010 - Cosplay - Hawkeye, Mockingbird and Dazzler!

The best part of the Cosplay at Heroes Con was the surprise factor. I have always loved the West Coast Avengers and when I ran into Hawkeye and Mockingbird I was blown away. How cool was that?

Sadly, my pictures do not do them justice, so I encourage you to check them out here:

Hawkeye and Mockingbird at Heroes Con.

It's worth it.

Then of course there was Dazzler.

I'm a big Dazzler fan from way back, and she is the last Cosplay I expected to see.

So, I was surprised, and pleased, to see this wonderful costume.

 

As much as I love Heroes Con, it really needs a showcase for all the great costumes. Hopefully next year they'll debut a costume contest, or at least a gathering of some sort.

Thanks to everyone for the effort you put into the great costumes. You make a good con a great one, and we really appreciate all of your work.

'til next years Con

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Heroes Con 2010 - Cosplay - Part 3

There were a lot of Jokers at Heroes Con, but I think the alternate "Killing Joke" Joker was my favorite.

 

The Joker from above, in more traditional garb.
 

Cesar Romero would like this one.

'til Heroes Con has a formal costume contest

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Heroes Con 2010 - Cosplay - Part 2

Even more of the great Cosplay displayed at Heroes Con.

Acid PopTart

 

Catwoman
 

Cobra

'til Heroes Con has a formal costume contest

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Heroes Con 2010 - Cosplay - Part 1

There were a lot of amazing people showing their Cosplay creations at Heroes Con. Here are just a few of them.

Black Cat (This is Zatanna from Free Comic Book Day)
You can visit her on the Web.

 

Captain America and the Red Skull
 

Bullseye

Bullseye and The Red Skull are played by Chris Burns, Husband of Miracole Burns.

'til Heroes Con has a formal costume contest.

Keep the Adventure Alive,

@Adventuretom