CLEVER OVER CRAP

The City Paper gave my book what I consider to be a kick-ass review:

COMMISSIONS

I've started accepting commissions... portraits and fan-art in I Taste Sound-style.  Here are Doctor Manhattan and a friend's cat...

PEENER STICKS WORLD CUP

I conceived, scripted and drew this masterpiece beginning at noon on October 1st and ending at noon the next day as part of 24-Hour Comics Day at Collectors Corner in Baltimore. This will most likely be made into a feature film. There is also this interview on YouTube at the 2:00 mark a few pages into the process, roughly an hour and a half before I lost my mind from the kids in the next room arguing loudly over whether Aquaman's ability to withstand pressure at great depths would also enable him to take a punch from Superman.

24 HOUR COMICS DAY

I'll be trying to make a 24 page comic in 24 hours for 24 Hour Comics Day this Saturday at Collectors Corner. Come see me babbling incoherently on Sunday morning. Bring coffee(s).

Here is the Facebook Event.

DAN BALZ!

Here is a portrait I did of my favorite reporter from the Washingtom Post, Daniel J. Balz (also the namesake of my fantasy football team, thus the ass-beating references. His Post column is a bit more civil)...

And a bonus!... My entry to the Gears of War 3 contest on Deviant Art, where you're supposed to 'capture the soul-shattering sprirt of the game' or something like that.  Not sure... just kind of skimmed the entry materials, but this should win easily.

G.I. GURDJIEFF

Inspired by http://monstersofgrok.com/ Now with more obscurity!

COMIC-CON RECAP

I am very glad that Baltimore Comic-Con was the last event on this round of book appearances. The vibe was completely different than the other conventions I've done with an emphasis on artist and creators rather than tier three celebrities and sword vendors.  It was a great experience... including meeting a person that bought my book at an earlier event with crazy things to say, like that my book inspired them to return to creative projects of their own.  Here is me actin' natural at the syphilis awareness booth...

I also met the author of my all-time favorite graphic novel, Stan Sakai, on three occasions. He sketched and autographed my copies of his books (one from 1989) and I gave him a copy of my book.  This was the first time I'd met a person that I only knew through their 'work' and actually had a lot to say (DMC at BWI included).  If you know me, I've probably insisted that you read something of his because the stories are so heartfelt and fun.  Stan certainly seemed like a sweet person.  I hope he isn't offended by the horses doing it on page 2 of The Sword of Reason.

CON EXCLUSIVE STICKERS!

I'm going to be at table A150, Artist Alley at Baltimore Comic-Con Saturday and Sunday with free stickers about syphilis!

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON

OH! I'm going to be at table A150, Artist Alley at Baltimore Comic-Con this Saturday and Sunday. Come see me! Bring some nerds. Buy a book. Get a hug.

CONTESTS

I've been on Deviant Art for several years, posting for my 15 year old Romanian fan-base, but have always ignored the contests.  Until this week.  The contests seem to generate a lot of traffic, so I made an ITS-styled entry for the Plans Gone Wrong contest,which needed to reference stock images of a light, a panda and some pie.  And another for the How Do I Drink Dr. Pepper mural contest... in high heels with some prairie dogs on my back, of course.

TEST ANIMATION

A very faint, very brief test animation created this weekend with the indomitable Heather Boaz (also my 300th blog entry, for what that is worth)...

More (vibrant) cats in holes and I Taste Sound animations to come...

SKILLZ

HARTEBEEST

HOW ABOUT THIS?

PHILADELPHIA COMIC CON

I will be at the Philadelphia Comic Con this Friday through Sunday selling my book. They contacted me a few weeks ago asking for a head shot. It was a mass email, and I figured they were only intending on posting established comic creators... if I thought otherwise, I may have chosen the pic I sent more carefully. Here is my bio on the Wizard World site: www.wizardworld.com/mikeriley.html

I also had a chance to look at the floor plan for the event. I made some notes below on a few items that stood out to me...

GOBBLEDYGOOK

I was recently interviewed by Urbanite Magazine about the launch of the I Taste Sound book. Here is the very nice article.

I was also interviewed by University of baltimore student Colin Brown for this article on RadarRedux.com. He was nice and his dad bought me an iced coffee.

I will be at the VA Comicon this Saturday from 10am to 4pm selling/signing books and mocking 40 year old men in homemade cardboard Ironman suits.

Also here is another rejected submission to the "covered" blog. An I Taste Sound rendition of one of my favorite comics from 1986, Gobbledygook by Kevin Eastman. Rejected? You're dead to me covered blog.

FCBD - RECAP

Wow, Randy and the crew at Collectors Corner were incredible yesterday. They took such good care of the artist and the customers on a day that had to be nerve-rackingly hectic. So glad to be a part of this event. Sold a stack of books from this set up:

I had the best seat in the house next to Greg LaRocque who put together one amazing commission after another all day and while signing copies of the many Marvel and DC titles he's worked on. Lots of people in this line were there to see him...

...and these chicks caused at least one car accident out front.

Also, met Batgirl and she wrote this first review of the book at Girls With Comics... though I only count two actual butt jokes and two borderline butt jokes in the whole book, I thank her for the kind words.

I also took part in a contest amongst the featured artists where we were asked to draw our interpretations of 'Charlie Sheen as Green Lantern'. I did not win, and I feel bad, because I really hope Charlie makes it through summer.

THE BOOK

I Taste Sound Volume 1: The Sword of Reason is a 96 page, full-color, perfect-bound collection of highlights from the first year of my webcomic. It's funny and you can carry it around with you. Includes some never before seen multi-panel material with the color blue.

$12.99 + $4 shipping and handling for a limited time! http://itastesound.bigcartel.com/
Shipping price is within the US. If there happens to be someone outside of the US that wants one, message me at itastesound@gmail.com and I'll figure out how to get it to you.

I Taste Sound Volume 1: The Sword of Reason

 Also available at Atomic Books in Baltimore MD http://www.atomicbooks.com/ next to Henry & Glenn Forever!.... and something called Ass Holes!

 ... and Collectors Corner in Parkville, where I'll be signing them next Saturday http://www.collectorscornermd.com/

 It's a quality item.  I shit you not.

SNUTTOCKTHIC BEAUTY

My work will be featured in issue 33 of Gothic Beauty magazine via this ad for my friends in Snuttock. Inside back cover... available at news stands somewhere. They bought me a lot of Indian food for putting this together. Mmmm.

PARACHUTE WITH YOUR DOG

MAY 7TH F.C.B.D.

I'll be a featured artist at Collectors Corner Free Comic Book Day event May 7th. Click the flier to see it in full resolution.  The I Taste Sound book will be available sometime between now and then. More details soon...

SLEEPY TIME TROLLS

I've been making this on the iPad, just before I fall asleep. Sometimes after.

Hottest sleepy-time troll yet!

I'm irritated that they cast the same guy who played Deadpool as Green Lantern.

BLOCKZILLA

Yay, digital finger paints.

My sleepy-time iPad sketch for March 31st. Drawing with my fingers is alright. Too tired for lots of detail, but I am getting more comfortable with the tools.

Completely asleep when I drew this. It's fun to be a purple cyclops.

DEEP DOWN GENRE HOUND

Logo design for one of my oldest friends, genre fiction writer Bill Ward billwardwriter.com/

CON POSTER

Worked up a poster to bring to some upcoming appearances and conventions in support of my book launch.

THE LAYMEN

Me and my best friends Steve, Spencer and Tim as 'superheroes'.  Our adventures are in the works... Click for larger image:

The Eel
Powers: Extra-slippery sweatiness, a variety of interchangeable utility teeth (explosive, tranquilizer, stabby-kind, etc.) can be launched at opponents and 2.5 years of Martial Arts training.
Weaknesses: Irrational fear of sharks, ghosts and secret government plots. Prone to "episodes" and often misplaces keys to the Eel-Cycle or locks himself out of the Eel-Pit.

Fat-Lightning
Powers: Electric boxing gloves that stun enemies and destroy equipment, thick, bouncy hide and protective fur. Can use his gloves to cook a 5lbs. bag of tater-tots and eat them in one sitting.
Weaknesses: Fat lightning is illiterate and sexually confused. Can't hold stuff with his gloves on and flies into an uncontrollable rage if you touch his glasses.

Red Fury and Dog Zero
Powers: Super speed and dexterity. Employs 'Ginger Magic' and 'Ginger Rage'. Zero can trip and restrain foes with his leg tackles and humpy-grip.
Weaknesses: Zero is averaged speed so Red Fury has to circle back a lot. Ginger Magic is unpredictable and sometimes results in wild mishaps.  He is also a ginger and a socialist.

B.O.S.S. (Bio-Enhancing Offensive Strike Suit)
Powers: Specially designed suit has armor plating, energy-drink enhancements, weapon system and supercharged skates.  B.O.S.S. vibrate his foot to disrupt enemies and also devises team strategy.
Weaknesses: Basement-built suit prone to malfunctions, such as bullets going off unexpectedly, and skates getting stuck in loop-de-loop mode.  Strategies are usually too practical for the rest of the team to pay attention to and he is unavailable for many missions because he needs to tend to his 17 cats.

RILEY23 DOT COM

Revamped my website in preparation for the launch of my design studio and the printing of I Taste Sound Volume 1: The Sword of Reason in the coming weeks...

GREEN LIGHT 2/2/11

My friend Dave has his own t.v. show. He doesn't have a t.v.. Steve and I went on last night to talk about some recent projects like the 2011 calendar, and some older projects like building weird shrines from the shoes of strangers. If you like awkward tv or calendars with Steve Boone in them, these clips are for you... otherwise, they are hardly watchable.

WONDER SNOWZEN

Picture of the snow covered trees in my yard all whacked up in Photoshop. I see turkey monsters.

GALLERY

I've taken my own advice and begun using this Flickr account as my primary gallery... after years of fiddling with various image gallery management tools that never quite do the trick. I think this is it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/riley23/sets/ Now to name my LLC...

SHARK TANK TOUR POSTER

Here is a poster I made for the upcoming Shark Tank mini-tour (Height, Mickey Free, Lord Grunge and Brendan Richmond).  Hope to catch at least one of these dates.  More information here:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Height-With-Friends/53084877130