http://search.deviantart.com/?q=by:yaytime&section=today deviantART RSS for by:yaytime en-us Copyright 2009, deviantART.com Fri, 27 Nov 2009 12:16:34 PST deviantART.com http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://s.deviantart.com/minish/widgets/apple-touch-icon-precomposed.png http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/27390699/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/27390699/ Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:40:26 PDT 6PM tonight at Dave&Busters in Times Square NYC. Free for all!

More info here:
[link]


I'm also really looking forward to this weekend's SMALL PRESS EXPO in Bethesda, Maryland.
September 26 and 27th.
The Comics Bakery will be stationed at tables H7-H8.

SPX was the first full-on indy comics show I ever went to and I have countless fond memories from over the years. The comics, the people, the drawing jams, the free food, the drink tickets, the hijinks! [link]

I'll be debuting a new (full color!) volume of Life Meter that will blow everyone's mind!

]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/26570824/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/26570824/ Thu, 13 Aug 2009 14:17:01 PDT X-Men: Misfits is finally in stores everywhere!




So far, the advanced word is good!

Active Anime:
"At last an Original English Language manga (OEL) that gets it bang on right! And it’s X-Men Misfits. As a diehard X-Men fan (I collected the comics since the early 80s) I was curious but skeptical on how an OEL version would revision it. The story and art surprised and thrilled me. It manages to work in enough details about the various Marvel mutants to please hard core fans while delighting them with the new takes on many, many favorite names."

Publishers Weekly:
"Telgemeier and Roman deliver a delightful script that will appeal to old fans while being friendly toward new readers or fans of the X-Men films. The art by Anzu (The Reformed) is over-the-top shojo parody, with lots of screentone and flowers."


I hope you'll give it a shot, and have us much fun reading it as we did making it!

Mutant fistbumps to my collaborators, & and to our editor, Tricia as well as everyone at Del Rey and Marvel!

If you're going to be in the neighborhood, Raina and I will be at the official Book Release Party at Rocketship on Friday, August 28th. I believe there will be cupcakes.

]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/25104251/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/25104251/ Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:54:50 PDT MoCCA Art Fest this weekend (June 6th & 7th) sharing a table with John Green, Raina Telgemeier and Marion Vitus (AKA the Comics Bakery).

If you are anywhere near NY you totally need to go! It's pretty much the best show for people who love comics, graphic novels, mini-comics, home made toys, unique t-shirts, silk-screened prints and one of a kind swag!


NEW LOCATION THIS YEAR: 69th Regiment Armory, 68 Lexington Avenue, between 25th and 26th Streets (not far from SVA!)

[link]

We won't have any new books debuting at this show but we will have lots of our CLASSIC stuff plus assorted snacks and extra goodies. Free X-Men manga key chains to one and all.

We also have a panel on Saturday at Noon-12:50 pm!
Comics Bakery Roundtable
A discussion on the “benefits” of collaboration with two sets of comic-making couples, who combine to form a giant robot.

]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/23764519/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/23764519/ Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:06:23 PDT
[link]

Life Meter Volume 3!
We'll be running the best submissions on the Life Meter website leading up to the book (in the past we kept the print and web stuff mostly separate). So now the print anthologies will be more like annual collections of all the best stuff we get over the course of the year.

So start submitting! Spread the word to all your art friends!

Read over our SUBMISSION INFO
-Deadline for FINAL ART for Book 3 is May 1st.
-We encourage people to send pitch ideas for feedback before final art.
-Comics are preferred over pinups!
-The Book will be FULL COLOR.
-We will reject stories that are well drawn but poorly lettered or illegible. Web resolution will not be good enough for print, so make sure you read the specs.
-There's no guarantees or promises of what will make it into the book.
-Contributors who are included in the book will get 1 complimentary copy and the ability to buy more at cost.
-Just like the previous, volume, all profits for Life meter go to Child's Play

[link]

]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/22068853/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/22068853/ Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:34:58 PST

You can favorite it there!

[link]


X-Men: Misfits book 1

Written by : Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman.
Illustrated by : Anzu
Publisher : Del Rey

To be released in last spring 2009!

Pre-Order the Book on Amazon.com

X-Men title and characters (c) MARVEL

]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/21234221/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/21234221/ Thu, 30 Oct 2008 15:10:45 PDT Agnes Quill has been optioned by Paramount Studios to be made into a live action movie!


Read the article from today's edition of Variety!

Another good article about it over on MTV news:
[link]

CRAZINESS I TELL YOU!! I wanted to share in the excitement!

Certainly the best Halloween news ever!



]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/20778672/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/20778672/ Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:53:29 PDT


Nothing like ridiculous rumors and a good smear campaign to make me lose complete respect for John McCain--or at least the people who are "helping" his campaign. And considering several of my family members still don't trust Barack Obama because they believe he is a Muslim... you can see why I get depressed about how much society still has to evolve. Because seriously, even if he WAS a Muslim, that shouldn't matter...as long as he's an AMERICAN Muslim!

Now, I said lose respect, because even though I disagree with many of his policies and distrust the people he surrounds himself with, I personally like John McCain. Contrary to talking points, he is a great CELEBRITY. I thought he was a brilliant guest on Saturday Night Live, and hilarious on countless talk show appearances. And on the serious side, I give credit to anyone who serves in the military and suffers through the torture he went through. I don't even buy that he's BFF with the Bush administration. In fact, I originally hoped McCain would beat W, eight years ago when they campaigned against each other--and was disgusted by the smear campaign that Bush used against him! Yes, I would invite McCain over for a barbecue, but I WILL NOT VOTE FOR HIM this year. I understand why people might have voted for the OLD McCain, but he's completely lost it.

I HATE that for the past 8 years, the "Republican Machine" has made it a crime to flaunt intelligence. They always try to tear down people who come across as too much of a know-it-all (see the attacks on Gore).

I want my presidents to be smarter than me! I don't want to have a beer with them!

I'm certainly not "in the tank for Obama." I'm actually one of those "Registered Independents" you hear about in the news. I like to have complete freedom to make my decisions at the last minute. I've voted for the Green Party and various other 3rd party candidates as well as candidates via the Working Families Party ballot option. I'd love to see an end to the corporate-controlled 2-party system. I want to vote for a true anti-war president. But I know that's not going to happen any time soon.

I like Obama as a person (and think his wife is AWESOME), but I don't agree with some of the stances he has to take just to get elected (like revenge for 9/11 and ending the Iraq war to start BETTER wars). But realistically, that seems to be the deal with the two major candidates: they can't really be themselves. They have to do what they have to do to win.

I've always hated the phrase "lesser of two evils." So in this case, I'm trying to look at something more positive. And that's the message and spirit that the candidates evoke. Political pundits criticize Obama for taking his time and being too complex in his answers. He doesn't give pandering soundbites like "I'm going to destroy evil." And that ultimately is why I'm going to vote for him. Because Obama not only promotes HOPE, but he also promotes RATIONAL THINKING--which I am a fan of. He will inspire young people to know that it's okay to be smart and thoughtful. And that it's healthy to eat arugula!

I don't think McCain will inspire anyone or anything. He wants to be Reagan. He is a voice of the the past, rather than focus on the future. And the future is the way go. I believe in the future. That's why I'll vote for Obama.



]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/19446120/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/19446120/ Thu, 17 Jul 2008 12:47:14 PDT

I will be all over the San Diego Comic Con! Here's where to look:

Base of Operations: The Comics Bakery
P2, in the Small Press section. That lines up with aisle 1900, at the very edge of Small Press, so we should be pretty easy to find! Look for the Comics Bakery banner! Also tabling there are fan-favorites like Raina Telgemeier, John Green and Marion Vitus.
We’ll have a sampling of comics, zines, T-shirts, buttons, original art, handshakes, and hi-fives.

***I"ll give a free button and/or Quicken Forbidden comic to anyone who watches my DA account or can prove they are a huge Avatar fan.

Summer home: SLG Publishing
If you don’t already have a copy of Agnes Quill, this is the place to get it! And I’ll draw you something in your book if you come by SLG Thurs. 12-2PM, Fri. and Sat. 2-3PM
Sun. 12:30-2PM.

Moving Castle: FLIGHT comics
The booth number is: 1228 and it will be HUGE! Volume 5 (which has a story by me!) debuts there and should fly like hotcakes with jetpacks.
I’ll be stopping by for regular visits to sign and sketch my cares away.

Farewell party:
FRIDAY NIGHT 7:30-9:15 Nickelodeon Avatar: Sozin's Comet
Come out and celebrate the series finale of Avatar the Last Airbender by watching the screening with the show’s creators and fans. I’m so there!
Room 6CDEF

Community service: SUNDAY at 10:30-11:30 Kids Draw!
Join a great lineup of kids' cartoonists as they draw their hearts out - right in front of you! Cartoonists including Nick Abadzis (Laika), Debbie Huey (Bumperboy) Johanne Matte (Flight Explorer), Scott Morse (Visitations), Andy Runton (Owly), Kean Soo (Jellaby), and Dave Roman (Nickelodeon) will create art as you watch - with your help! Room 30CDE

Looking at the comic con programming there’s a billion panels I wouldn’t mind checking out like Chowder and The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack (Sunday 1:00-2:30) and the spotlight on Floyd Norman (Thurs 5-6) But I will HOPEFULLY be too busy at the booths! These shows go by too quick!





]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/19269848/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/19269848/ Tue, 08 Jul 2008 08:54:46 PDT School of Visual Arts (even though I'm still paying off my college loan!)


[link]

It's 1 of 3 videos focusing on different graduates, directed by Hillman Curtis. My scene was shot in my favorite comic shop, Rocketship, (which is co-owned by fellow SVA alumni Alex Cox) and my wife, Raina (who I met at SVA) also makes a cameo.
The kid I'm talking with is the director's son who was showing off his sketchbook of original comic characters!

]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/18663995/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/18663995/ Wed, 04 Jun 2008 14:39:34 PDT the MoCCA Art Festival!

Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8
The Puck Building: Houston and Lafayette Streets
New York, New York
11 AM - 6 PM both days
$10 a day or $15 for a weekend pass

This is basically the coolest show dedicated to comic arts--with a major focus on DIY artists and creative types. You can find all sorts of comics, graphic novels, art books, zines, prints, home-made toys etc. And it's a great place to pick up a t-shirt that will make all your friends jealous!

Myself and the the Comics Bakery will be set up at tables A7 and A8, the same spot we've been in for the past several years. We will have our usual crazy assortment of comics and art and baked goods!

We will also have contributions in an awesome comic debuting at the show:



Edited by Shelli Paroline, Harvest Is When I Need You the Most is a comic anthology that captures the nostalgic value of the ORIGINAL Star Wars Trilogy! And it's in full color!

My wife, Raina and I collaborated on a story about R2 D2 and Wicket the Ewok (total BFFs!)


If you aren't going to show you can but these Star Wars fanbooks off of the Harvest website pretty soon:

[link]

And check out the cool poster for the art fest:







]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/18138180/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/18138180/ Fri, 02 May 2008 18:44:08 PDT

Tomorrow (Saturday, May 3) is Free Comic Book Day!
So if you walk into any participating comic shop you can pick up an assortment of cool books for free!
Check out the FCBD website for more info on stores near you and all the awesome comics that will be free of charge.

In fact some comic shops will be giving away comics of the original all-Avatar Nick Magazine! So if you never got a copy of that, call your nearest shop and see if they've got it. And even if they don't, I'm sure there's at least one or two other free comics worth going there for! Support the awesomness that is comics and graphic novels (by not even having to spend money)!

[link]

And if you do go to the comic shop, I encourage you to check out the just released first chapter of my new graphic novel series The Adventures of Tymm: Alien Circus.

It's 64 pages in FULL COLOR for only $5.95! A bargain!
Featuring brilliant art by L. Frank Weber!







]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/18004848/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/18004848/ Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:53:52 PDT

A billion thanks to everyone who came out to the NYCC...especially those who came to the Friday Nick Mag panel or swung by the Comics Bakery to say hello. I'm still buzzing on the great time. Special props must be given to the amazing puppets by Kevin Coppa aka alternatecoppa.

I posted a bunch of photos and a con summary here: [link]

There are links to all the fan stuff we showed here:
[link]

In other big project news...over at About.com there is a report (with photos) from the Del Rey panel at NYCC where they debuted some character designs from the X-Men manga that I am co-writing with my wife, Raina.

"...Then [Del Rey publisher] Dallas Middaugh showed Anzu's version of Hank McCoy, a.k.a. Beast, and audible gasps and giggles rippled through the crowd. "Anzu's version of Beast shows how far we've re-imagined the basic premise of the X-Men story," said Middaugh as he showed off a very Totoro-esque, cute 'n cuddly badger version of the blue n' furry hero who's one of the professors at the Academy. Can't wait to hear the fanboy blogosphere let it rip on this one -- but it's a bold move that shows how much Del Rey is committed to appealing to the tastes of manga readers versus catering to the superhero crowd."

To that end, Blog @ Newsarama has clearer versions of designs along with LOTS of feedback from readers.

Of course, I'm a big fan of Anzu's designs and think they reflect the story really well! But I've also read the script.

This is the first time I've seen the designs for Wolverine (he'll appear in a separate book than the one Raina and I are writing) and thought they looked cool, too! I like the direction they are going for and think it shoud work really well as a action-based shonen series. Looking at the criticism, it's clear fans still expect the characters to reflect the pre-existing versions they are familiar with. Which for the most part will not be the case.

"Del Rey's approach was to ask the authors to strip the premise of the X-Men story down to its essentials, and start from scratch from there. These creators were freed up to explore different aspects of these iconic characters and put them in manga-inspired situations, without the burden of decades of Marvel Universe continuity."

The main thing Raina and I are hoping for is to write a book that captures the spirit of everything we love about the X-Men mixed with the expressive opportunities of manga storytelling. There will be more focus on the emotions of the characters and also a lot more light-hearted humor...and chibis! The goal is a book that is fun! And thus you get Beast as an overstuffed badger who walks like a penguin!


Last note:

I’ll be at the Stumptown comics fest in Portland Oregon this weekend! It's an amazing alternative comics and art festival that has so many great people attending and doesn't cost that much to get in. It should be super-rad!

[link]





]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/17804065/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/17804065/ Fri, 11 Apr 2008 22:49:37 PDT

In case you haven’t already heard… There will be a TON of events for Avatar fans at the New York Comic Con on April 18th-20th.

It will be a once in a lifetime chance to celebrate your love of all things Avatar, reflect on the series with fellow fans OFF THE INTERNET—one last time before the final episodes begin airing! Show the world (including attending Nick folks) just how passionate and diverse the fandom is! Convince con-goers at NYCC they missing out if they aren’t already a fan of Avatar: the Last Airbender (not to be confused with the Avatar comics publishing company!)

Tell your friends and family! Ready your cosplay, make signs, flyers, and creative t-shirts! Draw some fan art and help spread the excitement! The series finale is coming soon…let’s all help Avatar go out with a bang!

Here is the rundown of all the events:

NICK MAG PRESENTS…AVATAR COMICS & FANDOM SPOTLIGHT
Friday at 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM in ROOM 1E08
-Nickelodeon Magazine gives a behind-the-scenes look at comics produced for Avatar: The Last Airbender and spotlight all the creativity surrounding the fandom for the popular show. There will lots of audience participation, trivia-bending, and prizes for the best cosplayers! We’ll also be showing an amazing collection of AMV’s, and a special puppet surprise!

Featuring: Johane Matte aka Rufftoon (storyboard artist), Dave Roman (comics editor), and Alison Wilgus (comics writer).

*Special note we are looking for people to sign up for a short but hopefully hilarious talent show section! If you have a funny or cool Avatar related skill or you and your friends can do dead on impersonations of Aang and the gang and/or something we haven’t thought of, please contact us!

AVATAR HAIKU SLAM & Cosplay photoshoot
Friday at 7:05PM (At a location that will be announced during the comics/fan panel)
-Nick Mag will be taking photos and videotaping enthusiastic fans for a video to appear on Nickmag.com
*You must sign a release form to appear in the video!
Anyone under age will need a parent’s signature.
*contact Ethereal-Glutton aka avatar_mom if you’d like to participate in the Haiku Slam!

NICKELODEON BOOTH
This will be the place for the show creator signings, giveaways and all sorts of cool stuff like a chance to take your picture with the new Aang costume character!

INTO THE INFERNO: Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender FINALE
Saturday 3PM-4PM in Room 1E10-1E11
- Get an insider's look at the explosive 2-hour movie event as the adventures of Aang, the last Airbender culminate in a head to head battle with the Fire Lord Ozai. The panel will be packed with exclusive sneak peeks of upcoming episodes, production art, the official trailer for the highly anticipated finale and a Q&A with special guests, show creators Bryan Konietzko and Mike DiMartino. Moderated by Megan Casey, Executive in Charge for Nickelodeon."

-Obviously the CAN’T MISS event of the convention! Save me a seat!

BONUS STUFF:

You can find me and Johane/Rufftoon hanging out at the Comics Bakery, which is booth # 2247. We’ll be selling original comics, graphic novels, t-shirts, and all things awesome. And we’ll even have some fun stuff for Avatar fans as well (*cough water tribe cough*). Be sure to stop by and give us a hi-5!

FLIGHT EXPLORER - A CONVERSATION WITH KAZU KIBUISHI AND CREATORS
Sunday 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM in Kids, Teen Room 1E08
-Flight Explorer, a spin-off of the award-winning Flight graphic novel anthology series, features fun characters and stories that appeal to young readers and parents who want to introduce their children to graphic novels. Join Flight and Flight Explorer editor Kazu Kibuishi and Flight contributors Amy Kim Ganter, Johane Matte, Phil Craven, Jake Parker, Kean Soo, and Dave Roman for their take on the amazing world of Flight Explorer and all-ages comics!

Nickelodeon [TV] will also have panels for shows like The Mighty Bee and Back to the Barnyard as well as Nicktoons Network shows like Speed Racer, Kappa Mikey and Three Delivery.

And just like last year, Nickelodeon Magazine will be organizing interactive events like the following:

NICK MAG PRESENTS…GAG CARTOONS & FUNNY DRAWINGS
Sunday 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Kids Room 2D02-03
Nickelodeon Magazine editor. Chris Duffy walks you through the stages of making hilarious cartoon drawings. Learn tips for brainstorming ideas, drawin... ]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/17730415/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/17730415/ Mon, 07 Apr 2008 11:43:08 PDT
My productivity has really fallen behind as I’ve been dealing with an assortment of health issues. Everything from a tear in my wrist, to hospitalization for bacterial colitis, and non-related throat/ear infectiond that are currently in relapses mode. If you want read more about sad stuff like that you can check out the post over on my livejournal: [link]

But yeah basically an assault on my body that has forced me to loose 2 weeks of work, say “no” to a lot of people, and cancel several fun events or comic related appearances. As someone who loves to multi-task and take on more than he can handle…it’s been very hard to “just relax and take it easy” when deadlines are looming!

But I’m still planning a billion things for the New York Comic Con and am thankful to have awesome friends and co-workers keeping things moving forward.

The Comics Bakery, my collective of artist friends will have a booth on the main floor, and will be the biggest (most expensive) set up we’ve ever assembled. Hopefully people will check it out our tasty selection of comics, t-shirts and other swag.

Nickelodeon will be at the NYCC in full force with a ton of panels, a killer booth, costumed characters, creator signings etc. etc. I will make a separate post soon about all the Avatar and Nick Magazine goodness. But please know that the Friday Avatar Fandom Panel will be especially awesome, thanks to the powers of Alison Wilgus. No Mike and Bryan won’t be at the one, but Rufftoon will! And we’ll be spotlighting so many great fan works that your head might explode with glee.

Speaking of fandoms, I got to see a great documentary called We Are Wizards that everyone who has ever been a fan of anything should go see! But it’s an indy film so you gotta spread the word so it can play in your town!

OTHER SIDE NOTE:

There's a funny comic about me in the April issue of Nickelodeon Magazine. It's has me being mean to cosplayer at a comic con and paying the price. There's a scan of it here:

[link]

This issue also features a new Avatar comic, an illustrated interview with the creator of "Chowder" and lots of funny stuff for cartoon lovers and shippers!





]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/17100665/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/17100665/ Thu, 28 Feb 2008 10:04:24 PST Nick Magazine would love to show/debut fan-made things at NYCC…if they are FUNNY, short, and PG rated!

Wouldn’t it be great if there was…
-A short/funny tribute video that covers the fandom as a whole or plays to the anticipation of the big finale.
-A well edited compilation of the coolest Avatar cosplay all in one place set to music.
-Something similar with the best of the best in fan art (or this could be mixed with the cosplay!)
-Short fan made videos/confessionals where people (or puppets, or cartoons) explain what they love about Avatar and/or why other people should watch it.
-a compilation of Avatar AMVs (Animated Music Videos). There’s so many already out there and we probably won’t have time to show more than 1-2. But it would be even better if somehow there was a compilation/best of edited as a 3-5 minute clip reel.
-Original parodies that are PG (or slightly PG-13). Think: Harry Potter Puppet Pals & Zuko The fire lord (we love those!)
-Bender-rock: Musical acts inspired by Avatar.
-Skits, live reenactments, you name it. Could be on video or if you are going to be at NYCC contact us and perform it live on stage!

Reply to this post with links! Tell your friends with video cameras, editing software, & puppet making skills!

NOTE: We are not looking for straight up fan art images at the moment—just multi-media compilations.
ALSO: WE CAN NOT guarantee that we will show ANYTHING we are sent!
No promises! But we do hope to do some really fun stuff no matter what. More info soon!





]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/15870268/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/15870268/ Sun, 09 Dec 2007 22:40:26 PST
I had intended to just do a con/panel report about the NY Anime Fest, but after reading some posts on AvatarSpirit.net, I just wanted to clarify some stuff first.

The 'Fake Spoilers' segment of the Avatar Comics and Magazine panel was intended as nothing more than entertainment and good fun.

You can enjoy them here:

[link]

[link]

Although it did start off with potentially real background images (the set up), MOST was fake, and illustrated by the uber-talented Johane Matte, a.k.a. Rufftoon. The scenes were all just silly ideas of mine or Johane's combined with a parody of Harry Potter, and stories that end with weddings or dance parties. Most of what was said at the panel was improvised on the spot by Alison, Tina and I. It wasn't intended to be mean or to get back at anyone for anything. But admittedly, I realized too late that I probably shouldn't have shown them at the END of the panel when I didn't have anything awesome to follow it up with. Lesson learned. Believe me.

After Day of Black Sun, ALL of us fans couldn't help but speculate like crazy about the remaining episodes in the series. And everyone I talked to agreed that any Avatar panel at least needed to address that. Perhaps a bit too late, I offered the studio an opportunity to send me exclusive artwork, content, or a message that they'd want to include. But understandably, they were busy (and travelling) and didn't want to put too much info out there until the right time and place. Which I completely respect, especially considering how few episodes are left until their grand finale. Better to save the last reveals for the shows themselves. And if anyone is going to be sharing secrets, it should the creators themselves!

So then why the fake content, you ask?

For the past two years I've made it a goal to better promote Nickelodeon Magazine and all the cool stuff within, specifically to fans of comics and cartoons. This has lead to several panels at various conventions and art shows, usually in the form of "Carousels"--a form of interactive slideshow developed by artist Bob Sikoryak. The idea being, rather than just sitting up on stage and talking about stuff (like a normal panel), we instead engage the audience with live readings, reenactments, skits, competitions, prizes, and volunteer participation. Since Nickelodeon Magazine is primarily a humor magazine in the spirit of MAD, we revel in spoofs and pranks--just like we often do within the pages (where unless it has a "REAL" seal, anything is potentially just for laughs).

When I signed up to attend the NY Anime Fest, I felt it would be a good opportunity to do a presentation with the Avatar comics we'd been working on. Especially since the show wasn't being represented there in any other way (everyone who works on the show is in California). As a huge fan of the show myself, I knew that there would probably be lots of people who would love a good excuse to meet up with Avatar fans and talk about their favorite show, even if the focus was the related magazines and comics. And I took the time to brainstorm a few things like the Trivia Bending and the live comic reading, to make it as fun as possible for the people who showed up. I also figured we could do a longer Q&A session and discuss with the audience all the various ways things could play out. Sort of like a TV show or podcast recorded in front of a live audience.

When I submitted my panel description, this is what I wrote:

A behind-the-scenes look at the various stages of making the Avatar comics that appeared in the official Avatar magazines as well as the mini-comics packaged with the single disk DVDs. From story pitches to script revisions, and creating final art for print, this is a chance to find out what goes into making a great comic, and what editors actually do all day! We’ll also take some time to talk about the show itself and speculate about the upcoming series finale!

And this is what was posted on the NY Anime Fest Website:

Nickelodeon Magazine editor Dave Roman talks about Avatar, gives hints about the upcoming series finale, and presents a behind-the-scenes look at the various stages of making the Avatar comic -- from story pitches, to script revisions, to creating the final comic book!

Close…but not exactly accurate. My intention was speculation, not actual breaking news. And it made me nervous that people would see the description and assume that this panel was the place to get the scoop on the finale. As someone who tends to go out of his way to avoid spoilers, this was definitely not the case.... ]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/15512999/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/15512999/ Wed, 14 Nov 2007 20:18:26 PST
But at any rate, I've been compiling a lot of this advice in one place for easier correspondences, and recently a few people insisted that I share it online. So if you are interested in that kind of stuff, here's the link to an essay I wrote:

Advice for building a career as a freelance artist
and/or paid cartoonist

--I'm sure a lot of the details are up for debate and I plan to add and change things over time. Hope you find some of it useful.
Cheers!





]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/14771305/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/14771305/ Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:38:22 PDT

If you aren't familar with Life Meter Comics it is a gallery site dedicated to comics and awesome art inspired by videogames. We've also published two critically acclaimed print collections that feature tons of comics and art not on the site.

As you can probably imagine we get TONS AND TONS of Mario and Zelda art submissions.

So to help diversify the Life Meterr gallery we're holding contests called the Life Meter Game Art Challenge!



We post 3 games to choose from and encourage everyone and anyone to draw a pinup or comic. You can post your art either as a reply to this thread or email us at submit [dot] lifemeter@gmail [dot] com and we'll post it for you.

The site editros (Zack/Steph/Dave) will vote on our favorites. The winning images will get added to the permenent Life Meter gallery and possibly see print in an upcoming Life Meter mini comic. If we get lots of amazing entries we’ll ask everyone on the site to help us vote for the best… the people who win the PRIZES!

So here we go...

CHALLENGE #2
Choose between the following 3 games:
Nights into Dreams (Saturn or Wii)
Fire Emblem (can't be interacting with Super Smash Bros envioronments or characters!)
Sonic the Hedgehog (any of the actual videogames. No cartoon or comic versions!)

DEADLINE: October 18th, 2007
4 Prizes:
-$15 via Paypal.
-Sonic the Hedgehog stuffed toy.
-Fire Emblem for Nintendo Gamecube,
-Nights promo Pillowcase.

Rules: Anyone can submit a drawing or comic.

Comic strips and pages will get preferential treatment and have a better chance at winning!

It can be cool, cute, funny, crazy. Art is fine in black & white or color. You can enter in as many entries as you want for as many of the 4 games that you want. Don't hate us if your entry doesn't win. If only one person enters they automatically get one of the non-cash prizes. If no one contributes a drawing by the deadline we'll move on to the next challenge with different games. But it's more fun if people enter of course!
So spread the word!



***EDIT: Deadline extended to October 18th, 2007







]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/14675615/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/14675615/ Mon, 17 Sep 2007 15:30:09 PDT
(Image from Isaia's Spot the Mythtakes puzzle!)

So the 2nd Avatar magazine went on sale this weekend, earlier than expected! Which means that I did nothing all Saturday and Sunday but read message boards and journals consuming all the fan reactions and theories (which means sifting through a LOT of shipping debates, of course). Happily, most of the feedback on the magazine itself is positive! I’M looking forward to hearing and reading more peoples' thoughts and reactions. Positive and negative! I know we can’t please everyone (especially with our page count limits and insane deadlines!), so some criticism a-okay.

It’s a constant balancing act trying to do something that appeals to the hardcore fans but that doesn’t completely ALIENATE the casual readers/viewers. We took a chance pushing things more toward the fan direction, and it would be great if that pays off. Maybe lead to even cooler things (backstories anyone??) next time. But there needs to be a next time!

It’s tricky business, not just for the magazine but for Nickelodeon as a whole. Avatar appeals to an older and more sophisticated crowd that doesn’t normally buy the product that Nick produces. Selling to the 8-12-year-old kids is really Nickelodeon’s established business. That’s what they know how to do, and the relationships with other manufactures are already in place. Certainly kids are the core audience of who read our magazines. And as hard as it may be to accept, a LOT of those kids who normally love all things Nick-branded aren’t so into Avatar. (Yet! I hold out hope they will grow into it!) And many older folks (even hardcore fans) claim to be “embarrassed” to buy Avatar products in public. Which, as a 30-year-old who still goes to see most kids' movies and reads tons of YA books, I can’t relate!

But it’s these conflicting audience issues that I believe are why things like the Avatar toys weren’t huge sellers, and the show itself still isn’t the “all our friends are Avatards alongside us” success it deserves to be. It’s easy to say why doesn’t Nick make more/cooler stuff for older fans. But it’s not so easy to convince manufacturers unless you have actual hard proof that it will sell. And it’s easy to forget that what seems popular on the internet doesn’t always represent enough actual customers to make something a financial success.

I look at things like Joss Whedon’s Firefly, which have a huge, vocal fandom big enough to green-light a movie, but not big enough to make that movie a success or give it a chance at a sequel. This was why I really encouraged people to not settle for scans of the magazine on the internet, but hopefully go out and OWN it. Because seriously: $5 is not that much money compared to a lot of comparable stuff out there. And most people pay that much for a coffee at Starbucks! The joys of the printed page last way longer than effects of caffeine!

Of course, scans of the Avatar magazine went up before most people even realized it was on the shelves or had a chance to look for it. I assumed this would be the case, but was still surprised how many people are too impatient to wait an extra day or have to leave the house. By Saturday, I had read posts from people who already “gave up” even though the release date is still technically TOMORROW! Which is possibly insulting to all the writers and artists who put so much work into making it. Sadder still was reading message board posters that attack fans who have spoken up against the illegal scans. This really depressed me.

I am completely sympathetic to fans of the show that live outside of the US And Canada who want to see the magazine. And I thank the people who have the patience to wait until after the magazine is off the newsstands to openly share over the internet.

I love free stuff as much as the next guy.

But copyright infringement is NOT a given right.

Even if the copyright owners choose to turn a blind eye, scanning someone else’s artwork doesn’t not make you Robin Hood. You are not fighting THE MAN. You are stealing from struggling artists and writers and magazine editors, all of whom would love the chance to make more Avatar comics—but will not be paid to do so, if there is no money in it.

See my earlier points about Avatar being a moderate hit, but currently not the kind that supports lots of product. And the magazine industry is not “big money” (even when they are connected to big corporations, the magazine divisions tend to be small outfits). Print in general is suffering. And considering that Nick Mag’s longtime competitor Disney Adventures just got cancelled this month, I won’t pretend not to be personally invested in the future of kids’ comics and magazines.

Here’s a... ]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/14198338/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/14198338/ Thu, 16 Aug 2007 15:19:00 PDT Why I hope people will pick up the new Avatar magazine and help share the love of the show with their friends.





As some of you may or may not know, I work at Nickelodeon Magazine as a comics editor and we just finished up an All-Avatar magazine that will be released on newsstands September 18th (only a few days before the Season 3 premier!). Avatarspirit.net has a really great preview up with several comic pages you can read.

As a huge fan of the Avatar show, this was a dream job for me as well as my co-editors Andrew Brisman, Chris Duffy and all the other people involved. All of the talented writers and artist who worked on it really put their ALL into making something we (as well as the the creators of the show) could be proud of. It is also a complete love letter to the fans. And several contributors who worked on it actually came from the fan community:

*Isaia
(aka Kim Miranda) Best known for her “It’s Avatarded If” series which was profiled in the first Avatar magazine. Isaia has created an awesome 2-page spread for the magazine featuring skewed versions of Avatar history.

*AliWildgoose
(aka Alison Wilgus) Perhaps the best example of someone who continually blurs the lines between the worlds of fandom and freelance! Ali is well known for her fics, cosplay and DeviantArt as well as her work on the show Kids Next Door and comics for the Life Meter anthology. For the magazine, she wrote the Super-Deformed comic story, contributed to the Zuko comic script, created 2 pages of unique puzzles, and was a consultant throughout. She also appears in the cosplay section!

~BlackKrogoth
(aka Tina Lam) Tina appeared in the first magazine in her Azula costume, and was our intern at the office this summer. Perfect timing, as she started working here just as things started cooking for the new Avatar mag. With her ninja-like skills and her pulse on the fandom, she ended up being an invaluable asset to the magazine team.

*rufftoon
(aka Johane Matte) Her awesome comics have made her beloved by all Avatar fans, and even helped her get a gig on the show. She’s an integral part of the Flight Comics Anthology, which connects most of the folks that have worked on Avatar comics so far. Johane is also responsible for the HP Fanbook.

And if that wasn’t enough…the new Avatar magazine features 3 pages dedicated to Avatar fan art and cosplay. This section will profile a ton of artists who you will recognize from your DeviantArt favorites page. Most of these will be their first time in print! This is one of those things that no one asked us to do but we all worked hard to make happen. There is so much fantastic art being created in the fan community that it deserves to be seen by as many people as possible!

So because of this, and a million other obvious reasons, I hope this magazine does REALLY well. But sadly that is not necessarily a sure thing. Last years Avatar magazine only did “okay.” And even though Andrew and I have been jumping at the chance to do a follow-up, it wasn’t until now that we were able to do so. Partially to blame for the last magazine’s moderate sales, was the fact that the show still wasn’t as well known (episodes still weren’t shown daily, and the DVD box set wasn’t even out yet). Also the state of the magazine business (and print in general) is having a hard time these days, whether because of printing costs or the rise of the Internet, I have no idea. But that’s why every sale of the magazine does COUNT in showing your support of what we created and also the Avatar TV show itself. You may not know anyone with a Neilson ratings box in their home (which is the biggest determining factor of a show’s success), but you do have direct purchasing power. If the Avatar issue outsells our Spongebob or FOP issues, we have a lot more leverage to do more of them. So yes, I’m completely shilling here. I really hope that people go out and buy as many copies of this thing as possible. Get one for yourself and your overseas friend! Don’t be embarrassed because it’s a “kids’ magazine!” Be proud! Look how badass the cover is! Plus, cartoons are cool now (Simpsons movie!), and most grown-ups love Avatar once they really give it a chance.

I know people like to scan things and read them online for free. It certainly makes sense for people outside of America who will have a hard time tracking the magazine down. Obviously I don’t condone this at all. But I also know I can’t stop it. So I hope people will wait until the magazine is at least no longer on the newsstands. Until then, please encourage people to seek out physical copies of the magazine. Out of res... ]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/13680763/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/13680763/ Tue, 10 Jul 2007 06:53:36 PDT


It’s been a while since I’ve written an actual post about the state of things (not bad, thanks for asking). So here’s a round up of what I’ve been up to.

Nick Mag:
Biggest project in my life right now is the Avatar: The Last Airbender MAGAZINE, which will be timed to come out right before Season 3 of Avatar finally airs on TV. I’m not allowed to say exactly when that will be…but I think they will make an official announcement at the San Diego Comic-Con panel. But I have to make sure the magazine is finished and ready to go to the printer BEFORE Comic-Con, which is in two weeks.
And I’m actually leaving for California next Thursday, which means even less time to wrap things up! So basically. my days are spent annoying artists about deadlines and begging them to finish ahead of schedule. That and digging up lots and lots of reference. Cuz you know, Avatar is one show that really likes its SPECIFIC details!

I can go on record as saying this magazine will be nothing short of awesome. Especially if you are as a big a fan of the show as I am. It’s been a lot of work, but also one of the most satisfying things I’ve ever been a part of. The new magazine will be a total love letter to “Avatards” young and old. And as usual for Nick Mag projects, the artists involved are personal favorites like my Flight brethren Johane Matte, Amy Kim Ganter, and Reagan Lodge. Also, Brian Ralph drawing Momo! I’ll post more specifics soon.



Obviously I'll be checking out the Avatar panel while I'm at Comic Con and looking forward to meeting lots of peoples from the digital world and taking pictures of awesome Cosplay!


Diesel Sweeties.
I drew a guest page for R. Steven’s popular web comic about the sexual mixings of robots and humans. My strip should be up soon as part of the current GUEST WEEK



Printing and assembling mini comics in time for Comic-Con.
We won’t be debuting any new issues, but we still need to restock the inventory of issues 1-7 of Teen Boat and 1-4 of Astronaut Elementary. I’m hoping we’ll get more Life Meter 2 books in time from the printer…and that this time I won’t have to take a cab out to a UPS center to pick them up the day before the show.

Teen Boat
Been serializing the first 3 issues of the series best described as “Dawnson’s Creek meets Transformers” over on John Green’s Webcomics Nation page.
The angst of being a teen and the thrill of being a boat has never been so free and online!



Astronaut Elementary
Been finishing up the last few pages of Chapter 1/Fall Semester of Astronaut Elementary. I’m also going to go back and draw a new extended opening sequence to help give the series a bit more of a focus and tighter story arc. Not sure how many pages that will be just yet.



Flight 4
I’ve been checking my mailbox every day for my comp copy of Flight 4. I can’t wait to get my hands on the final books. People say this might be the best one yet! I did a story called “It’s Dangerous to Sleep.” It’s pretty much autobiographical and very timely.
There’s also a full-color story from my wife, Raina Telgemeier. So, definitely worth buying the book just for that—if not all the other amazing artists.



Harry and the Potters
I FINALLY drew 3 pages of the long-planned and delayed comic series. Hopefully I’ll get a few more up before the fall! Originally I had hoped to have enough pages to make a mini for the guys to take on their big summer tour with them. But alas, only so many hours in the day...



Road trip!
Raina and I will be flying out to San Francisco to visit her family next week. We’ll be renting a car and driving down the coast to visit the Nick studios in Burbank and also my cousins... ]]> ~yaytime http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/12560767/ http://yaytime.deviantart.com/journal/12560767/ Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:49:54 PDT If you already read my Livejournal then you probably already know some of this stuff. Sorry!

Coming up first: I'm totally honored and excited to be a part of GRAPHIC SUNDAY!

APRIL 22, 1 - 3:00 PM at Books of Wonder in NYC!

This will be a panel discussion and book signing with these awesome people:
MARK SIEGEL & SIENA CHERSON SIEGEL (To Dance)
GEORGE O'CONNOR (Journey Into Mohawk Country)
AARON RENIER (Spiral-Bound)
JULIA GRAN (Big Bug Surprise)
CHRISTINE NORRIE (Breaking Up, Hopeless Savages)
SARA VARON (Sweater Weather)
DAVE ROMAN (Agnes Quill)
CHARISE MERICLE HARPER (Fashion Kitty Versus the Fashion Queen)
PATRICK O'BRIEN (The Mutiny on the Bounty)

Located at 18 West 18th Street in New York City, Books of Wonder is New York City's oldest and largest independent children's bookstore, as well as the city's leading specialist in children's literature both new and old.
I believe this is their first ever graphic novel event!


April 20th-23rd will be one insane weekend and then it's pretty much one comic related event after another...

On Friday and Saturday I'll be at Anime Boston in the Artist Alley. This will be my second year there ( I missed last year though!) On the Friday evening of Anime Boston I'll be participating in a panel about Life Meter Comics the videogame comics website I help maintain.
And then on Saturday afternoon, I'll be doing a panel about producing comics for Avatar: The Last Airbender. I figure maybe I'll talk about the Avatar OC contenst too and I can get field questions about what bad taste I have in picking "mary sues".

Shortly after the Avatar panel, I'll have to jump on bus back to NYC for the Books of Wonder event on Sunday.

The following weekend I'll be at the Kids Comic Con in the Bronx.


And then the weekend after that I move into a new bigger apartment!
This is perfect timing because I just printed up a new "Yaytime" bunny t-shirt and the box is sitting in the kitchen with no place to go!


The weekend after that we fly to Canada for the Paradise Comics Toronto Comic Con June 8th & June 9th.
Mostly I'll be there to support Raina who is a special guest. I'll be working her table selling Baby-Sitter's Club graphic novels as well as a few of my own books like Astronaut Elementary.

My Stepbrother get's married the Sunday of that same weekend, so I have to fly back in time for that.


And then the MoCCA Art Fest is 2 weeks after! If you've never been to the MoCCA art fest you need to check it out. It's in the Puck building is SoHo NY and is an amazing event featuring alternative cartoonists and all sort of diverse artists and creators. I love it more than food! I'll be debuting some new books there like Teen Boat #7 and the new Life Meter videogame/comics anthology. Last year we sold out of the first volume and this one will be 100 pages of beautiful and hilarious videogame inspired art!

A few week after that? The San Diego Comic Con in July!!! I'm trying to get the new Astronaut Elementary mini comic printed for that show. Fingers crossed. But definitely debuting there will be FLIGHT 4 possibly the bestest comic anthology EVER. And not just because my wife and I both have stories in there. Have you seen the cover by Kazu Kabuishi? Oh, man...


So yeah that's my next few weeks. Maybe I'll see you soon?

















































]]> ~yaytime