Possum Press

I was browsing through old files on my computer, and came across these 7 pages of comic stenography I did a few years ago.  A group of Toronto comic artists were invited to draw a comic in real time, capturing an event involving 3 speakers speaking about a topic of their choice.  We were given free range, to cover the event however we would like, so this is my version of what took place at Fort York’s barracks on October 22nd, 2007.  The entire event lasted about two hours if I remember correctly, so we had to draw fast.  The bald guy in the comic below, is my brother, Mike, who also stenographied, stenographed, ….. stenographicated (?)……. you know what I mean…… 

Enjoy.

I just finished a 4 page POSSUM comic called “Criminal Mind!” for the 2010 SPACE anthology, which includes comics from this years exhibitors at SPACE (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo), which is being held in Columbus, Ohio this April.  (If you haven’t guessed, Mike and myself will be attending). 

Here’s half a page for you to look at for now.

I think the plan is that the anthology will be appearing as a web comic, so I’ll keep you posted as I know more.  In the meantime, if you haven’t read my other two Possum shorts, Deadly Death Notes of Death and What Horrors Lie in the Bowels of the Deep, you can read them by clicking on the titles above.  Enjoy!

I am attempting to redo possumpress.com, and I started with a brand-spanking-new online store, complete with the ability to read all 4 Possum comics in their entirety for FREE, as well as two Possum mini stories I have done for the Awesome Anthology and The Feathertale Review #4.  You can also purchase these comics along with Spy Guy comics by my brother, Mike!  (Spy Guy issue #1 is available for reading as well!) 

Click here, and have a look around the new store. 

I’ve been meaning to redo the website for a while now, but I could never justify spending what little free time I have working on a website, rather than working on issue #5 or doing the millions of other things that are on my ‘to do’ list.  All those excuses vanished, when I broke my wrist playing hockey on Dec 10th (yeah, that’s right…….. my drawing wrist), and couldn’t draw for 3 weeks (6 weeks with a cast all together so far).  Not only did this give me 3 weeks vacation over Christmas (something that hasn’t happened since college), but it gave me an excuse to sit down and figure out how to use Dreamweaver.  (even if I only scratched the surface). 

I’ll be updating pages when I have a chance, so I’ll let you know when they’re finished, although I don’t recommend holding your breath now that I’m back to drawing again, seeing as it took me this long to update the main page and the store.

P.S.  Happy New Year! 

Strange Adventures – Halifax

If you live in Halifax, or the surrounding area, you can now find The Possum and Spy Guy at the Strange Adventures comic book shop on Sackville st. 

Get them, while they’re hot!

If you don’t live in Halifax, and you’d like your local comic shop to carry these fine comics, ask them to contact me at blair@possumpress.com, and I’d be happy to send them some!

(if all else fails, you can always order your own copy online, at the Possum Press store)

Also:  December 30th is Indie Comic Book Day and Possum Press and Ultraist Studios are a part of it.  It’s not too late to get your local comic shop on board.  Find out more about Indie Comic Book Day here.

Update:  My friend, Faith Hicks sent me this photo yesterday.  It’s a photo of one of the shelves at Strange Adventures in Halifax.  Thanks Faith!

Faith’s books are on the top shelf (War at Ellsmere and Zombies Calling).  On the 3rd from the top’s shelf we have The Possum by yours truly and Spy Guy by Mike Kitchen, along with Chiaroscuro by Troy Little, and below that is Troy’s other book, Angora Napkin.  (plus a whole bunch of other awesome books by Canadian comic book creators who I don’t personally know).

Here’s a few quick sketches I did for a pitch that I’m working on with a good friend.  Hopefully it will involve a lot of quick and fun straight ahead animation in many, many different styles.  (and some live action, cut out animation, and whatever else we can think of doing).  It’s just an idea right now, but you never know…..

Sorry for the lack of info in this post, but I just wanted to put up a couple sketches for fun.  Maybe more will come………… maybe not.

Here’s a look deep into the bowels of the Possum Press studio.  Like the great tombs in ancient egypt, or the incredible catacombs in Rome, for those brave enough to explore the dark, enless pathways, a treasure awaits the few who make it to the end. 

And here it is…….. all the Possum comics one could imagine!  Behold, issues 1 through 4, all neatly boxed by Lebonfon printers.  It’s like printing your own money……. (at least that’s what I keep telling my wife.

Get your very own Possum comics here.

Here’s some photos from The Word on the Street Festival, that took place a couple weekends ago.  This is always a fun festival to exhibit at, because there are so many young kids that wouldn’t attend a comic convention, because their parents aren’t necessarily the type of people who would bring their kids to a comic convention (ie. nerds).  It’s always an entirely different crowd which is good, and it shows by the number of issue #1′s that were sold, compared to the most recent issue #4′s. (which means there are a lot more new Possum readers out there now)…….. which may or may not be a good thing for society as a whole:)

There’s Mike hard at work in the background

Mike Kitchen’s Spy Guy stand up! (above)  The stand ups were a big hit again, as we saw lots of kids getting their pictures taken with them, and even pretending to beat them up.  Most kids couldn’t walk by without stopping to take a look:) 

And now some sketches:

I must say, the view at this festival is much more relaxing than your average comic convention.

Terry Lenko informed me of this, this morning.  (Thanks Terry)

Possum Press and Ultraist Studios were in attendance at this year’s Word on the Street Festival in Toronto last Sunday, and the Spy Guy and Possum comics were a big hit.  (proof is below).

The caption below the picture reads: “Dante Petitti reads amid festival-goers at The Word on The Street literary festival, held in and around Queen’s Park. He was reading a comic called The Possum, by Blair Kitchen. This is the festival’s 20th year.”

The article is short, and is about digital books, but Terry Green’s comments in the last paragraph echo my thoughts on where digital fits in next to paper in the whole digital publishing debate.  Click here for the article on the Metro website.

There is nothing like the smell of a newsprint comic book, and the feel of it as you turn the pages, as all of your senses are engaged in the reading experience.  With paper, you can get close and study every detail on the page as you sit comfortabley in bed, on the couch, or in the grass at a book fair.  It feels more intimate and is a warmer experience to me.  I can’t explain it exactly, and maybe it’s just because it invokes memories from my childhood, but nothing can replace paper comics.  Digital comics are great for getting your stories and artwork circulated to as many people as possible, and peeking the interest of your readers, but it just doesn’t replace paper.  

I’ll be posting some photos from The Word on the Street Festival soon. 

UPDATE:  Chuck Palahniuk is asked about digital vs. paper here.  I like his answer.

Click here to read past strips. 

Yesterday I visited a few comic shops with copies of Issue #4 of The Possum, and issue #1 of Spy Guy (from Mike Kitchen and Ultraist Studios).  The latest Spy Guy and Possum comics can now be found and purchased at The Silver Snail, Dragon Lady comics, and The Beguiling. 

If you own, or know of a comic shop that would like to carry The Possum or Spy Guy, give me an email or pass along my email address to them (It’s blair@possumpress.com) and I can make sure they get some copies. 

And now back to our heros.

Another Fan Expo has come and gone, marking the third complete year that Mike and myself have been attending conventions with our comics (our 4th Fan Expo).  Our table is looking a lot fuller, than 2006, when we had 3 issues printed between the two of us, and we are starting to see some momentum building over the last 3 years.  Here’s a few photos of us hard at work. 

Me sketching

Me not sketching

Mike hard at work

And now some of the sketches:

What happens in the first minute, when The Possum fills in for a vacationing Spider-man?

And now an endorsement from the Joker and Scarecrow:

See you at Word on the Street!

The Fan Expo starts today at the Toronto Convention Centre, and goes through the weekend (Friday, August 28th to Sunday August 30th).  Possum Press and Ultraist Studios will be at table A39 in the Artist Alley.  Stop by and pick up the newest Possum and Spy Guy comics.  Mike will be debutting Spy Guy #1, which marks the beginning of his ongoing Spy Guy title!  (click here, for a glimpse of the cover).

As always, we will be doing sketches!

That says it all.

See you at the Fan Expo!, or if you won’t be there, be patient and I’ll have them up for sale at the Possum Press store as soon as I can.