Happy 1st Anniversary to The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery

Ty has been superbusy with workworkwork and occasionally talking to his children, but he managed to squeeze in some time on the weekend to join in on celebrations for The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery. Rising out of the ashes and some of the stock from Dragon Lady Comics, the store started up last February 8. At the time, Ty was still teaching in the space so he would see Joe, Kevin  several times a week.

While Ty moved into his own space for Comic Book Bootcamp in the fall, The Lounge is still one of his Local Comic Shops. He drops in at least once a week to pick up comics, and check out what Joe and Kevin have to say about our little industry.

On Saturday, The Lounge celebrated it’s first year anniversary by running a mini-artists con with local artists like Ty, David J. Cutler, Scott Chantler, Agnes Garbowska, Richard Pace and more. Ty had a Bun Toon to get out so we didn’t get there until the late afternoon but he did a number of sketches (Batman sketch comic covers were most-requested).

David Cutler and Richard Pace in The Lounge’s Artists Alley (photo by Debra Shelly)

There was a contest for cosplayers, hosted by the One and Only Sean Ward, then it was time for ON THE COUCH WITH TY TEMPLETON. Guests Jim Zubkavich, Richard Pace and Rob Walton discussed their views on Collaboration versus Control. I don’t think they came to an actual consensus as to which they preferred–working as part of a creative team, or working on their own–but it was a lively conversation. The show was recorded and when edited will end up online (probably at Tdot Comics, thanks to the inimitable Alice Quinn!).

In the “Green Room” waiting for ON THE COUCH, Richard Pace, Keiren Smith, Ty Templeton, Jim Zubkavich (photo by Debra Shelly)

The night finished with an Industry Night Party, but we headed out before midnight as Ty had to return the next day for a day of demos to promote AutoDesk Sketchbook Pro. We got there in time to watch Agnes Garbowska create a piece in Sketchbook and talk about her technique, then Ty got to try out the program himself. It was his first time using a Cintiq for any sustained period of time, and first time using SketchbookPro. An interesting program–Ty said he could immediately see some shortcomings (given his long familiarity with PhotoShop) but also some definite advantages. Ty said he’s looking forward to working with it some more, when he has free time in his schedule.

Recording ON THE COUCH (photo by Tyrone McCarthy)

Ty tries out Sketchbook Pro 6 (photo by Tyrone McCarthy)

 

Keiren

ON THE COUCH with Jim Zubkavich, Richard Pace, Rob Walton and host Ty Templeton (photo by Tyrone McCarthy)

For your bonus moment, here’s the cartoon Ty did to commemorate the end of Dragon Lady Comics which had been a part of his (and my) life for all of it’s thirty-plus years:

24 HOUR COMIC CHALLENGE

 

 

THIS Saturday, January 5 2013, more than thirty creators are going to gather at the home of The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery and Guerilla Printing for an event hosted by my Comic Book Bootcamp, and my studio-mates, Comic Book Embassy. It’s our first ever 24 Hour Comic Challenge Marathon!

Obviously, it’s a take off on Scott McCloud’s 24 Hour Comic Day, which was back on October 20. At the time, we were still getting our workshop space organised, and I think it was the weekend between a couple of comic conventions…all in all, everyone we knew said they were too busy to think of participating.

So, we decided to wait until now, and run one as a way to jump start everyone’s creativity for the year. For those who have always wanted to do a comic book but have been putting it off–jump in feet first and just do it! For some of my students who have been working hard on their skills for the last year, this is a chance to show them off and give them a good workout.

All of Comic Book Embassy will be there participating in the Challenge. Keiren and I will be there as hosts, although I’m thinking that eventually I’ll feel like I have to pick up a pencil and do some drawing myself. Might end doing a bit of live Bun-Tooning during the night.

The participants’ list is now closed, but we’re hoping that if you’re in the neighbourhood, you’ll drop by to say hello, check out the various creators and see how they’re doing with this completely arbitrary and self-imposed schedule! 24 pages in 24 hours! Can they do it? Come down to 587A College Street West, Second Floor, Toronto, Saturday January 5 10:00am to Sunday January 6 10:00 am, and find out!

Ty the Guy OUT!

And for your bonus comic moment:

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Christmas Bun Toons! YAY!

happy cringle and the merry middle moose.

The winter solstice is upon us soon, and, unless that Mayan Calendar is to be believed, Christmas is leaping up quicker than a tiger at a steak convention.  For a half-Jewish atheist from Canada, it’s a special time of a year for me and my family.  So I share…

Yes Virginia, there is a Prince of Darkness.  But he’s not worth the bicycle.

I wonder if the snow falling on this Bun Toon will put out the fire in Lucifer’s heart?  We can only hope.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Satan Comic Book Christmas!

It is not well known, but the SON OF SATAN comic book produced by Marvel Comics in the mid-seventies was the result of a typo.  It was originally going to be marketed as “SON OF SANTA”…

…which is why Damian’s sled is always being pulled by hell-beast versions of Dancer and Prancer and Blitzen.

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For last week’s Bun Toon about the Fantastic Four, click the Invisible Woman above…what do you mean you can’t see her?

For every Bun Toon ever (and yes, the archives have been updated!) click the very positive bunny above.

FF Bun Toons. YAY!

The World’s Greatest Webcomic presents…

If I’m ever asked to write the Fantastic Four, I’m ready with solid ideas.

As far as I know, Wonder Woman and Superman are actually making noogie nowadays, so you can’t keep up.

Remember, it’s only 13 days before the Mayan calendar runs out, so it’s not as if any of this matters after two weeks, anyway…

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS moments.  Arguably the two most NEGATIVE moments in the history of the Fantastic Four…

From the much loved “FRED AND BARNEY MEET THE THING” series of the early 80s.   Benjy Grimm is a teenager with a magic ring, who fought crime and stopped trains on Saturday morning, while sharing the hour with the Flintstones (although they never actually met during the show).

From the Roger Corman FF feature film.  This is about as negative as you get.

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AND! If you’re in the GTA (or even as far afield as Barrie or Hamilton or Burlington or St. Catherines–yes, I’ve had students come in for classes from those cities. I swear to you–the classes are THAT GOOD!), we’ve got TWO classes starting up in January. Check out the information on the COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP website

AND! We’re offering a One-Day/Night Workshop on RENDERING WITH MARKERS. Thursday December 13 7-10pm OR Saturday December 15 1-4pm. Price includes THREE Copics markers for you to take home. Info on the COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP site or click the lovely image below (done by Instructor Megan Kearney in Copics)

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For last week’s Toon, Bun Toon…click on the words “James Bond”.

For every Bun Toon ever (and yes, the archives have been updated!) click the very positive bunny above.

Sketch Cover Commissions!

Ty has been asked a few times about doing commissions, and generally says no. But after posting some of the sketch covers he’s done recently, he was asked if he’d make it possible for out-of-town fans to get one…  As he was giving it some thought, he got to do a bunch for a one-day Toronto comic convention and enjoyed it enough that he decided–yes. Yes, he will!

Okay, this is NOT a sketch cover. But it could have been!

Email Ty at tybunny AT gmail DOT com, if you would like a sketch cover. Please list your name, mailing address, and which blank sketch cover you would like. We have access to Batman, Deadpool, Thor, Uncanny Avengers, All New Xmen, and Fantastic Four (to the best of my knowledge). You can request characters, situation, etc. and Ty will let you know if he’s able to accommodate you.

**NEW**–I’ve checked and we also have access to The Hulk, Daredevil, The Defenders, Scarlet Spider, and Wolverine blank sketch covers.

Covers will be done in pencil, ink, archival quality markers, Prismacolours…more or less whatever Ty has to hand. They’ll be black and white, with some greytones and occasionally with red marker/ink.

Ty is charging $45/Cdn for these covers (that will include the cost of the book which we purchase from our LCS). That’s for a maximum of two characters–if you ask for something complicated or with lots of characters, he may quote you a higher price. Ask for a quote for a full cover wrap.

Shipping will be  $4/Cdn shipping and handling to addresses in Canada; $5/Cdn shipping and handling to addresses in the USA.  (Anywhere else, email and we’ll figure it out and get back to you!) When Ty has confirmed with you that he’ll do the sketch cover, we’ll send you a PayPal Invoice. Books will be shipped in a comic bag between two backing boards, in a bubble-wrap envelope.

**NEW**  (AND…if you want to have your cover submitted to CGC, we actually have the ability to do that through a recognised representative. Let us know when you email, please. We would find out through the rep what extra costs and time that would add on to the commission)

Keiren

<—completely accurate

portrait of me by Ty.

Tony Harris Bun Toons! YAY

Fortunately, the bunny is sexy enough to cosplay without pants.

Eternally attractive comic book artist, Tony Harris, has FINALLY told the cosplayers of this world the rules of the game.  Please, ladies, don’t show up to conventions in sexy clothes unless you’re a) very sexy,  b) aware that you’re not sexy, but an expert on the character you’ve dressed up as, or c) a virgin man.

He gets to make these statements because he’s a handsome man with a VERY powerful social position.  He draws comic books.

But what if Tony Harris held a position with even MORE power?

Imagine the controversy if Tony Harris owned a dry cleaners, or sold door to door soap.

THEN, people might take him seriously.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Tony Harris Knows Sexy Moment:

Harris artowrk from the cover to one of the Ex Machina collections. This artwork just oozes, discharges and secretes sexy.

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For last week’s sexy Bun Toon, drawn from a hospital bed while on heavy drugs, click above.

For an archive of past Bun Toons, click the sexy, sexy bunny above.

Holiday Bun Toons! YAY!

For the Great Pumpkin commands me!

Ever since I was a child, the great debate was about which holiday was the best all year.   To me, it was never close.

It’s not even close.

Ty the Guy OUT!

And now, as if there was still a chance Christmas was still in the running, here’s your BONUS Halloween Comic Book Moments.

Today is FREE HALLOWEEN COMIC BOOK DAY! Come to the shop and get this BATMAN ADVENTURES comic book (written and drawn by Dan Slott and Ty Templeton!) for FREE!

Today is FREE HALLOWEEN COMIC BOOK DAY! Come to the shop and get this Marvel Adventures comic book (featuring Spider-Man, written and drawn by Dan Slott and Ty Templeton!) for FREE!

Yes!  It’s FREE COMIC BOOK DAY in the fall, and it features not one, but TWO comics by Dan Slott and myself.  Remember, you can’t spell “FREE COMICS” without Dan Slott and Ty Templeton.  And I’ll be appearing in person at STADIUM COMICS  in Brampton’s SHOPPERS WORLD MALL to give the lovely treats away!  (See yesterday’s Art Land Post for details).

And hey…don’t forget my latest issue of Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures is on sale today as well.  (Though you have to pay for that one…)

What wacky Halloween adventures do I have in store for Spidey This Month?!?

Who says it isn’t the Ty Templeton Age of Spider-Man Halloween Comics?

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For last week’s “controversial conversation betwixt father and son” Bun Toon, click above.

For the archive of past Bun Toons (which needs an update, I know, stop nagging me, I promise I’ll do it!) click above

Here, There and Everywhere

It’s another busy week for Ty…  He’s  teaching (yesterday Writing for Comics Part One, tonight Drawing the Human Figure from Your Head), drawing for Marvel Comics’ all-ages Spidey book (Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures), and working on some other can’t-yet-be-mentioned projects, (and yeah yeah there’s that parenting/husbanding stuff).

TODAY he will be at The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery for their UNCANNY AVENGERS #1 Launch Party. Sez The Lounge,

“[Uncanny Avengers #1 is] the first of the Marvel Now! titles being released. Uncanny Avengers 1 is written by Rick Remender, with artwork by John Cassaday.

The first customers who purchase the book will receive a limited edition print and other goodies, and there will be other surprises and bonuses for those who try out the new book.”

To celebrate and promote, the store is running a mini Artists Alley. Ty will be there as well as Shane Kirshenblatt, Marco Rudy, Christopher Yao, Rachael Wells, David Cutler,  Selena Goulding, and more!

The artists will be available to do sketches, sign books or do sketches on the large collection of sketchcovers that The Lounge has in stock. Some will have their own prints available for sale as well.

Batman #0 sketch cover by Ty Templeton. There are blank sketch covers available for sale at The Lounge today.

The event is running 12-9pm, so stop by! (If you have any questions about upcoming classes at Comic Book Bootcamp, Ty can answer ‘em, and will have fliers available.)

Keiren

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Too Busy to Even Think of a Title for This

It’s Monday morning and we’re starting one of the busiest weeks we’ll be having this year!

Monday September 10 (TODAY!!), Ty is appearing on CHCH TV’s Morning Live show. Starting at 9am, he’ll be on for the whole hour drawing away and answering questions (although not on camera the whole time!). Channel 11, I believe.

Later this afternoon, Ty and I will head downtown to The Comics Embassy which houses COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP to set up the tables, put the white board up, and generally make sure that everything is good to go for…

Tuesday September 11, when Ty teaches the first class ever in his brand new space at 392 Spadina Avenue, in downtown Toronto–WRITING FOR COMICS (Part One). There is one spot left, if you want to email us for a last-minute registration (comicbookbootcamp AT gmail DOT com). Class starts at 7pm, and Ty is soooooo looking forward to this!!

Wednesday September 12, Ty will be teaching DRAWING THE HUMAN FIGURE FROM YOUR HEAD, 7-10pm. We have two spaces still open, if you’d like to register.

Thursday September 13, our youngest son turns 13! Sean has an awkward birthday as it’s just after the start of school each year, and the day before we leave for a weekend. But 13! He’s turning 13 on the 13th! He’s been counting down to this for months! We’ll have the family over for a birthday dinner and there will be cake!

My youngest son

Friday September 14, crack of dawn, me, Ty and two or three of our kids will pile into the car (might send one of the kids with their older brother and my daughter-in-law) and drive to Montreal where Ty will be appearing at the MONTREAL COMIC CON all weekend.

Our oldest son will be working (informally) at the show (my daughter-in-law and teenaged son will be there over the weekend, volunteering). And we’re looking forward to seeing our friends from HEROES OF THE NORTH again. They’ll be there all weekend, with different cast members of their webseries making appearances each day. (Ty wrote a 12 pge story for them recently–the artist, Daniel Wong, will be at the con all weekend as a member of the SPENT PENCILS STUDIO.)

Friday, the con runs 4-9pm. After we’ll be at a barbecue with other comics creators–Ty is looking forward to seeing old friends and meeting creators we haven’t met before.

Saturday September 15, Ty will be at the MONTREAL COMIC CON 10am-7pm. After the show will be THE JOE SHUSTER AWARDS, AT 7:30PM. I always love to go to the show and watch Canadian creators get some well-deserved love, but I have a vested interest this year–Ty has been nominated in the WEBCOMICS CREATOR category for BUN TOONS.

After, we’ll be off to the post-awards party to celebrate all the winners, and to get a chance to talk to everyone.

Sunday September 16 will be the last day of the MONTREAL COMIC CON,  10am-5pm. Last chance for sketches, signatures and for Ty to tell stories! Then, it’ll be back to our sister-in-law’s home for a chance to have a family dinner with her, our youngest kids and our nephew and nieces.

Monday September 17, we’ll all pile back in the car for an early-morning drive back to Toronto. (Probably with me driving–Ty will probably still be asleep).

And, through all of this–Ty is working on Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures! Pencilling and inking and plotting!

Keiren

Fan Expo Canada 2012: SATURDAY

It’s a busy, busy day for me today…

I’m moderating a panel, Neal Adams:  Spotlight. I love Neal Adams–have I ever mentioned that before? That will be a joy to do…

At 5pm today, I will be hosting a couch-less verion of ON THE COUCH WITH TY TEMPLETON:  Industry Roundtable. Should be an interesting discussion…

Stop by my table in Artists Alley, P30A and say hi! And don’t forget to get a copy of HOLMES INCORPORATED #3 while you’re at the con. If you don’t see them at my table, head to Booth 614, or Rachael Well’s booth A165.

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And don’t forget–if you’re interested in taking any of my classes at COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP, you can ask me or Keiren Smith about them, at P30A/B. Come by and pick up a flyer.

Ty the Guy OUT!!