Oh, the Shameless Plug

Because this sort of thing matters to the Super-Skrull

The next issue of Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures is (choke, sob) the last of the ALL-NEW issues until further notice, Friendly Neighbourhood Fans…But we’re heading out with a bang!  And a few zaps and some punching and fun.

Besides fighting off squee-cute Martians with Death Rays, our webslinger battles a mad scientist, a mouthy Nova, and a snarling Super-Skrull, all in 22 pages of Joe Caramanga-Ty Templeton Ultimate Spidey Romping on our way out the door….

So pick it up when it hits the stands, either this week or next (I never know the release dates of these things), and make Joe and Ty and the editor happy, if no one else.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures stuff:

HAH!  The comic book isn’t being cancelled, folks, it’s just switching formats,  with interiors generated from screengrabs of the actual animated episodes in future issues.  And delightful editor Elizabeth Pyle is keeping your humble Bun Tooner around to provide a cover or two as we move forward.  So I ain’t leaving the Friendly Neighbourhood quite YET!

In fact, my favourite piece of Spider-Man art I’ve ever done is my cover coming up for issue #16 (I think…).  You’ll see it in a couple of months!

Vast and Flat Bun Toons! YAY!

Dedicated to Wil Wheaton, for reasons that will become obvious…

I have it on solid authority, that this was the ORIGINAL plan for the character…

I promised this one a few months back, and it took me that long to draw it.  Blades of wheat are time consuming.

I’m not drawing Aquaman of the Sahara, though.  We all know the lucky bastard will find a bathtub or something.  That’s how it always goes with him.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now, your BONUS Spider-Man of the Prairies moment:

Yeee-hah!  I WISH that was a real Spider-Man action figure, but it’s a custom, made by BILL’S CUSTOMS (a man clearly dedicated to customizing the super-hero world, as you can see HERE or by clicking the image above.)  As a former Prairie resident-in-law, thanks for that little bit of bronco ridin’ web-slingin’ fun, Bill!

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For last week’s Controversial Bun Toon about Controversial Orson Scott Card writing Superman Controversially, click above.

for the Bun Toon archive, click the controversial bunny.

In case you care, today’s Bun Toon is a sequel to a Bun Toon from last year…

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.

Supporting HERO INITIATIVE

I’ve mentioned many times on this blog, on my Facebook and anywhere I can, how impressed I am with the HERO INITIATIVE and the work they do. Here in Canadaland, I live with universal healthcare and although Canadians might complain about how long they wait in Emergency Rooms (longest wait times in the First World, apparently), and how long they wait for a specialist, the truth is that we wait that long because EVERYONE in the country gets to be in that line…not just the ones who can afford insurance.

I had to wait in one of those lineups recently, when I spent the night in an ER with a kidney stone…within twenty minutes of entering the hospital, I was hooked-up to an IV drip with some morphine, and going from the worst pain of my life to happy sleepland. When I was finally back awake and able to form coherent thoughts, I mentioned to my wife repeatedly how lucky we are to be Canadians, that we don’t even have to think about it…  I was in pain, she asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital, we went…and I was treated and sent home eight hours later, recovering and happy. And it only cost us the gas it took to drive the car there, and the fee for parking in a hospital parking lot.

Which always leaves me leaves me thinking about American creators who don’t automatically have the same access to health care, which I have. If you’re not familiar with the organisation, Hero

“…is the first federally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators, writers and artists in need. Founded in late 2000 by a consortium of comic book and trade publishers, including Marvel Comics, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Wizard Entertainment, CrossGen Comics and Dynamic Forces Inc., the 501(c)(3)charity aims to assist comic creators with health, medical, and quality-of-life assistance.”

Hero does many auctions and fundraising events throughout the year–one of those is going on right now!! I did a cover for Fantastic Four #600 for Hero, and so did 99 other artists! Check out the auction for my cover, check out the auction for all the items currently up for sale by HERO INITIATIVE, and check out their website for more information. You can donate $$ directly to them, through their website, that they can use to help the men and women who have made the comics you love.

Ty the Guy!

Bonus moment–over the years, I’ve contributed other pieces to Hero Initiative. One I really enjoyed was WAKE UP AND DRAW earlier this year, which was done in honour of Jack Kirby:

FREE Comic Books!!

Everyone knows about FREE COMIC BOOK DAY, but that was waaaaaaaay back in May. Too long to wait for the next one! In its infinite wisdom, Diamond Comic Distributors has created a Hallowe’en version of Free Comic Book Day intended for the kids:  HALLOWEEN COMICFEST.

There are lots of comics from many publishers all available for free, but there are two of particular interest to Ty Templeton fans:  both DC Comics and Marvel Comics books’ feature stories by Ty and Dan Slott.

sez DC Comics,

“…fans will be excited to learn that comic book stores nationwide will be distributing the all-ages Halloween ComicFest exclusive BATMAN/SCOOBY DOO! Flipbook for FREE! Reprinting classic BATMAN and SCOOBY-DOO tales, this collection comes to you from the creative teams of writers Dan Slott and Chris Duffy and artist Ty Templeton amongst various others.”

Marvel Comics is offering up a book with both Spidey and the Avengers (based on the animated shows). Sez them,

“One product in particular is Marvel’s Halloween ComicFest book, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN AND AVENGERS. This all-ages book translates all the action and excitement from the television shows “Ultimate Spider-Man” and “Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes!” into a comic book that will not only entertain young kids but engage teenagers and adults as well. “

THIS SATURDAY, October 27, Ty will be at STADIUM COMICS in Brampton, Ontario (at Shoppers World mall, Highway 10 and Steeles Avenue). The event is HUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGEEEEEEE; they say they’ve booked over TWENTY comics creators.

Ty’s really looking forward to this–he’s heard so much about Stadium Comics but not had a chance to check out the store yet. And he’s looking forward to seeing YOU! He’ll be signing copies of the FREE COMIC BOOKS from Marvel and DC, signing other books you bring him, he’ll have prints for sale, and he’s bringing some blank Batman sketch covers…  He’ll be doing sketches as well. And–as always–he’ll be telling tales…

Stop by and get your free books, get ‘em signed…and you can ask Ty questions about his COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP, and hear about the upcoming classes (which start in ten days…registration is almost closed for WRITING FOR COMICS PART TWO, still spaces in LAYOUT FOR COMICS, and INKING FOR COMICS).

(Next Wednesday, which is actually Hallowe’en, Ty will be at The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery…but we’ll tell you about that when it gets closer to the date.)

Keiren

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

Plug, Plug, Plug. Baby needs new size twelve shoes.

Plug.

Plug.

Spider-Man Plug.

On Sale Tomorrow.  I wrote it (Dan Slott helped).  Matt Clark drew it.  Marvel printed it.  You’re going to love it, I promise.  MOST. FUN. MARVEL. STORY. I’VE. EVER. WRITTEN.

Plug.

Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures #3.  Coming next week.  I drew one of this issue’s interior stories.   Two Spider-Man Comics in two weeks!  Plus:  Spider-Man in the movies, yo!  Spider-Man on the comics’ stands! I’m at pop culture ground zero, fellow babies.

Batman plug.

Plug.

On sale in July.  I drew this one.  The true story of Batman’s creation, finally giving due to BILL FINGER, the REAL creator of Batman.

Plug.

Some pages from Bill  The Boy Wonder.  This scene recreates the moment Bob Kane “created” Batman.

Plug.

Another scene from Bill  The Boy Wonder.  This the moment that Bill Finger explains to Bob Kane how to fix that first version of the character so that people will actually read it.

plug.

On Sale in July.  The Bat-Fan in you needs this book.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here, now your Bonus Plug:

naughty Halloween revellers ruin it for the rest of us.

Let Them Eat Avengers Cake!

I’ve been a busy Canadian Beaver here for the last few weeks (it’s why I’ve been slightly blog absent, but for my award-wishing Bun Toons comics) making Spider-Man for the peoples (Avenging Spider-Man #8 and Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures #3, both out in stores SOON!), and starting up the next Award-Hoping issue of HOLMES INCORPORATED (in store in a few months, so I’ll get more pushy about that later)!!

But in the meantime, because you folks are just so suh-weet,  I pass along to you some of the sweet and magnificent creations of my sweet and magnificent daughter-in-law.

Vector from Despicable Me (a cake topper–don’t have a pic of the finished cake, sorry)

We’ve featured her confectionery sculpting a few times here on the blog, but in the spirit of the Assembling Avengers that is sweeping the culture I give you more geek-cred samples of Jessica Costley: Ass Kicking Cake Boss!

Layers of cake based goodness…ASSEMBLE!

And because one hammer is NEVER enough (that’s what she said)…

Mjolnir, Baby!!

Is this fair?  I get to write and draw Spider-Man and the Simpsons, I get to be married to the World’s Bestest Gal, and I have a daughter-in-law who makes these magnificent baked masterpieces.

I win.

Ty the Guy OUT!

 (I’ll have just a small piece, thanks.  I’m saving room for Chicken Kiev and caviar.)

Here now, your Bonus Comic Book Cake Moment:

Not one of Jessica’s cakes, but the expression is divinely insane. Who wants a nice slice of Hulk Face?

Avengers Bun Toons! YAY!

Bunny Brigade Assemble!

I’ve been so busy making Spider-Man comics for the last couple of days that I  didn’t get a chance to see the latest Marvel Blockbuster until yesterday.  Overall, I liked it, but I still found at least…

 

SPOILERS IN CASE YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE AVENGERS MOVIE YET:

I wished Hawkeye had been written a little better, and I think Captain America didn’t have much useful to do in the final battle, and Loki wasn’t as strong here as he was in the Thor movie, but the great stuff with Black Widow and the terrific scenes with team all together, more than made up for the shortcomings.  Avengers isn’t the BEST Marvel movie (that’s still Iron Man), but it’s a really fun ride for your buck.

Ty the Guy OUT!

Here now,  your BONUS Avengers Adaptation Comics Book Moments:

 

My favourite Avengers cover I ever got to draw. It featured Devil Dinosaur and the phrase “Dino-FIghting Action”, which is all this young cartoonist could wish for.

My second favourite…mostly because I got to write “Evil scientists stole my love” on the bottom left. I have a “thing” for cover blurbs.

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For last week’s Mother’s Day Bun Toon, click the title above.

For every Bun Toon ever, click the adorable rabbit above.