Working away on my next set of pages for Marvel Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures (#5 I think?) after spending the weekend in Texas! I haven’t been out of Canada in fifteen years, and I think it was the first time I’ve spent more than a layover in Texas.
I was invited to the second annual All-Ages Awesomeness 2 at Rogues’ Gallery Comics & Games in Round Rock, Texas. I spent the day sketching and signing along with other creators who work in all-ages comics; Shane and Chris Houghton, Chad Thomas, Evan Bryce, Mike Bullock, and Yehudi Mercado. The Houghton brothers led the kids in making a comic book right there in the store; I was really impressed with how good they both were in working with their audience. Not an easy thing to keep the attention of kids.
I did dozens and dozens of sketches–I’ve seen a few posted on line thanks to the Rogues Gallery Facebook page. I’m hoping that a few more get scanned and put online–I did a couple that I was really happy with. As an artist, I often get frustrated with convention sketches–doing something quickly, without reference, with an audience watching…
Friday night, Rogues Gallery co-owner Randy Lander took all the creators out to The Alamo Draughthouse for dinner and to watch Brave. I loved the movie, loved the dinner, loved the concept–I want someone to open a movie theatre/restaurant in Toronto! What a great idea!
Here are a few quick pictures from Rogues Gallery Comics & Games’ Facebook fan page:
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The girl in the first picture was there with her sister and they both wanted Spider-Man drawings. I did a close-up and an action shot and told them they got to pick who got which.
And…Alana got the headshot!
This was a fun drawing to do…a couple with two girls had just adopted a boy from Seoul, Korea. A toddler, his few words of English include “Spider-Man!” so they asked me to draw Spidey swinging from the Seoul Tower so he could have something recognisable from his old home and his new home. Was very happy to do this sketch.
A quick Joker sketch. I liked how this turned out.
Pretty cute kid–who was concerned enough to point out to me that his Cap is missing a foot…
All in all, a fun weekend. Though I was glad to get back home to the wife and kids–and to finally give in to the temptation I’d squashed all weekend, and spent about ten minutes talking with a Texan accent.
Ty Templeton's ART LAND!! 
Sounds like a great time for the kids! Tho I wouldn’t want to be around when the details of who gets which Spider-Man drawing were negotiated.
It is always great to get out and help the little ones become bigger fans, even if it is in Texas…
Cheers!
Steven Willis
XOWComics.com
Re: Cap’s missing foot – lost to frostbite in that iceberg — as indeed Jack Kirby’s nearly were, in the vasty fields of France. Great sketching photos — those lucky kids!
The boy with the glasses is awesome – a trendsetter in the making. The story about the young one from Seoul story made me “AWWW!” big-time. I must admit, though – I didn’t recognize the tower, and actually thought “Is Spidey swinging from the sombrero tower logo of a Mexican restaurant?”