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!

All Ages Awesomeness 2!!

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.

 

Plugging my new comics! All-Ages Spidey! All Ages Simpsons Comics!

ALL IN STORES THIS WEEK!  Simpsons!  Simpsons!  Spider-Man!  It’s the BUNNY AGE OF COMICS!!

First:  The wait has been long but Ultimate Spidey Adventures is finally here!

Available for sale today or tomorrow, depending on your store. The first issue of Ultimate Spider-Man Adventures #1 with a ten-page story plotted by Dan Slott and scripted, pencilled and inked by me.

AND a ten-page story written by the Men of Action and pencilled and inked by Nuno Plati.  So much goodness in one comic book!

In an interview with Comic Book Resources  (AXEL-IN-CHARGE: Guest-Starring the “Amazing” Dan Slott), interviewer Kiel Phegley asked Dan:

“Dan, when I saw you’d be contributing a story to “Ultimate Spider-Man” with Ty Templeton, who you worked with on “Batman Adventures” to great acclaim, I was surprised and excited. What can you say about the challenge of coming on to a newly built Spidey world and making work for longtime fans and kids?”

Dan’s answer was perfect–pretty much what I would say:

“We love this stuff. Ty and I are the best of friends, and if you look at “Spider-Man/Human Torch” you can see how much we love working together. That was an all-ages book to me. I think if you sit down and look at some of the biggest movies of all time, you’ll see that they’re “G-Rated” movies that everyone could sit down and watch. Adults can watch them and go, “Wow, that’s a great story.” That’s our goal, here. We don’t want this to be a young readers book. We want it to be an all-ages book — an everyone book. This is a book you can give to anyone, and they’ll go, “That was a really great ride.” That’s how Ty is wired too.”

Aww…Dan likes me.

Here’s a sneak peek…but no letters or colours until you run out and buy one at your local comic store…

WAIT!  I’M NOT FINISHED PLUGGING MY COMICS ON SALE YET!!

Simpsons Comics 189 went on sale just five days ago…it’s my latest romp in Springfield, written and drawn by myself, and featuring everyone’s favourite cartoon baby on Fox TV.  (Suck on it, Stewie fans).  I don’t get to write a lot of stories about Maggie and this was a joyous issue to play with.

SIMPSONS CONFIDENTIAL goes on sale this Wednesday as well!  It collects a bunch of different Simpsons issues from a couple of years ago, including one of my favorites:  The Return of X’Tappa’lata’kettle. (I’m sure I misspelled that, and I wrote the darn story!)  It’s set inside the giant Olmec head in the basement…you DID know the head was hollow and people lived inside it, right?  I think the collection also features a Bartman story that I did with Chuck Dixon, so there’s more Simpsons comics by Ty out this week than seems sensible.

Pick up the Simpsons issue, AND the Simpsons collection today, and the Spider-Man comic tomorrow, but GO BUY THESE COMICS!!!  I need groceries!

(And for those of you who would like a closer look at my pencilled and inked pages, I’ll be bringing all of ’em (along with Harvey Pekar pages, Spidey-Torch pages, and other goodies)  with me to Calgary Comic and Entertainment Expo this coming weekend! I’ll be there Friday to Sunday.)

AND there’s more!!  it’s not published yet, but I’m part of a Kickstarter comic book project…my buddy, Dana Moreshead (I used to work for him all the time when he headed up Creative Services at Marvel Comics) has written a comic book about Bacon. Yes, Bacon! Last year, Dana asked me if I draw him a little anthropomorphic Bacon, and I made a joke that it should be a comic book. Little did I know that Dana had plans–plans for a 44 page graphic novel that will

take readers on a king-sized comic book adventure power-packed with action, conspiracy and intrigue starring the pork Kwai Chang Caine, Bacon!

Turns out though that I’m not Dana’s only artist friend! Dana has set up his Kickstarter so that every dollar pledged gives you the opportunity to VOTE for the eventual artist of The Mouth-Watering Adventures of Bacon!! Vote for me, or the incredible Phil Winslade or the amazing Scott Koblish! Just vote for somebody! Read all about BACON!! on it’s Kickstarter page.

Ty the Guy Out!

Here now, your BONUS COMIC BOOK PLUG:

Plug Comics?!? Where do I find these things?