Tomorrow…The Joe Shuster Awards!

Tomorrow will be the 10th year that The Joe Shuster Awards will be giving out awards to deserving Canadian comics creators. The ceremony will take place in the Back Space, the event space that shares an address with The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery.

This year, Ty is again nominated for Web Comic Creator. Fingers crossed! (Although everyone on the list is so amazing…and we’re both kinda pulling for Attila Adjornay who has been nominated for his beautiful Metaphysical Neuroma). But…win or lose, Ty will be inducted into The Canadian Comic Book Creators Hall of Fame (along with Cy Bell and Edmond Good).

Did this image up a couple years ago so it’s missing a few more credits…including Batman ’66 #2 and #6, Batman ’66 Meets The Green Hornet and…more. Many more.

The event starts at 8pm (doors open at 7pm); gathering afterwards to give people a chance to talk and look at some of the artwork from past Shusters. Check the website for information on all the nominees, and bios of the Hall of Fame inductees.

 

Keiren

 

You could be Heroes…

…just with one eBay purchase!

It’s–time to support Hero Initiative in their latest round of auctions. As always, the Hero Initiative is a wonderful project all comic fans and creators should support. When comics creators find themselves in dire straits through health issues or other problems, Hero Initiative is there to figure out a way to  best help the creator. In order to do so though, Hero Initiative needs money. To this end they run many auctions throughout the year and ask comics creators to contribute their artwork.

The latest round of auctions is for Hero Initiative X-Men 100 Project. The auctions have been going on for a while, but this time–my cover is on the list! I have so thoughtfully decided to give you the moment you should have had in the latest X-Men movie but did not get–Future Beast and Past Beast beasting all over each other!

Click the image to be taken to the auction link and for your chance to bid:

T

Ty the Guy OUT!!

 

Bun Toon #4 of 2013! YAY!

Number #4!

Everyone knows that first is gold, second is silver, and third is bronze, but how many knew that fourth was Coca-Cola?  It’s why athletes refuse the prize because all that corn syrup is bad for a body in training.

We continue our annual look back at the triumphs and failures of Bun Toon with an entry celebrating the 75th anniversary of ACTION COMICS #1 and comicdom’s greatest, non-flying, Golden Age, female, DC character who isn’t Ma Hunkle.  Screw Clark and Superman, they get all the media attention…this is…

I still have a crush on Margot Kidder, Teri Hatcher, Phyllis Coates, and Erica Durance.  Noel Neill looked too much like Lucille Ball for my tastes, and as far as I know, there haven’t been any other Lois Lanes except in the cartoons and funny books.

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As I just said, it doesn’t matter the name of the actor playing the character of Lois Lane, I love ’em all.

Actors, and stage names, was the subject of the following ALL-TRUE-TALE of the Bunny, but it scored nary a blip on the internet radar when I revealed this hidden moment from my life last fall.  If I had thrown Lois or Superman into the narrative, it would have been BIG, I tells ya BIG!

But then it wouldn’t have been TRUE.

I think this one didn’t do any traffic because I skimped on the title lettering.  Lesson learned:  Always use a Comicraft font for the titles.  People flock to good lettering.

I’ll see you here again tomorrow for the #3 most popular Bun Toon of 2013, and the third least successful entry, BOTH of which feature Superman, except for one of them.  (Well neither, really, but I understand marketing and you won’t come back if I say they were cartoons about lesbians.)

Ty The Guy OUT!

What’s in a Name Bun Toons! YAY!

Rain and sleet can’t stay this courier from his appointed rounds, but a writer’s conference sure can.

Sorry I’m late,  folks, I was at the CANSCAIP “Packaging your Imagination”  conference yesterday at Humber College (a delightful symposium for new writers of YA fiction to get to meet professionals and listen to talks and Q&A sessions with the writers).

It’s the price of fame, fellow babies.  It’s always glamorous like this when you’re a celebrity…

You’d think he’d have twigged that I was a cartoon character.  How many other animated rabbits were in that production?

Ty the Guy OUT!

I’m not the only actor who made it big in the comics biz.

I heard Bill was jealous of my convention groupies and decided to horn in on my action. If only he hadn’t gone with BLUEWATER…

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It’s a re-run, but my Rob Ford cartoon of six months ago seems oddly prescient.

The Bun Toon Archive, available free of charge…all you have to give me is YOUR SOUL!

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Just in case you didn’t see this yesterday…my son Kellam’s take on our mayoral troubles in Toronto.

Waking Up and Drawing

Too busy for anything but WorkWorkWork but I wanted to show off what I did for WAKE UP AND DRAW. So I’m going to write this Hemingway style.

Last week for WAKE UP AND DRAW, I woke up and drew. On the wrong sheet of paper.

Here’s my drawing:

Then I drew again on the official Hero Initiative page.

Here’s my drawing:

I was at FanExpo 2013 two weeks ago and gave a lecture on HOW TO PLOT YOUR STORY IN AN HOUR. Matt, of The Broken Couch, recorded it and put it up on YouTube.

Here’s a link to the video:

My WRITING FOR COMICS PART ONE workshop starts next week (I think there’s one space left, so let us know asap if you want it!). Click HERE to read about the class and the other two I will be teaching this fall, DRAWING THE HUMAN FIGURE FROM YOUR HEAD, and COMIC BOOK BOOTCAMP PART ONE.

Today’s Bonus Hemingway Moment:

 

It’s from artist Tom Gauld, but I couldn’t find a link to it on his own site so go check out his Tumblr  YOU’RE ALL JUST JEALOUS OF MY JETPACK.*

ON THE COUCH with…

ON THE COUCH with Ty Templeton was an idea I came up with last year as a promotional event for Ty, and for The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery. Inspired by The Green Room with Paul Provenza, a great series that reminded me of going out to dinner after a comic con, with Ty and other comic pros trading war stories. And given that Ty is known for his Bun Toons which have, on occasion, triggered a pretty raucous conversation all on their own, ON THE COUCH almost created itself. As The Lounge’s logo is a couch (sofa, davenport, chesterfield…pick your noun!), the name followed just as quickly.

There have been three so far…  The first was for Free Comic Book Day 2012, and featured guests Scott Chantler, Will Pascoe, Ken Lashley and Mark Askwith. Max Douglas (aka Salgood Sam) was in town for TCAF and attended so Ty called him up to the couch, to get a Montreal perspective on working as a Canadian comics creator. Although the show was recorded (thanks to the wondrous Joseph O’Brien who took time out from editing his first movie as director/screenwriter to do so), our editor ended up so booked, he wasn’t able to do it.

Ken Lashley, Mark Askwith, Will Pascoe, Scott Chantler on the couch, Ty Templeton on a very tall stool.

Max Douglas actually did record ON THE COUCH for his own interest (not knowing he’d end up on it!) and posted an edited-down version in his report on TCAF 2012. It begins at the 6:40 mark.

The second ON THE COUCH was done as an event at FanExpo 2012 and had Dan Slott, Jimmy Palmiotti, Darwyn Cooke, Ramón Pérez and Lar deSouza. Ramon was there to give the indie artist’s point of view–his gig on Wolverine and the X-Men wasn’t announced until the next day! This too was recorded, by the amazingJeff Brown, co-founder of Dork Shelf and The Nerd Mafia. Jeff put in some hard work editing the first portion of it, but for various reasons we didn’t get around to putting it up online (Short version–TOTALLY our fault.)

Darwyn Cooke, Jimmy Palmiotti, Lar deSouza, Ramôn Pérez, Dan Slott and Ty Templeton at FAN EXPO 2012 (photo from MTV Geek)

MTV Geek’s Alex Zalbin wrote a report on the panel, FanExpo Canada: Darwyn Cooke, Dan Slott, Jimmy Palmiotti And More On The Economics Of Comics

But! Third time has proven to be the charm…  Done as an event for the First Year Anniversary of The Comic Book Lounge & Gallery, with guests Jim Zubkavich, Richard Pace and Rob Walton discussing “Collaboration vs. Control”, Alice Quinn of Tdot Comix/QCX  organised the recording and editing. Major thanks to Tyrone McCarthy for the recording.

Jim Zubkavich, Richard Pace, Rob Walton

Alice has posted the video on QCX’s YouTube Channel for all to see:

ON THE COUCH with Ty Templeton #3

Keiren

 

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!

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.

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: Thursday

And…it’s here!

Starting at 4pm today, it’s Fan Expo. I’ll be there the whole weekend, today Thursday August 23 to Sunday August 26. Today will be a quiet day–I’ll be sketching, signing and telling stories. I’ll have a couple sketchbooks, some Bigg Times, and some copies of Bill the Boy Wonder:  The Secret Co-Creator of Batman.  And I’ll have a stack of my original art to sell as well.

 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!!