While we were in Huntsville we decided to see if there were any comic shops in town and there was…

The Deep!

It’s kind of your typical looking comic shop, but very organized with a good product mix.

They have a large selection of current comics, back issues, toys, tees, and more.

No individual Hero-Clix, but lots of other gaming figures and cards to be had- and played.

They have a large gaming area in the back right corner behind the graphic novel and gaming book section.

They have a kids/all ages friendly section.

Lots of cool sketches.

A few of the DC lead figures came home with us.

As well as some back issues and a Blackest Night Wonder Woman figure.

It was Mama Howe’s first time in a comic shop so Nicki showed her how to find some treasures by digging through back issue long boxes and the $1 bins.

I found a few good ones, too!

Stargods #2 (alternate cover) and Stargods Visions.

And a copy of Bushi Tales #2 (regular cover)- all at cover price or just slightly higher!

We had a great time visiting The Deep and will stop by whenever we’re in Huntsville. If you’re out that way I reccommend stopping in.

http://www.comicbookpage.com/Podcast/?p=423

The Bushi Tales team will be at table T39 at the Phoenix Convention Center.

We’ll have copies of the new “Art of Bushi Tales” book available for sale at our booth.

Dave and I will be on a few panels including:

From Fan to Professional

David Beaty revolution of INKING!

Character Creation & Design Comic Book Style

Hope to see you there!

Lin

My artist returns for the Topps Empire Strikes Back 3-D card series.

Here are a few more of Dave’s sketchcards for the Golden Age of Comics set which hits stores tomorrow.

This weekend is my favorite holiday-

What is Free Comic Book Day?

Free Comic Book Day is a single day – the first Saturday in May each year,  when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. *Check with your local shop for their participation and rules.

Here’s where Dave and I will be this weekend for FCBD-
OFFICIAL GRAND OPENING OF THE NEW SAMURAI COMICS SUPERSTORE & FREE
COMIC BOOK DAY CELEBRATION!

Saturday, May 1st 2010
10am-8pm
Located at the NEW Samurai Comics Superstore: 1051 E. Camelback Rd.

Brighest Day artist Dave Beaty (appearing after 2:30pm), Garrison writer Jeff Mariotte, Grimm Fairy Tales artist Mike Debalfo, and many more comic guests! AZ 501st Dune Sea Garrison! Lots of free comic books Iron Man, Owly, Archie, Superman… something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

CAPE-CON

Cape Comic Con is partnering with FCBD (Free Comic Book Day) and will be giving away free comics Saturday, May 1 from 9am-6pm while supplies last.

It’s going to be held at the Osage Community Center (1625 N. Kingshighway) on May 1st & 2nd.

Guests include DC Comics artist Ethan Van Sciver, Ghost Rider writer/creator Gary Friedrich, TV’s The Flash John Wesley Shipp.

Also attending are Jay Chuppe, Martheus Antone Wade, and me!

If you’re in the Memphis area stop by Comic Cellar or Comics and Collectibles.

And don’t forget that Dave’s issue of Brightest Day #1 hits stores next Wednesday- Cinco de Mayo!

Dave and I have been working on some sketchcard sets so this week instead of Sketchbook Wednesday we’re going to do Sketchcard Wednesday.

First up are two cards Dave’s done from the Golden Age of Comics series by Breygent Marketing.

Dave’s “Captain Flag” sketchcard (inks and markers).

Dave’s “The Black Terror” will be an actual printed card in the set.

These will be available early May 2010.

I’m currently working on the Empire Strikes Back 3D set for Topps.

These are widescreen cards.

The top ones are my pencils, and the bottoms are the finished makers/inks.

These cards will be shipping in May and 1 artist sketch card is guaranteed per box!

More to come next week!

Lin

Here’s how our Mikah temple print started off.

It was a bit “sketchy” at first…

Then Dave tightened up the figure and added the background.

Then came the inks. Dave then sent me the b/w digital file over the internet.

I opened it up in Photoshop and dropped flat colors in. I mostly used the select and fill tools at this stage and colored in channels- this helped keep the file size down.

Then I used the airbrush and gradient tools to do the shading and effects. I also added snow and some blurring effects on a separate layer.

There are lots of great books out there on coloring comics and working in Photoshop. A couple I’ve used are Hi-Fi Color for comics by Brian and Kristy Miller and The DC Comics Guide to Coloring and Lettering. Both are available on-line and in most comic shops and book stores.

I’ll be posting more how-to’s over in our Bushi Tales forums. If you have a tutorial you’d like to share please do!

Hope to see you there-

Lin

http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2010/03/dave-beaty/

Thanks to Jenny Williams for the opportunity. Also, DC Comics released the first Adventure Comics cover that Scott Clark, Hi Fi Colour Design, and I did together. It’s the cover to Adventure Comics #12. Check it out:

Don’t forget about the Art of Bushi Tales book. It’s available now from Indy Planet. 100 pages of full color BT goodness. You check out preview pages here:

http://www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3397

More comic news soon.  So stay tooned.

The wait is over! You can preview & purchase your copy of the Art of Bushi Tales from Indy Planet today. Lin and I have been working on this book for quite some time and are proud to finally be able to offer it for sale. So click the link below and check it out:

http://www.indyplanet.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3397

Also don’t forget that Titans #23 will be in stores tomorrow.

So be sure to check that out at your local Comic Shop. Lots of comic goodness this week from the Bushi Tales crew. More comic news next week. And Brightest Day is just around the corner so stay tooned.

Titans #23- Availabe this coming Wednesday 3/17

Written by EDDIE BERGANZA; Art and Cover by ANGEL UNZUETA with SCOTT CLARK & DAVE BEATY

Spotlight on Red Arrow! As Roy Harper lies in critical condition after the events of JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #5, his fever dreams show him the perfect future life he wants for the Titans. Unfortunately for him, it’s a life the Titans will never see.

Available April :

Brightest Day #0

Written by Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi; Art by Fernando Pasarin ; Cover by David Finch; 1:50 Variant cover by Ivan Reis

Scott and I contributed a little something for this issue. You’ll have to pick up a copy to see what it is.

The biggest event in comics continues as BRIGHTEST DAY burns back the BLACKEST NIGHT from the writing team behind GREEN LANTERN and GREEN LANTERN CORPS – Geoff Johns and Peter J. Tomasi! And don’t miss the exciting DC Comics debut of red hot cover artist David Finch (New Avengers, Ultimatum)! The effects that the already classic BLACKEST NIGHT will have on the DC Universe will be felt for years to come and this issue not only sets the stage for the new ongoing biweekly DC Universe book BRIGHTEST DAY, but also the next exciting era of the DC Universe!

Once the company we’re working with makes the Art of Bushi Tales book available for purchase I’ll post that info. It’s been finished for weeks we’re waiting on them. More comics news next week.

JLA: Cry for Justice #7 (of 7)

Written by James Robinson; Art by Mauro Cascioli with Scott Clark & Dave Beaty!

This is the big one! After the catastrophes seen in issues #5 and #6, a hero loses control, leading to an unexpected ending that will fundamentally change the lives of the World’s Greatest Heroes forever. This issue launches a major storyline in the DC Universe and is not to be missed! Available at Comic Book Stores nationwide today.

It’s finished and will be available for order from Indy Planet in a matter of days!

The Art of Bushi Tales vol 1

By Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, Micah Stewart & Freinds.

Dave Beaty, Lin Workman, and Micah Stewart take you behind the scenes in the Art of Bushi Tales. See the scripted page come alive from pencil sketches to painted art.Includes a special guest artist gallery featuring art by Bret Blevins, Scott Clark, Greg Cravens, Andrew Charipar, Martheus Antone Wade, and more! A must have for art lovers and Bushi Tales lovers.

100 pages & full color! $19.95 US

Lin and I are also contributing sketch cards for several upcoming Collectible Card Sets. More info and preview images available as soon we can post them. Also I will be inking Scott’s  pages for Brightest Day (DC Comics). We will be getting back to BT this year and lots of great stories are in production. So stay tuned.