Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Five Star Comics in Backdrop Magazine

Backdrop Magazine, a student publication of Ohio University, has featured four local artists--and Five Star Comics--in its latest issue. The artists are Terence Hanley, Chris Monday, Sandy Plunkett, and Steve Richter. Three of the four live within a few blocks of each other. The fourth, Chris Monday, lives across town. All have been to local events together, including Ratha Con, the annual pop culture convention put on by ARTS/West and the City of Athens. Student journalist Jacob DeSmit is the author of the article, entitled "Drawn Together." It appears in the Fall Issue (Vol. 8, Issue 1) of Backdrop Magazine. You can read the magazine in its entirety at the Backdrop website, here.

"Drawn Together" begins with Steve Richter, a native of Athens County and a 1991 graduate of Ohio University. Steve began his art career in Seattle. Now back in his hometown of Athens, he has continued as a freelancer. His work includes a popular and very funny series on "Fears and Anxieties for Every Occasion," a comic strip called "Neener Neener," and the adventures of a space-traveling dog named Smoog. Jacob DeSmit's article in Backdrop includes a step-by-step look at how Steve created the cover illustration for the magazine. Included on that cover are likenesses of the four featured artists, who are distracted from their work by an approaching waitress and/or platter of burgers and fries. You can see more of Steve Richter's art and keep up with his latest projects on his website, Steve Richter Art, at:


Next comes Terence Hanley of Five Star Comics and another step-by-step, this one showing the creation of Five Star Comics #1. Terence is of course the creator of coloring books on Monsters and Aliens of America and a regular contributor to Five Star Comics.

Next in Backdrop there is a little on Sandy Plunkett, who has done work for Marvel, DC, and other publishers. (You can read a checklist of his work by clicking here.) Sandy has lived in Athens for many years and has done advertising and promotional art for local clients, including Ratha Con. In 2010, Ohio University Press issued a collection of Sandy's artwork, The World of a Wayward Comic Book Artist. The Kennedy Museum of Art held an exhibit of his drawings from January 25 to June 3, 2013. As for Sandy's website, Sandy Plunkett: Images on Paper, go to this website:


After a section on the comic book stores of Athens (The Wizard's Guild and Ski's Tees and Collectibles), "Drawn Together" features Chris Monday, creator of the autobiographical Drink More Water (2011) and other works, including the editing and designing of and a story in the anthology comic My Stupid Raygun (2013). You can see Chris' websites, called Drink More Water and Chris Monday: Comics and Art, at the following URLs:


and


"Drawn Together" closes with something on local artist Kelly Lawrence, who organizes Ratha Con, and with a quote from Terence Hanley, who has never in his life said in any seriousness, "Back in the day . . . ."

Text copyright 2014 Five Star Comic

Monday, June 2, 2014

Tri-State Comic Con 2014

Larry Blake and Gary Gibeaut had vendor's tables at the Tri-State Comic Con on Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, West Virginia. Jason Gibeaut was there, too, with his Mothman 'Toons books. For those who haven't been, Tricon is a great show for a small city in West Virginia. The crowds are big, the costumes are eye-catching (sometimes eye-popping), and the atmosphere is fun and exciting. Larry, Gary, and Jay did well with their books, posters, and prints. They're looking forward to next year's event!

Copyright 2014 Five Star Comics

Friday, May 30, 2014

A New Printing for Five Star Comics #3

The first printing for Five Star Comics #3 has sold out, so now we have a new printing with an updated cover. Watch and compare:



The new printing is here in time for the Tri-State Comic Con or Tricon, so buy your copy there:

Saturday, May 31, 2104 
Big Sandy Superstore Arena 
Huntington, West Virginia

Art copyright 2014 Gary Gibeaut
Text copyright 2014 Five Star Comics

Monday, April 28, 2014

Five Star Comics at Ratha Con

The third annual Ratha Con wrapped up this weekend in Athens, Ohio. The main event was on Saturday, April 26, 2014, in the gymnasium at the Athens Community Center. Larry Blake and Terence Hanley had their books, magazines, posters, and prints on display. Like last year, The Athens News featured Ratha Con as its cover story. The story this year is marred by the absence of Larry's smiling face. (In 2013, he made the front page.) The article is called "Pop Culture Extravaganza! Ratha Con Delights Diverse Fan Base in Athens," the author is Christian Law, and it's in today's paper (April 28, 2014).

Copyright 2014 Five Star Comics

Sunday, April 13, 2014

Cherry Trees from Space

In a two-part story in Five Star Comics #2 and #3, The Amalga-Mates, the world's first Siamese twin superheroes, go up against Doctor Hugo Wickwaff, who is convinced that acorns taken on board the last space shuttle mission have special properties because they have been exposed to cosmic radiation. Doctor Wickwaff steals the acorns. The Amalga-Mates take on the task of retrieving them and delivering him to justice.

So why does Wickwaff think irradiated acorns have special powers? Because that's how his favorite comic book supergroup, The Fantabulous Five, got theirs. But that's just a comic book, you say. (Actually it's a comic book within a comic book.) Well, before you begin scoffing, read "'Cherry Tree from Space' Mystery Baffles Japan" on the website News.com.au (Apr. 12, 2014) by clicking here. There you will find that cherry tree seeds taken into space in 2008 and planted upon their return have resulted in young trees that have bloomed six years ahead of schedule.

"Exposure to cosmic rays?" you ask.

"Exposure to cosmic rays?" the author of the article asks. 

"Of course, there is the possibility that exposure to stronger cosmic rays accelerated the process of sprouting and overall growth," says Kaori Tomita-Yokotani, a researcher at the University of Tsukuba. "From a scientific point of view, we can only say we don't know why." We can only advise Kaori to read more comic books. We can only advise you that the trees bloomed on April 1.


Story copyright 2014 Terence E. Hanley
Art copyright 2014 Larry Blake and Tim Corrigan
Original text copyright 2014 Five Star Comics

Sunday, January 5, 2014

2014 Convention Schedule for Five Star Comics

Five Star Comics and Five Star Creators will be at several conventions and festivals this year. Here is our schedule:

Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo (S.P.A.C.E.)
Saturday & Sunday, April 12 & 13, 2014
Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Columbus, Ohio
http://www.backporchcomics.com/space.htm

Ratha Con
Saturday, April 26, 2014
Athens Community Center, Athens, Ohio

http://rathacon.blogspot.com
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Pickerington Public Library Big Comic Show
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Pickerington Public Library, Pickerington, Ohio
http://www.pickeringtonlibrary.org/content/big-comic-show-2014

a
Tri-State Comic Convention-TriCon
Saturday, May 31, 2104
Big Sandy Superstore Arena, Huntington, West Virginia
http://www.tristatecon.net/
a
River City Comic Con
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Lafayette, Hotel, Marietta, Ohio
http://mkeaston.com/rivercity/

Mothman Festival
Saturday & Sunday, September 20 & 21, 2014
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
http://mothmanfestival.com/


East Elementary PTO Holiday Shoppe
Friday, December 12, 2014
East Elementary School, Athens, Ohio

No link

There may be more, so keep watching this space!