AWAKENING TIMES Volume 13, Number 1

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AWAKENING TIMES
Volume 13, Number 1
Spring 2013
AwakenCmx@aol.com
http://www.awakeningcomics.com

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CONTENTS: New Comicverse Kickstarter; Comicverse wins award; Comicverse at SPACE

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Hello friends of Awakening!

I’ve been very lax in sending out the Awakening Times newsletter for the past year or two. A big part of this is that I’ve been relying more on my Facebook page and the Comicverse blog to get the word out on new projects. But let me assure you that things have been VERY busy here at Awakening!

The big news, first of all, is that I’ve just launched a new Kickstarter fundraiser drive to promote the latest issue of The Comicverse. It’s called “Comicverse #3: A Date, Two Dragons, and Fred Hembeck”! Bianca Alu-Marr and I are very proud of the way the new issue has turned out, and are thrilled to have Fred Hembeck on board as our first guest artist. We commissioned Fred to do a full-page story starring himself as one of the Comicverse aliens, giving a rambling monologue about Jack Kirby!

The Kickstarter will cover the cost of printing the issue, as well as Fred’s commission fee. We also wanted to give a shout-out to Fred in gratitude for his work for us by letting folks know that Fred is still very active selling drawings on eBay and doing commission work; you can get more infor at Hembeck.com

As for the Kickstarter, we have loads of great pledge items available, starting at just $2. Every little bit helps! All of the comics that I’ve published in the last year and a half and have neglected to mention here in the newsletter are available as well. For the best value, try the Awakening Comics catch-up package for $25. It has pretty much everything published since November 2011.

Here’s a preview of “Earth” the main story of The Comicverse #3, on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.407840499260895.99514.407074356004176&type=3

Here’s a link to the Kickstarter site:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/377375145/comicverse-3-a-date-two-dragons-and-fred-hembeck

—Steve Peters

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In other big news, The Comicverse has won 3rd place in the annual SPACE Prize’s webcomic category. Steve went SPACE, in Columbus, Ohio on April 13-14, to accept the plaque for the award.

Photos from SPACE (on Facebook):
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.546216185423325.1073741832.407074356004176&type=1

A ‘walkabout’ video giving a first-person perspective of SPACE (on YouTube):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=TUhktiNVG_I

A preview of a 3-page SPACE jam comic featuring Ying from the Comicverse (on Facebook):
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.543778089000468.1073741829.407074356004176&type=1

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Thanks to every one who has supported the Comicverse project, either in the past or with this current Kickstarter project!

Some relevant links:

Steve’s Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/Steve.Peters

The Comicverse blog (catch the weekly webcomic here):
http://thecomicverse.wordpress.com/

Comicverse on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/TheComicverse

Comicverse #3: A Date, Two Dragons, and Fred Hembeck! Kickstarter fundraiser:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/377375145/comicverse-3-a-date-two-dragons-and-fred-hembeck

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Yes Fanzine #1

This is issue #1 of YES FANZINE, published by Steve Peters of Awakening Comics, the first of hopefully many zines dedicated to celebrating the band YES in all of its incarnations. It contains photos of the band and fan art.

Issue #1 has three feature stories:

Photos from the Rite of Spring Tour, taken on March 30, 2011 at Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA. Featuring Benoit David, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Oliver Wakeman, and Alan White.

Payne’s Paper Dolls: Paper dolls of Jon Anderson and Chris Squire and their uniforms, drawn by Brian Payne.

Photos from a live performance for Fox After Breakfast in 1996 in New York City on October 29, 1996. Featuring Jon Anderson, Steve Howe, Chris Squire, Rick Wakeman, and Alan White.

Summer 2012.
24 pages, full color. $10.00

[Samples of the 'Zine on Facebook]

[Yes Fanzine Facebook Page] 

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AWAKENING COMICS with appearances by DAVE SIM

Collaborations between Steve Peters and Dave Sim

Awakening Comics #1 features a jam comic called “Circus of Heaven” with a jam panel drawn by Sim. Other participants include Paul Pope, Mark Oakley, Matt Feazell, Scott  Roberts, Steve Remen, Greg Hyland, Joe Chiappetta, Rick Veitch, James  Kochalka, Sam Henderson, Oscar Stern, Rob Walton, and Jimmy Gownley. 48 pages, $3.50

Awakening Comics #2 has two jam pages with Sim and Gerhard. The first shows what happens to Cerebus after his death in issue #300. The second is about Elephant Boy’s adventures seeking his guru in New York City, where he encounters Cerebus as Pope. 48 pages, #3.50

Everwinds: ‘Shrooms has a full-page jam with Sim. The heroes of the story take some magical mushrooms that transport them to other realities. One of them, Wapiti the elk, finds himself on the Moon having a conversation with the Judge from Cerebus, who starts turning into an elk. Also includes jams with Moebius and Terry LaBan. 48 pages, $4.00

The Origin of Sparky has a 4-page Sim/Peters jam which Sim has said was the first comic he drew after finishing Cerebus #300. Other jammers in this issue include Alex Robinson, Zander Cannon, Jimmy Gownley, Shannon Wheeler, Matt Feazell, Roberta Gregory, Jamar Nicholas, the Brothers Fraim,  Eric Battle and Jamal Igle. 32 pages, $3.00

Tails of Sparky #1 has one panel in a jam drawn by Sim, who also drew one of the 9 Sparkys on the cover. The others were drawn by Peters, Daniel Sponton, EJ Barnes, Lee Thacker, Eric Wilmoth, Max Ink, David Mack, and James Kochalka. Other jammers in this issue include Sergio Aragones, Tom Scioli, Greg Hyland, Matt Dembicki, Max Ink, Jay Hosler, Dale Martin, Jason Thompson, Bryan Kane, Lee Thacker, The Fraim Brothers, Wes Molebash, Zander Cannon, Paul Friedrich, Matt Feazell, Pam Bliss, Wally Crane, Scott Berwanger, Stan Yan, and Bryan Glass. 40 pages, $4.00

Comics by other Publishers:

Cerebus #146 includes Steve Peters’ first published comic book page, including Cerebus as Pope in the last panel. Signed by Sim and Peters. $5.00

Cerebus Readers In Crisis #4 has a cover by Sim; the cover story is about a correspondence between Sim and Peters over the years and a disastrous falling out between the two due to a misunderstanding. Signed, $5.00

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Straw Man #10

This comic includes a 2-page Sparky jam with panels drawn by Steve Peters, Matt Dembicki, Pam Bliss, Jim Anderson, Suzanne Baumann, Ben T. Steckler, Nick Jones, Bill Knapp, Eric Wilmoth, Clint Basinger, Ray Tomczak, Jonathon Riddle, E.J. Barnes, David Branstetter, Max Ink, Mike Kitchen, and Blair Kitchen. There is also a 1-page Sparky appearance in one of the Straw Man stories by Branstetter.

It features work by Tom Scioli, Mike Kitchen, Richard Jenkins, Max Ink, Blair Kitchen, James Smith, Steve Peters, Brian Payne, & David Branstetter. Over 28 pages of completely never before seen material.

After the harrowing events of issue #9, Straw Man finds himself suddenly famous and with that all the problems that it can cause. “Has Been” a story told in three parts, is sandwiched between stories by indie comics top creators.

Straw Man #10, 64 Pages, Black & White, Cover Price $3.99

 

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Sparky Vs. Iguana Vs. Beer (Racecar Comics #4)

Published by Mouse Skull Entertainment, Sparky Vs. Iguana Vs. Beer is a 6-page story appearing on the flip side of this item, a mini-comic titled Racecar Comics #4.  Written and drawn by Matt Dow, it is the third comic so far to take advantage of Steven Peters’ long-standing offer to independent comix creators to use Sparky in their own comics.

A purchase of this mini-comic will be accompanied by a translation of Sparky’s hilarious thought-balloon monologue on Page 4, handwritten by Steven Peters on a 4.25″ X 5.5″ card.

If you are a fan of Matt Dow, check out his story in Cerebus Readers In Crisis #4.

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Archetypal Images Sponsorship Special

Published by Eric Wilmoth, the AI Sponsorship Special explains why folks should support Eric’s comic efforts.  It’s a nicely packaged full-color book that features cameo appearances by Steve Peters’ character Sparky.

Eric Wilmoth explains The Archetypal Images Mission:

“Archetypal Images seeks to enrich and expand human awareness of timeless, metaphysical and spiritual elements fundamental to humanity…in an effort to help usher in an age of enlightenment — a delicate process given the global turmoil of these uncertain times.

“Through the marriage of the visual arts and written word we reach our audience by way of online and print publications designed to inspire and motivate others in their own creativity and volunteer services.”

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Kiss And Tell #3

KISS AND TELL #3 came out in 1997, is a 40-page full-size comic (actually slightly larger than standard comic size), has a cover price of $2.75, and was published by Patricia Breen.  The cover is by Steve Peters.

Says contributor Peters: “The comic consists of autobiographical stories written by Ms. Breen.  While she was working on it, she had a parting of ways with her artist, and I was asked to step in and finish the inking on the main story.  Patty’s now-husband, Arthur Mahlon, finished one of the other stories.

“Art and I collaborated on an illustration for the letters page.  It shows the inside of a bus, with the four Beatles (in the Magical Mystery Tour period).  Further back is the artist who left the project.  There’s a zipper down the length of his body; he’s unzipped himself and Art and I are popping out of his body.  Out of the back window of the bus, you can see the original artist crossing Abbey Road.  The inside of the bus, the Beatles and me were drawn by me.  Art drew himself and the scene outside the back window.

“I contributed a 1-page story called ‘When I Was Steven’ that appeared on the inside back cover.”

The book also included a 5-page Tranquility/Kiss And Tell jam written by Breen and illustrated by Steve Ellis.  Steve’s character Tranquility (co-created by Fred van Lente) meets up with Patty’s autobiographical character on Earth’s Moon Colony in “The post-historical future.”

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