And seven is RIGHT OUT

[ ] In the USA, we (typically) consider sweet vermouth a mixer. But for some, it is a pre-meal drink on its own, served neat or with ice (serving size, a couple of ounces).

Much to Stephanie’s amusement, I tried this other method:

“Are you drinking sweet vermouth by itself?!”

“IT’S AN APERITIF…and we’re out of whiskey.” (To make a Manhattan. My “old man” drink as Stephanie calls it).

[ ] Speaking of mixed drinks, a friend talked about making a Moscow Mule on Facebook, and it reminded me of this photo I took a couple of summers ago.

via my Flickr Photostream.

Stephanie and I stopped at Shute’s in Calumet, Michigan during our Upper Peninsula vacation.

Here’s a shot of the inside of Shute’s.

Via my Flickr photostream.

The amusing part is, the copper mug cost more than the drink–$25 versus $4 (travel tip: drinks are super cheap in the UP). Shute’s (usually) requires a person leave their ID as collateral upon ordering a Moscow Mule, as these mugs can ‘walk away.’ You can find a similar copper mug on Amazon.

[ ] Comic pal Ryan Claytor has a crowd funding campaign going on Indiegogo. Ryan is hoping to raise $3000 to cover the costs of printing his recent And Then One Day story arc as one 96-page collected edition (it consists of three volumes).

From Ryan:

Autobiographical Conversations centers on a discussion between Harry Polkinhorn (a professor of English who teaches classes on the personal essay) and me (at the time, a graduate student studying Comics and Fine Art) about autobiography, comics, and the intersection of the two.”

[ ] Diesel Sweeties on the “jif” or “gif” pronunciation issue. I want to experiment with animation in my comics at some point.

[ ] There is a long history of Japanese cartoons being repackaged for viewing in the USA, such as Robotech, Speed Racer, and Voltron. In the case of Voltron, originally called Beast King Golion, considerable changes happened. Beast King Golion is much darker and violent–and a far cry from the goofy sci-fi action cartoon I loved as a kid (and inspired the name of this website).

I wonder if the opposite happens: does some country have overdubbed/chopped up episodes of DuckTales where the tone is totally different? Uncle Scrooge might be made to look as an abusive uncle who drags helpless orphans on his grave robbing adventures. Or maybe DuckTales episodes are edited to make Launch Pad the hero and star of Hot-Handed God of Pilots, and Scrooge is the goofball sidekick?

[ ] I’m slowly working my way through the new Thundercats cartoon. I like what I have seen so far, albeit only five episodes. Some of the folks behind Avatar: The Last Airbender worked on it, and their presence is clear.

A show I would love to see handled by this team is 1980s cartoon The Mysterious Cities of Gold. I watched the entire run via Netflix a year or so ago, and it is deserving of a well-done reboot.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

–
Daniel J. Hogan would totally watch the heck out of Hot-Handed God of Pilots starring Launch Pad. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Friday Six: GIF or JIF, Cocktails, Cartoons, Comics appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Yay, comics! Photo via The Commons on Flickr.

A fun activity is to look at the first strip of a popular, long running comic, and look at the most recent (pick any). I have only been drawing my Clattertron comics for a little over a year, and my style has changed (here’s my first comic, from April 2012).

My style changed considerably since September, a mere eight months ago. This week’s comic, The Playoffs, was a callback to a strip I did about the NHL lockout, back in September, Another NHL Lockout.

Here’s the September strip:

Artsy.

Now, here is this week’s comic:

That’s just silly.

Big difference, right? Granted, I’m still working on staying on-model with my own characters, so changes are pretty much weekly. Compare the second panels of each comic. Both have expressions I am happy with, but the latest comic has a better style (I think).

I don’t think I even have my Ames lettering guide in September, so my lettering is a bit better as of late too. I enjoy watching how my style changes over the months, and how I get a bit better with each strip. I certainly pay more attention to panel layout and composition these days.

For example, there are a few older strips, that if I drew them today, the composition would be very different. I re-read them and think, “X character should be on the left of the first panel, not the right,” and such.

Forcing myself to stick to a weekly deadline helped my skills grow considerably. Otherwise, I doubt I would have nearly 60 comics done. I might have ten, if that.

Is every strip perfect? Heck no. I probably have a few I’m super-happy with, but each strip is a stepping stone. When I started, I knew it would take a year or so to get my style figured out. I think in about five years, I might begin to maybe know what I am doing. Maybe.

Until then, I’m having fun, and that is all that matters.

(That, and I get to draw cartoon animals yelling).

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

–
Daniel J. Hogan couldn’t find style in a dictionary. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Behind the Scenes: Style Shift appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

More like Star Trek Into Crying. Image via The Commons on Flickr.

After seeing Star Trek Into Darkness for myself, I can see why. Here are my thoughts on the film, with spoilers, so skip this until seeing Star Trek Into Darkness.

In short, I enjoyed Star Trek Into Darkness. But.

Remember, spoilers follow.

Here we go:

Star Trek Into Darkness was the film I expected: sci-fi action, with a dash of humor, and gorgeous visuals. However, I give the edge to J. J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek for one reason: originality.

Now, originality is a tricky word when discussing a reboot of a beloved franchise dating back to the 1960s. Especially when said franchise inspired countless science fiction TV shows, novels, films, and cartoons over the decades (a chicken or egg scenario for sure).

2009′s Star Trek borrowed from the canon, to some extent, but still had its own story—thanks to the timeline shift in the first film (which I feel is the best handling of a reboot to date¹). Star Trek Into Darkness does some of the same, but doesn’t go all the way with this method. Where it stumbles is, sadly, with the Khan character.

Benedict Cumberbatch is excellent as Khan, aka John Harrison. This character isn’t that far removed from his Sherlock. But, the echos of  Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan sprinkled throughout the film, really weakened the product.

Again, I enjoyed the film. It succeeded where I expected: as a big, action filled, summer blockbuster.

My preference would have been for a story not handcuffed to a 30-year-old film. Sure, part of me enjoyed the references, but at other times, specifically Spock’s yelling of “KHAAAANNN!” I thought, “Really?” Then there is the Carol Marcus character, who really fells shoehorned into the story as a cherry on top of the Wrath of Khan sundae.

Star Trek films are tricky, however.

The drama/philosophical aspects of Star Trek works better in a TV show than a film—at least with this incarnation. The advantage the films with the original cast has over the new series is hours upon hours of character development and relationships. Spock’s death in Wrath of Khan is more powerful because of it, while Kirk’s ‘death’ in Star Trek Into Darkness does not carry nearly the same weight–and it is referring to another film on top of that.

There was plenty I loved in this new Star Trek though. Simon Pegg pretty much stole every scene. Cumberbatch did not disappoint. Pine continues to shine as Kirk.

I loved the opening scenes with the crew on another planet. Like Abrams’ first outing, it successfully drops the viewer right in the action. It reminded me of the opening to Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The flip side of bemoaning Abrams’ standing on the shoulders of Wrath of Khan is, his Star Wars VII should be an excellent addition to that series. With Star Wars VII, we are expecting Abrams to draw on the original trilogy—because it is a direct sequel. Everything I felt was a minus about Star Trek Into Darkness would be a huge plus for Star Wars VII. Echos of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi would be most welcome, if not required, for this next Star Wars installment.

While Star Trek Into Darkness was fun, action packed, and beautiful, I wish the story had, to dust off a terrible, overused joke², gone where no one had gone before.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-

¹. I don’t include Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy here, as those weren’t tying to the earlier films/timeline.

².  A terrible joke which I’m sure will be used over and over and over when writing about this film, but by folks who don’t mean it as a joke.

Daniel J. Hogan never forgets a face…mister…CHEKOV. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Star Trek Into Darkness Thoughts (with Spoilers) appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Any time I can reference hockey and a movie, is a good time. At least to me. The movie here is, of course, A Clockwork Orange. This isn’t the first time a Stanley Kubrick reference appeared in one of my comics, see “Portion Control.”

This comic exaggerates a bit, because Steph has seen me since the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs began: I haven’t really moved from in front of the TV. Sure, I cheer for the Detroit Red Wings, but I’m a fan of the sport as a whole, so I watch as many games as I can (that Bruins/Leafs game 7 in the first round was insane). If you are a fan of NHL hockey games, these are the best games to watch right now.

Speaking of the NHL and comics, this comic calls back to my comic about the latest NHL lockout. It is neat to compare to two, and see how my drawing style has changed since September.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan has a wicked poke check. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post The Playoffs appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

And seven is RIGHT OUT

[] I streamed all of Daft Punk’s new album, Random Access Memories via iTunes the other day. I’m sold. I’ll buy Random Access Memories when it is officially released.

This experience reminded me of what a professor in college told my audio production class: people hear music, but don’t always listen. Meaning, for many, music is background stuff, not an experience. Most of us multitask while listening to music, I know I do (while cleaning, running, or writing ALF fan fiction). I’ll confess to multitasking while listening (or rather, hearing) Random Access Memories. For most the album, I added gifts to Steph and my’s wedding registry. I’ll say this: I find Bed, Bath, & Beyond’s lack of Ernest films disappointing.

When I stopped and listened to Random Access Memories, I was glad I did. It is a very layered and interesting album (and best enjoyed with headphones). I couldn’t say the last time I listened to a new album start to finish in one sitting.

There is something Pink Floydian about the album–by which I mean, it reminds me of Dark Side of the Moon, with its different tones, styles, and layers.

Keep in mind, I’m probably the last person who should opine about music. My last few iTunes purchases are: Danzig, Tom Waits, Lindstrøm, and the barking dog versions of Jingle Bells. My tastes are complicated.

[] More on the geek front, Stark Trek Into the Darkness opens this weekend, and I’m already seeing a variety of reactions. I’m not going into it expecting anything less than space-action, so I’ll likely enjoy it. Plus, it stars Benedict Cumberbatch. He could be the voice of Bumblelion in a Wuzzles movie, and I would still check it out.

All this online chatter about Star Trek Into the Darkness reminded me of a favorite joke from the cartoon, The Critic. Jay’s boss, Duke, tells him, as a critic his job is to ‘rate movies on a scale from good to excellent.’ This made me think of the changes The Critic would go through if repackaged for today. Jay would probably be a movie blogger, or podcaster, or both. He might even be a critic for a film review aggregate site, ideally spoofing Rotten Tomatoes (Moldy Cabbage?). Who watches film review TV shows, like Jay’s Coming Attractions, these days? I don’t. I read film blogs and listen to podcasts though, and social media is a big part of how I learn about films too.

[] My latest My’brary Adventure for the Capital Area District Libraries blog is all about Star Wars. See previously: On J. J. Abrams Directing Star Wars VII

[] Season two of Bob’s Burgers is now on Netflix. Huzzah. I love that show. I really love all the original songs, especially those in the end credits. I wish Fox would release an official soundtrack. I would buy it.

Seriously. Image via Know Your Meme.

[] In local geek news, 21^st Century Comics and Games in East Lansing is closing. Sad, as it was a favorite stop in EL. 21^st Century Comics and Games sponsored the MSU Comics Forum, and it was the first place I went after Nick Bertozzi’s keynote address (I picked up Scott McCloud’s Making Comics and a couple Usagi Yojimbo books). What really made the place special was a trio of Battletech simulator pods. Yes, giant robots with lasers and missiles, fighting each other.

[] The Red Wings beat the Ducks in a tense game seven last week. Those last few minutes had my stomach in more knots than a shoe tying Pinterest board. The win was bittersweet though, as Teemu Selanne‘s future in the NHL is in doubt after being eliminated.

The Red Wings and Blackhawks series will be interesting, if game one is a sample of what is to come. Jimmy Howard looked solid, but the young defense has me concerned. I can’t remember the last time I yelled at the TV so much. Maybe when the remote batteries died and the channel became stuck on Dance Moms.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan rates Daft Punk albums on a scale from Good to Excellent. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Friday Six: NHL, Random Access Memories, Bob’s Burgers, Star Trek, & More appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Photo via The Commons on Flickr.

So, it should come as no surprise I am trying to save a few bucks when it comes to wedding planning. I’m strongly against extravagances at our wedding, like chair covers, cloth napkins, and letting people bring dates. Stephanie won’t let me cut every corner however, meaning now we actually have to feed our guests. Sigh. I hope our wedding guests enjoy Lunchables and Faygo Rock & Rye.¹

I brainstormed ideas to help combat this cost of feeding and watering guests at our wedding, and since canned meat is out of the question,² I needed to get creative.

I thought, What about sponsorships?

Originally, I kicked around the idea of crowd-sourcing the reception (allowing us to upgrade to Dinnerables and  Royal Crown Cola), but at that point I might as well just charge admission. Some folks might frown on paying admission for a wedding and buying a gift as well. Hey, if politicians can sell tickets to fundraiser dinners for hundreds, or thousands, of dollars a plate, why not a wedding? At least at a wedding the couple won’t make empty promises about tax breaks or fixing the roads.³

Then, inspiration.

Ad spots, on my wedding suit. Similar to a NASCAR driver’s fire suit, I would sell patches for sponsors. The back of my suit would go for more, as the crowd would see that area the most during the ceremony. I could even don a different jacket for the reception.

Sure, years from now, the kids might click through my whatever-replaces-Facebook albums and ask, “Dad, why is your wedding suit covered with light beer slogans and painless dentistry ads?”

I’ll tent my cyborg fingers (remember, this is in the future) and simply answer, “So your mother could have cloth napkins and chair covers.”

Love is all about sacrifice.

And being willing to wear a Hamburgler costume if McDonald’s covered the bill for the wedding and our honeymoon, no questions asked (reception entertainment? Daft Punk).

I would totally wear this if McDonald’s paid for EVERYTHING. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Maybe I should see if Burger King will counter offer. Wearing a crown at your wedding would be pretty great, and no one could see my tears (of joy) under the mask.

It’s good to be the king, even if that is the passive voice. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Hey Wendy’s, I’m not above wearing red pigtails and a dress to my wedding either—especially if you bought us a house and paid off my student loans.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
¹. Jokes aside, I love me some Faygo. Especially Rock & Rye.
². Yes, even unicorn meat.
³. Insert jaded joke about marriage.

Daniel J. Hogan has no shame. Obviously. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Wedding Planning Adventures: Your Ad Here appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

That will be INSTANT GOLD. 

This brings The Proxy to an end. I enjoyed my first stab at a multi-page story, and I hope to do more soon. It’ll be one-shot gags for a bit though. The one-shots are fun, but so are the stories.

Both of my readers probably noticed this page was not included in The Proxy minicomic. Very true. I came up with this page after the fact. I’m considering packing all four parts into a .PDF for sale via gumroad.com. I would include the cover I made for the physical minicomic, and possibly my sketches, thumbnails, and notes. Gumroad offers an easy way for me to sell a digital minicomic, and I really don’t have anything to lose by trying.

I’m also considering offering to mail signed physical minicomics to folks if they Paypal me a few bucks (along with a sketch card). This is still in the early planning stages, but I want to give it a shot. Again, like gumroad.com, the cost to me isn’t that much. The digital minicomics through Gumroad will probably start at a dollar or so and be ‘pay what you want.’ The physical mailings, if I do them, would be more, as to cover stamps, envelops, printing costs, taxes, bacon, etc.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan battles teenage vampire wizards for the reality TV throne, but only on the weekends. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post The Proxy, Part Four appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

“Stay fuzzy, my friends.” Photo by me.

Yes, our cat wears more bow ties than I do (and there is no shortage of pet bow ties). I hope Nigel got his Mother’s Day shopping done. However, his cuteness is a year round gift to all of us.

Happy Mother’s Day!

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan is a mother, in his own way. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Nigel the Cat Wishes You a Purr-fect Mother’s Day appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

And seven is RIGHT OUT

[ ] I bought Daft Punk’s Alive 2007 the other day, and it is now my daily soundtrack. Everyone needs more beats and bass in their life, and it might as well come from robot DJs. I noticed my walk to/from work is a bit quicker while listening.

[ ] Related: Scenes From a Multiverse ran a great Daft Punk-themed strip recently. Love, love, love the last panel.

[ ] I watched the animated Dark Knight Returns Part 1 and Part 2 this week (got them from the library). Enjoyable and faithful, for the most part, to the comic. Part of me wishes they had tried to match the gritty, grungy colors/look of the comics. Think Triplets of Belleville, that’s what I’m envisioning. Clean lines and bright colors don’t really do The Dark Knight justice. Animation geekery aside though, well worth a watch.

[ ] Thinking about using gumroad.com to sell digital versions of my minicomics.

[ ] The Red Wings better win tonight. But, if’n they don’t, I’ll still watch the rest of the NHL Playoffs. Because, hockey.

[ ] Ray Harryhausen passed away this week. I spent many hours watching his films growing up, and again as an adult. Harryhausen is the reason I studied stop-motion animation in college.

[video link]

Harryhausen’s body of work inspired many of my creative projects—like all the living skeletons and giant monsters in The Magic of Eyri.

 Recommended Ray Harryhausen viewing: The 7th Voyage of Sinbad, Jason and the Argonauts, Clash of the Titans (the original!)

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan wants a mechanical wind-up owl. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Friday Six: Daft Punk(s), Dark Knight Returns, Gumroad, Hockey, Harryhausen appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Fear not. Amazon Enigmas is here with a very special Last Minute Mother’s Day Gifts Edition. Because when it comes to Mothers, you spare no expense. Time spent looking for a gift, however, is a different matter. I have 15 episodes of the new Thundercats cartoon on my DVR, and there are only so many hours in the day. What happens to Snarf? I gots to know.

Give Mom A Hot Mug of Ryan Gosling for Mother’s Day

Hey girl. I mean, Mom. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Hey girl (or boy, I guess), it’s Mother’s Day, and Ryan Gosling is here to help. Mom can get lost in the eyes of the Gos with this darling Ryan Gosling Hey Girl coffee mug. Mom will have a difficult time deciding which is hotter: the coffee or Ryan Gosling. Hint: only one of them was in the Mickey Mouse Club, but both can make you melt.

Let Mom Spend Some Quality Time with George Clooney

Hey, George. Image via Amazon and © original source.

If mom likes fellas who remember the Carter administration, there is this handsome George Clooney cut-out. Now, everyday can be Mother’s Day with this Clooney simulacrum on hand. What mother wouldn’t want this handsome Devil watching them with cold, dead eyes, cardboard eyes?

 Let Mom Be the Queen for Mother’s Day

Hey, Queen. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Mother’s Day is a special day for mom, unless of course she considers Mommie Dearest a parenting guide. If your mom swings toward the loving and caring side of the parenting spectrum, treat her like a queen. But not just any queen: The Queen of England. Yes, let your dear mother don the visage of England’s beloved constitutional monarch, with this Queen Elizabeth II mask.

There is nothing at all haunting about this life-like mask. I certainly won’t have any nightmares, after Mom speaks to me through this mask’s unmoving lips.

Gulp. Duke of Edinburgh and House of Lords sold separately.

Give Mom the Gift of Cosby

Hey Mother, Jugs & Speed. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Let’s suppose your mom is a huge Bill Cosby fan (how could she not be?), and you just don’t know what to get her. She got Ghost Dad last Mother’s Day, and Leonard, Part 6 the Mother’s Day before that. What about this year? How about a film where the Cos plays a mother?

Well, a character named Mother, featured in 1976′s Mother, Jugs & Speed. Bill Cosby, as “Mother” Tucker (yes) is part of a crazy independent ambulance service, and hilarity ensues (well, in the gallows humor sense). Harvey Keitel plays his partner Speed, and for some reason Raquel Welch is Jugs.

Plus, you get to see Bill Cosby drink on the job and harass nuns. Mother, Jugs & Speed has all the makings of a Mother’s Day classic.

Give Mom the Ultimate Mother’s Day Song

Hey Mother. Image via Amazon and © original source.

If you are like me, and have a Mother’s Day budget of what I found in the couch cushions, then thrifty is the magic word. You can be thrifty and give mom something classic for Mother’s Day though. For only $1.29, you can give Mom the unforgettable Danzig ballad, Mother.

I’m certain she’ll savor every second. Til you’re bleeding, whoa, and so on.

And if you are lucky, next year Mom just might say, “I don’t need a gift. I’ll just be happy to see you.” (which means I can put next year’s budget of $7.23 towards a game of laser tag)

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

–
Clattertron takes part in the Amazon Affiliate program to help pay the bills. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun. Amazon Enigmas puts a humorous spotlight on some of the site’s more quirky items. Images lead to the item’s page on Amazon.

Daniel J. Hogan gonna take your daughter out tonight. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Amazon Enigmas: Mother’s Day Gifts (Last Minute Edition) appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Free Comic Book Day Sketches

Back to front: Adam Talley, me (in the plaid), Mr. Pantz, and Sherief Abouelseoud . Photo © Cristen Rishell Mushong.

You can see in the photo (that’s me in the plaid¹), I am hard at work sketching for a youngster (thanks to Cristen Rishell Mushong for the photo, via The Bait‘s Facebook page). Clem’s Comics & Games asked the artists to give free sketches to kids. We each had our own way of approaching it, but I did quick sketches on the back of my Clattertron promo cards, and inked them.

The requests for sketches ran the gauntlet from the expected (Batman) to the unexpected (the Ender Dragon from Minecraft) to the amusing (the Hulk dressed as Spider-Man).

What really caught me off guard, were all the requests for Sonic the Hedgehog characters. What is interesting though, none of the half-dozen requests were of Sonic or Tails. (Related: thank Batman for smartphones and Google Image Search)

I can’t stress enough the value of this drawing experience. Forced to draw characters (albeit just head and shoulders) out of my comfort zone, and quickly, I gained a lot of experience over the course of the day. I probably drew more on Saturday did I did all through the month of April.

Two of about a bazillion cards I drew on Free Comic Book Day.

These shown here were my own ideas. When I didn’t have folks waiting for sketches, I just cranked out a few to lay out on my table. The Wolverine saying ‘Actually, I’m an Ohio State fan’ cards disappeared in a flash. I’m aware of the limits of my abilities, but also of my strengths (goofy faces and on the spot jokes). I stuck to two cartooning fundamentals: simplify and exaggerate.

Were all of my sketch cards museum worthy? Of course not. Did I let that bother me? No. They were fast, free, and small. And folks, especially the kids, loved ‘em. Case in point, a young woman asked me for a Heath Ledger joker. She liked it so much, she put the sketch card in her wallet’s ID window.

Hogan’s Alley

As I said last week, I had the honor of being able to join the ‘artists alley’ at Clem’s Comics & Games this year. Having a table at a show isn’t anything new to me, I did so many times while selling The Magic of Eyri, but this was my first time appearing as an artist at a comic book event.

I spent the 8am to 11am shift sharing the company of Adam Talley and Sherief AbouElSeoud, and again later in the day at 2pm to 5ish. I learned a lot about running a table from both, which is reason enough to appear at cons and shows: to learn. But more importantly: to meet other local artists.

Selling Yourself

I had enough fun sketching for folks and chatting with other artists, I coulda cared less if I sold anything.

Thankfully though, I did have some sales (I got a cat to feed). I sold my three remaining copies of The Magic of Eyri and 12 minicomics (18, if you count the pair of minis I included with each novel).

What’s Next?

With a big event like Free Comic Book Day under my belt, especially the sketching workout, I feel ready to take on another. When that will be, I don’t know. The perk of the event at Clem’s Comics & Games was, it didn’t cost me anything for a table, which is a rarity. Most events charge $100 or more. With our wedding on the horizon, I need to save a much money as I can. That means no cons for a bit.

But, as His Holy Bieberness taught us: Never Say Never.

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-

¹. I’m also wearing a Chewie is My Co-Pilot tshirt in honor of National Star Wars Day.

². Other sketches included, but weren’t limited to: Finn from Adventure Time, Mordecai from Regular Show, Rodimus Prime, Spider-Man, a Dalek, Mega Man, more Jokers, Iron Man, a man shaped iron, zombies, the Hulk, Catwoman, Wonder Woman, Cyclops, Supermans, a kid as Superman, Wolverines, and a few No Filter Foxes. Good grief. I’m surprised my hand still works.

Daniel J. Hogan is really sore. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Free Comic Book Day Recap appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Part three of my first multi-part story. There’s a detailed explanation on how this came about in the notes for part one.

Here’s the tl;dr: I created a four page minicomic about No Filter Fox filling in for me at a book signing. This is page three of that minicomic.

The ‘with a page break!’ gag pokes fun at myself–when I did a test run of The Magic of Eyri several years ago, I didn’t have any page breaks at the end of chapters. To my horror, the printed books had chapters starting at random spots on the page. Oops. I learned my lesson (it was fixed before the book went on sale). That’s the one snag with teaching yourself desktop publishing (and self-publishing in general): sometimes you have to learn a lesson the hard way.

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan learns a lot of lessons the hard way. Like don’t use your tongue to stop a fan. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post The Proxy, Part Three appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Time to fold! Photo by me.

I named this second minicomic, as the photo shows, Clattertron Favorites, Volume I. My first minicomic, The Proxy, will also be available, and both will only cost $1 each. If you pick up a copy of The Proxy, you can read next week’s comic a couple days early.

Clattertron Favorites, unlike The Proxy, collects eight of my favorite strips—not a new story. I figured collecting random Clattertron strips was a good idea.

The strips included in the minicomic are:

• What Not to Say to Your Fiancée
• Rules of Engagement
• Coffee
• Ask No Filter Fox
• Game of Thrones Babies in “Low Hanging Fruit”
• Roast of Thrones
• Cat Shaming
• Cat Shaming II

As you can see in the photo, I have some folding to do. I’m becoming a regular at the nearby copy/print shop.

I will also have copies of The Magic of Eyri for sale (only three copies left). If you buy a book for $20, you get both minicomics free. You actually save $7 if you get all three, as the retail price for the book is $25.

The other artists at the Free Comic Book Day event Adam Talley, Sherief AbouElSeoud, Kari Smith, Ryan Claytor, and Marc Wolfe will have plenty of stuff for sale too.

Free Comic Book Day is a lot of fun, and there is a big focus on kids—especially at the Clem’s Comics & Games event. It is a great way to get young—and old—readers into comics. Some publishers put out really nice, fancy stuff too. I’m excited to see what this year’s Free Comic Book Day haul will bring.

Hope to see you tomorrow!

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan can fold like a pro. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Free Comic Book Day Minicomics appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

The best day in May. Sorry, Mother’s Day.

Meet Local Comic Artists at Clem’s Comics & Games

Better still, I will be one of the local comic artists at the Free Comic Book Day event held at Clem’s Comics & Games in downtown Lansing (216 S Washington Square). Come visit me from 8AM (yes, AM) until 11AM—I technically will be at a table next door, in Downtown Subs (both places will have tables with free comics). I will likely stick around for a bit after my shift ends, if only to bug Ryan Claytor.

Clem’s Comics & Games in downtown Lansing, Michigan. Image via their website.

Here’s the full local comic artists schedule for Free Comic Book Day at Clem’s Comics & Games:

• 8am-11am: Adam Talley, Sherief AbouElSeoud, and myself.
• 11am-2pm: Kari Smith, Ryan Claytor, Marc Wolfe
• 2pm-5pm: Sherief AbouElSeoud, Adam Talley

Swing through, grab some free stuff and buy one of my minicomics for $1. One of the minicomics is The Proxy storyline, and the other is a brand new minicomic collection of some of my favorite Clattertron strips.

I’ll have copies of The Magic of Eyri for sale too ($20, and includes both minicomics).¹

All of the artists are providing free sketches for kids, in addition to selling their own stuff. Yes, this includes me. I better practice drawing Wolverine and Batman faces.

Free Comic Book Day Deals in Downtown Lansing

Clem’s Comics & Games also features free cookies for comic book fans, door prizes, and special sales. In years past, I never leave with just the free comics. I always end up buying some stuff.

Downtown Subs next door, where I’ll be starting at 8AM until 11AM, is offering a free fountain drink when you show a receipt from Clem’s Comics & Games. For the coffee fans, Decker’s Coffee Company, on the other side of the comic book shop, has a similar deal—a free small coffee with your receipt (I enjoyed this deal last year).

The Force is Strong with Free Comic Book Day

As my fellow Star Wars fans (should) already know, May 4^th is also National Star Wars Day. Like last year’s Free Comic Book Day, members of the Michigan chapter of the 501^st Garrison (the Great Lakes Garrison) will be around in full costume. This group consists of Star Wars fans who share their love of the films by dressing up as characters and making public appearances (especially for charity).

There is plenty in store for Free Comic Book Day at Clem’s Comics & Games, so please swing by and say hi. I might even give you a high-five.

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
¹ I keep meaning to write a blog post about how I make more off a minicomic sale than I do off a novel sale on Amazon. Soon.

Daniel J. Hogan is picky when it comes to high fives. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Free Comic Book Day This Saturday! See Me at Clem’s Comics & Games appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

And I almost didn’t.

I’mma get that megaton hammer! Image © Nintendo.

17^th Time’s the Fire Temple Charm

The most annoying part of the Fire Temple was getting the megaton hammer. As I said before:

 To get the megaton hammer, you must step on a switch, which drops the firewall around the treasure chest, and scurry across a skinny walkway—before the wall goes back up. A skinny walkway, mind you, above a freakin’ big hole.

I’m not the most agile when it comes to scenarios like this in video games. The camera in Ocarina of Time didn’t help much either—as it flew around like a drunk bat in the rain¹ while I ran down the walkway.

My Ocarina of Time sessions became solely devoted to me crossing the Fire Temple’s annoying, skinny walkway. Hours upon hours (well, more like minutes upon minutes, as I got frustrated pretty quick).

Seventeen tries later, I finally got the damn megaton hammer. Seventeen. What helped was turning the sound off [insert terrible joke about marriage]. After stepping on the switch, a ticking sound plays, which is only slightly more annoying than a Rebecca Black a capella album. As the switch nears its reset point, the ticking increases in speed, kinda like my blood pressure while running errands in an urban sprawl wasteland while caught in weekend traffic.

This, obviously, builds tension and made me hurry—which led to multiple drops off the edge.

With the sound off, the tension lessened, and I focused better. Frequently centering the camera with a push of a button helped too.

Ocarina of Hammer Time

The megaton hammer is a neat weapon. After all the hassle of getting the damn thing, using it to beat the lava out of Volvagia the dragon was incredibly satisfying. As much fun as the megaton hammer was to use, being done with the Fire Temple filled me with joy.

Poe Bustin’ Doesn’t Make Me Feel Good

Bottles are extremely valuable in any Legend of Zelda game, and Ocarina of Time is no exception. Bottled fairies saved my butt in the battle against Volvagia, and every extra bottle helps. I decided to give the Ghost Shop side quest a go to get the fourth bottle. That dedication didn’t last long though. Sure, bottles are nice and all, but chasing Big Poes on horseback got old real fast. I decided to skip any of the unnecessary side quests and focus on completing the game.

Ice to See You

The Ice Cavern was a nice break before another complex dungeon, and now Link owns a blue vest. It is strange seeing Link in something else besides green though. This part wasn’t too challenging, although it could be if you only have one or two bottles. Icy floors in video games are super-annoying, what with the sliding, but there wasn’t too much of that here. It brought back bad memories of sliding across icy floors and into pits of death found in the sidescrollers of my youth.

There are I nights I wake up, covered in sweat, screaming, “No! STOP SLIDING!”

On to the Water Temple

According to other gamers, the Water Temple is the most annoying dungeon in Ocarina of Time, perhaps even in all the Legend of Zelda series. Swell. Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse than the Fire Temple D:

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

–
1.  Animal Fun Fact™: rain messes with a bat’s echolocation.

Daniel J. Hogan messes with a bat’s echolocation too. You don’t want to know how. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Ocarina of Time, Pt. 8: A Song of Fire Temples and Ice Caverns appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Here’s part two of my first multi-part story. There’s a detailed explanation on how this came about in the notes for part one.

Here’s the tl;dr: I created a four page minicomic about No Filter Fox filling in for me at a book signing. This is page two of that minicomic.

The last panel features the return of  a squirrel from an earlier comic. Mainly because I grew tired of drawing people, and I love drawing cartoon animals yelling.

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, and I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan loves drawing anything yelling, even toasters. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post The Proxy, Part Two appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Although the voices in my head tell me I need to work on my ALF dioramas every day too. But, I don’t always listen, and that means more time for food. Lucky for me, Amazon has all kinds strangely bizarre unique food items for sale.

At last, the protection I need. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Banana Bunker

I take banana protection very seriously. There’s nothing worse than reaching into my backpack and finding a squishy banana. Nothing. Well, except maybe a miniature black hole (the space-time thingy, not the Disney film). Bruised, squishy bananas are a thing of the past now with a Banana Bunker. Yes, now you can throw all kinds of books, bricks, and brass knuckles in your backpack without fear of damaging your precious banana. FINALLY.

Stir, stirrer. Image via Amazon and © original source.

RoboStir

I’m busy. Stephanie is busy. Nigel the cat is busy.¹ We don’t always have the time to stir soup on the stove—or anywhere for that matter. Good thing the RoboStir fills the empty stirring void in my life. I just open my can of off-brand value tomato flavored liquid meal, pour, and let RoboStir do the work, while I teach Nigel how to play poker.

MEAT. Image via Amazon and © original source.

Ham Dogger

There are times I want the flavor of a hamburger, but I also want the cylindrical convenience of a hot dog. What to do? Get a Ham Dogger. Cram your meat in the Ham Dogger’s crevice and bingo: a ¼ pound hot dog-shaped hamburger. Save money on buns, and only buy the One True Bun–the hot dog bun.

NOTE: this CANNOT be used to make sausages. That is right out. Hot dog shaped hamburgers only.

Say Ch…ah forget it. Image via Amazon and © original source.

60-lbs. of Provolone Cheese

Let’s say you have, oh, $849.53 laying around, and you just NEED 60 pounds of provolone cheese. It could happen. I’m sure for some folks, that’s a boring ol’ Tuesday. For those lucky ducks, they can order a 60-pound wheel of cheese through Amazon. Oh, and shipping is $177.45. Add it up, and you are getting this cheese for less than $18 a pound. That’s good, right? If you aren’t sold, here’s the cherry on top: according to the product page, this cheese is made from cow’s milk.

I’m ready for that Dark Shadows marathon. Image via Amazon and © original source.

56 Cases of Canned Meat

If canned food is more your thing, how about 56 cases of canned meat? Priced to own at $6,720, you get over six thousand servings. Not even a dollar per serving–that’s smart shopping. Do you have room for 672 cans? You better, otherwise you might have a few extra to give out next Halloween. Choose from popular flavors like: Beef, Chicken, Ground Beef, Pork, and Turkey. Surprise yourself and get a mixed pallet. The best part? Free shipping! Take that, 60-pound wheel of cheese. Bonus best part: your cache of canned meat has a shelf-life of 15 years. That’s nearly four presidential elections worth of food (assuming the polar bears don’t rise up and take over).

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, I get a % with no extra cost to you.)

-
¹ Cats be sleepin’, y’all.

Clattertron takes part in the Amazon Affiliate program to help pay the bills. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun. Amazon Enigmas puts a humorous spotlight on some of the site’s more quirky items. Images lead to the item’s page on Amazon.

Daniel J. Hogan is all about the banana bunker. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Amazon Enigmas: Crazy Food for Crazy Times appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Whoa, Part One? Yes, here’s my first stab at a bit of continuity here on Clattertron, starring No Filter Fox. Parts one, two, and three make up the four page minicomic I created for my exhibition at the Local Author Fair.

The Proxy drew inspiration from my attending the signing, and I’m glad I pushed myself to try a multi-part story. The minicomic was a lot of work, but a great experience. The lucky few folks who picked up one my minicomics at the signing already have the complete story, so there’s my incentive to do more mini’s in the future: exclusives for folks in person.

I might do an epilogue strip just for here, so there could be a part four. I already have a gag in mind.

That’s my novel, The Magic of Eyri, in the last panel. Including the cover was a last-minute idea, but I’m glad it worked out OK.

There’s another surprise in last panel. The guy with the “I [Heart] Comics” bag is Ryan Claytor of Elephant Eater Comics (that’s the logo on the shirt). I had an email from Ryan while drawing that panel and decided, “Why not?” and threw him in there. The funny part is, he did come to the signing (he traded me copy of Drop Target featuring his ‘dream’ pinball machine for one of my minicomics).

I’m mostly happy with how this page turned out–and is that perspective in the first panel? Zounds. Steph found her ‘Barbie‘ arms in panels one and two hilarious (PRACTICE).

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan has a I [Heart] Giraffe Polo bag. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post The Proxy, Part One appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Empty calories, I’m sure. Photo by Steph.

Yes, Jim (author of Libriomancer, The Stepsister Scheme, and the Jig the goblin series) decided to photobomb me while Stephanie snapped away. Bless him. This is probably the only photo of me laughing in existence. Cherish it, people. It belongs in a museum.

At first I wasn’t sure if Jim would want this photo online, but then I remembered his Cover Poses photo series (an amazing project).

On the business side of thing, I parted ways with minicomics, novels, and business cards over the course of the evening. I chatted with visitors of all ages, and talking to kids about my book is always fun. I also met some other local authors, including Ruth McNally Barshaw, author and artist of the Ellie McDoodle series.

Chatting with Jim and Ruth is why I love attending cons and shows: being around my fellow creative folks always puts me in a good mood.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan is pretty sure his brain tastes like burning. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Photo: Jim C. Hines Tries to Eat My Brains appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Blue dot is the Delta Township District Library. Click image to go to Google Maps.

I am one of over 20 twenty authors taking part in the Delta Township District Library’s Local Author Fair.

Yes, you can visit and buy a copy of my novel, The Magic of Eyri, for the special price of only $20 ($5 off the sticker price). It is rare I do signing these days (ordering books through a POD company is expensive), so please swing by. Quantities of The Magic of Eyri are extremely limited (I only have four), so buy one early and often.

But that isn’t all: I’m also selling a brand new, exclusive minicomic, starring No Filter Fox for $1 (or free if you buy The Magic of Eyri). Titled, The Proxy , the minicomic follows No Filter Fox’s misadventures as he fills in for me at a book signing. How meta. This minicomic was my first, and a lot of work–I pretty much did a month’s worth of work in a week. It was worth all the work though, and I’m glad I pushed myself to try.

The minicomic is just three pages, four if you count the front cover, but it is comparable to three weekly strips (if not more) for Clattertron. So like I said, a lot of work for me over the past week–but a great experience. There are a couple of panels I’m really proud of (ha).

Come give me your twenties and singles, and meet some other local authors at the Delta Township District Library tonight. We don’t bite. Well, I don’t. At least not anymore. Local fellow fantasy author Jim C. Hines (Libriomancer, The Stepsister Scheme) will be on hand too.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan ‘s next minicomic will be No Filter Fox Versus the World Crime League. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Visit Me at the Delta Township District Library Local Author Fair Tonight appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

These kids learned a valuable lesson: Never ask No Filter Fox a question. Especially about tigers.

I have quite the animal streak going here. First it was polar bears, then opossums, now tigers. What’s next? I don’t know. I already did a humor post about platypus stuff on Amazon. I need to look up some other random animal trivia. Maybe the blue-tongued skink?

Those with a keen eye might notice this comic references my novel, The Magic of Eyri (also on Amazon). Beacon Pines, home of the elementary school in this strip, is where Steve, the hero of Magic of Eyri lives. Aw yah, meta baby.

 Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan shouldn’t be asked questions either. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Ask No Filter Fox appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Buttons! Photo by me and via my Flickr photostream.

This is the third year of the Capital City Film Festival, and it just keeps getting better. What makes CCFF stand out is the variety of content offered. Sure, there are features and shorts like at most festivals, but there are also great musical acts. Visit the Capital City Film Festival website for the full schedule.

Lights at last year’s Capital City Film Festival. Photo by me and via my Flickr photostream.

Plus, there are a few free events—both screenings and music—thrown in the mix as well. Saturday night features a free screening of Miami Connection, for late light b-movie fans, which is just one of the free events offered (I plan on swinging by if I can).

Margot and the Nuclear So and So’s at the first CCFF. Photo by me and via my Flickr photostream.

Like the past two years, I was on the selection committee for the Capital City Film Festival. I probably watched about 20 hours of stuff (give or take), and the quality level of submissions continues to rise. My busy schedule as of late kept me from helping judge the Fortnight Film Contest this time, but that showcase is always fun to watch.

I am really looking forward to catching John Dies At The End on Saturday, as well as most of the musical acts—they are always a blast. Friday features the AFI Directing Workshop for Women Showcase, which should have great stuff—last year’s Showcase had some of the best made shorts in the entire festival.

I love that this event is right downtown, and that most of the venues are near each other. This is a one-two punch for downtown Lansing, what with cosplayers and anime fans flocking to Shut Con last week.

If you want to hear more about the festival, listen to my appearance on Time Slot.

I can’t wait to see how amazing this year’s Capital City Film Festival will be—I know this much though: it will be a long weekend, packed with all kinds of fun.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan watches a lot of movies. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Lansing’s Capital City Film Festival Starts Today appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

With a microphone and everything.

Was I nervous? Sure. But, I prepared. I did my research and found that about 400 words is the recommended amount for five minutes of stand up (although I could have written a bit more, I think). I wrote up my words, and practiced, practiced, practiced.

Overall, I’m happy with how I did. I got plenty of laughs, but I screwed up a couple of times by going ‘off script’ – not that going off script is bad, I just stumbled to fill the gaps. The more I do stand up, the better I’ll get.

I didn’t memorize my routine word for word, or even recite it as such. I had the key points remembered, along with a few of my favorite jokes and just kept going. Writing the routine out ahead of time helped because I had a beginning, middle, and end. (Trivia: I started things off with the opossum joke from this week’s comic).

The end, however, was my weakest part (at least I think). That is something I’ll work on more next time. I did save my ending by finishing with an off-the-cuff joke, albeit at Melik’s expense (but he expected nothing less, and it was par for the course that evening).

Will I do it again? Sure. Melik wants me to, and I had a lot of fun. Since Ginger and the Geek came to an end, I don’t get to goof around in front of folks as much. Drawing gag comic strips and writing humor are great and all, but they can’t replace live laughter.

Speaking of live laughter, on Monday night I went on Melik’s talk show, Time Slot. You can listen to the half-hour show on SoundCloud. Chatting with Melik and Franklin Mint was a lot of fun, and so was meeting fellow guest Katie Dama Jaskolski, founder of the Life as a Zebra Foundation, talking about her benefit concert on this coming Saturday.

Thanks to everyone who came out to see Church of Comedy—and thanks for the laughs.

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan notices things, like airline peanuts and doctor bills. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post 5 Minutes of Stand-Up at Church of Comedy: I Survived appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

Nature can be mighty strange, especially when it comes to marsupials like the opossum. I know I joke and make stuff up here, but these facts are true. Although, as I was taught, “The only absolute thing in nature is, nothing is absolute.” Meaning, there are always exceptions when it comes to animals, even those of the same species.

Now I just need to do a comics about sexual dimorphism or the Jacobson’s organ.

This comic features cameos by Nigel and Guilt Trip Ghost–albeit Li’l Guilt Trip Ghost (hence the smaller size and propeller beanie). I should do a Li’l Guilt Trip Ghost strip (no relation to Coffee Ghost).

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan only has 2 and 1/3 nipples. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Animal Facts appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.

 

The River Trail will see plenty of Shuto Con cosplayers this weekend. Photo by me and via my Flickr.

Being a fan of anime and manga myself, I think it’s great there is such an event right in downtown Lansing. I interviewed Stefanie Shall, one of the convention’s founders last year for Capital Gains. Stephanie and her husband Joe were guests on Ginger and the Geek too (my old podcast).

Shuto Con continues to grow each year, and it brings a lot of folks to downtown Lansing—something I’m sure the local merchants love. It makes for great people watching, as cosplayers from Shuto Con walk up and down the streets all dressed up.

Like other conventions, Shuto Con features an Artist Alley and a Dealers Alley—where you can buy a lot of fun stuff and support indie artists and merchants. There are also tons of events, like panels, workshops, and more. Here’s the complete event schedule.

If you can only make one day, today, Saturday, is your best bet. The day is chuck full of stuff. Shuto Con is a must see for any fan of anime or manga. Just bring plenty of money, because I’m sure you’ll find stuff to buy in the Artists and Dealers alleys (I always do).

Help Support Clattertron: Gold Box and Lightning Deals on Amazon
(Buy anything on Amazon with the link, Daniel gets a % with no extra cost to you. Easy.)

-
Daniel J. Hogan likes anime with giant robots. Or anything with giant robots. Except the Michael Bay Transformers films. Follow him on Twitter, @danieljhogan. Follow Clattertron on Facebook too.

The post Shuto Con is This Weekend in Downtown Lansing appeared first on Clattertron by Daniel J. Hogan.