Happy Mother's Day to everyone out there! Here's a little photo of me and my mom on my 3rd birthday. I think it accurately sums up the patience it takes to be a Mom ... y'know, just trying to open a package while her kid is screaming for her Strawberry Shortcake presents, wearing a birthday dress over her clothes, and making sure to involve a balloon in the situation.
I've posted a couple of these as I was doing them, but here's a consolidated bunch of some sketches I've done recently ....
There was this amazing little girl at Stumptown who was dressed as a little Catwoman ... the best part was the whole time she was there, she kept running around and sneaking up on her dad to karate chop him!
... And Free Comic Book Day last weekend! I had such a great time at Collectors Corner - Randy really knows how to throw an event! The line was out the door, around the corner, and down the street. Check out the super cool documentary they put together about the day! (there's even an embarrassing part where I introduce myself and my website)
I've posted a couple of these as I was doing them, but here's a consolidated bunch of some sketches I've done recently ....
There was this amazing little girl at Stumptown who was dressed as a little Catwoman ... the best part was the whole time she was there, she kept running around and sneaking up on her dad to karate chop him!
... And Free Comic Book Day last weekend! I had such a great time at Collectors Corner - Randy really knows how to throw an event! The line was out the door, around the corner, and down the street. Check out the super cool documentary they put together about the day! (there's even an embarrassing part where I introduce myself and my website)
This is what my office space used to look like ...
And what it looks like now, with the latest edition to our family, Aloysius Humperdinck Gallagher!
After years of using Frankenstein PCs, it's going to take me a while to get used to this sweet baby. But I think I'm up for the challenge! I'm mousin' sideways!
(and yes, that is a poster of Albi, the Racist Dragon)
Hooray, I've finally gotten my act together and put my latest comic, Go For the Eyes, up for sale in my Etsy shop! I'll soon have it available in my BigCartel shop too, but this at least gets the ball rolling.
I debuted this 24-pager at Stumptown last weekend, and already got some SUPER awesome feedback by people who were kind enough to share their own stories of self-defense with me. For some reason, (even though I've already have made comics talking about my boobs and my experiences as an embarrassing mall model) I felt really nervous about putting this particular story out into the world.
Autobio is always funny that way - sometimes you couldn't care a bit what people read and think about you, and other times you feel a bit twingy about it. I'm super glad I finally wrote this book, as it's been banging around in my head for a long long time, but now that it's out there I'm sure I'll rethink all the ways I could've said more.
How do you all feel about autobio? Love it when it's REEEALLY personal, or prefer it with a touch of distance? What about you autobio writers out there - ever feel more hesitant sometimes than others when putting your work out there?
Hooray, I've finally gotten my act together and put my latest comic, Go For the Eyes, up for sale in my Etsy shop! I'll soon have it available in my BigCartel shop too, but this at least gets the ball rolling.
I debuted this 24-pager at Stumptown last weekend, and already got some SUPER awesome feedback by people who were kind enough to share their own stories of self-defense with me. For some reason, (even though I've already have made comics talking about my boobs and my experiences as an embarrassing mall model) I felt really nervous about putting this particular story out into the world.
Autobio is always funny that way - sometimes you couldn't care a bit what people read and think about you, and other times you feel a bit twingy about it. I'm super glad I finally wrote this book, as it's been banging around in my head for a long long time, but now that it's out there I'm sure I'll rethink all the ways I could've said more.
How do you all feel about autobio? Love it when it's REEEALLY personal, or prefer it with a touch of distance? What about you autobio writers out there - ever feel more hesitant sometimes than others when putting your work out there?
Tomorrow is the most magical day of the year - Free Comic Book Day!
Even though I'm freshly back from visiting Portland and exhibiting at the Stumptown Comics Fest (and dying to talk about it), I wanted to take a minute to plug how awesome Free Comic Book Day is and the independent comic book stores that support it. Held the first Saturday in May every year, the main mission behind FCBD is to support comics and get new people interested in reading them. Most stores offer free comics, giveaways, fun events, creator signings (I'll be at Collectors Corner in Baltimore - hollah!) - simply check out freecomicbookday.com for a list of participating stores, or just google the closest comic shop in your area!
When I was growing up in a teeny Maryland suburb, I found an amazing comic shop called Zenith Comics. The fact that it was located a couple stores down from a used CD store and next to a 7-11 made it a perfect storm of teenage hangouts. Zenith had a great selection of comics, graphic novels, and anime rentals, but most importantly it had owners who were willing to talk to 15-year-olds and let them lounge about the place for hours, happy to sit and chat and lounge someplace outside of their family homes.
Unfortunately, as is usually the case, Zenith eventually folded and was replaced by a run of the mill "Sports Cards & Memorabilia" shop. But I quickly found another comic store to fulfill my needs at the local mall (now a freestanding shop - Beyond Comics!), and thereafter every place I moved I was able to find a great local comic shop to suit my needs (these days I rely on Collectors Corner, Amazing Spiral, and Atomic Books). Even when I went on family vacations, I insisted on dragging my dad out to thrift shops and comic book stores. There will always be a NEED for these local comic shops and their hard working purveyors. We trust them to scour the distributor listings, get to know the repeat customers, and recommend titles to choose from. They provide a wonderful haven for imagination and lively discussions of what everyone loves - stories.
So as long as we keep remembering to support them in their noble mission (a.k.a. bringing comics to the masses) and don't just buy everything via Amazon, they'll continue to stick around and not go the way of Zenith.
Tomorrow is the most magical day of the year - Free Comic Book Day!
Even though I'm freshly back from visiting Portland and exhibiting at the Stumptown Comics Fest (and dying to talk about it), I wanted to take a minute to plug how awesome Free Comic Book Day is and the independent comic book stores that support it. Held the first Saturday in May every year, the main mission behind FCBD is to support comics and get new people interested in reading them. Most stores offer free comics, giveaways, fun events, creator signings (I'll be at Collectors Corner in Baltimore - hollah!) - simply check out freecomicbookday.com for a list of participating stores, or just google the closest comic shop in your area!
When I was growing up in a teeny Maryland suburb, I found an amazing comic shop called Zenith Comics. The fact that it was located a couple stores down from a used CD store and next to a 7-11 made it a perfect storm of teenage hangouts. Zenith had a great selection of comics, graphic novels, and anime rentals, but most importantly it had owners who were willing to talk to 15-year-olds and let them lounge about the place for hours, happy to sit and chat and lounge someplace outside of their family homes.
Unfortunately, as is usually the case, Zenith eventually folded and was replaced by a run of the mill "Sports Cards & Memorabilia" shop. But I quickly found another comic store to fulfill my needs at the local mall (now a freestanding shop - Beyond Comics!), and thereafter every place I moved I was able to find a great local comic shop to suit my needs (these days I rely on Collectors Corner, Amazing Spiral, and Atomic Books). Even when I went on family vacations, I insisted on dragging my dad out to thrift shops and comic book stores. There will always be a NEED for these local comic shops and their hard working purveyors. We trust them to scour the distributor listings, get to know the repeat customers, and recommend titles to choose from. They provide a wonderful haven for imagination and lively discussions of what everyone loves - stories.
So as long as we keep remembering to support them in their noble mission (a.k.a. bringing comics to the masses) and don't just buy everything via Amazon, they'll continue to stick around and not go the way of Zenith.
Have I mentioned that I'll be exhibiting at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend?
My two li'l printers are hard at work right now churning out copies of my latest autobio mini-comic GO FOR THE EYES!
It's debuting at Stumptown but I'll have it for sale from my shop when I get back. 24 pages of pure awkward, undiluted self-defense! Can you dig it??
In the meantime, you can preview the comic right here.
I'll be exhibiting at table D-18, alongside the superbly talented Mike DiMotta! We'll be there with loads of smiles (and layers, probably - it's unpredictable Portland, right?) and stuff for you to look at. Come on out and visit!
Have I mentioned that I'll be exhibiting at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend?
My two li'l printers are hard at work right now churning out copies of my latest autobio mini-comic GO FOR THE EYES!
It's debuting at Stumptown but I'll have it for sale from my shop when I get back. 24 pages of pure awkward, undiluted self-defense! Can you dig it??
In the meantime, you can preview the comic right here.
I'll be exhibiting at table D-18, alongside the superbly talented Mike DiMotta! We'll be there with loads of smiles (and layers, probably - it's unpredictable Portland, right?) and stuff for you to look at. Come on out and visit!
Have I mentioned that I'll be exhibiting at the Stumptown Comics Fest this weekend?
My two li'l printers are hard at work right now churning out copies of my latest autobio mini-comic GO FOR THE EYES!
It's debuting at Stumptown but I'll have it for sale from my shop when I get back. 24 pages of pure awkward, undiluted self-defense! Can you dig it??
In the meantime, you can preview the comic right here.
I'll be exhibiting at table D-18, alongside the superbly talented Mike DiMotta! We'll be there with loads of smiles (and layers, probably - it's unpredictable Portland, right?) and stuff for you to look at. Come on out and visit!
I've got a new Mother's Day card up in my Etsy Shop! For all those killer moms out there.
I posted a new comic update last night that was rife with problems so I didn't say anything ... here it is now!
I posted a new comic update last night that was rife with problems so I didn't say anything ... here it is now!
I posted a new comic update last night that was rife with problems so I didn't say anything ... here it is now!
Yesterday I exhibited at my first craft show, and it was interesting to compare the experience to comic shows (which are normally more my bag). Since I've applied to craft shows before but never been accepted, I was nervous. I wasn't sure the crafters would accept me into their clan.
Luckily, the experience was wonderful! Crafters seem to be just as supportive and excited about each others' work as indie comickers are. Just as shy, too. I mean, I'm used to comic exhibitors practically throwing their necks out just to avoid eye contact and using any excuse to leave the table rather than discuss their own work (and I'm including myself in this group). So it was kind of charming to see crafters with their beautiful, elaborate displays of hand-woven jewelry ... likewise all crouched in a corner, panicked when a customer greeted them.
Here are a few of the things I noticed:
I also picked up this little number from Monkey Dog Studio:
As well as checked out some gorgeous stuff from:
After the show, Dennis and I dragged ourselves on over to the Sine Irish Pub. There, we did some pub crawler participant watching (too drunk at stop #1, they were) and I obsessed over the safety of my car in an "Honor Code" parking lot until Dennis put money in the parking lot slot. Has anyone else ever encountered a parking lot, with plenty of empty spaces, on a Sunday, with a big scary sign that tells you you still have to pay something, even though it's Sunday and no one's around? Oh well, it was enough to have me shivering in my britches, so even though everyone we asked told us we didn't have to pay, my honor remains intact.
Peace out, Richmond, that was a wonderful Sunday trip! And I can't wait to go back to Spring Bada Bing!
Yesterday I exhibited at my first craft show, and it was interesting to compare the experience to comic shows (which are normally more my bag). Since I've applied to craft shows before but never been accepted, I was nervous. I wasn't sure the crafters would accept me into their clan.
Luckily, the experience was wonderful! Crafters seem to be just as supportive and excited about each others' work as indie comickers are. Just as shy, too. I mean, I'm used to comic exhibitors practically throwing their necks out just to avoid eye contact and using any excuse to leave the table rather than discuss their own work (and I'm including myself in this group). So it was kind of charming to see crafters with their beautiful, elaborate displays of hand-woven jewelry ... likewise all crouched in a corner, panicked when a customer greeted them.
Here are a few of the things I noticed:
I also picked up this little number from Monkey Dog Studio:
As well as checked out some gorgeous stuff from:
After the show, Dennis and I dragged ourselves on over to the Sine Irish Pub. There, we did some pub crawler participant watching (too drunk at stop #1, they were) and I obsessed over the safety of my car in an "Honor Code" parking lot until Dennis put money in the parking lot slot. Has anyone else ever encountered a parking lot, with plenty of empty spaces, on a Sunday, with a big scary sign that tells you you still have to pay something, even though it's Sunday and no one's around? Oh well, it was enough to have me shivering in my britches, so even though everyone we asked told us we didn't have to pay, my honor remains intact.
Peace out, Richmond, that was a wonderful Sunday trip! And I can't wait to go back to Spring Bada Bing!
Yesterday I exhibited at my first craft show, and it was interesting to compare the experience to comic shows (which are normally more my bag). Since I've applied to craft shows before but never been accepted, I was nervous. I wasn't sure the crafters would accept me into their clan.
Luckily, the experience was wonderful! Crafters seem to be just as supportive and excited about each others' work as indie comickers are. Just as shy, too. I mean, I'm used to comic exhibitors practically throwing their necks out just to avoid eye contact and using any excuse to leave the table rather than discuss their own work (and I'm including myself in this group). So it was kind of charming to see crafters with their beautiful, elaborate displays of hand-woven jewelry ... likewise all crouched in a corner, panicked when a customer greeted them.
Here are a few of the things I noticed:
I also picked up this little number from Monkey Dog Studio:
As well as checked out some gorgeous stuff from:
After the show, Dennis and I dragged ourselves on over to the Sine Irish Pub. There, we did some pub crawler participant watching (too drunk at stop #1, they were) and I obsessed over the safety of my car in an "Honor Code" parking lot until Dennis put money in the parking lot slot. Has anyone else ever encountered a parking lot, with plenty of empty spaces, on a Sunday, with a big scary sign that tells you you still have to pay something, even though it's Sunday and no one's around? Oh well, it was enough to have me shivering in my britches, so even though everyone we asked told us we didn't have to pay, my honor remains intact.
Peace out, Richmond, that was a wonderful Sunday trip! And I can't wait to go back to Spring Bada Bing!
I know this was supposed to be a WEEK of Kick-Ass Women, but I've been a little busy this week prepping for Spring Bada Bing, so I think I'm going to turn this into an ongoing series on them instead. Because, let's face it - I will never get tired of talking about them.
The next Kick-Ass Woman is actually THREE women who all impacted my view of what at a kick-ass woman could be. And they all happen to be named Michelle!
No, not Michelle Obama, even though she has charmed the entire country with her guns:
The three Michelles I want to talk about are Pfeiffer, Rodriguez, and Yeoh.
MICHELLE #1: Michelle Pfeiffer
After I saw Tim Burton's Batman, I wanted to be Vicki Vale. I don't know what it was about her I admired so much - the blond hair, the big red lips, the awkward way she handled herself around The Joker? I would draw her face over and over again, I suppose thinking I could transfer some of her power into my own body. I couldn't see her being surpassed in my mind as a memorable female character in Batmanverse until, of course, Batman Returns rolled around.
Michelle Pfeiffer was amazing as the pitiable, weak "administrative assistant" who, at the beginning of the film, lets people walk all over her. So great, that even when she transforms into the whirligig force that is Catwoman, we don't have to squint too hard to see Selina still in there, calling the shots. Catwoman is incredibly sexy, but she wields her sexiness as an accessory. Her motivation and her appeal is her craziness, her craftiness. (After all, she did whip up her whole black vinyl outfit on her cute little pink sewing machine she had tucked away amid her stuffed animal collection.)
One of my favorite scenes is when Catwoman stops a mugger attacking a woman in a lone alleyway - the stereotypical set-up for a hero to save a damsel in distress. Catwoman instantly recognizes the opportunity for what it is, and DOES save the woman, but she also takes a dig at the woman for letting herself be vulnerable. It's an interesting parallel to her past, having been manipulated and abused at the hands of her boss, Max Shreck. Catwoman abhors the part of herself that was victimized but luckily doesn't use that as a weapon against other victims. She still has her humanity left.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalexosgwUk]
MICHELLE #2: Michelle Rodriguez
I don't pretend to know anything about Michelle other than in her role as Anna Lucia on LOST (Although my 17-year-old cousin thinks the only movies are the Fast & The Furious movies). Anna Lucia was a damaged ex-cop who wound up amongst the unlucky pack of Tailies on the island TV show. Before the island, Anna Lucia had brought vigilante justice down on the guy who had shot her and unwittingly killed her unborn child. As soon as craziness starts happening to her little group on the island, Anna Lucia defaults into protector mode the only way she knows how -- by blurring the lines between necessary force and an excuse to shoot everything that moves. And yet, even though she lost her confidence in herself as a police officer, she's still damn good enough to recognize Goodwin for being the lying murderer that he is.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYnneXm3ppc]
I really wish they hadn't cut short her character on the show and had allowed her more time to develop. And, I also wish I looked as buff as her in a tank top.
MICHELLE #3: Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh is the only honest-to-god action star I've mentioned so far. She doesn't just play one onscreen, she IS one. She's in it, doing the action, fighting the fights, falling the falls.
I first saw her alongside Jackie in Supercop, and then in the regrettable Tomorrow Never Dies, playing probably the most competent and bad-ass of the Bond Girls in any of the movies.
But in the graceful, beautiful Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you get to see how incredible she is in every single scene. LONG, continuous scenes that show you the range of her skills and talent and don't try to hobble it together with cuts and fancy angles.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OxQ-2gR1DU]
She's the real deal.
I'll admit it's been several years since I've seen CTHD, so I won't discuss the aspects of that particular character in terms of an action star. Michelle Yeoh is an action star that WAYYY supercedes any single role.
Those are your Michelle's for the day. Anyone else got a Michelle who's particularly bad-ass that they want to bring up?
I know this was supposed to be a WEEK of Kick-Ass Women, but I've been a little busy this week prepping for Spring Bada Bing, so I think I'm going to turn this into an ongoing series on them instead. Because, let's face it - I will never get tired of talking about them.
The next Kick-Ass Woman is actually THREE women who all impacted my view of what at a kick-ass woman could be. And they all happen to be named Michelle!
No, not Michelle Obama, even though she has charmed the entire country with her guns:
The three Michelles I want to talk about are Pfeiffer, Rodriguez, and Yeoh.
MICHELLE #1: Michelle Pfeiffer
After I saw Tim Burton's Batman, I wanted to be Vicki Vale. I don't know what it was about her I admired so much - the blond hair, the big red lips, the awkward way she handled herself around The Joker? I would draw her face over and over again, I suppose thinking I could transfer some of her power into my own body. I couldn't see her being surpassed in my mind as a memorable female character in Batmanverse until, of course, Batman Returns rolled around.
Michelle Pfeiffer was amazing as the pitiable, weak "administrative assistant" who, at the beginning of the film, lets people walk all over her. So great, that even when she transforms into the whirligig force that is Catwoman, we don't have to squint too hard to see Selina still in there, calling the shots. Catwoman is incredibly sexy, but she wields her sexiness as an accessory. Her motivation and her appeal is her craziness, her craftiness. (After all, she did whip up her whole black vinyl outfit on her cute little pink sewing machine she had tucked away amid her stuffed animal collection.)
One of my favorite scenes is when Catwoman stops a mugger attacking a woman in a lone alleyway - the stereotypical set-up for a hero to save a damsel in distress. Catwoman instantly recognizes the opportunity for what it is, and DOES save the woman, but she also takes a dig at the woman for letting herself be vulnerable. It's an interesting parallel to her past, having been manipulated and abused at the hands of her boss, Max Shreck. Catwoman abhors the part of herself that was victimized but luckily doesn't use that as a weapon against other victims. She still has her humanity left.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lalexosgwUk]
MICHELLE #2: Michelle Rodriguez
I don't pretend to know anything about Michelle other than in her role as Anna Lucia on LOST (Although my 17-year-old cousin thinks the only movies are the Fast & The Furious movies). Anna Lucia was a damaged ex-cop who wound up amongst the unlucky pack of Tailies on the island TV show. Before the island, Anna Lucia had brought vigilante justice down on the guy who had shot her and unwittingly killed her unborn child. As soon as craziness starts happening to her little group on the island, Anna Lucia defaults into protector mode the only way she knows how -- by blurring the lines between necessary force and an excuse to shoot everything that moves. And yet, even though she lost her confidence in herself as a police officer, she's still damn good enough to recognize Goodwin for being the lying murderer that he is.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYnneXm3ppc]
I really wish they hadn't cut short her character on the show and had allowed her more time to develop. And, I also wish I looked as buff as her in a tank top.
MICHELLE #3: Michelle Yeoh
Michelle Yeoh is the only honest-to-god action star I've mentioned so far. She doesn't just play one onscreen, she IS one. She's in it, doing the action, fighting the fights, falling the falls.
I first saw her alongside Jackie in Supercop, and then in the regrettable Tomorrow Never Dies, playing probably the most competent and bad-ass of the Bond Girls in any of the movies.
But in the graceful, beautiful Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, you get to see how incredible she is in every single scene. LONG, continuous scenes that show you the range of her skills and talent and don't try to hobble it together with cuts and fancy angles.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OxQ-2gR1DU]
She's the real deal.
I'll admit it's been several years since I've seen CTHD, so I won't discuss the aspects of that particular character in terms of an action star. Michelle Yeoh is an action star that WAYYY supercedes any single role.
Those are your Michelle's for the day. Anyone else got a Michelle who's particularly bad-ass that they want to bring up?
Monica Gallagher is a comic book creator, illustrator and freelance designer making work for hire with a positive, feminist spin.
TCAF - Toronto, ON, Canada // June 7 - 8
Heroes Con - Charlotte, NC // June 20 - 22
Tucson Comic Con - Tucson, AZ // Aug. 29 - 31
Small Press Expo - Rockville, MD // Sep. 13 - 14
Denton Comic Art Expo - Denton, TX // Sep. 27
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