Hero Comics and Gaming.

Here we are again with more support from local shops, this time coming from Hero Comics and Gaming off W. Thunderbird & N. 35th Avenue in North Phoenix! This shop has a GRIP of back issues and variants, something I always enjoi perusing when visiting a comic shop. The staff is friendly and the shop is quiet, something one can easily take for granted when thrust into the gaming-intense environments of other shops. Located in Thunderbird Square Shopping Center, this spot specializes in comics, vintage toys, and TCG gaming. They have a great collection of Star Wars toys including an awesome Bounty Hunter box set I mistakenly forgot to take a photo of in pure awe of it's sheer awesomeness (D'OH!). I did however manage to catch a flick of the ill animated style Yoda in the window.

Hero Comics and Gaming is a clean shop and also has a wide selection of new books. I am looking forward to going back soon to really soak it in when I have more time. The back issue boxes were calling my name! Any shop that is playing vintage Star Trek on the tele is way more than awesome in my book. Yes, I love Star Trek and Yes, Captain Kirk is the BEST Kirk of all time! I am also looking forward to attending and participating in events & signings at Hero Comics. The shop now carries both Delayed. Sleep. Phaze. #2 and Penumbral Silence #1. Currently, I am all out of PenSil#1 and will be reordering very, very soon. Penumbral Silence #2 is well on it's way as well and with all my current life changes in the passed three months, who knows where this book is gonna take us!

In the world of comics and art, it is always nice to get recognition for your work. Especially with self-published work such as my own. I have yet to have a big publisher pick up my books or ideas, but the flip side to that shiny coin is that it pushes me to further plant my foot into the world of comics with what I do and the style that I do it, on my own. Creator-owned, self published. With help, of course, from my love Rabbit Rye, shops like this, and you! Let it be known that I have yet to pitch to the big leagues, but these are the steps I feel I needed to regain my confidence. From once only having a fan base in San Antonio, to reaching people from California to Florida, I have taken yet another step up by reaching out to Hero Comics and Gaming. For shop owners like Erin to see the work and like it enough to carry it in their stores along other local creators like Denny Riccelli (Cousin Harold) and worldwide talents like Michael Turner (Witchblade, Fathom, Aspen Comics) and Jim Lee (Wildstorm, Batman) is a huge blessing. It makes me extremely thankful for my gifts given to me to do this work. It still amazes me that my works are available in the same places as my favorites from my childhood and teen years. I knew one day I would have similar experiences, seeing my work in comics and here I am today with such.

So thank you Erin and Hero Comics and Gaming for supporting someone new. I will continue to work hard and provide you guys with more creative and inspiring work to pass along to your growing customer base.


Stay Creative,
BLUE731.

Hero Comics and Gaming is located @ 13616 N. 35th Ave.  in Phoenix, AZ 85209.
MON-TUE: 11am-6pm
WED: 9.30am-9pm
THU: 11am-6pm
FRI: 11am-10pm
SAT: : 11am-7pm
SUN: 11am-6pm

Jesse James Comics.

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I attended and worked at Phoneix Comicon? From the mass amount of cosplayers, merchants, dealers, BMOs, traders, goblins, and Emperialists, I happened meet a lot of great people. From the panels I was able to sit in on, I met some great talents as well. Denny Riccelli is one of them. He had an interesting backstory on how he came from being a teacher into making his own comics like Cousin Harold. Now, anyone who has self-published anything, especially multi-page releases, knows the amount of work that goes into a project like that. In fact, I'm one of those people (and one really good printer away from streamlining my current books!). So I have a great amount of respect for people who work hard on their hustle and work to keep as much bread in their pockets as they can with their projects. The panel with Eric Mengel and Mark Edward Lewis was a great look into creating comics of your own and some helpful tips to remain successful in your endeavors.

Aside from great advice such as creating print-on-demand books and for one to simply "put out what you have to say", a solid nugget of truth from all three was if you are into comics and you are in Arizona you need to go to one place--Jesse James Comics. All three of the creators on the panel were sure to mention the amount of support they receive from this particular shop and how much love Jess James has for creators. It's the one thing that resonated with me since the con and today I finally had a chance to make it out there.

I have been in Phoenix for two months now and since arriving I have been doing my best to hit up all the skateparks, comic shops, and all the murals I can find. So I was stoked to find another comicbook gem in this mountainous desert. With a friendly staff, Jesse James Comics boasts over 6,500 sq. ft. of space with a very large collection of books and toys, including many local books which was a great shock for myself. Something we don't see much of back in San Antonio. Events are held here often including their Doodle Night every Thursday, something I am looking forward to attending very soon. I met Jesse after perusing the product and books and sat down for a chat. After about a half hour of gettin' schooled, Jesse and I worked out a deal and I am happy to say that my art book Delayed. Sleep. Phaze. #2 and full-color comicbook Penumbral Silence #1 are now stocked and ready for purchase inside Jesse James Comics!! A blessing for sure. Big thanks to Jesse for his support in having my work there and for hanging my book on the wall with the others.

Thank you for all your support guys, it has been a long time in the making and you know this is only the first store amongst many more. This is some great news to hear on my one-year anniversary with my beloved Rabbit Rye too! I must say, I feel extremely blessed today and very fortunate for all that I have and for all that I have accomplished.

Stay tuned for more and with the Spurs DOMINATING win over Miami tonight, watch my Facebook page tomorrow afternoon for another free art giveaway!! GO SPURS GO!!!


Stay Creative,
BLUE731.

Jesse James Comics is located @ 10620 N. 43rd Ave. #8 in Glendale, AZ 85304.
MON: 10am-7pm
TUE-THU: 10am-8pm
FRI-SAT: 10am-9pm
SUN: 11am-7pm