November 2006

CAG #5 Preview is here!

BREAKIN in to COMICS Part one

When I was a kid there is one thing above others that I thought would be the coolest occupation on the globe. It was right up there with being a comic book artist. For some reason around the holidays I found it even more enticing. What job am I referring to you ask? Well working in a toy store of course! I figured I would get to hang out there all day and play with every toy ever made, the newest, the biggest, and the ones that already come with the batteries in them! I realized, as I got older that my dream was shared by other kids in my community and across the world. I even got up the nerve to fill out an application when I was old enough thinking they would let me in! But alas it was not to be. The reason I can share this story is because it points out some interesting seques as it relates to the comic book industry.

The reason I never got to work in the toy store was because everyone else wanted to work there too, much like breaking into comics. I didn’t stand out from the crowd and I didn’t think outside the box to get into the toy store business. At the time I didn’t really see the big picture. I only saw a selfish need to play with toys and get paid to do so. There was no other plan than that.

With comics I never really had a great plan either! I knew I wanted to draw comics and that was about it. Years later I realized that would not be enough to get my foot in the door. I needed to tighten up my portfolio and submit it to a lot of people receive rejection letters, be crushed and for some reason continue to do it. This is where my quest for working in a toy store had ended. I got rejected and brushed myself off and moved on into other fields of interest. With comic books, there was no other road. I wouldn’t just move on because someone told me I wasn’t good enough.

This brings me to a really interesting point. Some of you already have this and maybe this does not apply to you. It is only with motivation that you the comic book creator will make your dreams come true. Motivation for some is money, but if you are not getting paid up front is that really a strong enough motive to keep you going for months or perhaps years? My motivation was to make my own comic books whether someone else wanted to publish me or not. So I entered the realm of self-publishing. I quickly find others that have the same motivation, the same dream. I’m now working on my sixth publication with a great team of like-minded people. There has been a learning curve, but I enjoy doing it and working with other creators to make things happen. I have support from great communities like SPA, CAG, and UFO.

So what’s your motivation? Why do you want to work in the toy store? Make sure you know before you spend your time and money pursuing a career in the comic book industry.

Upward and onward!

Keith Murphey
CAG President

Exclusive MA. Book signing of Psychosis! at Modern Myths in Northampton! We will be at Modern Myths on

Saturday, November 24th! For more info go to www.guildworksproductions.com

Comicbook Artists Guild (CAG) network expands and restructures organization

CAG opens new chapters in Los Angeles, California, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
Philip Clark announced as new Vice President of west coast operations.
CAG or Comicbook Artists Guild has opened two new chapters, one in L.A. at
The Comic Bug located at 1015 Aviation Blvd in Manhattan Beach, CA. And a second chapter will begin meeting in Lincoln, Nebraska on October 14th, 2006 at Scooter’s Coffeehouse (1033 O Street, Suite 100 in Lincoln, Nebraska) of this year. CAG has chapters with comic book creators in NYC, CT, and Mass. The creators meet monthly in different states and work toward the common goal of producing comic books and fine-tuning their craft.
“Phil has been an integral part of The Guild for several years, and in the past several months has dynamically expanded our operations to encompass both West and East Coasts. His endeavors and success is reflected in this promotion. We stand firmly behind his management skills, and his masterful grasp of the tasks at hand.” says Creative Director, Mark Mazz.
Philip Clark is the publisher of Dreamchilde Press, which publishes, Quantum: Rock of Ages. Clark, originally a NYC CAG supporter began a chapter in L.A. earlier this summer. Philip was promoted to the title of VP, West Coast operations on September 23rd, 2006. Philip will be in charge of not just the direction of the L.A. chapter but the new Nebraska chapter as well and all future branches in the immediate area.
Clark says, “I was pleasantly surprised to find so many aspiring creators based in Los Angeles. So far, support for CAG has been very strong, as we’ve been maintaining and sometimes even doubling attendance at our monthly meetings. I look forward to spearheading west coast penned anthologies for CAG and giving the east coasters a run for their money.”

CAG Los Angeles meetings occur the third Sunday of every month at the Comic Bug.
The Comicbook Artists Guild will be producing its fifth Anthology book in the winter of 2006. Additionally, members of the Comic book Artists Guild have produced a new horror anthology entitled, PSYCHOSIS! published by Guild Works Productions. The comic-magazine, Psychosis! showcases several CAG members’ artwork and stories. For more information visit us at: www.comicartguild.com and GWP’s newly launched web-site www.guildworksproductions.com

CONTACT:
Keith J. Murphey (860) 301 2126
Philip Clark (310) 880-7508

September 2006

Walk with Heroes
By Robert J. Sodaro

Let me be perfectly clear about this. I am a Heroist.
No, I’m not a hero myself, but rather, I am a member of the cult of people who worships heroes. Sure, sure, we (those of us living in the U.S.) as a nation are all essentially hero-worshipers, but there are those of us who have turned this revered national pastime of ours into something of a lifestyle. No, we don’t just worship heroes — we revere them. They occupy the highest level of sustained attainment in our thoughts and actions.
So, while in the words of George Bernard Shaw, most of us ordinary mortals eek out lives of quiet desperation, those of us of the Cult of Heroists somehow manage to live our lives vicariously through the most amazing adventures of our heroes. Then there are the words of singer/songwriter Paul Simon, who stated that every generation throws a Hero up the pop charts. Unfortunately, while everyone gets their 15 minutes of fame, most of those Pop Heroes get either torn down by their own — very human — foibles, by the stalkerazzi nature of the tabloid press, its 24-hour cycle, and insatiable voracity, or both.
Still, even grim thoughts like that don’t dissuade me in the least for — as stated — I am a Heroist.
For me the infatuation with all things Hero began when I was very young, when I first learned about the myths and legends surrounding the Greco-Roman and Norse gods. These were individuals of great courage and great stature. They fought against impossible odds, or for noble causes. They went on epic quests, or fought terrible evil. They were Heroes.
True, not all of the Heroes of legend were noble of deed, or pure of heart; in fact most of them were venial, self-serving, hedonists who would just as soon resort to trickery or deceit as take up a cause. Still, for every Loki there was Prometheus; for every Pan or Bacillus there was a Jason or Pheidippides, who would lead a team of fearless Argonauts or run 26 miles and 385 yards to deliver a critical message at no thought to his own safety or welfare.
Throughout the history of man, whenever men were oppressed, there were heroes like Robin Hood, and King Arthur who would rise up and take up arms, and take up their cause or seek the Grail for their enlightenment. Then came the time of the new, or American gods. Fictional men like Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan and Babe, his blue Ox; or real men whose legendary status grew to be larger then the men themselves. Men like Davy Crocket, Jim Bowie and Daniel Boone; these are the men who would rise up and smite back the tide of darkness.
These are the ones we call Hero.
No matter the evil, no matter the stakes, there will come a Hero to lead the way. You may ask why, but the answer is a simple one, as simple now as it was then: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Laugh if you must, but for me, this is the pure and simple truth of it all. There are men, and there are Heroes. To be sure, there are those who would attempt to paraphrase Voltaire and state that... “If there was no Hero, man would have created him.”
On some level I would disagree, but only because it is simply unfathomable for me to envision a world in which no Hero existed. Over the coming months, it is my intention to explore the very nature of Heroes and heroism. I intend to utilize this forum, which Keith has so graciously provided me with to do so. Please keep in mind, that simply because it is my predilection to worship Heroes who choose to wear their underwear on the outside, that is not necessarily how I envision all Heroes to be.
That simply is how I envision the subclass of Heroes we refer to as Superheroes. Heroes come in all shapes and sizes, only some of which were even discussed in this first outing. Superheroes are only the tip of the iceberg. You see, from the dawn of time they came, moving through the centuries, as much a part of us as one of us. They are the Heroes, and we are the men amongst whom they live. That’s all for now. Keep the faith; but spread the buzz around; for remember…
We walk with Heroes.

June 2006

HORROR ANTHOLOGY HAS A NAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
PSYCHOSIS! That’s the official title for the new GWP book due out this September. PSYCHOSIS is going to be a 48-page book, with three suspenseful tales! We will be posting some sneak previews of stories and book updates next month.

CAG JAM poster is now available for distribution! This poster needs to be hung in as many retail stores as possible. Please contact us if you can put posters in your local shops! We are only putting one poster in each shop.

The CAG message boards have been moved! SPA (Small Press Association) has been gracious enough to host our new message board at their site. The reason for the change is this is an opportunity for increased online communication between members that is way more active. Plus it is an excellent way to be more involved in meeting SPA members and being involved with their great events!

Please register here.

You can still go to the CAG yahoo site.

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