Izzy Challenge #5

J. B. Winter, creator of the Izzy Challenge, sent 50 cartoonist, one from each state, an Izzy panel to complete. Izzy is a little mouse, and this book is a record of Izzy touring America. Each artist was sent a few guide lines, and given one month to complete an Izzy panel depicting something from their state.

It's one thing to come up with an idea like this, quite another to pull it off. Winter is one of the best at layout and design. He manages to get four panels per page, plus an outline of each state represented on the page, and the artists info for each panel. All this in a digest size book. This is a great little collectors item. Some of the contributing artist will be known to small press folks, others are at least new to me. Every contributor does a great job, and for a dollar how can you go wrong?

Available from J. B.Winter at PO Box 1814 Columbia MO.65205.

Tales of Fantasy # 42

Issue 42 of Tales Of Fantasy has something a little different for regular readers of this series. This one is a Super Hero story! The story is written by Mike Tuz, and Larry Johnson does the art. Super heroes don't always get it right, and sometimes they can make things worse. That's the basic premise for this issue. Mike includes all of Larry's well known characters, Madam Boogala, her son Goomar, and of course Detective Kolowski, trying to sort things out. Larry's great letters section,"Mails of Fantasy" returns. Reading the mail section can really give you some insight on the previous issue. His stable of letter writers, take great care in analyzing each issue of TOF, making this section of the comic a must read for all.

TOF 42 is $3.00 from Larry Johnson 9 St.Peter St. #4 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-4907

Captain Spectacular #3

Small press comics have their share of super heroes, but none quite like Nate Corrigan's "Captain Spectacular". How often have you seen a Super Hero, swing into action when he hears that a garbage dumpster is overflowing with garbage?

Well CS does just that. He jumps up runs into a bathroom, changes into his Janitorial uniform, and flies the dumpster to the dump. Howz that for a Super Hero?

Now of course no Super Hero comic would be complete without a villain, so Nate throws one in here just for good measure.

Nate's art and layout are flawless, making this a must have small press comic.

It's just $2.00 from Nate Corrigan PO Box 25 Houghton NY 14744

Get your comic on here!

If you would like to have your comic appear on the Homemade Komics Blog, simply send a copy to: Larned Justin
3741 Laura Ct.
House Springs, Mo 63051

I do not want this to be viewed as a way for me to get free comics, that is not my intent. If there is something you would like me to include in the comments on your comic please send that along as well.

Cornelia Cartoons # 10

With Kel Crum's art style, his comics could be considered art comics. If not for the fact that his stories have fall down laughing dialog, a beginning, a middle, and a punch line at the end. Thus disqualifying them for art comic status.

Issue # 10 has three Cornelia stories, and an Ed Thud story. I really don't want to give any of the gags away here, so just take my word that the stories will not disappoint!

here is just one little thing I have to tell you about. In one panel Cornelia is walking by a food store. There is a sign in the window reading; " Closed captioned Rice Krispies for the hearing impaired"

( think about it)

Cornelia Cartoons # 10 is Half legal size, $ 2.00 from Kel Crum 32 W. Goodman Dr # 23 Fairborn OH 45324

Tales of Fantasy # 41

Any comic book title that runs 41 issues and has the word Fantasy in it, just has to do a " B" movie type story.

"The Skin Game" is Larry Johnson's homage to the "B" horror movies of the fifties. Larry Johnson is the artist and writer of one of the longest running small press titles, in all of small press!

We have a little of everything in "The Skin Game", a mad scientist, a creepy castle like mansion, on an Island. A lighting storm, a creepy assistant who does not talk, a beautiful woman being held against her will. And of course Larry's long running character Lew Brown, to sort it all out.

All though the story is quite familiar, Larry does a great job with it, adding a little twist to the type of mad scientist in the story. You will enjoy seeing how Lew Brown gets out of this one!

The issue also has a Space Cat story, " Mails of Fantasy" the excellent letters section, and features full color covers inside and out. About 42 pages, digest size, $3.00, From, Larry Johnson

9 St. Peter st #4 Jamaica Plain, MA 02130-4907

It's been a While

It has been quite a while since I have posted anything here. I think it is high time that I return to posting some reviews and info about small press comics and zines.

What better way to start than by taking a look at Christoph Meyer's new issue of "28 Pages Lovingly Bound with Twine" from Big Red Mill Publishing Christoph Meyer PO Box 106 Danville, OH 43014.

The big surprise here is that Christoph, after winning the Utne Reader Independent Press award,

"Best Zine Ever" Just kind of shut down, and did nothing. He admits he was depressed. I have met Christoph a number of times, and just hard to picture him in a funk. But that is just what happened. For 2 years he says he did nothing but sit around and mope.

But that seems to have changed! In fact he has taken on a monumental challenge. Christoph is currently on the Appalachian Trail, planning to hike the entire trail all 2,175 miles of it from now until Oct 2008. Whew! That's awsome! I suggest you send for this zine and read how this all came about, if you have read any of Christoph's past zines, you know this will not disapoint. I would say it costs $2.00.

You can follow Christoph's travels at http://www.trailjournals.com/ His trail name is Twineman. Leave a comment in his guest book Iam sure he will appreciate it.

Possible cover for a new comic

Here is a cover idea I have for an upcoming project with Tim Corrigan. Tim has also done a cover, so this may be an inside cover. The comic is Called "Roy Ritter and the Red River Wranglers"
It's about a traveling Cowboy Band circa 1905

Tim Corrigan's Comics & Stories #12

In November of 2006 I posted a review of Tim Corrigan's Comics & Stories. That was issue number one of a series that was supposed to come out every month. Well I can report to you that I have just received my 12th issue in a row, and every issue arrived right on time. I will be sending Tim another $12.00 for my next years subscription.

Tim has been able to accomplish something that is rare in the world of small press comics. He has published a quality comic with detailed art and loads of laughs on a monthly basis.

Tim Corrigan

POB 25

Houghton, NY 14744

Although some issues contain additional features, the main characters remain The crew from MightyGuy. Fred Schmurt runs a comic book publishing company. The company has been fortunate enough to come across a super hero suit that when worn by anyone will give them super hero powers. Mike Mcziltcho stumbled into Fred's office one day in search of a job, and wound up an unwilling super hero. Fred's plan is to find MightyGuy adventures, and have his artist, Marvin,draw them for the companies comics. This basic story line has been making people like me laugh since I first discovered MighyGuy comics. Believe me when I tell you, it will make you laugh also, just try it!

Video from SPACE

Here is a short video from this years SPACE comic expo in Columbus OH. Most of this was shot early before the show opened to the public.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyu16GtTbQ0

19th Century Detective, Play the video!

19th Century Detective available for Purchase

My Latest comic book, 19th Century Detective " The Graybridge Terror", Is now available for purchase. The comic is 32 pages, standard comic book size with color covers.

The cost is $3.00 plus $1.00 for shipping and packaging. Send cash or check to:

Larned Justin

PO Box 471

House Springs, MO 63051

Take a look at www.freewebs.com/candidcartoons for more info.

Thank, you

19th Century Detective

Click here For information about a brand new exciting comic book project from Larned Justin published by Candid Cartoons!

Tim Corrigan's Comics & Stories

Digest size 12 pages each $1.00 each From: Tim Corrigan PO Box 25 Houghton NY 14744

I think most peolple in the small press community have at least heard the name; Tim Corrigan.Maybe not all are familiar with his outstanding comic work. This new series, according to Tim, will be the vehicle for all of his comic characters both old and new.

The first two issues feature my favorite Corrigan characters, Fred, Marvin , and Mike, from The MIGHTYGUY comics that Tim has published for a number of years. These of course are new stories written and drawn by Tim for this new series. In issue one Mike and Marvin decide to watch a movie on TV together, when there is a suspicious knock at the door!!! In story number two romance seems to have found Fred, the owner of C&T Graphics Comic Book CO.

Issue two finds the boys from C&T Comics setting up a signing booth at the local comic shop. Things get complicated when a spoiled brat of a kid becomes their first customer. The second story is called Mr. Doodle. And features the main character relating an incident that happened at a laundromat. This turns out to be a very interesting way to tell a story using sequential art, but just drawings of the stories narrator. These comics are Highly recommended!

Halloween # 7

Ckick on the graphic below to see Michael Roden's Halloween #7

SMALL PRESS EXTRA

Here is what most of us in the small press comics field have been looking for. A small press print review zine! Tim Goebel and Sam Gafford have started publishing Small Press Extra. Featuring reviews , interviews, columns, news, and ads from the small press community. If you have been involved in small press over the last few years, you know this is something we have needed for some time. The August issue was sent out free, and the next issue will be available in October.

The zine will be published bi-monthly The subscription rate is $20.00 for four issues. This is something everyone should get behind, go ahead and spend the twenty bucks. If you don't you only have yourself to blame. I can tell you from experience it is not easy to produce and pay for this type of a zine. The first issue is digest size, color covers, and 46 pages. Submitt your comics and send your subscription to:

Tim Goebel

71 Geranium Ave. West

St. Paul, MN. 55117

KOMICS/COVERS MUSIC VIDEO

Click on the graphic below to watch The music video

NOODLE # 2

Click on the Homemade Komics Video Blog below to see Noodle

The Return

Yep The video blog is back! this time with a look at Tales to Demolish # 3


Press play on the bottom right of the intro page

What Next???

After first having a problem with the video software that I use for the HOMEMADE KOMICS videos, my computer took a lightning hit and the mother board got fried. So I purchased a bare bones kit and put together a new computer. And I am proud of myself because it works just fine!

Then St. Louis was hit by a major storm. It knocked out power all over St. Louis and the surrounding area. My power came back on in about 6 hours, so we were fortunate there. Some still do not have power as I write this. However now I have lost my cable internet connection. They tell me, even though it worked after the storm, the current outage is still storm related.

So I can write this from work, but I can't of course do any videos, or even scan any comic covers in for an old fashioned written review. What next? A terrorist attack? Space invasion? Zombies?
What next?