2011 G33K Olympathon

 

The Portland Geek Council of Commerce and Culture (PGC3) is proud to announce that team registration is now open for the Geek Olympathon, June 11 and 12! Participants will form teams of up to five members and then take part in a weekend full of geeky contests and events held all over Portland. Entry is free and dozens of prizes are up for grabs, including the grand prize: a trip for two to the 2011 San Diego Comic-Con, donated by Things From Another World!

In addition to a multitude of geeky contests, there will be two awesome parties: the sure-to-be legendary Drinkathon on June 11, from 6:30 pm to close at Vendetta at 4306 N. Williams Ave., and the Awardathon on June 12, at the Mission Theater at 1624 NW Glisan from 6:30 pm to close. During the Awardathon, teams will be able to compete in a special edition of Geek Trivia with Cort & Fatboy for last-minute points, before they are brought on stage and given awards for their performance in the Olympathon, as well as bonus awards for overall participation and costumes.

The Olympathon will kick off at 9am at Backspace (115 NW 5th Ave) on Saturday, June 11th with opening ceremonies and a Geek Alleycat Bike Race sponsored by Old Town Computers.  Backspace will provide free house coffee and facilities for last minute team registration.

"We wanted to create a geek-friendly event that would both include many of the member organizations of the PGC3, and be a heck of a lot of fun for competitors," said Geek Olympathon organizer Joshua Dommermuth. "I'm really excited about the level of enthusiasm this has generated--Portland's been waiting for an event like this."

During the weekend of the Geek Olympathon, member organizations of the PGC3 will host a diverse group of competitions and award tokens to winners. Events thus far include a costume contest by SewPo, a Nintendo Controller Untangling contest by Ground Kontrol, a Left4Dead Last Man Standing tournament at Backspace, and a Comic Book Scramble hosted by Dark Horse Comics! While some contests will require multiple team members, many will only need one, which allows events to happen simultaneously across the city.

Other prizes include a night's stay at the Jupiter Hotel, two Club-level tickets to a Portland Timbers game, and a Nettop PC from Old Town Computers, so get your team together now! A full schedule of events and the online form for team registration are available at http://www.pgc3.org/olympathon. 

About the Portland Geek Council of Commerce and Culture:

The PGC3 was formed in late 2010 by a group of like-minded geeks to promote geek culture in the Greater Portland Metro Area. Since then, we have grown dramatically and now number over 80 geek-centric organizations. We strive to unite and cultivate the Portland geeky community--those people who are enthusiastic and, perhaps, a little obsessive in the pursuit of their passions. We will provide opportunities and resources to facilitate networking, community building, and targeted marketing, especially for our member organizations, but also for Portland's geek community at large.

  

Doctor Who Timeline (The new series)

Nathanthenerd put this Doctor Who timeline together.   The most interesting thing to me was following River's encounters.

DR WHO - The Rebel Flesh

After each episode Doctor Who the amazing artist Francesco Francavilla does a quick sketch.  This is from Rebel Flesh which was the most creepy so far. 

From Francesco Francavilla:

"Just saw the new episode of Doctor Who on BBC America and I absolutely loved it except... for the fact that is a two part story and the second part will be aired in 2 weeks (can't wait that long, BBC!!!)

Here's my spoiler free mini poster (which apparently scares my wife a bit ;)) for this episode: a whole 10 minutes start to finish.
Hope you guys dig it :)"

07 Trek in the Park

Atomic Arts will be performing a classic episode of Star Trek in Portland’s Woodlawn Park.  This year, they take on:  Mirror, Mirror.  Prior years tackled the episodes Amok Time and Space Seed.

Trek In The Park is free of charge.  Bring a picnic and stake out your place on the grass early.  
Shows begin at 5pm, rain or shine

Shows will be held on July 9-10, 16-17, 23-24 & 30-31.  

Want to learn more?  Check out their site here.

Emi Lenox has a new art blog

Emi Lenox has also done work for Mike Allred's Madman (Image) and Jeff Lemire's Sweet Tooth (DC Vertigo).   She recently release her own book through image EmiTown.     She recently set a new tumblr art blog.

05/18 Jeff Parker signing @ I Like Comics

May 18th 2PM-4PM
At "I Like Comics"
2101 East 4th Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98661
360-896-6640

Come meet the writer of Marvel's "Agents Of Atlas", "Thunderbolts", "Fall Of The Hulks" and more! Jeff is also the writer of Walk-In and the second volume of Guy Ritchie's Gamekeeper for Virgin Comics and much, much more!

06/19 Sign for Cognition and Nerd Night Party

Come get your first issue of the comic Cognition: The Robot Uprise at Bridge City Comics - signing from 5-7PM.

THEN, an all ages Nerd Night party, just down the street at Mississippi studio with music from Robot Uprise, The Slants and Exquisite Rap Duo.

THE SLANTS
ROBOT UPRISE
EXQUISITE RAP DUO
Doors: 7:30 / Show: 8:00 - ALL AGES BALCONY - $5 door ticket with a comic from Bridge City Comics.
$5.00 Advance / $8.00 Day of show

Questions: 40: David Walker

David Walker recently was at Stumptown with his new book  Darius Logan: Super Justice Force. The book allows us to look into the lives of superheros in a new way.   It was a designed as a book that your teenager wants to read.

David Walker is a director, producer, author, movie reviewer, MSN.com contributor, comic book writer, magazine publisher, businessman, and radio personality. He was a former screen editor of Willamette Week.  He literally wrote the book on Blaxploitation…two of them to be exact, Reflections on Blaxploitation: Actors and Directors Speak and BADAZZ MOFO’S Book of Blaxploitation, Volume One.

Back in 1996, David Walker created a tiny ‘zine called BadAzz MoFo.  Over the years, BadAzz MoFo earned an international reputation for its pop culture commentary and political insight, as well as the ultimate resource guide for blaxploitation. The badazzmofo website is a continuation of that legacy.

He has made several short films including Blaxploitation Star Wars mockumentary, Blackstar Warrior, Black Santa's Revenge (starring Ken Foree of Dawn of the Dead, and available on DVD), MissingReel.com: The New Home of Grindhouse History, a web series about grindhouse films.

Some of people say he is just "one of the baddest of the bad motherf**kers alive (there was six of left, but he shot the other five)"

Doug Dorr: What projects are you working on currently? Can you tell us anything about the Matt Grigsby Project?

I'm working on several projects. First, there's the sequel to my novel, Darius Logan: Super Justice Force. I'm just getting going on that, but I've set a deadline of June 30th for completion of the first draft. Next we have a comic project called Number 13. This is a collaboration with artist Robert Love, and it will debut in Dark Horse Presents #2. And finally there's the project I'm doing with artist Matt Grigsby. The working title is Moreau's Army, and as you might guess, it has something to do with The Island of Dr. Moreau, but it's nothing like anything you would imagine. It is going to be pretty awesome.

What is your artistic Process?

It varies with each project, but it always starts with a basic concept. With Darius Logan: Super Justice Force, it started with me thinking about the people behind the scenes in the world of superheroes. You never see the support staff at Avengers Mansion or the Hall of Justice, but come on, you're going to tell me that superheroes cook their own food, do their own laundry and handle all that grunt work. So, that's where that whole idea came from. With Moreau's Army, the idea came from me thinking about playing around with ideas and

concepts that already existed, kind of like what Alan Moore did with League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. I come up with a basic story premise, then I figure out the characters I will need to tell the story, and then, while I'm developing plot, I start to work on theme. Theme is everything. Without theme, you got a bad sitcom.  

DD:  With your broad backgound in movies, books, news, interviews. What are you most proud of?

That's a difficult question. Right now it is Darius Logan: Super Justice Force. But I hope that will change as a I grow as a writer. I'm also really proud of my 'zine, BadAzz MoFo, which has been going since 1996. That publication has done more for me than even I realize. It opened a lot of doors and helped me develop as a writer and person.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

One of my favorite titles is POWERS, by Brian Bendis and Mike Oeming. I had taken a long hiatus from reading comics, and that's the title that brought me back to the medium. I like Bendis's other work, but POWERS is it for me. I also really like Ex-Machina by Brian K. Vaughn and Tony Harris. I think Kyle Baker's Why I hate Saturn is one of the greatest graphic novels of all time, period. Both of Matt Wagner's Mage collections remain all-time favorites. Matt is an under-appreciated genius of the comics medium, and I'd argue one of the top ten most importnat creators of the 1980s.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

It depends on how old they are. If they were younger, like a kid or something, I'd recommend any of the all ages Marvel stuff Jeff Parker or Paul Tobin have written. Older readers, I would definitely point them towards Why I Hate Saturn. Both of the Whiteout series by Rucka and Lieber are awesome. And I'm a die-hard Will Eisner fan, so maybe the Contract with God collection.

DD:   How involved are you with the illustration, the look and feel, of the books you write?

I have a background as a failed artist. I know what I want, and I try my hardest to get it, without being pushy. I came up with the basic character design and cover concept for Darius Logan: Super Justice Force, and then handed to the Robert Love who did the actual illustration. When I write comics, I draw rough thumbnails for myself as a point of reference. I can't write comics without doing the thumbnails. I tell the artist they can use my layout ideas, or come up with their own. But having studied guys like Will Eisner, Alex Toth and Wally Wood for years, I'd like to think I have a decent visual sense, even if my talent is lacking.

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?

I'd love to improve my drawing game. But I'm lazy when it comes to that stuff and don't have enough patience. I keep telling myself that I'm going to start drawing again, but instead I do things like make movies and write novels.

DD:   What's the most important thing you've learned?

If you want to be a creative person, then do it. Don't wait for the time or money, because it may never come. I know people who are amazing artists, but they want to get paid before to do the work. That's cool. We all want to get paid. But if no one has the money to pay you, are you not going to use the talent you have? It bothers me when people squander their talents or get hung up on getting paid. You get paid to do a job. Your artistic passion should never be a job. And if you ever get lucky enough to get paid to do your artistic passion, then you are one of the luckiest people on the planet. But until that happens, shut up and draw or write or play music and be happy that you got a shred of talent.

DD:   Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

My collection has dwindled over the years. Back in the day, I had every issued of X-Men from 94 to 250, including Giants Size #1. But I got rid of all that stuff. Now it is mostly trade paperbacks. I have a few hundred random comics. I have a copy of DC Showcase #43, the adaptation of Dr. No. It's pretty rare. I never look at it.

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

I'm a big fan of the superhero deconstruction genre. That would include Powers, Gotham Central and a handful of other books set in the world of superheroes, but not the primary focus. More than anything, I like a well-written book with art that doesn't suck. Genre is secondary.

DD:  Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

No. I'm waiting for someone to give me one as a present.

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

My favorite TV shows of all time are Barney Miller, The Wire, The Shield and Twilight Zone. My favorite movie of all time is Jesus Christ Superstar. Seriously.

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work

There is a great sense of community among creators and readers, and that helps to keep me motivated. It is great to talk to other creatives and it is great to interact with the people who appreciate the work. I consider myself lucky to be part of this community.

DD:   What was your first comic convention?

It was a Creation Convention in New York City back in 1978. It blew my mind. I met Bob Kane, the guy who created Batman.

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

I love seeing friends that I don't see otherwise. When I go to Sand Diego or some other show out of town, that's when I see my friends from other cities, so it's always a reunion of some sort.

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

I write. It doesn't matter what the medium is. Comics are a means to an end, and that end is to tell a story. Darius Logan: Super Justice Force was supposed to be a comic. I wrote the whole thing out, and couldn't find anyone to draw it, so I rewrote as a novel. So, even if I'm not doing something in the medium of comics, I'm still writing.

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

Big-Ass Sandwiches food cart, Foti's Greek Deli, or Du's Grill down the street from Cosmic Monkey Comics.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I've been here longer than Starbucks. My mom got a job here when I was in junior high school.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?

Any place where the sun is shining and there are no stupid people around to annoy me.

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

Any place where the food is free (and the sun is shining and there are no stupid people around to annoy me).

  

DD:   Would you like to write a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

At this point, I like playing with my own toys. When you play with the toys of someone else, there are too many rules. Perhaps the one exception is Shaft. I really want to do a comic series based on Ernest Tidyman's original Shaft novels, not so much the movies.

05/28 May of the Dead Chapter 3

We are zombie fans and games fans.   Every May Guardian Games has a zombie gaming event.    This will allow us to try out some of the  great zombie games that are out there.


Guardian Games
303 Southeast 3rd Avenue
Portland, OR 97214
(503) 238-4000

Saturday, May 28 · 12:00pm - 11:30pm

FREE entry.

Movies all day long, Contest for costumes, games, props, Games all zombie games are gonna be out to enjoy!

• Left 4 Dead 2 open gaming all day. Modern Warfare Zombie Map.
• Last Night on Earth board game games.
• Zombie Fluxx games.
• Zombies!!! games.
• Zombie Dice.
• Castle Ravenloft the board game.
• Zombie themed D&D 4th edition. **4:00pm w/ Noah**
• Munchkin Zombies w/ the Men in Black
• ZombieMachine Miniatures Scenario **12:00pm w/ John**

20% off purchases for anyone in zombie or anti-zombie costumes. 
10% off for gamers wearing zombie attire (t-shirts, hats, etc with zombie themes). 

Beer specials for zombies!
**Zombie Make-UP (we need an artist, we provide make-up, you work for tips!)

Please contact Angel at Guardian Games if you'd like to volunteer to GM a game. GM's will receive 5 bucks in store credit if they show 3+ gamers a good time.

05-17 Screening of Dr. Butcher M. D. (aka Zombie Holocaust)

For undead mayhem, get down to the Hollywood Theatre on Tuesday, May 17 for a 35mm screening of Dr. Butcher M. D. (aka Zombie Holocaust). It's a classic Italian gutmuncher, with zombies, cannibals and, in one jawdropping scene, a propeller to the face! Check with the Grindhouse Film Festival website for more information. Showtime is at 7:30 pm.

05/22 Presentation of Eurocomics: Art as an illustration of resistance

I just came across this Art show.   Since I am reading a bunch of European Comics right now.   I thought it would be worth checking out.

Date: May 22 7:00pm - 10:00pm
NATIONALE gallery, E. Burnside
811 E. Burnside,
97214 Portland, OR

The selection of books presented for this introduction to Eurocomics has 2 major particularities. The first one being that all the titles presented are from renowned authors and artists for the most, with major influence on the industry. Hugo Pratt, Gimenez/Jodorowsky& Moebius, Nicolas de Crecy, Winshluss, along with lesser-known great talents, as Stephane Levallois, Rabate, or Kamel Khelif. But all have war as a background landscape, or a struggle because of a human conflict. Probably because their author/illustrator felt the need to express such stories - or simply because dramatic adventures literature codes- but also because Eurocomics took on a different concept of narration and themes, as well as illustration styles than what has been exploited in the States after WWII. 

Adult content was making its way through, genres multiplied and masters of illustration glorified. One can already discover this influence with the creation of Heavy Metal, firstly a French Magazine. War was one the major reasons why Europe took on a different path than USA, along with a different cultural background, and the need to express the complexity of human psychology in those moments was needed. You will also discover it is not the industry that put this forward, rather the artists themselves, stubborn and resisting to pressures. Over time, Eurocomics have created anti-heroes and beautiful visual narration to explore all the corners of story-telling, with a diversity rarely paralleled, especially in the artwork.

All books will be presented @ the event.
Donations gladly taken, otherwise free for your eyes.

05/14 - Zombie Prom

Questions 39: Trixie Biltmore

Trixie Biltmore's  first-grade teacher tried to hold her back a grade due to “social retardation.”  Things haven’t improved much.

You can follow Trixie’s glorious repartee on twitter: @meencomics

You can read Trixie’s semi-autobiographical comic at http://www.meencomics.com,   It is updated weekly, so you’ll always have a nice fresh poop joke to look forward to.

Doug Dorr:   What projects are you working on currently?

Well, Meen Comics, at least once a week. I'll have two sets of Meen Comics in mini-comic form by Stumptown. The first volume is from the beginning of the strip, when I was still drawing myself with no pupils. The second volume will be everything from the point I gave myself pupils in the strip to the present.


I will also have a mini of the comics I've been drawing for the Portland Opera. They've been having us come out for dress rehearsal and we get a backstage tour, and then we draw comics while we sit in the dark. I'm slowly figuring out how to draw without really being able to see what I'm doing. Anyway, it's been great- I'd never been to an opera before and now I've seen four of them. And they turn out to be DURTY. I had no idea that opera is so often whole strings of dirty jokes, but in Italian, sung by a guy in a wig.

DD:   What is your artistic Process?

I don't know if you can call it a process! I carry a notebook around with me and write my ideas down in it, and then later, I read these ideas, and I find out that what I wrote down was something like "HONK HONK I'M A SCHOOL BUS" and I can no longer remember what that was supposed to mean. So then I will scramble for another idea, usually some stupid story I was regaling the studio with, and I sketch it out in a thumbnail, and then a first draft, and then I scan it and print it and ink it and scan it again and add lettering and tone it in Photoshop and then I put it up on my website and collapse to the ground, weeping softly.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend?

Mysterius by Jeff Parker, and Bucko Comics on the web by him and Erika Moen. And also Underground by Parker and Steve Lieber. Who are all, I should note, studiomates, but who are great, and totally fun to read.


Other comics I've loved recently are anything by Jason Shiga, especially Bookhunter, and Chew, by John Layman, and Blacksad, by Juan Diaz Canales. Oh! and The Rabbi's Cat, by Joann Sfar.


But I'm a web cartoonist, and I read LOTS of those. Lulu Eightball, who is a web cartoonist out of Chicago, I think, is GREAT. I love Wonderella- that's one of the best strips on the web, and also his twitterstream is so funny. I love the artwork in Johnny Wander. And I read Cat and Girl religiously. Achewood used to be my absolute favorite, and might be again if he starts it back up- it seems like it's on a hiatus. I tend towards funny stuff. I love Eleanor Davis, who has a site called doing-fine.com - she's one of my favorites. I have everything she's in and a bunch of her small press and minis.

DD:   What Comic/ Trade would you recommend to someone new to comics?

It depends on the person and the age and what I think they'd personally like. Any of the things I mentioned up there. DAR, by Erika Moen, if they have a sense of humor.

Maybe Emitown, by Emi Lenox, if they like cute autobiographical stuff.  Dicebox, by Jen Manley Lee, is beautifully drawn and interesting, and I think she's coming out with a print edition of her book soon. If it's a kid, I really liked Hereville by Barry Deutsch, and Smile by Raina Telgemeier.

DD:    When you are story illustrator, how involved are you in the guiding the story?

It depends, but mostly it's not my job to GUIDE the story. I'm there to tell the story, and to tell it mostly the way the writer sees it.

DD:   What skill would you like to learn?.

Impulse control would be good to learn. Maybe "how to not say the thing that I think is hysterically funny but that will be offensive to everyone else in the room."

DD:  What's the most important thing you've learned?

Do you mean, EVER? Um. Learning to touch-type has made me more money than anything else I ever learned in school. Learning to admit I made a mistake and apologize is one I'm still working on.

DD:  Do you have a collection? If so, what is one of the items you're most proud of?

I don't really collect much of anything. I have a bug collection, though, now that I think of it. I have a giant acrylic block filled with about a hundred different asian insects that I keep on my desk at Periscope, and it freaks out everybody who hates bugs, so I guess that's my favorite.

DD:   What is your favorite genre of Comics?

Indie/alternative/autobio/webcomics. I started reading a lot of comics in the very late 80s and all through the 90s so I have a soft spot for indies.

DD:   Do you have an Ipad? If so what do use it for the most.

I don't have an Ipad. I kind of want one, but they're expensive and I have a laptop that does all of those things, honestly.

DD:   What is your favorite TV show/ movie?

Here is where I look like a jackass and say "I don't have a television" but I DON'T. I watch stuff on the internets all the time though. Right now I've been watching "Embarrassing Bodies" which is a Channel 4 show where they show people with giant cysts or butt zits. Any kind of disgusting embarrassing illness. I LOVE IT.

DD:   How does the Portland comics culture shapes your work?

I spend most of my waking hours in a comic book studio, and almost all of my friends are cartoonists. My work is autobiographical, and it features Periscope and Periscope people a lot, so I would say that my work IS Portland comics culture.

DD:   What was your first comic convention?

APE or Wondercon - I used to live in San Francisco.

DD:   What is your favorite part of comic conventions?

Seeing friends from all over the place and sometimes getting to meet my heros. Last Emerald City, I briefly got to talk to Sergio Aragones. That was THRILLING.

DD:   If you weren’t doing comics what would you do?

Cease to exist. I mean that quite literally.

DD:   Do you have a favorite restaurant that you would recommend?

I like Le Pigeon in Portland if I'm eatin' Fancy.

DD:   How long have you lived in Portland, what made you choose Portland?

I've lived in Portland since 2000 or 2001. I was trying to move to Seattle, and got a job here so thought I'd stay just long enough to save some money up. The company I was working for almost immediately went out of business, and just like many before me, I got stuck and broke in Portland. But then I met Steve Lieber and a bunch of cartoonists and decided I liked it here anyway.

DD:   What is your favorite part of Portland?

Periscope Studio. But also I kind of like the beer.

DD:   Where in Portland/ Oregon would you most like to visit?

I want to go backstage at the Zoo. I totally want to spend the day drawing animals and trying not to get in the way when they feed the elephants.

DD:   Would you like to write/Illustrate for another media? Or would you like illustrating a character from a different media, for example, Dr. Who, James Bond? What would you explore?

I want enough time and money to spend a year making a stop-motion movie, seriously.
But also I'd like to draw the Moomins! I love Tove Janson. I don't think I could improve on her drawings but I'd do a Moomin fan piece in a hot second.

Free Comic Book Day (Signings and more at TFAW)- May 7

This is a great event with great comics and prizes.  Take everyone you know to a comic book store on May7.
 
PDX YAR Pirates in Milwaukie and Portland!
Saturday May 7, come to our Portland, Beaverton, and Milwaukie locations to get FREE special-edition comics from your favorite publishers all day long (while supplies last!).
Come bring the whole family for free comics and more:
* Amazing doorbusters!
* TFAW Bucks!
* Signings with amazing creators!
* Stormtroopers and pirates!

PLUS, DOORS OPEN AT 10AM FOR ALL THREE LOCATIONS!

Stormtroopers from Cloud City Garrison in Beaverton!
Free Comic Book Day Signing Schedule!
Come on down--we've scheduled an incredible array of comic book creators all day long at each of our stores. Plus, you'll be entertained by the Pirates of PDX YAR and Stormtroopers from Cloud City Garrison!
Check out our schedule below to plan out an awesome day for pop-culture fans of all ages.

BEAVERTON STORE
12pm-3pm:
Amy Mebberson (Muppet Show, Finding Nemo)
Kelly Sue DeConnick (Osborn, Girl Comics)

2pm-5pm:
Patric Reynolds (Let Me In, Abe Sapien)
Ben Bates (Sonic The Hedgehog)

3pm-6pm: Shawn Cruz and Micah Baker (Corrosive Comics)
4pm-7pm: Dane Ault (Zombies Next Door)

PORTLAND STORE
12pm-3pm:
Ben Dewey (Dark Horse's Star Wars FCBD comic)
Paul Tobin (Marvel Adventures, Spider-Girl)

2pm-4pm: Terry Dodson and Rachel Dodson (Uncanny X-Men, Wonder Woman)

2pm-5pm:
Steve Lieber (Underground, Whiteout)
Dustin Weaver (S.H.I.E.L.D., Star Wars Vector)

4pm-7pm:
Paul Guinan/Anina Bennett (Boilerplate)
David Hahn (Murderland, Suicide Girls)

MILWAUKIE STORE
12pm-3pm:
Scott Allie (Buffy Season 8, B.P.R.D.: The Dead Remembered)
Erik Henriksen, Todd Herman, and Herb Apon (Warriors: Jailbreak)

2pm-5pm:
Ron Chan (The Guild: Tink, Supersized)
Jeremy Barlow (Metalocalypse, Star Wars)

4pm-7pm: Brandon Seifert and Lukas Ketner (Witch Doctor)