Cape Comic Con Spotlight:
Brian Rhodes
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Born with an Atari 2600 joystick in hand and imaginative, influential children of the 80's as siblings, Brian Rhodes had no other choice but to embrace his roots and enter the world of creative writing and cartooning. The result? Mike and the Ninja, a 3-volume, 305-page saga of ninja, video game references, and silly humor wrapped around a story about two guys trying to find their place in the world.
Brian began work on Mike and the Ninja in 2000, but didn't seriously begin tackling the project until 2008, when he vowed to not let the comic be lost in a pile of other unfinished works and empty Little Caesar's Pizza boxes. Since then, Brian has completed Mike and the Ninja, and with the release of Volume 3 at Cape Comic Con, he brings the final volume of the story to you. With Mike and the Ninja wrapped up, Brian is planning a blog and a novel, some cartooning here and there, and has long-term plans for a new series of comics. When urged to reveal more information on these alleged comics, Brian activated a hidden trapdoor that deposited the interviewer in a sewer.
Brian started making comics at age 9, directly resulting in his lifelong inability to compute fractions. Fortunately, liberal arts education exists for those who stink at math, and Brian found himself with an English degree and a wealth of experience in graphic design, marketing, and advertising.
Brian lives in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, with his wife, Amanda, and their two cats, Bones and Miles. He will be at Cape Con all three days, and will be offering all three volumes of Mike and the Ninja, sketches, lots of laughs, and some freebies, too.
Cape Comic Con Spotlight:
Artist Brad Moore
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Artist Brad Moore specializes in indie comics, horror books, and is a top 10 Metal Band CD cover artist. Brad has been published in over 300 countries for the past 28 years. Brad was recently selected to be in the publication Who's Who, a book of the best talents in their fields. He also was hand-picked by H.R. Giger to display his work at Giger's castle in Switzerland. His art heroes include the late Frank Frazetta, Jeff Jones, Gil Kane, and Frank Brunner, to name a few.
He is responsible for reviving the legendary underground comic, Skull for Last Gasp, and has worked alongside such industry legends as Steve Bissette, Tim Vigil, and Everette Hartsoe. Cartooning legend S. Clay Wilson has called Brad “..a visionary”. Rounding out his many works are commissions for TV commercial storyboards, designs for film, and comic art for Legacy of Death, and Wombs and Tombs. Brad has even appeared in many films, including Fish Finger and the still-in-production Dig 2 Graves. Brad works in his studio at the Southernmost tip of Illinois.
Example of Brad's artwork:
Cape Comic Con Spotlight:
Artist Wade Moore
Monday, February 25, 2013
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Brainstorms Laboratory is celebrating 10 years of creativity!
For many years Wade Moore has been a fan of comics. He was lucky enough to have grown up learning to draw and how to use his creativity from his brother, Brad Moore, a famous underground comics and CD cover painter. Wade started creating superheros around the age of 5. He would sit on with his brother, who he would draw Wade's thoughts. By age 7, Wade was tracing and drawing his own visions.
Wade says of his brother, "We have 7 years between us so growing up was not always the nicest between brothers. I realize now how much I bothered him. But he never told me to get lost when I wanted to draw or sculpt with him in our little home studio back in the day. Now my brother and I are great friends and always share in our creations. Even though I paint and draw nothing like he does, he is my source inspiration."
Wade enjoys sharing his work with others and hopes it will inspire artists of all ages to not let their dreams fall to the wayside.
Examples of Wade's work:
Custom made action figures and concept design are what Brainstorms is all about. Brainstorms is the creator of Life Sized Heroes and has been featured at the Chicago Comic Con and as well as in ToyFare magazine. Brainstorms Laboratory has won several awards for the customs produced over a 10-year period.
Cape Comic Con Spotlight:
Artist Nathan Bonner
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
Nathan Bonner has been drawing robots and spaceships most of his life. He is completely mad about space, spaceship design and the occasional hard-boiled detective. His comics, Indavo and Shamus Stone, are the phsyical representations of these interests. He also enjoys ham.
Examples of Nathan's artwork:
Indavo concerns the adventures of a freelance space explorer named Indavo, together with Racheal (a very knowledgable
girl from the sticks) and robotic Despot Gauron T, roam the Universe getting into all sorts of mayhem. Indavo's first
series ran from 2003 - 2010. Currently Indavo 2.0 has started to bring a bit more mayhem to the Universe.
Check out Indavo!
Shamus Stone is a film noir style detective comic that follows a detective in post-war Chicago in a case
involving Dames, Masks and Murder.
Investigate Shamus Stone!
Cape Comic Con Spotlight:
Artist Andy Borders
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Brian A. Borders AKA "Andy" came into being in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and seventy. He grew up in the shire and went on many adventures with his fellows Samwise, Merry & Pippin. After many a brave and wonderous travels, he has returned to the shire (Campbell, Missouri) and resides in a hovel where he has sired three beautiful daughters and one rather rambuncious lad. He now spends his days writing tales and drawing pictures, of which here are but a few:
Suspenders & a Belt (comic)
The Dreary Life of Abner Prost (comic)
Every Last One: The Adventures of Six-Gun Sally & Samurai Sue (comic)
Testament Tales (biblical comic)
Allie Kafka & the 40 Thieves (strip)
Rohevven (comic 2013)
Lark (novel 2013)
Andy has worked with HELOCK COMICS company, 7X70 STUDIOS, and is also a freelance "artist for hire" doing commission projects. He fancies himself a guitarist, mandolinist & struggling violinist. His inspirations, albeit, art, music or literature are: Neil Gaiman, Mike Alred, Mike Mignola, Howard Chaykin, Jeff Darrow, Van Goegh, J.R.R. Tolkien, R.A. Salvatore, Ed Greenwood, Poe, H.P. Lovecraft, D.L. Moore, Gary Gygax, any & all RPGers, LARPers, Cosplayers, Steampunkers, Trekkies (and Trekkers), Ringers that love what they do. And most importantly, Jesus Christ, without whom, none of the above would be possible.
Examples of Andy's artwork
Andy hopes to spend the remainder of his days telling tales, playing music, drinking fine wine, with a finer woman, and leaving behind a legacy that will inspire others to live their dreams.
Cape Comic Con Spotlight: Years 5-7
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Year Five: 2010
2010 was a milestone year for Cape Con. It marked the show's fifth anniversary, and it was the year that the convention found a permanent home at Cape Girardeau's Osage Community Center. The facility offered a main convention floor, as well as breakaway rooms that could accommodate additional gaming, panel discussions, and more. Cape Con was joined once again by the legendary Gary Friedrich, and accomplished DC and Marvel artist Ethan Van Sciver joined us as 2010's guest of honor. Despite a lower attendance due to a great deal of heavy rain and thunderstorms in the area over the weekend, the costume contest featured more participants than ever before, and the gaming scene continued to grow, as well. A successful first year at the Osage Center established Cape Con as a presence for years to come.
Year Six: 2011
Settled into its new home at the Osage Center, Cape Con was able to bring in an impressive stable of special guests in 2011. Actor William Katt, who played the lead role in the 1980s television series, The Greatest American Hero, made an appearance, as well as Billy Tucci, best known for the creation of the independent comic book series, Shi. Also appearing were Alexander Rae, winner of the Christopher Reeve Lookalike Contest at the 2010 Superman Celebration in Metropolis, Illinois, and Catherine Busbee, owner of GA Mountain Productions, who displayed a collection of Superman capes from various Superman movies and television series. Cape Con also continued to establish itself as a hub for annual gaming tournaments and a greatly anticipated costume contest--convention goers all around the show floor speculated what new and creative costumes the participants would have in store for the convention this year.
Year Seven: 2012
The 2012 Cape Con welcomed special guests Brian Koschak, independent comic creator and artist for numerous Star Wars stories for Dark Horse Comics, and Jackson Bostwick, best known for his role as Captain Marvel in the 1970s television series, Shazam! The gaming scene in 2012 was the biggest to date, as Cape Con hosted a large Magic: The Gathering tournament. The costume contest, the favorite part of the show for many parents and grandparents, continued to impress, drawing lots of local media coverage and friendly competition among the participants. Cape Con also established a new website and continued exploring new ways to expand and promote the show, while maintaining the fan service and dedication that both local and traveling convention goers have grown to love and expect from Cape Con each year.
Cape Comic Con Spotlight: Years 1-4
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Year One: 2006
Cape Comic Con was started as a ten year anniversary celebration of Marvels & Legends Comics. In April of 2006 Cape Comic Con was held in downtown Cape Girardeau at Buckner Brewing Company's Riverview Room. Approximately 450 people attended the event with Gary Friedrich ( creator of Ghost Rider ) as our first guest of honor. Cape Comic Con is very proud to have introduced Mr. Friedrich to comic book conventions and he enjoyed giving back to fans of his early comic book work for years to come.
Stormtroopers made the convention a lively one when they marched into the room in full armor. Unfortunately, they STILL did not find the droids they were looking for.
Year Two: 2007
Year two is the year that Cape Comic Con took off. We were looking for a larger venue for year two and we decided upon the Southeast Missouri State South Rec Center off Broadway. Cape Girardeau residents were drawn into the Comic Con by the site of Stormtroopers and Darth Vader walking down the street. We also held our first costume contest, which was a great success. Cape Comic Con held a reunion of three comics legends who had strong ties to Southeast Missouri Gary Friedrich returned and was joined by Roy Thomas and Denny O'Neil. Roy Thomas is from Jackson, and he worked at the right hand of Stan the Man Lee to forge the Marvel Universe in the 1960s and 70s. Comics scribe Denny O'Neil attended Southeast Missouri State and worked at Southeast during the 1960s. The three of them formed a panel worthy of a national Comic Con.
Year Three: 2008
Cape Comic Con returned to the South Rec Center for year three, and had another great year. Gary Friedrich was once again a guest, and was joined this year by some new faces. Tony Moran, the original Michael Myers, and Feedback (aka Matthew Atherton), winner of Season 1 of Who Wants to Be a Superhero? both made appearances. We had a panel with guest Bill Blair, who is now the Guinness World record holder in the category "most special effect make-up characters portrayed in a career," with 202 characters. We were also joined by several writers and artists, including Nathan Bonner with his comic Indavo, and DL Moore with his book Night of the Dragon.
Year Four: 2009
As Cape Comic Con continued to grow, the need for more space (not a bad problem to have!) became apparent. In 2009, Cape Con moved to the old Steve and Barry's location at West Park Mall in Cape Girardeau. It was the biggest venue for Cape Con yet, and the new location attracted more guests than ever, including both longtime con-goers and new patrons from West Park Mall and beyond. Cape Con 2009 played host to vendors and artists old and new, panel discussions, video game and tabletop gaming tournaments, and the always-popular costume contest. While the lack of air conditioning in the facility proved to be somewhat of an obstacle for con-goers during an unusually warm spring weekend, Cape Con prevailed, and bigger and better things were in store as the convention began gearing up for its fifth anniversary showing the following year.
