JaMiE BaKeR: fallout

Although I was able to put out a new Gourmet Gruel (#3) sketchbook this year, and also contribute to Benton Jew’s Babes in Space anthology, I wasn’t able to put the finishing touches on a new Rocket Rabbit comic of my own in time for San Diego.

LAME!

In the past I have just printed whatever I had ready, and initially I had planned to do the same this year, but in the end I decided to wait, and put out a bigger issue for Wondercon. So I am leaning now towards a 48 page Rocket Rabbit only issue which will be titled Rocket Rabbit #1. Wondercon has moved from May to february 2005, which gives me another big deadline to shoot for each year… just the kick in the pants that I need!

Well, I’ve been lax in updating the website and writing news for a while. My excuse is that I have been preparing for Comic Con 2004.

After doing several years in a row crowded behind the Maverix table with 6 other people, this year I went for the upgrade and shared a booth with my good pal (and comics mentor) Rhode Montijo, and also Sam Hiti.

That is the mighty Sam in Wacky mode in the picture, he had a major hit on his hands with his awesome book Tiempos Finales: End Times. I highly recommend that you read this book, it is truly epic. Dont just take my word for it iether, he is getting a lot of buzz and good reviews on most of the comics related sites.

Speaking of epic books, let’s not forget Rhode’s PABLO’s INFERNO. Rhode finally compiled his 5 issue epic story about a little boy who travels through the underworld into a 200 page tome which you can buy at his site, and while you are there don’t forget to pick up SCRIBBLES AND BITS which is Rhode’s new sketchbook. Anyway, back to the subject at hand:the Comic-con. We had a great location on a main aisle, and next to those guys who always make it look easy, Ronnie and Enrico.

We had a lot of traffic because we were in a major aisle and also because the attendance this year jumped to 105,000 (up from approximately 70,000 last year). This made for some fantastic people watching, though it made for an overall tiring atmosphere. In fact i think the buzzword of the con amongst my friends was “overwhelming”.

OK, this is my favourite photo I’ve seen so far from the 2004 con. This gent is hooked into what the con experience is all about. Pear-shaped Hulks, skinny Spiderman, a Klingon with melting make-up arguing with a Stormtrooper at the pretzel stand… that’s what makes it all worth the bother.

If you have any leads on other cool pix let me know.
For a great report on the 2004 con, visit Angstorm’s annual photo-essay.

It is ridiculous to admit it, but I’ve never had my own computer… well until now at least. Now I am the proud owner of a 15 inch G4 laptop.

In the past I had a share in the G4 at Maverix Studios. I stopped working in there as a full-time member when the lease at the old place ran out. Now Maverix has a cool new space, and has gone the extra step of actually becoming more than a work space, it is now an LLC, a Limited Liability Corporation. Anyway, i wasnt interested in being part of the new improved Maverix, so i bowed out once the old lease ran out.

But now that I am working at home, I dont have access to that old maverix G4 war horse, so…

I’m a contributor to Benton Jew’s Babes in Space anthology, which goes on sale for the first time at the 2004 San Diego comic-con. My contribution is a 10 page NAUTI GIRL story, that I expanded from a short sequence that she appeared in in NERVE BOMB #0.1.

There are short stories by a bunch of different artists: Benton Jew, (who also edited the thing) Anson Jew, Les Toil, Ed Reynolds (who did the book design and layout) and my ole pal, Bosco Ng.

Obviously each story combines some aspects of Space…. and Babes.

I’ll have some copies on sale soon through my Web Store (look to the left for the link), or you could get them via Bud Plant’s catalog if you prefer that option. If you DO visit Bud Plant, type “sketchbooks” or my name into the search field to find all my Gourmet Gruel sketchbooks on sale.