Month: July 2012

I have a few blog postings partially written about our time exhibiting at Comic-Con International in San Diego. Since I am working to wrap up a few books by the end of this month, they are on hold. For now I have some pictures to share with a promise of more detailed writing coming soon. Captions fall below the pictures.

We were graced by the Black Widow at our Flesk booth. The costumes are a familiar scene throughout the show.

Gary Gianni, Daren Bader, John Fleskes and Mark Schultz. This is just after the show ended on Sunday. We all had a chance to enjoy a few minutes of conversation before tearing down our respective booths. The Flesk booth compacted into two dolly loads and we were out of there by 7:00 p.m.

Gary Gianni at his booth. The banner behind him is promoting the “A Game of Thrones” 2014 calendar that he is providing the paintings for. This picture is a grab shot. He was talking with someone and not aware that I took his picture. It came out better than if I had posed him.

Mark Schultz, James Walker II and John Fleskes at the Flesk Booth.

Frank Cho signing his new 2013 calendar.

Frank Cho is a huge Justice League fan and gets excited whenever he sees any imagery relating to the team.

Mary, from our neighbors at Stuart Ng Books, and me hanging at the Flesk booth just before closing time on the final day.

I took this picture from Gary Gianni’s booth. This was two hours before the show closed on Sunday and you can see how busy the show remains all the way until the end. You can see the Flesk logo and our booth in the middle area.

Mark Schultz and Clayburn Moore were posing for a picture. I saw an opportunity and took this grab shot. For some reason, even though they are posing, this angle makes them look more natural.

Here, I’m talking to James Walker II about the Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! event book.

William Stout signing his card belonging to the seven postcard set celebrating ten years of Flesk. We handed out roughly four hundred of these sets to those who stopped by our Flesk booth as a thank you for their support and helping us to get to the ten year mark. We ran out by mid-Saturday.

William Stout at his booth at Comic-Con. Bill’s booth is an original art gallery. Walking inside is like stepping into a museum.

The Baby Tattoo mascot at their booth. The publisher, Bob Self, has created one of the most impressive looking booths at the show.

James Walker II and me at the Flesk Publications booth. James and I have been working shows for almost twenty years together. We used to assist with Bud Plant Illustrated Books and Lee’s Comics in the mid-nineties.

Mark Schultz signing a copy of his Xenozoic collection at the Flesk Publications booth.

Gary Gianni at the Gianni/Madefire booth. These guys deserve the award for “Most Improved” booth. It was amazing how simple, yet amazing their booth looked this year.

Thomas Yeates and Mark Schultz, the new artist and writer team of Prince Valiant. Thomas has taken over the drawing chores from the recently retired (from the strip) Gary Gianni.

James Walker II holding the fort. I was away from the Flesk booth for much of the show. James, Jonathan Leveck, Laura West and Tony Villador did a remarkable job taking care of things.

Mark Schultz was a special guest at Comic-Con this year. One of the benefits is that he had a handler assigned to him. Maeve escorted Mark to all of his panels and she helped in other various ways. At 6’3” she had an impressive stature combined with a calm approach that parted the seas of people to get us where we needed to go in quick fashion. (Mark’s “only” 6’1″)

Craig Elliott drawing at this booth. The portrait at the left is the result of a live painting demonstration at his booth.

This is what it looks like to peer over the shoulder of Craig Elliott while he is drawing. Craig is working on a show commission at his booth.

Craig Elliott’s palette used during his live painting from a model at his booth.

Mark Schultz talking with a fan at the Flesk booth.

This was taken inside the Botanical Building at Balboa Park in San Diego. This location is one of my yearly visits as I decompress and relax before the five day show begins.

Another picture taken in the Botanical Building at Balboa Park.

Botanical Building at Balboa Park.

Enjoy,

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

There is one more panel today, this one including Mark Schultz:

Cover Story, 2:00-3:00PM, Room 25ABC
Charlie Adlard, Tim Bradstreet, Becky Cloonan, Mark Schultz; Mark Evanier moderates

Thanks to everyone who comes by our booth #5019. We are grateful to you for your support!

Enjoy,

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

Links:
Comic-Con International in San Diego

Today there is a spotlight panel for Gary Gianni running from 12:00 to 1:00 in room 4. It’ll be an exciting personal visit with Gary. I’m looking forward to going.

Artists who we have worked with at this show include Terry Dodson, Craig Elliott, Gary Gianni, Phil Hale, Mike Mignola, Mark Schultz, Jim Silke, William Stout and Bruce Timm. Most exhibit within just a few isles of us. Stop by our booth #5019 and we can give you directions to where each person is located.

Terry has his new Bombshells 6 sketchbook available at his booth, the space in which he shares with Aaron Lopresti.  We’ll have copies of Bombshells 6 available on our Flesk store shortly after the show.

Enjoy,

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

Links:
Comic-Con International in San Diego

Today there is a special panel focusing on the 75 Anniversary of Prince Valiant. Gary Gianni and Mark Schultz will take part. It runs from 3:30-4:30 in room 8.

Also:

The Artists’ Way, 11:00-12:00PM, Room 23ABC
Panelists include Tim Bradstreet, Gary Gianni, Joe Jusko, Jim Silke, Thomas Yeates, and Mark Schultz.

We also have copies of our book, The Prince Valiant Page at our booth. Each coy comes signed by Gary Gianni and has a special signed bookplate exclusive from Flesk.

Be sure to check at our booth for special signing times with Phil Hale. Phil took part in our Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! commemorative art book collection, featuring the art of Android Jones, Brom, Iain McCaig, Hale and Mike Mignola. Mike is also at the show just a few isles from us.

Enjoy,

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

Links:
Comic-Con International in San Diego

Today we have a few panels. Starting at 10:00 AM in room 32AB is our Flesk panel. Here’s the details.

Flesk: Celebrating a Decade of Publishing

Visit with the Flesk team and a quartet of legendary artists for a personal and entertaining hour. Join publisher, John Fleskes, Terry Dodson (Defenders, Uncanny X-Men), Mark Schultz (Xenozoic), Jim Silke (Jungle Girls, Jim Silke Sketchbook) and William Stout (Hallucinations, Inspirations) and moderator Jonathan Leveck (Flesk’s Director of Operations), as they look back on ten years of Flesk’s line of quality books promoting comics and graphic novels, fantasy, illustration, pinup and fine arts fields. In addition, Flesk will announce its exciting line of new titles coming out in the fall of 2012 and provide a glimpse into their 2013 schedule.

Then a little later is:

Spotlight on Mark Schultz. Thursday from 12:30-1:30 in room 4. I’ll be a part of this panel with Mark.

And also:

Spotlight on Jim Silke. Thursday 2:00-3:00 in room 9.

And while you’re at it, be sure to swing by our booth #5019 to pick up your free Flesk postcard set featuring the art of Stout, Gianni, Schultz, Silke, Dodson, Bruce Timm and Craig Elliott. All seven gentlemen are at the show and you can get your postcards signed by all of them.

Enjoy,

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

Links:
Comic-Con International in San Diego

 

Today is the opening day of Comic-Con International in San Diego. We’re at booth #5019, the same spot as the previous few years. We’re near Artist’s Alley and across from Stuart Ng Books on the far south side of the convention hall.

Mark Schultz will be with us this evening. He’ll have original art and will be happy to meet you and sign your items.

We’re premiering the Bruce Timm Naughty and Nice 2012 Teaser at the show. This featured all new art drawn by Bruce over the last few months. There is no repeated imagery with his big book. This comes signed and limited to 1000 copies. For those that can’t make the show, we’ll have them on our Flesk online store right after the show.

We look forward to seeing you.

Enjoy,

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

Links:
Comic-Con International in San Diego

Comic-Con International is coming up next week. We’ll be exhibiting again at our usual spot at booth #5019 near artist’s alley. Mark Schultz, who will be a guest of the show, is going to be at our booth all five days. We’ll have official times when he will be present posted at our booth.

Jim Silke and Gary Gianni will also be show guests. Silke will be at booth #4901 and Gianni at #4902. Both locations are near us.

Gianni, Silke and Schultz will have individual spotlight panels highlighting their achievements.

Spotlight on Gary Gianni. Saturday 12-1:00 in room 4.

Spotlight on Jim Silke. Thursday 2:00-3:00 in room 9.

Spotlight on Mark Schultz. Thursday from 12:30-1:30 in room 4. I’ll be a part of this panel with Mark.

We’re going to have our own Flesk panel on Thursday, July 12th from 10:00AM-11:00AM in room 32AB. Here’s the details:

Flesk: Celebrating a Decade of Publishing
Visit with the Flesk team and a quartet of legendary artists for a personal and entertaining hour. Join publisher, John Fleskes, Terry Dodson (Defenders, Uncanny X-Men), Mark Schultz (Xenozoic), Jim Silke (Jungle Girls, Jim Silke Sketchbook) and William Stout (Hallucinations, Inspirations) and moderator Jonathan Leveck (Flesk’s Director of Operations), as they look back on ten years of Flesk’s line of quality books promoting comics and graphic novels, fantasy, illustration, pinup and fine arts fields. In addition, Flesk will announce its exciting line of new titles coming out in the fall of 2012 and provide a glimpse into their 2013 schedule.

I won’t be at our booth much of Thursday. In fact, I will be spending less time at the booth than I normally do, which is usually the majority of the time. I will be in and out all during the show with no fixed times. My wonderful staff will be there to assist you with any questions. One thing to keep in mind is none of us view unsolicited portfolios or book proposals at the shows.

On another topic, we have put together a Flesk promotional postcard set. This will be a free gift given out to our customers at Comic-Con to help celebrate ten years of Flesk. I want to be able to put something into people’s hands to make them feel appreciated for supporting us for all of these years.

This will be a set of seven postcards featuring seven artists that will be in attendance at Comic-Con this year. Each artist is someone who I have published. The seven gentlemen are Stout, Gianni, Schultz, Silke, Dodson, Bruce Timm and Craig Elliott.

These 4″ x 6″ postcards will be printed in full color on front and back. The front art is a finished piece, with the preliminary art on the back. The seven cards will be contained within a velum envelope. It’s going to look beautiful. And again, it will be given out to all of our customers, while supplies last.

New for Comic-Con will be the Bruce Timm Naughty and Nice 2012 Teaser. This 16 page collection will feature all new work recently created in the last few months. This 8.5 in. x 5.5 in. saddle-stitched book is limited, numbered 1-1000 and comes signed by Timm for $15.00. They can be found at our booth and also directly from Timm at his usual signing area at the Naked Fat Rave booth #4601. Copies will be available direct from our website immediately after the show.

We’ll also have the new Spectrum Fantastic Art Live! commemorative art book collection available. This book features the art of Android Jones, Brom, Iain McCaig, Phil Hale and Mike Mignola. The introductions are by Cathy & Arnie Fenner, Christopher Golden, Lorne Lanning, Christopher Paolini and William Stout, plus a short interview with Phil Hale by Tray Batey. Afterword by John Fleskes. Mignola and Stout will be in attendance if you would like to get your copy signed.

In addition, we’ll have our entire line of Flesk books that are in print on display. We all look forward to seeing you at the show.

John

John Fleskes
Flesk Publications
text and photos copyright 2012 John Fleskes. All rights reserved.

Links:
Comic-Con International in San Diego