SEATTLE'S COMICON & SHANE'S DAILY SPIRAL

COFFEE, PORN & FRENCH FRIES
Well, here we come again, we're going to Seattle, a fine city, the porn capital of the world as we kn . . .. Wait! scratch that! Seattle is not the porn capital of the world, my bad.

Anyways, I was thinking of Chatsworth. Seattle is not infamous for its porn, which is fine, trust me, I've seen it. But rather, for fucking coffee. Would you believe that? How did that happen?

There are no coffee plantations in Seattle, in fact, coffee is optimally grown in the tropics around the globe, in a band 10 degrees north and 10 degrees south of the equator. Places like Ethiopia, Colombia, Mexico and other Central and South American countries, as well as Indonesia and the Arabian Peninsula. It's like saying Potatoes come from Ireland or from Idaho, and I know most people make that mistake because they think of the potato famine, well, potatoes did not originate in Ireland, or in your own private Idaho, sorry Irish folks! All modern varieties of potatoes can be traced back to a single source, a bud found in the Inca empire, Ecuador/Peru area to be precise and nowhere else, over 7,000 years ago, but I digress. Nothing good can grow under Seattle's perennial dark skies except for alternative rock and alternative comics and alternative people. and we all know that "alternative" really means disgruntled, maladjusted and disenfranchised shoe gazers. There is no sun light, only rain, misery, Microsoft money and gloom. I LOVE IT!

I would feel right at home there, I think the weather is perfect for staying home and drawing all day, writing depressing poetry all afternoon and cruising for free internet porn all night.

But cheer up Seattle! because we're coming to brighten your rainy heavens; we're going to change all that gloomy outlook (at least for two solid days). We're bringing sketchbooks, art books, naked female cartoons, East Coast sunlight and happiness!

All kidding aside, I do love Seattle (no hate mail please, my inbox is bursting)
I've been looking forward to this weekend for a while now. Spring has indeed sprung here in New York City and allergies are getting ready to make my life a living hell; it's going to do me some good to get out of the house and see my old buddies from the north-west region again.



THE 2009 EMERALD CITY COMICON ART BOOK
My good friend Jim Demonakos at Emerald City, the P. T. Barnum of comic book conventions, who heads this exemplary organization is back at the helm and this year has gone all out in procuring the best possible talent to headline the event. Yours B. Truly and the aforementioned Mr. Demonakos have joined forces to bring you the "Emerald City Comicon Art Book 2009 Edition" (actually it was Jim's idea I just said yes)

Also known as "ECCCAB 2009' This book is filled to the brim with artwork created exclusively for the show, by some of the exhibitors and guests. The theme: MONSTERS & DAMES featuring a stunning cover by my brother from another mother Frank Cho.

Click on image for a bigger pic.


This book was created for two purposes: to celebrate the show's talent diversity and to benefit the Seattle Children's Hospital. Only 850 copies of this book have been printed and individually numbered. THERE WILL NOT BE A REPRINT of this volume, ever.

Here's a list of the contributors featured in this volume and some of the pages:

Art Baltazar Mark Brooks Laurie B! Jonathan Case Bernard Chang Howard Chaykin Frank Cho Becky Cloonan Amanda Conner Colleen Coover Dave Crosland Kevin Cross Franco Kieron Dwyer Marc Deering Tommy Lee Edwards Trevor Goring Gene Ha David Hahn Kevin Hanna Tony Harris Mike Huddleston Stuart Immonen Georges Jeanty Dave Johnson

Joe Jusko Steve Lieber Vasilis Lolos David Mack Jim Mahfood Chris Moreno Moritat Scott Morse Ted Naifeh Dustin Nguyen Mike Oeming Jeff Parker Brandon Peterson David Petersen Jimmie Robinson Alberto Ruiz Wade Schin Steven Silver Doug Sneyd Taki Soma Richard Starkings Ben Templesmith Bruce Timm Dustin Weaver Andrew Wilson

I can't possibly post every image here but if you are an admirer of any of the artists featured within, don't wait and pick one up at the show this coming weekend. Sat April 4th & Sunday April 5th. 

If you can't make it to Seattle you can order this book from our Brandstudio Press online store, We only have 145 copies available for your purchasing pleasure, numbered and signed by yours truly on the back cover (which features one of my doodles) The books are here but to not create a conflict with the show we'll start shipping them this coming Monday April 6. First-come-first-served basis, NO RETAILERS OR E-BAY SPECULATORS, limit 2 books per person, while supplies last.

Price: $24.95 US Dollars
83/4x8 12.25 48 pages Full-Color, Full-Bleed, Hardcover, Perfect bound-Sewn Pages

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ORDER:

SHANE GLINES' DAILY GRIND
This is our first hard cover spiral bound, originally I wanted to do a 32 page book but Shane said "let's go all out!" so we increased the amount of pages to 66, including a fun overlay sheet. This here book is outstanding despite how much fun it is, not because I said so but because it is, let me explain:

See, if you are a normal person you might not care for these types of books but if you are a comic artist, cartoonist, animator or an art student of any sort, you'll love this collection of sketches.

Shane did not pay me to say this and if he would have offered the money I would have turned it down, he'd probably would be embarrassed by my comments here because he is such a humble man. I see this book as a drawing class, don't get me wrong, there is no text here showing you how to draw or such, you won't need it. The sketches themselves are a revelation in the way the man approaches and solves classic cartoon anatomy, You will learn so much just by looking at these fluent drawings, I know I have.

For all of you interested in learning how to draw cartoon women, you'll find this book extremely useful and inspirational, for the rest of you, you'll find it extremely enjoyable and fun.

CARTOON RETRO SKETCHBOOK 'THE DAILY SPIRAL' BOOK 2
By Shane Glines

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NOW AND WILL BEGIN SHIPPING FRIDAY (APRIL 3RD).

Price: $29.95 US Dollars
12.25x9.25 inches, 66 pages Full-Color, Full-Bleed, Hardcover, Metal spiral bound

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ORDER:

HAPPY 2nd ANNIVERSARY BRANDSTUDIO PRESS!

"TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN" THEY SAY.

Who the fuck are "they'? and why do they say that?

I don't know but in our case "They" are one hundred percent wrong.

In fact, we've been so busy pumping out tons of quality books in the past two years, it almost seems as if time just stood still, nearly sixty books have been released (more by the time Summer comes along). It feels as if Brandstudio Press has been around for ages, the new car smell is long gone, our sold-out books have become classic collectors items, going for ridiculous amounts of money out there in the black market.

This number may not be a record by any stretch for an established publishing company but for an artist driven movement is a tremendous achievement. Everyone knows artists are idealists, romantics, moody procrastinators and royal slackers who can't agree on anything and take forever and a day to get anything of consequence done. I, for one, fit that description perfectly. So, what it may have taken four or five 'artist years' to accomplish, we have done in two 'calendar years', with no signs of stopping.

Once more, I'd like to take advantage of this joyous day to give my heart felt thanks to those who have made and continue to make this possible: The participating artists and you, who support our movement by purchasing our products. Whether you buy the books from the artists themselves at the many conventions or from their websites, at the few selected retailers or at the Brandstudio Press online store, I personally want to thank you for the overwhelming endorsement and constant patronage.

GRAB MY STIMULUS PACKAGE

As you may know, here in the States, the government has passed an initiative designed to jump-start the ailing the economy. Critics of this so called "Package" rightfully claim, most of the incentives listed will ultimately benefit the folks who fucked us over in the first place, that is Wall Street assholes, insurance companies and investment bankers. I said last year that going forward I was going to refrain from political commentary, so you know where I stand on this issue and I'll leave it at that.

In the interim, just like I did last year at this very time, I am announcing my own Stimulus Package. This offer will go into effect today, Sunday March 8th and it will last until March 20th.

FREE BOOK WITH PURCHASE

Any person who places an order for a minimum of 4 books will receive a FREE book from the following list:

"Confessions of a Process Junkie" -Signed on the cover by the artist-

"Chola/Jalapeño Lollipops" -Signed on the cover by the artist

"Eye Candy From Strangers Vol. One" Book One 

"Eye Candy From Strangers Vol. One" Book Two 

"Passport,  Forgotten kingdom of Imaginary Friends"

TERMS & CONDITIONS (Please read carefully):

This offer is retroactive to March 5th 2009. We will honor all orders of 4 books or more, placed on March 5th 2009 until March 20th 2009.

In order to redeem your free book with your order of 4 books or more you MUST write the secret words in the comments box on the ordering webpage or send an email including the secret words along with your order to: 

The secret words are: 'Stimulus Schfimulus'

Please specify in the comments box (or via email) which one of the 5 books listed above you would like us to include with your order. NOTE: If you do not specify in writing a book from the above list, we will send you a book of our choosing.

There is nothing further for you to do to receive your free book. 

This offer will end on March 20th 2009 

This offer is subject to the availability of the books offered herein. If any one of the books listed as "free" is no longer available due to stock shortage you will receive an alternative free book, also of your choosing.

This offer can not be combined with any other offers made by us.

The books offered as "free books" in the list can not be substituted by any other book in our main  catalog. No exceptions.

These books have been chosen because, they have been funded, produced and marketed in its entirety by Brandstudio Press LLC. All other books are the property of their respective creators and legally can not be included in the "free book" list.

There are no limits to the amount of orders. You can take advantage of this offer as many times as you want, for example, if you place two individual orders of four books each you will receive two free books, one with each 4-book order.

The orders must be placed separately though. If for instance, you place one single order for 8 books, you will only receive one free book.

MATHIEU REYNÈS

My good friend Mathieu and Yours B. Truly are proud to announce this Brandstudio Press exclusive hard cover book which we are releasing simultaneously in both, France and the U.S. 

I've always loved Monsieur Reynès' expressive black ink drawings and lively watercolors of cute (and sometimes deadly) cartoon femmes, all of them crafted in the great tradition of classic French and Belgian comic  book art masters.

For our European audience: Mathieu will be selling this book through his blog so if you live in Europe and its vicinity please check his blog for the release date, it will make a lot of sense for our loyal European customers to purchase it directly from Mathieu.

 

This jam-packed 72 page sketchbook/art book will start shipping  in the U.S. Canada and beyond by next week, feel free to place your order before we run dry.  

PAINTED GIRLS
By Mathieu Reynes

THIS BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE NOW AND WILL BEGIN SHIPPING WEDNESDAY (MARCH 11th).

Price: $20.00 US Dollars
6.3/8x8 3/4, 72 pages Full-Color, Full-Bleed, Hardcover, Perfect bound-Sewn Pages

PLEASE CLICK HERE TO ORDER: