Planet Sparky

What is 86'd??

2011-10-07T16:05:00.000-07:00

‎86'd - To get rid of, originally for killing someone. The phrase "80 miles out and 6 feet under" was reserved for someone who had to dig their own grave 80 miles from civilization and then get shot execution-style. All terms for 86'd originated from this, be it alcohol or eliminating.

Check back soon for more details.

Free State Wrap Up

2011-09-18T10:42:00.000-07:00

Free State Comicon was last Saturday (9/10) in Lawrence, Kansas. It was quite a busy show. I had a great time there, hanging out with friends, buying comics, and doing sketches. I also sold a few copies of Death Fears the Bunny. After the show I received some positive feedback from more than one person who bought the book, Of course that motivated me to get to work on the sequel which I should have ready in time for next Con season. I am really surprised about how well this book has been received.
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I want to say thanks to Craig Klotz for putting on such a quality show and for inviting me to be a part of it.

Here is a link to the 3rd Part of Kirk Chritton's con wrap up article. This one features a certain artist that you may recognize. Check it out.

Thanks to Kirk for including me in your article. Go to www.Kansascitycomics.com for more coverage of Free State 2011 and for information about many area creators.

That is all for now, thanks for looking!

Bill

Free State is Coming!!!

2011-09-03T19:01:00.000-07:00

Watch the promo here.

Some News

2011-07-11T11:39:00.000-07:00

Hello,

I just wanted to take a minute to report a few things that have been happening lately.

First of all, the former planetsparky.com will be returning as planetsparky.net. At first, it will greatly resemble this page, but there should be some changes down the road. Please check the right side of this page to see some artwork, and below that you will find a link to a larger gallery that has even more pieces. In the next few weeks I will be updating the galleries with some new work.

Also I have been asked to be a guest and the Freestate Comicon this year. This is the con formerly known as Freecon, I was a guest last year and I really enjoyed the experience. I am looking forward to this show, and with some luck I will have a new book ready in time. If not, I have enough copies of older material to fill a table.

Here are some details about the show;

2011 Free State Comicon
Lawrence, Kansas
Douglas County Fairgrounds
Building #21
2110 Harper St.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
10am - 5pm |
Admission is $3

Please come out to the show and say hello. I think you
will enjoy yourself.

That's all for now.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Rock and Comic-Con

2011-05-23T12:12:00.000-07:00

Theater marquee.

The past Saturday (5/21) was Rock and Comic-Con at the Uptown Theater in KCMO. This show was just a lot of fun. Lots of interesting vendors, dealers, and creators were on hand. The show was set up with 3 separate con floors and 3 separate concert stages. I love the set up for this show and believe it has a great future. I really hope it is successful and continues for years to come.

Some dork outside the theater.

The attendees had great energy and they seemed genuinely interested in our work and were not afraid to interact with us. I can's say that for most comic cons that I have attended.

I sold quite a few books and sketches and heard quite a bit of positive feedback from folks who attended the show. Much to my surprise, folks seemed to really respond to Skwishee, the zombie goldfish bit character from Death Fears the Bunny. But there was a lot of positive response for Bunny, Thunderdawg, and Gentleman Jak.

Skishee.

I am still feeling the buzz from attending a great con and I am riding a creative high. It is time to back down to work on the next book or two on the slate. I have 2 more cons on the schedule for this year and I would like to have a new book for each of those.

Also, I will doing an interview for Comic Book Late Night with Captain Logan from Geekvolution. I assume we will be talking about my comics, my background and my reading habits as well as some other odds and ends. It should be a lot of fun. I will post a link here when the show comes out.

That is all for now, but check back soon for some pics from the con and possibly a strip or two, some more preview stuff from DFTB and other news.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Oh $#!+%& Moment

2011-05-20T10:36:00.000-07:00

Well tomorrow is the Rock and Comic-Con. I have the book ready to go, posters printed and ready to hang, I may even bring some old books if I can find them.

I am not satisfied with my effort on Death Fears the Bunny, but I am proud that I did it all myself. I do recognize that it was a great experience for me, and a fantastic learning experience. I fully expect my next work to be much better.

I did run the concept passed my BFF Doz and then my wife (Pam) edited the book for me. Other than that, it was a one man show.

Anyway, if you are in the KC area tomorrow try to swing by the Uptown Theater and pay us a visit. You might have a really good time.

I will wrap this up with another preview from the book. This is the oh shit moment from the story when Death comes face-to-face with the Bunny.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Sneak Peek

2011-05-12T11:34:00.000-07:00

Things are pretty busy right now. Trying to finish up the book and promo materials in time for Rock and Comic-Con. After the con I will post an update about FCBD and some Con wrap up. Right now, I need to get back to work. Here is a peek at 3 panels from the Epilogue to Death Fears the Bunny. Hope ya like 'em.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Cover

2011-05-03T06:46:00.000-07:00

More and more it looks like I may not have a book for FCBD. I have been making some progress, but a busy weekend combined with the fact the PhotoShop would not launch on my home computer, has put me behind schedule.

I did finish the cover yesterday so I thought I would go ahead and post a preview image. What you see is about 97% complete. I may add some website info and a print date before it goes to the printer.

I hope you like it and I hope you can come out to see us on FCBD and at Rock and Comic-Con.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Cover Inks

2011-04-29T08:20:00.000-07:00

I am working away on the book for FCBD and Rock and Comic-Con. There is a chance this won't be ready in time for FCBD but it will be ready for Rock and Comic-Con. I thought that I would post a cover preview today and then I would post some interiors over the next few days. The cover is coming along pretty well. I am not completely happy with it at this point, but there is potential there. Hopefully it all works out in the end. The same could be said for the sequentials, some of them appear to be rushed, but there are several that I am really happy with.

Anyway, that is enough chatter for now. Check back soon for me preview stuff and come out and see us next Saturday for FCBD at Pop Culture Comix.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Just Checking In

2011-04-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

Howdy,

Things are still moving along on the ol' books. They have slowed down a bit since my last post but I should still be on a pace to finish in time for FCBD at Pop Culture Comix next month.

I now have another appearance scheduled for May. I will have a table at the Kansas City Rock and Comicon. It will be held on May 21 from 5-10pm at the Uptown Theater in KCMO. For more information you can visit www.kilroyshows.com. I attended the first event last December, I thought it was an interesting mix of rock music and comics. Two great tastes that taste great together. I will be on hand doing sketches, selling my latest mini comic (that I will preview hear very soon) and probably working on my next book. Stop by and check it out if you are in the area.

That's all for now but check back soon for some preview pages and some process stuff. I love looking at other artists work in process so I thought I would share some of mine.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Planet Comicon

2011-03-30T20:42:00.000-07:00

I had a great time this past weekend attending Planet Comicon with my Dad, my best friend Doz, my brother Marv and his son-in-law Clay. Got to buy some cool stuff, visit some creator friends and meet Peter and Pants from Comic Geek Speak.

I cam home motivated and inspired to work on my stuff. In addition to the two books I was working on for FCBD I started another book. It may actually take priority over the others for now. At any rate, I should have more than one new book ready for con season. I hope to attend more than a couple in the area this year. I will post the cons that I will be attending once they are confirmed.

Check back soon to see the cover from my next book.

Until then, thanks for looking,
Bill

Is Anybody Out There

2011-03-14T09:10:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

As you can see, some things have changed around here. First of all, I have updated the design of the ol' blog, I may be making more changes in the coming days and weeks. I am not sure how much I like the new look, so it may not last.

I am actually working on some new things. First I am working on an 8 page comic for my character Bunny and his friend Alice. With a little luck that will be ready in time for Free Comic Book Day which I will be spending at Pop Culture Comix.

In addition, I am also working on a second Gentleman Jack 8 page story. I know that ambition and productivity are things that no one would associate with me. But I am hoping to have that ready by FCBD as well. It will feature and updated look for GJ and I really am making an effort to improve on art from the first book. That one was so rushed that I just could not deliver on the art. I do plan to go back and remaster the first book some time in the future.

Finally, I am launching another blog that will feature of my illustration work and I will have more news on that as it develops. I really want to make a push to do more freelance illustration and the new page will serve as an online portfolio and a place to post news and previews.

That about does it for now. Please check back in a few weeks to see how badly I have failed at all of these new endeavors and to read my really lame excuses for why I failed :P

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Whoa!

2010-07-01T08:08:00.001-07:00

I have a blog!

I completely forgot!

Freecon Wrap Up

2010-05-23T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well 2010 Free Con has come and gone. Show traffic was pretty steady throughout the day. The morning passed by quickly as I was doing sketches, selling books and working on the Astro Kitty jam piece.

That afternoon was spent shopping, visiting, and working on character sketches for Gentleman Jack issue 2. I also spent a lot of time listening to comic book conversations between fellow creators and occasionally offering my two cents. It was great seeing folks like Mike Sullivan, Dale Martin, Tara Avery, Lee Leslie, the Three Trees crew, and many others.

I forgot to use my camera for the most part, but I did snap some pictures of some of my customers with their purchases. Mike Sullivan took some pics too and I may post them when I get a chance.

I don't know if we will be invited back again next year, but I would be more than willing to do it again.

Well that is all for now. Stay tuned in the near future for updates on the next Gentleman Jack chapter, a bunny book, Thunderdawg, Garrrgh, and my possible job as a promo artist for a comic publisher.

That's all for now.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Phew!!!

2010-05-21T22:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the book is done. It is not what I hoped it would be, but it is done, I learned a lot, and I am ready to make more. Plus I won't look like a fool at Freecon sitting there without a book to sell.

Much thanks to my wife Pam for putting up with me being locked in my office working on this book non stop for a week. For not giving up on me, and for not letting me give up on myself. I am so lucky to have you and Deon in my life. You are my best friend and my greatest source of inspiration. I love you! Thank you sweetie!

Also, thanks to my little boy Deon. For going days without seeing Daddy but still greeting me with a smile and a kiss on those days when I was lucky enough to have a short visit with you. Thank you son, Daddy loves you.

Thanks to my best friend Doz for always supporting and encouraging me and for stepping up with a credit card when the printer rejected mine. Still not sure why!! Anyway, I give you a lot of grief, but I really do appreciate you.

Lastly, I would like to thank Mike Sullivan. For years now he has been giving me advice, encouragement, and support in my efforts (or lack thereof) to complete another comic. He stepped in and made this book happen at the last minute. Mike did thumbnails for me, pencilled a panel, wrote the dialogue, did some graphics, assembled the print files, inked and shaded some panels, and lettered the entire thing. He is such a good friend and collaborator.

I may have been able to do this book without you all, but I probably would not have done it on my own. Thanks again to you all.

That's all for now, below I have posted a preview of the cover. Hope you like it and hope to see you tomorrow at the con.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Update/Preview

2010-05-13T16:37:00.000-07:00

I have been working hard at getting my book ready in time for Freecon. I don't know I will able to finish it in time, but I am having fun with it and the next few chapters of the story are practically writing themselves. Since he is so good at drawing tech and crazy gadgets and because I so far behind on my book I asked Mike Sullivan to draw out a panel for me that was very tech heavy. I also asked him to indicate the best placement for the characters in that panel. Then I would flesh it out a bit and do the inks and shading myself.

Here is what he did for me.

Because of all of the tech and crazy stuff in his pic, I thought it would be fun to take a shot at inking and gray-scaling it digitally.

Here is what I came up with.

I may do some more digital inks in this book. Mike will also be pitching in to get the book inked int time.

Oh well, I hope you liked the preview image.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Freecon Promo

2010-05-06T09:26:00.000-07:00

Free Comic Book Day

2010-05-03T06:54:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

As planned, I spent the FCBD at Pop Culture Comix in Lenexa. This was my 6th year appearing there and it was the best one yet. The store next door to Pop Culture was empty and the people who manage the strip mall let us set up in there. So Mike and I set up in the empty space along with the guys (Kevin Dilmore and Kurt Gaulke) from Hallmark. Cameron Cooke and the Geekvolution guys (Captain Logan and Vince) set up out on the front walk. There was quite a bit of traffic throughout the day and everyone seemed to have a good day.

We had free books at our table and we were trading "How to Draw" comics for sketches from our visitors. It was so much fun encouraging the kids to draw, there are some talented young artists out there. We had some adults that participated as well. Mike is going to scan their work and post it on his blog. I will post a link as soon as they are up. We even collaborated on a sketch or two.

The Hallmark guys were doing comic book trivia all day and giving out Marvel, DC, Star Wars and Star Trek ornaments as prizes. They also had some prototypes on display which were just amazing.

The Geekvolution guys were giving away comics and recording some video throughout the day that will be posted on their YouTube feed in the near future. Captain Logan conducted an interview with myself and Mike which I will post here as soon as it is available.

Cameron was giving out free comics from Blue Water Productions and his wife spent time entertaining all of us along with many of the visitors to the shop.

Mike and I spent some time discussing Thunderdawg and some of our individual projects. Our next stop will be Freecon and the next couple of weeks will be spent trying to get our books ready in time. Should be interesting!

Well there is not much else to report right now.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

FCBD

2010-04-30T11:01:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

Well it is here, Free Comic Day is tomorrow (May 1) and I will be at Pop Culture Comix in Lenexa from 10am to 4pm. Come on out and say hi. Sid has a great shop and if you have not been there you owe it to yourself to check it out.

Here is a list of the folks that will be on hand for the day:


		1) - Podcast by YouTube's Geekvolution: Capt. Logan & Vince will do a remote broadcast featuring guests, creators and comic reviews 2) - From Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments: See how all those cool super-hero ornaments are created. Free give-away collectible, full-size Hallmark figures. Hosted by Hallmark Production Development Manager Kurt Gaulke & Hallmark Editorial Strategist Kevin Dilmore 3) Cameron Cooke - Bluewater Productions Comic Book Writer 4) Mike Sullivan - Virtual Infinity Comics Owner/Creator 5) Bill Hook - Cartoonist, Illustrator & Graphic Designer 6) Various Star Wars costumed characters from the 501st

Well that is all for now, I hope you make it out tomorrow.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Freecon

2010-04-25T10:51:00.000-07:00

Just a couple of things to report. I have been in contact this week with a comic book publisher that is interested in hiring me to do some promotional art for them. I am very excited about this and I hope to have some news in the near future.

Sadly it looks like another year without a book for Free Comic Book Day. I will still be there helping out in any way I can. Hope to see you there.

Also, still working on my book so it will be ready for Freecon. If you come to the show, please be sure to come by and get a sketch or pick up a book from me. I hope to see you there.

Here is the flyer for the show.

That's all for now.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

More Progress

2010-04-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

Things are progressing slowly with the "remastered" Gentleman Jack mini but I am starting to gain some momentum. It may not be realistic to say I will have it before Free Comic Book Day, but it WILL be ready before Freecon. As I work on this story the future stories seem to be developing, which is what you hope for as a creator and it is more than a little bit exciting. I have quite a bit of new art in process and I will post a sketch or two later this week. I may even post a whole page for you to see.

In other news, Mike Sullivan and I got to work on our new Thunderdawg story. At the beginning of the conversation we were not optimistic about getting anywhere with our story. Roughly an hour and lots of laughs later we had the basic story structure and we had a plan to get this thing moving forward. I can't wait to get it started. I may have some concept stuff to show you in the next week.

That is all for now.

Thanks for looking,
Bill

Is anybody out there?

2010-04-05T20:05:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys,

It has been waayyyy too long since my last post. Some time last fall I decided to srtip this thing down to nothing and start over. I have not been motivated to get it going again until now. I have been working again and I hope to start posting new artwork again on a regular basis.

There are a couple of things coming up in the near future that you may find interesting.

First, I will be making a Free Comic Book Day apprearance at Pop Culture Comix in Lenexa or Overland Park, Kansas (it just depends on who you ask). Details may be found when you follow those links.

Second. I will be a guest at this years Free State FreeCon in Lawrence, Kansas. I should have a Gentleman Jack mini comic in time for this show. So stop by and say hello and pick up a copy of the book and a sketch while you are there.

That's all for now. I will try to be more regular in my posts and I may have some art to show you next time.

Thanks for looking,
Bill