Tag: 901 Comics

“Remember, remember- the 5th of December..?!” – Our Next MSCA Dinner & Art Swap

Up first is a message from MSCA president Kevin L. Williams:

Greetings Digital Doodlers, Ink Slingers, Pencil Pushers, Wordsmiths, Enthusiasts, and whoever retrieved this message from a bottle

DECEMBER DINNER GATHERING AND ART SWAP 

Our next dinner gathering will be Tuesday, December 5th at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave., from 6 – 8 pm.  Bring money for the delicious food, and art for the art swap.  To help for next year:  Set your phone calendars to repeat the first Tuesday of each month as a reminder, and you can also use the attached printable calendar.  There are also attachments of the logo, association information, and the calendar ready to share on social media if you will, please.

HOW THE SWAP WORKS 

Each piece of art brought will be numbered, and a corresponding number dropped in a box.  At 7:30 pm we’ll draw numbers and the number you draw corresponds to the art piece you win!

The submitted art should be yours and can be original art, print, publication, or product.  It does not have to be framed.

EVENTS

If you have any appearances or events to share, please let me know right away so I can get them added to the next MSCA email events list- midsouthcartoonists(at)gmail(dot)com

DRAWING BLOOD Art Show, a bloody success 

HUGE Thanks to our friends at Germantown Community Theater for hosting us again.  Nearly all the artwork sold!  I made it out to the opening night of the play “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” to be on-hand for information about the art and artists, and was able to capture the conversations of a few folks.  Thanks again to Jim Palmer for getting us reconnected with GCT!!  www.gctcomeplay.org

I’ll have the artwork and checks from the show at the December 5 dinner meeting.

The GCT has already invited us back next season!  YAY!

Next up:  Glass Slippers at Theater Memphis!  Information coming soon… 

MSCA Mini-Con “Cartoon Art Festival” @ GCT (Recap)

Again, our dear friends at GCT hosted us this past Saturday in which we set up tables with wares to sell and we had several people show up.  Thank you to Annie Freres at GCT who helped spread the word, and to Good Groceries Mobile Dining and Baker’s Corner 901 for bringing the feed.  It was a fun day.

To those who participated: please feel free to shoot ideas for future events in case we decide to try it again.

MSCA – LIFE AND LEGACY 

It’s been great to see so many new faces join with long-time members at our meetings, shows, and events! I’d like to build on that enthusiasm and get more members engaged with the month-to-month tasks that keep the MSCA going. I’m 51 (OLD by some standards, young by a few others) (LOL) and I know eventually I’d like to step back and let others run the group. Distributing the tasks I do among a committee of other members would be a first step towards giving the MSCA a stronger foundation. If you’re interested in finding out more, let’s talk!

Along those lines, we collected $3/piece to hang art for “Drawing Blood”, and after buying the advertising postcards and business cards we still ended up in the red.  The association has no money (other than what is spent by me and a few others) and am looking for advice from the MSCA members on what you think we can do to raise funds to cover items like the website fees, advertising postcards for the group and shows, receptions, etc?  I would like for the MSCA to be self-sufficient again so nobody has to go broke!

Did I forget anything?  Likely, but looking forward to seeing you all Dec. 5th!

Love, Your one and only,
Kevin Williams,MSCA Prezdent

 

In other MSCA news…

Several MSCA members will have sketchcards in the upcoming 901 Comics Mistery Boxes.

These awesome collector boxes are $99ea and will be out just in time for holiday shopping!

Speaking of shopping- here’s a guide to local comics shops. This Saturday, November 25, 2023 is Small Business Saturday – a day to celebrate and support small businesses and all they do for their communities.

All of our local comic shops and book stores have been very supportive of creators in our area, and many carry comics and art by our own MSCA members. #suportlocal

The MSCA dinner meet-up schedule is above. We’ll be at Garibaldi’s Pizza the first Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm.

MSCA dinner meetings are open to the public and all ages are welcome. If you aren’t old enough to drive yourself to Garibaldi’s then have a parent attend with you. It’s free to attend, but be sure to bring a few bucks to order off the menu and some art to work on and/or share. The December 5th meet-up/art swap is the last MSCA event for 2023.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

“MSCA Mini-Con…I’ll Drink-n-Draw To That!” – Our Next Two Events

This fall has been very busy for the MSCA, November continues to be, and next year is shaping up to be even busier..!

We recently had our monthly dinner meeting at Garibaldi’s Pizza this past Tuesday and had a great turnout.

This comimg Wednesday, November 15th is our next Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East out on Macon Road in Cordova. This is the last D-N-D for 2023. Bring your sketchbook, tablet, or comic pages, or other art projetcs to work on.

The drawing event is free to attend and open to the public, but bring a few bucks to order a beverage and/or something to eat. Beer, sodas, water, chips, cookies, pizza and more will be available for purchace at the bar with no name.

We’ll also have addtional art supplies available for anyone needing them or who just want to try something new- including markers, blank sketchcards, and more.

901 Comics East is located at 8551 Macon Rd. in Cordova, TN 38018. We’ll be hanging out and drawing in the back gaming/bar area.

There are lots of local creator comic books and art available for purchace at this Cordova comic shop, including ones by our own MSCA members…with more coming.

That following Saturday, November 18th from noon-4pm we’ll be out at Germantown Community Theatre for our MSCA mini-con. The free festival event will be in the rehersal hall behind the theater. Members of the MSCA will be selling their comics, zines, prints, original art and more as we celebrate the closing of our “Drawing Blood” art show at GCT.

 

The “Drawing Blood” art show can be seen duing theater business hours though this Sunday, November 12th. The art show and mini-con are both free and open to the public.

Any MSCA members who would like to do this BYOT (bring your own table) con event should arrive at the GCT rehearsal space by 10:30am for set up. Those who participated in the art show will have first choice on set-up spaces. Germantown Community Theatre is located at 3037 Forest Hill Irene RD., Germantown, TN 38138.

Oh, and our last group event for 2023 will be our December dinner gathering on Tuesday, December 5th from 6-8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave. by the University of Memphis. During the dinner event we will be holding our annual MSCA member art swap. Bring a print, sketch, or other piece of original art to trade with other members. We’ll be drawing names to see the picking order.

We be meeting the first Tuesday of each month from 6-8pm again at Garibaldi’s Pizza in 2024.

Hope that you can join us.

 

“Pizza- It’s What’s For Dinner!” – Our Latest MSCA Monthly Dinner At Garibaldi’s

This last Tuesday we gathered together again at Garibaldi’s Pizza for our monthly dinner meet-up.

We had awesome attendance this month- probably one of our best turnouts of the year.

Many art conversations with members talking toons and sharing recent work during the meet-up. It was probably one of our loudest meetings, too! No shortage of things to talk about or folks to talk to.

Lots of art was being created during the two hours we were there as well. Always great to see our members drawing during these dinners. Several had their sketchbooks out or were working on their tablets.

Katie and I (Lin) were working on some sketchcards for some upcoming collector boxes for 901 Comics. Dale Martin and a few other members are also working on some. (News on those 901 boxes coming up soon.)

And as usual there were lots of freebie swag to snag and take home including magazines, comics, candy, stickers, and more.

MSCA president Kevin L. Williams took some time at the end of the meeting to catch everyone up on what’s been happening in the group and what’s coming up such as our next MSCA Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East, the MSCA mini-con at Germatnown Community Theatre on November 18th and the Cinderella art show at Theatre Memphis next year. He also gave us details on our Christmas art swap at our December dinner.

Thanks to everyone who came out to join us this month. We’ll be back for the art swap at the final 2023 montly dinner next month on Tuesday, December 5th from 6-8pm.

Dinner meetings happen on the first Tuesday of each month at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave. (off Highland/Southern) near the University of Memphis from 6-8 pm. They are free and open to the public, but we definitely recommend bringing a few bucks to order off the menu and some art to show and/or work on.

Hope you can make it out to join us for one…or more!

“Drank & Drew” – Our Latest MSCA Drink-N-Draw At 901 Comics East

This week we had our lastest MSCA Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East on Macon Road.

We had another great turnout from some of our MSCA regular suspects…

Lin (me),

Eric,

Devin,

Kevin,

…and Jason.

Plus a couple of new faces including Lee…

…and Ben.

Our next MSCA Drink-N-Draw will be Wednesday, November 15th from 6-8pm at 901 Comics East.

But before the D-N-D we’ve got Halloween Comic Fest on Saturday, October 28th from noon-4pm. It’s like Free Comic Book Day, but for Halloween! MSCA members will be set up, there will be free comics and candy, a costume contest, and a 20% off sale.

Our Drink-N-Draws are free and open to the public, but bring a few bucks if you’d like to buy a beverage (beer, sodas, water), pizza, or any snacks.

We hope to see your face there!

901 Comics East
8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018
Phone: (901) 249-7959

“Drawing Blood” Opening Reception Didn’t Suck! Still More MSCA Halloween Fun To Go.

Hey, gang-

So, did we all survive Friday the 13th..?!!

We had a great turnout for our  MSCA “Drawing Blood” art show opening reception at Germantown Community Theatre last Friday night.

Not only did we have a lot of fun, we also had several art sales- some even before the reception opened! (No art patrons were forced to buy.)

Glad to see so many of our members and their families attend. For some members it was their first art show, and some of our members even showed up in costumes- which made things a bit “hairy”.

 

Be sure to come out and see the art show and play for yourself. (3037 Forest Hill Irene RD., Germantown, TN 38138)

The show can be seen duing theater business hours and is open to the public.

The  MSCA art show runs in conjunction with GCT’s performance of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” from October 27 – November 12. Tickets for the play are still available for purchase while they last.

On November 18th noon-4pm there will be an MSCA mini-con in the rehersal hall building behind the Germantown Community Theatre. Members of the MSCA will be selling their comics, zines, prints, original art and more as we celebrate the closing of our “Drawing Blood” art show at GCT. It’s free and open to the public. (GCT – 3037 Forest Hill Irene RD., Germantown, TN 38138)

Thanks to Kevin, Dale, and Annie for hanging the show that Wednesday afternoon.

It turned out great and we look forward to announcing our next art show at GCT very soon..!

Oh, and don’t forget that our next MSCA Drink-N-Draw at 901 Comics East on Macon Rd. will be the tonight,  Wednesday, October 18…

…and we’ll be a part of their Halloween Comic Fest at 901 Comics East the Saturday before Halloween.

Also, Monster Market wraps up it’s run tonight at Medicine Factory, 85 Virginia Ave W, Memphis, TN 38106

And this Sunday, October 22, come and hang with Martheus Wade and do some art downtown at the river.

BIG We Foundation: Southern Shift Initiative : Adult Play Date

Featuring music, art and more at Tom Lee Park (Monument to Listening) from 3pm – 5pm. Bring your art supplies and come out.

Thanks to Germantown Community Theatre for reaching out to us to be a part of their spooky season.

“One, one more day- ah, ah, ah..!” – Dinner Meeting And Art Show Deadline Tuesday, October 3rd

From MSCA President, Kevin L. WIlliams:

Hi, all you beautiful digital doodlers, ink slingers, wordsmiths, pencil pushers, and enthusiasts!

Plenty of news to read about the MSCA.  Let me know if there are questions, please.

 

FOOOOOOD! COMICS! YOU & ME!

Our next dinner gathering will be Tuesday October 3rd from 6 – 8pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, by the University of Memphis!

The event is free and open to the public, but bring a few bucks for food money to order off the menu (great salads, sandwhiches, pizza, and pasta). Also feel free to bring  some of your art to show and share, or work on. There’s always napkind to doodle on, too!

A friend who had passed away had a few comics to spread around, so I’ll bring those to find new homes. Be sure to check out our freebies table for other items as well.

This dinner meeting will be the deadline for the MSCA “Drawing Funny” art show this month.

OCTOBER EVENTS

See the very, very bottom list of information for  even more events!  If I’m forgetting anything, please let me know for the next newsletter:

10/3 – Dinner Gathering, (Dracula Art Due) – Garibaldi’s Pizza 3530 Walker Ave.
10/13 – Drawing Blood Opening Reception – Germantown Community Theater.
10/18 – Drink-N-Draw 901 Comics East (Cordova).
10/27 – 11/12 – Dracula: The Bloody Truth play at Germantown Community Theater with Drawing Blood still in the lobby.
10/28 – MSCA Halloween Comic Fest Day at 901 Comics East.

DRAWING  BLOOD
The art for the next show will be due this night, too.  Time to wrap it up and get it done (Kevin!).  Planning to hang at 1pm on Wednesday, October 11th.

Fellow members, please share the images and information (below) to your social media and make the Friday The 13th opening reception a big deal, and be sure to get folks (you, too) to come see the show Oct 27th – Nov 12th.

November 18th will be a mini-MSCA Fest in the rehearsal hall – there are 3 table spaces now available – let me know if you want it!  First come, first serve..!

DRAWING BLOOD: COPY/PASTE TEXT FOR SOCIAL MEDIA

(Addyourweblinks to your post, too!): 

This October, Friday 13th, from 5:30 – 8pm, come have a scary good time and see my art with the Mid-South Cartoonists Association at Germantown Community Theater titled “Drawing Blood: The Art Show That Bites.”The show will run alongside the performance of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” from October 27 – November 12. There will be a closing reception on November 18 from Noon – 4pm.Costumes are encouraged and welcome to all events (nothing too big during the play of course).Drinks and snacks available from the theater.Come support the arts with me!www.midsouthcartoonists.orgwww.gctcomeplay.orgLink to the play:https://ci.ovationtix.com/35186/production/1155552

###

 

HALLOWEEN FEST 901 COMICS EAST

The MSCA will be participating in Halloween Comic Fest at 901 Comics East (Macon Road) on Saturday, October 28th from noon-4pm.✏️🎃

Free comics, candy, and more! Come in costume or dress as yourself. Members of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association will be on hand selling their latest zines, comics, and art. If you love Free Comic Book Day, you’re gonna love Halloween Comic Fest, too!If you’d like to be a part of this event space is free but limited (gallery room, gaming area, and front covered patio area if weather permits) so please let us know if you’d like to set up. Shop opens at 10am for set up.

Don’t forget, many MSCA member comics and art are always available for sale at 901 Comics East – as well as copies of our latest “The Good, The Bad, And The Sketchy” zine.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, October 3, 6pm, MSCA Dinner Gathering, Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave

Friday, October 13, 5:30 – 8pm, MSCA Opening Reception for DRAWING BLOOD, Germantown Community Theater.

Friday, October 13 – 18 Monster Market, Medicine Factory, 85 Virginia Ave W, Memphis, TN 38106

Saturday, October 14, Dr Wacky Science Show at Germantown Community Theater (Drawing Blood will be visible in the lobby during that time).

Wednesday, October 18, 6 – 8 pm, Drink-N-Draw, 901 Comics East, 8551 Macon Road

October 27 – November 12, DRAWING BLOOD Art Show, Germantown Community Theater, 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd.

Saturday, October 28, 12-4pm, Halloween Comic Fest, 901 Comics East, 8551 Macon Road

Tuesday, November 7, 6pm, MSCA Dinner Gathering, Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave

Friday, November 10 – Sunday, November 12, Memphis Comic And Fantasy Con, Holiday Inn U of M, 3700 Central Ave, Memphis

Wednesday, November 15, 6 – 8 pm, Drink-N-Draw, 901 Comics East, 8551 Macon Road

Saturday, November 18, Closing Reception/MSCA-GCT Mini Con, Germantown Community Theater, 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd. (Times TBD)

Tuesday, December 5, 6pm, MSCA Dinner Gathering, Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave (Walt Disney’s Birthday, too, BTW). MSCA Art Swap – bring some art to swap with other members, same as we did last year. That was fun.

And, of course, the 2024 Glass Slippers art show this summer at Theatre Memphis…

~Kev de Prez

Dinner Dates, Dracula Bites, Zine Swap, Monsters And More- MSCA Fall Events

Hey, gang-

Well, it’s been a busy year for the MSCA, and the last quarter is gonne get even busier. But first here’s what’s happened so far in September…

First up was the Record Swap & Zine Fest at Crosstown Concourse over Labor Day weekend.

The two day event on Saturday and Sunday had numerous record vendors/dealers on the first floor.

Upstairs on the second floor he artists & zine creators were set up.

…and there even was an area where attendees could create their own zines.

I also saw  some familiar faces on the second floor, including local artists Tony Parker, Dale Martin, and Jason Negen.

Dale Martin was set up there both days. Dale had lots of his own original art, prints, comics, and zines for sale.

He was also debuting the new issue of the MSCA zine “The Good, The Bad, and The Sketchy” gaming issue with cover art by Devin Hodges (who was set up on Sunday only).

I purchased several items and enjoyed talking to all the creators and vendors while I was there. I hope to set up there next year with zines and trading cards, and sketchcards, and would love to see an MSCA group table/presence there.

This last Tuesday we got together again at Garibialdi’s Pizza near the U of M. We had another great turnout for this month’s dinner meet-up. We get together the first Tuesday of each month at Garibaldi’s from 6-8pm. Our next one will be October 3rd.

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The main topic of business this month was putting together more issues of the MSCA zine and divying up the issues to participating members and bundles to take to local comic shops around town.

Those zines, along with several comics by local creators, are now available at 901 Comics East (Macon Rd.), and will soon be at all 4 comic shops locations around town- 901 Comics (Cooper/Young), Comics & Collectibles (Poplar Ave.), and The Cellar (Bartlett, Blvd.).

Members at the dinner meeting also worked on their own art or checkec out the new gaming themed zine.

Plus some more work was done on the Vampire/Halloween jam piece which will be on display at the upcoming “Drawing Blood” art show.

We also had some freebies available including some blank sketchcards, which Ron Hicks drew on for the first time.

Sketchcards (or “art cards”) are the size of normal trading cards like baseball cards, but have a surface made for drawing or painting on. The only limits to working on sketchcards are your imagination. You can create your own blanks, buy them at art stores like the Art Center (Union Ave. ), or become an official sketchcard artist for trading card companies.

I ususally have some MSCA blanks available at our Sat-Art-Days and Drink-N-Draw events. I also have some free 3 Stooges, Ultraman, and Halloween/Trick-Or-Treat blanks from RRParks Cards available now, too. Hit me up at one of our events if you’d like some.

I recently sent back 15 sketchcards to Gabe’s Cave (El Dorado, AR), and they recently sent me this sweet banner.

Those cards will be given away on their YouTube channel. This is the second set/series I’ve done for Gabe’s Cave.

After people ask what a sketchcard is, the next question asked is almost always, “What do you do with them when you’re finished..?” Anything you want- trade, gift, donate, sell, hoard, etc. I sell most of mine (at shows online, or retail stores), or have been hired by card companies to be a part of a trading card set.

I’ve got several horror sketchcards that will be a part of theupcoming RRParks Cards Halloween Trick-Or-Treat card set this fall. The Kickstarter for it will be dropping soon.

This is the third Halloween set I’ve done for Richard Parks, andI’ll have some bat base cards and lenticular (or should I say “LINticular” motion cards as part of the set. He was kind enough to send me a bunch of sketchcard blanks and trading card packs to hand out at our MSCA events.

Currently I have several of my official artist returns and personal sketchcards for sale at 901 Comics East in Cordova…

…and more along with a couple sketchcovers at The Cellar in Bartlett. More to come, and I plan on releasing a trading card set with sketchcards next year- “stay tooned!”

For those participating in our Dracula themed art show, “Drawing Blood” here’s some info and dates for you.

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association’s “Drawing Blood” art show begins with an opening reception Friday, October 13, from 5:30 – 8 pm, with a full run from October 27 – November 12, 2023, from noon – 4pm and during shows of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” at Germantown Community Theater.  We will close out with an MSCA Fest from Noon – 4 pm on Saturday November 18, 2023.

The deadline to turn in your art is the October 3rd dinnier meeting at Garibaldi’s. This art show will run inconjunction with Gremantown Community Theatre’s run of “Dracula: The Bloody Truth” from October 27 – November 12.. The closing reception for the art show and 1 day MSCA mini-con will be in the building behind the theater.

OPENING RECEPTION: Friday, October 13, 2023, from 5:30 – 8pm.SHOW RUN:  October 17 – November 12, 2023, Noon-4pm and during shows at GCT.CLOSING RECEPTION/MSCA FEST!: Saturday November 18, 2023, Noon – 4pm behind GCT (this is also art pick-up day, too).

We’ll have another Drink-N-Draw in October at 901 Comics East.

We’ll also be a part of 901 Comics East’s Halloween Comic Fest the Saturday before Halloween. This is a free event much like Free Comic Book Day. If you’d like to set up with us let me (Lin) or Kevin know. Table space is limited.

And if you get a chance, stop by the Monster Market. It’s back in-person but for one week only!

Dinner And Zines- Next Tuesday, September 5th

First up- dinner meeting details and zine news from recent birthday boy and MSCA Prez Kevin L. Williams…

Hi, everyone, especially the digital doodlers, ink slingers, pencil pushers, wordsmiths, and enthusiasts,

Next Tuesday, September 5, 2023, is our dinner gathering.  Hopefully, folks are still in town as the day before is Labor Day!

We gather at 6pm at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave, Memphis, TN.  Bring money for delicious food, bring art to show, bring a friend…

I’ll be there a little early to meet up with Dale Martin and help get some binding underway for the next issue of The Good, The Bad, and The Sketchy, featuring a cover by Devin Hodges!  If you want to help and have a long-reach stapler, bring it.  CLICK HERE to see what I’m talking about.

At that dinner meeting we’ll be a month away from the art due date of our next big artshow, “Drawing Blood!”  If you’re participating, be ready to bring it to the October 3 dinner meeting!

Be Safe, Be Happy, Be Well!Your Pals,Kevin L. Williams& Muley the Mule

In other local news…

Crosstown Concourse
Saturday, September 2, 2023
Sunday, September 3, 2023
Record Swap: 10 am – 5 pm
Zine Fest: 10 am – 2 pm
Tickets: Free and open to the public

This is a two-day event, on Saturday, September 2, and Sunday, September 3.

Calling all music lovers, record collectors, zinesters, artists, punks, poets, and weirdos!

Memphis Listening Lab/WYXR’s Record Swap and Crosstown Arts’ eighth annual Zine Fest are coming together for one awesome event in the Crosstown Concourse Central Atrium!

Shop from records, CDs, cassettes, and other music-related merch and memorabilia curated by Memphis Listening Lab on the first floor of the Central Atrium. WYXR will be selling tees and other radio station merch.

On the second floor of the Central Atrium, Crosstown Arts will host its annual Zine Fest where guests can shop for zines created by local makers.

Haven’t made a zine? No problem! We’ll have a free zine-making table! There will also be a DIY zine-making station each day of the fest with demonstrations and supplies to help you get started on making your very own zine! Just bring your ideas! Think Memphis, music, literature, punk, DIY, handmade prints, photographs, whatever you want!

This event is FREE and ALL AGES so bring your friends and family!

More MSCA news…

We recently had another great Satartday at 901 Comics.

“Stay Tooned!‘ for info on our next Satartday. They[re free and open to the public- and we have free art supplies for everyone to use including paper, sketchcards, markers, pencils, and more.

Our next MSCA Drink-N-Draw will be Wednesday, October 18th at 901 Comics East from 6-8pm.

That will be followed up by the Halloween Comic Fest at 901 Comics East on Saturday, October 28th from noon-4pm. Think Free Comic Book Day but with a Halloween twist.

Artist/author and now Arkansas resident Jerry Bingham was recently in the M-town for an in-store appearance/signing at 901 Comics East on August 19th. I was able to talk toons with Jerry and get my “Batman: Son Of The Demon” graphic novel signed.

Next 901 East comic guest will be local creator and ad-man Charles Marshall on October 14th.

Some congrats are in order- on August 5th at the FedEx Forum two of our MSCA members graduated from the University of Memphis.

 

Nick Workman not only completed her masters, but was the only one in her MBA class to graduate with a 4.0GPA..!

And Kevin Thorn completed was awarded his PHD and is now “Dr. Nuggethead”!
Congrats to both of our Brainiacs.

And belated birthday wishes to our own Kevin L. Williams who has a  birhtday earlier this month!

Some sad news…

Arleen Sorkin, original voice actress and inspiration for Harley Quinn, has passed away August 24 at the age of 67 f rom multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune disorder that affects the central nervous system.

Arleen, who made her TV debut as an extra on “Saturday Night Live” in 1982, achieved major recognition when she joined the cast of the popular soap opera “Days of Our Lives” in 1984. Her portrayal of Calliope Jones Bradford earned her two nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress at the Daytime Emmy Awards. Sorkin would go on to reprise the role on several occasions, leaving a lasting impression on fans. In 1992, Arleen Sorkin ventured into the world of voice acting, taking on the role of Dr. Harleen Quinzel/Harley Quinn in the animated series “Batman: The Animated Series” after inspiring Paul Dini to create the character while he home sick watching “Days Of Our Lives”- as well as helping to inspire many future episode storylines. Arleen’s wise-cracking and charismatic portrayal of the Joker’s henchwoman resonated with audiences. That led to invitations for future episodes and voiceovers in video game adaptations featuring Harley. She was married to Christopher Llyod– the writer/producer (not actor/Doc Brown).

This week I’ve had a few folks reach out to me on local artist Mitch Foust’s recent passing (August 25). He and I had our falling out years ago, and only spoke in passing a few times at local conventions. We’d worked together with A.G. Howard and Greg Cravens for many years back in the late ‘80s and ‘90s and I do still have a lot of good memories. That’s me, Mitch, and A.G. at the 1992 Memphis Fantasy Con in Memphis.

My heart goes out to all his family and friends. I know they are hurting, and was glas to see so many people recalling positive experiences at cons and their appreciation of his art. He was very popular in the Sci-fi/fantasy community, did dozens of comic and book cover art, was a co-creator/publisher of “The Last Generation” comic book series, and co-founded The Wild Hare/Animated Jack’s retail stores in Memphis. I haven’t heard an exact cause of death, but 59 is way too young to leave this world.

Here are the visitation and funeral arrangements details:
Jerry Michell Foust Obituary – Memphis, TN (dignitymemorial.com)

Hope yo see you all this next Tuesday night at Garibaldi’s.

“got blood?” – Time To Drink-N-Draw

Hey gang-

Just a quick reminder that our next MSCA Drink-N-Draw event will be this Wednesday night from 6-8pm at 901 Comics East on Macon Rd. out in Cordova. The ‘bar with no name‘ will be open and serving up beer, sodas, snacks, and more.

This will also be the night that Bad Dog Comics! will be hosting their creators meeting, so there should be lots of local comics creators in attendance in the gaming area at 901 Comics East on Wednesday night.

Speaking of local creators, many of ther comics are represented and for sale at 901 Comics East.

Even some former locals like Mike Norton.

901 Comics even has art books to help those just starting out in creating comics and manga.

I’ve got several of my one of a kind sketchcards for sale near the front counter.

Each are hand drawn in pencils, markers, and pens and many of them are done on my own custom blanks, or on MSCA sketchcard blanks. If you’d like a few blanks for free to draw on hit me up at any of our MSCA events, or just stop by the comic shop on days when I’m there (Mon-Thur). We also have free art supplies to use at our Drink-N-Draw and Satartday events at 901.

You can snag some MSCA postcards or stickers at the comic shop, and at the Drink-N-Draw I’ll have the Halloween jam piece Dale started at the last dinner meeting if anyone would like to add to it. Will also have it at the next dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza. It’ll be used in an upcoming MSCA zine and featured at the “Drawing Blood” art show at Germantown Community Theatre.

Here’s some news from our MSCA president Kevin L. Williams about the upcoming art show…

Hi, all,
We’re expected to have another fantastic art show with all the spaces now filled at the Germantown Community Theater!
Don’t forget to come see the show Oct 17 – Nov 12 Dracula: The Bloody Truth, the art show Drawing Blood will run alongside the play.
Don’t forget to check out everything happening at Germantown Community Theater!  www.gctcomeplay.org  or  https://www.gctcomeplay.org/season-52/
More details about the art show:
The opening reception is Friday, October 13, 2023, from 5:30 – 8pm (costumes welcome and encouraged).
The show runs October 17 – November 12, 2023, and available for viewing anytime the box office is open and before or after shows.
A closing reception and mini MSCA Fest will be on Saturday, November 18, from Noon – 4pm, again costumes are welcome and encouraged.
Spaces for the closing reception/MSCA Fest is claimed first by those in the art show, but a list has been started for those who wish to have a space – just email me and say you would like a space.
I’m excited!  It is going to be a great event!
Be Safe, Be Happy, Be Well!Your Pals,Kevin L. Williams& Muley the MuleKevin L. Williams ProductionsPO Box 770397Memphis, TN 38177
And before I get out of here I want to wish 901 Comics East a happy 2nd anniversary and invite you all out to thier birthday celebration and in-store signing appearance with special guest Jerry Bingham next Saturday, August 19th.
The store opens at 10am and the festivities will start at 10:30am. There will be a 20% off sale and more specials available, as well as the bar being open! 901 Comics East is loacted at 8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018.
Hope to see you all there!
Lin

“Get Ready..Get Set…GO!!!” – Upcoming Events

Okay, gang- here are some event dates to add to your calendar…it’s gonna be a busy few months!

Heroclix Tournament at 901 Comics East/901 Games East
Saturday, July 15, 2023 (1-4pm)

Diecast And Toy Show at Bartlett Station Municipal Center (Stage Road at Bartlett Blvd.)
Saturday, July 22, 2023 (9am-3pm)
Saturday, November 4, 2023 (9am-3pm)

Artist Trading Cards Memphis is having a show at Crosstown Concourse’s Art Bar, and MSCA’s Dale Martin is joining in the fun this Sunday, July 16th from 6-9pm. He’ll be one of the exhibiting artists with his new project, “You Are What You Eat“.

901 Comics East POP! Swap at 901 Comics East
Sunday, July 30, 2023 AT (noon–5 PM)

901 Comics East 2 Year Anniversary Celebration with artist Jerry Bingham
Saturday August 19, 2023

MSCA Monthly Dinner Meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza/U of M (1st Tuesdays  from 6-8pm)
August 1, 2023
September 4, 2023
October 3, 2023
November 7, 2023
December 5, 2023

MSCA Drink-N-Draw  at 901 Comics East
August- Wednesday 16 (6-8pm)
October- Wednesday 18 (6-8pm)
November- Wednesday 15 (6-8pm)

Sat-Art-Day (Sketchy Saturday) at 901 Comics East
August  26, 2023 (10-2pm)

Halloween Comic Fest at 901 Comics East
October  28, 2023 (noon-4pm)

MSCA “Drawing Blood” Art Show At Germantown Community Theatre
Starts on October 27 and ends on November 12, 2023.
Opening reception 5:30-8pm Friday the 13th..!!!
Runs in conjunction with the GCT play “Dracula: The Bloody Truth”
MSCA/GCT Mini-con: Nov- 18, noon-4pm (behind GCT)

Monster Market
October 13-18, 2023

Covington Comic Con
August  12, 2023

Memphis Comic Expo/MCX (DonnieCon)
September 23 & 24, 2023

Memphis Comic And Fantasy Con/MCFC
November 10-12, 2023

And don’t forget that we will have a Cinderella themed art show at Theatre Memphis next summer in June.

Oh, and here are several other events happening around the M-town.

For more info follow the links above or check out the MSCA Facebook page. You can also contact our president Kevin L. Williams to join our mailing list and not miss out any of our upcoming event info.

Lin