The MSCA On Display At The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art

Pop! The Art of Comics” exhibit at The Tennessee Valley Museum of Art in Tuscumbia, AL.

The exhibit covers comics history and notable comic artists and spotlights works by the Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) and the late Hanther, a comic artist from McNairy County, TN.

TVMA will hold a number of comics related events over the six-week run of the exhibition, including some movie nights. Be sure to keep track of them to find out more – tennesseevalleyarts.org.

Thanks to Brent Bonds and the Tishomingo Arts Council for getting us involved with the art exhibit (and thanks to Brent for the photos and transporting the art).

Some of us in the MSCA may make a roud trip over to see it if we can work out all the travel arrangements. Keep an eye out for an email about it, or contact MSCA prez Kevin L. Williams at midsouthcartoonists (at) gmail (dot) com.

Below is the press release….

MSCA: Comics Art Exhibition at the TN Valley Museum of Art

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) is proud to announce that member art is on display in the TennesseValley Museum of Art (TVMA) from March 18 – April 29, 2023.  The broader display will include pieces of original, vintage comics by Christopher Hanther of Marvel Comics, as well as MSCA members’ finished sequential art and process pieces from published pages of comic books and graphic novels and comic strips, to pieces used to propose projects.

Comics Art Exhibition

MARCH 18  APRIL 29

This exhibition will explore comic book and sequential artwork. It will feature the comic illustrations of Christopher Hanther, who worked for Marvel Comics and illustrated the long-running comic Tandra. Learn more about Christopher Hanther in this video by the Tishomingo Arts Council: www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1221636025029324

Exhibition hours: Tuesday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10am-5pm

Admission: $5 for adults, $3 for students, and free for TVAA members

The TVMA is located at 511 W Water Street, Tuscumbia, AL 35674

This Tandra comic cover was painted by Memphis artist David Porch. The shirtless guy on the left was modled by the MSCA’s Greg Cravens, and the large alien with the cape was me (Lin Workman). The photoshoot for the reference pics was held in the garage of The Wild Hare on Mt. Moriah back in the ’90s.

New “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode From A Couple Couch Potato Podpeople

Calling all podpeople– a new “Drawing Funny” podcast episode is available !

You can listen in the player above, online directly at www.drawingfunny.com, or most podcast platforms such as Spotify, Apple, and others.

Show notes: For this episode of Drawing Funny I take a trip to our couch to have a comics conversation with my wife and live-in I.T. person- Nicki Workman (with special guest appearance by our cat Jarael). This is a follow up to my Episode 47 – “Back To Basics”.

While on our way home from the MSCA December dinner meet-up this month I told Nicki about a couple conversations with some fellow local creators recently. They had asked for my advice on their art and projects. Well, even though I do a podcast that offers advice on just about every episode (and even multiple times on each of those episodes), after my many failures and less than stellar art career I’ve been questioning my art expertise when it comes to giving advice. I asked her is she thought I was qualified, and that conversation led to this episode which includes some very good advice by her.

Not just on creating art, but some of the business basics of being creative for a living, as well as her life in corporate America, and reasons for continuing her education at this point in her life. Was happy to catch her on break between semesters to get her to share her thoughts. I’m super proud of her being able to juggle a full time day job and work trips while attending grad school online and keeping a 4.0 GPA at the same time. She’s in the home stretch for her MBA!

I also have some local MSCA news about upcoming dinner meetings (next one is Tuesday, January 3rd), current and upcoming art shows and plays around town, as well as some news about the first ever MSCA Drink-N-Draw (Wed. 1/18/23) and Sketchy Saturday (1/18/23) at 901 Comics East (8551 Macon Rd, Cordova, TN 38018).

I actually edited some of this episode sitting at 901’s bar while watching some of the World Cup highlights after work, and also back on my couch with Lena supervising me.

I plan on being back with another DF episode before the end of the year, and recording my 50th episode around the first of the year.

Also, as stated in the episode, we recently had our last MSCA dinner meet-up for 2022. We’ll be back at Garibaldi’s Pizza on Tuesday, January 3rd from 6-8pm.

It has been great to be able to meet back in person again, and we had another great turnout with a good mix of old familiar faces and new!

Some sketchy things happened during dinner, including our “semi-annual” holiday art swap.

Members brought art pieces to swap with each other by drawing numbers out of a hat.

There were also more freebies available for attendees and restaurant staff to take home for the holidays.

Thanks to the staff at Garibaldi’s for letting us gather there each month. Look forward to being there in 2023!

Garibaldi’s Pizza
3530 Walker Ave
Memphis, TN 38111

(901) 327-6111
www.garibaldispizza.com

Lin

MSCA Member Jim Palmer In “An Inspector Calls” At Germantown Community Theatre

An Inspector Calls – a crime drama featuring member Jim Palmer set in the early 1900’s when a mysterious inspector calls on an affluent family and thru a serious of blunt and challenging questions challenges them to accept the role they all had in the demise of a young struggling woman. 

Regular ticket pricing $16-26 – group rates available! Tickets available for purchase here. ArtsAccess tickets available for the performances on October 22, 23, and 28.  Limited quantities available.  Email tix@gctcomeplay.org beginning October 17 at 12:00am for reservations.  Tickets will be distributed in the order requests are received while the supply lasts.

PG13 – Fri/Sat 8pm & Sun 230pm thru Nov. 6th

By JB Priestley and directed by BC Jennings. The Inspector – Jim Palmer

Jim was a part of our MSCA show at GCT back this last spring. We’ll have another show there during their run of “Spamalot” this upcoming March.

GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY THEATRE
3037 FOREST HILL IRENE RD.
GERMANTOWN, TN 38138

www.gctcomeplay.org

EDIT: MSCA members DaMarco Randle (top left), Jason Negen (bleow), and prez Kevin L. Williams (top right) got  to catch Jimbo in the play at GCT.

MSCA News, Updates, Links, and August Dinner Meeting Notes

Hey, gang- it was great to be back at Garibaldi’s Pizza again for our monthly dinner meet-up.

We had a great turn out and look forward to doing it again next month on September, 6th.

Also- I’ve got a message from the MSCA’s president, Kevin L. Williams

Tonight’s MSCA dinner gathering was a lot of fun, and thanks everyone for the great resource information! Good to see everyone there, and look forward to next month. Anytime you have good resources to share, please do.

Here are some notes from tonight: 

INTERNET 

First, another call for self-caricatures and bios, including all your social media and websites, for the Members Directory section of the website. You can send that to midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com.

Also, ANYTIME that you have something that is newsworthy (even if you don’t think it is), please share it for the website and MSCA page.  Art shows, publications, articles, performances – it’s all newsworthy! 

Second, please share the attached graphic and link to www.midsouthcartoonists.org on your own websites/social media.  Help us spread the word!

Dinner gatherings are always the first Tuesday of the month at 7pm (or a bit earlier if you’d like) at Garibaldi’s Pizza, 3530 Walker Ave.

Third, if you haven’t been on yet contact Lin Workman about the MSCA’s “DrawingFunny” podcast! It’s a good time and you get to pimp your work to the world for free!

Interviews can be recorded over Zoom or in person. Email midsouthcartoonists@gmail.com or podcast@drawingfunny.com and he’ll get the message.

Fourth, Lin Workman secured display space at the Hernando Public Library to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Mid-South Cartoonists Association. They have a large 2-sided display case and a smaller single case on the other side of the lobby hall. Both have locks and can be viewed during library business hours. Display will be up for the whole month of September. The MSCA display will be a great way to spread the word about our group, its history, members’ work, and show some how-to draw examples.

Some members dropped off items at the last dinner meeting, but if you have any ‘historical’ MSCA stuff- napkin doodles, publications (personal projects/comics, magazine covers, MSCA newsletters, etc.), progression examples of your work (like our “Drawing Inspiration” art show) that you wouldn’t mind loaning us for the display, let me know when/where I can pick it up.

I’ve tried to keep up with a good collection of stuff in a box I consider our “archives” which I’ll dig into as well. 

RESOURCES 

Lastly, as per our discussions, I’ve attached “Wally Woods 22 Panels That Always Work” which is a great reference for drawing comics. 

A few books mentioned tonight: 

Comics and Sequential Art: Principles and Practices from the Legendary Cartoonist (Will Eisner Instructional Books) www.amazon.com/dp/0393331261/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_RQX9FCR3S55SVK52N0A4?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 

Framed Ink: Drawing and Composition for Visual Storyteller www.amazon.com/dp/1933492953/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_3PHJ6F2SYP08R5Z8RVYK?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1 

Websites: 

Line-of-action.com is great reference for figure drawing.

Oh, and speaking of figure drawing, sign up for the Facebook group Memphis Life Drawing and go visit with some of our members and DRAW!!  (Just a little money due to pay for the models.)www.facebook.com/groups/1169039783154774/

Podcasts: 

www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/screen-tones-a-webcomic-podcast/id1591620548

www.youtube.com/user/tommyswass

www.podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/off-panel-a-comics-interview-podcast/id1006337409

www.drawingfunny.com

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

BTW- don’t forget you can pick up some MSCA and Drawing Funny free swag around town at Comics & Collectibles (East Memphis), The Cellar Table Top Games and Comics (Bartlett), and both locations of 901 Comics (Cooper/Young and Cordova). We always have some at our dinner meet-ups at Garibaldi’s, too.

“Bluff City Life” Interview And Clip Studio Tutorial With “Bluff City Blues” Novic Creator At MSCA Dinner Meeting

On March 29th MSCA president Kevin L. Williams was interviewed by host Andy Mannis for “Bluff City Life”, which aired on WMC TV5 here in Memphis. Kev and Andy discussed the MSCA and our 35th anniversary this year (March 28, 1987).

If you missed the MSCA segment when it played you can now check it out online here.

On Tuesday, April 5th, we got back together for our MSCA monthly dinner meeting at Garibaldi’s Pizza. This was our second meet-up back at Garibaldi’s since we had to stop due to the pandemic back in March 2020.

We had another great turnout- not only some of our usual suspects, but folks we haven’t seen for a while like brothers Marvin and Spencer Cheveallier, former MSCA prez Charles Ettinger, and a new face- Courtney Dunn, from the Brooks Museum Of Art who heard about us from one of the postcards we recently sent out. She brought a few of her sketchbooks to show- which were great. Always love to see other artists’ sketchbooks.

I had Dale Martin sign my copy of “The Dragon Templar” comic. I picked up a copy of the first issue at The Cellar. He and writer Brad Starnes are working on the second issue now.

We had fun hanging out, talking toons, and eating pizza and pasta. Lots of catching up to do as always, sketchbooks to be looked at, drawings to be done, and more freebie swag to be had.

Towards the end of this meeting, member Antonio Johnson brought along his laptop, tablet, and extra monitor to do a tutorial on the art program Clip Studio Paint.

He showed us the basics that can be done, and took lots of questions from the group. A few members use the program and added some of their expertise to the conversation.

A few months back Charles had shown us a bit of how he used the program while on one of our Zoom meetings. He was working on the Memphis issue of our MSCA Zine. I was impressed with the what could be done with it in just those few minutes.

After last night I’m amazed to find out more about what else it can do and support, and for a very reasonable price. I really hadn’t thought about getting a new graphics program (I use Corel Draw and Photoshop), but am really tempted to get it and a new tablet for my new laptop. The question is, since I draw outside the computer left handed, and draw inside the computer right handed, do I just stick with the way things are, learn it left-handed since I’ve got to learn to use the program, or try to get comfortable with either hand- just in case..?

You can check out Antonio’s art at www.adjdesign.com, as well as purchase some of his and wife Tamika’s books, merch and apparel in their shop here.

Since the restaurant closes a bit earlier these days we didn’t have a long time to really get into what all the program can do, but it was a fun introduction to it for many of us. Thanks to Antonio for teasing us with Clip Studio Paint. I hope we can have more demonstrations at future meetings. If anyone would like to lead one, please give Kevin a yell so we can schedule it.

Also looking for guests to talk toons on our Drawing Funny podcast. I can either do a Zoom call or meet in person if needed. Just shoot me an email at podcasy(at)drawingfunny(dot)com and we’ll schedule it. I’d also be happy to interview anyone at our meetings or other events.

I’m glad we were able to have monthly Zoom meetings during the pandemic, but man it’s great to be meeting back in person again.

Don’t forget that MidTownCon is this Saturday from 10-4pm at Black Lodge Video here in Memphis. More and more cons and events are starting up again.

Also, mark your calendars- Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) 2022 is set to be celebrated on Saturday, May 7 at local comic shops across the country and around the world! Check with your local comic shop to see ig/how they are participating, and if there are any requirements/restrictions.

Oh, and Dale Martin has his first show of the year he’s participating in- the Annesdale Snowden Neighborhood Art Walk in Memphis. Dale does a lot of art shows and festivals around the mid-south, so keep an eye out for him and his work.

Stay “tooned” for more MSCA anniversary updates and member news. Hope you all are doing well and drawing funny!

Lin

MSCA Monthly Dinner Meeting This Tuesday- No Foolin’, fools!

Hey, gang- no April Fools jibber-jabber today. Just a couple MSCA bits of info for you-including the next monthly meeting this Tuesday.

Yep, it’s hard to believe it’s time for another MSCA dinner meet-up at Garibaldi’s Pizza off Walker Ave. and Highland (across from Tiger Bookstore).

It’s been a month since our first time back at Garibaldi’s after a two year pandemic forced hiatus. Yeah, hard to believe it was two years without any in-person get-togethers here.

We had about a dozen members stop in, and as you can tell everyone was super excited to be back together in the same room again..!

We all enjoyed some good grub, great conversation, and traded/snagged some cartoonist freebies. I brought some MSCA and Drawing Funny podcast swag (pins, buttons, stickers, sketchcard blanks), Kevin Williams brought some MSCA postcards, Greg Cravens had some of his stickers, and Lonnie Eastering had some of his Spud Toons stickers. (If you’d like any MSCA and/or Drawing Funny freebie swag be sure to stop by Comics & Collectibles, The Cellar, and 901 Comics around town,)

This month marked the 35th anniversary since the first Memphis Cartoonists Group meeting- March 28, 1987.

The name has changed since that first meeting and so has our roster of usual suspects, but we still have some members from those early days and are always looking to have more folks join our ranks. Young or old, experienced or just starting out, published or just draw for fun- everyone is welcome to come out and talk toons with us.

This last Tuesday, March 29th- the day after our official anniversary, MSCA president Kevin L. Williams appeared on WMC TV5’s “Bluff City Life” to talk about our group’s history with host Andy Mannis.

During the MSCA segment some pics of the group (including a shot from out most recent March dinner meeting) and some member’s art was shown including some from our recent art show at Germantown Community Theatre.

There we a couple of minor technical issues, but Kev did great a great job promoting the association and getting the word out to the mid-south. If you missed Kev’s TV appearance, the episode should be available to watch on their website anytime now.

Hope you can all make it out to meet up with us this Tuesday, April 5th from 7-9pm at the U of M Garibaldi’s Pizza. Bring whatever art you’ve been working on, favorite art book/comic or recent art tool purchase to show, or some promo swag to hand out. Also, feel free to bring a friend or family member, and be sure to bring a few bucks to order off the menu. You and your stomach will be glad you did!

I’m hoping to actually sit down and do a bit of recording for the Drawing Funny podcast during the meeting, so if you’d like to be on the show please let me know.

I pity the fools that miss this next MSCA dinner meet-up!

Lin

MSCA Meeting And Local Event News- All On The Latest “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode

Hey, gang- sorry it’s been so long since my last MSCA post. I honestly just haven’t had time for that- but to make up for it here’s a whole bunch of stuff for you in this website update!

BIG NEWS– after meeting virtually on Zoom for the last two years due to the pandemic, we were happy to return to in-person meetings at Garibaldi’s Pizza this month…and we’ll be back on the first Tuesday in April! We had a great turn out- about a dozen members or so.

Zoom meetings were great and essential to keeping in touch, but it was awesome to see and talk to everyone in person and not through a computer screen…and eating some pizza!

A new Drawing Funny podcast episode is also up. In this solo episode I have some MSCA member news, updates on upcoming conventions and events, as well as info on our president Kevin L. Williams being interviewed recently about the Mid-South Cartoonists Association‘s 35th anniversary for WMC TV5’s “Bluff City Life“. The show airs at noon on Tuesday 3/29!

Coming up this weekend – MidSouthCon.

Featured MSC guest is writer John Jackson Miller – that’s JJM holding the book.

Also coming up- Midtown Con, April 9th- Black Lodge Video, Memphis.

Metropolis Superman Celebration – June 9-12, 2022. Guests announced so far include SMALLVILLE’s Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling, as well as George Newbern- the voice of JL/JLU Superman.

MCX2022 poster art by Sam Payne.

Guest announcements have begun…such as Mark Waid, Ron Marz, Cullen Bunn, Sam De La Rosa, and “The Crow” creator James O’Barr! Go to www.memphiscomicexpo.com for more info.

In this podcast episode I also discuss some I CREATE COMIC BOOKS Facebook group threads and share my opinions on impostor syndrome, social/anti-social media, being social in person, making time for positive activities, and editing out toxic people and situations that are in our lives. These days I’ve learned to love “unfriend”, “block”, and “delete” when necessary..!

BTW- some of the member news I discuss is the first issue of “The Dragon Templar” being spotted out in the wild at The Cellar. Art by Dale Martin and story by Brad Starnes. Brad’s brother Skoot Starnes did that cover of “Fathom” sitting next to it.

And I give you a Mr. Pototo Head’s up on Lonnie Easterling’s new “Spud Toons” website- www.spudtoons.com.

I know that’s a lot happening, but hopefully you’ve got time to check out some or all of the above and/or give the podcast a listen..!

Lin

 

MSCA “‘Murica” art show at Germantown Community Theater

THE MID-SOUTH CARTOONISTS ASSOCIATION PRESENTS “’MURICA” AT GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY THEATER 

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) art show “’Murica: A ‘Toonist’s Take on American History” will be presented February 17 – 27, 2022, at Germantown Community Theater alongside the comedy play, “The Complete History of America (Abridged).”

2022 represents the MSCA’s 35th year of “drawing funny” and this art show will be one of a few big events planned for the year.  This show shares a variation of art styles and techniques from different members Lin Workman, Terence Washington, DaMarco Randle, Jim Palmer, Dale Martin, Greg Cravens, and Kevin Williams.

“While the MSCA has done many themed shows for decades, we’re especially proud to partner with Germantown Community Theater to present our art show “’Murica.” It’s special as it focuses on American History – with a twist, of course,” said MSCA President, Kevin Williams. “And you can’t get more twisted than a cartoonist’s take on history.”  Williams is especially proud to present at the theater as he starred as Tin Man there in 1995’s production of “The Wizard of Oz.”

The play, “The Complete History of America (Abridged)” is described as a ninety-minute rollercoaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American History, reminding us that it’s not the length of your history that matters — it’s what you’ve done with it!  The play, written by Adam Long, Reed Martin, and Austin Tichenor is directed by Elizabeth Perkins.

Hours to see “’Murica” at Germantown Community Theater are Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 3037 Forest Hill Irene Rd. in Germantown, TN 38138, and during the play.  Be sure to get your show tickets now!

Contact us at www.midsouthcartoonists.org and visit the theater at www.gctcomeplay.org

ABOUT THE MSCA 

The Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) is a non-profit organization comprised of and created for professional cartoonists, aspiring cartoonists, and cartooning enthusiasts.

On Saturday, March 28, 1987, a small group of professional cartoonists came together to form The Memphis Cartoonists Group. The name didn’t stick. By December of that year, for the third meeting and first official newsletter, the name had become The Mid-South Cartoonist Association (with the word ‘Cartoonist’ becoming plural in 2000).

Since its origins, the group has put its creative strengths behind various cartooning classes, appearances, conventions, fundraisers, art shows, anthology comics/zines, monthly drawing nights, a podcast, and more. In 2022 the MSCA celebrates 35 years of drawing funny!

Our founders went on to start clubs in other states and begin careers in syndicated comics, many working for comic book publishers Marvel, DC Comics, Image, IDW, and others, as well as self-publishing their own creator-owned projects.  Our members also participate in other art forms such as fine art, pottery and sculpture, textiles, photography, and more.

We hope to provide a social group to help more cartoonists reach their goals- no matter how young or old, published or just starting out. Whether you enjoy simply reading cartoons, stain your fingers every day drawing magazine cartoons or comic books, like to mentor others or want to learn, or even if you just need to find an artist to collaborate with for your funny ideas, please check us out. If you love cartoons, are drawn to comics, or just like drawing funny then the MSCA is the group/association for you…and it’s free to join us.  www.midsouthcartoonists.org

ABOUT GERMANTOWN COMMUNITY THEATER 

Now producing their 50th season, GCT has been a part of the Midsouth performing arts scene since 1972.   Their mission is to entertain, educate, engage, and enrich the community through theatrical programming.  www. gctcomeplay.org 

Back To Virtual Until 2022

Hey, gang-

I have a quick few bits of MSCA news for you. First up is some meeting updates from our Prez Kevin L. Williams

Hi, all-

With the latest details on Covid-19/Delta Variant from the Shelby County Health Department, I am going to cancel further in-person gatherings until January 2022. We will still gather digitally (via Z00m).

I look forward to seeing you all in a week at the zoom meeting!!  Have a great week, keep well, and keep safe

Sling that ink!
Push those pencils!
Craft those words!
Doodle those digitals!

Your Prez,
Kev

For the link to join in on the Zoom meeting or to join our mailing list contact Kevin at midsouthcartoonists (at) gmail (dot) com.

Hopefully if all goes well between now and the end of the year we will be back in person in the big room at Garibaldi’s Pizza near the U of M on the first Tuesday of January, 2022.

Here is some MSCA member news…

Member Jim Palmer let us know that he’s acting in “The Secret Garden” starting this month at Theatre Memphis. We all know it’s no secret that Jim and his wife JoLynn are terrific thespians!

Jim says, “I play the “crusty ol’ gardener” BEN WEATHERSTAFF, (a nice, but small role).  Of course, ALL this could change due to Covid, but, for now, this is the plan.”

The Secret Garden                

Next Stage

Based on the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Adapted and Directed by Jason Spitzer

Touching and Sentimental. Foul-tempered, young Mary Lennox is an orphan sent from India to live in her distant family’s gloomy mansion on the desolate English moor. Once there, she discovers a sickly cousin who has never seen the light of day, a magical boy who can talk to the animals, a mysterious uncle haunted by the memory of his dead wife, and a long forgotten, secret garden hidden behind a locked door. This new adaptation of a timeless classic will open the door to the innermost places of your heart.

THE SECRET GARDEN is scheduled to open Fri. September 24 at THEATRE MEMPHIS, & continue Sept. 25, 26, 29, 30, Oct. 1,2,3,6,7,8,9,&10.  All evening performances will now begin at 7:30pm & Sunday afternoon shows at 2:00pm.

For information contact Box-office at 901•682•8323 or email theatrememphis.org .

The MSCA would like to welcome cartoonist Tim Jones to our group!

Tim is a self-syndicated comic strip artist from Rhode Island where he lives with his wife and two daughters. Cartooning for over 20 years, he created his comic strip, Sour Grapes, in 2013, which is currently published in multiple newspapers throughout Rhode Island, Southern Massachusetts, California and Texas. Tim is a member of ARIA (Association of Rhode Island Authors) and a member of The National Cartoonists Society.

You can read his comic at sourgrapescomic.com and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

I (Lin) got laid off this summer from my printing day job. Since most of what we printed was event and school related orders, COVID had caused printing orders to slow to a trickle. I was able to pick up a part time job working at Area 51 Ice Cream a couple weeks ago. The new/larger location is still on Commerce Street in Hernando, MS. It’s within walking distance of our house, so I don’t have to risk my life driving on I-55 and 240 every day- well, unless they need me to fill in any at their Crosstown Concourse location! I’m also working on some new tee designs for them and will post those later.

Nicki and I have known the Cubbage family who run A51 for years now. We stopped in for Nicki’s birthday right after they opened and have been frequent customers ever since. Oh, I’m not the only “Lin” at the shop- their alien mascot shares my name. The ice cream is scratch made in-house and several of the flavors feature produce grown locally. Great seasonal flavors, shakes, drinks, and baked goods are available. Check out their Facebook page for their daily menus, or stop by and sample some.

I recently dropped off my latest sketchcover to The Cellar out in Bartlett. It’s a “Suicide Squad” Polka-Dot Man comic with a wraparound hand-drawn cover. Done in pencil, Copic markers, black Pigma Micron pens, white Gelly Roll pen, and white Prismacolor pencil.

Lonnie Easterling’s two sketchcovers (top left and center) and my three- Polka-Dot Man, Dr. Who, and The Riddler are for sale at the shop.

I also still have several of my sketchcards that are available for sale- both official artist returns from companies like Topps, Crytozoic, and RRParks Cards and personal sketch cards drawn on my own custom blanks. The profits from those sales help fund my comics and art supplies habits..! I recently did sketchcards for an Ultraman card set, and am finishing up a Zorro set this week.

Be sure to check out the MSCA Zine The Good, The Bad, And The Sketchy at The Cellar- issues 1-6 are available for sale.

Don’t forget to snag you some free MSCA, Drawing Funny Podcast, and Memphis Ghostbusters swag while you’re there. It’s near the front door. Lots of stickers and buttons to choose from.

The Cellar: Tabletop Games & Comics

2737 Bartlett Blvd

Bartlett, TN 38134

(901) 382-8623

ComicCellarOnline.com

Hope you all are having a Happy 901 Day!

Lin

“Is this thing on..?” New MSCA ‘Drawing Funny’ Podcast Is Live And New ‘Magic’ Zine Is In Stores

Hey, gang- as of this month I am a podperson again!

It took a little doing, but the new MSCA podcast Drawing Funny is now available online and I’ve got 3 (and a half) episodes in the can.

Episode 0 is the pilot/introductory episode, Episode 1 was our last meeting Zoom call…

Episode 2 was an interview with the MSCA President, Kevin L. Williams, and Episode 3 was with local Memphis comic creator Matt Bowers.

I’ll be recording more episodes soon. As soon as it is safe enough for us to get together again in person I’ll be taking the show on the road to our dinner meet-ups, to comics shops, conventions, and other events to record.

Please be sure to “like” and subscribe to this podcast on iTunesSpotifyBreakerGoogle PodcastsRadio PublicPocket Casts, and other places you can get podcasts.

You can also follow this show or contact us on social media:

Twitter- @drawingfunny1
Instagram- @drawingfunnypod

I’ll be recording our next monthly Zoom meeting, which is next Tuesday, November 3rd.  If you’d like to attend the virtual MSCA meeting please contact Kevin– midsouthcartoonists (at) gmail (dot) com, and be sure to put “zoom invite request” in the subject line.

Lots to discuss this month, including the latest issues of the MSCA Zine. Issue #3 “Magic” is in stores now, and #4 “Animals” (with a Jim Palmer cover) will be out in mid-November. Copies of issue #1 “Horror” and #2 “Space” are still available at Comics & Collectibles, The Cellar, and 901 Comics. Deadline for entries for the “Winter/Holiday” #5 issue is coming up soon, so be sure to get your art sent over to our editors Dale Martin and Jason Negan.

Speaking of 901 Comics, you can pick up Matt Bowers’ Memphis comic there. Issues #1 & #2 are available for sale there now. He had a singing at the shop last weekend. Matt was also featured in the October 22, 2020 issue of the Memphis Flyer.

Matt Bowers’ Memphis: Superheroes in the Bluff City
It’s Here: Matt Bowers Signs Copies of Memphis No. 2

BTW- if you missed the last MSCA Zoom Meeting, you can listen to it on DrawingFunny.com (Ep1 – “Calling All Cartoonists”)and hear some MSCA history by the man responsible for us all being drawn together- founding member Jack Cassady. I’m hoping to edit some of the video together to use for our new YouTube channel Kevin is putting together. We will be uploading some drawing/painting videos to it soon. Would love to see some of your work on there, as well as in the MSCA website’s Members Gallery I’m currently curating, too.

Kevin and Muley have been very active over on YouTube with their “Muley Reads” videos, where just like the title suggests, Muley reads some fun, entertaining, and educational books. Fond out more info over at MuleyTheMule.com.

 

Stay tooned!

Lin