Tag: Mike Norton

Happy Half A Century Birthday, Mike Norton!

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Yep- our old pal Mike Norton is officially old. Hey, he said it on his Instagram account today.

Mike is originally from the Selmer/Jackson, TN area, but went to college at Memphis State and got his start in comics while living in Memphis and doing advertising work back in the late ’90s. He was also a member of the MSCA back in the day before moving to Chicago to become the art director for Devil’s Due Comics, and then on to drawing for DC Comics, Marvel, and more.

Mike has worked for just about every comic book company out there (and some that aren’t anymore), and has done both licensed properties and a lot of his own creator owned work.

Mike usually gets back to town each year for the Memphis Comic Expo (DonnieCon at the Aggi’cenner!) to see friends, family, and fans of his comics.

This month Mike made it out for the inaugural Memphis Libraries Comic Con at the mail library on Poplar Avenue. That day was also Free Comic Book Day, and Norton was joined by fellow comic con guest, writer John Ostrander. They both were interviewed by our own Nicki Workman. You can hear that interview here.

Keep an eye out for his net graphic novel due out this summer!

Happy birthday, Mike!

New “Drawing Funny” Podcast Episode- Memphis Libraries Comic Con And MSCA Event News

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New “Drawing Funny” podcast episode is available for downloading/listening. You can find it on podcast platforms like Spotify or get it directly from the source by clicking here. ✏️🎧🎤

Nicki Workman interviewed comic creators Mike Norton (former MSCA member) and the legenarywriter John Ostrander at the innagural Memphis Public Libraries Comic Con on Saturday, May 6th (Free Comic Book Day)- plus I share some upcoming Mid-South Cartoonists Association (MSCA) event news.

Such as our upcoming May Drink-N-Draw this Wednesay...

…and our June Sat-Art-Day – both at 901 Comics East on Macon Road in Cordova.

We had a great time at the comic con at the library, and many nfolks stoppe by the MSCA table as well as the many MSCA members’ tables around the library con floor.

You can see lots of pics on our MSCA Facebook page.

 

Another upcoming MSCA event is…MSCA ART DAY IN MAY AT WFH!

Sunday, May 21, 2023, from Noon-4 our friends at the Woodruff Fontaine House Museum have invited the Mid-South Cartoonists Association to come draw at the museum. It’s a great time to practice drawing architecture, still-life, portraits, flowers, photography, and more, inside and out.
The museum is at 680 Adams Ave, Memphis, TN 38105
https://goo.gl/maps/Jr1TGEcyGLAmLY2v5
ABOUT WOODRUFF FONTAINE HOUSE MUSEUM
This Victorian era mansion was completed in 1871, has been through the Woodruff and Fontaine families, seen multiple wars and pandemics such as Yellow Fever, and once even served as the first version of the Memphis College of Art. After having been reconstructed by the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities it has become the beautiful place presented today!
You can find out more about the Woodruff Fontaine House Museum at
https://www.woodruff-fontaine.org/
ENTRY FEE AND ART SALES
Free entry for MSCA members this day only (donations to the museum are welcome). When you arrive, just let them know you’re with the MSCA. Art created this day can be sold as prints (or originals) by the house on a consignment (25% to the museum), so we hope to offer the museum a few of our pieces that they can sell – they are a 501c3 for tax-minded people.
{General admission is typically $16 (membership for the year is only $30).} The Woodruff Fontaine House has been good friends to the Mid-South Cartoonists Association (and I’ve served on the board and am a long-time member of the museum). I think you’ll enjoy all the art opportunities you can find there in its many beautiful details!
HOUSEKEEPING RULES
Keep in mind, the furniture, flooring, everything about the property is vintage Victorian, so we want to be sure we’re super-duper respective of the property and keep it as clean as possible. We can’t sit on the furniture, but we can sit on the floors (small stools or camping chairs are OK). Also, because it is a living museum with regular operating hours, be sure to position yourself in areas that tourists can easily navigate the halls and rooms of the museum.
Indoors, feel free to bring your sketch books and sketch pads, pencils, colored pencils, ink pens/brush pens, Copics, markers, cameras, tablets, and erasers (keep the eraser dust cleaned up, please). Inside, we don’t want to use inks, brushes, paints – nothing that can stain, spill, or splatter.
Outside, feel free to set up your easels, canvases, paints, ink and brushes, pastels, but if you use paints/watercolor bring along a drop cloth/tarp to work on and be cautious of your surroundings.
Don’t forget- our next dinner meetin will be the first Tuesday next month, June 6th from 6-8pm, but we are skipping July because of July 4th/Independence Day. We’ll be back to our regular schedule with the following meeting  on August 1st.
Hope you can make it out to one or all of our events!

“CONnnnnnnnnn…!!!” – News On Upcoming Cons And Events

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Well, the San Diego Comic Con may be over, but that doesn’t mean that con season is over. Lots of events still to come…and a big one is returning to our own backyard!

That’s right- the Memphis Comic Expo (AKA “DonnieCon“) is back in the M-Town with over 70,000 square feet of expo space featuring comics, artists & writers, a cosplay contest, panels, vendors, voice actors, food, drinks, and more!

Agricenter International
(Entrance in Wing C)
7777 Walnut Grove Road (near Germantown Pkwy.)
Memphis, TN 38120
FREE PARKING on premise.

Expo Hours:
Saturday 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sunday 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
VIP Ticket holders will have early entry privileges at 9:30am both days.

Tickets are now on-sale, but VIP tickets have sold out.

2 DAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET

  • $45 if purchased by August 31, 2022
  • $50 if purchased on or after September 1, 2022

SATURDAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET

  • $35 if purchased by August 31, 2022
  • $40 if purchased on or after September 1, 2022

SUNDAY GENERAL ADMISSION TICKET 

  • $30 if purchased by August 31, 2022
  • $35 if purchased on or after September 1, 2022

CHILD TICKET – age 12 and under – FREE

  • Kids 12 and under get in FREE when supervised by a paying adult.  Unaccompanied children will not be admitted.

This year’s MCX has a HUGE guest list including SCOTT SNYDER, GREG CAPULLO, JIM STARLIN, MARK WAID, JAMES O’BARR, DENYS COWAN, MARC BERNARDIN, KEVIN NOWLAN, RON MARZ, DAN BRERETON, DEXTER VINES, and of course it wouldn’t be a DonnieCon without MIKE NORTON drawin’ dogs at the AggiCenter!!!

Plus there will be lots and lots of local creators including many of our own MSCA members. I’ll post a blog here featuring all of them soon- MEMPHIS REPRESENT!

Speaking of MSCA members, “Sour Grapes” creator Tim Jones will be a featured guest in the Artists Alley at Fan X up in Boston this coming weekend!

AUGUST 12-14 2022
BOSTON CONVENTION & EXHIBITION CENTER
www.fanexpohq.com/fanexpoboston

 

Also, here are a few other events that will be coming up in the Mid-South area…

Memphis Comic and Fantasy Convention
November 18/19/20, 2022
Memphis Marriot East
5795 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38111

Coming up on November 5th at the Dyersburg Comic Con– Marvel/DC/Archie comic artist Steven Butler, local comic artist Larry Cathey, wrasslin’ historian Mark James, and special guest, Jackson “SHAZAM!” Bostwick. The show is at the The Lannom Center, 2000 Commerce Ave, Dyersburg TN. 38024. Admission is $10, and they offer a $15 early bird special. Find out more at dyersburgcomiccon.comor check out their Facebook page.


Monster Market is an online pop-up shop stocked with this year’s curated collection of maker-made goods open October 3rd – 31st!

The Monster Market 2022 Kick-Off Party will be Saturday October 1st at Marshall Arts Gallery in Memphis, TN (near Sun Studios). They will be selling a small selection of the inventory (not everything!) at this event, as a sort-of exclusive preview night for their Memphis customers.

Dale Martin and I (Lin Workman) will both have art for sale at the Monster Market.

MONSTER MARKET
memphismonstermarket.com
instagram.com/monster.market

DeSoto Arts Council– Hernando, MS.

Special Halloween edition of Midtown Con Sat Oct 29th at Black Lodge!

Vendors interested in selling comics, toys and records please DM them on Facebook for info.

Black Lodge
405 N. Cleveland Ave, Memphis, TN
www.blacklodgememphis.com/

Not Memphis, but within driving distance to Hunstville, AL– home of the U.S. Space & Rocket Center.

Rocket City Toy and Comic Expo 2022
October 1st 10-5
Jaycee Building at John Hunt Park
2180 Airport Rd SW
Huntsville, AL 35801

Find toys from all your childhood favorites and comics from golden age to modern. There will be over 50 vendor booths with a great mix of toys and comics.
Admission is $5 and kids 12 and under are FREE.

For vendor information email: ROCKETCITYTOYCOMICEXPO@GMAIL.COM

Watertower Festival – Court Square in Hernando, MS (Free admission)

Arkansas Comic Con
September 10, 2022 | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
September 11, 2022 | 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Statehouse Convention Center
Little Rock, AR

Covington Comic Con
August 20-21, 2022
Covington Civic Center
100 W Washington Ave.
Covington, TN 38019

Elvis Week
August 11-17, 2022
Memphis, TN

Lots to see and do around Memphis and down in Tupelo, MS. Check out the Memphis Tourism  and Graceland/EPE websites for more info.

901 Comics presents Comic Book Trivia at Flip Side on the last Wednesday of each month.
Pool, Pinball & A Pint.. Located across the street from Crosstown Concourse, 16 pinball machines, one foosball table, dart board and pool table.

Flip Side
1349 Autumn Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
#SeeYouOnTheFlipSide

Oh, and don’t forget that this September we will have a month long MSCA 35th Anniversary display in the lobby of the Hernando Public Library in Hernando, MS.

They have one large 2-sided display case and another smaller single case on the opposite wall.

Nicki and I have done several lobby displays for them in the past including Batman ’66, Star Wars, Harry Potter, hockey, comics, and an animation one.

Kevin and I will also be doing a “Ghostbusters” display there in October.

Hope you get to check out these events. If you know of any others happening around our area, or if you’re a member and are going to be a guest and/or setting up at a show please shoot us the info on it and I’ll be happy to share it here, on our MSCA Facebook page, and Drawing Funny podcast.

Lin