24-Hour Comic Challenge 2013

This past weekend, I participated in the 24-hour Comic Challenge in Toronto, hosted by the Comic Book Embassy and Comic Book Bootcamp. The challenge? Create a 24-page comic book in as many hours.

The event took place at the Comic Book Lounge on College, where 34 comic book creators sat down and did their best to meet the challenge. Some people finished their comic in only a few hours. Others took most of day. Several people didn't finish all 24 pages, though the work they DID produce was gorgeous.

For my part, I teamed up with Rebecca Slack (teams were allowed for this event). I wrote, she illustrated. I also handled lettering (which would explain, you know, the lettering) and even drew a three page sequence when the going got tough. We didn't come to the event with any material pre-planned, though we had worked out the best food to bring to ensure that I didn't get the runs partway through or anything like that.

I'm happy to report that we finished our comic (with a full six hours to spare!), which can be read below. Now, it would be easy to undersell this comic with words like "oh well, this wasn't bad for 24 hours" or humble stuff like that, but I'm not going to lie: I'm EXTREMELY happy with how this turned out. I think Rebecca fucking knocked it out of the park, and I still giggle at my own jokes. And for the record, yes, I realize there's a grammatical error on page four, but I caught it outside of the 24 hour window, and therefore didn't edit it.

And that's it! Thanks so much to everyone involved. I had gone in to the event with a fair amount of dread, but the whole experience was an absolute blast.

If you want to read other comics created during the event, there's a list of all the creators who participated (as well as links to finished products) here. You should check it out; there's some great stuff there.

To read about the inception of the very first 24-hour Comic Challenge, check out Scott McCloud's blog here.

UysFaber Day at the Comic Book Lounge

In my last post I mentioned an upcoming signing at the Comic Book Lounge in Toronto, and that I'd keep people up to date on any info that emerges. Well, the information has indeed emerged, and here I am, true to my word, keeping you as up to date as they come.

The signing is this Saturday, September 22nd, from 2:00pm until 5:00pm at the Comic Book Lounge. You can access the facebook page for the event here, and get directions to the Lounge here (hint: it's by College and Bathurst).

In addition to myself, also in attendance will be Andrew Uys (owner of UysFaber and writer of HardWear and Totem Sacred), DK Kartigan (editor and illustrator of HardWear), Rebecca Slack (HardWear illustrator), and Matt Salonen (Totem Sacred illustrator).

Comic Book Lounge - with couch for added lounging!

Come on down! Get some books signed by us! Get some great sketches from the illustrators! Get some shitty sketches from the writers!

Also, it looks like Comics North, located in Sudbury, is carrying our books as well. If anyone finds themselves in Sudbury in the next little while (maybe for the Sudbury Film Festival this weekend?) you should visit them and pick up some HardWear. And watch my mom's movie while you're at it!

HardWear #3 On Sale

Last month saw the release of HardWear #3 by UysFaber comics. Like the issue before it, it featured one of my stories, the second in the Spectrum series. Once again, the art is by Rebecca Slack. It's twice as long as the story in issue 2, and I feel is significantly stronger. And the cover! Mamma mia.

Can we get a shot of the cover illustration, please?

HardWear #3 is on sale for $3.50 and can be purchased at various comic book stores, such as Paradise Comics, Stadium Comics, CyberCity Comix, Red Nails II, and Comics N More.

UysFaber didn't buy a table at FanExpo this year, but I believe that there will be a signing at the Comic Book Lounge sometime in September. I'll keep you informed as the details present themselves.

In the meantime, check out some of the articles I wrote at UysFaber these past few weeks, including a review of Avengers, which was fantastic, and the Dark Knight Rises, which was poo poo potatoes.

HardWear #2 Launch Party

If you live in the Toronto area, love comics, and aren't going to the Fan Expo this weekend, then head down to Paradise Comics this Saturday for the official launch party for Totem Sacred #3 and HardWear #2, two new comic releases by publisher UysFaber. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I contributed a story (Spectrum) to HardWear #2, so naturally I will be on-hand for signing.


That being said, the real stars of the show are the fantastic illustrators who worked on the two projects, including Rebecca Slack, the illustrator of Spectrum. You can see samples of her work (including some interiors to the Spectrum story) here.

Come on down to pick up a copy of either comic, nab a free sketch, or even just to shoot the shit about all things comic-related. I'd love to see you all there.

Where: Paradise Comics (3278 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON)
When: Saturday, March 10, 2:00pm - 6:00pm.

You can read more about it on the event's Facebook page.