Eternal Romance, OSFS and Canada all celebrate anniversaries in 2017

Eternal Romance #1

2017 marks a number of anniversaries, including the 20th anniversary of my supernatural comic book Eternal Romance, the 40th anniversary of the Ottawa Science Fiction Society (OSFS), and the 150th anniversary of Canada's Confederation.

My roots are in Canada, comics and fandom, so there are lots of reasons to celebrate.

Forty years along, OSFS is not the same organization as when I first became involved years ago, and there's a reason for that.

In the early days of OSFS, fen (plural for fan) came together because there really wasn't anywhere else to go. We were seeking like-minded people who loved to read science fiction, fantasy and comic books. We were delirious with joy when we found others who adored Star Trek, Star Wars, Dr. Who and Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and even wanted to dress up like characters from those stories.

We didn't have a con to go to and show off our costumes or shop for geeky things, so we created one: Maplecon.

Janet as General Leia at Ottawa Comiccon 2017

We did those things before they were cool. Now there's a comic-con every weekend, and a new Star Wars movie every year. I can walk into a comic book shop and buy a Green Lantern ring or a Wonder Woman tiara or a Spider-Man hoodie that makes a pretty good makeshift costume if I want to -- something that I could only dream of in my youth.

I remember OSFS members calling people who didn't share our passions "mundanes." The mundanes didn't get us. J.K. Rowling called these types of people "muggles" -- the ones who didn't understand or who didn't embrace the magic.

The mainstream has embraced the magic.

OSFS has had an impact. We have been the trailblazers. OSFS is not the same organization it once was, but we should recognize and celebrate what it accomplished.

OSFS gave us a voice, an outlet for our passions, and for many, lifelong friendships.

Happy 20th anniversary Eternal Romance, happy 40th anniversary OSFS, and happy 150th anniversary of Confederation Canada!

Janet and Ronn - Rhymes with Comic-Con (Toronto and Ottawa)

After a successful Lucifers Sword MC:  The Life and Death in an Outlaw Motorcycle Club.graphic novel signing at Ottawa's Comic Book Shoppe on February 28, Ronn Sutton is packing his bags to bring more books to Toronto Comicon, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from March 20-22, 2015.

Ronn and I (Janet Hetherington) are both guests at the convention, so look for us in artists' alley. Show hours are Friday: 4-8 pm; Saturday 10-7 pm; Sunday 10-5 pm. Ronn will have copies of Lucifers Sword available for purchase and signing, For whatever reason, the books have been hard to find in Ottawa, so this is a chance to get a copy from the artist himself if you don't have one.

I, alas, do not have any copies to bring of The Last Outlaw DVD, but if you have a copy and bring it, I will be happy to sign it.

Both Ronn and I will be taking commissions at the show, so see us for our availability and rates. Also stop by just to chat!

Then, on Mother's Day weekend, Ronn and I will be appearing at a show that's closer to home - Ottawa Comiccon. This comic-con is at the EY Centre in Ottawa (in Ottawa South, near the airport), The show runs May 8-10, 2015 on Friday from 2-8 pm; Saturday from 9:30-7 pm; and Sunday from 10:30-5 pm.

We always look forward to seeing old friends and new faces at the different comic-cons. And with spring finally in the air, it will be fun venturing out from the studio to get into the convention vibe.

See you there!

Stuff I Got at Comic-Con in San Diego

With Comic-Con 2010 over, time to recover and enjoy the cool stuff I got at San Diego. Most of these things I bought and are gifts and others are cool freebies.

Oversized and collectable bags:

• Batman: Brave & Bold
• Mythbusters
• Showtime's Dexter
• Anita Blake: Vampire Hunter

Comics:

• Wonder Woman #600
• deciBell #1
• Red Faction #0
• Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule #1-3
• Buzzboy: The Buzz & The Boy #0
• Archie Freshman Year Book One (signed by Batton Lash)
• The Building by Will Eisner

Action Figures & Toys:

• Dark Shadows Barnabus Collins
• Dark Shadows Angelique
• Dexter
• WWE Shawn Michaels
• Hello Kitty
• Koala plush (from the San Diego zoo)

Limited Editions & Sketchbooks:

• Mark Shultz Blue Book (750 of 1000)
• World War Tucci by Billy Tucci
• Robert E. Howard & Two-Gun Bob by Jim & Ruth Keegan

Books:

• Rand Holmes: The Artist Himself
• Comic Artist's Photo Reference: Women & Girls

Music:

• True Blood CD signed by composer Nathan Barr

T-Shirts:

• Star Trek Captain Gold Shirt
• The Walking Dead shirt
• Wolff & Byrd: Supernatural Law shirt
• Legendary Pictures shirt
• Bob's Burger shirt

Magazines & Catalogues:

• Comic-Con International Souvenir Book
• Bachelor Pad
• Incorrigible Catalog
• Entertainment Earth
• Age DVD
• Perspective: The Journal of the Art Director's Guild
• The Costume Designer (Fall 2008, Summer & Fall2009, Winter 2010)

Buttons, etc.:

• Dexter
• A Contract With God
• Get Flipped! 3D magnet photo souvenir
• Clash of the Titans paper fan
• Clash of the Titans paper Medusa crown

Be sure to read my Comic-Con reports at Confessions of a Pop Culture Addict (http://www.popcultureaddict.com/)!

Art Show - B15

Art is hung in the Comic-Con International Art Show, panel B15 in th Pavillion under the Sails. All original!

Photographed with permission of the friendly Comic-Con International art show staff.

San Diego Hot! Hot! Hot!

Countdown to Comic-Con... arrived in San Diego and the city sights and palm trees beckon from outside my hotel window. This hotel has some very cool eagle stonework on the building. The weather outside is hot, but then again so was Ottawa when we left. Trying to shake the traveller's fatigue and go exploring.

Tomorrow I hang my artwork in the art show and the con begins with preview night!

Janet Hetherington Art in Comic-Con International Art Show

Janet Hetherington (Eternal Romance, Elvira) will be displaying original art in the Comic-Con International San Diego Art Show (July 22-25, 2010).

Art will feature Harley Quinn, Poison Ivy, Wonder Woman, Legionnaire Idol and Golden Age (shown here).

If you're going to San Diego, be sure to check out these original works in pen & ink, marker and pencil crayon.

Janet and Ronn Sutton (Honey West, The Phantom: Generations, Elvira, Fear Agent) will also be appearing in Artists' Alley at FanExpo in Toronto and Montreal Comic Con.