Janet Hetherington & Ronn Sutton at Fan Expo Canada Sept. 1-4, 2016

Next weekend is Fan Expo Canada, taking place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre from September 1-4, 2016. Ronn Sutton and I are back again this year, and if you are at the con, we want to see your smiling faces!



Janet Hetherington (Artists Alley, P9B, South Building) - I will be bringing prints of my artwork from THE SECRET LOVES OF GEEKS GIRLS, copies of INFECTIOUS, OR SQUID-TONGUE SLEEPWALKING MONSTER APOCALYPSE, copies of ETERNALLY YOURS: ILLUSTRATED STORIES OF ETERNAL ROMANCE, DVDs and more. I will be taking commissions for artwork. Autographs are free!

Ronn Sutton (Artists Alley, P10A, South Building) - Ronn will be bringing prints of his artwork for MY FAIR ZOMBIE: THE MUSICAL (from filmmaker Brett Kelly), ELVIRA: MISTRESS OF THE DARK, VAMPIRA, and SPACE GIRL. He will have copies of LUCIFERS SWORD MC and VICTIMS OF WAR, and more. Ronn will be taking commissions for original artwork.  Autographs are free!













PLUS!


Be sure to check out the special screening of GHASTLIES by Brett Kelly on Friday morning in room 707 at 11 am. GHASTLIES is an 80s-style horror film that's sure to be a cult favourite... in fact, I play a cult member in it! Visit Brett at his table in the North Building.

Happy New Year 2016 and thanks 2015!

Zed Fest - Discovering the cult movies of the future

It's 2016! I'm wishing everyone a happy, healthy and productive new year. I also want to say thanks to everybody who helped make 2015 a memorable year.

Just as it appeared my screenwriting was pushing through -- Jesse James: Lawman with Peter Fonda and Kevin Sorbo premiered in May 2015 and my sci-fi horror comedy Infectious or Squid-Tongue Sleepwalking Monster Apocalypse took second place in the Zed Fest Film Festival Screenplay contest in December -- my comics work was again in the spotlight.

Available as 11 x 17" print

The Secret Loves of Geek Girls, edited by Hope Nicholson, made a huge Kickstarter splash and was released in December 2015. This comics/slice of life/confessional anthology garnered attention around the world, and my Lichtenstein-inspired art was featured in a New York Times online article about the book. I was just one of many, many talented women (including Margaret Atwood) contributing to this, and I was pumped to attend the book release on December 9 at Page and Panel in Toronto, The anthology will be re-released with a new cover by Dark Horse Comics in October 2016. Many thanks to Eisner Award administrator Jackie Estrada for providing an interview for my story. I have made an 11 x 17" print of my full-page "See ya, babe!" faux romance comics art that appears in the book that I will have with me at comic shows.

Speaking of conventions, Ronn Sutton and I enjoyed attending Toronto Comiccon, Ottawa Comiccon, Prose in the Park, Fan Expo 2015 and Ottawa Pop Expo, and I learned a lot at Story Expo in LA. Ronn also enjoyed a successful signing of his Lucifers Sword MC graphic novel at Ottawa's Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street in February.

Ronn had a busy year too, completing illustrations for the Lucifers Sword MC book, which came out in January, the Victims of War comic book written by ret. Col. Pat Stogran about Canadian veterans, which came out in November, and three episodes of the TV show Natural Born Outlaws, playing now on the American Heroes Channel in the U.S. and the History Channel in Canada.

Ronn and I greatly appreciate that we were able to collaborate with many other fine creators to do the things we love to do and have them reach you in 2015. We look forward to an exciting 2016! -- Janet Hetherington

Janet Hetherington and Ronn Sutton talk comics at Prose in the Park June 6

On June 6, Canada's newest literary festival and book fair PROSE IN THE PARK will take place in the Parkdale Park in Ottawa from 11 am to 6 pm.

Over 100 authors and publishers will be selling directly to the public hundreds of fine works of fiction and non-fiction. There is an amazing line-up of 79 moderators, panelists, special event authors and authors reading at the open-mic stage.

Janet Hetherington and Ronn Sutton will be appearing on the graphic novel panel along with Mark Shainblum and Jack Briglio.

Sketch Me In (graphic novel panel)

Mark Shainblum (creator of Northguard), Ottawa

Jack Briglio (author of True Patriot), Ottawa

Janet Hetherington (Aurora Award Winner and author of Eternal Romance), Ottawa

Ronn Sutton (illustrator of Lucifers Sword), Ottawa

Moderated by Kevin T. Johns

LOCATION: NORTH STAGE

TIME: 4 pm - 5 pm

 Prose in the Park is free and everyone is welcome.

Click below for the full program.

http://www.proseinthepark.com/#!programpanels/cypo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prose-in-the-Park/823521187681788

Facebook invitation: https://www.facebook.com/events/1432536553704376/

For more on Prose in the Park and its fantastic line-up, visit the website: http://www.proseinthepark.com/

You can follow Prose in the Park on Twitter at @proseinthepark1 and use the hashtag ‪#‎proseinthepark to help get the word out there.

Comics and movies in Ottawa this May!

May 2015 promises to be a busy month as Ronn Sutton and I get ready for two fun events:

• Ottawa Comiccon: May 8-10 at the EY Centre in our hometown of Ottawa; and
• JESSE JAMES: LAWMAN - May 28 - Movie premiere at the Mayfair Theatre in our hometown of Ottawa.

Ronn and I will be in artists alley for Ottawa Comiccon, with comics, art and stories to stare. We will be doing art commissions at the show. Looking for that special gift from Mother's Day for that motorcycle momma in your life? A great chance to get a copy of Lucifers Sword MC from Ronn, and he'll sign it too!

If you want to be part of the premiere of Jesse James: Lawman (with script by yours truly), be sure to pick up your tickets at the Comic Book Shoppe on Bank Street. ($10 each). the movie stars loads of local talent such as Andrew Galligan, John N. E. Hill and Lawrence Evenchick along with Kevin (Hercules, Andromeda) Sorbo and Peter (Easy Rider) Fonda! Directed by Brett Kelly.

See you on the red cape... I mean, carpet! -- Janet Hetherington

Ronn Sutton & Janet Hetherington on the Outlaw Trail to Fan Expo 2014

I'm happy to report that Ronn Sutton and I are slated to appear again at Fan Expo Canada 2014 in artists' alley.

The show is taking place from August 28 to 31, 2014 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. We'll have comics and original art, and will be doing commissions. We hope to see friendly faces there!

This year, Ronn and I are on the trail as "outlaw creators." We both have projects with an outlaw theme. Ronn is illustrating a new graphic novel called Lucifers Sword MC for Motor Books, about the fictional life of an outlaw motorcycle club. The graphic novel has all the drama and excitement you'd expect from a story written by Hells Angel member Phil Cross. The graphic novel is due out in January 2015.

My outlaw connection is the release on DVD of The Last Outlaw, a western movie that I co-wrote (as The Hunt for Johnny Ringo) on September 9, 2014. The Last Outlaw stars Michael Paré and was directed and produced in the Ottawa area by filmmaker Brett Kelly. I've scripted another western feature for Brett and I'm working on a horror feature for him as well.

Earlier this year, my short horror promo video took first place in the Cellar Door Film Festival's promo video competition. It can be seen on the Cellar Door Film Festival's website, YouTube and on BlackFlagTV.

In other news, I appeared on CBC's All in a Day radio program on August 6 (thanks Alan!) to talk about teaching kids the creative process of writing comics at Carleton University's Creative Writing Camps this summer. I'm teaching two sessions.. with the help of the Caped Cod, my creation Bat-Fish.

Ronn plans to talk about Lucifers Sword on All in a Day sometime in the future. But you can you talk to him about it at Fan Expo. Be sure to drop by.

OIAF PITCH THIS! deadline is July 1

TAC, The Ottawa International Film Festival’s (OIAF) industry event, announces the return of its Pitch THIS! program, presented by 9 Story Entertainment.

 

Pitch THIS! allows content creators the opportunity to pitch their project ideas to a panel of international broadcasters. Following the five-minute pitches, panel members will share their insight and provide valuable feedback to the presenters.

 

The panelists will assess each pitch based on their creative, innovative and financial merits as well as their marketability and overall appeal.

 

Animators are encouraged to submit their ideas. To qualify for the program, proposals from animators must include the following:

• Project synopsis, including target audience, technique, format, rough budget (1-2 pages)
• One episode synopsis
• Bio of key executives
• Short paragraph indicating your current stage of development and any additional information (i.e. interactive components, merchandise, etc.)
• Concept art (2 or 3 images)

TAC will be accepting proposal by email (tac@animationfestival.ca) until July 1st, 2013.

 

NEW FOR 2013: The two selected proposals will each win 3 nights of accommodation (value $600 each) during the event, plus one complimentary all access TAC Anima pass (value $540 each) per proposal.

 

TAC (The Animation Conference) is a specialized industry conference for animation professionals including content creators, developers, producers, distributors, and marketers.

 

The Conference brings together key players from North America and international markets to provide a forum for active networking, practical information exchange, and trade in a comfortable and intimate environment.

 

Now celebrating its 10th year, TAC has become North America’s preeminent animation industry conference. TAC 2013 takes place September 18-20 in Ottawa.

 

For complete information about TAC and the Ottawa International Animation Festival, visit www.animationfestival.ca.

Adventures Into Digital Comics Now Available on DVD

The Award-nominated documentary film Adventures Into Digital Comics, written and directed by Sebastien Dumesnil, produced by Dumesnil and Robert Nichols, is now available on DVD.

The film features, among other artists, Scott McCloud, Chris Gossett, Marv Wolfman, Patrick Farley, Cat Garza Jr, Shaenon K. Garrity, James Kochalka, and showcases the work of dozens of writers and artists.

The film is already available on CREATESPACE and AMAZON.COM. Adventures Into Digital Comics tells the story of the crash of the US comic book industry and the potential rebirth of the medium as an all-digital form on the Internet. The film features many comic book and webcomic writers and artists and discusses the medium from an artistic and economical point of view.

Check it out!

2008 Comic Book Challenge chooses MONSTER LOVE by Janet Hetherington

MONSTER LOVE is on the loose!

Janet Hetherington's newest comics creation, MONSTER LOVE, has been selected as a Top 50 entry inPlatinum Studios' 2008 Comic Book Challenge.

The Top 50 entry winners were announced July 2, 2008 by Platinum Studios, Inc. Janet is very excited to have her supernatural comedy, MONSTER LOVE, tobe a contender in this year's competition.

MONSTER LOVE tells the story of telephone psychic hotline operators PORTENT,GO-GO THE GORGON and SYRENE THE SEA SIREN, a.k.a. THE PSYCHIC FIENDS, whosebusiness is facing bankruptcy. College student HILLARY SU – nicknamedQUILLARY because she breaks out in spiky quills whenever she thinks aboutboys – comes knocking at their door looking for help with her love life, andopportunity comes knocking too. THE PSYCHIC FIENDS decide to retool andrebrand as a dating service for real monsters, calling themselves MONSTER LOVE.

Janet is no stranger to comics about paranormal paramours and dating horrorstories. She is the creator of ETERNAL ROMANCE, a self-publishedsupernatural comic book series that parodied 1950s-70s love comics andearned a place in Trina Robbins' book, "The Great Women Cartoonists." Janet also wrote stories for ELVIRA, MISTRESS OF THE DARK (Claypool Comics) for six years.

"The Comic Book Challenge is an excellent venue to showcase comics from awide variety of genres," Janet says. "I love writing and drawing humor, andobviously I love writing and drawing comics with a supernatural and romanceangle. However, MONSTER LOVE is quite different from ETERNAL ROMANCE,because those comics were presented as a collection of short tales with ahorror hostess, Destine. MONSTER LOVE has been designed, right from thebeginning, as a complete, engaging story with a beginning, middle and end –and the story really takes off after the three pages submitted to the ComicBook Challenge."

Things have changed a lot since Janet self-published ETERNAL ROMANCE inblack-and-white in 1997.

"Color! The advance of digital comics andtechnology has given me the ability to produce MONSTER LOVE in color, and tooffer image uploads to various websites," Janet says. Janet intends topromote her MONSTER LOVE submission on various sites including her own (http://www.best-destiny.com/), as well here on as JanetinBloggerland, http://www.popcultureaddict.com/, Facebook, YouTube and other sites.

In fact, Janet has created a dedicated website, http://www.monsterlovebuzz.com/, to showcase MONSTER LOVE.

Being chosen as a Top 50 entrant is just the first step in the process. Next, Janet must create a three-minute video pitch to submit online forjudging. The panel of celebrity judges will then review the video pitch andoriginal entry, and choose the Top 10 entrants based on the submissions. TheTop 50 entrants have until July 31 to create their own, unique video pitch.Complete contest information is available at http://www.comicbookchallenge.com/.

Janet also plans to create a separate MONSTER LOVE short promotional video, featuring music by Ottawa composer Derek Audette, to show on YouTube.

If MONSTER LOVE is selected as a Top 10 entrant, the competition then movesto online voting in August. "This is why it's so important that I promote mycreation straight out of the gate – so people will be psyched up to see MONSTER LOVE as a comic book – and when the time comes, to vote, vote vote!" Janet enthuses.

Janet will be attending both Comic-Con International in San Diego andFanExpo in Toronto.

Comic Creators Set to Win Big in Platinum Studios’ The Comic Book Challenge 2008

Top 50 Announced Along with Prizes from Fandango, Genius Products, MashOn, Corel & Wacom

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Platinum Studios, Inc. (OTCBB:PDOS), an entertainment company that controls an international library of more than 5,600 comic book characters which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media, today announced the Top 50 contestants, as well as the first wave of prizes, for this year’s The Comic Book Challenge™ (www.comicbookchallenge.com), Platinum Studios’ international contest for aspiring comic book writers and artists. Prizes from Fandango, Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI), Planetwide Media’s MashOn.com, Corel and Wacom will be awarded to the Top 50 entrants selected in this year’s contest. The complete list of the Top 50 can be found on The Comic Book Challenge website.

The Top 50 entrants, who include people from as far away as India, Singapore and Argentina, will now submit video pitches which will be judged by a celebrity panel of industry and Hollywood insiders at a secret location in early August. Platinum Studios will sign the winner to a publishing deal, which will include print, online and mobile. In addition, the company will seek opportunities both to develop the property for film and television as well as to create a licensing and merchandising program.

“Moving the contest completely online this year opened it up to many more people, truly making this a worldwide event in which anyone can participate,” said Scott Mitchell Rosenberg, Chairman and CEO of Platinum Studios. “And the wide geographic diversity of the Top 50 is a testament to that.”

“It’s well-known that comic fans are among the most passionate moviegoers – so Fandango is excited to be a part of The Comic Book Challenge™,” says Fandango Vice President of Marketing Ted Hong. “Fans have told us that the summer’s most anticipated films have comic book origins - IRON MAN, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, HELLBOY 2, WANTED and THE DARK KNIGHT. We hope that we are contributing to discovering the next great comic book talent.”

"We're very excited and proud, once again, to be sponsors of Platinum Studios' The Comic Book Challenge™ 2008," said Philippe Benoliel, CEO of MashON.com. "The Comic Book Challenge™ brings together the best and brightest comic artists and gives them an opportunity to become the next generation's comic book stars. With our MashON Comic Book Creator, we hope to attract more talent to the vibrant world of comic books by making the creation process accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds and helping them to share their creation."

“Wacom is excited to be a sponsor of this year’s The Comic Book Challenge™,” said Don Varga, Senior Product Manager for Wacom. “Our Intuos pen tablets and Cintiq interactive pen displays are the tools of choice for many of today’s top comic artists and animators, allowing them to creatively sketch, ink and color in a digital format.”

The winning entry from last year’s The Comic Book Challenge™, Gunplay by Jorge Vega, was released by Platinum Studios Comics as a graphic novel in April 2008 to critical review and fanfare.

Please visit www.ComicBookChallenge.com for full details on the Top 50 entrants, the prize packages and all of the updates on The Comic Book Challenge™ 2008.

About Platinum Studios, Inc. (http://www.platinumstudios.com)

Platinum Studios (OTCBB:PDOS) is an entertainment company that controls an international library of comic book characters from all over the world, which it adapts, produces and licenses for all forms of media including print, film, online, mobile/wireless, gaming, and merchandising. Platinum Studios' library contains more than 5,600 characters spanning a full range of genres and styles, and also includes properties such as www.DrunkDuck.com, the industry's preeminent webcomics community. Working with leading companies in the entertainment and new media sectors, Platinum believes it is well positioned to emerge as one of the front-runners in the creation of new content across all media platforms.

To learn more about the company and to sign up for our newsletter, visit www.platinumstudios.com.

Platinum Studios Safe Harbor Statement

Matters discussed in this press release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this press release, the words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "may," "intend," "expect" and similar expressions identify such forward-looking statements. Although expected, actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those contemplated, expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements contained herein. These forward-looking statements are based largely on the expectation of Platinum Studios and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. These include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of economic, competitive and other factors affecting Platinum Studios and its operations; its markets, products, and distributor performance, the impact on the national and local economies resulting from terrorist actions, and U.S. actions subsequently, and other factors detailed in reports filed by Platinum Studios with the SEC.

About Corel Corporation (www.corel.com)

Corel is at heart a creative company. We believe in the power of choice, the freedom of self-expression. By offering a comprehensive choice of Photo, Video & DVD, Illustration & Design and Office & Utilities software, we put the tools at your fingertips to help you creatively express yourself. Corel market leading product for illustrators is Corel Painter™ X, which mimics traditional painting and illustration better than any other software. Its unique digital brushes, art materials and textures help artists achieve the perfect composition, color palette and brush stroke. Ideal for professional artists, designers and photographers, it's a complete digital art studio.

About Planetwide Media’s MashOn (www.mashon.com)

MashOn.com is an exciting and unique web based suite of tools which allows users of all ages to combine their own photos, videos and sounds with premium licensed content, to easily create engaging, multimedia comic strips and animated novels. The resulting mashup can be shared with friends via email or posted to popular social networks using the MashON widgets, thereby maximizing brand awareness through exposure of the content and creating an immersive advertising environment.

About Wacom (www.wacom.com)

Founded in 1983, Wacom® revolutionized the nature of digital creativity when it introduced the world’s first cordless, battery-free, pressure-sensitive pen. Today, Wacom’s Cintiq® 21UX interactive pen display and its Intuos®3 family of pen tablets provide photographers, designers, and artists with the ultimate platforms to enhance creative control, comfort, and productivity.

About Genius Products

Genius Products, Inc. (OTCBB:GNPI - News), along with The Weinstein Company Holdings LLC, together owns Genius Products, LLC, a leading independent home-entertainment distribution company that produces, licenses and distributes a valuable library of motion pictures, television programming, family, lifestyle and trend entertainment on DVD and other emerging platforms through its expansive network of retailers throughout the U.S. Genius handles the distribution, marketing and sales for such brands as Animal Planet, Asia Extreme™, Discovery Kids, Dragon Dynasty™, Dimension Films™, Entertainment Rights group companies (Entertainment Rights, Classic Media and Big Idea), ESPN®, IFC®, RHI Entertainment™, Sesame Workshop®, TLC, The Weinstein Company® and WWE®. Genius Products, Inc. is the managing member of Genius Products, LLC, in which it holds a 30% equity interest.

Agnes Culpepper Needs You!

This is a call to support two of my comics projects!

I have two comics proposals in the running at Comic Creation Nation at http://www.zeros2heroes.com/. This is a community-based website where members vote for their favourite comics "pitches" to be turned into comics.

There is a lot of work involved to create and post the pitches, including a complete 22-page script. I have two projects in the running -- AGNES CULPEPPER (a supernatural comedy) and EVOLUTIONARIES (a super-hero adventure, co-created with Ronn Sutton).

Please take some time to visit the website, register, rate the pitches and cast your vote by collecting your favourites in the "Swag Bag" and then ranking them in your collections area. Every vote pushes a project up the ranks in the chart.

You might also want to check out the art galleries by Ronn (Evolutionaries, Storytelling) and me (Girl Power, Thrilling Romance).

Thanks in advance for your support!

Cheers,
Janet (BestDestiny)

New York! New York! April 2008

Great news! Ronn Sutton and I will be appearing in Artist Alley at the New York Comic Con from April 18 to 20, 2008. Ronn and I will have lots of original art on hand and we'll be doing commissions too. A press release about the event follows.

Norwalk, CT, March 6, 2008: The New York Comic Con (NYCC) today revealed the complete roster of the comic book legends, luminaries, and Rising! stars who'll appear in its 2008 Artist Alley. The 2008 New York Comic Con takes place April 18-20 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City and features Guests of Honor including Mike Mignola, Grant Morrison, and T.M. Revolution.

Artist Alley is a division of NYCC's Exhibition Hall reserved for comic book and pop culture creators -- both legendary as well as emerging -- and is a unique arena that allows for creators and fans to personally interact. Highlights from New York Comic Con's Artist Alley include Mark Buckingham, C.B. Cebulski, Colleen Doran, Danny Fingeroth, Bob Layton, Jim Lee, Rob Liefeld, Monte Moore, Rags Morales, John Romita, Jr., Jim Shooter, and Jim Valentino.

Everything we do at New York Comic Con is about experience," Show Manager Lance Fensterman said. "While the show is only three days in April, we endeavor to create something that'll remain for a lifetime in memory, and out of everything we're planning, it's the talent and interaction in Artist Alley that may be many attendees' favorite memory."New York Comic Con 2008's Artist Alley is the result of months of work from NYCC's team and also one of NYCC's most-asked-about attractions.

The complete listing is available now at newyorkcomiccon.com and also appears below…

NEW YORK COMIC CON 2008 ARTIST ALLEY
Bob Almond Franco Aureliani Dick Ayers Michael Bair Matt "Batt" Banning Jason Baroody Chris Batista Carolyn Belefski Steve Belledin Dan Berger Rich Bernatovech Simone Bianchi Jake Black Greg Blazer Anna Warren Boersig Jon Bogdanove Ken Branch Ivan Brandon Mark Brooks Charles Brown Mark Buckingham Rich Buckler BUZZ James Campbell Nick Cardy Joshua Carter John Cebollero C.B. Cebulski Justin "Spanky" CermakPhillip Chan Jeff Chandler Bernard Chang Sean Chen Cliff Chiang Dan Chinchester Kari Christensen Lawrence Christmas Tom Chu Matthew ClarkPhillip Clarke Classic Comics Press Olivier Coipel Eugene Commodore Amanda Conner Darwyn Cooke Dan Cooney Ed Counts Molly Crabapple Illustration Wes Craig Carlos d'Anda Peter David Albert Debnam Nelson DeCastro Todd Dezago Marko Djurdjevic Michael Dolce Derec Donovan Michael Dooney Colleen Doran Dale Eaglesham Tommy Lee Edwards Steve Ellis Steve Epting Mark Evanier Jesse Farrell Ray Felix Will Finan David Finch Michael Finger Danny Fingeroth Ramona Fradon Gary Friedrich Jose Luis Garcia Lopez Ron Garney Michael Gaydos Randy Gentile Keith Giffen Sam Girdich Basil Gogos Dan Goldman Dan Goodsell Keron Grant Michael Grassia Scott Grimando Geoff Grogan Peter Gross Yvel Guichet Brad Guigar Wesley Gunn Brian Haberlin Carissa Halston Ryusuke Hamamoto Craig Hamilton Scott Hanna Jesse Hansen Fred Harper Dean Haspiel Lewis Helfand Clayton Henry Janet Hetherington David Hillman Bryan Hitch Greg Horn Richard Howell Mike Huddleson Jamal Igle Phil Jimenez Geoff Johns Veronica Jones JG Jones Kris Justice Paul Michael Kane Eric Kayser Joe Kelly Carl Kent Karl Kerschl Barbara Kesel Danny Kimanyen J.J. Kirby Blair Kitchen Douglas Klauba Chirstopher Knowles Jim Kyle Andy Lanning Serge LaPointe Bob Larkin Steve Lavigne Jim Lawson Bob Layton Jim Lee Fred Van Lente John Paul Leon Tim Leong Rob Liefeld Mike Lilly Lisa Lin John Livesay Mike Lopez Aaron Lopresti John Lucas Julian Lytle Kevin Maguire Jason Martin Ron Marz Jason McKee Mike McKone Frank McLaughlin Bob McLeod Steve McNiven Jason Millet Welson Miu Richard Molinelli Christian Montalvo Steve Montano David Montoya Monte Moore Mark Morales Rags Morales Alex Morrissey Patricia Mulvihill Steve Murphy David Nakayama Daniel Narkrosis Todd Nauk Shaun Noel Dan Nokes Oliver Nome Steve Noppenberger Steven O'Connell Michael Avon Oeming Ken Okabayashi Denny O'Neal Joshua Ortega Jean Claude Padilla Jimmy Palmiotti Yanick Paquette Dan Parent Andrew Pepoy Marcos Perez Khoi Pham Caleb Prochnow David Quiles Rodney Ramos Tom Raney Jon Reed Robert Reilly Ivan Reis Michael Renzine Dan. H. Richards Rivera Martin Robaszewski Andrew Robinson John Romita, Jr Shane Rooks Craig Rousseau Stephane Roux Josef Rubinstein Steve Rude Michael Ryan Mark Sable Steve Sadowski Daniel Salgo Alex Saviuk David Seidman Dave Shelton Jim Shooter Ryan Sias Joe Simon Walter Simonson Louise Simonson Joe Sinnott Louis Small Timothy Smith Tom Smith Solero Christian Spollen Joe Staton Christina Strain Ronn Sutton Arthur Suydam Jonathan Syphax Craig Taillefer Eric Talbot Billy Tan Mark Texiera Art Thibert Andie Tong Willard Torres Gia-Bio Tran Steve Uy Tom Valenti Jim Valentino Fred Van Lente Ethan Van Sciver Ceasar Vargas Samuel Vera Dexter Vines Peter Vinton Steve Walker Emily Warren Lee Weeks Graig Weich Graig Weich Scott Weinstein Chris Weston Renee Witterstaetter Bob Wiacek Keith Williams Ven Yann

ABOUT NEW YORK COMIC CON
New York Comic Con is the East Coast's biggest and most exciting popular culture convention. Our show floor plays host to the latest and greatest in comics, graphic novels, anime, manga, video games, toys, movies, and television. Our panels and autograph sessions give fans a chance to interact with their favorite creators. Our screening rooms feature sneak peeks at films months before they hit either big or small screens. And with dedicated professional hours, New York Comic Con is bringing together the major players in the entertainment industry. New York Comic Con is the second largest pop culture convention in America and the only one that takes place in the comic book, publishing, media, and licensing capital of the world -- Gotham City. Further information can be found at newyorkcomiccon.com.

ABOUT REED EXHIBITIONS
Reed Exhibitions is the world's leading events organizer. In 2007 Reed brought together over six million industry professionals from around the world generating billions of dollars in business. Today Reed events are held in 38 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and organized by 39 fully staffed offices.Reed organizes a wide range of events, including exhibitions, conferences, congresses and meetings. Its portfolio of over 500 events serves 47 industry sectors, including: Aerospace & aviation, automobiles, building & construction, electronics, energy, engineering, entertainment, environment, food & hospitality, gifts, healthcare, IT, jewelry, life sciences & pharmaceuticals, property, manufacturing, medical education, packaging & converting, printing & visual communication, security, sports & recreation, travel.Working closely with professional bodies, trade associations and government departments Reed ensures that each and every event is targeted and relevant to industry needs. As a result, many Reed events are market leaders in their field. Reed Exhibitions is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a FTSE-100 company and world-leading publisher and information provider. In 2006, Reed Elsevier made adjusted profit before taxation of £1,052 million on turnover of £5,398 million.

Happy Holidays!

Ronn Sutton and I wish you a happy holiday season!

To see how this e-card went from sketch to colour version click here.

Cheers, Janet

Teen Dream 2: Beautiful Eyes!

As a kid, I really enjoyed reading Mad magazine. I particularly liked the TV and movie parodies, and the take-offs on advertising. As a teen, I created my own whacky ad. For this cartoon, I actually inked it with a Speedball pen with real india ink! Here's the silly ad, "For Beautiful Eyes," coloured and re-lettered.

Enjoy!
Janet


To see a larger image of this cartoon, visit: http://www.ronnsutton.com/blog/BeautifulEyesc2.JPG

A Teen Dream: Comics!

Long before I created Eternal Romance, at the age of 14 or 15, I wrote and drew a five-page romance comic -- on typewriter paper, inked in ballpoint pen! I recently ran across this early effort, and thanks to modern technology, I have scanned in, coloured and re-lettered this heart-wrenching story of teen angst entitled: "Four Eyes but One Heart!"

Enjoy! Janet

P.S. Be sure to check out the coloured, serialized Eternal Romance comics at www.MyRomanceStory.com! -- JLH

Larger version: http://www.ronnsutton.com/blog/4eyes1c2.JPG

Larger version: http://www.ronnsutton.com/blog/4eyes2c2.JPG

Larger version: http://www.ronnsutton.com/blog/4eyes3c2.JPG

Larger version: http://www.ronnsutton.com/blog/4eyes4c2.JPG

Larger version: http://www.ronnsutton.com/blog/4eyes5c2.JPG

Women of Comics II Coming in June!

Over 20 female comic book writers, artists, and editors will come together June 9-10 at Women of Comics II - part of the 2007 Paradise Toronto Comicon.

Women of Comics II will showcase female talent and creativity in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry. Sponsored by All New Comics Inc., the symposium will feature signings, portfolio reviews, panel discussions, and direct interaction with the artists.

This year, the spotlight is on Minx, a new graphic novel imprint from DC/Vertigo aimed at teenage girls. Designed as an alternative to traditional teen books and Manga, Minx is a series of paperbacks by writers and artists from both the comic book world and young adult fiction. "We're really excited about the material, and we've got a lot of great writers and artists who are really passionate about the stories that they want to tell", says Shelly Bond, group editor at Vertigo.

Minx debuts with the May 16 launch of The Plain Janes, written by noted Canadian young adult novelist Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, The Queen of Cool), illustrated by indie favourite Jim Rugg (Street Angel), and edited by Bond (who came up with the idea for Minx). Both Castellucci and Bond are featured guests of Women of Comics II.

The story follows a girl named Jane, who leaves the city for suburbia after a terrorist attack. In the school cafeteria she meets three girls named Jane who are anything but ordinary. They form a group dedicated to creating acts of anonymous public art as a form of political protest (P.L.A.I.N - People Loving Art in Neighborhoods).

On working on The Plain Janes, Castellucci says:" It would have been really nice growing up to have had comic books (written by women or men) that told the kinds of stories that I longed to read. I hope to do many more graphic novels involving the Janes and perhaps one day I'll get to do a regular monthly series of my own!"

At 176 pages with black and white interiors and slightly bigger than a comic book digest, the line is more in step with Young Adult paperbacks. Each title also includes previews for three other Minx books as a special bonus and retail for 11.99 each.

The following is the full 2007 Women of Comics II guest list. For more information, visit http://www.womenofcomics.com:

Shelly Bond
Cecil Castellucci
Svetlana Chmakova
Danielle Corsetto
Tania Del Rio
Janet Hetherington
Faith Erin Hicks
Joan Hilty
Liana K.
Kiss Machine Presents
Michèle Laframboise
Tara McPherson
Robyn Moore
Patricia Mulvihill
Christine Norrie
Nicola Scott
Gail Simone
Tara Tallan
Diana Tamblyn
Raina Telgemeier
More to come!

The 5th Annual Paradise Toronto Comicon runs from June 8-10 in Hall C at the Direct Energy Centre on the CNE Grounds.

About All New Comics Inc.
Canada's newest online comics shop is a joint venture between Peter Fisico, a veteran comic book retailer, and web expert Brian Garside. Visit www.allnewcomics.com for more information.
About the Paradise Toronto Comicon
The home of the Joe Shuster Awards and the premiere gathering of creators and retailers in the comic book and graphic novel field in Canada, the Paradise Toronto Comicon is the brainchild of organizers Peter Dixon and Kevin Boyd. From June 8-10, the convention will host over 150 creators and their work alongside dozens of retailers promoting a broad spectrum of offerings.

A Note from Bloggerland
I will be moderating and participating in a number of panels. For the programming schedule, visit http://womenofcomics.com/calendar.asp


Also, be sure to drop by Artists' Alley for original art and comics by Janet Hetheringon and Ronn Sutton! The Supergirl, Wonder Woman and Vampirella art shown above is a pen-and-ink commission piece by Janet Hetherington.

A Word (or Three) of Welcome

Hello, my virtual friends.

While blogging is not new, it is new to me. And while I have had a website (www.best-destiny.com) to showcase my comics and other work, I never quite had the nerve to create a blog.

Until now.

I will be posting things that are of interest to me, and they just might be of interest to you.

More to follow. Thanks for checking in.

Janet