Convention Season! Rabbit Season!

The 2012 Convention Season continues!

On the 4^th of July, Rene and I will be signing at Art Baltazar’s Aw Yeah Comics in Skokie from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.  (www.awyeahcomics.com)

There will be a parade, hot dogs and comics.  Stop by and get a free copy of the Feast of the Wolfman mini-comic (while they last).  Make sure you are there at 1:00 p.m. for a special announcement.  Oh, Art and Jimmy the Muscle will be there too.

Then in August, Rene and I will be at Wizard World Chicago aka Chicago Comic-Con.  We will be joined by Serena Guerra, colorist of Mice Templar. (http://www.wizardworld.com/home-ch.html)  The new collected Distant will be available at this show.  It includes all four issues of the mini-series, plus the Not-So-Distant FCBD mini-comic, pin-ups, and this great new cover by artist Manuel Preitano.

The last show of the year will be FallCon on October 6, 2012. 

Dann Phillips, creator, writer and artist of Starbomb, will also be at this show. (http://midwestcomicbook.com/)

For updates, be sure to follow Instant Press Comics on Twitter @NstantPress.

And for random thoughts and mostly useless information, follow me @GrubbMaster.

Spirit Having Flown

Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees died today at the age of 62.

The Bee Gees have been a part of my life since junior high.  I discovered their music, like most people, back in 1977 with Saturday Night Fever.  I was only 13 at the time and the movie was rated R, but my mom still took me to see it.  We would go to the movie theater every week and see whatever was playing.  I’ll save those stories for future posts.

I was lucky though to have a friend whose parents were big fans.  My buddy, Eric, introduced me to some of their earlier music.  I ran out and bought Main Course, which contains my favorite song, “Nights on Broadway.”

When we were in 8^th grade, I would go hang out at Eric’s house after school.  Then, we would walk to my house so he could pick up his little brother from pre-school.  On the way there, we would sing Bee Gees songs.  “Nights on Broadway” was a big one for us; we would switch off on the different parts.

My very first concert was The Bee Gees at the Chicago Stadium in the Summer of ’79.  I had finished my freshman year at Gordon Tech and was working at the school for the summer.  Back in those days, you could only purchase concert t-shirts at an actual concert.  So, if you had one that meant you actually went to the concert.  It was a big deal.  Unfortunately, the majority of concert shirts worn in those days were rock or heavy metal.  The Bee Gees were frowned upon because they were considered disco.  I didn’t care.  I was proud of my black concert shirt with the Bee Gees logo and all three of their faces on it.  Another student who had also gone to the concert told me I was brave to wear my shirt at the school.

Ten years later, Eric, my cousin Adrienne (another long-time fan) and I went to see The Bee Gees at Poplar Creek.  We had great seats.  The pavilion was full, but the lawn was a little sparse.  We had a blast.

The death of Maurice Gibb in 2003 signaled the end of The Bee Gees.  Their music and its influence on my life, however, will continue on.

Help Kickstart My Heart

Hi friends!

My name is Justin Castaneda and I am the creator of the When I Was Little picture book series. Dave and I met at Wizard World Chicago a few years back. We have since shared the convention floor and continue to build a great creative friendship with him, Rene, and Instant Press Comics. He was kind enough to have me do a guest post because I have a new book project I am raising funds for thru Kickstarter.

The way Kickstarter works is it funds creativity. It accepts donations to help creative people get their passion projects made. Artists, writers, and filmmakers can set up a Kickstarter campaign and by supporting them and their work, you get rewarded! For instance when you donate to my project, you can receive a signed copy, sketch cards, digital prints, buttons, custom art and a lot more.

So the name of my new book is called, Heart. Heart is a story about love and acceptance. This book has been a labor of love for many years. I really believe in this book. It's been an idea birthed through the struggles I had growing up trying to find where I fit in. I had difficulty making friends and I thought for the longest time it's because of who I was as a person. I thought if I changed who I was I would find my place. It wasn't until much later when I learned all that was non-sense and the most important thing I could ever do was: To Be Myself. 

It's a bit more expensive to release a hardcover children's book than I had anticipated. I didn't want to cop out into doing it as a softcover, it's not meant to be that way. With the help of some fellow creatives that gave me an extra push, I started this Kickstarter campaign:
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/justin-castaneda/sharemyheart


I hope you can help support the book and the message this book gives.

I thank you for your time and consideration and thanks again to Dave for letting me post on his blog!

Convention Season! Duck Season!

The 2012 Convention Season has started!

We kicked it off at DanCon 2012 on March 4th.  This year was bigger and better than last year, which was hard to top.  We premiered House of the Wolfman, the second book in the Tales of the Wolfman series, with a standard cover and an exclusive sketch cover.  The book sold well along with the first book, Bride of the Wolfman.  People really enjoyed Rene’s original sketch covers. 

Last Sunday, Rene and I were panelists for the Author Afternoon at the Beverly Arts Center.  We were joined by Jim and Pat McGreal, creators of the Future Shock comic strip, and Jim Nelson, writer and artist of Crosstown Crush.  We each gave presentations about writing, drawing and working in comics.  The crowd, one of the biggest for Author Afternoons, was very receptive and participated in the Q&A.  Afterward, many came up and spoke to us, looked at our work and even bought some books. 

Coming up (April 13th – 15th) is C2E2. (www.c2e2.com)

Rene and I will be at Table E19 in Artists Alley all weekend.

On Friday, we will be joined by artist Mark Lone. (www.marklone.blogspot.com/)  And on Saturday, Dann Phillips (www.dannphillips.com) will be at the table promoting his book, Starbomb. 

Then, 2 weeks after C2E2 (April 27th – 29th) is Anime Central. (www.acen.org) Rene and I will be at Table 18 in Artists Alley all weekend.  The collected trade of the mini-series Distant will premiere at this show.

May brings Free Comic Book Day on May 5th.  We will be signing at First Aid Comics in Hyde Park.(www.firstaidcomics.com)  As in past years, we will have a free mini-comic.  This year will be Feast of the Wolfman.  All of our other titles will be available for purchase.

Then on May 12th, we will be at Summit City Comic Con. www.summitcitycomiccon.com

Stay tuned for more convention news.

10 Years of Instant Press Comics

This year, Instant Press Comics is celebrating its 10^th Anniversary!

 The celebration kicks off at Dan Con 2012! (http://danconcomic.blogspot.com/)

Our first release of the year will be House of the Wolfman, written by me and drawn by Rene Castellano.

Also coming out this year is the collected trade of IPC’s top-selling mini-series, Distant

and Instant Press 2012, a collaborative celebration of all of IPC’s titles of the last ten years.  You can check out all of those titles here:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2922856917752.143175.1450727712&type=3

Check out our convention schedule to the left, and stay tuned for more releases.

You Damn Dirty Apes Prequel Part 2

Some of you may have read my blog from last year regarding the new Planet of the Apes movie.  If not, go to May 2010 and read it.  Or, you can just read the specifics here in this new blog.

Initially, I was against a new POTA movie.  But after reading about the film and seeing the trailers, I became more interested.  It looked different enough to make it work.  Well, I went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes and was disappointed.  I won't list my specific likes and dislikes here because I am against spoilers.  Instead, I will dissect my original blog and see how it compares to my current opinion.

"...it seems to me that they make these movies for a new generation that has never bothered to watch the originals..."  I still think this is true.  I can see many of the people who did not grow-up with the originals liking this film very much.

"Fox also plans on doing all of the apes in CGI..." "...unless they really change it up for this new movie (which could also be a mistake)..."  The CGI apes looked really good.  I thought that the main orangutan and gorilla actually looked better than the chimps.  Making the apes look real as opposed to people in make-up worked.  It was not a mistake and it was one of the things that made me want to see the movie.

"Yes, I am a huge fan of this franchise."  This fact did not impact my opinion of this new movie.  I was able to watch and critique it solely based on its own efforts.  Of couse when discussing the movie, some comparisons do have to be made.

"Maybe next summer, when the CGI apes are up on the big screen taking over the world, I will be cheering in the theater."  I wasn't.

It is very clear that there is going to be a sequel, and I do like part of the path that it is on.  Maybe the next one will work better for me.  But until then, give me Chuck Heston and a bunch of actors in make-up.

Free Comic Book Day 2011

Friday, May 7th is Free Comic Book Day at comic book stores around the world.
Instant Press Comics will be respresented by me and Rene Castellano at First Aid Comics in Hyde Park from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
(http://firstaidcomics.wordpress.com/)

 
Two new comics will be available at this event.

DORKS ISSUE NO. 5 by Rene Castellano

This issue completes the story arc contained in the trade and launches the next part of the Dorks saga.


STARBOMB ISSUE O by Dann Phillips
 

This 12-page comic leads up to the events in Starbomb Issues 1 and 2, both of which will also be available.
 

If you are unable to attend this event, please support your local comic book store and creators.
http://www.freecomicbookday.com/signings.asp

All About Me 2010

It’s that time once again. Time to tell all of you about this past year.

2010 was not as busy as 2009, but it was still a pretty good year.  My poem “Ysabel” was published in Issue 3 of the BAC Street Journal (available at the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago).  I also conducted a fantasy writing workshop for teens, and edited the teen issue of the BAC Street Journal, which was published in March.  I wrote a short comic (“Dr. Pickle and Mr. Brine”) for the Halloween Issue of Dave Losso’s Great Sandwich Detective comic (http://davelossoart.blogspot.com/).

I appeared with Rene Castellano at C2E2 in April and at FallCon in October.  We also appeared at First Aid Comics in Hyde Park for Free Comic Book Day.

I am currently writing House of the Wolfman, the follow-up to Bride of the Wolfman. Rene (http://idiotpresscomics.blogspot.com/) will again be providing the art. The book is scheduled for Free Comic Book Day 2011. Nino Mesarina is currently drawing the second issue of Gondor, Son of Olympus – Deep Fried in Greece, which will hopefully be published along with the first issue as a full-sized one-shot comic from Instant Press Comics (http://www.instantpresscomics.com/).

Here is what is scheduled for 2011. Instant Press Comics will be at Dan Con 2011 (http://dancon2011.blogspot.com/) in February, and at FallCon in October.

Info on Free Comic Book Day and other shows will be posted here when available.  See you all next year.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas from GrubbMaster Pieces and Instant Press Comics!

FallCon Here We Come

Instant Press Comics will be at FallCon on Saturday, October 16th.
http://www.midwestcomicbook.com/

Publisher and Artist Rene Castellano, Artist Dann Phillips, and Editor and Writer David Gruba will be in attendance.  Two new books will premiere at this show.

The Mysteries of Bakerville from Manuel Preitano,

creator and artist of Distant.

This is the first full-color comic from Instant Press!

Starbomb 2 from creator and artist Dann Phillips.

Issue 1 will also be available.

Also available:

White Knife by writer David Gruba

and artists Dann Phillips and Stan Tanaka

Bride of the Wolfman by writer David Gruba

and artist Rene Castellano

All of these books will also be available for purchase online.
http://www.instantpresscomics.com/

My Life as a Writer - The Early Years

The writing itch first hit me in second grade. We had a newsletter called the 2’s News. The teacher would have everyone write about different topics (First Holy Communion, going on a picnic, etc.) and publish the best ones. You could also submit your own original stories and poems. So, my poem was published in the June 7, 1972 Issue. Here it is for your enjoyment.

WHAT AM I?

Am I a deer?

Or am I a wall?

Am I a ball?

Or am I a dog?

Am I a tall animal?

Now I know what I am.

I am a person by the name of
David Scott Gruba.

Wow, identity issues at such a young age.
It wasn’t until my freshman year of high school that I would be published again. This next poem appeared in the 1979 edition of The Gift Horse, which was the school magazine.

ISLAND IN SPACE

An opening in space,

with stars contained in it.

There I wish,

my star-ship to sit.

Between the nova

and shooting star,

Away from the shooting,

explosions, deaths and war.

Where no alien matter has set.

Where no two planets have met.

But that is where I want to be.

To leave the confusion,

worry and fuss,

To just sit in

the light stardust.

A few years later, I had my first story published in the 1982 edition of The Gift Horse. It was "The Maze of Death" featuring Rasha al Kara, the prince of thieves. I later rewrote the story and changed the title to "The Wrath of Bal Tek." This version was published in Gruba Fiction.

As I come across more of my earlier writings, I will share them here. Hope you appreciate reading them as much as I enjoy rediscovering them.

Waterfront Film Festival

The 12th Annual Waterfront Film Festival is taking place this weekend in Saugatuck, Michigan.

Thursday was the opening night gala featuring an outdoor screening of the Academy Award Nominated Animated Short Films.  http://www.shortshd.com/theoscarshorts/

- French Roast - an uptight businessman who realizes that he does not have his wallet and cannot pay his bill decides to keep ordering coffee

- Granny O’Grimm’s Sleeping Beauty – a grandma tells her version of “Sleeping Beauty” terrifying her granddaughter at bedtime

- The Lady and the Reaper – a sweet old lady is waiting for death so she can join her husband once again, but someone is trying to ruin it for her
- A Matter of Loaf and Death – Wallace and Gromit now have a successful baking business, and someone is killing off bakers
- Logorama – car chases, a hostage crisis and wild animals in a city of famous logos (Winner of the Best Animated Short Academy Award)

The animation styles were different in each of the five films.  The Lady and the Reaper is funny and original.  I always love Wallace and Gromit, and A Matter of Loaf and Death does not disappoint.  Logorama is very clever, funny and exciting. The story involves famous “spokescharacters” such as Big Boy, Mr. Clean, Ronald McDonald and Michelin Men (as police, no less).

They also showed three other animated shorts that received Honorable Commendations: Partly Cloudy from Pixar, Runaway from France and The Kinematograph from Poland. All three were very well done and entertaining.

You Damn Dirty Apes Prequel

A Planet of the Apes prequel called Rise of the Apes is going into production in July. The new movie is an origin story. Three of the original movies were prequels: Escape from the Planet of the Apes, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes and Battle for the Planet of the Apes. I’ve read plenty of comments stating that the real origin may have been changed by the events in Escape, and that this movie will tell what really happened. That may be true, but it seems to me that they make these movies for a new generation that has never bothered to watch the originals and not to enhance the existing ones.


Fox also plans on doing all of the apes in CGI ala Avatar. The only redeeming factor of Tim Burton’s “reimagining” was the makeup. You were able to accept the characters for who they were and forget about the actors underneath the makeup. That was how I felt about the apes in the original movies. I think Avatar did a great job of making us believe the Na’vi were real, but they were a totally new race, something we had never seen before. We know what the apes are supposed to look like, and unless they real change it up for this new movie (which could also be a mistake), all they are creating are CGI versions of the apes we’ve already seen. CGI characters have their place in movies; Gollum is a prime example. However, sometimes CGI becomes a crutch, or an easy fix.

Yes, I am a huge fan of this franchise: movies, TV series, comics. (I once dressed as Caesar for Halloween, and I still have my Mego action figures.) And yes, I am ranting right now. Maybe next summer, when the CGI apes are up on the big screen taking over the world, I will be cheering in the theater.  Maybe.

Frazetta the Legend

Legendary artist and painter Frank Frazetta passed away today at the age of 82. He was best known for his paperback covers of Conan and other sword and sorcery novels. His art was the definition of fantasy.

What most people don’t know is that Frazetta started out drawing comics in all different genres. He also drew funny animal comics and worked on such strips as Al Capp’s Li’l Abner and Playboy magazine’s Little Annie Fanny. In the mid 90’s, Verotik produced comics based on two of Frazetta’s characters – Death Dealer and Jaguar God. Most recently, Image Comics has several titles based on Frazetta’s paintings.

I first discovered Frazetta when I started reading Conan novels. I bought several other books and magazines just for his artwork. His paintings were so realistic and always had movement. You could easily visualize the action that was taking place, and you could imagine what was going to follow. The paintings themselves told stories.

I have never traveled to Pennsylvania to visit the Frazetta museum and gaze upon a Frazetta original. I think to do so would be like standing in front of the actual sun. You know it exists, you’ve seen pictures of it, but until you actually look directly at it, you do not realize the power it holds.

Free Comic Book Day 2010

Free Comic Book Day is the first Saturday in May each year when participating comic book stores across North America and around the world give away certain comic books absolutely FREE to anyone who comes into their stores.  Also, local creators make appearances at various comic book stores on this day.  Here are some Chicago creators and stores that you need to check out on FCBD.

Raymond Leonard will be at Alternate Reality Comics located at 3147 West 111th Street.  You can pick up his FCBD preview of Guytron.

Dave Losso of Great Sandwich Detective fame will be doing a Tour d' Chicago.  Here is his crazy schedule:

1:00 to 3:00 at Brainstorm Comics - 1648 West North Avenue

3:30 to 4:30 at G-Mart Comics - 2641 North Kedzie

5:00 to 7:00 at The Comic Vault - 1530 West Montrose

You can also catch Nino Mesarina, creator of The Unbelievable Laundry Detergent Man, at The Comic Vault from 5:00 to 7:00.

Finally, Rene Castellano and I will be at First Aid Comics located at 1459 East 53rd Street in Hyde Park.  Our latest book, Bride of the Wolfman, will be available.  We will also have some free comics.

Go forth and support all of these fine artists and comic book stores.

(Almost) Published Artwork

Okay.  I haven't been drawing anything new, like I said I would in my last blog.  So, I thought I would share some more old artwork.
After I joined up with Instant Press back in 2001, Rene wanted me to draw my own comic.  He told me that I could do a back-up for his Dorks comic.
I am a big fan of mythology.  Thor is my favorite god (no hate mail please, my religious friends) and one of my favorite comic book characters.  Hence, I created THORK.
He was a regular Dork, working at a construction site, when he gets struck on the head by a hammer that has fallen out of the sky.  When he holds the hammer high, he transforms into Thork.  His construction belt becomes a belt of strength, his gloves turn to steel and his head sprouts wings.
Below is a one-page preview drawn by yours truly and inked by Rene Castellano.  This was originally supposed to appear in Instant Press 2003, which was never officially published.

Thork is TM and copyright David S. Gruba

Check out Rene's version of Thork.

I Can't Draw

Rene "The Mexican Jesus" Castellano always yells at me when I say those three small words.  The truth of the matter is that when I was a younger man, I loved to draw.  I even studied art my first year in college.  But as time went on, I focused more on my writing and less on my drawing.
After Wizard World '08, I decided that I would start drawing again.  I haven't really done much since then, but I thought I would share some of my old drawings and a couple of new ones in hopes that this will spur me on to get the lead out.

Cerebus - 1981

Gravedigger - 1981

Cerebus - 1982

Leonardo - 1990

Bone - 2008

Craynobi - 2009