Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Geek-minus 11 Days and counting...

Only 11 Days until GeekGirlCon '12 in Seattle.
This 5x7 mini of Batgirl will be there, looking good in black mat and ready to be framed.
Come by Booth 307 and visit with LarsenGeekery.

What?  You forgot GeekGirlCon was coming so soon?
Well, I told you I wouldn't let you forget, so consider this your friendly neighborhood reminder.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

I've been making minis all weekend

I've been making mini watercolor and ink paintings all weekend.
They are going to the GeekGirlCon 12 in two weeks.  Don't worry I won't let you forget!
5x7 inches of Geekery, matted and ready for framing.  Literally dozens to chose from.

Saturday, July 28, 2012

There is a new SOL post

There is a new Super Ordinary Living Post, wherein we learn how to Interpret Corporate Responses.  Exciting and Educational.  That look on Mr. Chairman's face says, "Go Check It Out!" (just in case you didn't know.)
Gotta Fly.  And you have Clicking to do!

Friday, July 27, 2012

Comic Book Physical Update

Let's get physical...physical...(OK, I'll stop).

Tired of reading my comics on bulky computer screens?
Want to hold a real comic in your hands?
Well, you can get "Turn On the Machine: The Web Comics of Jay Larsen" at my Etsy Store,
for the low, low price of $10.
I probably mentioned this before, but LarsenGeekery, the company my lovely wife Evelyn and I run, will be at GeekGirlCon 12 on August 11th and 12th in Seattle (Booth 307).  We will be showing and selling all manner of Geek Gear: Bags, Totes, Comics, Art, T-Shirts, and much, much more.  So meet us at the show or visit us online: www.LarsenGeekery.com

And now a Paid Fake Advertisement from the Silly Funnys Company (not associated with the Silly Putty Company in any way shape or distorted form, although it is easy to pick up that impression).
It's a Super Ordinary Living thing!  That's where I post most of my web comics you know.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Actual Jay Larsen Comics

I don't often print real comic books, but when I do, I prefer Jay Bird Comics!

No Joke!  Not a Mashup!
I have published an actual comic book.
Turn On the Machine, with original content created by Jay Larsen.  That's me!

It is a limit edition, meaning I couldn't afford to publish too many at once.
And they look great (if I do say so myself).
I am taking them with me to sell at the LarsenGeekery Booth (#307) at GeekGirlCon in Seattle, August 11 and 12.
So get your Geek Ass in Geek Gear and get your 2-day passes.
Then stop by the booth, buy a comic, some original art and a handcrafted bag, tote or other accessory.

What?  Not going to the show?
Well if you are interested in purchasing a Comic, drop me a line via the Contact Us page at LarsenGeekery.com

Oh, did I mention I created a comic book?
You should get one!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Judges Say...Mashup

Comic Mashup Theater is proud to present:
Live from Buck Roger's Memorial Auditorium,
in the Y-Me Galaxy,
American Idol (Space Opera Special): Foam Challenge.
See you next time:
See Chest out!

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012

Mourning for Aurora


I spent the morning going through a series of reactions to the horrible massacre at a midnight showing of the new Batman movie in Aurora, Colorado.

My daughter and son-in-law were at a midnight showing of the Batman movie, so my first fear was that the news headlines might be a local story.  Then I was very glad to find my kids were safe and sound.  Then I was heart broken to think about the parents, friends and lovers who's loved ones will not be coming home safe from the movies.
Then I started to wonder what kind of darkness could have invaded a person's mind and soul to make them plan and carryout such a horrific attack?  I would like to believe that it takes a monster to do such a thing.  But I have a sinking feeling that any one of us can get into such a state if we let our internal lives become dark and angry and empty enough.  This guy had to be freaking out in some really bad ways to do this!

Then I started wondering: How many people around this kid noticed that he was having trouble and didn't reach out?  How many times did this kid struggle with his problems and not reach out for help?  Did he feel so isolated by our modern world and his personal situation that he had no one to turn to?
I don't know that we will ever get any good answers to those questions.
But I do know that we have to monitor our own internal spaces, our own feelings and thoughts, and if they are getting too dark and too angry or hopeless we need to reach out for the help we need.  We cannot lash out like this.  And if we have people around us in need help and healthy human contact we must try to reach out to them.

I am a huge Geek.  I love comics, including Batman.  There is lots of violence and psychosis on display in these books and the movies based on them.  Do I think that those displays of fictional violence and madness make people do these kinds of things in the real world?  NO!
Hundreds of thousands of Geeks gather every year at a variety of events like the San Diego Comic Con without any major disturbances.  In fact, fewer disturbances than comparably-sized events of other types (sporting events, political rallies, etc) seem to manifest.  Geeks are pretty peaceful lot.  Geeks like me prefer for our violence and craziness to be Fictional, safely contained and displayed in comics and movies where we can deal with it as mythology and story.  We do not want this kind of violence and madness in the real world of kids and families.  We like Geeking Out about things, not Freaking Out.

My heart breaks for Aurora, America and the World.

Humans are an empathetic and communal species.  We share in the joys and pains of those around us.  And despite horrible incidents like this one, this kind of violence and murder is on the decline.  We have a lot of possibility as a species.  But we do have to continue to find ways help members of our families and communities that are having difficulty before they devolve to the point that they will lash out in such a brutal and destructive manner.
We need to Freak Out Less and Geek Out More.

-- Jay Larsen
(It probably doesn't need to be said, but Yes, I modified that panel of a batman comic.  The words are mine.  The art is not.)

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Captain Rocket Mashup

Comic Mashup Theater is proud to present:
Rockets Red Glare!
Rockets in you Pockets!
More Rockets than you can shake an Inter-Continental Missile at!
It's Captain Rocket's Big Rocket Adventure!
3...2...1...Blast Off!
I'm Exhausted!

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Continued After Next Advertisement

If you have not visited LarsenGeekery.com before, now is your chance to visit it now.
Which part of "now" was not clear?
Goatee-bearded men with fancy helmets do not stutter!
Now!

Monday, July 16, 2012

Ambivalent Balloon Mashup


Who Speaks?
Is it the woman in green?
Is it the man in yellow?
Their lips are sealed, and the Balloon's tail is ambivalent.
Perhaps the voice comes from that little window?
Or from a big creature with little arms outside the window?
No, it's not him then.
Maybe our Sponsor knows who speaks?
Lisa hasn't talked in over 500 years.
And nobody can talk with a Tootsie Roll in their mouth!
Arrgh!  I feel so equivocal!

Friday, July 13, 2012

Carbon Fillets Mashup

Comic Mashup Theater is moderately proud to present:
For All It's Worth (which probably ain't much)
Some say, where there is smoke there is fire.
But we say, where there is smoke there is fish.



Wednesday, July 11, 2012

San Diego Comic Con is On

San Diego Comic Con starts up Thursday and runs the weekend.

I will not be there. Tens of thousands of people will be there, but I will not be there.

The main stream media will swarm San Diego to show the rest of the world how crazy all those comic book Geeks are.  The comics (game/movie/whatever) media will make sure that the vast number of Geeks in the world feel less cool than the small number of people who were there for their exclusive this-or-that.  Hundreds of companies will spend millions of dollars making sure that I know that their exclusive products will be exclusively announced at SDCC.  I won't be there, but somehow I will still find out about all these products.
It's a Comic Con Exclusive!

I don't know how to feel about San Diego Comic Con.
I went once when it was a small local con I could drive to from my house.  1982, I think...  There weren't a lot of famous people there.  Walter Koenig from Star Trek, I think....  I remember just loving all those long boxes full of old comics and meeting a few other people who knew what the Invaders were.

Now I can no longer drive to San Diego.  And I watch what SDCC has turned into, and don't really want to fight those crowds to go there anyway.
So, I don't know if I am jealous that I am not in San Diego or not.

We have a great comic convention here in Seattle each year, Emerald City Comicon.  And it hasn't gotten so huge that it is overwhelming, yet.  And we have smaller shows, like Jet City and GeekGirlCon.  So I get plenty of comic convention action.

It is always weird though, watching the comic industry and its big-money cousins the gaming and movie industries go ape shit over San Diego every year.  They hype normal developments like they are monumental events and even delay perfectly mundane releases so as to have something exclusive to launch at Comic Con.

So I guess my personal take on San Diego Comic Con is pretty cynical at this point, but I still kind of wish I was there..

Tuesday, July 03, 2012

Us and Them


"Us and Them
And after all we're only ordinary men
Me, and you
God only knows it's not what we would choose to do"
--Roger Waters & Richard Wright

Monday, July 02, 2012

I've Been Out of it....

I've been out of it the last handful of days.
Couldn't get out of bed.

Now it's suddenly next week already.
At least I feel better now...