All about the mongoose.

I think that title is pretty self-explanatory. In most of my podcast and radio interviews, I've been asked what the story is behind me creating a cartoon mongoose that likes to perform "puns" and "everyday expressions" in illustration form. It's actually a quite bizarre and interesting one.

Growing up in Hawaii, we didn't have alot of wildlife, and the little that we had was all imported. One of those imports was the mongoose from Central America. It was brought over to the Hawaiian Islands in the 1800s to help bring down the population of another imported animal: the rat. There was one problem with this, however: The mongoose hunted during the day, while the rats were nocturnal. This caused the mongoose to become an invasive species itself, as it resorted to feeding on native birds and their eggs. 

Despite this reputation, I found mongooses to be incredibly intriguing animals as a kid. They have the perfect blend of being "cute" yet "ferocious." Also, it's one of the few animals that hasn't been overused as a cartoon character (not since the 1975 chuck jones cartoon "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi). Of course, my Figure-Of-Speech Mongoose isn't a snake-killer. He started out as "The Traveling Mongoose, a potential mascot for TheBus, Honolulu's privately-run city bus system. When that failed due to a lack of financial cooperation from TheBus, I held onto the character for a few more years, finally repackaging him in 2013 as "The Figure-Of-Speech Mongoose." The new name and gimmick for the character was based on his previous roots: I had created a comic strip and short flash cartoon called "catching the bus," where the mongoose misses his bus, only to pull it back toward him using a fishing line. Since the phrase "catching the bus" is a figure-of-speech, and there are plenty of other expressions like that tailor-made for illustrations, it was only fitting to re-name him "The Figure-Of-Speech Mongoose." 

Since producing four comic-strip anthologies, along with the popular weekly pictionary-style "mongoose mondays" social network games (playable on both facebook and instagram), this furry performer-of-puns has quickly become my favorite original character to write and illustrate. This is due to his flexible persona, as I can put him in any situation and in any outfit. He doesn't always have to wear his sleveless t-shirt and denim shorts, but you'll always see him in a pair of shades. This had helped me expand the character in "mongoose mondays," where you can not only name a 'figure-of-speech" illustration, but also drawings of pop songs, movies, and tv shows. The winner of each game gets a sketch of their choice drawn by me, and gets to choose next week's category.

So if you're a fan of the classic comic strip style of animal characters, puns, pop song, tv, or movie trivia, "The Figure-Of-Speech Mongoose" is "right up your alley." ------I may or may not use that one as an illustration.

Pasadena Comic and Toy Show:

It was quite the busy weekend for me. After attending a friend's birthday party bar-hopping in Santa Monica saturday night (and early sunday morning), I spent sunday afternoon at the Pasadena Comic and Toy Show. It was the first time I attended the show, which was a small but vibrant local show located at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium's exhibit hall. It was only $5 to enter, but my main reason for going was to support and talk shop with the many artist and entertainment friends I've met since becoming an artist alley vendor back in 2010. Some had told me they would be their in some capacity, while others truly surprised me by their appearance.

As I walked in the door, the first person I ran into was Marcelo Lewin, who runs the site: indiecomicstracker.com. I heard about his site last year while exhibiting at Wondercon Anaheim last year, and had my comics published on his online store. We exchanged emails back and forth so much, that it was nice to meet in person for a change. He also did a short interview on me at Central Coast Comic Con in Ventura last year. He was on his way out when I arrived, so we just said a few words to each other before parting ways. Next were fellow comic professionals from C.A.P.S. (Comic Arts Professional Society), an organization that meets on the 2nd thursday of every month at the Animation Guild in Burbank. Members Aiden Casserly, Sergio Aragones, Yehudi Mercado, Lonnie Millsap, and Scott Shaw were all there as exhibitors, and they told me about some of the upcoming topics for this thursday's meeting. Rounding the back of the hall I see the great Joe Williamson, promoter extraordinare, and one of the organizers of the San Fernando Valley Comic Convention that I exhibit at alot. He's also a great friend of mine who has set me up on countless podcast interviews and radio shows to promote my work. We spoke a bit about the progress of a freelance comic project I'm producing for a friend of his. Also present were friends of his that I heard of, but didn't officially meet until this show: Actor/Director/Podcast Host Thomas Churchill, and Actor/Singer/Video Blogger Priscilla Soltero. I was formally introduced to both of them through Joe, and we exchanged business cards while talking a little bit about what we did in entertainment. The very last person I ran into was my good buddy and former co-worker, Mark Rivers and his girlfriend Kamiel Harrison at their table. I spent my last hour at the show chatting with them about old times at work, comic projects, and so forth. I had no idea he would be there, and just happened to run into Kammy on the show floor as I was on my way out. I picked up a few items from Sergio's and Mark's table before I did so.

So, as I headed out of the convention to get a brick-oven baked pizza from Blaze before I headed back to North Hollywood via Metro Rail, I felt glad that I attended this show, as it was an extended meeting of creative, artistic minds for me. And while I didn't have the money to exhibit there, it was great to go and simply support and talk to my friends. Don't worry guys, I'll be back on the other side of the table very soon!

How a Multi-Transit Neighborhood changed my life

It seems insignificant until it affects you directly, but living in an area where you have more than just one way to get around alters your entire view of how you live your life from day to day. Within the last few months, I've been living in North Hollywood, California, an area reshaped by "transit oriented development." Walkable areas with front-facing shops, wide sidewalks, all connecting to a subway and bus rapid transit system make for an area you'd like to explore, rather than an area you escape from for work and rarely ever see.

Since living in this area, I only use my car two or three times a week. And why should I? Major grocery stores, dining places, comic shops, and bars are withing walking distance. Granted, parking is limited to side streets, but that's just another reason to try out one of the other more attractive forms of transportation. Most importantly, any trips I take into other parts of Los Angeles are usually by rail or bus rapid transit. Every time there's an event I'm invited to, the first thing that comes to mind is if it's near a rail station, as both traffic and parking have gotten worse recently in many L.A. communities-----this way of thinking is very essential when going to parties or dining places where alcohol is involved. It's a great feeling going to an event in Hollywood or Downtown knowing that you don't have to deal with finding and paying for parking, and it's alot easier for me to find addresses on foot than driving. Of course, metro rail does not go everywhere yet, like Santa Monica for instance, but that's where another transportation mode comes in to play: ride-sharing. This weekend for instance, I plan to attend a bar-hopping event in Santa Monica, which won't have a light rail line until next year. To avoid driving, I can take the subway and a light rail to Culver City, then take a Lyft car to the bar and the same way back.  Using these other modes helps to lessen the wear-and-tear on my car, so I can use it for just large grocery trips, comic convention appearances, etc. I even get to know not only my neighborhood by cutting down on driving, but other multi-transit cities as well such as Pasadena. Simply put, my love affair with my car and driving wore off in the last year, and I've recently realized how using other transportation modes helps to curb my stress on the roads, and has me not only looking at my surroundings differently, but influencing how I live my life.

Happy Birthday Dad.

Hello everyone. This week's blog is dedicated to, and all about my father, Allen Carter Sr, who died July 16, 2014, at the age of 77. This past saturday would have been his 78th birthday, and I'd like to use this week's column to talk about all of the good times I had with him.

The first thing that always pops into my head when I think of my father is riding in the car. As a kid, we used to go just about everywhere on the island of O'ahu, whether to run errands or just to joyride. I think that's where I get my great sense of direction and love of exploring new areas. I can remember it now: My father and I (sometimes my sister and mother if we were shopping or going out to eat) in one of the many cars he had (red pinto, oldsmobile omega that would overheat alot, ford taurus station wagon). If we were out during the weekends, he'd have on the local talk radio station. I can still hear the station jingle in my head. On some saturdays, he would take my sister and I to the orthodontist at the pan am building downtown. We'd go into the waiting room with the gentle door chimes that would sound when you opened it, and after getting our teeth checked out he'd take us to kapiolani park just outside waikiki. I'd play on the outdoor exercise equipment, while my sister would play on a large rope hanging from a banyan tree. Being in Hawaii of course, we also went to the beach nearly every weekend. My dad indirectly taught me how to swim at Poka'i Bay, a beach closer to where we lived on the west side of O'ahu. After I emerged from the shallow end one day, I watched him paddling with his arms and legs out to sea and back to shore with the white foam board he had. During one of those beach days, he told me that he thought a hammerhead shark was behind him, so that's why he started swimming faster that time. I'm not sure if that was true or not, though that may explain why we would always leave the beach no later than 5:00 p.m., as that was when small fish would come close to shore. My father felt that those fish would attract sharks, so we left the water before those little guppies showed up. Then there were the trips around the island. Being on an island as a kid, going around the island (even if it was only halfway) was the hawaii equivalent of driving to another state. We'd leave from Waianae where we lived on the west side, through the towns of Waipahu then north through Mililani, Wahiawa, and Haleiwa in central o'ahu and the north shore, and finally east into the cool, rainy, green mountains of the windward side. Along the way my father and I would stop for food or to sightsee. Every time we took this trip I couldn't wait to reach the windward side, as it was the complete opposite of the dry beach towns we lived in on the other side of the island. It also included my favorite scenic spot on the island, Nu'uanu Pali Lookout. My father used to take my sister and I up there alot when we were kids. It was known for being extremely windy almost all the time, and it was said that you could jump off the cliff near the viewpoint railing and the wind would pick you back up. I would advise against trying it.

There are so many other stories of my father that come to mind, but what I mentioned are the ones that mean the most to me. The last time I got to visit him back in Hawaii was in 2012, and it was a weird feeling having the roles reversed. This time, I was doing the driving, and the first place we went after breakfast was straight to pali lookout. Then I drove him around the island, just as he did for me when I was a kid. I don't remember much of what we did when we got to our destinations, but I do remember the journey. It all came full-circle for us. So thank you dad. Thank you for all those great times you gave me. Thank you for showing me the world one car ride at a time. Thank you for your easygoing, warm personality. Thank you for your high-pitched chuckle (which I do from time to time myself). But most of all, thank you for being my dad.

Happy birthday.

A Decade In Los Angeles

It's hard for me to believe, but this coming June (June 15th to be exact) will be my tenth year living in Southern California. While it doesn't exactly feel like yesterday since I stepped off the plane back in 2005 from Honolulu, It's definitely made me reflect on my first ten years in L.A., along with my first twenty-five years born and raised on the island of O'ahu. 

As the only member of my family born in Hawaii, I never looked at the islands as anything more than my home until I got older. Television, movies, and visiting relatives made me aware of how the Hawaiian Islands is a beloved vacation destination for many people in the rest of the United States and around the world. Living in an area where our main highway met the sea, the local beach was a common weekend activity, though I enjoyed traveling to O'ahu's windward side the most, and seeing the cool, green mountains with waterfalls in between them. Mainstream entertainment was limited because of our remote location to the "mainland," we would get alot of movies and video games long after the rest of the country. When I moved to Los Angeles shortly after my twenty-fifth birthday, it was a year long culture shock. Many asked (and still do) why I would move from Hawaii to California in the first place, and as much as I tell people who ask this how expensive the cost of living, utility bills, and limited employment options there are, some still can't get past what they've been told through travel ads and "Hawaii Five-O. Resorts, beaches, sunshine, and hula girls are a very small part of the fiftieth state. Currently, the rest of the island resembles "los angeles on a volcanic rock." After getting used to the time difference between the two cities (2 hours in the fall and winter, 3 hours in the spring and summer), and the faster-paced lifestyle compared to Honolulu, I began to revel in the larger opportunities Los Angeles has to offer.  Exploring new areas and neighboring states without a plane, using the public rail system, and most importantly, making new friends and entertainment connections. It's amazing to look back at all the people I've met and have become great friends with through either my sister or through myself at the jobs I've had here. As much as I enjoyed my time in Hawaii, there are so many things I experienced in Los Angeles that I never could have experienced in the islands: working in post-production design, the video gaming industry (where I met the bulk of my friends and roommates), and the IT industry (which helped me learn about becoming a comic convention vendor, thanks to another artistic co-worker). Making trips to other areas in California such as San Diego and San Francisco, as well as neighboring states Nevada and Arizona.

So (raises imaginary glass) here's to ten years in Los Angeles, and perhaps ten more here. That will all depend of course, on what happens in my life during those next ten years. Who knows what the future holds and where it may take me, but for now, I'm enjoying my time as an "angeleno."

My 2015 Comic Convention Circuit - Exhibitor Style!

Shaky finances be damned! I'm still doing an exhibitor comic convention tour this year-----albeit a much smaller one. Despite my low funds, I've gained so much more momentum and experience doing podcast, video, and radio show interviews promoting my comics and convention appearances last year, that I'd really like to keep that momentum going as much as I can. Even if I can only do half of the shows I did last year, it's better than nothing. So, I'd like to use this week's blog to talk about the conventions that I'm planning to do (along with some that I'd like to do), and a little bit about them----note: There's one show on the list that I've never done, so I'll have very little to talk about there.

Tulare Sci-Fi Con: March 7-8 (saturday and sunday). This is the new show I heard about while attending last year's Long Beach Comic Con. It takes place in Tulare, California, which is quite a drive outside Los Angeles. While it's a two hour drive from North Hollywood, the tables are free. So, yeah. Can't really turn that down. It's also a smaller show with a loyal customer base around it----or at least that's what I'm hoping for. No matter how I do there, the only risk is gas money.

San Fernando Valley Comic Con: March 29, 2015: I've done this show several times before starting last March, and it's a small but nice, laid back, fun show. It takes place in a multipurpose activity hall in Granada Hills, on the corner of Balboa blvd. and San Fernando Mission rd. What's great about this show is while the crowds aren't as big, the people who come in really want to be there, and appreciate the talent of all of the vendors, and a smaller show with an enthusiastic crowd is better than a larger show with a crowd that could care less about anything they see ( I'm looking at you Wizard World, when you were back in Los Angeles and Anaheim). One of the biggest reasons I do this show is one of the shows organizers, Joe Williamson, has become a good friend of mine, and has helped me a great deal promoting my work through podcast interviews and radio shows. It's always great to see him, even if we're both busy during the show and only have time to speak before and after the event.

Wondercon: April 3-5, 2015. I saved the best for last. Ever since it moved from San Francisco to Anaheim back in 2012, this "younger sibling of San Diego Comic Con International," has quickly become the convention to attend if you want to avoid San Diego's insane crowds, and----let's be honest here----because Comic Con sells out months in advance. Wondercon has been my most consistently successful show in the three years I've exhibited at the show. They know how to balance entertainment panels, large comic company booths, and independent creators (me), in a way that everyone gets some level of foot traffic and sales. There's always room for improvement, such as placing their Artist Alley and Small Press Areas closer to the front of the exhibit hall, but for a three-day easter weekend extravaganza, it always manages to impress me every year.

So, those are the shows I'm set to do so far. There are some others that I'd like to do again if I had more money, such as the newly expanded "Long Beach Comic Expo," "Amazing Las Vegas Comic Con," "Alternative Press Expo" in San Francisco, and "Long Beach Comic Con," (which occurs in the fall). Some shows that I'd like to try for the first time are: "Phoenix Comic Con," "Big Wow Comic Fest," and "Emerald City Comic Con." I just need to take these all in one day at a time. I may be only able to do three shows this year, but who knows what next year will bring, financially and professionally. All I can say is: Stay tuned.

I'm on the radio! All about my podcast interview experiences

Last week, I spoke about my experiences on the "comic convention circuit." Well, a big part of promoting and selling at those conventions involved advertising my appearances at those shows to let people know where I was going to be, and where to pick up my books. One of the few bright spots of 2014 for me was----thanks to my amazing new friend and promoter, Joe Williamson---being able to sell myself and my work by appearing on radio shows and online podcasts, whether in-studio or over the phone. My first podcast, "The Spotlight: Hollywood Edition," was a great introductory experience to self-promotion, as well as the podcast hosts promoting me as well. One of the first things I learned about doing these shows is just how short an hour can feel like, especially when you're discussing something that you have such a passion for. There were two in-studio shows I did over the summer that were just an hour long, and after talking about just one of my books, the shows were almost over. I guess the old saying rings true: "Time flies when you're having fun."

It's also amazing to look back at all the different shows I appeared on (my voice, anyway), that each had a different style to it. Some were very formal and focused just on what I asked them to in terms of getting to know me and my artwork, while others were more free-flowing and felt like a natural conversation. That brings me to my most recent radio show appearance, my first of 2015: The Guy Talk Radio Show, which I did earlier today---a special thanks to the hosts Joey, Sandy, and Bill for inviting me on, and to Joe Williamson for booking my appearance. They had such a relaxed atmosphere where the hosts and the guests actually drink beer during the show. It was also less of a question/answer show, and more of just talking about various topics. I personally like both interviewing formats, but it's nice to switch them up once in a while. I feel that it's very important to keep things as fresh as possible, especially when it involves something you love to do, because even something you love to do can feel repetitive and often tiresome if you don't shake things up and approach it differently once in awhile. What I'm getting at in terms of interviews is that you can sometimes feel like your either answering, or being asked the same questions over and over again, and you have to come up with new ways of answering those questions the more shows you appear on. Most importantly, you also want to add a personal touch to what your promoting, so the audience understands where your passion and your ideas came from, and what it really means to you. The more the audience gets to know you as a person, the more willing they will be to view and even purchase your work.

So that's what I wanted to share with you all, as the new year opens. I may have some other shows lined up, either through my friend Joe or from fellow artist alley exhibitors I met at comic conventions. Whatever happens though, you'll definitely hear about it on this blog first, so stay tuned! Until next week, when I decide to write about something else. 

What's it like being an "Artist Alley Vendor?"

Yup, it's back to talking about comic-related topics this week. Since I'm still struggling to land full-time work at the moment, my vendor appearances at comic conventions has become my primary focus. While selling items as a vendor involves alot of financial investment and very little profit in the first few years, money is not, and SHOULD not, be the reason to do this. Being an independent vendor is about finding your audience first, which starts with putting both yourself and your artwork out there for people to see. The more shows you can do, the more people you meet. That equals more potential fans, and eventually, some sales of your work. With all that being said, let me talk about my five-year experience as an Artist Alley vendor so far.

The number of Comic Conventions in the past few years has exploded, both nationwide and worldwide. Particularly in the United States, San Diego's monster summer show, San Diego Comic Con International, has become THE comic-related event to attend (I say "comic-related," of course, because anyone who has recently attended this show already knows that actual comic books are a very small part of the show now, and have been for awhile). The constant focus on the San Diego show, and the difficulty in being a part of the show as either an attendee or a vendor, has greatly helped other slightly smaller conventions and even smaller local shows----which are the shows I started with in promoting and selling my work. I think of comic convention artist alleys as both a secret society and a support group of sorts. Everyone in the "alleys" is there to be seen just like me, but we're not really competing with each other, because we all have different types of work. Comic books, prints, buttons, T-shirts, hats, keychains, all types of crafts, and alot more are located in the best artist alleys of a comic book convention. Making friends at these shows is a necessity, as foot traffic has a constant ebb and flow, and striking up a conversation with your "alley neighbor" can definitely keep your energy up as well as theirs. Not only that, but artist alleys become extended families over the years. I still can't believe how many people I've met and become good friends with just from doing these conventions, and especially when I find out that two people I met at two completely different shows know each other. Then you can share those oh-so-wacky convention stories, most of which include the best cosplayer or craziest customer you've dealt with, as well as share information about new conventions (and believe me, most of the shows that I've done I heard about through word of mouth at artist alleys). It's both great and frustrating that I have so many great friends who do this as well, but I have so little time to speak with them before a show starts.

Then there are the customers. In my five years as an artist alley regular, I was very surprised to see that a vast majority of convention attendees had never been to a comic con in their lives, but wanted to see what the hype was all about. Most of those "newbies" have become about 90 percent of my customer base, as from my experience, most first-time comic-con attendees are much more adventurous, and are willing to purchase arts, crafts, or literature that they've never seen before. Most veteran attendees, on the other hand, know where they want to go and what they want to see, and they tend not to look at anything outside of that focus. Alot of the customers that have come up to my table to view my work were always courteous with their curiosity toward my books and characters. Only a very small percentage of customers have made rude comments about my work----usually thinking that I've ripped off an existing comic idea with one of my books. It initially hurts, but that's just one person's opinion, so I forget it and move on to the next customer. It's really great to run into some of the same attendees at different shows, and they see how dedicated I am at selling myself. I even have a fan that has collected my "Cosmic Force" series. He's currently waiting for the sixth issue, which should hopefully be done by the summer.

So, that's my continuing adventures through comic con land. While these shows can physically drain you (3 day conventions especially), the experience is never boring, as no two conventions are alike. Each show is a new adventure, and I always gain something from that adventure, whether it be convention advice from a neighbor, impromptu press interviews or photos, or my favorite "s-word:" sales. Speaking of sales, I am happy to say that while not all of the shows that I've been to have been financial successes, I have never done a show yet where I didn't sell anything ( I haven't sold less than two books at any show). Even the customers who come by to look and don't buy anything from me, I appreciate them just as much as the ones who do buy. With all of the choices a customer has at a show full of established comics, video games, celebrity panels, cosplayers, and other independent artwork, someone choosing to come up to my table to see what I have to offer and thumb through my sample books is really all the validation I need that I'm right where I need to be, and the reason why I'm an independent comic book artist.

Next week I have my first podcast interview of 2015 coming up, so I'd like to talk about my experience promoting my books on radio shows for my next blog. Until then!

What Christmas Means to Me

As some of you may know, 2014 has been a very difficult year for me both professionally, and especially personally. Despite these hardships, I've been looking forward to winter and christmas more than I ever have. This longing for the holiday season has made me really think about what I truly love about Christmas, especially when it can feel like everything is collapsing around me. 

Family traditions, more valuable than any gift, are what make christmas for me. Traditions such as watching old holiday specials I've seen since I was a kid, listening to old christmas music, and especially viewing christmas lights and decorations. I can remember the very first christmas I spent in Los Angeles after moving from Hawaii almost 10 years ago. No decorations. No music. No holiday specials. Just a small plastic tree I picked up from a drugstore where myself, my sister, and her boyfriend opened presents for about 5 minutes. While we were all making good money at the time, I wasn't able to take off work to see my parents back in Hawaii. Now, I have almost my entire immediate family here with me to enjoy all the traditions we created in the islands. Sure, you can put a price tag on an XBOX One or an Ipad, but not on watching a christmas boat parade on Balboa Island, Montrose main street lights, L.A. Live's spectacular christmas light display and ice-skating rink (if you don't skate), and even more holiday events that I have yet to hear about.  Now, we just have to start watching our holiday specials before the big day this thursday.

So what does christmas mean to me? Family. plain and simple. None of those activities I explained earlier would be any fun without my family to share it with, and who understand how sacred these traditions are. I hope that the rest of you enjoy those special traditions you have with your family this week, and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Top Five Favorite Christmas Specials:

Along with christmas music and lights, those classic holiday specials are my favorite parts about this time of year. This list will be a bit more obscure than my favorite songs list from last week, but if you haven't seen these specials below, give them a try, as some are forgotten classics while others are no longer airing around December. So, here we go:

5. A Garfield Christmas - This was one of many holiday specials my family had on one of our first betamax tapes (we wised up and got a vhs later). My sister and I were huge fans of both the Garfield books, animated specials, and the "Garfield and Friends" saturday morning cartoon, so watching this one was a no-brainer. Garfield's owner, Jon Arbuckle, takes him and Odie to his parent's farm for the holidays. You get alot of great comedy not just with Garfield, but with Jon's family (particularly his father and his grandma).

Favorite part of this special: When they turn the chrismas tree lights on, and the whole family "ooohs" (all their mouths resemble volcanoes when they do this, which still crack me and my sister up). This is rarely shown on TV anymore, but that's what Amazon is for.

4. Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol - Since there have been so many versions of this Charles Dickens classic, it will all depend on what tv special version you enjoyed. For my family, this was our version. Never having been a big Mr. Magoo fan, I was surprised at how much I liked him here. There's happy moments with Magoo Scrooge's present, heartbreaking moments in his past, and actually some great comedy in his future. All these moments are amplified by the great songs featured in this seldom-showed holiday program.

Favorite part of this special: The song and dance performed by three crooks who have stolen a deceased Ebenezer Scrooge's possessions and traded them in for money (yes, that description makes it sound horrible, but trust me and watch it. It's really funny).

3. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (Rankin/Bass) - It's hard to believe that 50 years have passed since this stop-motion animation classic debuted. It truly wouldn't be christmas if this special didn't air. You all know the story: Rudolph is ostracized for his glowing red nose, until a storm strikes on christmas eve, and everyone suddenly changes their tune and they ask him to lead Santa's sleigh. Looking through an adult's eyes now, I see alot of cruelty and hypocrisy in the story of Rudolph (and Santa here comes off pretty mean at points), but these specials aren't for adult eyes, they're for kids and the kids in all of us. Not to be forgotten are the memorable songs like "We're a Couple of Misfits, and lines such as "Why weren't you at elf practice?"

Favorite part of this special: More of just a line than a segment, but when Santa tells his wife: "How can I eat? That silly elf song is driving me crazy!"

2. Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas In July (Rankin/Bass) - This is the sequel to "Rudolph," and it included Frosty the snowman and his family, who all performed at a seashore circus during 4th of July weekend.  It runs about two hours long and has quite a convoluted plot involving an evil ice wizard King Winterbolt trying to extinguish Rudolph's nose forever, along with subplot of saving the circus by the sea from being sold to a crooked salesman, and Santa and Mrs. Claus being stuck in a summer snowstorm.  While most people who have heard of this special don't care for it due to this, I've always enjoyed it due to the explanations the special made for how Rudolph got his nose in the first place (a magical queen of the northern lights), and the "foggy christmas eve" winter storm described in the song (a result of Winterbolt's snow dragons). I always liked little details explained like that, even as a kid.

Favorite part of this special: This is a pretty dark scene for a kid's movie, but when the circus owner destroys King Winterbolt's scepter and he turns into a tree. Yup, a tree. Weird and creepy at the same time.

1. A Muppet Family Christmas - Don't get this confused with other muppet holiday specials, this one originally aired in 1987 and features muppets from all three major programs at the time: "The Muppet Show," "Sesame Street," and "Fraggle Rock." It's a simple but fun story that involves Fozzie bringing Kermit, Miss Piggy, and the whole muppet gang to his mother's farmhouse, which is being rented by Doc and his dog "Sprocket" (from Fraggle Rock). What better set-up do you need for all-around fun? The interactions between the different muppet characters alone are priceless, as are the christmas carols they sing, and the cameo by the late Jim henson at the very end. This one is only available through bootleg, and no cable networks, amazon, or netflix carry it for some reason, so good luck searching for it. If you do find it, hang on to this baby, it's more than worth it watching this hidden gem every christmas!

Favorite part of this special: There's a running gag involving an icy patch everyone slips and falls on when they enter the farmhouse, but my favorite character who slips on it is The Swedish Chef, as his cooking supplies fall on him as well.

And that's my favorite holiday specials list. You should definitely check out these programs, they'll make your christmas just that much more magical.

My top ten songs that I can't live without:

Time for me to switch gears once again, and talk about something else that plays a big part in all of our lives, including mine: music. I've recently become addicted to Billboard Music's chart listings that are now available on youtube, that cover such lists as every number 1 song from a calendar year, the top 100 songs of a calendar year, and even the top 10 songs from a particular week----all from the '80s and early '90s of course, as these were the decades I grew up in and developed my musical tastes. So I think it's only fitting that I do a top ten list of my own of songs that are timeless and enjoyable to me, and would almost always be worthy of being played more than once. Much like your personal to 10 song lists, it's difficult to choose, so I especially had to think about if any of the following ten songs were played anywhere in public, would they stop me in my tracks until they were over? 

Well, these ten most certainly would:

10.  Father Figure - George Michael: I've just recently realized how much I enjoy George Michael's vocals. Behind Michael McDonald, he's the most soulful white guy I've ever heard, and this tune is just another example of that. The moody vibe of the song and video always pop into my head whenever I hear it, and It's also the perfect tune for a night drive. P.M. Dawn made a great use of this song when they sampled it for their hit, "Looking Through Patient Eyes."

9.  Everything She Wants - Wham!: Well, I couldn't have a favorite George Michael song without having a favorite Wham! song. I always felt that this tune tends to get overshadowed by the other two hits "Careless Whisper," and "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go." It's a very well-written song bathed in an infectious heavy synth-bass and electronic drum beat. It's impossible not to at least bob your head to it whenever it's played. I personally like the "somebody tell me" part the most.

8.  Car Wash - Rose Royce:  This song has, hands down, the best intro ever. Yes, the rest of this song is fantastically funky, but I absolutely love that slow build of an intro. No classic radio station should ever edit it, and if they do, they're doing this song a horrible injustice. Just listening to it start off with the hand claps first, then the bass, then the signature disco beat and funk guitar, all before the actual song kicks off always draws me in. Thank goodness for oldies radio stations growing up, since this song was released before my time.

7. Steppin' Out - Joe Jackson: One addictive-as-hell piano melody. That's all this tune needs. This is one of those songs that no matter how long it's been since I last heard it, that melody gets happily stuck in my head for the rest of the week as soon as I hear it again. And hey, the bassline isn't too shabby either. Like "father figure," this is another great night driving tune (thanks to the video of course).

6. Don't Stop The Music - Yarbrough and Peoples:  As far as favorite synth basslines go (and believe me, I have alot of them), this has to be my favorite. It's very fitting that this was played in alot of indoor roller skating rinks when it was released back in 1980 (my birth year), as the bassline in this song basically takes you around in a circle with a sort of "galloping groove" to it. The vocals fit very well with the song, along with the sped up vocals done by the puppets in the music video. Like "Steppin Out's" piano melody, I am more than happy to get this bassline stuck in my head.

5. What a Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers: Another very well-written song, once your'e able to decipher Michael McDonald's vocals (no easy task). I loved the "peppy" beat and melody of this tune, and especially the falsetto chorus (I'm a HUGE fan of falsetto vocals). Then when I learned the lyrics, I was shocked to find out how depressing of a song this was. It's basically about a guy who has one night with a woman, and believes it's the start of a long-term relationship, but to the woman, it's just a fling, so the man makes a "fool" of himself with the woman. How can such an upbeat-sounding tune be about such a sad would-be romance? Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins, that's how. Great songwriting guys!

4. Don't Disturb This Groove - The System:  Mic Murphy and David Frank of this group created the epitome of "smooth" here. This is one of only two songs that hooked me by the first chorus (the other one is also on this list of course). Just about everything works with this song: Keyboard melody, heavy beat, and super-smooth vocals by Mic Murphy. It's a crying shame this tune has been relegated to the "hidden gem" category of '80s R&B music. I may have heard it only once on a classic radio station since it was originally released back in 1987.

3. I'm Still Standing - Elton John:  While "What a Fool Believes" has a great peppy beat, this song is just all-around "bouncy." I really like the "beach boys" feel of this tune, not just because of the video being shot on a beach in France, but the harmonic backing vocals in the chorus. A great feel-good song that brings a smile to my face every time I hear it, and there will be more of those songs to come on this list.

2. Something About You - Level 42:  I've met and have become friends with alot of people who are huge fans of this band as I am, and they would be a little surprised that I didn't put this jazz/funk/pop quartet's breakthrough US single at number 1. Well, when you see the number one song, you'll understand. Nonetheless, this is a song that I have not only played repeatedly in a single day, but it's one that I always come back to. The harmony you hear after the synth riff that kicks off the song is so smooth and soulful, then you get to the first chorus with keyboardist Mike Lindup's haunting falsetto that just stamps this song as a surefire hit. You even get a very nice guitar solo by band member Boon Gould near the end. The video is also delightfully moody and weird, with lead vocalist and bass player Mark King dressing up as a "dark magician" type character, wishing ill will on his bandmates relationships with a woman he can't get. To paraphrase part of the chorus: There's just something about this song, that makes it sound so right.

1. Sweet Freedom - Michael McDonald:  Talk about a song that can make you feel like summer even in the middle of a winter rain or snow storm. Everything about it changes your mood: The shuffling club beat, simple melody, Mr. McDonald's vocals, and especially the video. This song was released off the soundtrack to the buddy cop film "Running Scared," starring Billy Crystal and the late Gregory Hines, and they appear in parts of the video with McDonald and just have a great time being silly and having fun. And that's why this song is number one on my list. Any song can be lyrically or musically great, but a great song should be, well, fun. And that's exactly what this song is.

So, that's my top ten favorite song list.  There were alot of songs that I had a hard time choosing between to make this cut ( "The Groove Line" by Heatwave and "Easy Lover" by Phillip Bailey and Phil Collins come to mind), but I had to go with songs I grew up with and had some kind of emotional attachment to.  Alot of these songs transport me to a particular time or activity in my life when I first heard the song, like a musical time machine. In fact, I'm gonna go listen to some of these songs again and go "back in time" (an okay Huey Lewis song). See you next week!

Transportation Alternatives, not solutions.

I'm gonna shift gears this week, and talk about some other topics that interest me. The subject that I'm going to discuss this week is a subject that not only interest me, but affects my life---as well as the lives of countless others, everyday: Traffic.

Having grown up in Honolulu, Hawaii, and now living in Los Angeles, California, I've seen and experienced first-hand that mass-transit is a vital tool that needs to be incorporated in all major cities. For those who aren't familiar with traffic problems on the island of O'ahu, and may still believe this state to be just a small vacation town, that couldn't be further from the truth. O'ahu, the most populated island in the hawaiian island chain, has become so over-developed that it has become "L.A. on a rock." Too many people and not enough land for roads and houses for those people is a recipe for disaster. What you are left with are clogged surface streets and freeways, and an ineffective bus system that has to navigate through those same streets and freeways. Los Angeles has been world-famous for its traffic nightmares, but unlike Honolulu currently, the southern region of the golden state has taken some big steps into developing and improving its regional rail and bus system, along with changing some people's attitudes about mass transit. Let's start with L.A. first.

Los Angeles, as a whole, is a sprawling, low-density city. However, the development of modern regional rail transit since the 1990s has helped to re-shape parts of the city into compact, high density communities that have become more pedestrian and transit friendly. Rail lines such as the red line subway, the light rail blue, gold, green, and expo lines, and to a slightly lesser extent, the orange line busway have helped to provide a quicker commute for rail and bus dependent residents, and an attractive alternative for motorists. Living in North Hollywood, which is near the red line subway, I have a car, but I often choose to use the subway to reach areas such as Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles, Pasadena (via the gold line), Long Beach (via the blue line), and Exposition Park, near the University of Southern California and the city museums (via the expo line). Such a commute saves on parking and stress fighting traffic on the often clogged 101 freeway. L.A.'s system is not without its problems, however: Vehicle speed on street level light rail like the blue line, and on the orange line busway (a dedicated right-of-way through the san fernando valley used by 60-foot articulated buses) has been often criticized by inconsistent traffic signal synchronization. Because the busway and light rail systems operate at street-level, the only way to make them just as fast as as an above or below-ground transit system, is to give them complete signal priority. This, of course, will upset motorists who will encounter more red lights, but in my mind, a public transit vehicle providing a service to a large section of commuters, should easily have traffic priorities over private vehicles.  If you're on a train and all of a sudden you have to stop at a traffic light for other vehicles, what's the point of having the train in the first place?

Honolulu is currently building a 20 mile elevated rail system that will stretch from the western portion of O'ahu called the "ewa plain," to the island's main shopping mall "the ala moana shopping center." The city had tried and failed to build a rail system several times since the late 1960s, but this time they have made it past both the artist's rendering and environmental review processes, and actually have started construction on rail columns and guideway bridges. As I explained earlier, Los Angeles and Honolulu share similar development patterns, with sprawling suburban neighborhoods and a high density downtown area. Where they differ is their approach to mass-transit. Due mostly to its laid-back life style and long history of limited transit options beyond city buses, Honolulu has been highly resistant to such a large scale project that will provide an alternative to road transportation. The biggest issues for residents are the cost, asthetics, and route. While the system they are building is expensive and Honolulu is strapped for cash, sometimes you have to spend money to make money.  The cost of doing nothing will be much greater for the aloha state. The visual blight of an elevated rail system is really a moot point, since Honolulu is WAY past the "sleepy town days" before statehood. So much development has happened since the 1960s, that building an elevated train won't make much of  a difference in parts of the O'ahu landscape. As for the route, I do feel that part of the project could have been planned better. I do agree with some friends back home that the rail system is being built mostly for future generations and development, rather that who and what is already there. I think that a compromise should have definitely been made in the western end of the line. Instead of beginning the line on a yet-to-be developed part of land that contains only a half-completed college, it should have started in the existing town of Kapolei further west, then gone through the future development east, and pass through the other existing towns on the way to its eastbound terminus at Ala Moana Center. This would ensure more riders using the system going from western suburbia to the urban east, as well as encourage the essential extensions of the line into the University of Hawaii and Waikiki.

So, these are just a few of my thoughts regarding  mass transportation, and as a car owner no less. There are no solutions, just alternatives. Traffic will always be with us no matter what we do, but alternatives help to take the commuter load off freeways and surface streets, and onto above ground rail, below ground rail, street-level rail, dedicated busways (with signal priority of course), bike lanes, and even ferries for coastal states. People who still choose to drive or need to drive will be on the roads regardless, while others can use public transit. We have to continue moving away from just one mode of transportation, the automobile, and embrace other ways of getting around our cities. Just building more freeways and adding more buses doesn't address the fact that the population will continue to grow and new generations will need ways to get somewhere. When you simply add an extra lane on a freeway, you're basically saying that after you add that lane, the population growth will magically stop. Think of mass transit like this: carrying a heavy load of shopping bags can be difficult when you're doing it all by yourself, isn't it nice when you have some friends to help share the load?

Why I'm loving this new "Flash."

Well, another week, and another fantastic episode of "The Flash," currently my favorite comic book TV series period----and that covers alot of ground from the other DC shows and Marvel's "Agents Of Shield." Why do I think this show is so fantastic compared to other comic shows out today? Well, just read on.

First and foremost, it's so refreshing to have an upbeat series based on a superhero. While the dark tone works well with both "Arrow," and "Gotham," there's only so much gloom you can have in a genre. It's nice to spice things up and be a little different once in a while. Most of the main characters are interesting in their own way, and you get to see fun, human sides to them when they're not having to stop the latest meta-human. Grant Gustin plays a very likeable Barry Allen, finding that great middle ground between nerd and douchebag. The best parts of the show for me are any scenes between Barry and Detective Joe West, played by Jessie L Martin. They have a great father/son relationship (with Barry's real father in prison), and West has the most human reactions to everything superhuman that happens on the show.  It's also nice knowing that he shares Barry's secret, and can help him out even more at work as a forensic scientist. 

Second, and just as important as the first reason: this is a SUPERHERO show in every sense of the word. From the outfit, to all the meta-human power displays, references to other comic book characters, even down to the main character's name finally being uttered on the show, this program is completely proud of what it is. As much as I enjoyed parts of "Smallville," having names like "the blur" and "the streak" just made me grit my teeth a little. Even some of the metahuman (and non-metahuman) villains have been translated well for television. While I'm not familiar with alot of The Flash's villains, I was very impressed with their version of Captain Cold. They found ways to use both his name, and his parka outfit without making him look silly. It also helps that the actor who played him, Wentworth Miller, did a bang-up job. And how could I forget that this new Flash's imprisoned dad is played by John Wesley Shipp, who portrayed the scarlet speedster in the original CBS series back in 1990? It's great seeing him again, and he's aged well.

So here's to many more episodes and seasons of this exciting series. It's been a long time since I've watched a program that left me wanting more every time it ended, but it's so nice to have that feeling again.

My San Fernando Valley Comic- Con Exhibitor Appearance!

Hello again everyone! this week will be a little different, as I had a last minute appearance at a local comic convention as an independent comic vendor, and I'd like to discuss how both the show, customer interactions, and sales went.

My appearance took place, as the blog title says, at the San Fernando Valley Comic- Convention, a small, local show located in Granada Hills, California. This is a show that I've done twice before earlier in the year in March and June, and I thought it was a great little show with lots of promise. I arrived just a few minutes before they officially opened, setting up my table and loading my merchandise, sat down at my chair, and hoped for the best with the crowds. Some of that "best" came with the arrival of two customers that I had met at previous conventions. Wendy Shaner and Dulcy Brightman were my two big spenders, picking up three separate sets of my "Figure-Of-Speech Mongoose" series. I had previously met Ms. Shaner at Wondercon 2013, where I had a small press table, where she became very interested in my F.O.S. Mongoose series, which was still relatively new at the time (I had developed the series a few months prior to that show). Ms. Brightman I had met as an attendee at Long Beach Comic Con this past September, where she had previously interviewed both myself and my father (who was visiting from Hawaii at the time). It was great seeing both of them again, and I thank them both for their kind and encouraging words for both myself and my work. While my sales didn't extend beyond six copies, I still enjoyed speaking with my vendor neighbors near and far, as well as attendees strolling by. Many of the people I spoke with I had met previously through various other means---from the Comic Arts Professional Society organization, to nearby comic shops, to even other conventions I've worked at over the past four years. One attendee even said he recognized me from TV or youtube (most likely an uploaded youtube video from a comic convention, but I've met so many people at different shows I'm drawing a blank at who or where the appearance was from). In any event, I thanked him for mentioning it to me.

In a nutshell, it was another great experience at a show that benefits greatly from comic-starved valley folk----many of whom are unable to make it to the bigger shows like Long Beach Comic Con, Comikaze, Wondercon, or San Diego Comic Con. While the crowds can be inconsistent in size at times, everyone who steps through that ballroom exhibit hall really wants to be there and thoroughly enjoys themselves. I've been to larger shows where people seem to come into the halls due to only cheap prices and lack of entertainment options, and many stroll the convention aisles uninterested. This show can only grow from here, adding more big comic artist celebrities, and stronger promotion, to make the sky the limit for them!

I would like to personally thank Bob (I'm so sorry I forgot to ask for you last name) and Joe Williamson, the show's organizers, for allowing me to exhibit here at the very last minute, as I literally paid for the table on the day of the show. I also want to thank Joe for always believing in both me and my talent, as you have done so much in getting me more exposure through radio shows and podcasts----including one you set up for this thursday!  Thank you, friend, and I won't let you down.

New Marvel and DC films: Be happy!

It was a pure case of sensory overload when I first heard about the new slate of movies from both Marvel Studios and Warner Bros. owned-DC. With every film mentioned from "Captain America Civil War" to "Doctor Strange" to "Justice League" to "Wonder Woman," it seems that in the next few years, the dreams of myself and other comic fans are finally coming true. Even in the near future, we have films waiting in the wings such as "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice," and "Avengers 2: Age of Ultron."

So why aren't we all jumping for joy about this? Instead, the vast majority are taking sides based on their brand loyalty. Marvel fans automatically reject any films from DC, and vice-versa from Detective Comics supporters about Marvel's movies. Even within the Marvel camp there is a division between "Marvel Studios" movies and Marvel films produced by other studios such as Sony and 20th Century Fox. The most common argument stems from Marvel fans on how DC is copying them with their announced films for the future. Well, of course they are! Should they do something that's not successful and makes alot of sense in creating films that fans want to see? As much as we all enjoyed watching Marvel make history by merging their "Captain America," "Iron Man," "Hulk," and "Thor" films into the massively exciting "Avengers," who of us wouldn't want to see DC do the same thing with its Justice League characters? Some forget that it was Warner Brothers and DC who created the first batch of successful comic films with the "Superman" and "Batman" franchises in the 1980s and 1990s, which helped pave the way for Marvel to take comic adaptations to a higher level in the early 2000s.  So, in retrospect, the evolution of  comic films has been a joint effort.

So enough with the brand allegiances, and enough with the judging of films that have no trailers yet. This may be a foreign concept these days, but we all must have faith in companies and studios that have so far respected the heart of all of our favorite comic book properties (even the worst comic films in the last two decades can't compare to films like "Superman 4," "Batman and Robin," and the original "Captain America" film in the '90s). Let's reserve judgment on these films until they have actual footage to show us, let's be excited that we've reached a point in entertainment where comic films from both Marvel and DC are on the rise into the next decade. So for all of that, let's just be happy, okay?

Comikaze 2014

I think that all my feelings regarding this show can be summed up by the phrase "better than last year." Before I speak more on Comikaze 2014, I must point out that I view this show the way I view other comic book conventions: through an exhibitor's perspective, as I have worked on the other side of the table since 2010, after having attended comic conventions since 2005.

This time, I'm back on the "attendee" side (having exhibited in artist alley at this show just once in 2012). I attended saturday only, as that was my only free day. Comikaze Expo is one of those shows that has alot going for it, with its central location in the heart of downtown Los Angeles near both the L.A. Live entertainment complex and the Staples Center, a feasible driving distance from almost anywhere in Los Angeles County, and most importantly: accessible by Metro Rail via the red line subway, blue line light rail, and expo line light rail. That's a great transportation option to have if you don't want to try your luck fighting traffic, avoiding pedestrians, and paying highly variable parking fees. Anyway, onto the convention itself: Now, along with the good points I previously mentioned, the major flaw that this show has had is in its show floor organization. Comikaze, in years past, had a habit of putting their artist alley too far toward the back of their hall, to the point that customers don't even bother walking through this area of creativity. This year the show made a huge improvement with their indie creators section by placing a large chunk of the artists near the middle of the floor. This put them right in the action (similar to what Long Beach Comic Con started doing last year), but also far enough away from the stage area so that the activities there don't distract artist alley business. Several artist alley friends of mine did like the new placement, however a few of them were placed in a section to the left of the stage, making the artist alley seem broken in half. Some weren't sure about the change, but went with a "wait and see" approach when it came to customer traffic and sales. I didn't attend any panels, as I mostly traveled the floor with some visiting friends of mine, and also chatted with and supported my indie creator buddies. I even got interviewed by a good friend of mine about my feelings on the show and my artwork. The friends I was with did go to a Kevin Smith podcast panel, and they said they enjoyed it very much. The free after-party at Club Nokia down the street (well, free for Comikaze attendees with badges) was a fun, great idea as well, and it made great use of the convention's nearby surroundings. They had an 80's cover band called "the flux capacitors" playing, and me being a big '80s music fan as well as my buddies, we had a blast.

Overall, this was a great show. It again, was much better than their last two years where they seemed very disorganized and ignored indie creators. This is not to say that indie creators need to be the stars of the show (as cool as that would be) over retailer booths, panels, and celebrities. They just need to find that even balance between the two. I believe they took a step in the right direction this year by moving at least part of their artist alley closer to the heart of the show floor. That one change is making me seriously consider getting back on the other side of the table come next year. Hopefully, this show does get better, as Los Angeles County (particularly Downtown L.A.) really need some more events that let all the nearby business in on the fun. They may not reach San Diego Comic Con levels, but Comikaze has a chance to make its own impact that can be just as special.