Greetings fans!
Yes, even though 2019 has just started, it seems that January just flew by and February just came outta nowhere (odd, since January has 31 days and we're now in the shortest month of the year). Anyways, onto the Carter Comics news from last month. As I wrote early in January, the switch from weekly to monthly email blasts kicked off, along with monthly versions of my timelapse illustration games (called Mongoose Monthlies now), and the Facebook live audio recordings of my "AL'S AUDIO AGENDA" going down on Sundays following comic conventions/ comic shop signings / artwalks / podcast interviews only, instead of every Sunday.
Speaking of the new Sunday audio schedule, it started two weeks ago on January 27th with my first show of the year: Pasadena Comic Con at the city's convention center. This was my fourth year as an artist alley vendor at the event, which is a small local toy show that also features artists of all notoriety levels. I usually don't sell as many books or book-related accessories at this show due to a larger focus on toys and old comics, but the table price is reasonable, and it's a convention where I get to see all my fellow artist vendor buddies at the beginning of the year. It's kind of a welcome back from christmas and new year's holiday type of show for us, where we shake off the "con cobwebs" and lay out our convention appearances for the new year. In addition to re-connecting with my artist alley friends, I also get a temporary table assistant in the form of a good friend of mine who lives across town for me. He helps me with loading my supplies in and out of the building, and watches my table during bathroom breaks. While I'm not always guaranteed to have him as a helper during shows due to his work schedule, I always appreciate it when I do. With Pasadena Comic Con in my rear-view mirror, it's onto my next two shows in the month of February: Black Comic Creator Day at the Manhattan Beach Comic Bug comic shop on Saturday February 9th, from 12- 4 pm, and Santa Clarita Comic and Toy Expo, happening at College of the Canyons on Sunday February 24th, from 10 am to 5 pm. I look forward to seeing you all at one of the two, or hopefully both!
Another cool thing that happened last month: Elton John's Farwell Yellow Brick Road Tour. The "Rocketman" himself stopped by the Staples Center in Downtown LA with four shows from January 22nd to the 30th (I went on the 23rd). It was the first time I saw him live, and the first arena show I have been to, and boy did this not disappoint. With no opening act or intermissions, it was a straight three hours of Elton's big and lesser-known hits. Opening with "Bennie and the Jets" and closing with the tour namesake "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," this last-in-a-lifetime concert had a number of classics that made up the middle: "Candle in the Wind," "Rocketman," "Your Song," "Crocodile Rock," "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," and my personal favorite: "I'm Still Standing." While I was only able to snag tickets on a wednesday night, I was able to get a paid half-day off work to grab dinner before the 8-11 pm show, so absolutely no rushing was involved. After missing one of his live shows way back in 2001 when I was still in Hawaii, it was nothing short of fantastic to see him in his final performance. I salute you, Rocketman!
Well, that's all for this month. Have a great February, stop by my two shows this month if you can, and I'll be back here with another blast of Carter Comics news in March!
Regards,
Allen Carter
Carter Comics