My Best Buy experience.....

My experience at shopping at Best Buy this week is so interesting I think that I'd like to share it with you.

On Monday I purchased a new router to speed up the connection to my wife's computer. We also asked them if there was anything that would allow her to see the internet anywhere she went with it. They said the SlingBox. After talking to them for 30 minutes and they even got their "expert" in on the conversation, we got the SlingBox AV. We also got me a new external hard drive call My Book. Ok, yeah, we maxed out the Best Buy credit card.

I get home and take everything out of the boxes. As I'm taking out the My Book I hear it rattling like a kids toy. Something is broken off and loose inside. Not good. I call them and they say bring it back. So I put it all back in the box and drive back over there. They have me go and look for another one on the shelf and there is one more. So I get home and it works fine. Then I hook up the router and it does work just not completely right. So after hours of messing with it I finally call tech support and Raji finally gets it all working. We only had one moment when I couldn't understand him at all. After having me click this, and that, he said now click AFLAG. I said what? He said, "AFLAG". I said what is "AFLAG". He said no, it's "AFLAG". I look over the page in desperation and see the only word starting with "A" and say, "is it APPLY?" and he says "Yes".

Now it is Tuesday and I go to hook up the SlingBox. It has a cool little window to play TV shows from your TV. But nothing ever mentions the internet. Finally after reading everything in the manuals, and their online info.....I realize it is only for watching TV or movies not internet. Their "experts" were on crack. So I get all the stuff and put it all back in the box as it was before and find my receipt.

Now it is Wednesday and I take back the SlingBox and tell them that I was "missinformed" by their staff. The girl doesn't care and gives me a refund. I go looking for a portable DVD player to use at the conventions I'll be setting up this summer to advertise the DVD's I'm selling of other comic conventions etc....I ask one guy and he finally says, "I only know how to figure up how much the tax will cost you. Let me get an expert." So this other guy just reads off the cards in front of the players (Like I can't read them?) as he also clearly knows less than the tax configuation dude. I finally decide on this nice black one with a 10.2" screen. I buy it and leave.

I get home and think that 3 hours of battery will not do me much good at the convention, it will have to last more like 8 hours. I go to the Best Buy web site looking for an add-on battery pack and see my same portable DVD player I just bought at the store, here online it is on sale for $38 less, and get this, PLUS a free leather case worth $35! Holy cow!

Now it is Thursday, I have the DVD player all boxed up like it was before, I go back to the store and tell them I'd rather take this back and order online. (I should have not said anything about online.) They go, "you can order it online right here!" So they punch in the web site and put my name in and bring up the same DVD player. And then they inform me that there is no sale! I see the screen and sure enough the sale is gone! They do have the free travel case still included though. The girl says, "The sales on the online store, change constantly, with no warning, sorry." Discouraged and confused, I say "OK." Then they tell me it has to be delivered as they don't have the case in the store. Both the player and the case have to be mailed seperately to my house! Gezzz....and that is an extra $8 shipping. (They can't hand me back the player I just gave them, I guess.) My "deal" is going to hell in a handbasket. So they ring it up at the same price I'd paid in the store the other day but with the free case, and $12 shipping and $11 tax.

All confused and a bit pissed I get home and jump on the site and to my super astonishment THE SALE IS STILL ON! Yes sportsfans, the sale never was gone. It was always there, save $38 and get the free case worth $35. Right in front of my face it is still on! What is going on with this store?

I call the store all confused and explain it all, and they put me on hold. 5 minutes later, they say, "hello can I help you.?" So I have to start the story all over. Then they say, "Just call our 1-888 number and tell them to cancel the order and then reorder it from your computer. We don't know why it didn't show up on our screen here at the store. Sorry."

So I call the store's 1-888 number and explain it all to the lady and she said that the store's don't see what you see on the screen as they have "special deals" they do or don't get. Sounds to me like a huge rip-off if you order from the store's online site from a store. And they figure most people will not go to all the trouble I did to get it straighened out. (Compare it to when you go to a grocery store and see signs stating 2 for $2 etc...then when you check out and later see the receipt there was no sale. If you complain they always say, "Must of been a computer glitch." But did you ever wonder why the mistake is always in their favor? Never to your advantage?)

The phone lady then cancelled my order, put it back on my card, then reordered the DVD player at the $38 less amount, and included the free $35 case. I still had to pay shipping, another $4 for the case. (The store didn't charge me for the free case shipping and when I looked over the receipt they gave me, no mention of the case! Woah, they were going to rip me off for the free case and the discounted price! Yikes!)

So as it all stands now I went from paying $208.64 including tax and shipping (no mention of the free case in the receipt) to paying $172.35 total, with the case clearly in the order. Even by paying an additional $4 for shipping the case seperately, I still paid $36.29 less? I think I paid even less for tax by not buying it at the brick and mortar store. Wow, it sure pays to stick to your guns and second (and triple) check everything they do.

Moral of the story is:

1.) never purchase anything from the store itself unless you have already checked the site and desperately need the item that very day.

2.) get all your info online from reviews and customer testimonies, never the sales staff.

3.) no matter what they say, never let them place your order to the online store for you or, you yourself, use their instore computer to order from their online store.


Sheesh.......

=A

Slam Bang #2 is out! Yeah baby!

Slam Bang #2 vol III (or issue #42) is now out! It's 210 pages, largest issue of Slam Bang ever! And besides that it is 6" x 9" so it is even taller and wider than ever! Super slick printing job by RapidPOD. Yeah, this issue has it all, 50 or so contributors and a spanking new interview with Tim Corrigan as well. The cranky letters pages and the ads from the contributors in the back....didn't have room for the bio pages like last issue but thought I'd just post them on the www.fanaticpress.com web site eventually. To read all about the book check that same site. Cover by Doug Chaffee back cover by Mark Martin. So if you want an issue just go to that site and hit the STORE button or send $10 + $2. Make checks and money orders out to: Allen Freeman. Send it all to: Fan-Atic Press, 3106 Dade Cove, Owensboro, KY 42303-4567 You'll be glad you did!

Issue #1 vol III is getting rave reviews still. Check www.fanaticpress.com/reviews.html for some of the printed reviews I've gotten on the book. Then you'll be sure it's a quality book, you don't have to just take my word for it anymore!

To contribute to Slam Bang #3 vol III (Deadline June 2007) just send some web size comic pages to fanaticpress@yahoo.com and I'll get back to you about them. Make the pages image size 5.5" x 8.5" to fill the page up nicely. And make the story a TRUE STORY as that is the theme for this issue. Make the comic at least 4 pages long and can be up to 8 pages or so. Keep it PG-13 and have fun! Only send your best work, as you can imagine lots of people want to get in on this. It will be at least 200 pages, black and white interiors, color covers as usual.

--A

New Developments at Fan-Atic Press

Ok, so not a lot has been happening at this blog for months, but I hope to get back on track with it and keep it going. First of all I've decided not to publish Ed Pun's comic Scarlet Fields. Why? Because I need the time to devote to Slam Bang #2 vol III, Drawings #2, and a host of other projects I'm trying to finish up from last year! But Ed promises to put the book out himself which is great because it's a fantastic comic and I know everyone will love it. That's right there will be an Anton Bogaty Drawings #2 this Spring! And boy does it look great. It will also be a 60 page color comic format. This sketchbook sure sold lots of copies and #2 will keep everyone happy that wanted more!

Also a new site www.fanaticpressfilms.com will cover the movies I've been shooting (Some with Chris Moshier of www.makingcomicsstudios.com ) such as the about to be released SPACE CON 2006, a two DVD set! Tons of extras like the awards ceremony, and the after con discussions! And the almost a year in the making: Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of ComicCon! Where I filmed Dean interviewing costumed folks at the 2006 San Diego Comic-Con. Dean does lots of crazy things and this 40 minute movie will be a cult classic! Why take a year to get it done? Well Dean flew from San Diego to KY to help design the movie while I did the editing....Dean wrote most of the cool/crazy stuff you'll see that tied in all the cool footage from the convention. No, you haven't seen a convention film like this one. Tons of laughs and the extra features alone are as good if not better than what you see on most Hollywood DVD's! No lie!

Also on this site you can see the weekly updated VLOG by Chris and I. We have themes and we each shoot video based on that theme. Like "Introduction", "Pets", "Tricks", etc...and we have lots of them planned. At the site we now have 3 already up for your enjoyment. This site will soon have lots of free films, and more information on the DVD's I have for sale such as: SPACE CON 2005, North End Mafia "Axis of Evil" the DVD/CD set, and San Diego Comic-Con 2004.

So check that site often for more updates as it's in production right now.

New items have been added to www.fanaticpress.com as well. I have a new opening art screen each week that takes you into the site. Michael Wurl will be contributing a new wacky image where he makes fun of conventional comics and newspaper strips each week.....and there is a weekly updated web comic called MIAC by Ed Mulreany. 11 pages so far!

And until later check out this cover I just did for KA-WHUMP! The cool magazine about small press comics. This is issue #2, first mag size issue with color covers! Also this issue has an interview with me! So worth the cover price! Email me for how to get a copy. This comes out very soon. No, I'm not the publisher.

Slam Bang #2 vol III is almost done at last! Yeah! And it sports a long interview with Tim Corrigan! But don't forget the other comics and stories in this 200 page digest! This I plan to have out in early March! Woooooo. Yeah, I'm excited.

The theme for Slam Bang #3 vol III, is TRUE STORIES! Anything that you believe to be true, or read someplace and think could be true, or something that happened to you! Should be fun! Go for it. Deadline is around May 1st.

And now a photo of me to leave you with....

My list of Comic and Cartoon Credits!

Allen Freeman's List of Comic and Cartoon Credits (That he can remember):

Kentucky Press Newspaper Syndicate (1982)
Editorial Cartoons (also edited the weekly features for a few months.)


Comic Buyer's Guide (1983)
Cartoons published

Many covers and short comic strips for other small press comics: 1984-1990.


New Frontiers Comics (1986):
New Frontiers #1 and #2 (Airbrushed the covers and created 2 color overlays)

(First comic book work besides printing my own comics.)

(Future Beat #1 Cover airbrush black and white. Can't remember publisher) (Also painted a color cover to #2 but never published)
Cat's Paw Comics (1987):
Morgana X #1 (Painted cover, wrote and inked the interior. Designed the logo and interior editorial pages and ads.) (a second issue was completely finished, I did the inking, painted the cover and centerfold....never published.)
Spectrum #1 (Inked and colored the cover, wrote one story and inked 2 stories in the anthology.)

New Voice Media Publishing (1989):
Floyd Flamdoozle #1 (Painted cover)


Jabberwocky Graphics (1988-90)
Fever Pitch #8 (Painted the wrap-around cover)
Best of Fever Pitch (Designed and Painted cover)


Fantagraphics Books (1989):
The Ultimate GnatRat (Painted cover)


Haspel Design (1989):
Rocketpack #1 (Newsletter for Dave Steven's Rocketeer, cover art, interviewed Dave Stevens)


Blind Bat Press (1989)
Wavemakers #2 (I designed and painted the color cover)


NOW Comics and Now Video (1989-1992):
Fright Night #11 and #12 (Painted covers)
Speed Racer Classics #2 (wraparound cover)



Ralph Snart Adventures Vol 3 #10, #17 (and one poster)


Now Video:
Painted the first 3 VHS box covers for Speed Racer Video Collection

Also created and produced The Ralph Snart Fan Club! Put out 4 issues of the newsletter. (1988-89)





Brady Games (1992):

Donkey Kong Country 2 (Designed and painted cover to guidebook)
Super Mario RPG (Designed and painted cover to guidebook)
Mortal Kombat Card Game (I designed and painted 9 cards in this set)



NME (1992)
Battlelords Card Game (I designed and painted 12 cards for this set)



Caliber Comics (1987-89):
Frankenstein (Full color comic 48 pages, I did the inking and background art. This was Caliber's all time best selling comic)
The Realm (inked part of 2 issues.)


SKY Comics (1990-92):
Seeker #1 and #2. (Colored the cover to #1 and inked it. Also inked the interiors of both issues and designed the logo for the book.)
Morgana X Special #1 and #1 regular series. (Painted the covers and inked the books and wrote some of the stories.) Sky Comics Presents (A Morgana X story in each issue, that I inked)
Sky #0 ashcan (Inked a Morgana X story)


Arena Comics Magazine (Colored almost all of the covers for this magazine)


Comics Conspiracy (2004):
Tie Teddies #3 (Inking)


Last Kiss Comics (2004-present)
(Comic strip coloring, clean Up, and more)

Wunderman Comics (2005-06)
E.I. #1 (Designed and computer painted the cover. Designed the logo, lettered the 64 interior pages)


Sean McGrath Publishing (2006)
Frater Mine #2, #3 (lettering)


Fan-Atic Press (1984 to present):
MINI comics in 1984: (Zappy Pinhead and the Beatles from Neptune, Evil Doll)

Digest comics:
Captain Optimist #1-5 (Artist and inker, editor, publisher) (1987-1990)

Plus more books back in the 80's I can't remember right now. (Alien Bondage #1, Video Blues #1)

Slam Bang vol 1, #1-33 (Artist, writer, editor, publisher) (1985-1990)
Slam Bang Annual 1999 (Publisher)
Slam Bang Vol 2 #1-7 (2003-2005)
Slam Bang Vol 3 #1 (Artist, letter, writer, editor, publisher) (2006)
Slam Bang Greatest Hits #1 (2004) (Artist, writer, co-editor, publisher)

Full Size Color Comics:
Anton Bogaty Sketchbook (2005) (Editor and publisher)
Doc Paradox #1 (2006) (Editor and publisher)

DVD's I've shot, edited and produced:
San Diego Comic Con 2004 approx 35 min
North End Mafia "Axis of Evil" (2005) 6 live song set (edited MTV style) DVD + a 9 song studio CD (+Easter egg of a full live show.)
Chicago Comic Con 1988 approx 35 min (I just converted the video shot by Matt Feazell, to DVD, and added a commentary bonus feature track) (released 2005) Shows me on my very first comic book panel.
SPACE CON 2005 approx 45 min (Small Press and Alternative Press Expo. I shot it, edited it and created the DVD and Box.)
SPACE CON 2006 1 hour (done, just not on the web site yet, 2 DVD set. I shot some of it, I'm in some of it, and creating the DVD and Box.) Shows me on my second comic book panel ever.
Dean LeCrone vs. The Mutants of Comic Con 40min (Shot at the 2006 San Diego Comic Con) Finished just adding extra features. I shot it, wrote some of it, edited it, and created the DVD and Box.)
This is does not cover my work in commercial art, gaming 3D art, web site design or Photography, just cartoon and comic related projects. Ok I did add the DVD work.....

Photos by Allen

Just some photos I took last week in Newburgh, IN. Enjoy. If you want to see the images larger click HERE.

Dean's Entry in the Yahoo Talent Video Contest

Dean's 3 Minutes of Fame

Ok, so now Dean the Comic Con "Jerk" Host of the DVD, wants to be a big shot. Well he deserves it! So he is entering a 3 minute video to the Tonight Show via their search for hosts..... see it here and tell us if he should get the job? Progress should resume on the DVD of this major project of comedy madness next week. It'll be worth it!

Dean LeCrone visits KY

That's right Fan-Atic Press FILMS division was happy to have Dean LeCrone visit from San Diego Sept 14-18th. Dean and the crew from Fan-Atic Press (Allen) worked night and day to edit the over 6 hours of footage they shot at the San Diego Comic Con back in July of this year. Dean had worked up many lists, and ideas, bits and funny stuff for the DVD and Allen was ready to get it all into shape. Together they have so far produced over 30min of prime hillarity that they can't wait to unleash on the general populace. They only were interrupted from their work by Allen's wife Bonnie having to be rushed to the ER for breathing problems due to her coming down with Brochial Flu and Laryngitis etc...She is much better now and after 2 weeks of feeling bad she may be going back to work soon. (RN at the hospital.)

Anyway, even with all that excitement Dean and Allen were able to get 90% of this project done. Just a little more at the end of the show and it'll be finished. So expect it in October! Watch this space or www.fanaticpress.com of more info on the DVD now with this title:
Working 15-18 hour days for 3 and 1/2 days Allen and Dean did all they could to make this the funniest video ever made of the San Diego Comic Con. Really! No lie! It will be about 40 minutes and have at least 30 minutes of extra features and extended interviews with pro's from the convention. It's a no brainer that you'll really want to see this DVD!

Here is Dean working on the floor (Yes I had a table for him but he wanted it this way.).

Yes, all of those pages contain Dean's extensive list of what was on all the footage we shot, his ideas of what to add to tie them all together, and how to make it even funnier! Sure I threw in my 2 cents here and there with my crazy banter skills, but Dean was the mastermind. He threw me the ideas of what he wanted and when and using Photoshop, Premiere and Adobe Encore pulled it all together.

In all that time we didn't really try and kill each other but this was taken by a paparazzi at some point during production:

But no one was seriously injured. Here are some classic Dean LeCrone poses. This one is his Jack Kirby art pose:

And here is Dean's pose for his someday to be released action figure:

And here is how the action figure will look:

Deadline -End of October- Slam Bang #2 vol III

Cover art copyright Doug Chaffee 2006
See more of Doug's work at http://www.chaffeestudios.com

art copyright 2006 by Chuck Haspel

Deadline MOVED for Slam Bang #2 vol III.
New deadline for comic submissions for Slam Bang #2 vol III is END OF OCTOBER. That is the last extention! Finito!

So send your stuff to: fanaticpress@yahoo.com

Some contributors so far (Some have projects they are working on.):

Doug Chaffee (cover and illos)
Mark Martin (back cover and comics)
Chuck Haspel (illos and comics)
Agata Laguniak (comics)
Matjaz Bertoncelj (comics)
Nick Andreychuk (comics)
Christopher Moshier (comics)
Christina Wald (comics)
Renzo Soto (comics)
Rory McConville (comics)
Brad Foster (illos)
Stan Yan (comics)
Steve Rasnic (comics)
Tony Smith (comics)
David Johnson (illos or comics)
Paul Swain (comics)
Robin Ator (comics)
Dean LeCrone (comics)
Jacob Warrenfeltz (comics)
Larry Miller (comics)
Charlene Chua (comics)
Daryl Hutchinson (art)

If you sent something and think you should be on this list email me!
If you plan to send something email me!



and do it now! Thanks a bunch.....

-A

Doing the Con with Dean LeCrone Teaser #4

No One Demanded it but yeah, Here is Teaser #3!

Dean LeCrone, who is this guy? Here is a little more insight into his mind....if you dare!

Doing the Con with Dean LeCrone, SECOND teaser trailer!

More cool, funny, nerdy stuff from San Diego Comic Con 2006....

Doing the Con with Dean LeCrone, first teaser trailer!

San Diego Comic Con Report #1

Dean LeCrone on the right
with cartoonist and Comic Buyer's Guide Columnist R. C. Harvey on the left.


Hey, this is Allen again, this time it is Wednesday and I've only been home from the San Diego Comic Con for 2 days. I got back late on Monday the 24th. I'm still sore and tired from all the crazy running around I did at the show. You see my cartoonist/actor friend Dean LeCrone drove my wife and me all around and Dean and I spent most of the time at the show interviewing fans, celebs, and crazy people. (The photo here is Dean with Darth Vera, Darth Vader's Jewish Grandmother.) That's right, we put together a very small DVD of some of the fun we had at the 2004 San Diego Comic Con but this is a full blown low budget production! We filmed interviews with actors, comic book artists, aerospace engineers, costumed fans, and just fans in line. You name it we got it! Oh, and the knights in armor going into battle with each other! Ha! Rocking fun! And even I can't wait to see all the footage again! Dean LeCrone out did himself by dancing by himself, chatting it up, commenting on the con's history, and getting the craziest interviews this side of that dog on The Conan O'Brian Show.....

I did it! I got all the photos posted to DotPhoto! First link is for a show that plays or if you want to see the thumbnails of the shots and click on one for a larger one hit the second link in each row. Enjoy!

I wasn't at the convention on Friday as I went to the Zoo but
I have some photos of that also! HA!

DotPhoto Show of Comic Con Preview Night July 19th 2006

DotPhoto Images of Comic Con Preview Night July 19th 2006

DotPhoto Show of Comic Con Thursday July 20th 2006

DotPhoto Images of Comic Con Thursday July 20th 2006

DotPhoto Show of The San Diego Zoo Friday July 21st 2006

DotPhoto Images of The San Diego Zoo Friday July 21st 2006

DotPhoto Show of Comic Con Saturday July 22nd 2006

DotPhoto Images of Comic Con Saturday July 22nd 2006

DotPhoto Show of The Last Day of the Con Sunday July 23rd 2006

DotPhoto Images of The Last Day of the Con Sunday July 23rd 2006

---Allen

Fan-Atic Press to be at San Diego Con this week!

Fan-Atic Press didn't get their mega booth but they will have a small portion of the Last Kiss Comics booth #2205! Check it out!

E.I. #1 by Wunderman Comics just hit the streets. You can order one from me here by sending $10 + 2 shipping (Checks and money orders made out to Allen Freeman) to: Fan-Atic Press, 3106 Dade Cove, Owensboro, KY 42303. The book will be added to the online store at www.fanaticpress.com soon. Allen (me) did the cover, and lettered all 64 pages! It's square bound and full color. Story by Nate Wunderman, and pencils by Ron Fontes, etc...you know you want it. More news on this soon. (Has a comic ever come out that the cover artist and logo designer only also did the lettering on the inside? I think never.)

---Allen

Biz Cards for the Con!

OK it's almost time for San Diego Con. Since I don't have a booth I'll be handing out lots of cards....and postcards...wait! I need new biz cards! I get a sweet offer from Vistaprint and get 500 color cards with black and white on the back side. Then they offer me another 500 for just $10 more! If I didn't wait so long to do this and need to pay for rush delivery I'd of hardly paid anything! And they are heavy, coated gloss! Let me know what you think.

Frater Mine #2 and #3 will be at the San Diego Con! I get to see all the lettering I did on them! Wooo, and I have an ad in the back. I'll also soon see E.I. from Wunderman Comics...I did the cover, the logos and lettered this 64 page color book!

More news soon!

--Allen

Holy Crikies! It's almost time for San Diego Con 2006!

Let's see lots of things have happened since I bloged last. Sorry about that. I went to Seattle to see my kids, and one graduated High School. Anyway, you want news about Fan-Atic Press so here you go....Slam Bang #1 vol III got a rave review from Karen O'Brien in The Comic Buyer's Guide! Issue #1621 October 2006 issue. It'll be the one that gets handed out at the San Diego Con! What timing! And you can read the review on my news page at www.fanaticpress.com And I added some new news to that page today. Like www.blodcomics.com dedicated their front page this month to Fan-Atic Press stuff.....wow! And there is an interview with me there someplace. I know you don't want to miss that!

I didn't get a booth at San Diego Con. First of all I was going to share a large booth and do this up right. The con organizers didn't see fit to give it to us, so I bought out Dean LeCrone's small press site to use. They decided to give that to someone else also...must of been a long list ahead of me this year. Anyway, thanks to John Lustig of www.lastkisscomics.com I'll be able to use a tiny corner of his booth! Thanks John!

Everyone that goes find the Last Kiss Comics booth and say hi to John and leave him a message on where to meet you. He will be my home base I guess. Or email me for my cell number, I'll have it with me on vibrate as I'd never hear it ring in that place
fanaticpress@yahoo.com

Work is progressing on Scarlet Fields #1, by Edward Pun. I've got some help now on the "flats" so I can then color the book for him, and get it out this summer! It will be a great comic that everyone will want, I'm sure of it!

Plus Doc Paradox #1 got a 5 star review at HeroSpy.com!


-Allen

SPACE Con Party Video. May 12th 2006

Here is a taste of what will be on The Second Annual Space Con DVD 2006. Chris Moshier and Allen Freeman manning the camera with such stars as: Mike Hutchings, Bonnie Freeman, Matt Feazell, Dave Sim, Gerhard, Stan Yan, Bob Corby and more.
Hit the play button. Then hit pause. Wait till the grey bar gets over 1/2 way for a smoother play though.

Tim Corrigan Draws Mightyguy SPACE CON 2006

Yeah, here is another video of Tim Corrigan this time drawing MIGHTYGUY at his booth at Space Con May 13th, 2006.

Tim Corrigan Wins Lifetime Achievement Award at SPACE CON 2006

Tim Corrigan Wins Lifetime Achievement Award at SPACE CON 2006, May 13th Columbus, Ohio. Video shot with my camcorder by Mike Hutchings. More video from this show will be posted here today! Be patient and let it load all the way or 1/2 way and back up the bar and then start watching. Hopefully you have a good internet connection!