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!

SPACE CON 2006 a Success!

Well I had a great time at the SPACE Con 2006. I had tons of help this year, Todd Ritter, Chris Moshier, Mike Hutchings, and Bonnie (my Wife)....We took (they sometimes stole my camera) about 100 photos. I'll be posting up a link here soon for where you can see the good ones. It was the premiere of Slam Bang #1 vol III, the 200 page digest, and Doc Paradox #1. So people had a reason to check out the booth. Saw some old friends such as; Tim Corrigan, Nate and Matt Corrigan, Larry Blake, Matt Feazell, Jim Pack, Larry Neibert, and Bob Corby to name a few. At the pre Con party I got to talk to Crebus creators Dave Sim and Gerhard. So naturally showed them Slam Bang #1 vol III. They seemed to love it, and they remembered me since I submitted Slam Bang #7 to the Day Prize Contest last year. Gerhard spilled the beans that the Anton Story that was nominated didn't win. He said it was a close call. This let to something later I'll just go ahead and tell. They gave out plaques at a cerimony later at the con to the winners of the Day prizes of books sumitted last year. Since I already knew that Anton Bogaty's story, "Justin's Last Chance" didn't win, I didn't go to the ceremony. And because someone else wanted the event filmed so I sent Mike and Chris to do it leaving me at the booth. Anyway, after the ceremony they all came back and Gerhard said, "Where were you! We had an award for you!". And sure enough I was to have gotten an award plaque and given a little speech.....so again missed my 15 min of fame. (I'm up to about a whole hour now.) So I have a Plaque for Anton and for myself. (Mine says: "Fan-Atic Press where his has his name.)

We shot over 4 hours of video! Yeah, putting together the second annual SPACE CON DVD. So that will take me a while to produce but I'll let everyone know when that'll be done and available.

Here is Dave Sim (Known for his comic Cerebus.) at the Friday night party. He said, "This looks great! I hope you sell a bunch of them!"

Gerhard (Also of Cerebus fame.) said: "I remember the DVD you made last year, great work."

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE.

---More news after I recover
....Allen

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY at Comic Quest

Hey, I survived FCBD. I was a guest and set up all my stuff at the Comic Quest comic store in Evansville, IN. They had a nice turn out, with about 100 people lined up at the start of the day- 10:00 am. They had lots of great free stuff to hand out, and raffled off some nice things as well. There were others guests like a stormtrooper advertising the Star Wars Club, and some other artists like Michael Kasinger and Nathan Bonner from IL. I had some genuine interest in my new Slam Bang, with everyone asking when will it be out. And I kept saying, "Any day now." And for the Doc Paradox #1 color comic I'm putting out. Same replay, "SOON". And I did put together a FCBD Edition of Slam Bang and handed them all out by noon. Yeah, should have made more. But did have the new Fan-Atic Press postcards and handed those out as well.

I also had people signing up for John Lustig's http://www.lastkiss.com/ mailing list where he'll send you a cool color web comic each and every week in you email. This time I got 30 more subscribers for him! He'll be proud of me! I sold a few books here and there but mostly had people looking for free stuff as expected. But I think I made good use of promoting my web site in the process. And getting some new artists to contribute to Slam Bang never hurts. So it was well worth it.

Jim Jones the owner of the store (Best comic store owner ever!) helped out and supplied free food and soft drinks, thanks again!
Here is Bonnie my wife watching over the table. She was a huge help in me setting up the table and talking people into signing up for the www.lastkisscomics.com sign up sheet. If you didn't sign up for a free web comic in your email every week, go there now and do it! Its very funny stuff, trust me.

Spider-Man was there. This helped get a few of the younger kids into the store. Some of the mom's even said to me that they saw in the paper where Spider-man was going to be here and so they brought their kids.
Artist Creator Nathan Bonner was there from IL, and he was handing out INDAVO a great comic that he published as a digest but also has as a web comic.
This is me (Allen) trying to look awake, I'm not a morning person. Notice the first appearance ever of the stand for the logo banner in the background for Fan-Atic Press. My cuz Harry Lee Hottle from Evansville made that for me and it works great! Michael Kasinger artist/illustrator was there from Lawrenceville, IL. He did some free sketches and sold some of his art. He also did a Morgana X drawing for me! Hope to have him in Slam Bang sometime soon.

Here is the store before the crowd was let in!

A Stormtrooper at the Star Wars Club table! A cool Spider-Man Sculpture display in the store.

Its the free comic book table before the crowd was let in.

Artist Jeff Lindall on the left is showing off his portfolio and handing out some HeroClix Wolverines....Jeff is another artist I'll have to convince to contribute to Slam Bang!

And here is a shot of just part of the Comic Quest store before the crowd was let in. Yeah, this is one large place with just about everything you could want in figures, comics and related stuff!

News about the upcoming SPACE CON in my next blog......

Evansville (IN) Currier & Press Article (Graded: "D")

The Evansville Currier & Press did put a small article online about the Creators Alliance Meeting, but they didn't talk about FREE COMIC BOOK DAY (which was why we wanted the article) or most of the members that attended the meeting. Turns out the writer of the article didn't show up and evidently didn't talk to the photographer that did. Also they didn't run any of Elizabeth Fisco's photos that she took that night with the online article. (Thank you for showing up EF!) So all in all I'd give it a "D-". But since any publicity is better than none I'll bump that up to a "D". Here is the link to the article that I'm talking about: Evanasville Currier & Press

And while you are there hit the "Comments" link at the bottom. There you'll see my comments back to them. I think I was very good in staying calm about the whole thing. In closing, maybe they will try and do a better article later to make up for this? Or will they let someone submit the article for them next time?

---Allen Freeman

CQ Creator's Alliance Meeting -April 26th- Comic Quest Comic Store

I went to my first meeting of the CQ Creator's Alliance Meeting at the Comic Quest comic store in Evansville, Indiana last night. Seemed to be a good turnout of about 15 people or so, all eager to hear my talk about Fan-Atic Press and my history of working in commercial art and comics for the last 28 years or so.... I met some great artists and writers there who I hope contact me as I was too nervous to take notes as to names and email addresses. But I'll be seeing most of them again on Free Comic Book Day on May 6th at the Comic Quest as they will also be setting up a table and talking to the comic fans, and shoppers on that day.

I really want to thank my cousin Harry Lee and his wife Brenda for showing my wife Bonnie and I around Evansville. It had been years since I'd been downtown or to the mall and shopping areas and couldn't remember how to get there. They gave us a grand tour of the downtown where we checked out some antique shops and pawn shops and let me get some photos of the area. They also help me carry stuff into the comic store for the meeting and actually stayed and listened to my rant about doing your own comics etc...Thanks again!

And I have to thank Bonnie for also being such a help and patiently waiting after the talk while I answered some questions from the group about comic coloring, and inking and stuff. She is so supportive and that was what really got me to bring back Slam Bang in 2003 from it's 13 year hiatus! And to get Fan-Atic Press going as a real comic publisher! (And thank you Jim Jones the owner of Comic Quest for also waiting while I hung around a little too long last night.)

Also there was a girl from The Evansville Courier and Press! She took photos of us and talked with me for a bit. I should see something in that newspaper on May 4th. I'll post it here or link you to it if they have it on their web site!

Of course I mostly talked about Slam Bang #1 vol III, as it will be out in a week or so....and people are already asking, "When will it be out?" So I'm assuming they are itching to buy one. I did some research at a large Borders book store and I see that most of the digest, square bound books like my Slam Bang are less pages and a bit more expensive. So I was glad to confirm that I have the price right at $9.95. My book is 200 pages, and I saw books that were the same size with 170 pages or less for $10.95.

So I'm going to put out another Free Comic Book Day Slam Bang edition. (#2) this week, and have it to hand out on May 6th. If you can't make it to the Comic Quest in Evansville, IN then visit your local shop on that day and grab the free books they are offering on May 6th. Or wait another year.....

I'm about to unleash my new "STORE" area on my web site later today....with a PayPal Shoping Cart no less.....finally all the cool stuff I have to offer for sale in one place!
http://www.fanaticpress.com

More shots of Evansville, IN

Peace out!

---Allen