Haunted Fire Studio :: Benjamin Hall :: Illustrator and Comic Book Artist

My wife Marlena blogged her little heart out for 24 straight hours yesterday, with no breaks or help from guest bloggers. It turned out really entertaining, I'm really, really proud of her. She also posted updates of an illustration of Wonder Woman I was doing as she typed, It's a pretty neat step-by-step of all the hideous mistakes I make while trying to create something visually interesting.

Check it out here... It'll be the really long numbered blog, from 1 to 49.

The best part is she did this to raise money for Friends of Lulu. A non-profit organization promoting women buying comics and working in the industry.

What? What? Women and comic books?

I know a lot of people in the industry moan about the current status of things and how great the sales boom was in the 80's - 90's. But no one seems to care that the sales boom they are so reminiscent of was because people were buying comics like they were bonds, not books. No one was actually reading them, they just thought they could put their kids through college or retire with them. When these people realized, that that was not necessarily the case, they dropped comics like a hot potato... why? BECAUSE NO ONE WAS READING THEM!

Right now is a really great time for comics, because the books are BETTER. There are so many different stories and genres on the shelves now that there is literally something out there for everyone.... EVERYONE..., but somehow comics still languish behind other blockbuster media like movies and video games.

There are several reasons for the state of the industry, but mostly I think it has to do with the stigma that comics are low-brow beat-em-up's for young boys. And sadly, there is a lot of great work that gets missed because of that misconception.

Friends of Lulu is one of several organizations dedicated to change that. Marlena devoted 24 straight hours of her life and the slow death of a perfectly good weekend to support them and support comics, and several fantastic people joined her cause with very generous donations. If you still wish to make a donation supporting her blogging marathon you can do so in the next 48 hours by creating a user account, logging in and donating here.

Or, if donations aren't your thing, go down to your local comic shop and buy a graphic novel for your friend that doesn't read comics. Buy something that will change his or her perception of comics, something that that person will really enjoy, based on their personal tastes, and just give it to them with no strings attached.

Spread the word folks... Comics are great.

We're back from San Diego!!! Thanks to everyone who came by the Viper booth while we were there, we really appreciate it. Our unending thanks also goes out to all our digital friends we were finally able to meet (it was a blast!), and a hearty handshake, hug/back-pat combo goes out to all our friends who we are only able to see at these shows as well (you guys ROCK!). Marlena and I had a blast at the con this year. I really, really enjoyed myself. I'm all excited about comics again and Marlena and I are planning all kinds of good stuff for the future!

I also learned that the art in French comics is amazing! My horizons are slowly widening.

And with that said, check out the newest creation from one of the things that got me interested in comics in the first place.

TMNT ANIMATED TRAILER!!!!

The Sci-fi channel has the entire pilot episode of Mike Mignola's Amazing Screw-on head online right now! IT IS FANTASTIC!!!!!!

Go watch it NOW!

They also have this other show, that I can't believe is even being made. I wish I had cable because I'd watch this out of shear morbid curiosity.

Who wants to be a Superhero?

And as if that was not enough media, someone posted the entire short film "Within the Woods" on You Tube. This is the film that Sam Raimi made in order to find financial backers for the Evil Dead. It stars Bruce Campbell and Ellen Sandweiss.

You can watch it here if you like.

Another cool political link!

Here you can find a list of every person running for election in your area and links to their info. A really cool tool, to educate yourself before heading to the polls.

And on Yahoo of all things... Who knew.

Share your worst boss story and win a vacation.

Or just read through other people's horror stories.

Some of them are pretty funny.

My wife will be participating in the Blogathon on July 29th.

She has to blog every 30 mins for 24 hours straight starting at 6 am Pacific time. I will not be blogging, but I will be drawing the entire time and Marlena will be posting my progress.

She is doing this for charity. If you want to sponsor her, all the money goes to Friends of Lulu, a non-profit organization for women reading and working in comics.

Even if you don't wish to sponsor her, check us out from time to time, I'm sure it will be interesting.

To sponsor her click HERE

Happy 4th of July everybody!!!!!!!

Marlena and I went to our local art supply store and I bought a super fancy portfolio case at 70% off! It is AWESOME! I am currently filling it up with the best sequential work I can scrounge up from my ten odd years of doing (and or trying to do) comic work.

It's funny, how much art I have lying around. A lot of is so old it's not worth showing off, but I'm still pretty impressed with how not sucky it is. Not good enough to be proud of mind you... but not sucky.

Anyhoo. I'm filling up my new fancy portfolio with 20 of my least sucky pieces. San Diego, Here I come.