ICONICON 2022
April 30th - Suffolk, VA
On Saturday April 30th, 2022 The North Suffolk Public Library held it's 6th Annual, multi-fandom event Iconicon in person for the first time since the Covid-19 Pandemic started back in early 2020! This is biggest FREE gathering of sci-fi, fantasy, comics and Anime fans in the Suffolk area and the event featured a Smash Bros. Tournament, cosplay contests, the 501st Legion, local comic book creators and publishers, a fan art and writing contest, local vendors and so much more.
I went with my wife and my boys and we enjoyed the experience quite a bit. Of course there were things that could be improved on but in general, the event was very well organized, the library staff was highly involved with everything regarding the event and they did right by us as creators by not charging for the tables and chairs, by providing free beverages for us, by providing parking and transportation for every creator and vendor at the event and for opening their doors and allowing us the opportunity to showcase our work to a brand new audience in a fantastic location.
I went with my wife and my boys and we enjoyed the experience quite a bit. Of course there were things that could be improved on but in general, the event was very well organized, the library staff was highly involved with everything regarding the event and they did right by us as creators by not charging for the tables and chairs, by providing free beverages for us, by providing parking and transportation for every creator and vendor at the event and for opening their doors and allowing us the opportunity to showcase our work to a brand new audience in a fantastic location.
PRAYER VIGIL FOR UKRAINE
Norfolk, Virginia
On Wednesday, March 02, 2022 a group of random people from different nationalities gathered together in support for the people of Ukraine. I have no friends or family in or from Ukraine and neither does my wife, but our hearts are breaking just the same because of what's happening to the people of Ukraine. Innocent people being hurt, killed even for no reason other than the ambition of a twisted man.
As a father, as a brother, as a son and as a Christian I stand in support of Ukraine, my wife and my family do as well. Earlier this week we sat down with our boys and explained the situation the people of Ukraine are having to deal with, how kids their age are having to flee their Country and why we must not only stand with them, but we must ALWAYS stand against tyranny. This was a night of prayer but know that we'll be supporting Ukraine with a lot more than prayer.
As a father, as a brother, as a son and as a Christian I stand in support of Ukraine, my wife and my family do as well. Earlier this week we sat down with our boys and explained the situation the people of Ukraine are having to deal with, how kids their age are having to flee their Country and why we must not only stand with them, but we must ALWAYS stand against tyranny. This was a night of prayer but know that we'll be supporting Ukraine with a lot more than prayer.
NOICE 2022
Norfolk, Virginia
On Saturday, February 5th, 2022 Greg Steele in association with Local Heroes and Smartmouth Brewing Company hosted "Norfolk's Original Indie Comics Expo"... NOICE! This was the first year I was a part of the event so I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of attendance, atmosphere, organization and/or how sales would be. I am pleased to say the event was a huge success in every sense of the word!
First was how the organizers handled everything. On point, not stressing the vendors OR the fans, always checking on the vendors to see if they needed anything; gave clear instructions on what to do and everything went smooth as a result. The Smartmouth Brewing Company's staff was also on point, going around making sure there wasn't any trash laying around like half empty glasses of beer for example, and they were very courteous; even though I'm sure it must've been stressful to have a couple hundred people at any particular moment in a location that usually hosts a dozen or so clients at a time. They deserve some praise as well as the organizers who kicked it out of the park. Noice 2022 is amongst the best events I've been a part of. Great job guys!
The attendance was far exceeded what I expected and more importantly, they weren't there because they wanted to showoff their newest Cosplay or because they wanted an autograph from their favorite actor; they were there because they loved comic books! Granted, the location was perfect in the sense that it was spacious enough for people to look around without bumping into one another, the vendors had plenty of space to put their things, everything was well organized and they sold booze, yet nobody got drunk or belligerent; everyone had a great time from what I saw and heard from other vendors.
For me specifically, it went great! Made a bunch of sales, made some great contacts, had a chance to chat with some amazing creators and colleagues, finally met a few creators I only knew from social media and interacted with the fans after such a long time; this was truly a great event for me. Some people came to our table and told me "I follow you on Instagram and wanted to buy your book in person and have you sign it", others said "I follow you on Instagram and saw that you were here so I wanted to meet you"; it felt great to know that there are people who really love your work and are interested in what we do; it makes the long hours behind a drawing board and a computer worthwhile.
Sometimes as creators we feel like we're just talking to ourselves on the internet because maybe we don't get a bunch of interactions, we don't get a thousand Likes or comments but what days like yesterday tell me is that there are people looking at what we do and are genuinely interested in our work; so we must keep on doing what we love and trust that your fans will show up like they did for me at NOICE.
I have to say, I was a bit hesitant about my decision to print Project: New Wave No.3 as a Mini-Comic although I loved how they turned out but after seeing the fans reactions and even casual people who stopped by our table of curiosity; I made the right choice! So, I'll be changing the format of my comics to Mini-Comics size and they'll be printed on newsprint paper like in the old days; if I'm going to stay indie then I'm not going to contrive our product to the rules of mainstream comics. We'll pave our own way and whatever happens, happens.
I'd like to give a huge shoutout to my table mate Miguel Dominado for not only being extremely professional in his approach, but for being a genuinely good person, being aware of the fact that I was handicapped since I couldn't use my arm, making sure I wasn't having anxiety or was in pain; that means a lot and I'll never forget that. I'll share a table with you anytime buddy! I also want to send a huge shoutout to the amazing @yokaniii @saberdog.art @micah_myers and @lionbyrd for showing love and being awesome, you made the day even better for me by just showing up; it meant a lot. So what can I say, amazing show and I can't wait for NOICE 2023!
First was how the organizers handled everything. On point, not stressing the vendors OR the fans, always checking on the vendors to see if they needed anything; gave clear instructions on what to do and everything went smooth as a result. The Smartmouth Brewing Company's staff was also on point, going around making sure there wasn't any trash laying around like half empty glasses of beer for example, and they were very courteous; even though I'm sure it must've been stressful to have a couple hundred people at any particular moment in a location that usually hosts a dozen or so clients at a time. They deserve some praise as well as the organizers who kicked it out of the park. Noice 2022 is amongst the best events I've been a part of. Great job guys!
The attendance was far exceeded what I expected and more importantly, they weren't there because they wanted to showoff their newest Cosplay or because they wanted an autograph from their favorite actor; they were there because they loved comic books! Granted, the location was perfect in the sense that it was spacious enough for people to look around without bumping into one another, the vendors had plenty of space to put their things, everything was well organized and they sold booze, yet nobody got drunk or belligerent; everyone had a great time from what I saw and heard from other vendors.
For me specifically, it went great! Made a bunch of sales, made some great contacts, had a chance to chat with some amazing creators and colleagues, finally met a few creators I only knew from social media and interacted with the fans after such a long time; this was truly a great event for me. Some people came to our table and told me "I follow you on Instagram and wanted to buy your book in person and have you sign it", others said "I follow you on Instagram and saw that you were here so I wanted to meet you"; it felt great to know that there are people who really love your work and are interested in what we do; it makes the long hours behind a drawing board and a computer worthwhile.
Sometimes as creators we feel like we're just talking to ourselves on the internet because maybe we don't get a bunch of interactions, we don't get a thousand Likes or comments but what days like yesterday tell me is that there are people looking at what we do and are genuinely interested in our work; so we must keep on doing what we love and trust that your fans will show up like they did for me at NOICE.
I have to say, I was a bit hesitant about my decision to print Project: New Wave No.3 as a Mini-Comic although I loved how they turned out but after seeing the fans reactions and even casual people who stopped by our table of curiosity; I made the right choice! So, I'll be changing the format of my comics to Mini-Comics size and they'll be printed on newsprint paper like in the old days; if I'm going to stay indie then I'm not going to contrive our product to the rules of mainstream comics. We'll pave our own way and whatever happens, happens.
I'd like to give a huge shoutout to my table mate Miguel Dominado for not only being extremely professional in his approach, but for being a genuinely good person, being aware of the fact that I was handicapped since I couldn't use my arm, making sure I wasn't having anxiety or was in pain; that means a lot and I'll never forget that. I'll share a table with you anytime buddy! I also want to send a huge shoutout to the amazing @yokaniii @saberdog.art @micah_myers and @lionbyrd for showing love and being awesome, you made the day even better for me by just showing up; it meant a lot. So what can I say, amazing show and I can't wait for NOICE 2023!
Buy Indie Comics Day /
12 Hr Comic Challenge 2021
Norfolk, Virginia
On July 31st, 2021 the 757 Comics and Cartoons Collective met at The Muse Writers Center (@themusewriterscenter) for a 12 Hour Comics Marathon in celebration of Buy Indie Comics Day and I enjoyed myself immensely! We drew, wrote, talked about all sorts of geeky stuff and more importantly for me; I got to spend time with other creators I respect and admire! Couldn't have asked for better people to spend 12 hours doing art with. I hope we get to do it again soon.
Do You Speak Geek?
DYSG Live w/ Manuel Carmona
Nix (host of Do You Speak Geek podcast) sits down with the multi faceted Manuel A. Carmona (@m_a_carmona) to talk all about his non-profit initiative Comics For Christmas, his comic book imprint Truthful Comics, Buy Indie Comics Day and geekiness ensues!
Nix (host of Do You Speak Geek podcast) sits down with the multi faceted Manuel A. Carmona (@m_a_carmona) to talk all about his non-profit initiative Comics For Christmas, his comic book imprint Truthful Comics, Buy Indie Comics Day and geekiness ensues!
The Yeah-Nah Wepa Show!
On Saturday May 8th, I was a Special Guest on the Yeah-Nah Wepa Show, a new podcast from the Comic Crusaders Podcast Network and we had a great time! We talked about my creator owned projects, my comics imprint Truthful Comics, my collaborations with my colleagues and Truthful Comics brothers Alvaro Cortes and Frank Rivera and of course we also had to discuss Buy Indie Comics Day. If you'd like to listen to the entire show visit: The Yeah Nah Wepa Show Ep.13
Spellbox Comics Live!
On May 25th, 2021 I was interviewed by Armando "Drago" Mendoza, a Puertorican podcaster and comic book creator in his own right. We discussed past projects, current ones and what's to come in the near future. We also discussed a bit about my non-profit initiative Comics For Christmas and so much more!
12 Hour Comics Day 2020
Norfolk, Virginia
On September 5th of 2020 artists all over the World celebrated the 12 Hour Comics Day Online Challenge, even if it had to be by ourselves due to the Covid-19 Pandemic. We had artists from Virginia, South Carolina and all the way to Florida! This year the challenge was altered a bit since we couldn't meet in person, I thought we might as well change the format to make it more inclusive for as any people as possible. The basic premise stayed the same, finish a short story in 12 hours or less, but we decided on allowing creators to work on their own projects for 12 hours straight and see how much they could get done in that period of uninterrupted time.
Puertorriqueños en el
Mundo de los Cómics
Virtual Art Expo
The presentation aims to make known to the academic community of the University of Puerto Rico, and the community in general, the production of Puerto Ricans in the world of comics. The presentation covered how the virtual exhibition was conceived, organized and presented. In addition, the presentation took a real-time tour of the two platforms where the comics are exhibited.
757 Prayer March
Norfolk, Virginia
On Sunday June 7th The Hampton Roads City Collective (HRCC) hosted a peaceful Prayer March in downtown Norfolk to celebrate the diverse expression of God’s image in humanity that affirms the dignity, value and worth of every person. They called on faith communities in Hampton Roads to stand united, seek justice, and love and mercy; and thousands answered the call!
BLACKOUT 757
Norfolk, Virginia
On May 29th, 2020 Manuel and his family joined #BlackLivesMatter757 along with hundreds of Virginians in a peaceful protest against police brutality, demanding justice in the aftermath of George Floyd's death at the hands of 4 police officers in Minneapolis. This is the latest in a long list of African Americans who have been brutalized and/or killed at the hands of the very same people who are opposed to serve and protect them, when Mr. Floyd drew his last breath... millions around the World said enough is enough; change is coming peacefully or by force!
Comic Crusaders Virtual Con
On April 5th 2020 from 9AM EST until 8PM EST the Comic Crusaders hosted the first ever “Virtual Con”. Members of the Comic Crusaders and Undercover Capes Podcast Network family joined forces interviewing and hanging out with indie creators, learned about their creations and crafts, and overall had a blast in a safe environment right from home. They streamed on multiple platforms, from Youtube, Twitch, Mixer, Periscope, the CC Facebook Page LIVE and it was beautiful to witness.
Comics Art Exhibit @ The Muse
Norfolk, Virginia
On Saturday, October 19th The Muse held their first ever Comic Book Art Exhibit and I can honestly say it was a success. Featuring over twenty comic book artists from all over Virginia, as well as art students from the comic book art class at The Muse; the range of styles and topics that hung on the walls was a sight to behold. I was one of the artists featured at this exhibit, and I was truly humbled by the reaction from the art enthusiasts in attendance as well as my peers; it was certainly an unforgettable experience. Amongst the artists being featured at the exhibit were: Kelley Leanne Harris, Cory Bland, C.L. Zeno, Kristin Mehaffey, Brian Lacy and Miguel Dominado just to name a few.
Indie Author Day
Norfolk, Virginia
On Saturday, October 12th Slover Library celebrated Indie Author Day and our very own Manuel A. Carmona was one the authors invited. The guest authors were as diverse as the genres they write about which, it was great. Manuel was the only illustrator featured at the event, which was a huge honor for him.
12 Hour Comics Day 2019
Norfolk, Virginia
The 12 Hour Comics Day Challenge is a Worldwide event dedicated to creating a short story from beginning to end in 12 hours or less. Basically two or more creators gather at a specific location and create a comic book from scratch, the fun is in working alongside your peers; finishing the comic is an added bonus. Participants can use any medium they desire and the story can be four (4) pages or more... just as long as it's a finished story.
Buy Indie Comics Day +
Get Your Geek On 2019
Norfolk, Virginia
Truthful Comics Co-Founder Manuel Carmona organized, alongside the good people of Slover Library; a combined effort to bring a spotlight not only to indie comics but geek culture in general. The Event was Get Your Geek On / Buy Indie Comics Day and combined indie comics, cosplay, dance, music, art duels, arts and crafts, video games... the works!
Plastic City Comic Con 2019
Fitchburg, Massachussets
On Saturday July 13th Manuel A. Carmona attended Plastic City Comic Con in Fitchburg, Massachusetts. Attendance was only $5 bucks for adults and children got in for FREE. Great atmosphere, a variety of vendors, dozens of indie creators as well as established creators working on Marvel and/or DC Comics. Everyone had a great time, fans and vendors alike; an all around great show and can only get bigger and better! Already talked to the organizers and Truthful Comics will be in attendance once more. Plastic City Comic Con 2020!!!
Hispanic Trailblazers
Awards Ceremony 2018
Norfolk, Virginia
The Norfolk Public Library in partnership with the Hispanic Leadership Forum and AARP/VA wishes to celebrate the accomplishments of local citizens that have promoted the culture, history, and life of Hispanics in Hampton Roads. The event is free of charge.
2018 Trailblazer Award Recipients:
-Dr. MaryAnn Laremont Lopez - Community Health Administrator
-Dr. Louisa Rodriguez – International Disaster Relief Volunteer
-Olga Crupper – Human Relief Organization
-Melannie Ibarra & Ana Castellanos – Special Needs Children Advocates
-Alicia and Bob Bobulinski – Making A Difference Foundation
ALSO RECOGNIZED WERE PUERTO RICO HURRICANE MARIA (2017) RELIEF VOLUNTEERS
2018 Trailblazer Award Recipients:
-Dr. MaryAnn Laremont Lopez - Community Health Administrator
-Dr. Louisa Rodriguez – International Disaster Relief Volunteer
-Olga Crupper – Human Relief Organization
-Melannie Ibarra & Ana Castellanos – Special Needs Children Advocates
-Alicia and Bob Bobulinski – Making A Difference Foundation
ALSO RECOGNIZED WERE PUERTO RICO HURRICANE MARIA (2017) RELIEF VOLUNTEERS
Comics For Christmas @ OV
Norfolk, Virginia
This past Sunday, November 26th the city of Norfolk, Virginia celebrated their 6th Ocean View Christmas Illumination and Comics For Christmas was a part of it! As you may know, Comics for Christmas is a non-profit organization founded by Truthful Comics' Manuel A. Carmona and his lovely wife Hannah-rose. The event was a tremendous success gathering thousands of people and the general consensus was that it was a fantastic evening. Comics for Christmas gave away more than 1,500 comic books to all the kids in attendance.
Regent Con 2018
Regent University
Virginia Beach, Virginia
We had a blast at the one day multi fandom convention at Regent University's Robertson Hall. Topics ranged from Anime to voice-acting, video games, comics, fantasy, and more. Activities included, but were not limited to: panels, workshops, cosplay competitions, video game tournaments, and D&D sessions.
Hurricane Maria Relief Efforts
for Puerto Rico
Virginia Beach, Virginia
This is an initiative started by Jose Albino, his wife and a few others and quickly became a community effort. What began with a mission to fill one forty (40') foot container of supplies to sent to the people in Puerto Rico who so desperately needed our help and it quickly turned into SIX (6) full forty foot containers full of first necessity supplies!
Buy Indie Comics Day 2016
Chesapeake, Virginia
The year 2016 was the first of what is now the annual Buy Indie Comics Day and Truthful Comics HAD to be a part of this fantastic initiative... especially since I was involved in it's conception! What started as wishful thinking ended up being a global event with thousands joining forces in supporting indie creators all around the World.
Comics For Christmas
@ CHKD Hospital
Norfolk, Virginia
So, today was our first Comics For Christmas event of the year and I have to say... it was an amazing experience! The staff was very welcoming and appreciative, the parents were also very happy with us for, as one mother told us, "taking the time to brighten up our kid's day" and more importantly; the kids we're happy. Amongst the things we brought for the kids were: back packs, pencils, note pads, toys, coloring books, crayons, color pencils and of course comic books! It was great watching the kids going through the items inside their brand new back packs and seeing their eyes light up when they recognized Spider-Man or the Hulk! We loved every minute of it!
Comics For Christmas @ Tab
Tabernacle Church of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
This day we celebrated Tabernacle Church's Harvest Festival 2013 and I can only described it by saying... it ROCKED! There were plenty of kids from all over Norfolk, dressed in their Halloween costumes and having a good ol' time. There were tons of games for the kids to play, there were clowns, balloon animals, tons of candy and of course; FREE COMIC BOOKS!!! That's where we came in. Through our non-profit initiative Comics For Christmas, we were able to give away more than 400 comic books to dozens of kids; completely FREE of charge to them!
Comics For Christmas
@ The Book Exchange
Norfolk, Virginia
This past July 7th and 8th we celebrated The Comics For Christmas Free Comic Book Giveaway at The Book and Movie Exchange in Norfolk, Virginia and our plan was to hand out around 2,000 comics and candy to the kids that stopped by the store. Kids started showing up as soon as we got there and we handed out a few hundred books. Every kid got an average of 5-10 books and a small bag of candy, we also had some great interactions with the parents and we even left a few dozen comic books in case some kids showed up after we left.
Comics For Christmas @ Tab
Tabernacle Church of Norfolk
Norfolk, Virginia
On Sunday November 4th the Tabernacle Church of Norfolk celebrated their Harvest Festival, a celebration for the kids to enjoy amongst themselves playing games and eating candy in a safe environment. We've only been visiting this church for a few months so it was a blessing that they allowed us to incorporate Comics For Christmas into the event. Honestly, we weren't expecting that many kids to attend especially since the event started at 6pm, but to our surprise, the church was packed! It was a true blessing to interact, not only with the kids, but also their parents who time and time again thanked us for what we were doing and were quite shocked that we actually buy comic books and give them away for FREE. Many of the parents asked us "why do you guys do this?" and our reply was Why not? It's easy to point out the negatives in this world and just as easy to say that nobody does anything for anyone without wanting something in return; but that's just not the case.
Comics For Halloween
Norfolk, Virginia + Hampton, Virginia
First I'd like to thank those who made the event possible (they're not many) starting with the people at The Book Exchange, Don Flores for his unending support and my wife for always being there by my side through thick and thin, but besides them, it's only me. Unfortunately the tropical storm Sandy was approaching that very same weekend so the attendance was minimal. Still, I'm grateful that they at least opened their doors to us and for that, we left a bunch of comic books so they could pass them along to kids on Halloween. That mishap would've crushed the spirits of the average person, but we're not average people when it comes to fighting for kids. As fate would have it, one of our closest friend had invited us to a Halloween party she put together for her kids and their friends, and their event just happened to be on the same day as our Halloween Comics Giveaway! So, instead of being all sad and depressed for the turnout at The Book Exchange, I grabbed a box of comic books and we headed straight to our friend's Halloween Party. When we got there you could hear the kids laughing and yelling from a mile away so we knew then and there that our day was just about to start!
The moment we walked through the door we saw at least 20-25 kids ages 2-13, so you know it was pandemonium! We said hi to everyone, settled in and about an hour into the event I asked the kids if they liked comic books, to which they answered yes, and then I asked them if they wanted some FREE comic books to which they answered with a resounding "YES!!!". Immediately they swarmed me and my wife and I had them make a single line to come and get their free comic books. They absolutely loved those comics, as you'll see in the photos down below. All and all it was a great day because we accomplished what we set out to do in the first place, make some kids happy through the magic of comic books. In the end, we left at the Book Exchange approximately 100 comic books to be given for FREE on Halloween Night and we gave away 400 FREE comic books at the Halloween Party, so around 500 FREE comic books in one day; not too shabby!
The moment we walked through the door we saw at least 20-25 kids ages 2-13, so you know it was pandemonium! We said hi to everyone, settled in and about an hour into the event I asked the kids if they liked comic books, to which they answered yes, and then I asked them if they wanted some FREE comic books to which they answered with a resounding "YES!!!". Immediately they swarmed me and my wife and I had them make a single line to come and get their free comic books. They absolutely loved those comics, as you'll see in the photos down below. All and all it was a great day because we accomplished what we set out to do in the first place, make some kids happy through the magic of comic books. In the end, we left at the Book Exchange approximately 100 comic books to be given for FREE on Halloween Night and we gave away 400 FREE comic books at the Halloween Party, so around 500 FREE comic books in one day; not too shabby!
Comics For Christmas
Summer Explosion!
Newport News, Virginia
On June 31st, our home church of Mt. Sinai Christian Development Center organized the 1st ever Summer Explosion and invited Comics For Christmas along for the ride. We had live music, praise dancing, food, drinks and of course, COMICS! Even though we had temperatures upwards of 100 degrees, with lots of hydration and love, had an awesome time. Through Comics For Christmas, we gave away 500+ comics absolutely free and every kid in attendance went home with a full belly and a bag full of comics; and that's a good day in my book.
Comics For Christmas
@ The Book Exchange
Norfolk, Virginia
On May 12, 2012 we celebrated the 1st ever Book Exchange/Comics For Christmas Free Comic Book Day and in my opinion, it was success! The day started slow, being a Saturday and all, but soon enough people starting coming in and asking for us, meaning Comics For Christmas. It was great to interact with kids and parents alike, and introduce them to this magical world we call comics! I have to admit, it brought me a great deal of satisfaction to know that I might have converted one of these kids into lifelong comic readers. That's the beauty of comics, it doesn't matter who you are or how old you are, it's impossible not to be drawn into this wonderful world of adventure, romance, horror, magic and excitement; the wonderful world of comic books!!!
Comics For Christmas
@ CHKD Hospital
Norfolk, Virginia
Last Saturday we took a trip down to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters in Norfolk, Virginia as part of our Comics For Christmas organization and it was a truly wonderful experience! It's hard to understand what these kids go through on a daily basis but looking at them made us realize how important it is to appreciate our health and our kid's health, but also made us remember why we decided to do this in the first place. We brought Christmas bags filled with comic books and art supplies, I also brought my easel and a big sketch pad, some markers and gave the kids a quick art lesson. The kids were very excited and really enjoyed drawing with me, which made me feel great! The nurses were so thankful that we took the time to bring a little joy to the kids but like I said to them, it's a pleasure to do something nice for those who can't help themselves.
Comics For Christmas
@ Feeding 5,000 Community Outreach Event
Newport News, Virginia
On November 19, 2011 we volunteered in the event "Feeding 5,000 and Community Outreach" as part of our non-profit organization Comics For Christmas and it was one of the best experiences of our lives! My family and I were present to give a helping hand to those in need. There were more than 5,000 in attendance and everyone ate, left with some groceries and had a great time in the process!
Comics For Christmas
@ Halleluyah Fest
Newport News, Virginia
On Saturday, October 29, Mt. Sinai Christian Development Center celebrated their 1st Halleluyah Fest, an event created to give the children from the community a chance to play and have fun in a safe enviroment, without having to go out on the streets. From the moment we heard about the event, we as Comics For Christmas, knew that we had to be a part of it! As the kids started coming in, our table was the first thing they saw and to see the reaction on those kids faces reminded us why we do this! Some of them were shy at first, some of them didn't knew what to do or say, or didn't believe we were handing comics to them for free, but as soon as we told them it was ok to pick some of them for free, their expressions changed from being nervous, to being incredibly happy! It was a night we'll never forget, especially since it was also our 1st official event as part of Comics For Christmas.
Feeding 1,000 Outreach Event
Newport News, Virginia
In the month of November of 2010 we volunteered in the event "Feeding 1,000" as part of our non-profit organization Comics For Christmas and it was awesome to give a helping hand to those in need. There were more than 1,000 people in attendance and everyone ate and had a great time! It was a perfect day. The members of our church, Mt. Sinai Christian Development Center, were also in attendance and helped out in any way they could; it was truly a blessing! There was everything from the traditional apple pie, turkey, rice, corn, cake, corn bread... you name it; we had it! Events like this make us realize how much we have and how grateful we SHOULD BE!
Feeding 2,000 Community Outreach Event
Newport News, Virginia
In November of 2009 we volunteered for the first time in the event "Feeding 2,000 and Community Outreach" as part of our non-profit organization Comics For Christmas and it was one of the best experiences of our lives! My family and I were present to give a helping hand to those in need. The members of our church, Mt. Sinai Christian Development Center, were also in attendance. There was everything from the traditional apple pie, turkey, rice, corn, cake, corn bread... you name it; we had it! One thing worth mentioning is that there were a loooot more than 2,000 people in attendance that day, and they all ate and had a great time; so it's all good!
Ponce Comic Con
Ponce, Puerto Rico
The 1st Ponce Comicon was an example of a gamble that payed off big time. Nobody knew what to expect but we all decided to help the organizers of the event, and the results were incredible. More people attended than anyone expected and most important, they were buying! Kids, adults, teens, you name it, they were there in bunches and they all had a great time; we all did! This is an example of a well organized event that I wouldn't mind being a part of in the near future!
24 Hour Comics Day 2007
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
On Saturday June 9th 2007 a dream came true for many cartoonists in Puerto Rico when the first 24 Hour Comic Challenge event was celebrated. The 24 Hour Comics Day is an international celebration of comics creation. Cartoonists all over take the challenge of trying to create a 24 page comic story in 24 straight hours. In 2006 this event was celebrated in 17 countries around the world. The 24 hour comics challenge was created in 1990 by Scott McCloud, leading comics theoretician and author of Understanding Comics and Reinventing Comics. Joel (Chizz) Vazquez was the one who proposed the idea of doing a 24 hour comic challenge in Puerto Rico. Thanks to Jose Esteras, owner of the Red Goblin Collectibles store in Cupey Professional Mall, we got his store to host the challenge. Paquines.com, Puerto Rico's biggest website focused on comics, animé and science fiction was used to promote the event and contact the artists. There was so much enthusiasm for the event and October seemed so far away that the idea to do a tryout for the real challenge was born. So on June 9th several cartoonists gathered at the Red Goblin store to see if they could do a comic book in 24 hours and use the experience for the October event; the rest is history!
Kaisen & Anime Con
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
This was the 1st ever Kaisen & Anime Convention in Puerto Rico and it was the first convention I showed my comic book; ever. As you can imagine, my nerves were on edge but we sold a bunch of them, we met great people, we listened to some live music, saw great Cosplayers and we had a blast!
Free Comic Book Day
& Signing @ Metro Comics
Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
This was the first Free Comic Book Day we ever attended, and it was really cool! Me and Truthful Comics Co-Founder Alvaro Cortez Ortiz Jr went, got some comics, drew a little bit and had an all around good time. There were many comics enthusiasts excited about the event, there were people who were just curious about the whole thing and there were a few cosplayers having fun with the kids in attendance; it was super fun! I hope we can attend another one in the near future. For me, as a former member of Don Algaro Comics, I signed some autographs, talk with a few fans, drew a few sketches and took a few photos; it was nice. It was a wonderful event.
Utuado Comic Con
Utuado, Puerto Rico
The 1st and only Utuado Comicon was, by all commercial standards, a disaster. We had basically no attendance, the people who were going to promote the event never did and the guy that was going to contact the radio stations in order to promote the event never did either, so as you might expect, there was nobody there. A last effort by one of my friends drew around 40-50 people but that wasn't enough. In the end, all was not lost. We ended up recording a great podcast, we hung out amongst other local creators and we learned how not to make the same mistakes again. I'm sure that if we ever do another convention in Utuado, things will turn out VERY different.
