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HOUSEFUL OF ART this weekend!

I will be part of a show this weekend at the Hollywood Community House in Brookfield, and I'm happy to announce THREE new prints that will be making their debut; Brookfield, River Forest, and La Grange Park. Details to follow, hope you can attend...

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RAFAEL NIEVES
Writer / Designer / Editor

www.rafwrites.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/raf.nieves

OUT OF THE MOVIE HOUSE AND ONTO YOUR WALL!

Now you can have your very own mini "movie poster" teaser from the forthcoming Graphic Novel "COMPULSION". Drawn by artist Hugo Petrus, and designed by me, this 11x17 digital print pays homage to "ripped from the marquee and taped to my wall" movie poster fans...

Folded, ripped, taped, and coffee cup stained, this is a must-have for poster fans, urban crime fans, and more!

Mailed bagged, boarded and flat, the COMPULSION mini movie poster can be yours for just $15 and S+H at www.raf_nieves.storenvy.com, or just click here...

BRINGIN' TH' GOODS

Just some of the items I'll be bringing with me to Berwyn Fandemonium Holiday Special Edition...

IT'S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE...

A NEW FANDEMONIUM!

Saturday, December 10th, a gathering of geekery that would choke a horse!
Over a dozen crafters, makers and artisans all banding together to bring you the perfect gifts for that special fanboy or fangirl in your life! Join me, won't you?

24 HOUR COMICS DAY!

Well, here I go... On Saturday, October 1st, you'll find me with my friend, artist Juan Gomez haunting Chimera's Comics in La Grange, IL for their part in the nationally recognized 24 Hour Comics Day, an event that has comics creators making (or attempting to make) a 24 page comic book in 24 hours.

I've heard of this event for a couple years now, but this is my first (maybe last) time actually participating. Wish me luck! We actually start at 11:59 Friday night and end 11:59 Saturday night. Sheesh!

Juan and I are picking up where we left off back in 1996; with Charon, the boatman from the River Styx. Oh, so long ago, Juan and produced an 8-page ashcan comic that we'd hoped would develop into a series, or, at least, a graphic novel. It was not to be, and in the ensuing years, the original art was lost to the world.

As it turns out, however, Juan did manage to keep a copy of the ashcan book, and when we discussed the idea of doing this 24 hour comics day, he produced said copy and declared, "we should do THIS!"

...he didn't actually say that, but it's pretty much what happened otherwise. You can read that ashcan on the Charon Facebook page, here... While you're there, like the page, won't you? Juan and I will be posting pictures and videos of our progress on the Charon Facebook page, so keep an eye on that, okay? Okay!

And so, we are going to use the 24 hour event as an excuse to return to this character that we adore and whom we've missed for many years.

You can find out more info about the event at the Chimera Comics page here

24 HOUR COMICS DAY!

Well, here I go... On Saturday, October 1st, you'll find me with my friend, artist Juan Gomez haunting Chimera's Comics in La Grange, IL for their part in the nationally recognized 24 Hour Comics Day, an event that has comics creators making (or attempting to make) a 24 page comic book in 24 hours.

I've heard of this event for a couple years now, but this is my first (maybe last) time actually participating. Wish me luck!

Juan and I are picking up where we left off back in 1996; with Charon, the boatman from the River Styx. Oh, so long ago, Juan and produced an 8-page ashcan comic that we'd hoped would develop into a series, or, at least, a graphic novel. It was not to be, and in the ensuing years, the original art was lost to the world.

As it turns out, however, Juan did manage to keep a copy of the ashcan book, and when we discussed the idea of doing this 24 hour comics day, he produced said copy and declared, "we should do THIS!"

...he didn't actually say that, but it's pretty much what happened otherwise. You can read that ashcan on the Charon Facebook page, here... While you're there, like the page, won't you? Juan and I will be posting pictures and videos of our progress on the Charon Facebook page, so keep an eye on that, okay? Okay!

And so, we are going to use the 24 hour event as an excuse to return to this character that we adore and whom we've missed for many years.

You can find out more info about the event at the Chimera Comics page here

MAY WE?

A brief announcement to let you know that I will be pitching a tent at What's Blooming on Harrison, a street fest happening this Saturday. The pic above has details on the when and where.

The what is this; all my 'Welcome Home' prints (Oak Park, Chicago, Berwyn, Riverside), as well as t-shirts and notecards bearing the same images. I'll also have small prints, magnets and more available for you to buy!

Hope you can come out; I'm going to be in great company with a wealth of talented folks...!

THE VERY MERRY MONTH OF MAY...

SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE ME...

 During the month of May, I will have a number of my prints on display at the North Riverside Mall movie theater, the Luxury 6. You can see some of my work and grab a flyer with my info on it, if you are interested in a print... Here are some pix:

THEN...

on Saturday, May 7th, I will be appearing at Defiant Comics during their Free Comic Book Day event. I will have books to sell, as well as some exclusive items, like a mini-movie poster and t-shirt that are inspired by and will help fund the production of COMPULSION,  a graphic novel written by me, and illustrated by Spanish artist Hugo Petrus... The posters will sell for $10 during the event, and come signed and numbered. Afterwards, they will sell for $15, unsigned, unnumbered. The shirts are in limited supply as well, so get there early, yeah?

MY "TOUR" SCHEDULE...

Many of you have asked about my schedule for the rest of 2016. I'm always loathe to post too far ahead, cos, y'know, there are the shows I want to do, and then there are the shows that I actually attend. So, please, check back often, okay, to make sure that I'm actually where I say I'm gonna be. Thanks! Oh, and here's a ps... I'm including both the shows I attend as the print and poster designer AND the cons I go to as the comic book writer. I figured one place to find me in both my capacities...

SATURDAY, APRIL 16 - CRAFT AND VINTAGE MARKET - Friendly Coffee Lounge, Berwyn IL
I'll be selling prints and posters, t-shirts and greeting cards.

SATURDAY, MAY 7 - FREE COMIC BOOK DAY - Defiant Comics, Forest Park IL
Besides my comic books, natch, I'll also be selling a limited edition, signed and numbered mini-movie poster to help fund my upcoming graphic novel COMPULSION, drawn by Spanish artist Hugo Petrus. Revenues from the sale go towards production of the book.

SATURDAY, MAY 21 - WHAT'S BLOOMING ON HARRISON - Oak Park Arts District, Oak Park IL
Prints, posters, t-shirts, greeting cards.

SATURDAY, JUNE 4 - KANKAKEE FANTASY CON - Kankakee Public Library, Kankakee IL
Comic books, etc.

SAT/SUN, JUNE 11/12 - ACE CON - Lakeview Rec Center, Peoria IL
Comic books, etc. A two day event!

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 - COMICOPOLIS - Lockport Branch Library, Lockport IL
Comic books, etc. My second year!

NEW PRINTS!

I've got three new prints available for purchase from my online shop...


The prints are 11 x 17, digitally printed on 80# cougar and you can find them here.

BERWYN STATION is my latest piece. I was trying to evoke a mood of mystery and intrigue with this. The station is real, but I think this piece would work anywhere in the world! As always, I create this in my WPA style of color blocks and deep blacks.

Berwyn Station is a 17x11 digital print on 80# Cougar. Ships flat, bagged and boarded, and you can buy it here.

Join me on October 24th at Horrorbles, THE monster store, where I will be signing copies of my latest book, FORGOTTEN LORE, Volume 1, which begins collecting all my short comic stories from the last 25 years! I'll have plenty of other books onhand as well, including Bob Howard: Plumber of the Unknown, The Apocalypse Plan, The Phantom, Mr. Moto, and Vampire: The Masquerade. I'll be there from Noon until 3 pm.

 Then, on October 25th, you can find me at the Berwyn Township Farmers' Market, where I will be debuting my latest print, Berwyn Station. This is a digital print on cardstock, 17 x 11, sold unframed, for $15 each. I'll have plenty of other prints available too! 

FORGET ME NOT!

From 'Maxie's". Artwork by Hui-Han Liu

FORGOTTEN LORE is a collection of short comic stories I've written over the years. I was inspired to do this after seeing my friend Gary Reed's Of Scenes and Stories collection, and decided to try my hand at it. I realized that, for many people, this will be their first viewing of these stories. When I'm through, my hope is to have absolutely every short comic story I've ever written in the last quarter century gathered up and presented in one format.

Volume One reprints many of the stories I wrote for Caliber's Caliber Presents anthology,   as well as some never-before-published works, and features the talents of Hui-han Liu, Antonio Maldonado, Joseph Allen Black, Peter Krause, Jack Etheridge, the late, great Richard "Grass" Green, Shawn Van Briesen, and more! Cover art by Hugo Petrus.

48 black and white pages, color covers. Available to order online for $5.99 plus s+h.

Cover Art: Hugo Petrus

Signed? Personalized? Tell me!

Kaleidoscope: Do These Panels Make My Butt Look Big — by Raf

Kaleidoscope: Do These Panels Make My Butt Look Big — by Raf:      As the de facto art wrangler for Kaleidoscope, I have the thrilling but terrifying task of finding the right illustrators for the many...

SEE YOU AT CYPHAN!

This Friday through Sunday, I'll be in attendance at Cyphan. The plan is to bring not only Bob Howard: Plumber of the Unknown and The Apocalypse Plan, but also a sampling of some of my other work, like Mr. Moto, The Phantom, Hellstorm, Prince of Lies, as well as some very early favorites of mine, Chillin's, Romancer and Fey. These last three issues are pretty rare, thanks to a fickle distribution system. Aside from that, I'm also going to be bringing some prints from both Bob Howard and TAP, as well as some original designs, all reasonably priced :) of course!

Also going to be testing out the new Bob Howard t-shirt designed by co-creator Dan Dougherty and myself, and printed by Decapitated Dan Royer, a friend of horror comics creators everywhere!

I hope you can all make it. This is the second year for Cyphan, and the first for me, so I'm really looking forward to meeting new people and making new friends, as well as new fans!

JUNE 4TH AT KANKAKEE FANTASY CON!

Hope to see everybody at the Kankakee Fantasy Con tomorrow! Dan Dougherty and I will be in attendance, along with over 25 of our closest friends! The con will be held at the Kankakee Public Library from 10 am til 5 pm, and it looks like a very promising show!

There will be panel discussions, book sellers, publishers, celebrities and more, so click the link https://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/event.php?eid=164537703588579 and get further info. We'll see you there. Right?

C2E2

I admit to being mildly surprised by the audience turnout at C2E2 this past weekend; last year's show, while well attended, did not really produce much joy in terms of sales for a number of us in Artist Alley.

This year, however, a steady stream of fans could be found wandering up and down the aisles, looking at small press items, talking with creators, and waiting for undetermined times for their fave to sign the latest copy of X, Y, and Z.

My friend and frequent collaborator, Dan Dougherty and I sold quite a lot of Bob Howard 2, which debuted at the show. Fully half of our 100 copy print run was purchased, along with a goodly number of the first issue as well.

All in all, a very good show, indeed!

World Premiere of Bob Howard: Plumber of the Unknown, Issue 2!

The second issue of Bob Howard: Plumber of the Unknown makes its debut tomorrow at C2E2! This Exclusive Limited Edition copy has a print run of only 100 signed and numbered editions, so make sure to get yours! C2E2; come for the media guests; stay for the comics!

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Pages updates are coming at you as often as they can!