J Chris Campbell

5. After Hours

You may not know this but when Heroes Convention closes they kick everyone out of the convention center. Yep, all those creators you’ve been waiting in line to talk with don’t actually stay in the convention center all night long. They leave and go out into the city where you might run into them at some swank hotel bar.

It’s a pretty cool part of the convention that not many people think about. Even me, with my almost infinite knowledge of the intricacies of convention life, just found out about this millinium. Here’s the deal, the convention center is located in a part of the city with a deficit of bars so everyone eventually ends up at the Westin’s bar. Giving you a nice boiling pot of comic profesionals and fans mingling amongst one another as equals. It’s up to you to figure out how to infiltrate the crowd and what your opening line will be for when you meet Eric Larson or Evan Dorkin.

You absolutely have to take advantage of this networking opportunity. At the very least it gives you something to talk about the next day at the convention. “Heh, aren’t you that guy who drank that bottle of wine and then ate some guys cigar butt” asks Josh Cotter? “Yes I am,” you reply proudly with no recollection of anything you did after the 4 margaritas you had with Brad McGinty. Ah, living the night life!

Previously announced addition to Campbell Clan Industries has been produced. Final assembly completed on 5.30.08. Visual conformation of parts confirms previous test results and designation of Lilly has been assigned. Unit is now entering cocoon stage.

Someone said when you hear a sudden tone in your ear that slowly fades it is the Swan Song of a certain note that you will never hear again. I’ve noticed this happens fairly often recently and every time it’s like a little sad goodbye from my eardrum. Regardless I’ve yet to research the truth in the saying or go get my ears checked. But I did manage to do this little illustration about it.

3 more robots that I got for my Birthday from my sister. I left these guys in plastic because I couldn’t bring myself to eat them. My son, on the other hand, has had no problems devouring 2 of them. You can order yourself some Robopops  from Hearth Song magazine where they say:

Pop a robot pop in your mouth, and it fills your mouth with fabulous fruity flavors that really POP. A super solution for Easter baskets, the set of three candy contraptions includes orange, apple, and blueberry flavors.

He never mentioned that they poped like pop rocks, maybe I’ll have to try the last one.

While you’re ordering why not pic up a Sky Rocket or Space Blaster.

These guys are made by super cool toy makers Rocket USA.

With the record breaking warm weather we’ve been having I didn’t think it would snow ever again. It rarely snows in South Carolina and when it does it’s not around more than a day.

So when it started snowing last night we rushed out and made a snowman, thinking the rain would soon come and wash it all away. The snow made it through the night and it looks like we may get more on Saturday. Fingers crossed that I can still make it up to Charlotte Mini-Con! We southerners don’t like to drive in all this white stuff.

I did this little cartoon for my good buddy Kelly Brogdon over at Crosby Stills Photography. It’s for a publication they are putting out for their uber-niffty Snap Shot cafe & art bar located here in Greenville, SC. One day I’m going to talk them into doing a non-photography art show for all the local JCC art fans. Me, my wife and mom will have a gay ole time! Click the image to view it bigger.

Falls Park is in downtown Greenville where there is a giant waterfall. A few years back they removed an old car bridge over the waterfall and put in a Liberty Bridge. The entire area is remade into super nice happy parkville USA. Now there are tons of people down there hanging out. Some even swiming in the river and sliding on the rocks. Someone recently got hurt, so after a bizillion years of people sliding on the waterfall rocks it’s now prohibited.

Dudes and Dudettes, I’m happy to let you in on a secret. The Dollar Bin recorded a special little podcast episode with me. I guess it really isn’t a secret since it’s on the worldwide webaroni. But it’s been a secret until now. We talk a little origin of “J Chris” and some about web comics including Wide Awake Press’ Eats. Give it a listen and see if you can hear how many common phrases I totally mangle. 5 points for counting how many times I say stuff! What? You don’t have time? It’s really not that long, and there’s some funny stuff in it. Ok, Ok let me edit it down to under a minute for you.

I’d like to say welcome if you’re here because of The Dollar Bin. Kick your shoes off and have a look around. Mostly just blogging going on right now, but at one time I did have some illustrations posted. What? I guess I can throw some illos up just for you Dollar Bin folks. That’s how much I like you. Except maybe that Kris guy, he’s got shift eyes and spells his name all funny.

Go check out the Dollar Bin’s newest podcast about the Hulk. You’ll get to hear me sound like a true mumbling moron as I try to drop my Hulk knowledge. It’s a really fun podcast regardless how stupid I think I sound. At the end of the show you can hear John sing a part of his song that will be featured on the Students of the Unusual rock cd.

While we’re talking Hulk here is a sketch card I did a while back. Go to the link and check out Rob Ullman’s and Duane Ballenger’s.

Today my wife and I celebrated 11 years of Marriage. We went out to eat at our favorite date eating joint, Portofino’s. It’s not really all that swanky, but it’s swanky enough. If you go order the Pollo Draconcello and scarf down a belly full of their fresh made rolls soaked in garlic butter. So gooooooooooddddd.

So after that we went to the movies. Which have increased to 9 bucks! That’s freaking crazy for little Greenville, 9 dollars? Anyway, we saw Stardust which is a movie that’s been off my radar even though it’s based on a comic book by Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess. What’s even more crazy is I bought my wife the novel for Christmas which she hasn’t read yet and totally forgot about until I just remembered doing this post. So double shame on us, but double good for the movie because we had zero hopes going in and so we were totally entertained. It was a really fun movie especially for 2 young kids like us to see on our anniversary. Go see it with your lovey goggles on.

So my wonderful wife bought our son an orange space suit so he can be Luke Skywalker in X-wing uniform. But he thinks he’s a Ghostbuster which is good especially since he sings the Ghostbuster song all the time. No, we’re not filling our child’s head with useful knowledge. What fun would that be?