Friday, January 20, 2012

AVATAR: The Last Airbender Event on Sat. Jan 28!


Who: Artist/writer GENE YANG and you!
Where: Flying Colors Comics, of course!
When: Saturday January 28 @ 1pm 

Why? Just for the fun of it! 
• There will be a Cosplay contest, so be here dressed as your favorite comics or animation character! 
• There will be an AVATAR coloring contest for kids under 12! 
• There will be cool prizes!

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

ComicsPRO Means Business!

www.comicspro.org/meet12
Having been in the business of comic books for the last 25 years, I often get comments like "Work? In comics? Not possible--- it's got to be nothing but fun!"

Well, for the most part, I do LOVE my job---and it is fun, both as local small business owner and as someone who participates more fully in the wider business of comics and pop culture. As the owner of Flying Colors Comics & Other Cool Stuff, I am privileged each day to provide Contra Costa County with a widely-respected, fully-stocked store that brings pleasure to thousands every month.

On an industrywide level, I am also thrilled to work with so many talented people--- artists, writers, distributors, publishers, sales reps and other comic book specialty retailers. Over the years, I have been a part of founding WonderCon, written many articles and columns for industry publications, consulted with new retailers opening their first stores, helped cartoonists get their comics to a wider market, founded the international and huge Free Comic Book Day (2.5 million comics, 2000 stores in 40 countries leading to one million visitors to comic book stores on FCBD last year alone).

In the last six years, I've also been very proud and willing to serve as the founding president of ComicsPRO, the retailer trade and advocacy group.

Yeah, OK, what does THAT mean?

Worldwide, here are likely around 3500 comic book specialty retailers. In the U.S and Canada, that number is closer to 2500. That's a very small number of businesses on the front lines of comics-based pop culture. ComicsPRO promotes advocacy, education and opportunity for our members. We work with our members--- all small business owners that have challenges, costs and goals. By being a ComicsPRO member retailer, we are able to band together and mitigate some of those costs, overcome some of those challenges and help each other attain the goals we seek--- more professional, profitable and sustainable comic shops.

So in just a few weeks, I'll be heading to Dallas for the ComicsPRO Annual Members Meeting.  This will be our 6th annual meeting and we'll be talking with publishers, manufacturers, distributors, and our fellow retailers in an effort to increase our profitability, share our concerns and potential solutions with our industry trading partners and learn from each other in ways that expand our vision and make each of us look at businesses with fresh eyes.

If you are in the business of comics, particularly as a store owner, but also as a publisher or manufacturer, I strongly urge you to attend. If you have any questions, please email me here.

The meeting info is HERE! And the time is NOW! 

Peace!

Joe "FlyCoJoe" Field
ComicsPRO President

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Joltin' Joe Sinnott!

When I started reading Marvel Comics in the summer of 1967, Joe Sinnott was firmly ensconced as artist Jack "King" Kirby's ink-artist of preference on Marvel's flagship series FANTASTIC FOUR.

Back in the summer of '95, I met Joe Sinnott and his late (and great!) wife Betty when he was a special guest at the San Diego Comic-Con. Knowing he lived in upstate New York, I was surprised to see him sporting a San Francisco Giants' baseball cap. We struck up a conversation about the Giants---and that has turned into a long-distance friendship over the last 15+ years. Once or twice a month, Joe and I will talk on the phone, usually about baseball---"What are the Giants going to do about their offense!!??" ---but we'll also talk about comics and other topics. I'm sure he has many fans and friends calling him regularly, but he always makes me feel like I'm his most important friend when I'm talking with him

So I have learned what everyone else who has ever met Joe already knows---  he is one of the greatest guys on Earth! A true gentlemen in every sense of the word.

Here, then, is a recent interview with Joe Sinnott, going through his 60 year career in comic books.
(I cribbed this from writer Mark Evanier's site, so please do me a favor and take a look atthe entertaining and informative content Mark posts there.)


Interview with comics legend Joe Sinnott, Part 1 from The Comic Archive on Vimeo.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

You know my name, look up the band!

The name: Flying Colors. (Cool name... we've liked it for better than 23 years!)

The band: Debuting this March, featuring the talents of rock guitar virtuoso Steve Morse (Dixie Dregs, Deep Purple), drummer Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater, Transatlantic), keyboadist/guitarist Neal Morse (Spock's Beard, Transatlantic), bass player Dave LaRue (Dixie Dregs) and lead vocalist Casey McPherson. Produced by Peter Collins ( RushQueensrÿche, Alice Cooper, Bon Jovi, Suicidal Tendencies, Indigo Girls, Jane Wiedlin, October Project, the Cardigans, and Tracey Ullman.)

Hey, Flying Colors (meaning you--- Steve, Mike, Neal, Dave and Casey!)---
Flying Colors Comics is open to having you here for an intimate gig among friends. Or just a meet and greet as you go about your tour later this year. 

You know, Flying Colors @ Flying Colors. It's a natural!

Peace!

FlyCoJoe



Now, here's a look at the recording sessions leading up to the release of the Flying Colors CD.


Tuesday, January 03, 2012

Start the New Year with THE LAST BATTLE

Join us tomorrow---Wednesday January 4 at 11am-- as we welcome back to Flying Colors artist/writer DAN BRERETON, who will be showcasing his new graphic novel from Image Comics, called THE LAST BATTLE.

For a list of all the New Comics & Other Cool Stuff arriving at Flying Colors for sale tomorrow, please hit this link! 

Peace!

FlyCoJoe