Comic Creator's Alliance 2011 Fundraising is JAN 11-24

Today, Tuesday, January 11th is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day. In honor of the event, I teamed up with the Comic Creator’s Alliance–a group of over 100 comic book creators (both web and print!) who volunteered our artistic talents to raise money and awareness for this cause. You may not know it, but there are currently 27 million enslaved people worldwide- more than double the number of enslaved Africans during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. UNICEF estimates that 1.2 million children every year are sold into slavery, most of it sexual. The US Department of Justice estimates 16,000 victims of human trafficking are brought into the United States every year. Unlike slavery in the 19th century, what is happening today is happening in secret. It won’t end until awareness is raised, and people like you and me take a stand.


So here’s what we did: each creator contributed an original drawing of one of our own female characters, and combined them into a single image! This year's theme was "The Brady Bunch." There is so much going on in this image--you can look at the wallpaper for a long time and still find something new! All of the artists included in the drive are amazing and some of the fan favorites are: Scott Sava (The Dreamland Chronicles), Adam Hughes (Star Wars, Wonder Woman), Sarah Ellerton (Inverloch), Bryan Glass & Victor Santos (Mice Templar), Beau Smith (Wynonna Earp: The Yeti Wars), Billy Tucci (Shi), Mookie (Dominic Deegan), Crystal Yates (Earthsong), Lora Innes (The Dreamer), Thom Zahler (Love and Capes), Alison Action (Bear Nuts), and Carolyn Belefski (Curls). View the full listing of contributors here: http://comicalliance.weebly.com/the-people.html.

Donate today to download this unique, once-in-a-lifetime wallpaper. Or, this year you can buy a print! The Donations Drive will last for two weeks, from January 11th – 24th. All proceeds will be split evenly between Love 146 and Gracehaven House- two organizations working on rehabilitation of victims and prevention of this crime.

To learn more about the CCA and to donate visit www.comicalliance.weebly.com. To learn more about the problem, visit http://love146.org/slavery. (Note: contains adult themes and actual accounts of sex slavery.)

CROQ Zine #12

CROQ Zine has published my comic, Foundation Year. The two-page comic is about my first year of school at Virginia Commonwealth University. I received my complementary copies in the mail today, but created the comic in 2008. They recently received funds thru Kickstarter to finally publish the issue in full color and it looks really good. CROQ is also donating many issues to libraries.

Here is the blog I wrote in 2008 about the project if you want to know more about the story: http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2008/07/foundation-year.html

Thanks to everyone who donated via Kickstarter to make this project happen. It's good to see something you did come alive eventually. If you'd like to order CROQ #12, it is available for $5 with free shipping.

Recap and Podcast: You, Me, Them, Everybody LIVE!

The episode of You, Me, Them, Everybody that we recorded LIVE last Thursday, January 6 is now available here: http://www.youmethemeverybody.com/2011/01/07/episode-122-live-at-the-looking-glass-with

The show was really fun and I'm glad my friends Carlos, Janet and Liz showed up to witness the event. I just listened to the podcast and I must say I heard about 30% more than I actually heard in person. Which, as a guest, is kinda hard because I had trouble hearing in a noisy bar. So if some of my answers are lame, well, oh well. I might have done better if I could hear.

Otherwise, I just want to clarify that my answer to why we started The Carolyn & Joe Show wasn't 100% correct. We will probably hit on it in a future episode, but I just want to mention that we had a few shows on WEBR before I ever heard of Kevin Smith's SModcast. So my answer was a bit wrong or perhaps I heard it as what were influences? Either way, I want to clarify that.


There are more photos of the show on our Facebook Fan Page. "Like" Curls Studio while you're at it.

So without further ado, please listen to YMTE. I come in around 7:27. Host Brandon Wetherbee is really fun and we hope to do some more stuff with him in the future.

Episode 122, You, Me, Them, Everybody Live! at the Looking Glass with Carolyn Belefski, Jeff Maurer and Armida Lowe

The first of the year! It's in the books. The audio books! People listen to those.

Carolyn Belefski is a wonderful cartoonist. You can see her work at curls-studio.com. She is also a fellow podcaster. You can listen to her podcast, The Carolyn and Joe Show, at carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com. I couldn't have had a better first guest of 2011.

Jeff Maurer is really funny and nice and took a lot of abuse from me. He's currently opening for Jon Oliver, the funny British fellow on "The Daily Show", this weekend (1/7 and 8/11) at the DC Improv. If you like, you know, good comedy, you'll like Mr. Maurer. You can find him on your internet machine at jeffcomedy.com. He has an album you may like. It's called "Smart Setups, Stupid Punchlines". Buy it via amazon regardless of your financial status.

Armida Lowe is leaving DC! Why? I'm not exactly sure! Listen to her last DC interview (probably) and last DC set (probably) on this very show! Visit Armida on myspace (Did you know it's a place for friends? Well, it sure is!).

One of the loudest, tangent filled shows! Enjoi!

Carolyn on You, Me, Them, Everybody LIVE!

To kick off 2011, my first public appearance will be as a guest on the talk show You, Me, Them, Everybody LIVE! this Thursday, January 6.

You are invited to join the live taping of this podcast hosted by Brandon Wetherbee. Guests include cartoonist Carolyn Belefski, stand up comedian Jeff Maurer, a special set from Armida Lowe, music from Ian Walters and more.

The Looking Glass Lounge
3634 Georgia Avenue, NW
Washington, DC

Show at 8:30 PM, 21+, no cover

For more info on You, Me, Them, Everybody check out this review from Time Out Chicago.