I’m very excited to announce the details of our First Thursday art show coming up September 2nd of this year.  The show is called KATAMARI and it’s based around my favorite video game, Katamari Damacy.  My friends and I lovingly refer to it as the “Zen” video game even though the intense gameplay would often accelerate our heart rates to dangerous levels.  The creator, Keita Takahashi, once stated that he created the game to bring about world peace.  If everyone played the game no one would want to fight wars anymore.

We have Katamari and Noby Noby Boy inspired artwork from over 30 artists and illustrators.  There will be a mix of original pieces and also archival prints of the digital submissions.

This benefit show is a not-for-profit fundraiser. 100% of the proceeds will go to JOIN - a local nonprofit organization that works to “connect the street to a home”.  The prints will be available for sale on 1st Thursday.  The original art will be sold on eBay during the last month of September as part of the fundraiser.

We have also partnered with local software/design company, PANIC, who have the unique honor of being the only company in the world allowed to license Katamari or Noby Noby Boy designs for t-shirts.

(promo image by Ed Kwong)

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Over 30 artists including: Jeffrey Brown, Michael Deforge, Ana Galvan, Zane Kozak, Chris Kuzma, Edward Kwong, Le Merde, Luke Ramsey, David Rubin, Alena Skarina, Katie Skelly, Zack Soto, Pete Toms, Angie Wang, and more!
WHAT: Art opening, fundraiser for JOIN
WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 2nd, 6-10PM
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101, Portland, OR 97209, (503)241-0227

Show runs through Sept. 30th

A statement from Marc Jolin, executive director of JOIN:

Annually, our six person street outreach team helps about 450 people end their homelessness by helping them return to permanent housing, and they, with the help of our housing retention team, provide support to another 600 or so people to help prevent them from becoming homeless. Our support starts with committing to a long-term relationship with each person we support and then typically includes help navigating the social service system, finding employment, accessing landlords who will provide a second chance, and helping overcome financial barriers to housing (like those I mentioned above).  We also have a day space that provides critical basic services like a mailing address, phone, showers, lockers, pet food, computers, a community garden, and more.

Funds raised will provide financial assistance to help individuals and families either move off the streets into homes of their own or to prevent a family from becoming homeless. It would therefore pay for things like application fees, deposits, utility connections, transportation assistance, storage, and the like.

There is more information about our history and programming on our website, www.joinpdx.com.

Preview Katamari artwork here

Interview with Katamari creator, Keita Takahashi

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Larry Marder’s Beanworld has delighted readers from grade school to grad school for more than a generation, earning him a spot on the New York Times’ Graphic Books Best Sellers List.

This two-dimensional world, while deceptively simple on the surface, explores a deeply complex fantasy universe where everything ties into everything else, much like the world we ourselves live in.  The series offers a delightful way of looking at our own complex world, through the most unlikely pair of eyes.

According to Larry Marder, “Beanworld is Dr. Seuss meets Mutts meets Fraggle Rock as if it had been found in an archeologist’s note book. It’s a weird fantasy dimension that operates under its own rules and laws. All the characters, whether they are friends or adversaries, understand that ultimately they depend on each other for survival. I’m so glad that Dark Horse has introduced Beanworld to a new generation of contemporary readers who grew up with Pixar, Cartoon Network, and manga.”

Currently in print are three Dark Horse deluxe hardcover volumes: Wahoolazuma!, A Gift Comes! and Remember Here When You Are There!

Larry Marder was also recently elected President of the Board of directors of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Larry Marder
WHAT: Book signing
WHEN: Wednesday, August 25th, 6-8pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101

BIO INFORMATION:

Marder is a firm believer in Marcel Duchamp’s observation that it is the viewer that makes the picture.  Shortly after his difficult birth, his mother took one look at his lopsided head and exclaimed, “Why does he look like a bean!”  So is it any wonder he’s devoted his creative life to exploring the relationships and adventures that make up Larry Marder’s Beanworld?

Marder was born in Chicago in 1951 and grew up in Highland Park, Illinois. He spent the first third of his life pursuing art.  His interests in comic books and Native American mythology started at an early age. He was educated at Hartford Art School where he became engrossed in conceptual art and underground comix.  It was in this period that his iconic Bean shaped characters were first developed. Marder earned a bachelor of fine arts degree in 1973.

After college, Marder went to work as an advertising executive in Chicago by day, and by night created the most peculiar comic book experience Tales of the Beanworld, first released in 1985 by Eclipse Comics.  21 issues were published until 1993. Then Marder went off to “join the comic book circus” full time, as the Executive Director of Image Comics and later President of McFarlane Toys.  What he intended as a short sabbatical from Beanworld, ended up stretching into fifteen years.

To the delight of his fans all over the world, Marder returned to creating Beanworld full time in 2007.  Currently in print are three hardcover volumes: Wahoolazuma!, A Gift Comes! and Remember Here When You Are There!

Marder lives in Orange County, California, with his wife, Cory, and their two cats, Olive and Chipper.

http://larrymarder.blogspot.com/

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This August First Thursday in addition to our Scott Pilgrim art exhibit we are also very pleased to welcome Brandon Graham and Simon Roy to Floating World.  You will have an opportunity to look Brandon Graham directly in the eyes, shake his hand, talk about the next issue of Multiple Warheads and get some comics signed.  Dude is visiting from Vancouver B.C. so don’t miss this opportunity!

Brandon is the creator of King City and Multiple Warheads.  The second volume of his King City series is finally seeing the light of day thanks to Image Comics.

Simon Roy will have copies of Jan’s Atomic Heart and Good Business, a new sci-fi mini comic he did for Heavy Metal Magazine.

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Brandon Graham and Simon Roy
WHAT: Comic book signing
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 5th, 6-10PM
WHERE: Floating World Comics
20 NW 5th Ave #101
Portland, OR 97209
(503)241-0227

Bio info:

Simon Roy is the young Canadian artist behind the critically acclaimed Jan’s Atomic Heart (New Reliable Press, 2009).

Brandon Graham’s work includes King city (Image comics) and Multiple Warheads (Oni Press).  He was also one of the editors of the Meathaus SOS anthology.  All of his comics are completely awesome.

http://royalboiler.livejournal.com/

http://www.robotblood.com/

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Six years, five volumes, and 1,000 pages.  Now the long anticipated finale to Bryan Lee O’Malley’s hit Oni Press graphic novel series has finally arrived.

To commemorate the conclusion of this comic book masterpiece and the forthcoming film we are proud to present a gallery show of Bryan Lee O’Malley’s original artwork from the series.  This is a rare opportunity for fans to see his penciled art before it is treated with tones and other digital finishes.  We will also have the finished pages on display for a side by side comparison.

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Oni Press, Bryan Lee O’Malley will not be in attendance
WHAT: Exhibit of original artwork from SCOTT PILGRIM
WHEN: Thursday, August 5th, 6-10pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101

BIO INFORMATION:

Scott Pilgrim’s life is awesome. He’s 23 years old, in a rock band, between jobs, and dating a cute high school girl. Everything’s fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. But the path to Ms. Flowers isn’t covered in rose petals. Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends stand in the way between Scott and true happiness. Can Scott beat the bad guys and get the girl without turning his life upside-down?

Bryan Lee O’Malley and the SCOTT PILGRIM series have both been honored with multiple awards including the Harvey, Doug Wright, Joe Shuster, and National Cartoonists Society Reuben awards, in addition to being named Entertainment Weekly and Wizard Magazine’s Independent Comic of the Year. Series Editor and Oni Press Editor-in-Chief James Lucas Jones gave additional praise to O’Malley, “it’s been an honor working with Bryan over the years. He’s got such a unique voice and I’ve been fortunate to witness him develop a style unlike anyone working in the industry today; a style that I feel will influence many future generations of comic professionals. I’m so proud that Oni has been a part of that.”

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FREE DOOR PRIZES AND SCREENING OF EDGAR WRIGHT’S ‘SPACED’!

Six years, five volumes, and 1,000 pages. Now the long anticipated finale to Bryan Lee O’Malley’s hit Oni Press graphic novel series has finally arrived.

Scott Pilgrim’s life is awesome. He’s 23 years old, in a rock band, between jobs, and dating a cute high school girl. Everything’s fantastic until a seriously mind-blowing, dangerously fashionable, rollerblading delivery girl named Ramona Flowers starts cruising through his dreams and sailing by him at parties. But the path to Ms. Flowers isn’t covered in rose petals. Ramona’s seven evil ex-boyfriends stand in the way between Scott and true happiness. Can Scott beat the bad guys and get the girl without turning his life upside-down?

“It’s been quite a ride, and I couldn’t have gotten here without the support of the fans and the retailers,” said O’Malley. “It feels great to be in the home stretch, and I think this is going to be the best Scott Pilgrim book ever!”

Floating World will stay open late Monday night and then at 12:01 am we will have the final volume of Scott Pilgrim available for purchase!  We’ll also have merch and door prizes available that evening.  To keep things lively we’ll be screening episodes of Edgar Wright’s first show, SPACED, which is just like Scott Pilgrim except it’s British.

LISTING INFORMATION:

WHO: Only the most die hard Scott Pilgrim fans
WHAT: Scott Pilgrim Vol. 6 midnight release party
WHEN: Monday, July 19th, 7pm – Tuesday, July 20th, 1am
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 20 NW 5th Ave #101

BIO INFORMATION:

Bryan Lee O’Malley and the SCOTT PILGRIM series have both been honored with multiple awards including the Harvey, Doug Wright, Joe Shuster, and National Cartoonists Society Reuben awards, in addition to being named Entertainment Weekly and Wizard Magazine’s Independent Comic of the Year. Series Editor and Oni Press Editor-in-Chief James Lucas Jones gave additional praise to O’Malley, “it’s been an honor working with Bryan over the years. He’s got such a unique voice and I’ve been fortunate to witness him develop a style unlike anyone working in the industry today; a style that I feel will influence many future generations of comic professionals. I’m so proud that Oni has been a part of that.”

Oni Press will be rolling out a series of event announcements in the weeks and months leading up to the release, including Bryan Lee O’Malley signings at this year’s sold out San Diego Comic Con. Oni Press Publisher Joe Nozemack said about the works, “I’m convinced that Scott Pilgrim will go down as one of those series that changed comics forever. When I’m out and see someone wearing a Scott Pilgrim t-shirt or sitting in a cafe reading one of the books, I get so excited about comics entering the mainstream and to know that Oni Press’ books are helping lead the way, it’s an indescribable feeling. I can’t wait to see the reaction to the final volume!”

Bryan Lee O’Malley’s SCOTT PILGRIM VOL. 6: SCOTT PILGRIM’S FINEST HOUR, is published by Oni Press and features 248 pages of evil-ex butt-kicking in the easily digestible digest format for the low, low price of $11.99.

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