Fundraiser for Vets @ the Dallas Comic Con

Hey gang,

I wanted to make sure you were aware that I (and my family) are putting together this year's charity event at my home town convention, the Dallas Comic Con.  The event is being held to raise funds and awareness for the Wounded Warrior Project.

We are putting together a Live Art Event and Auction, which will take place on Saturday night, May 19th, from 8pm to Midnight.  It will take place in the lobby area of the ALoft Hotel in Las Colinas...

...which is right across Hwy. 114, from the Irving Convention Center (where the DCC is being held).

If you're wondering why I took this on, it's because I had met a women (Tammy Earehart) at last year's Wizard Mid-Ohio Convention, who was a beneficiary of the WWP and who was soliciting donations for the charity.  Talking to her, it really hit me what a critical function the organization served....helping Vet's and their families recover physically, emotionally and financially from the trauma of the last decade of war (many of which who had fallen through the cracks of the services provided by the veteren's administration).  So I decided it was a cause I wanted to champion and try to focus the resources of the comic artist community to generate funds for this very critical cause.





There will be a dedicated table on the show floor all weekend long, that will have materials about the WWP and be selling items who's proceeds will go totally to the WWP (including a limited edition print that I'll be designing). 
Then we'll do the Live Art Event & Auction on Sat. night.  It is a Live Art Event, because there will be artists on hand creating original pieces of art right before your eyes...which will be auctioned off at the conclusion of the evening.  Participating artists, include:  Brett Peeples, Michael Champion, David Rodrigues, Eddie Medina, Lawrence Alexander and Gershom Wetzel (with more being added). 

It's also an Auction, because we'll also features a bunch of real cool artwork up for auction, donated by some of the biggest names in the comic industry, including:  Dirk Strangely, Brian Pulido, Norm Breyfogle, Bob McLeod, Barry Kitson, Greg Horn, Marat Mychaels, Bernard Chang, Steve Niles, Bernie Wrighston, Leinil Francis Yu, Dong TenNaple, Jerry Orway, Arthur Suydam and your's truly (with more being added almost daily)!

To keep up with images of donated artwork and follow recent developments, LIKE our dedicated Facebook fanpage at:  http://www.facebook.com/ArtistsSupportingWWP

If you're an artist and would like to become involved, email me at: headpress1@gmail.com

If you're a vet and would like to volunteer to help organize the event and/or come and hang out in full gear to promote it, also contact me at: headpress1@gmail.com

If you cannot be at the event, but would just like to support the WWP's mission, visit this page to donate cash directly to them:  https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/group-fundraising/TexasArtists/

Hope to see y'all there!

RJ Luedke
www.bobtheartist.com & www.headpress.info

Free Graphic Novels on FREE COMIC BOOK DAY

Saturday May 2nd, is FREE COMIC BOOK DAY nationally...where comic shops, publishers and creators come together to give away comics at stores around the country. This is all done in an effort to help more young readers discover the joys of reading in general and reading comics in particular.


Since I'm already scheduled to make an appearance the ComicPalooza Comic Festival in Houston on May 2nd and 3rd, I'm going to contribute to the spirit of the day, by giving out FREE signed copies of Eye Witness (Book 1): A Fictional Tale of Absolute Truth.

This is only going to be offered on Saturday and only while my supplies last (since I am limited by what I can haul to this event). So if you plan on attending, come find me first!

In additional I'll also have some FREE 2 x 3' Eye Witness promotional posters to give out to anyone who stops by my table the entire weekend.

RJ Luedke
http://www.headpress.info/

Wizard World Texas Audio Interview

Here's a two-part interview (so it's quite lengthy) I did at this year's Wizard World Texas, with Eric Shirey of Movie Geek Feed.

For those of you not familiar yet with my Eye Witness graphic novel series, this should answer a lot of your questions about it.

PART 1:



PART 2:

Wizard World Texas Feedback

I wanted to file my report on this year's Wizard World-Texas convention.

This was the fourth time I've done this convention, since I began the Eye Witness series (http://www.headpress.info/) and I'm happy to report that this was...far and away...the best year for sales I've had here!

The last time I did the show was in 2006, and I was disappointed in both the lack of attendence but also the lack of interested customers at that show. So I didn't have a whole lot of expectations for this year's version. I don't know what the Wizard gang had did differently since then, but for a relatively small venue, there was a real heathly flow of people from open to close on both Friday and Saturday.

It was real refreshing to see how many people stopped by my table that had bought one of the earlier editions of Eye Witness and were excited to see the third. I hadn't seen this much repeat business from previous visits, since Comic Con International.

Also during the con, the Heroes for Heroes gang was on hand both on the exhibit floor and during Saturday night's live art auction, where they raised over $24,000, (see: http://www.heroes4heroes.org/2008/11/heroes4heroes-raises-24000-for-troops-overseas).

Here's my contribution, (my animated style Heath Ledge inspired Joker):

...and here's a pic of me working on the piece.

But overall this was a very good show for the fans, because there even though there was not a whole lot of awe-inspiring exhibits (ala CCI San Diego) there was a sizeable artists alley where both legendary creators, self & small press publishers and those artists looking to get their foot in the door...all hobb-knobbed directly with them.

My overall highlight came on the first day, when I spoke with a young man who let me know that he'd watched my Eye Witness developments over the last few years on the web and he was in awe to be talking to me in person. That's the first time I believe someone's been "in awe" of me (LOL)! But seriously, he went on to share that I had inspired him to also do comics that were spiritually uplifting.

It's little things like this that make all the headaches and hardwork, seem worth it!

R.J. Luedke
http://www.headpress.info/

November Book Signing Events

I just wanted to let everyone know about my upcoming book signing events...which should be the last of my promotional appearances for Eye Witness (Book Three): Rise of the Apostle. After this, it's back to the studio to being work on Eye Witness (Book Four): The Unknown God.

November 1st and 2nd, I'll be in Austin, TX....for the Texas Book Festival. The event, which is in it's 13th year, has generated over $2 million dollars for libraries in Texas! The event features authors from all genres not only signing, but also doing readings from their latest releases. For more information, visit: http://www.texasbookfestival.org/

Look for me in the exhibitors area, booth 118, just off the intersection of the Capital Driveway and Colorado Street.

A week later, on Nov. 7-9th, I'll be in Arlington, TX...for Wizard World Texas. This is the largest pop-culture convention in Texas and will feature people involved in the world of: Movies, TV, comics, graphic novels, movies, gaming, video gaming and collectibles. For more information, visit: http://www.wizardworld.com/home-tx.html Look for me in the Artist's Alley area.

See ya' all there!

bob-
http://www.headpress.info/

Texas Release Party Benefiting Heroes 4 Heroes

Weds. August 13th is the national release date for the third book in the Eye Witness series...Rise of the Apostle (http://www.headpress.info/).

To celebrate, we are holding a Texas Release Party on Satuday Aug. 16th at Titan Comics of Dallas...where you can get your copy signed by me, colorist Mike Lagocki and cover-designer David Rodrigues (both of: http://www.artlovemagic.com/). And to make things even more exciting, for every copy of Rise of the Apostle, (or any of he Eye Witness books purchased) I'll donate a copy to the Dallas based Charity, Heroes 4 Heroes, (see: http://www.heroes4heroes.org/). They have worked diligently over the past few years to collect and ship all sorts of entertainment media to our troops in the middle east...and received cudos for their efforts all the way up to commanding Gen. Patraeus!

We are encouraging everyone who joins us, to bring an item to donate. So if you have: Comics, Graphic novels, books, recent magazines, Music CD's, DVD's, MP3, players, video games or gaming systems...laying around your house collecting dust, bring in on down and help entertain our men and women serving overseas!

To prime the pump a bit more, for everyone who brings something to donate, you'll recieve a FREE exclusive, autographed Rise of the Apostle poster...which is only available at my personal appearances!

And if that wasn't enough, Dallas' own Space Gun Studios (www.myspace.com/space_gun) will be on hand to premier their new anthology, Synesthestic.

What: Rise of the Apostle...Texas Release Party
Where: Titan Comics, 3701 W. NW Hwy, Dallas (call: 214-350-4420 for directions)
When: Sat. Aug. 16th, 12noon to 3pm

Hope you can join us!~ Contact us with any questions.

Bob-
http://www.headpress.info/

NEVER GIVE UP, NEVER SURRENDER!

That wonderful battle-cry was made semi-famous by Tim Allen in the movie Galaxy Quest, (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0177789/) but is very relevent to the story I'm going to share with you, which was forwarded to me by the author, Pam Kumpe, through Shoutlife.com (http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=21767332)
--------------------------------------------------
She writes....

Terry Fator of Mesquite, Texas is the winner of the TV show, "America's Got Talent" (http://www.nbc.com/Americas_Got_Talent/)

BUT DID YOU KNOW- This time last year, he was getting ready for a show and had booked a 1,000 seat auditorium. As he took the stage, only one person sat in the audience! Yes, one lone 12-year old boy came to his show.

Terry sings, does ventriloquism, and his dummies impersonate celebrities. He's the best I've ever watched, absolutely pure entertainment.But when no one came to his show last year, he almost gave up his dream after 32 years of practicing and performing. All those years, he worked hard. He practiced. He developed skills. He kept trying. He knocked on doors. He sang. He made up new skits. He created. He performed. He dreamed.

Did I say -- he never gave up?

What an inspiration for all of us. Dreams do come true. Terry went from "one" fan, to number one on this show. He is a winner. The Lord says, he knows the plans he has for us, plans to prosper us, not to harm us, and he will give us hope and a future. I personally am not praying for a million dollars, although you can write me a check if you want to. But I am praying with a hopeful heart about my writing pursuits. How about you?

Are you working hard to see your dreams come true?I don't want to look back, and wish I had tried.

Blessings from East Texas
Pam Kumpe
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Pam really hit the nail on the head! How many of us have the persistence to follow our dreams for 32 years until it becomes a reality? We live in the fast-food-overnight-sensational-world, which has conditioned us, that if "IT" (being our dreams) don't happen now...or in the time table we set for them...than they are not going to.

Remember, Noah labored over 70 years, before he completed the arc!

NEVER GIVE UP...DOING RIGHT. NEVER SURRENDER...THE DREAMS GOD HAS PLACED IN YOUR HEART (ESPECIALLY WHEN OTHERS TELL YOU, YOU'RE CRAZY....THAT'S THE BEST SIGNAL YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT PATH)!

Robert Luedke
www.headpress.info

RJ Luedke Featured Arist at Urban Arts Festival

Author and illustrator of the award winning Eye Witness graphic novel series, Robert James Luedke, be a participating artist in the latest live arts event sponsored by ArtLoveMagic (www.artlovemagic.com) in conjunction with the Urban Arts Festival of Dallas....(for full details visit: http://www.urbanartsfest.com/aspotlight.html) ... On Friday night Sept 7th at the Jannette Kennedy Gallery:

(Google Map: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=1409+S+Lamar+St,+Dallas,+Texas+75215&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.038806,82.265625&ie=UTF8&ll=32.767844,-96.795666&spn=0.008823,0.020084&z=16&iwloc=addr&om=1).

Robert will be working live inking pages from the upcoming Eye Witness: Rise of the Apostle, (see: www.headpress.info ...for sample pages), along with selling some T-shirts (both mine and some from LifeCoBrands... http://www.lifecobrands.com ), copies of EW 1 & 2 along with talking about drawing, inking, comics and publishing graphic novels with anyone who is interested.

On Saturday, Sept 8th, Robert will be a part of a panel on the comic arts and self-publishing during the Urban Arts Festival (see their website for full details).

If you reside in and/or around DFW, stop in and say hi and explore all the wonderful things happening in the world of arts around Dallas/Fort Worth.

For further details visit: www.artlovemagic.com

Prayer for an Atheist

I opened my Dallas Morning News today, to read about a man who lives right here in DFW, (Carrollton to be specific), by the name of David Kroft. Mr. Kroft is about to take on the state of Texas in federal district court, over our student's "moment of silence" each morning.

Mr. Kroft has a long history of complaints and actions taken against the school system and his children's school in particular over anything having to do with even mildly suggesting God in what he feels should be a 100% secular setting, (re: No Cub Scout meetings at school because they don't allow atheists; no Silent Night at the Christmas Pagent; doesn't allow his children to say or to stand during the pledge of alligence, because of the words "under God and many more other examples *)...you get the picture!

*I don't know if you can pull the article up online @ www.dallasnews.com, (it's entitled, "Moment of Silence begins court battle", from 8.7/07), but it would be worth it to understand the depths to which Mr. Kroft has been willing to go in this crusade).

As a person who took almost 40 years to embrace the "supernatural" (as Mr. Kroft calls it), in my own life, I don't know whether to be angry with Mr. Croft or have pity on him. Having lived most of my life as a skeptic who believed that Christianity and the concept of God was closer to Star Wars and Lord of the Rings than a healthy way of life, I can understand people who either reject or keep belief in God at arms length...'cause I was one of them. But to see someone who approaches his atheism with an almost evangelical fervor, like Mr. Kroft does, begs the question....why?

When you sit down and listen to, or research the background of many high profile atheists there seems to be a common thread you can find of either pain, devastation or resentment of authority somewhere in their background which many people may not understand. Some might have had a devastating incident somewhere in their past, (death of a family member or loved one, lost of job or career, illness), some may have felt rejected or ostracized by a church or someone representing the church and some may generally just reject the concept of having respect, fear or worshipping "any authority" within their lives, (that was me).

I truly find it kind of hard to believe though, that Mr. Kroft's mission began (as he states in his blog), purely by reading George Orwell's 1984 in high school. We've all heard of this book making people afraid of intrusive government (I.E: the Patriot Act, speeding camera's, police sobriety checkpoints etc...), but that's the first time I've heard people site this book as a reason to reject the concept of God. But I can't help but feel there is something more there...some incident in his past that is eating Mr. Kroft up inside. Maybe only he and his wife know what that is. Maybe he's never shared it with anyone...or even been honest with himself about it!

He will not appreciate it's "supernatural" implications, but after thinking at length about this article, I ask that we all include Mr. Kroft, his wife and especially his children, (who are truly the victims here because of what they must have to endure at school ever time their father goes on the warpath against God, down here in the Belt Buckle of the Bible Belt), in our prayers that God will reach out to him in some way or fashion to help soften his hardened heart and release his emotional burden, so that he might truly be able to heal and find some inner peace.

It is a gesture he would not understand, but as we all know, God always finds a way to reach people...and many times in a way they'd never look to or a time when they least expect it.
Let's make this a chain-prayer...and pass this on to your brothers and sisters on the web!

Whether he wants it or not, we'll all be prayin' for ya David!

R.J. Luedke
http://www.headpress.info/