Cast No Shadow
There is no theme here.Subjects can be important and real or utter nonsense. Mostly I'll be the one spouting off, but look for occasional guest editorials and visuals from comic writers, artists, novelists, friends and acquaintances. At least that's the idea. This space is for thought. Or not.
Sneaky Pete and the Land of Lost Porcupines
08.22.2000It's been an incredible Summer for me. The next few CNS will focus on my travels. Let's start at the beginning of my Summer....
May is a time of fresh flowers, cool Spring breezes and birds singing merry songs at you while strolling through the park.
Unless you're in Texas.
The month of May began with me flying out to the land of the Alamo and Jerry Jones courtesy of Austin Books, whom I agreed to do a signing for. I decided to take advantage of the trip and hang in the old home state a bit. My good buddy and fellow funny book artist John Lucas was nice enough to let me stay with him for nearly a month.
The signing at Austin Books on the 10th was a nice affair and Brad, Mark and the rest of the guys there made me feel right at home. They also happen to have one of the best shops I've been to in Texas or anywhere. No lie. I signed an ass-load of books (that's a "metric ass-load") and met some mighty interesting locals. Afterwards, Brad was kind enough to take myself, Lucas and his staff out to get some authentic Texas Bar-B-Q. I know it was authentic because we had to drive down an endless narrow road to get there. It was worth it too. Thanks again to Brad!
In two weeks I was to be at a Dallas convention, so Lucas and I filled our time haunting Austin eateries, pitching baseball like old men, watching Thin Man, Bogart and Cohen Bros. movies and hitting every bar on 6th street. EVERY NIGHT. Poor devil. I think he's still recovering.
Oh, and for any editors reading this, "we worked like dogs 23 hours a day." There. I'm now off the hook.
So two weeks later Lucas and I lit out of town to Dallas. We were attending a comic convention being put on by Mark Walters and his Hot Fish productions. We had several other friends showing up to attend and visit with us. Ben and Tracey Raab, Mike and Debbie Lark, and non comic folk including one of my best friends, Russ, who stopped by to embarrass me. Even my mom, sister and Bro-in-law swung by. I'd like to thank every one who came out. It was a long weekend, but a good one. I also want to say thanks to all the hooligans from Denton who showed up to chat with me about PLANETARY and what not. I think they were hoping I'd tell them who the fourth man is. I was almost tempted to ruin their day and actually say it! But Warren would most likely sew my lips together if I had. I did a Shazam sketch for a charity auction. I recently saw it on e-bay. Interesting. Mark put on an excellent show, especially for his first. Hope he does it next year and builds from there.
Now the con happened to be on Memorial Day weekend, so I was obligated to do the requisite amount of mirth making and partying. Myself, Lucas, Russ and a few others all headed out to "Sneaky Pete's" on lovely Lake Louisville. Lucas, himself was dubbed the actual "Sneaky Pete" as he was wearing a gigantic sombrero the entire afternoon. The people looked at us...funny. But Sneaky Pete was above it all. And well shaded from the sun.
A week later, I attended one of two high school ten year reunions. Springtown, Texas is where I lived until I was 16. Our mascot was a porcupine. Yes, a porcupine! GO PORKYS!! I had many friends in a town that was big enough for a popularity class struggle, but small enough to not take it too seriously. During the two night reunion I was approached by friends I'd made the first day at kindergarten and other students whose identity completely escaped me, but remembered me for one reason or another. I was a bit of a class clown.
Many people looked extremely different. Some I had to look at the old yearbook to see how they looked then. I'm sure it's a cliche with these reunions. I was also given a yearbook from the graduating year, as I had left two years prior and everyone was kind enough to sign it. All grown up, they've become terribly sweet people. It was a good thing to see as well as providing me with some closure.
I want to thank everyone there, who made me feel right at home. An odd experience considering for a time that's precisely what Springtown was to me.
So who needs Spring breezes and stupid birds with stupid songs. Yes, the month of May in Texas is something different entirely.
- John
Next Stop: Coleman, Oklahoma and California
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John Lucas (Sneaky Pete!), Cassaday and Michael Lark at Dallas Comic and Toy Fest |
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Cassaday, Mark Walters of Hot Fish Studios, Ben Raab, John Lucas and Michael Lark |
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