Space 242 art show this Friday!

A little last minute announcement. I'll be showing some original SAM artwork this Friday 5/28 at Space 242 in the South End of Boston from 6-8pm. The show is called Smudge! Smear! Splatter! and also features comic talents Paul Ryan, Jamie Buckmaster, Craig Bostick, Alison Cowell, Andy Fish, Veronica Hebard, Bret Herholz, Mike Leslie, Derek Ring and more! Also sponsored by the delicious Notch Brewery.

Who needs people when you can have robots!

It's no secret that Charlie is a bit of a tech junkie. It's also no secret that he can be completely content surrounded by inanimate objects that challenge his intellect. Enter robot friends. Robots can do a lot of stuff these days and every few months there seems to be some new advance in their capabilities. In Japan a lot of the focus seems to involve the interaction of people with robots. They aren't necessarily thinking biggest, faster, stronger. Rather gentler, smarter and more helpful. Then again, maybe it's just a ploy to take over the world with cute and cuddly machines of death.

Reasonable Suspicion

I feel for cops, I really do. Sometimes they have to uphold laws that they are personally against. As much as it's easy to think cops LOVE busting people for the slightest infraction, there are plenty who have level heads, good intentions and keep our streets safe. That being said I wish more cops spoke out about laws they think are unfair. But I guess that would be like asking a soldier to question their commanders. It's not their job to judge, just enforce. I'd be a horrible cop.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Just watched the 32nd launch of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on CNN. It was surreal to hear the sterile radio comments from NASA about how the shuttle was reaching 13000mph(!) and to see the curve of the Earth slowly come into view. Meanwhile the news ticker beneath the live footage was scrolling through headlines about Somali pirates (again), Chinese mine accidents, violence in Indonesia, the oil disaster in the Gulf. Puts it all in a very weird perspective about how small our problems are compared to what's out there. Just imagine the galactic problems that await! Martian mine collapse: President Bieber to address nation. Jupiter secedes from United Solar System. Plutonian pirates shot dead by sniper hiding behind Neptune.

And now, a very important announcement

I wanted to get the word out to all of SAM's Asian American readers about a very important project.

The Banyan Tree Project raises awareness about sexual health in A&PI communities by addressing the silence and shame surrounding HIV.

KEY FACTS ABOUT HIV AND A&PIs:
- 1 in 3 Asians & Pacific Islanders living with HIV don’t know it.
- Over two-thirds of Asians and over half of Pacific Islanders have never been tested for HIV.
- Between 2001 and 2004, Asian and Pacific Islander men had the largest percentage increase in new HIV infections, more than any other racial and ethnic group.
- Between 2001 and 2006, the number of new HIV infections among young gay and bisexual Asian and Pacific Islander men more than doubled.

If you would like to find out more about the Banyan Tree Project and National A&PI HIV/AIDS Awareness Day on May 19th, please visit banyantreeproject.org.

Check out their PSA:

R.I.P. Frank Frazetta

Not many artists can stir up as much emotion in me as Frank Frazetta. You may not know it looking at my work but Frazetta was a huge influence to me. His work reminds me of my childhood looking through issues of Warren Magazines, studying covers from Conan the Barbarian and modeling countless characters from my Dungeons and Dragons days. He was the first artist whose style I was able to identify at a glance. He was also the first artist who I thought of as a person, not just a name on a painting.

My only regret is not having had the chance to get out to the Frazetta Museum and maybe, just maybe, catch Frazetta on site and grovel at his feet like an idiot.

Mr. Frazetta, you have always inspired me and will continue to do so for years to come. Thank you.

Happy APAH Month!

Yeah, I know. Kinda pessimistic but hey, it's how I feel. Be sure to spread the love and hug an Asian today. Attention Asians: if people randomly hugs you in the street I take full responsibility. Unless it's creepy and smelly in which case it's not my fault.

Super Art Fight video

Anyone curious to see what the Super Art Fight at ROFLcon looked like, here it is:

OCA's Image Magazine

I have an interview in the Spring edition of OCA's (Organization of Chinese Americans) and did up a cover too! The issue is not up on their website yet but you can learn more here. The OCA has been fighting the good fight since 1973. Do yourself a favor and see what their all about.

secretasianman.com

My site has been jacked for a couple weeks now and it's driving me nuts. The main thing is I can't access my ftp to update pages and strips. This is the second time my password on my ftp has somehow changed. Anyone got any clues?

Errorism

I always wondered if there were people out there who infiltrate political rallies posing as a supporter of the cause and then proceed to make fun of the crowd without them knowing it. When I first saw Victoria Jackson speaking at Tea Party rallies I was convinced she was messing with the crowd. I figured rallies drool over celebrities (even relatively inactive ones like Victoria Jackson) because they draw a crowd so they let her speak. But if she is a real Tea Party supporter, I'm not sure she's doing them any favors. Kind of like that old lady who told McCain during the 2008 presidential campaign that Obama was a terrorist. These loose cannons actually force people to defend their opponents. It's either utter stupidity or sheer genius.

Thanks ROFLcon and Million Year Picnic!

Just a quick thanks to the people at ROFLcon for a great time. Thanks also to the people who run Super Art Fight. Alas I did not win but instead had the honor of losing to Jamie Noguchi who writes/illustrates a great new comic called Yellow Peril. Definitely check it out.

Also a big thanks to Million Year Picnic or hosting the book signing on a very hectic Free Comic Book Day! Lots of fun people and got to do the signing with artists/writers from Boston Comics Roundtable. If you're in Boston and looking to get involved with a group of creative people passionate about comics learn more here.