Month: October 2018

As you can see the BLACKJACK ADVENTURES web site has a new look. But the retro pulp action adventures of Arron Day, aka Blackjack hasn’t loss any of it punch.

Check it out. www.BlackjackAdventures.com

And it’s just in time for the release of the newest book in the series,

BLACKJACK: TRIAL BY FIRE AND ICE.
written by Alex Simmons & Christopher Ryan
Available October 24th on Amazon.com

While waiting for the release you can pick up copies of all the other titles in the,
Blackjack Rapid Read series:

REVOLT OF THE RED STAR
RANSOM FOR A DEAD KING
DRIVEN
DARK END OF THE RAINBOW

And a coming soon, a series of interviews with Blackjack artists, writers and fans.

Blackjack writer/creator captured and made to talk…and talk… and talk! Naturally.

Topic this time, “WHY BLACKJACK?”   Alex asks, what has been the appeal of his retro black soldier of fortune?  And in these most divisive times, does it still have a place?  Listen in as he interviews one of the early Blackjack artists, ERIC BATTLE.

Click here to hear Part One.

Blackjack: Night of Fear

It’s that time of year when many think even more about things that go bump in the night.  Even soldier of fortune, Arron Day aka BLACKJACK, is not immune to thoughts of what may stalk the night.

And when he’s brought to Scotland to protect a laird, and what’s left of his family, from werewolves Arron is forced to make some hard decisions about the supernatural.

Because what he truly believes may be his only weapon agains a terror that slaughters it’s victim with tooth and claw.

Sample a portion of the tale.  Click here to hear a reading by Alex Simmons

Writer: Alex Simmons & William McCay.
Interior artist: Shawn Atkinson

As promised, John Jennings is on the road and sending reports from the field. Here’s his first dispatch. Read and enjoy.

JJ @ Virginia State University:

Here’s a look at How the Creative Process works. I did it Monday, in Prof. Meena Khalili’s illustration class at Virginia State University!

did a short introductory lecture about my work and about Alex Simmons’ work and his character BLACKJACK. In fact I created an image of the character as part of my lecture. (See screen captures.)

I then answered questions regarding my process, how I thought about making art/stories, and my inspirations around building characters that resonate with audiences.

I also looked at the student work and gave some feedback. Prof. Khalili is doing a great job. The students are really focused and have wonderful concepts.

It was an honor be in the studio with them sharing information and energy.

I then visited the Advertising Art class co-taught my hostess Prof. Ann Ford and Prof. Andrew Feldstein. It is an amazing collaboration between the art department and the marketing department. Students were asked to analyze Super Bowl commercials regarding their effectiveness.

Last, but not least, I gave a public lecture at 4:30pm and ended around 5:45pm. I had a great time!

The exhibition, BLACK KIRBY: IN SEARCH OF THE MOTHERBOXX CONNECTION opens today (Tuesday) at 530 pm!! It’ll be up for the month of February.

And during the day, I will be in Prof. Ford’s Type 2 class. After that, it’s home and back in the studio making another Blackjack image!!

Till then…

JJ

The opening of Black Kirby Exhibit at Virginia State!
(February 6, 2013)

Like the first day with the students and teachers, this was a truly exciting experience! Students could see not only how art is created, but also where imagination and inspiration can take it.

So, despite snow, and snow, mo’ snow, I spoke at the Baobab Center in Rochester Friday night (2/8/13).

This was after viewing a screening of John Gayle’s documentary film, “White Scripts & Black Superheroes.”

The film offers audiences an analytical look at black images in the comic books (characters & creators) over the past 70 years.

My lecture explored the social culture surrounding those comics and how that impacted then and now. Audience participation generated some dynamic questions and dialogs.

Next stop … Jamaica!

Arrived on the campus of University of Technology Friday (after doing an early morning TV show) around 1 PM. Had lunch then spent 2 hours leading a room full of children through my Art of Making Comics workshop. I talked about my work from childhood to Blackjack, to Scooby Doo, to Archie Comics.

Their enthusiasm ranged from, ” Yes, I draw…” to “…I already make my own comics!” The latter child proudly displaying his hand made comic strip booklet (properly stapled together). He was maybe eight. Maybe!

Like I’ve always said, show them how to do something creative with their imagination, then get out of their way. Hope to display their work on the KCC web site within a week.