The Halloween Show Kicks Off October Fun!

It was a little early for costumes last Saturday night but many of us dressed up for C & C's first Halloween Art Show. No pictures of me here (since I was taking them) but even I managed a last-minute but completely adorable leopard costume. The winner of the $50 gift certificate was Petie Pickette dressed as Captain Janeway, who also managed to duck getting her picture taken. We should probably put someone else in charge of pictures for the Nov. 1st political art show "Right, Left, Middle: Politics in America."

Check out the few pictures below I did manage to take before having to help with snacks and the front counter.

Matt Kirkland's "Jorge Calaca", pictured here next to Matt (top right), was a big hit. To the left of Matt's digital print is Josh Hoye's "Brains!"

Pictured left are three new pieces for the show by Ed Dansart. I think his little green monsters (bottom right) would make great plush toys.

We were happy to have Squid Dust join us for this show. His Krampus and Puking Snakes (pictured left, upper center) make for great Halloween fun!

Come by and view the entire show, but hurry!! Halloween is fast approaching and this show goes down Nov. 1st. Join with Comics & Classics and support Jacksonville's local artists.

August Customer of the Month Winner!

Rhett Anderson Wins August Customer of the Month!

Comics & Classics couldn't have seen a nicer guy win Customer of the Month! Always willing to lend a helping hand or listening ear, Rhett makes our days brighter around here, so congrats to Rhett our August Customer of the Month!

Of course, I had to ask Rhett the obligatory six questions. Read his answers below:

Thanks for being such a great customer, Rhett and spreading the word about Comics & Classics like only you can!

C&C: Who is your favorite superhero or character in a book or comic and why?

Rhett: The Pro, enough said.

C&C: If you could have any superpowers, what would they be?

Rhett: Elasticity and the ability to blow up other's heads.

C&C: What is the best comic or book you've read lately?

Rhett: The Reader is Warned by John Dickson

C&C: You're asked to create a comic, what is the most creative hero or power you can imagine?

Rhett: Pubes of Truth, Hero "Pissy," Secret Identity: Richard Noggin. Not a good guy or bad guy, when faced with a decision our hero goes limp and flies away.

C&C: What's on your iPod playlist?

Rhett: TimeCat (C&C note - TimeCat is Rhett's band)

C&C: Zombies are attacking, how do you defend yourself?

Rhett: Get on a motorcycle because you can carry more gas a get away fast, or bicycle away. Wouldn't use any weapons because they run out of ammo and you get tired.

July Customer of the Month Winner!

Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

Well, no chicken dinner for Ed Dansart, Comics & Classics' Customer of the Month for July, but Ed did receive a yummy $10.00 gift certificate!

Congrats and Enjoy, Ed!

Read below Ed's answers to our Six Questions from C & C:

C&C - Who is your favorite superhero or character in a book or comic and why?

E.D. - Jessie Custer (Preacher), an old-fashioned cowboy in modern times, not afraid to fight and loyal to a fault. And, Cassie Hack (Hack/Slash) for the obvious reasons.

C&C - If you could have any superpowers, what would they be?

E.D. - Invisibility & Flight

C&C - What is the best comic or book you've read recently?

E.D. - The Exterminators (Vertigo) and Hack/Slash (Devils Due Press)

C&C - You're asked to create a comic, what is the most creative hero or power you can imagine?

E.D. - Anti-Douchebag Ray....or Mullent Gun (when I shoot someone, they get a mullet haircut)

C&C - What's on your iPod playlist?

E.D. - Murder By Death, Iron Maiden, Patton Oswald (comedy), Jimmy Eat World

C&C - Zombies are attacking, how do you defend yourself?

E.D. - Travel light, blunt intruments only. Maybe a handgun. Move constantly!

Thanks to Ed for his time spent with us and his good advice on fighting zombies! Come by and register for August's Customer of the Month!

A Good Review for Comics & Classics!

Check out the good word about our latest art show "Icons," featured in today's The Times-Union. We encourage everyone in Jax to support our local artists and writers!
Be on the lookout for updates on our upcoming shows. I'd like to especially thank Ed Dansart, whose coordination of this month's show made it all possible. Come see Ed's work, along with our own Rob Jones, at Club TSI Friday, August 15th!

Link to Laura Capitano's article http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080808/enc_314853261.shtml

Reprinted from jacksonville.com

Art, icons in world of fun and games

By LAURA CAPITANO, The Times-Union
It was all very inviting, last weekend's opening reception in Jacksonville Beach for Comics & Classics' first group art show: "Icons: Interpretations in Comics & Gaming Pop Culture." Martini glasses flowed over with Jelly Bellies and the melodic yet futuristic sound of the Flaming Lips paired perfectly with a shop full of fantasy. Even the Batman-for-hire refused to break character to talk to the press. "I'm here in case things get out of hand," were his only words to me.

Kimberly Smith-Johnson, who opened Comics & Classics Books and Art Gallery 10 months ago with her husband, Percy, says the "Icons" show is the first in a series of monthly group art shows. This month's show includes works from 24 local artists and features watercolors, mixed media sculpture, photography and illustrations.

The artists come in all shapes and sizes, even an eight-months-pregnant Ellie Hoffman, who subscribes to the Juno anti-maternity-wear stance. Oh, how her T-shirt strains as she tells me about her paintings: "I'm into robot chicks, and I'm a video game dork!" she giggles, gesturing toward her collection. None of the three offerings includes a Pac-Man ghost or the BurgerTime chef, so I'm clueless. Hoffman explains her icons are from Ghost in the Shell, a game adapted from an anime series, where the main character is a cyborg chick named Motoko.
Most of the gallery space is in the back corner of the store. Additionally, I'd consider the tomes of comics and graphic novels on display an extension of the art show. From slim comics to graphic novels that weigh in like dictionaries, browsing a comics shop has the same "you never know what treasure you'll turn up" thrill as antiquing. The Prisoner had a comic book series? Whoa! A whole comic collection called I Love Led Zeppelin?

Comics & Classics currently carries three Jacksonville-grown titles. There's the dark and zombie-laden She's a Super Freak, which tracks the adventures of superhero Party Girl. Behemoth is a bounty hunter who can turn into a werecat as a means to save mankind from his evil father. The Perfect Storm spins the adventures of busty spy Erin Storm.
Smith-Johnson, a former teacher, says the store is a way to keep kids interested in reading. To play up the hang-out vibe, the couple added gaming tables and a reading lounge.
Informal "sketch societies" meet at the store Saturday mornings to exchange ideas. Youth art lessons are also available. "Icons" show director Rob Jones, artist and editor in chief of Alpha Cat Comics, heads up instruction series, at a very reasonable $5 rate, per student per class.

laura.capitano@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4370

"Icons" Show Sets Record Attendance and Garners Media Attention!

Twenty-four artists came together to contribute to our August group art show "Icons: Interpretations in Comics & Gaming Pop Culture." Among the opening reception's honored guests were no other than Batman himself! Florida Times-Union columnist Laura Capitano, dropped by, as well! We thank Laura for checking out our newest show and invite everyone to come and appreciate the talents of all those who contributed their time and talents.
























Below are pictures of the evening, which included artwork by the following artists:





Erin Adams, Laurie Childs, Cesar Cordero, Toy Crusher, Ed Dansart, Wade Dillon, Grindstone, Inc., Brian Gray, Ellie Hoffman, Latwan Holland, Josh Hoye, Rob Jones, David King, Matthew Kirkland, Max Michaels, James Ranieri, J. Dallas Russ, Jeremy Sellers, Matthew Stinson, Robert Thilmont, Oliver Villar, Korey Watkins, Logan Zawacki, and Glenn Zimmerman.

Thanks to all who made the evening a great success.