PATTERSON, California - The Make More Comics Arts Grant is proud to announce the winner of the 2nd Annual MMC Grant. Out of all the qualified submission packets we received the judging panel has chosen Patrick Lugo and his continuing comics project A Tiger’s Tale, Vol. 1 as our 2022 award recipient.
A Tiger’s Tale, Vol. 1 is an epic kung fu fable in the grand tradition of A Journey to the West, Usagi Yojimbo, and Avatar: The Last Airbender. The story focuses on Kan, a boy who only ever wanted to live in his forest as a tiger should. When his mother adopted two human foundlings, his jealousy cost him his home. Exiled, Kan blames humans for his troubles but learns that he must help his brothers protect humanity from an invasion of creatures from the realm of myth: monsters, deities, and dragons.
”I learned to read English sitting on my father’s lap as he read to me from the comics I had borrowed from my older brothers. Those formative experiences crafted a life-long passion for a medium which continues to open unexpected doors. It’s because of this that I seek to express my heartfelt gratitude to 100% Comics and the MMC Arts Grant Committee’s esteemed members for, not just the investment represented by the 2022 MMC Art Grant, but the acknowledgement of an inspiration I’ve held for years; that there is a readership awaiting what can be found in the pages of A Tiger’s Tale, Vol. 1.”
For more information on Patrick Lugo, you contact him and purchase his work at PLUGOarts.com
The Make More Comics Arts Grant was founded in 2020 by Will Hoffknecht of Patterson, California with the goal of providing direct cash payments to support new and creative works in small press comic creation. The 2022 award is the second award granted and news about the 2023 grant will be announced later this year. For more information visit Makemorecomics.com.
I recently interviewed the legendary comic artist Geof Darrow, mastermind behind the extraordinary comic book: The Shaolin Cowboy and concept artist behind such films as The Matrix. Our zoom conversation ran way longer than expected and made the perfect reason to revive my February TIGER TALK interview series.
Part 1 of our formal interview appears on KungFuMagazine.com tomorrow June 22, 2022: there, we discussed THE MATRIX, Jet Li, and pioneering martial arts themed comic books. But over the course of that interview we also had some informal conversations about early influences, favorite Kung Fu movies as well as some real-life martial arts heroes (and villains?)…
In part two of our free-wheeling conversation with Eisner Award winning Comic Artist/Concept Artist Geof Darrow we discuss illustration and work with movie directors. Geof highlights some the pros and cons of his illustration work still done 100% on paper. Early experiences working with Moebius and film directors like Ridley Scott and Tsui Hark.
Six backers of Kickstart.aTigersTale.com have been transformed into Wuxia Heroes. A print of their transformed selves will be included with their copy of A TIGER’s TALE volume 1. This Wednesday we’ll celebrate the first of them with an exclusive reveal of the finished piece as well as some behind the scenes extras. Be sure to subscribe if you want to see the finished piece! until then, you can check out some images of those works in progress.
Our Kickstart.aTigersTale.com campaign offered a special backer tier for six intrepid backers willing to become the Wuxia hero they were destined to become!
Using photo reference of their likeness was only the beginning. I reached out to each of them directly to learn what style of martial art and maybe preferred weapon their Wuxia character will specialize it. Utilizing decades of experience directing photo-shoots with some of the most renowned Kung Fu Masters in the world insured the perfect Kung Fu stance!
They each received a one of a kind full color print suitable for framing along with their signed copy of the graphic novel.
Wuxia Warrior #1
Founder/composer of Black Earth Shakuhachi School and the Dark Mountain Woodwind Academy. Wood Prophet and root philosopher Cornelius Boots has performed at international festivals and up-close for goats with big horns. Professionally active since 1989, he’s won awards and created deep catalogues of fresh new repertoire for both bass clarinet and shakuhachi.
This Week’s Wuxia Warrior is non other than our own David Jamieson!
Have a look at this glimpse of the illustration in process then click over to see the finished piece.
We have another KungFuMagazine.com die hard coming in to help round our this series of illustrations.
Each Wuxia Warriors seeks to capture the spirit of their subject, their Qi; that effort demands more than reference photos. Each subject was surveyed with questions that would define their character and you can now read them and perhaps recognize who this latest hero may be.
Do You Practice A Specific Kung Fu Style You’d Like Me To Use?
Answer: Eagle Claw
What is Your Weapon Of Choice?
Answer: The Da Dao
What’s Your Favorite Kung Fu Movie?
Answer: Snake in the Eagle’s Shadow
The 2022 Make More Comics Art Grant recipient A Tiger’s Tale volume 1. will be featured in the 32nd Annual Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibit at the Sun Gallery, in Hayward California from August 26 – October 15, 2022. Front and center, I’m told.
There will be a Reception and Book Signing for the Artists on Saturday, September. 10th 2022 from 1:00pm – 4:00pm
A Tiger’s Tale volume 1 was featured at the 32nd Annual Children’s Book Illustrator Exhibition at the SUn Gallery in Hayward California. An Artist’s Reception and book signing took place just this past Saturday. It was my first in-person appearance as a creator (rather than journalist or whatever) in a number of years. In many ways I welcomed slipping back into the groove of “party-mode,” being in the right place at the right time, remembering names and faces.
Of course, there were plenty of new names and faces. Some who I’ve been fortunate to meet over the online various online events which have become the norm. The chance to deepen those connections and even sign a few copies of A TIGER’s TALE vol. 1 was welcome and well worth celebrating.
As evidenced by the 2022 Make More Comics grant and its reception at the Sun Gallery, A Tiger’s Tale volume one continues to speak readers of all ages. We’ve recently added a reviews section to aTigersTale.com which remains open to all. Let me share with you a recent review written by a young reader (age 14) from overseas:
"It is the best and most thrilling comic I have read! The colour’s go so well with the story, and draw you in from the first page, al the way to the very last one! The way it has been written, is amazing!"
Added to that, our #TigerTuesday blog just posted the second in a series of three poetic reviews like no other. Reader/Writer C.M. Darensbourg has written three poetic meditations on characters and events depicted with-in the pages of A Tiger’s Tale volume 1. These are truly inspired written works which I’m honored to present.
Chronicling the adventure of The Tiger Twins as they journey from the Jade Palace at the very top of the world to the source of humanities woes. Along the way they must find allies and assistants who can carry the burden of their quest for the generations to come! Subscribe Now!
Explore the world of Pan Gu with the Tiger Twins, raised by the Queen of Tigers and tutored in the secret working of the Tao follow brothers Chen & Puah as they set out to pass their wisdom to a new generation of heroes.
Mark your calendar and prepare to celebrate the first day of the Lunar New Year with our Kickstart.aTigersTale.com launch party! Monday January 23, 2023.
Today marks the 20 day countdown to the launch of A TIGER’S TALE volume 2 on Kickstarter! Click Here to be among the first to be notified of our epic Lunar New Year online-book-launch!
THE COMICS FU SHOW Is about to come out of hiatus for the it’s 2023 season. Over its first season we chatted with Martial Arts Masters, Movie Stars, Comic Creators and the founder of Powerhouse Animation Studios. To celebrate the launch of season two, we are planing a series of Tuesday and Sunday live streams.
THE COMICS FU SHOW Live! Beginning 1/22/23 and every Sunday and Tuesday until 2/19/23
Featuring our resident Kung Fu Master Kurtis Fujita and Guest Kung Fu Masters from around the world we’re planning a series of ASK THE KUNG FU MASTER segments. Open to comic creators who’d want to punch up their action scenes and fight choreography or have burning historical or philosophical questions in need of an answer. Many of these masters were initially inspired by comics and some have a keen interest in both.
SCHEDULE
1/22 – 9:00pm PST – New Year’s Eve Special Live Cast with Sifu Kurtis Fujita.
1/23 – 9:45am PST – Solo Live Kickstart.aTigersTale.com Launch Cast
1/23 – 8:00pm PST – THE COMICS FU SHOW New Year Special!
1/24 – 12:00pm PST – Gong Fu Tea with Dr. John Kokko
1/24 – 2:00pm PST – Shakuhachi Flute with Cornelius Boots 1/24 – 7:30pm PST – THE COMICS FU SHOW AFTER-DARK with Shaolin Disciple Gene Ching; Publisher of KungFuMagazine.com
1/25 – 2:00pm PST – Wuxia Wednesday – Barney Smith of Story Comic
1/29 – 2:00pm PST – Ennead. Rule of Nine the graphic novel by JL Johnson Jr.
1/31 – 12:30pm PST – Favorite Fight Scene & Headlines with Grant Balfour 1/31 – 3:00pm PST – Shaolin Nun the comic series by JC Carter & Co.
