24-Hour Comic Challenge Returns to Philadelphia!

Ever wonder how long it takes to make a comic book? Your average monthly comic book can have as many as five different people working on it: a writer, a penciller, an inker, a colorist, and a letterer. And if all these tasks are performed by just one person, a 24-page comic can take three months to produce. But that’s for sissies. Because on Saturday, October 1st at 12 noon at Atomic City Comics on 638 South Street, six brave (and quite possibly insane) local comics artists will attempt the impossible. Each one will endeavor to create his or her own complete 24-page comic book, from scratch, in just 24 hours. October 1st is the official international date for the Challenge this year, meaning comics artists in shops all around the world will be joined in the spirit of tackling the impossible as they strive to complete this excruciating endeavor.

Creative sparks will fly as the store remains open all night long for this cartoonist’s crucible. There will be laughter, there will be sweat, there will be caffeine, there will be sugar, and there may very well be tears. What there will not be is any sleep whatsoever for the following seven intrepid 24-Hour hopefuls:

Pete Stathis, the organizer of the event, and the writer/artist of the graphic novel series, Evenfall. www.evenfallcomic.com

Raphael Tiberino, local painter and cartoonist, of the ever-popular Ellen Powell Tiberino Museum in Powelton Village. www.tiberinomuseum.org

Steven Peters, creator of Awakening Comics, and contributing writer/artist to Cerebus Readers In Crisis.

Kelly Phillips, of the Philly Comix Jam, and Secret Prison contributing artist
Scott R. Johnston, a veteran of The Peekaboo Revue and the 48 Hour Film Project

Shawn Dubin, Shawn Dubin illustrator of the Dreary and Naughty series,www.shawndubin.com

Atomic City Comics owner Daryll Jones and employee Joe Turner have been very enthusiastic in their support of the 24-Hour Comic event. Select items will be on sale during the Challenge, (including the artists’ own prints, zines, and comics).

History: The 24-Hour Comic Challenge was created in 1990 by comics theoretician Scott McCloud, author of the indispensable Understanding Comics. His 24-Hour comic achievement was quickly followed by many other famous comic creators including Neil Gaiman, Kevin Eastman, Dave Sim, and Erik Larsen. To date, thousands of 24 Hour Comics have been created around the globe. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/24-hour_comic

Pete Stathis has taken the challenge three times before, finishing all three times at around 23 and a half hours. Last year, only four of the six challengers succeeded. Says Stathis, “It’s an amazing challenge that every cartoonist should take at least once in their life. I’m proud to see it returning to Philadelphia for the second year running. I hope it’s the start of a new tradition in the Philly comics community.”

The 2 Nerdy Hip-Hop artists will be in-store signing autographs, playing music and generally having a good time!

About The Artists:

ADAM WARROCK

Known as the Internet’s foremost comic book rapper, Adam WarRock has been creating music about his favorite comics, as well as numerous other pop cultural subjects. Mixing an independent hip hop aesthetic with a love and passion for all things nerdy and geeky, he has garnered a following both online and worldwide through his tireless song production and touring. His music has been featured on PRI, NPR, WFMU, as well as sites such as SlashFilm, Newsarama, Time’s Techland Blog, and WIRED.com. He is currently on a national tour with mc chris, MC Lars and Random.

RANDOM aka MEGA RAN
People will remember Mega Ran for his daring leap into video game remixing which led to a Capcom cosign, but Random’s penchant for storytelling has impressed retro gamers while garnering respect from Hip-Hop’s harshest critics. He developed the Mega Ran persona after rapping over an album filled with samples from the hit game Mega Man. An AZ resident, He’s continued since then, doing albums based on several other games, including 2011′s “Black Materia,” which retells the story of Final Fantasy VII. The album ranked as high as top 20 on Amazon and iTunes this year and has led to coverage in Playstation Magazine, Nintendo Power, Wired and several top publications. Live shows are accented by Ran’s uncanny impromptu “freestyle” ability.

Come check out Philly’s own, 215 Ink! They’ll be signing copies of their new titles!

Stop by Atomic City Comics Wednesday, August 31st @ 12:01 am for FLASHPOINT # 5 and from DC’s New 52 lineup, Justice League #1. After you pick up your books, stick around for a live recording of THE WERD PODCAST! You can listen to them talk geeky foolishness or sit in on the podcast and have your voice heard on this new era of DC Comics!

(Only Flashpoint #5 and Justice League #1 can be sold at the midnight event)

The new DC 52 Relaunch is upon us! Atomic City Comics is offering a deal for ALL 52 #1′s! Become a subscriber and get a bigger discount!

• 25% Off When you Pre-Order ALL 52 Titles (30% off for Subscribers)
• 15% Off Pre-Order Weekly 13 Titles (20% Off For Subscribers)
• ALL PRE-ORDERS REQUIRE A 50% DOWN PAYMENT

ALL 52 TITLES:

(25%-$119.61 / 30%-$111.64)

Here’s the price breakdown per week:     

SEPTEMBER 7th

ACTION COMICS #1 3.99

ANIMAL MAN #1 2.99

BATGIRL #1 2.99

BATWING #1 2.99

DETECTIVE COMICS #1 2.99

GREEN ARROW #1 2.99

HAWK AND DOVE #1 2.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE INTERNATIONAL #1 2.99

MEN OF WAR #1 3.99

OMAC #1 2.99

STATIC SHOCK #1 2.99

STORMWATCH #1 2.99

SWAMP THING #1 2.99

(15%-$34.74 / 20%-$32.70)

SEPTEMBER 14th

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 2.99

BATWOMAN #1 2.99

DEATHSTROKE #1 2.99

DEMON KNIGHTS #1 2.99

FRANKENSTEIN AGENT OF SHADE #1 2.99

GREEN LANTERN #1 2.99

GRIFTER #1 2.99 2.24

LEGION LOST #1 2.99

MISTER TERRIFIC #1 2.99

RED LANTERNS #1 2.99

RESURRECTION MAN #1 2.99

SUICIDE SQUAD #1 2.99

SUPERBOY #1 2.99

(15%-$33.12 / 20%-$31.10)

SEPTEMBER 21st

BATMAN #1 2.99

BIRDS OF PREY #1 2.99

BLUE BEETLE #1 2.99

CAPTAIN ATOM #1 2.99

CATWOMAN #1 2.99

DC UNIVERSE PRESENTS #1 2.99

GREEN LANTERN CORPS #1 2.99

LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1 2.99

NIGHTWING #1 2.99

RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #1 2.99

SUPERGIRL #1 2.99

WONDER WOMAN #1 2.99

(15%-$30.50 / 20%-$28.70)

SEPTEMBER 28th

ALL STAR WESTERN #1 3.99

AQUAMAN #1 2.99

BATMAN THE DARK KNIGHT #1 2.99

BLACKHAWKS #1 2.99

FLASH #1 2.99

FURY OF FIRESTORM #1 2.99

GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS #1 2.99

I VAMPIRE #1 2.99

JUSTICE LEAGUE DARK #1 2.99

SAVAGE HAWKMAN #1 2.99

SUPERMAN #1 2.99

TEEN TITANS #1 2.99

VOODOO #1 2.99

(15%-$33.12 / 20%-$31.90)