Recently in CAFE DIGITAL STUDIOS Category

I spent this last weekend exhibiting at Anime Central (ACEN) and once more came back more invigorated about making comics than I've been in months.
Here's why...
FOUR THINGS THAT MAKE AN ANIME CONVENTION WHAT A COMIC CONVENTION SHOULD BE

1. GENUINE FAN ENTHUSIASM
Yes, part of what makes the fans at an anime convention enthusiastic is equal parts sugar and hormones, but damn if it isn't infectious. People who came to my table were excited to be there, but also desiring to be on the other side of the table some day, selling their own work, not just consuming, but wanting to create their own stuff. Of course I got a few "So, what do I need to do to work on NARUTO one day?" questions, but those were greatly overshadowed by the "How do I start doing my own stuff?" questions.

2. WILLINGNESS TO DISCOVER
I made some serious bank at this con, more than at all the other conventions I exhibited at all last year (less last year's ACEN). Why? Because I met fearless fans who either (A) bought one of my books last year and came back for the rest, or (B) just decided to pick up something they liked the look of, even something that was fringe at this kind of convention. I did a ton of commissions the first day from fans making snap decisions that they wanted me to do something for them. And at comic conventions, I still get the "Oh, I don't read black and white books" as an excuse. Really, that's the best you've got?
The fans at these anime conventions are willing to take a chance, and even in these crap economic times, willing to put some money on the table.

3. DIVERSITY OF FANS
Seems weird to have to bring this out as a remarkable point, but man, I love doing a convention that has some ethnic/age/sexual orientation diversity to it!
It just makes things stronger for all, and makes me realize how narrow-cast the mainstream comic market can become. And to see an environment where kids where teens can safely fly their freak flag in any direction they wish while surrounded by people and things that they love is really awesome to witness.
And not just teens, but adults, male/female and all points in between. It's all good.
I saw a marked increase in cross-dressing cosplay this year, and man, they BROUGHT IT WELL AND HARD. Great to see, on many levels.

4. A KICK IN THE ARSE
Again, I walked away from this convention fired up to make stories, complete the stories I have in progress and just do, do, DO! Having to tell all those young artists that they need to work hard reflected nicely back on me, and reminded me to take that same advice. It also made me what to encourage others to demand this level of energy at the mainstream cons they go to. The programming, panels, Hell, one of the staff actually came around to offer me a hand made chocolate that was exquisite! Cheaper tables for artists! They close the vendor area a half hour before the Artist Alley area, to force fans to blow more money on art! This is a con that values the creators, and it's made this convention grow and grow over the years. I am back next year, no question, with new product. Period.

Thanks to the nice locals who stopped by to say hello and buy stuff. You made a kilted man's day!
You can check out my FLICKR set of photos here!

Wow. Here's a stunner of a review from the one of the grumpiest men in blogging (and a great supporter of mine) Dan Traeger, posted at BlogCritics.org
(Note: the juxtaposition of letters in the title of the review are not Dan's fault)

*******
Or if you prefer to read it here:
"Every person on Earth, every man, woman and child has a soundtrack. We all have that personal set-list that sparks memory triggers both good and bad, and these memories mark different places and events in our lives. Music is with us constantly, from the time our ears develop and we are able to process signal in utero, to the time when we breathe our final rattle. Humanity has one constant in life, music. It's one of the most important concepts we share as a species, and it has proven itself time and again as a better communication tool than language or mathematics. It's no wonder that we measure music and the rhythm of the human heart in beats per minute.

Let me narrow this down a bit, by spilling a not-so-secret confidence. Every writer I know, and I highly suspect that you can comfortably make the blanket statement, "every writer", either hears a soundtrack in his head while he's writing, or simply listens to music as he writes. Whenever I get the chance to meet a writer one of the questions I always ask is, "Do you listen to music while you write, and if so what?" The answer is always yes. Stephen King listens to rock n roll, the great comics creator Brian Wood listens to indie rock (and is really good about publishing his set lists.) Both Harlan Ellison and Roger Zelazny told me they listen to jazz while they write. When I asked Harlan Ellison the music question, he told me he listens to jazz cranked to 11. He then proceeded to argue with me for about forty-five minutes or so, when I stubbornly refused to admit that Django Reinhardt was a better guitarist than Les Paul. That one ended with him bonking his signing pen off my noggin and cursing me out in Yiddish, great fun. (And just to prove what a mensch Harlan is, he not only let me keep the pen, but he signed for an extra hour so that everybody got their books autographed.) I digress, but it proves my point that music is inexorably tied to the human soul.

Paul Sizer knows this as well as any of us, and with his newest graphic novel he has tapped into that ever-present soundtrack of humanity. Herein, he presents a story of music and how it penetrates the human heart. B.P.M. is the tale of Roxy, a twentysomething working as a DJ on the New York City club scene.

When we first pick up her story, Roxy is at that most dangerous and exciting point in any artist's career where she's dancing across the razor's edge of either breaking big, or giving up for good. We get to follow her through the transition from gifted amateur to professional, as she learns what it takes to become a star DJ. Sizer lays out the track that all young artists must follow to make this transition. As an artist himself he knows all-too-well what you have to give up to succeed, and as readers, we are left with the lingering question of "was it worth it?"

The characters in this story are the most spot-on, fully realized people that Sizer has written to date. Even minor characters who don't rate much panel time are intriguing to the point that you find yourself wondering about their back stories. The protagonist Roxy is alive on the page, warts and all, as Sizer masterfully weaves her story. The relationships she shares with her friends, her lovers, even her mentors, have the ring of truth. Roxy, like all of us, sometimes makes bad choices. She's occasionally unfair, and she's filled with self doubt, but she's honest, loyal, and a great student. Like the wonderful storyteller he is, Sizer sucks you in to the story, and keeps you dancing with these people until the music finally stops and you walk out into the night, humming a tune and feeling fulfilled for having known these people. B.P.M. is something increasingly rare in the world of comics. It is a story told with passion and fire, filled with the absolute joy of being alive, and an affirmation of how important music is to the human soul.

The artwork on B.P.M. is a bit of a change from Sizer's usual visuals. He brings his prodigious talents as a graphic designer full force, deftly combining computer enhanced photographs with detailed hand drawn backgrounds. Sizer uses a computerized palette of coloring and visual presentation techniques that are new to his stories. Light smears signify the passing of time, lens flashes in the clubs add depth and realism to his hand drawn artwork. His use of computer drawing techniques enhances his artwork, and detracts not one bit from the story. It's the first time he's really cut loose with his graphic design skills, and the pay-off is huge. B.P.M. is a sexy package with a running soundtrack (available on I-tunes, by the way), and it's wrapped in one of the coolest covers to ever grace a graphic novel.

Sizer has never been one to skimp on extras with his graphic packages, and B.P.M. is no exception. With the addition of his I-tunes set list, he's created an extended dance mix complete with liner notes, promotional artwork, sketches and research drawings. The whole graphic novel is a delicious feast for the eyes and ears of anyone lucky enough to lose themselves within this world of neon, chrome and concrete. The music tracks aren't necessary to enjoy the story, but if you listen to them while reading it, taking time to let the songs play through before moving on to the next scene, the story rises to a new level, revealing layers to the narrative that you miss the first time you read it through.

B.P.M. is a unique audio visual package that entertains on every level imaginable. Like the perfect beat underlying a night spent lost within the mixes of a master DJ, the book sticks with you long after you've finished reading it. It's a great read that will appeal to anyone who has ever heard the siren call of music, and that's everyone on the planet. The perfect beat runs through the hearts and minds of all of us, and it's measured in Beats Per Minute."

Also, I am going to be at SPX (Small Press Expo) later this month (September 26-27) in Bethesda, MD. Across the row from Carla Speed McNeil. Visit her first, then spin 180 degrees and say hello to me and Jane.

PAUL SIZER COMIC E-NEWSLETTER
July 29, 2009
Hello friends, fans and retailers.
The clamor of Comicon International is dying down, and even though I didn't go this year, I thought it would be a courtesy to wait a few days while people got back into their schedules.
A few nice links to share, so let's get to it!

1. B.P.M. "BEAT THE SUMMER" CONVENTION TOUR CONTINUES...
The summer convention schedule continues, so mark your calendars and stop by is you have the chance
CHICAGO COMICON, August 7-9, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
CHICAGO COMOC-CON
One of my favorite "big cons", as it reverts back to the Chicago Comicon and still promises to be 3 days of fan driven geekery. I'll be there in Artist Alley, table #4514, full to the brim with books, posters and my all-new Sizer Sketchbook, full color 48 page booklet, all new art.

2. NICE FAN REVIEW OF "MOPED ARMY"
Found for me by the ever vigilant Dan Kastner of Moped Army fame. Thanks Dan, and thanks Aaron!
REVIEW FOR MOPED ARMY

3. ARTICLE ABOUT ME IN ST. JOSEPH, MI
A slow news day in St. Joseph, MI means that the nice folks from the Herald Palladium stopped by at my recent comics workshop to take pictures and interview me for the paper.
Here's the online version; check it out quick, I'm not sure how long the link will be active.
ARTICLE LINK

PAUL SIZER COMIC E-NEWSLETTER
June 8, 2009
Hello friends, fans and retailers.
OK, It's officially summer time now, so break out the flip flops and frisbees and let's talk about summer comic stuff!

B.P.M. "BEAT THE SUMMER" CONVENTION TOUR CONTINUES...
The summer convention schedule continues, so mark your calendars and stop by is you have the chance
Here's the schedule:
KIDS READ COMICS CONVENTION, THIS WEEKEND, June 12-13, Chelsea, MI
LINK
This is going to be a fun one as well, and I'm really glad to see all the advance hype on this small but really well planned kids-oriented comic convention! The guest list is amazing, and there is tons of great stuff here for young and young at heart. Jane and I will be there on Saturday only, but if you're able, check out all the cool programming on Friday as well as Saturday! Well worth the trip, and well worth showing the next generation of artists and writers what's so cool about the comics medium!

WIZARD WORLD/CHICAGO COMICON, August 7-9, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
LINK
One of my favorite "big cons", as it reverts back to the Chicago Comicon and still promises to be 3 days of fan driven geekery.

B.P.M. GETS GREAT REVIEWS FROM BOOKLIST, FANS
Holy Cow! Just wanted to share this new review from BOOKLIST for B.P.M.:
From Booklist
"In his note to the reader, Sizer says his dual love for music and comics left little time for anything else. So it goes with his heroine DJ Roxy, slave to the rhythm, who gives up a girlfriend, sleep, and a social life in pursuit of her dream throughout this gorgeous graphic novel. Sizer infuses digital images into his drawings, amping up the hyper energy of New York's nightclub underworld. Roxy's renaissance opens with a caffeine jolt of light and sound coursing readers into Plush, a gay nightclub under the spell of DJ Atsuko, where Roxy merely observes in awe. She quickly comes off the sidelines, though, and we are introduced to her other DJ friend, Dom, and her Yoda-like mentor, Robie. Dubbed the "Café Digital Extended House mix," this edition comes complete with liner notes and suggested tracks to play softly in the background or to supplement the sets Roxy plays during her gigs. This one's a keeper. Grades 10-12. --Courtney Jones"
LINK TO REVIEW"
This is great, because as a small self publisher, library sales are essential, because (1), libraries get hold of books they like and do not let go, and (2) Library sales are one way, non-returnable, which means no returns for me, and when they wear them out, they buy another one!

Here's a description of what BOOKLIST is:
"Booklist the magazine the New York Times calls "an acquisitions bible for public and school librarians nationwide," is the review journal of the American Library Association. It recommends works of fiction, nonfiction, children's books, reference books, and media to its 30,000 institutional and personal subscribers. In-house editors and contributing reviewers from around the country review more than 7,500 books each year, most before publication."

Check out THIS review also, from Amazon:
"5 STARS Beautiful and uplifting"
(May 11, 2009)
By Paul (London, UK)
"Beautifully illustrated, this is a truly uplifting story about Roxy, a DJ who makes sacrifices to break into the big-time. It's an inspirational comic book, based in the NYC club scene and presented as a high quality blend of drawing, photos and computer graphics. The author is a fan of both comics and music and this combination of his two loves is a real gift from Paul Sizer's heart. The accompanying playlist of music tracks is a real treat too.
Any day you feel you could use some motivation is a great day to read B.P.M. (again). [...]"
LINK TO REVIEW"

Remember going to comic conventions and being filled with awe and wonder and excitement about discovering new work, things you didn't know about and new artists and talent that blew you away? Wondering where all that excitement went?
It lives and thrives at anime conventions.

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I just spent three days in Artist's Alley at Anime Central 2009 (ACEN) and I was literally blown away! For as jaded as I've gotten about standard comic conventions, this show kicked serious ass, and raised the question; why aren't ALL comic conventions like this?

Sure, there was plenty of cosplay, teen hijinks and geek idiocy, but it was different. Good different. This is the first specifically "anime/manga" festival/convention that I've attended as an exhibitor, and I was amazed at how genuinely excited all the attendees were to be there, and how willing they were to try new stuff that they had never seen before. For God's sake, I met WhiteChapel posters there!

I was next to Spike Trotman (TEMPLAR, AZ) and both of us came to this con with low expectations of how people would react to our stuff; neither of us have a "house manga" style, we don't write what most people assume manga readers go for, and we're off the radar of most manga online communities. Both of us walked away from this con making more money than we have for the last three cons we've done. I damn near sold out of everything I brought, paid for my table with ONE customer's purchases, and sold out of my $25 LITTLE WHITE MOUSE OMNIBUS edition in a day and a half. I've NEVER done this well at a regular comic convention. Ever.

The question that occurred to me was this; where did everyone who isn't a white male, age 18-35 who reads superhero books go in this industry?
Answer: they went here.
Yes, this was a manga/anime con in title, but seriously, every other kind of fan and lover of the comic medium was here, in large, happy groups, dressed to the nines and loaded with cash to spend. And there was diversity, both ethnic and gender-wise, and overall a desire to find new stuff and take chances, to buy books they knew nothing about apart from it looked cool and had a story they were interested in. I do not (for the most part) see any kind of this adventurous spirit at the comic conventions I've been going to lately.

Granted this is not a new revelation, but it was spelled out in front of me all weekend that, for the most part, the superhero comic industry has not trained the next generation of readers to come to them, so the manga industry was more than happy to step up to that empty plate and deliver what a huge, wide and diverse set of comic fans wanted. I had comic book versions of my old LITTLE WHITE MOUSE series out for free on my table; 14 year old kids couldn't give a crap about those, and on two occasions, a kid was handed a free comic, put it back down and bought one of my trades instead. There's a whole new generation out there who do not see a comic book as an end product; a graphic novel/trade is real, comic books are a relic to them.

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Here's my FLICKR set of photos from ACEN 2009

Hello friends, fans and retailers.
Good weather means good news, I guess. Here's a few nice tidbits of info from the Cafe Digital Studios News Service:

B.P.M. ON SOLIPSISTIC NATION PODCAST THIS WEEK
A cool interview about B.P.M. with Bazooka Joe of SOLIPSISTIC NATION this week.
LINK
The podcast also features a great talk with Gary Bredow, the director of "High Tech Soul", a great documentary about Detroit techno. "High Tech Soul" is the first documentary to tackle the deep roots of techno music alongside the cultural history of it's Detroit birthplace. "High Tech Soul" features interview with legends such as Juan Atkins, Derrick May and Kevin Saunderson. Well worth checking out!

PAUL SIZER ANNOUNCES B.P.M. "BEAT THE SUMMER" CONVENTION TOUR
Which is just a dorky way of announcing the summer conventions I will be attending this spring and summer to promote B.P.M.
Please feel free to stop by and say hello (or throw fruit or garbge at me, whatever works!)
Here's the schedule:

ANIME CENTRAL (ACEN), May 8-10, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
LINK

MOTOR CITY COMICON, May 15-17, Rock Financial Show Place, Novi, MI (I will only be attending on Saturday and Sunday of this convention)
LINK

KIDS READ COMICS CONVENTION, June 12-13, Chelsea, MI
LINK

WIZARD WORLD/CHICAGO COMICON, August 7-9, Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, IL
LINK

"We'll be brief: Hemingway once wrote a story in just six words ("For sale: baby shoes, never worn.") and is said to have called it his best work. So we asked sci-fi, fantasy, and horror writers from the realms of books, TV, movies, and games to take a shot themselves." LINK TO WIRED ARTICLE

I know this isn't exactly how this is played, but since I've had to get my "elevator pitches" locked for the books I've done, I decided to apply the "6 word synopsis" to my three graphic novels:

"Lost in space, she finds purpose."
LITTLE WHITE MOUSE

"Upper. Lower. Between, Simone chooses equity."
MOPED ARMY

"Perfect beat. Imperfect life. Journey continues."
B.P.M.

2008 has been an interesting year.

2009 will be a challenge. Or a right bastard. Or both.

The ability to find the things in our lives that are important and basic to what we need will become more important than ever before. The excessive things in our lives may need to fall away, and we'll come to recognize that which does truly sustain us.

The power that art, music and creative pursuit provide are now more important than ever. We will need these things to balance out the practical and numerical parts of our lives; we need to rediscover the simple pleasures that we get from seeing and creating art, and from making and dancing to music. Especially when we feel that it's the last thing we should do, that's usually a sign that we need to do it more.
Art still matters.
Music still matters.
And they both give as good as they get. More important that we remember to bring our best each time.

Peace and love for you and yours during this holiday season.
Share the simple gifts you have with others and let yourself be empowered by what they offer as well.
And thank you for all the support you've given to me and my work.
If it gives you happiness, joy, something to think (or swear) about, or entertains you, then my job is done.
And for God's sake, get out and shake your ass to some music this season!
Year end thoughts coming soon...

Nice online review from Iain Jackson, via LiveJournal:LINK

B.P.M. (Paul Sizer; Cafe Digital)
$15.99, 94p.
50 page preview online at paulsizer.com

"Roxy wants to be a DJ. In fact, she is a DJ, but she wants to be a great one, not just a good one. She starts investing more of herself in finding out just how to do this, spending more time with her friend Atsuko, who is a very good DJ, with her friend Dominic who is both a DJ and a recording engineer. This causes conflict in her romantic relationship with her girlfriend Hannah, who wants Roxy to spend more time with her. At the same time, Roxy gets some unsolicited but very good advice from this guy whom she's never met before. After doing a little research, she discovers that he's Philippe Robicheau, a one-time luminary on the club DJ scene who self-destructed in a haze of drugs and sex, among other things. She starts working with him, absorbing his knowledge to make herself a better DJ. In the meantime, her relationship with Hannah pretty much implodes, and Roxy's forced to make hard decisions about her life. How much does she want to give to her work? How much to a relationship? Where does she want her priorities to lie? Just how much does she want this, anyway?

Sizer does a very good job of depicting how it feels to be a young adult, just beginning to take your work seriously, deciding just how driven you are and how successful you want to be, and what sorts of sacrifices it takes to get where you want to be. Roxy gets portrayed a bit inconsistently -- in most of her life, she's forthright and assertive, but when it comes to the breakup of her relationship with Hannah, she just takes the hits without pointing out that Hannah's doing the same thing that she's doing, prioritizing her career over the relationship. That really is the one character quibble I do have about the story. Sizer's New York is also very inclusive -- it takes place in a New York with all sorts of people, as opposed to the "Friends" New York, for example. The colors are strong and vibrant throughout, with a playlist running along the bottom of the book for evocative music. The one place where the artwork has a few -- a very few -- problems comes in his depiction of faces; there's something about a few of the faces where he's drawing them full-face or close to it where they look clunky and squished; a perspective issue of some sort. Again, that's in a very few places; otherwise, the faces are very expressive and distinct.

BPM is a very enjoyable read. Older teens and adults who like stories about music and the people who work in that world might like it very much. Highly recommended."

And B.P.M. is also the featured review for Diamond Bookshelf, based on the Publishers Weekly review from a few weeks back:
LINK

It's now official; "B.P.M." is a nomination for the American Library Association's "Great Graphic Novels for Teens" list, winners to be announced at the ALA Winter Conference in January.
"Great Graphic Novels for Teens" 2009 Nominations
Fingers are crossed for "B.P.M." to make the Top Ten list this year!