Friday 30 August 2013

The Storm at the Expo...

A whole year has passed. It's crazy but when I wanted to start plugging this blog more and more, it was this time last year, after paying for my Fan Expo table and trying to imagine, me at the biggest show of the year here in Toronto, Canada, simply trying to make a name for myself. I couldn't even imagine it at all, I was scared and nervous, but I was also too hyped and giddy to let that show. And honestly, it's crazy to think back and realize that it just came and went, and I honestly couldn't be happier. But really I think back as well and I can't wait for next year as well, I can't wait for the next shows and all the different events that are coming up in the near future. So how exactly did my weekend go? With four days and three nights to cover, I will do my best to keep this as short as possible, but I can't make any promises, so grab a coffee...this may take awhile.

Day 1:

Set up day, man I was so happy to be there. Artist Alley, you know the guy who was jumping up and down, doing the Daniel Bryan "Yes Yes Yes" chant...yeah, that was me. I was so happy though, I couldn't believe it, me at Fan Expo. And seeing all my fellow Spent Pencils members, not to mention the new additions to the crew, the talented comic book artists and writer friends as well, not to mention everyone who was setting up, it was hard not to be excited. When the show started I decided to do a free warm up sketch, got to get working as soon as possible. It's a good way to get to meet new people as well, and I really do want to interact with as many people at these shows as possible. And before the night was up, I got my first commission of the show as well. 


After the show we decided to go out for dinner, which you know we did every single night, crazy but true. Afterwards a few us shared a few rounds of rum and drinks, which apparently I can't hold too well. Thanks Tea and Carly for letting me crash in the room.

Day 2:

Like any good day, I started this one by crashing to the ground. That will wake you up. Anyways, I had quite a few errands to run all over town, so I didn't get to the show until later in the afternoon. However, I did get to go and pick up the prints that I had ordered from Guerrilla Printing, and a big thanks to those guys on the amazing work as well. So as soon as I got to the show I set up all my prints in the my book and had them ready for everyone to take a look. I did pretty well during the day as well, sold a few of the Pokemon prints and got more commission homework to take home and work on.




But I didn't go home, after the show we went to get some dinner and afterwards it was on towards the Revival club for the Rue Morgue after show party with The Birthday Massacre! Man that show was awesome, I started watching the show at the back enjoying a few drinks, by the end of the night I was right at the very front. An amazing show, love the energy and the feedback with the crowd. I would love to go see them again and you should too, check out there work at this link, here: The Birthday Massacre.

Day 3:

Not much sleep was had, I was up and early to get ready for the biggest day of the weekend. I had to add some finishing touches to one of my commissions, an Adventure Time sketch cover with Marceline beating the crap out of Lemongrab. I loved how it turned out and it was a blast to work on as well, check it out as well and see what you think. After finishing one it's onto the next project, all the while selling a lot of my Pokemon prints and helping out to sell a lot of cap'n Sunico's prints, and any chance I get to help out anyone in my Spent family, I will do so! A lot of friends, old and new came by the table as well and it was great to feel all the love from everyone who has been with me along the way, thank you so much guys! And also a few of the band members from The Birthday Massacre came by our table, which was amazing! I had to hook them up with a few prints, totally blown away on how totally cool they were! Seriously, check these guys out!


The night we went out to Denny's for our traditional Spent Pencil eating joint, with a few of the new members as well! I was starving, I had three orders of food including a couple of pancakes, a burger and a wrap. Let me tell you, no sleep is better then deep sleep. Needless to say I passed out as soon as I got to cap'n Go's place, still ready for one more day.

Day 4: 

At last, the final day of the show, really bitter sweet kind of feeling for sure. I mean it's great to get back to a normal sleep pattern, but I had a blast all four of these days and could keep going on and on. But all things must come to an end at some point. I had all my commissions finished and picked up on this day and surprisingly as well I was able to sell a few of my blank covers that I've done, including a last minute purchase as well, which is always an awesome feeling.  But it was great show and a great experience, I had a blast spending my weekend with the people I care most about in this world, there's nothing I wouldn't do for anyone from the Spent Pencils family. 



And of course any day wouldn't be complete without Denny's.

But I just wanted to say a really big, huge thank you to everyone who came by the Spent Pencils table, we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you and all the support we get along the way, so thank you for the support and be sure to spread the word, tell friends and family and everyone you can, so we can make this Spent world bigger and bigger. And how it has grown, I am looking forward to meeting and working with all of the new pencils that have been added to the family, welcome guys to the crew and if there's anything I can do for any of you guys and girls, let me know. 

It's a brave and exciting world, and you know what...I can't wait for what comes next. Are you ready? 

Some YouTube Storm Vlog as well...


Tuesday 20 August 2013

Feeling down...

...to Earth!


Okay, so that was a little bit of a troll move there, but I am feeling a little zen right now. I am just trying to seeing things with a light head now with only a few days left until the big show, Fan Expo. So this is a time for everyone to panic, but either I am really stupid or unaware, but I am not stressed. And I think there's something wrong with me because of this. I want to join this stress party, it seems fun or something. But honestly I see it like this, I wasn't able to finish my book in time but I am okay with this because I want to do a good job on the book. It's a blast though, I am trying to throw in as much content and as much small little easter eggs as well in each panel. It's a lot of fun but also labor of love and I want to do a great job, but truth be told it will be filled with mistakes, but such is life. As for  my prints, I still need to get them printed so I am guessing it will be a little late, but better late then never. Not to mention I like the look of these and I am excited to be working on more with my colorist, she did an amazing job. I am not worried cause I think of this weekend as a learning opportunity, honestly any sale I make is going to be awesome but I am expecting to make nothing. If anything I will be shorter on funds cause who doesn't want to pick up a few books while at the convention, not to mention food and drinks. But this show I need to watch, learn and meet new people, I need to make people know about me, my legend needs to begin here. I just really want to start a small following, something to get my name going.

And I am not sure what's going on with me, but I've always been a bit of a strange fella I suppose.

I am actually just looking forward to seeing my Spent family this weekend, I love these guys and girls so much, there are truly a big part of me and the next chapter of my life. But that also brings me to closing up things in the old chapter, I am a little worried about money making in the next few weeks but I have faith in myself. I will have to say goodbye to old friends and co-workers, but it will be a death and rebirth for me, one falls and a new Alvaro rises from the ashes. 

Next chapter begins soon...


Wednesday 14 August 2013

No Time Left...


Damn it, I feel really bad when I haven't update in ages. So to borrow one from good old Mick Foley, to the dozens and dozens of ChileanStorm fans, I want to apologize to you personally for the lack of update on the page. Been busy with work, artwork, life, artwork and even more artwork, I can't tell you how much work I have to do, and I know that anybody and everybody who is going to FanExpo is working their butts off, so I want to say let's keep going guys, all of us, it's not easy what we do and we do it cause we love this more than anything. But I wanted to post up a quick little update to let you know what's going on this side of things.

Well after a weekend of rest I had to go down to the races that is work, takes a lot out of me but I am doing my best. Go to go back to the gym on Monday, which was awesome cause I have been due for quite sometime now, I need to keep this up for sure. Less flab, more abs. I also got a chance to hang out with my fellow spent twin, Tea yesterday as well. My favourite person in the world, I can't say enough amazing things about her. Although we have taken a few weeks off from Time Well Spent, but we will be back for sure, don't you worry! And for those who have yet to watch episode 9, take the time and watch it, a longer episode as well as we prepare for Fan Expo. And be sure to watch all the previous episodes and spread the word as well, one dozen can become two dozens and more and more, so please subscribe and comment like there is no tomorrow. 


In this episode we do take a look at Collider from Vertigo Comics in the Review section, and in the Spotlight I suggest readers to take a look at Regular Show and Tea plugs up one of our Spent Pencils originals, Little Dragonfly from Mark Feltham. So be sure to pick up a copy as well from our table at Fan Expo as well, it's an awesome book for sure! 

But take it from me, we are all totally crazy busy, so I apologize for the lack of updates but a lot of big things are on the horizon, so stay tuned and subscribe to this page and you know, tell your friends and stuff. And your pets too...why not. Much love, and keep chasing the storm! 

Wednesday 7 August 2013

Get Funky

Every now and then you get a story or even a single issue that breaks all the rules and stands out as an awesome single book. For many, these are the random books we find as young fans in those dollar bins, who hasn't been there once or twice. It can also be that book with the really pretty cover, something so eye catching you can't leave it on the shelf, and hey it's got a pretty cool story as well to boot. But sometimes it can be a single issue in the larger story line of the big plot but it has an iconic moment of your favorite characters dueling to the death or the introduction of a brand new character all together. But every now and then you get a story so ridiculous you can't help but plug in your blog, cause let's face it as far as over the top and strictly silly stories go...this one takes the cake and throws it at the wall...then licks it off the wall. Welcome to Deadpool #13, I will let the cover here do the talking...


That's right, Deadpool in the 70's. 

Not only is the Merc with a Mouth doing business in New York looking for work, he decides to team up with the Heroes for Hire, Luke Cage and Iron Fist. And yes we get the classic yellow shirt Power Man, an awesome throwback for fans. The whole look of the book is a throwback as well, with a very cool vintage look done by Scott Koblish, it makes the whole experience much more. And the incredibly hilarious writing team of Gerard Gorman Duggan and Brian Edmund Posehn, which have been at the helm of the new Marvel Now Deadpool series, continue to keep the series crazy, funny and completely insane. Which in Deadpool's case is everything you could ask for. I don't want to give out too much of the plot on this one, so I will leave you with this piece of information, the villain is a pimp. Again, I can't recommend this book enough, it's so ridiculous and yeah the time line is thrown out the window, but sometimes you just need that. I mean it's hard to keep track of your own life, let alone all the different time lines and lives of our beloved comic book heroes and villains. So relax, read and laugh your ass off. We can't always be so serious. 


This is a two part story though, so you can pick up Deadpool #13 in stores now and Deadpool #14 will be in stores next week, gives you a little something to laugh at during the Infinity series that also begins next week as well. So be sure to give these books a read if you haven't already, an extremely funny experience that shouldn't be missed. Got some work to take care of tonight, not to mention a new episode of Time Well Spent! So stay tuned for that. 

Keep chasing the storm. 

Tuesday 6 August 2013

August Already!

Hot damn, it's already August! 


Well that means it's crunch time for all of us comic book artist and writers, less sleep and more Monster energy drinks. Tonight will be my first night to be able to sit down and get working on some of my projects, I got a lot to finish but I think I should be alright if I stick to the plan and power through and make some awesome art work. I didn't feel great this morning, had to call in sick after throwing up bile all morning, I am pretty sure it was something I ate the night before. Although I am finding now in days my body is becoming more and more sensitive towards the things I eat, so I really need to be more careful about what I eat now in days. But I am feeling a little better, hopefully I can put in a few hours and bust out some good work. I am meeting up with the crew tomorrow for some work and of course filming the latest episode of Time Well Spent, it will be episode 9! I also want to do some promotional work for TWS, maybe some postcards and/or stickers for the Spent Pencils table at Fan Expo. Trying to get the word out on the show and get more viewer interaction, which would be amazing. We love doing the show, and I would love to share that with as many fans as possible, so spread the word and tell the world. Also if you have yet to see it, here is episode 8 in case you didn't get a chance to see it yet...


A very funny episode to shoot, it was hard to keep a straight face with all the shenanigans going on in the background. As for the Spotlight comics on this issue me and Tiffany take a look at two different one shot issues, Tiff takes a look at Marvel comics Wolverine: In The Flesh, a book which has Wolverine working with a celebrity chef to track down a cannibal killer. I take a look at Kaboom comics Adventure Time: 2013 Summer Special, a collection of mini adventures with the crazy casts of AT, a must for all fans. Then for Reviews we look at a local talent in Yuki vs Panda, an awesome martial arts comedy about one girls rivalry with a panda, I can't even make that up, it's awesome though with a colorful casts of characters and both fighters training for the ultimate showdown. A great ready and very fun read, highly suggest to check it out when you get a chance. And remember, if you know any great books that you think we should be reading, by all means let us know. 

And also, please be sure to subscribe and watch my video vlogs that I am doing, this is the latest if you haven't had the chance to watch yet, so by all means give it a watch...


I will probably do a quick video tonight as well as I work away in the night, so please subscribe and let me know what you think. 

But that's all the time I got for now, but sure to stay tuned for all news and ChileanStorm updates that are coming soon! Keep chasing the storm!