'TIS THE SEASON... FOR BOOK SIGNINGS!
Now in stores is The Man Who Became Santa Claus And Other Winter Tales, a treasury of Christmas-themed stories, from award-winning enterprise reporter and News & Record metro columnist Lorraine Ahearn.

And guess who did the illustrations? Our very own John Hitchcock! That's right, John contributed almost twenty drawings for inclusion in the book, pen-and-ink line drawings that reflect the stories contained inside.

In December, you can meet the author and the illustrator at several book signings in the Triad! And if you buy a book at a signing, John will draw you a picture on the spot... for free!

     December 1 2009, 7:00 PM
     Central Library
     219 North Church St.
     Greensboro, NC 27402
     336.373.2471

     December 6 2009, 2:00 PM
     Barnes & Noble - Friendly Center
     3102 Northline Avenue
     Greensboro, NC 27408
     336.854.4200

     December 13 2009, 2:00 PM
     Barnes & Noble - Oak Hollow Mall
     906 Mall Loop Road
     High Point, NC 27262
     336.886.1331

And feel free to stop by the store and pick up a book for your loved ones!
 
SPAAAACE GHOOOOST!
First he conquered the literary world, now he's a bona fide TV star! John Hitchcock is all over the Alex Toth documentary featured on the new 2-disc "Space Ghost And Dino Boy" DVD set from Warner Bros. Along with industry professionals and family members, John recalls fond memories and hilarious stories about one of the true legends of comic book artistry. It's the perfect Christmas gift for that die-hard comic book fan in your life. Stop by the store to pick up a copy of this long-awaited DVD set!


Click on the screenshot above to see more images from the documentary.
 
R.I.P. DAVE STEVENS
I got an e-mail today that Dave Stevens passed away last night (March 10th). Dave had been battling cancer for more than eight years. Even knowing this was coming it still was a shock to every one who loved him. Love is an often-misused word but Dave was a man that every one really loved. And I am not talking about his work. If you met Dave Stevens you really did meet a very kind and honest person.
And he loved comics and art as much as anyone I ever met.
When you got lucky and got to meet an Eisner or a Kurtzman and you put the talent to one side, you realize that they are really wonderful and very generous folks.
Dave was that and a lot more to me.
Dave was twice a guest at my Parts Unknown conventions and we became good friends for many years. At the end of the shows all the guests would get together and have dinner. I will always remember Dave listening to a story by George Evans and laughing so hard that he almost fell out of his chair.
That is the Dave Stevens that everyone fell in love with. I hope everyone reading this got to meet Dave.
He was one of the good guys.


MIKE WIERINGO
1963 - 2007
Big Mike.

Mike Wieringo was a quite a guy.

Very talented in doing something that is very hard to do. Mike could draw The Fantastic Four on a monthly schedule and make even the old timers like me want to read it.

Doing a monthly comic takes a lot of drive and talent, but Mike loved what he was doing. That Fantastic Four story where the FF meet God/Jack Kirby was really a wonderful tribute to the founding fathers. And you could tell he was very proud of it.

I knew Mike; we talked some about things that interested him. Once we talked at an ice cream shop across from the Duke University campus about professional wrestling. He was usually a quiet guy, but the tricks of the trade of pro rasslin' made him bubble up with a hundred questions.

And we talked at length about Alex Toth once at one of my small comic book conventions. Mike was a very smart guy to talk to. Very unassuming in person and he always made an effort to be a guest at our shows. He was a terrific guest, doing free sketches and signing all day.

And he was a hell of a comic book artist. He was driven to do a great job on his books and was at times frustrated when Marvel would move him to a new book.

But that is water under the bridge now.

Ringo will always be a part of comic fandom around the Carolinas and everyone who ever met him will miss him for a long time.

Mike Wieringo was one of the good guys.

       - John Hitchcock, owner, Parts Unknown