A Sort of Homecoming

I’m pretty excited to have another library visit on the horizon. I’ll be reading selections from Deus ex Comica, talking about my journey back into comics, and having what I hope will be a fun Q&A session afterwards. I love doing author visits because they bring back to me just how much I enjoyed the process of writing the book (and how proud I am of that accomplishment).

This visit will be at the Stark County District Library’s Lake Community Branch. What makes this one extra cool is that the library is located between the middle school and high school I attended. The talk is scheduled for 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 10.

These kinds of events always remind me why comics are so important to me, and the timing of this one is sure to put me that much more into the right mindset for attending C2E2 the following weekend!

Author Visit – Adam Besenyodi,
Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan
Tuesday, April 10
6:30pm

Lake Community Branch
11955 Market Avenue N
Uniontown, OH 44685
330.877.9975

Register for the Event
Online or by Phone

I will have copies of Deus ex Comica and a limited supply of Exo-1 and the Rocksolid Steelbots (the graphic novel I co-wrote for Action Lab Entertainment) available for purchase after the talk.

As always, if you buy a copy of Deus ex Comica direct from me, you get a free digital copy of the book for your tablet, PC, or smartphone.

Digital Deus

In the three years since publishing Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan, I have had a great time connecting and re-connecting with fellow comic fans. I don't know that I realized just how universal my experience was until the book started getting into the hands of others.

Deus has been available for purchase via physical copy or PDF since the beginning through the publisher, Lulu, but the way we consume our pop culture has changed. I love getting a digital copy of a movie when I pick up the Blu-Ray, and I'm all about the subtle moves toward digital copy codes being included with comics. In that spirit, at the end of 2011 I decided to reach out to all of the people who have purchased a copy of Deus ex Comica direct from me over the years (I don’t have access to who purchases the book from the publisher, via Amazon, or elsewhere. Sorry.), and offer them a free digital copy of the book. The response has been overwhelming! I know people love to get free stuff, but the personal notes included with the responses to my offer have been amazing and fun... from providing a reason to reread my book to aiding in the excuse to purchase a tablet!

With such an overwhelming response, it seemed right to extend the offer to all future sales of my book purchased direct from me. So, as of now, anyone who purchases a copy of Deus ex Comica direct from me not only gets the opportunity to have the book inscribed if they'd like, but also will receive a free digital copy of the book for their reading pleasure!

The PDF is still available for purchase if that's the only version you want, but I'm all about getting this thing into as many people's hands -- virtual or otherwise -- as possible. Read it, share it, enjoy it!

Deus ex Comica November Author Visit

Seems like forever since I last did an author visit, but when the North Canton Library reached out to me to do a reading from Deus ex Comica and talk about the writing process, my self-publishing experience, and comics in general, I couldn't pass it up.

What better way to celebrate a new comics Wednesday than by coming out to the North Canton Library, located at 185 North Main Street, on November 2, and supporting a local author and the local library system?

The program will start at 6pm with some prepared thoughts and selected readings from Deus ex Comica, followed by an open discussion. Hope to see you there!

A Central Florida Comics/Star Wars Mash-Up

I’ve known Todd Merrick for years. We worked together at the old Disney Inn and spent way too many Wednesdays at “Nickle Beer” night at Church Street Station in the ’90s. Todd quickly became one of Tracy’s friends too after she and I began dating, and he ended up in our wedding.

A year or so ago, Todd opened up Heroes Landing, a nice little comic shop in Clermont, Florida. I had a chance to stop in when I was in town on business last month, and was thrilled to find a clean, well-kept store with a little bit of something for everyone. When Todd found out I was coming back in town to cover Star Wars Celebration V for ToyFare magazine, we immediately hatched a plan for me to do an in-store signing for my book, Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan, the same week.

Todd has all kinds of pre-convention stuff planned Wednesday, August 11! With me at 3pm will be John Booth signing copies of his book, Collect All 21 (which was edited by yours truly). Christian Slade, Top Shelf Comics author and artist, will be signing copies of his KORGI book series and doing sketches. And Chris Macht, director of The Force Among Us documentary, will be signing copies his DVD, as well.

Later, Arnie and Marjorie from the Star Wars Action News podcast will be hosting a charity trivia event at the store beginning at 7pm. Proceeds from the $10 entry fee will benefit the Leukemia (“Luke”-emia, in this case?) and Lymphoma Society of Central Florida.

So if you’re local to Central Florida or coming in town for the convention, stop in at Heroes Landing for what looks to be a fun, unofficial Celebration V pre-party, and support some creative types in our endeavors!

August 11
Events Begin at 3pm

Heroes Landing
12348 Roper Blvd.
Clermont, Florida 34711
352.242.XMEN
info@heroeslanding.com

Larchmere Festival Author Alley

Just a quick reminder that I’ll be in the Author Alley at the Larchmere Festival in Shaker Heights this Saturday, July 03, promoting Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan with nearly 50 other local authors, including my good friend John Booth! Author Alley will be at Loganberry Books on Larchmere Boulevard from noon until 4pm.

There is going to be a wide variety of books available. Come out, meet some local writers, find something you like, and feel good about supporting local authors!

SCCC Countdown!

I am a DCBS convert. I still throw money around in the local comic shops, but for the last year the bulk of my monthly haul and new-release collected editions now comes via UPS from Discount Comic Book Service. But even before I was buying my comics from DCBS, I was friends with Zack Kruse… first through forums and then from con-going.

So when the folks at DCBS decided to put on a one-day show in their Fort Wayne hometown, there was no way I could pass it up. I know I’m not “mention worthy” (or even belong on that great list of guest creators they’ve put together for the show), but I’m still pretty damn excited Zack asked me to be a part of Summit City.

There are so many artists and creators you should be looking forward to seeing at this show: Dave Wachter, Andy Jewett, Jim Rugg, Hilary Barta, Mike Norton, Katie Cook, Shawn Pryor, Steve Bryant, Zack himself, and the list goes on. These are all people with talent to spare!

I’ll of course have copies of my book, Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan, available for sale at the show. And if you buy a copy of it, not only can you get it signed by me, but more impressively, you can take it over to the book’s cover artist and Eisner Award Nominee Dave Wachter, and he’ll do a free quick head sketch in the book for you!

I’m looking forward to the short road trip and getting to see friends – creators, podcasters, forum family, and fans – who I only ever get to see during “con season.” Although I’m sure there will be deals to be had, Summit City Comic Con strikes me as filling the hole left by the Around Comics guys’ Windy City Comicon going on hiatus this year: A one-day show that is creator focused over vendor gluttony.

See you next Saturday!

FCBD 2010

This year’s Free Comic Book Day was probably my favorite one yet! I was invited up to Willoughby to help Comic Heaven celebrate the industry holiday, and was treated to a fun afternoon meeting the store’s regulars, talking comics, and even selling a few copies of my book.

Comic Heaven isn’t exactly my “local” comic book shop. Willoughby’s a good 45 minutes from Akron. The kiddo’s godparents live about five minutes from the store, but all the times I’ve stopped in over the years has been when store owner Jim was out. We’ve talked on the phone numerous times since I published Deus ex Comica (he graciously has had promotional postcards for the book in his store at various times over the last year), but this was the first time we’d actually met face-to-face.

(If you have a copy of Deus ex Comica, Comic Heaven is the store I reference at the bottom of page 129 in the Daredevil anecdote.)

When I arrived around 11:45 for my noon to 3pm appearance, the store was hopping due to members of the 501st, Darth Vader, Sinestro, and the handful of Iron Man 2 advanced movie tickets the store gave away when they opened at 11. I got settled in with my book displays and all, and immediately I had someone wanting to hear about my book and asking to buy a copy. Both the store and my table was crazy busy for nearly two hours straight.

I had one of my best sales days yet for an in-store signing, but more than that, I just love talking about comics and hanging around with other comic fans and seeing kids excited about the medium. That connection, that common ground is what it’s all about. Although I was disappointed my own kiddo couldn’t hang out with me at the store (he and Tracy had afternoon plans), I was able to snag him a couple of FCBD books, and I got to see my godson when Diane and Ivan stopped in.

And the perfect end to my signing... The guy who bought that first copy of Deus ex Comica right when I got set up was there with his girlfriend. Later in the day, sometime around 2:30, his girlfriend came back with her young son to get some free comics. She made a point to stop back at my table and tell me that her boyfriend was so excited about my book that he made her read the back cover and start to read the book out loud to him while they were driving home earlier. That’s what makes this little non-money making venture of self-publishing worthwhile.

Deus ex Comica: The Eight Day Tour

Busy week or so on the horizon for Deus ex Comica...

Last weekend’s C2E2 experience (or lack thereof!) has me really jazzed for the Pittsburgh Comicon this Saturday. Although I don’t have a table at the show, I am scheduled to be on the “How to Get Published” panel in Room 3 at 2pm. It should be fun to chat about the book, as well as get a chance to visit with friends.

Next Thursday, April 29, I’ll be talking about and reading selections from Deus ex Comica at the Nordonia Hills Branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library as a part of their Meet the Author series. That kicks off at 7pm and will be followed by a question and answer session.

Then on that Saturday, May 01, I will be in Willoughby signing copies of Deus ex Comica and visiting with other comic book fans as a part of Comic Heaven’s Free Comic Book Day celebration! I’ll be there from 12-3, but the fun lasts all day, with a store sale planned, along with various super heroes and Star Wars characters (I hear there will be biker scouts!) all in attendance.

I'll have copies of Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan with me at all these appearances for anyone interested. I appreciate everyone who supported me and my little book over the last year. If you’re around for any of these events, please feel free to stop by and say “hello.” It’s always great to meet and hang out with other comic fans!

• April 24, 2pm-3pm: "How to Get Published" (Room 3), Pittsburgh Comicon, Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville, Pennsylvania
• April 29, 7pm-8pm: Nordonia Hills Branch (ASCPL), 9458 Old Eight Road, Northfield (330.467.8595)
• May 01 (Free Comic Book Day!), 12pm-3pm: Comic Heaven, 4847 Robinhood, Willoughby (440.942.6960)

If you're unable to attend any of these events but would still like to pick up a copy of Deus ex Comica, Lulu is offering free shipping on the book with the use of coupon code FREEMAIL305, now through May 01. And, as always, the book is available through Amazon and signed copies are available direct from me. Thank you, again, to everyone for your support!

Farther Afield

I took Deus ex Comica to Virginia for George Mason Unversity’s Fall for the Book Festival last year, and it’s time to take the book outside of Ohio again...

First up, I am going to be on the “How to Get Published” panel at the Pittsburgh Comicon Saturday, April 24! I attended this con as a fan last year in September and was able to give a copy of Deus ex Comica to Stan Lee, now this year I will be on a panel with John Booth and Paul Anderson. I don’t have details on what time my panel will be yet, but will add that to the “2010 Author Appearances” schedule on the blog and will certainly be tweeting about it as soon as I know.

I am also going to be at the Summit City Comic Con in Fort Wayne, Indiana, on May 22! This single-day show is being put on by my friend Zack Kruse and the great folks from DCBS. I’m very excited to be a part of this event and have an opportunity to see a lot of my Midwest-based friends in the process.

On the more immediate horizon, and after the success of my author visit at the Learned Owl in Hudson in mid-February, I’m now looking forward to reading at the Northwest Akron Branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library Thursday, March 04 (time and details below). If you’re in Northeast Ohio, please feel free to stop in, listen to some readings from Deus ex Comica, take part in the conversation afterward or just say “hello!”

So I am still on-track with my goal to average no less than one book-related event per month in 2010 and there's more to come!

• March 04, 6.30pm-7.30pm: Northwest Akron Branch (ASCPL), 1720 Shatto Avenue, Akron (330.836.1081)
• April 24, TBD: "How to Get Published", Pittsburgh Comicon, Monroeville Convention Center, 209 Mall Boulevard, Monroeville, Pennsylvania
• April 29, 7pm-8pm: Nordonia Hills Branch (ASCPL), 9458 Old Eight Road, Northfield (330.467.8595)
• May 01 (Free Comic Book Day!), TBD: Comic Heaven, 4847 Robinhood, Willoughby (440.942.6960)
• May 22, 10am-6pm: Summit City Comic Con, The Grand Wayne Center, 120 West Jefferson Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana
• June 27, 10am-4pm: Akron-Canton Con, Chapparells Community Center, 2418 S. Arlington Road, Akron
• July 10, 2pm-3pm: Firestone Park Branch (ASCPL), 1486 Aster Avenue, Akron (330.724.2126)

Deus ex New Year

If only because it was the year I published Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan, 2009 was pretty amazing. But after you get over how cool it is to think that you published a book and the excitement of holding a physical copy of it in your hand, there is the suddenly daunting task of somehow getting the word out about said book. Self-promotion is decidedly not in my comfort zone, but through necessity and the help and encouragement of Tracy and John, I stepped outside of it and surprised myself with how much fun I had!

My local comic shop, JC Comics & Cards, stepped up and hosted me for my very first in-store book signing in April, and, despite competing with a gorgeous day outside, it was a success! From there I promoted the book at a bunch of regional comic book conventions and did an in-store signing on Free Comic Book Day at Bill’s Books and More.

Learning to write a press release and sending copies of the book to local newspapers resulted in write-ups in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon Journal, and interviews with Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources’ Tim O’Shea and Elliott Serrano of the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye Geek to Me blog, and a great review and interview on Wired Magazine’s GeekDad blog.

The year ended with two well-received author visits. The first came out of nowhere when my old friend Mark, a professor at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, asked me if I’d like to be a part of the Fall for the Book Festival. What an amazing experience that was! My prepared reading in front of an audience of 50 or so was followed by a great question and answer session.

I was able to get copies of Deus ex Comica in virtually all branches of the Akron-Summit County Public Library, which led to my other author visit, this one at the Fairlawn-Bath Branch of the library. Although attendance was lighter than the GMU festival (somewhere around 20 attendees), it was just as fun and, again, the conversation with the audience afterward was wonderful.

Amid all this, I was fortunate enough to give copies of the book to both Stan Lee and Neil Gaiman, and share Deus ex Comica with friends and influences at the Chicago Comic-Con.

So now I feel like I sort of have a game plan. Or, at least, that’s what I tell myself. And as 2009 wound down, I set out to line up as many appearances as I could to start off the New Year. My hope is to average one book-related appearance per month in 2010, and while I’m still working on some dates and opportunities, I’m thrilled to so far have seven appearances confirmed between now and mid-July!

The first Sunday in February I’ll be promoting the book at the Akron-Canton Con (John will be there too, selling copies of Collect All 21!). The following Saturday, February 13, John and I will both be at The Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson for a local authors event, sharing some prepared readings from our books, chatting with customers, and signing books.

March and April will find me doing author visits at the Northwest Akron (March 04) and the Nordonia Hills (April 29) branches of the Akron-Summit County Public Library. I’ll be following that up by helping Comic Heaven celebrate Free Comic Book Day on May 01 with an in-store signing event at their Willoughby store.

The end of June brings another Akron-Canton Con (June 27) and then two weeks later I’ll be speaking at the Firestone Park branch of the library.

I have more book promotion opportunities on the horizon as well, but they aren’t firm enough to share just yet. Some are nearly finalized and some are still just ideas I’m exploring. As soon as things do finalize, I’ll be sure to post them. I hope, if you’re able, you’ll come out, say “hello,” and support a local writer!

• February 07, 10am-4pm: Akron-Canton Con (with Collect All 21! author John Booth), Chapparells Community Center, 2418 S. Arlington Road, Akron
• February 13, 3pm-5pm: The Learned Owl Book Shop (with Collect All 21! author John Booth), 204 N. Main Street, Hudson (330.653.2252)
• March 04, 6.30pm-7.30pm: Northwest Akron Branch (ASCPL), 1720 Shatto Avenue, Akron (330.836.1081)
• April 29, 7pm-8pm: Nordonia Hills Branch (ASCPL), 9458 Old Eight Road, Northfield (330.467.8595)
• May 01 (Free Comic Book Day!), TBD: Comic Heaven, 4847 Robinhood, Willoughby (440.942.6960)
• June 27, 10am-4pm: Akron-Canton Con, Chapparells Community Center, 2418 S. Arlington Road, Akron
• July 10, 2pm-3pm: Firestone Park Branch (ASCPL), 1486 Aster Avenue, Akron (330.724.2126)

GeekDad 2.0

So, the nice folks at GeekDad, one of Wired Magazine’s great blogs, saw fit to follow up the very complimentary review of Deus ex Comica with an author interview. Book reviewer Curtis Silver conducted the interview, coming up with some interesting and genuine questions based on what he read in the book, which is always appreciated as the subject of an interview. I can’t thank Curtis enough for his support and enthusiasm! It’s been a pleasure getting to know him over the last few weeks. If you like what you read in the review or interview, please consider picking up a copy of Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan, and follow Curtis and all the great writers at GeekDad!

As always, if you've bought a copy of Deus ex Comica, thank you! And if you enjoyed reading it, please take a moment to rank and review it on Amazon, Lulu, and/or GoodReads. I appreciate everyone's support!

Geek is Good

Some updates on Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan...

I had a blast a couple Sundays ago meeting and chatting with folks and selling copies of the book alongside my friend and editor John Booth at the Akron-Canton Comic Con. I got to chat with people like local artist and comic fan Chris Martin (looking forward to his show at Red Light Galleries in Akron’s Northside District) and with comic artist Tommy Flick, who also had a table at the show.

If you have been checking out the sidebar of the blog, you may have noticed that Deus ex Comica is now available through Target.com, and available once again through Discount Comic Book Service (thanks, Zack!).

Also, today Wired Magazine’s great GeekDad blog ran a review of the book that was especially gratifying. I’m really excited about what the author of the review, Curtis Silver, had to say, particularly since he came at the book from a DC fan’s perspective. Stay tuned for an interview on GeekDad coming soon!

If you've read and liked Deus ex Comica, please consider taking a moment to rank and review it at Amazon, Lulu, and/or GoodReads and recommending the book to a friend. I sincerely hope you’ve enjoyed my book and appreciate the support!

It's All Geek To Me

Elliott Serrano, the resident comic book authority at the Chicago Tribune's RedEye publication and author of the Geek To Me blog, has been really supportive of Deus ex Comica. Today, the interview he did with me ran on the blog. I really enjoyed answering Elliott's questions. They were interesting to me as the interview subject and required a bit of thoughtful reflection in my responses.

The Geek To Me blog is well worth your time to check in on regularly. Elliott also does a web video highlighting the current week's more notable or undiscovered gems (which is how I have found stuff like Vertigo's Air) and has been a guest on Around Comics.

As always, if you've bought a copy of Deus ex Comica, thank you! And if you enjoyed reading it, please take a moment to rank and review it on Lulu, Amazon, and/or GoodReads. I appreciate everyone's support!

FCBD 2009 In-Store Book Signing

This Saturday, May 02, is Free Comic Book Day, an industry-wide "holiday" since 2002 where all kinds of comic book publishers give away special editions of various popular titles or previews of titles they're about to launch through comic book shops. Bill Pappas of Bill's Books and More invited me to sell and sign copies of my book, Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan, about my love of comic books at his in Canton store from 12 noon to 3pm (and longer if things are hopping) to help celebrate the day!

So if you’re in Northeast Ohio, please stop in and say hello to me at Bill’s Books and More and get some free comics! If you’re outside the area, find the local comic book shop in your town and go there Saturday to discover whole new worlds.

I'm Talking with Tim!

Tim O'Shea's interview with me over on Robot 6 @ CBR published today. Check it out if you’re curious about what went into my book Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan. (And huge thanks to my buddy John Losavio for hooking me up with Tim.)

Also, Pete and Cindy Scribner, who I met at the Toledo Comics & Sci-Fi Convention last weekend, recommended Deus ex Comica in their weekly newsletter this week. Check out their site at Comic Books for Less.

Getting the Word Out

The students in my kiddo's second grade class have been working on writing books all year long. I have been volunteering what amounts to one Friday a month to help edit the kids' stories in the Writers' Workshop. When the teacher found out I was writing a book of my own, she asked me if I'd like to talk to the class about the experience.

So with Deus ex Comica done, the kiddo's teacher and I picked my April Writers' Workshop volunteer session to come in early and talk to the class. The teacher had me set up in the bright-colored rocker in the corner, and 20 or so sweaty, fresh-from-gym-class second graders huddled in a tight semi-circle on the floor around me. I talked for a half-hour or so about having the idea, the seemingly endless cycles of revising and rewriting, and publishing the book.

Having a seven-year-old, I knew I should expect just about anything from the class when it came to question and answer time. And they didn't disappoint. I was asked stuff like how long it took me to write the book (about nine months for the first draft, including the online essays that started it all), did I draw the cover (nope, that was Dave Wachter), how old do you have to be to write a book (anyone at any age can write a book!), how do you pronounce the title and what does it mean (I made up the title and "God is in the comics"), and who did I dedicate the book to (the kiddo). But my favorite question was how old I was when I started writing the book (37). It was just subtly off-the-wall enough to tickle me just right.

I think they went easy on me because my book is about comic books, which is kinda cool to a grade schooler. And I think being able to hold my book in their hands and pass it around helped make things real for them.

Saturday began with the discovery that Deus ex Comica is now available for sale on Amazon.com! Lulu had advised me it would take six to eight weeks for the book to be listed on Amazon, but after just four short weeks it's already there. The book is also listed on GoodReads, so please feel free to rate and review the book on any or all of those three sites if you feel so inclined. I appreciate everyone's support!

That afternoon was my book signing at JC Comics and Cards. They gave me a corner of the counter to put up my displays and set out my books. There were only two sales I was hoping for going into the signing -- my buddy Jeff said he would stop by and my wife's cousin and fiancé said they'd be there too. Both came through for me, each stopping into the store and buying a copy of the book.

Of course the wife and kiddo stopped by and snapped a few photos as well, but what made the two hours go even faster and so much more fun was that I sold six other copies to people I didn't know! It was very cool that people came out specifically to meet and talk to me, buy my book, and in one case take pictures of and with me!

Sunday I made the two hour drive to Perrysburg for the Toledo Comics & Sci-Fi Convention. Organizer Jeff Harper set me up with a nice table to sell and sign copies of Deus ex Comica, and made certain to let everyone know I was at the show during every hourly door prize announcement.

It's tough when you're self-publishing a book like mine because the pricing structure is a bit different, and that can make things rough when you're up against fifty-cent comics and half-off trade paperbacks. This was a really small show compared to Jeff's Akron-Canton Comic Con and it seemed like the dealers were more interested in the book than the customers at the show, but I managed to sell three copies of the book. I doubt I'll make the trip back across the state for that show again, but I'll definitely do more of the local shows Jeff puts on (Akron, Canton, Richfield) and maybe even Columbus.

What made the trip all the more worthwhile, though, is that along with selling half the inventory I took with me, I struck up a conversation with Bill from Bill's Books and More comic book store down in Canton. I asked him if he'd be willing to put out some promotional postcards for my book in his store, he said sure then turned around and asked me if I was booked anywhere for Free Comic Book Day. I told him no and he immediately asked if I'd be willing to do a signing at his store that day. So now it looks like I'll be at Bill's Books and More (2215 6th Street SW) on Saturday, May 02 from 12 noon to 3pm for an in-store signing to help celebrate Free Comic Book Day! Mark your calendars now and come out to support the industry, say hello to me, and maybe pick up a signed copy of Deus ex Comica!

Deus ex Comica Book Release and In-Store Signing!

The day has finally come to release Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan into the wild! I am thrilled to announce that the book is now available for sale from Lulu! The book is $15.95 plus shipping. You can find the book through either my storefront or on the book page. A low-res preview of the introduction and the first chapter, “Reboot,” are also available at Lulu.com. If have questions or would like a signed copy of the book, please contact me directly.


If you live in Northeast Ohio, you can check out promotional postcards for the book at the following stores (with hopefully other locations coming soon!):

• JC Comics & Cards in Cuyahoga Falls
• Rubber City Clothing Company in Downtown Akron

My thanks for John at JC and Sarah at RCC for their support!

Also, if you’re in the area, mark your calendars for Saturday, April 18. I will be doing a book signing at JC Comics & Cards, located at 2609 State Road, with copies of Deus ex Comica for sale from 1pm to 3pm. Also, the store will be having a one-day 20% off sale that day from 11am to 7pm! So please come out and support Deus ex Comica and your local comic shop!

From the press release...

For twenty-odd years, Adam Besenyodi’s comic books sat in a closet in his parents’ house, untouched since he’d read them as a young fan coming of age in the 1980s.

Then in 2006, two things happened: Those nostalgia-filled long boxes showed up on his doorstep, and a friend offered a guiding hand back into the four-color wonder of the comic book world. The convergence both rekindled a love for the stories of his youth and sparked a full-on immersion in the current comic book culture as well.

Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan traces Adam’s journey and explores how the Marvel Comics stable of titles influenced his pre-teen and adolescent years in Northeast Ohio, his rediscovery of sequential art as an adult, and the pleasure of watching his own son’s first steps into the comic book universe.

David Giffels, author of All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-down House, says “Adam Besenyodi dons the mask and cape of nostalgia, allowing him the power we all crave – to find our way back through the myth of our own self.”

Chris Neseman, host of Around Comics, calls Deus ex Comica “A Marvel(ous) read. You can’t help yourself from digging through boxes of old comics after reading this!”

The Latin theatrical phrase “deus ex machina” tells us “God is in the machine,” behind the scenes and inextricably linked to all players and backdrops. Adam’s Deus ex Comica is a loving reference to the wonder and excitement that comic books contribute to popular culture at large. The details may be specific to one Midwestern boy’s journey from child to husband and parent, but it’s a truly identifiable chronicle of a pop culture junkie who has reawakened the long-dormant comic book fan within.

Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic Book Fan
Copyright 2009 by Adam Besenyodi

With a Foreword by Tom DeFalco, former Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics and the co-creator and writer of The Amazing Spider-Girl

Original Cover Art by Dave Wachter, artist of Scar Tissue, Tell Them Johnny Wadd is Here, and his new Western series The Guns of Shadow Valley

158 pages, 6” x 9” trade paperback

ISBN: 978-0-557-05487-9