Signing at Aw Yeah Comics!

The Final Product

Burning Building, the Graphic Novel Debut.

OK, well I'll be at SPX this weekend debuting my advance copies of Burning Building Comix the graphic novel! I'll be at table B4 with my brother Adam all weekend. Here's a funny thing, I haven't seen the book yet. The printer shipped the advances directly to the hotel, so the first I see it, besides the proofs, will be at the show! So come on down and buy a book, only 50 copies are available, so but it early and often! Ok back to work getting ready for the show.

Okay, well I guess I haven't posted anything in a while. It's been crazy round here, and I've neglected the one web log that updates up to a dozen people on my goings on. Shame on me. So, real quick.
I just finished up a weekend helping to put on CAKE, the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo. It was a whole ton of work that me and fellow organizers Neil Brideau, Edie Fake, Max Morris, and Grace Tran put together. It happened this past weekend, (June 16th and 17th) at Columbia Colleges Ludington building. I uploaded some pictures of the weekend and the side events over on the CAKE flicker page. 
CAKE PICS
It was a great time, and I met a lot of new people and saw old friends. It was the first alternative comics show in the city in 16 years and by all accounts was a success. Never ones to rest on our laurels, the organizers were seen on Grace's porch the night after the show discussing the events and preparing for next year.
I could go on with the details of the show, but I'm still too tired....
Also since I've last posted things have been growing with the guys over at bindledog. We recently saw the debut of Comedy Bang Bang on IFC. Why is this significant? Because Comedy Bang Bang is a great podcast and now a great TV show? No, Because the super talent know as Paul Hornschemeier was the concept artist of the show? No... well....yes, yes because of that, and because Paul hired us at bindledog on the animate his artwork for the title sequence.  So that was fun. You can see the show and our title sequence every Friday night over on IFC. That's the Independent Film Channel....Yes it's a cable channel...Yes, really....they've been around for a while...I don't know ten years?....Yes, really.   We're also still putting out cartoons once in a while for other people who run a sporting organization of sorts. In unrelated news, Dave Dameshek has a great podcast, we love that guy.
Last, and certainly least when it comes to the time I have left, is the Burning Building Comix Collection that I'm still working on. That sucker is nearly done, but keeps getting pushed back by the likes of CAKE and IFC. Still I promise it will be done, and soon!....whats that? ....I don't know a couple weeks, maybe sooner...yeah, well then off to the printer!...what's that?...it take a couple months, they're over seas....(sigh).
Also, my kids are great.

Leper

Okay, so here's pics of Leper my new Mini. It's another "silent" comic, told in pantomime, and explores the repercussions when a "Leper" suddenly intrudes and alters the path of ones life. Sound pretentious enough?It's 9 pages black and white, with a 2 color silk screened panel on the cover. It's 3 dollars. 

Kickstarted!

So, I should have announced on here by now that I reached my goal for my Kickstarter campaign! It was amazing. I didn't think I was gonna make it, but a ton of last minute help came through and remarkably, it all worked out! Burning Building Comix is finally going to be a collected Graphic Novel. The logistics need to get worked out and I'll post here with updates along the way, but needless to say I'm very excited to finally get this material out to a larger audience. 

Also I have a new comic that I completed to SPX it's called Leper, and I'll get more info on here about it soon, but until then here are some pictures of the silk screening process. Here's a shot of a couple of screens, and some of the prints from the first color.

Over the years I've done several silk screened covers and burning the screen is the trickiest part. I think I finally nailed all the variables though. You know distance of the bulb to the screen when you burn the image on. Length of time for when you burn, and all that other crap, but I think I finally got it cause the last couple I've done I nailed on the first try. Suck it silk screen demons. Oh how they try to screw you up. 

Plus, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that I'll be down in Minneapolis for MIX this November. 

I'll be hawking my wares down there and I'm really looking forward to it, cause I've never been in the area before and know there's a ton a good and nice cartoonists out there right now. So if your in the area, please do stop by. Thanks!

Da Links Da Tanks

Hey, should let everyone know that I'll be at SPX this year with a new book that I'm trying to get done as I write this. I'll also be trying to get more support in there for My kickstarter Campaign which has less than 2 weeks left!
So, if you've waited for whatever reason...Don't Wait Anymore! Go now and pledge your support before it ends and/or fails!
In that vein, I'd like to point out all the folks who've helped me get the word out.

Paul Hornschemeier. The incredibly talented cartoonist and fine gentlemen was kind enough to embed the video on his blog. Word.
http://blog.forlornfunnies.com/2011/08/kick-burning-building.html
Rob Clough. The brilliant comics critic and swell guy also blogged the project on his fantastic website High-Low
http://highlowcomics.blogspot.com/2011/08/another-worthy-kickstarter-effort-jeff.html
Elliot Serrano. The Red Eye's very own Geek was kind enough to interview me for his great column "Geek to me"
http://blogs.redeyechicago.com/geek-to-me/2011/08/08/local-indie-comic-creator-needs-help-to-kickstart-his-book/
Replaned. The comics blog where artists send in their renditions of existing comics panels, put up one of mine, featuring everybody's favorite greedy duck.
http://repaneled.blogspot.com/2011/08/jeff-zwirek-repanels-uncle-scrooge-400.html
The gang over at Quimby's has also been helping out, on the blogs and the twitters and such. I also did an interview for Chicago Artist Magazine, which I don't think is out yet, but I'll pass that along when it comes up.
Then, there's all of you who have helped through word of mouth or on facebook and twitter. Thanks so much.

Also, in case people have forgotten what the inside of Burning Building Comix, looks like, here's an old video I did of me "speed inking" an issue. Tanks all.