Byron Vaughns Shazam Blog: 2010

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam graphic novel

Hey guys, I know it is a little late but here is some news regarding my work. DC Comics

has included my first Billy Batson story in the new Mike Kunkel and Art Baltazar graphic novel , Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam! with inks by Ken Branch.
The available copies on Amazon are very inexpensive, so take a look-see!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=billy+batson+and+the+magic+of+shazam+%21+by+mike+kunkel+and+art+baltazar&x=19&y=18

Also, sorry to be away for such a long time but I have been involved in a fun project that I will share with you in the coming months. Stay tooned to http://www.byronvaughns.com

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Support boys who love comic books at the Boys Rule Boys Read Blog and the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System

3–Day Sale of original art at http://shop.byronvaughns.com/ , in support of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library System and elementary school-age boys who love to read comic books. Asking for your help with this worthwhile cause.
This is unusual for me as an artist ……selling my original comic book pages from the DC Comics Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam series, hard for any artist really, but I was moved by the critical funding issues of the the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library System http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/news/06092010/rallies-rallies-everywhere-final-budget-votes-loom which in turn affects the library’s unique, Boys Rule Boys Read Blog http://jaja-cas.blogspot.com/ , created for elementary school-age boys to encourage reading; a place for boys to find terrific books and tell other boys about great reading. Because of the boys’ enthusiasm for the Billy Batson stories (a boy’s positive superhero image and exceptional relationship with his superhero sister), I felt this was a great cause to support. Hey, remember how good it felt to read comic books when you were a kid??”

“So….I am selling about 70 pieces of original, signed comic book pages and personally donating a portion of my proceeds (40%) to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Public Library System and as the donator, I will retain the tax deduction rights. I am also donating FREE SHIPPING & HANDLING, USA for each purchase at no cost to you!

ORDERS OUTSIDE USA MUST CALL FOR SHIPPING CHARGES. BE SURE TO CLICK ON THE ARTWORK TO ENLARGE THE PAGE!
The 3-day sale starts on FRIDAY, June 25, 2010 at 6am Eastern Standard Time and ends MONDAY, June 28, 2010 at 10pm Eastern Standard Time. BUY NOW THROUGH PAYPAL! OR ORDER BY PHONE (818-749-8536) THIS IS FASTER AND WILL ALLOW ME TO HELP THE LIBRARY’S IMMEDIATE FUNDING GAP. I CAN ALSO ACCEPT CHECKS BY PHONE.

If you would like a personal greeting on the comics page, call and let me know!

For more information on Byron Vaughns: http://www.byronvaughns.com/
The Boys Rule Boys Read Blog, http://jaja-cas.blogspot.com created by the library staffers, Carl Schwanke, Bill Corder & Zack Moore have been avid supporters of the Billy Batson & the Magic of Shazam series (especially Bill Corder) http://jaja-cas.blogspot.com/2009/07/mario-kart-shazam-and-star-wars-nuff.html

For more information about the Boys Rule Boys Read Blog, contact Carl Schwanke at cschwanke@cmlibrary.org (704) 416-4630. Additional contact, Jason Hyatt (Children’s Services Manager) jhyatt@cmlibrary.com . Also check out http://boysrockbr.blogspot.com a new boy’s blog by Carl Schwanke, Bill Corder & Zack Moore!

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

WHAT A GREAT RIDE ON BB&MS BY BYRON VAUGHNS

Hi Guys,
It’s me again after all this time. Sorry about the wait, but I have been quite busy. As everyone knows by now, I am no longer the artist for the next story arc of BB&MS. I was well aware after I was hired last April 2009 as a replacement for Mike Kunkel that the selection of a new artist was in the making and so it has come to be. Come on guys, this story arc started with Kunkel, then DeStefano and then me; there is a pattern here. What was a surprise, was the naming of the new artist, Mike Norton (that slipped right past me.). I missed that because I was too busy finishing up the last two issues (#11 & #12). I offer him sincere congratulations and wish him well. I look forward to the many changes I expect to see as BB&MS continues to grow. I thank Dan Di Dio for having given me such a golden opportunity. Working with the whole team was a pleasure. BB&MS was a great ride in spite of the bumps along the way. We rode it together and began to like each other along the way. Thanks to the fans and reviewers who liked my cartoony style (and the many little kids) including those who noticed and appreciated the changes in the characters in issues #11 and #12. I will continue to blog about Billy Batson for those who are still interested in the backstory of my experience with BBMS; there are many fascination details I would like to share with you regarding my time with BB&MS. As I stated earlier, I have been quite busy and it has been back to animation for me; however, because of my love for comics, I have decided to create my own web comic. So please continue to visit my blog at http://byronvaughnsshazam.blogspot.com and be on the lookout for the link to my new webcomic, Paxton Knight that will be coming soon. SHAZAM!

WELCOME

Salutations and Howdy, Folks! Excuse my overt greetings, but, being from the South (Arkansas, that it is), I thought that I would open the first installment of this “Shazam!” missive in a friendly, down home manner. Welcome to my Shazam blog; hope you like it because this blog is really your blog! What are your interests regarding the good Captain? How often have you followed his adventures? What would you like to discuss? Feel free to respond, I am very much interested in your comments!

MORE STARVING

He moved on to the Arkansas Dispatch, where he wrote/drew a regular series of historical panels and editorial comic strip series, “The Arkankids” and wondered if/when/how food/and/or money would materialize. Later, he ended up at the Pine Bluff Commercial where he did local editorial cartoons and a daily comic strip series, “Pine Bluff Paradise” and continued to wonder if/when/how food/and/or money would materialize. The world of television beckoned when KATV Channel Seven in Little Rock, Arkansas employed him as graphic designer, working closely with the news department. This led to work as an Artist-In-Residence (a high falutin’ title for an on-site artist at a school campus) with the Arkansas Arts Council. This job had Mr. Vaughns in Hope, Arkansas (Clinton Country, y’all) only a few miles from Egg City (no joke again!). A natural interest in cartooning opened the door to work as an Animation Director with the Arkansas Arts Center.

SEEKING HIS FORTUNE IN THE WEST, “YOUNG MAN”

Eventually, he moved west where he worked for various animation studios (such as Warner Bros., Disney, Universal, Starz Media, etc.), and found that finally he no longer had to wonder if/when/how food/and/or money would materialize. He worked his way through the ranks peculiar to the animation profession: storyboard artist, assistant animator, character designer, development artist, director and finally, producer. He has directed/produced traditional animation, computer animation (CGI) and internet animation (Flash). He has also worked on a variety of cartoon series and direct-to-video features including the recently released Rob Zombie’s Haunted World of El Superbeasto, Starz Media, Burbank, CA

MORE ANIMATION BACKGROUND

His background includes television series such as "Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures" and "Animaniacs" (Warner Bros./Amblin Entertainment). While directing the popular cartoon series "Steven Spielberg Presents Tiny Toon Adventures" for Warner Bros. Television Animation, he received an Emmy® Award for Outstanding Children’s Animated Program (Fox Network). Other series and direct-to-video features include "101 Dalmatians" (Disney), "Weird-Ohs" (Mainframe), "Casper’s Haunted Christmas" (Harvey Entertainment), "Make Way for Noddy" (SD Entertainment).

HOW HE MET DAN DI DIO

Mr. Vaughns met Dan Di Dio (then a general manager at ABC Network’s Children’s Division) while working as Producer on "Dumb & Dumber", Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc., Hollywood, CA. While Mr. Vaughns moved on to Cartoon Network’s Johnny Bravo to produce and co-develop the series with the creator Van Partible, Mr. Di Dio (yes he has two last names) eventually left California and went on to DC Comics in New York. While working on the "Billy Batson and the Magic of Shazam" Comic Book, Mr. Di Dio remembered Mr. Vaughns and gave him a chance to work on it. The rest, they say, is history!