Micheleborg

Due To WHCS Being Unprofessional – Radio Show No More

This past Wednesday, I was going to air the interview I did with independant comicbook creator Mindy Indy.

The interview never aired. I’ll explain why.

First, I want to say thanks to Mindy for always being professional, and for also being a good person. Although I called her in advance to inform her about the situation, she was actually very supportive of my decision. For that, I encourage people to support her work.

Now, as to explain what is going on. ComicBook Convo With Michele is no more. After being disrespected by the station manager Stella, and not being able to stream my interview, which I spent time editing, etc., I walked out.

If I wanted to receive immature high school treatment, I’d go back to high school, not college. When I walked into the station, I was made to feel like the awkward nerd who sits at the cool kids’s table in the cafeteria. WHCS is inside a college. We should conduct ourselves professionally once out of high school.

I had spent my day at NYCC 2022 asking creators in Artist Alley if they would like to be interviewed for my school. They all said yes. I had people lined up. My intention was to get to those who said yes, even some returning guests, inbetween my busy schedhule, and interview them beforehand.

That’s not going to happen now.

This is not the first time this happened at WHCS. Joanna, the station manager during 2020, (right before the pandemic) made up some excuse as to why some of my interviews were not being recorded. Which means I could not take these missing interviews and archive them on another website. It was also embrassing to explain to professionals later on, why those interviews went missing.

A lot of time and work was taken, setting up times, recording the interviews beforehand, editing them, etc. My time.

The people at WHCS radio run the volunteer station like it’s some high school clique. This behavior is hurtful to those who want to learn about broadcasting. While it was not my intention to befriend everyone at the studio, common courtsey is still expected.

In reality, nobody needs radio stations anymore. Anyone with the right equiptment and knowledge can easily go on Twitch for example, and start their own show. So they’re playing themselves.

I will use my free time going forward working on my own comics and illustrations again. I’ve spent the last two years volunteering my time to help others – only to be taken for grated, and/or not appreciated. This stops now.

I want to thank those who supported me with kind words and encouragement.

Looking Back At New York Comic Con 2022

Attending New York Comic Con is an annual tradition for me. I’ve been attending the second biggest comic con in the U.S. since it’s inception on Feb 2006. Back in 2010, I had even had a table in Artist Alley.

This year brought back so many memories. I had a table in Artist Alley back in 2010. Doubt that will ever happen again, but at least I can say I sold my comics in NYCC.

While I did enjoy myself, there was a sad feeling I couldn’t shake off. Upon returning home, I read about a cosplayer’s passing on location.

Comic book artist Kim Jung Gi was slated to have a table at Artist Alley this year, when he passed away suddendly. Fans dropped by what was supposed to be his table, leaving flowers in his tribute instead.

One of the highlights of my NYCC experience 2022 was the George Perez panel. The artist passed away on May 6, 2022. Colleages and friends gathered on the panel to pay tribute to the well respected penciler who was known for his work on Wonder Woman, The Avengers, Crisis on Infinite Earths, Teen Titans, and many others. Perez not only had a long career in the comic book industry, but also much beloved in his personal life. At the panel it was discussed how he took in friends, making them honorary ‘family’ members and his dedication to his wife Carol. After the panel, free enamel pins bearing his signature were given out to the panel attendees.

Here’s a few photos from the day spent at NYCC.

Until next year..

Tomorrow – Interview With Mindy Indy!

Since bringing back Comic Book Convo, I have returning guest, cartoonist Mindy Indy!

Mindy is in the process of doing her second Kickstarter for her comic Aer Head.

You can listen to the interview tomorrow, Wednesday Nov. 9th, 2022 from 7-8pm EST on WHCSradio.org.

Tonight On ComicBook Convo With Michele! Full Ray Felix Interview

Due to lack of time, I decided to broadcast the entire Ray Felix interview, warts and all. It’s not as professional sounding as I hoped, but it’s better than not airing. You can tune in tonight, Wed. Nov 2nd, 2022, 7-8pm EST on whcsradio.com.

Comic Book Convo Is Back

It’s been a while. Life offline has been full of twists and turns. Still busy, but glad to tell you I’m trying to get my radio show back on. It’ll be at the same radio station, WHCSradio.com. If we’re able to stream, this week’s guest will be artist, writer and publisher Ray Felix. Ray was also one of the folks behind Bronx Heroes Con and Women In Comics Con, both events which started in the Bronx, New York City. It looks like this interview might be broadcast in two or three parts. I’ll be a bit rusty but if you can deal then tune in on Wednesday evenings, 7-8 pm EST.

Ganesha March 2022

It’s been a while since I updated this blog.

Here’s a little something, just saying hello. This piece was done in Adobe Illustrator.

New York Comic Con 2021 – Brief Review

Before I begin, allow me to explain my absence. It’s been quite some time since I’ve posted on this blog. For starters, I threw out my knee in February, around the time of the Super Bowl. This set off a few health issues, which I’m only beginning to recover from. No, I did not get Covid19 in 2021. I’m in fact, a very negative person. My test results have proven how negative I am, thanks to three antigen and one PCR test results. Was that a very bad joke? Of course it was.

Due to these physical health issues, I decided to lay low for most of 2021. Things started to pick up during the late summer, which I might discuss in another blog post.

It was a last minute decision to attend New York Comic Con 2021. Originally I wasn’t going. Turn of events led to me to change my mind. Before an attendee was allowed in, proof of vaccination was required. Once the attendee showed proof either through a cellphone app, or showing other methods, the process to get in was surprising quick. Considering the circumstances, ReedPop did the best they could.

The die-hard cosplayers came out, and there were some eyecatchers.

The only panel I attended this year was titled Disney’s Winnie The Pooh to The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Moderated by puppeteer Johnathan Rockefeller, the panel discussed how nostalgia plays a part in Rockefeller Productions successful puppet shows. So far they’ve adapted the 80s sitcom The Golden Girls into a puppet play, as well as beloved book characters such as The Hungry Caterpillar. The puppet versions of Winnie The Pooh characters were brought out to audience members. Afterwards, panel audience members were invited to take photos with various puppets, with social distancing in place.

Meet and greet after the NYCC panel of Rockefeller Productions puppeteers.

Checking out Artist Alley were both established and upcoming artists.

Among some of those who had a table in Artists Alley: Keith Williams, Geraldo Borges (who flew all the way from Chile for NYCC, and speaks three languages), and Sara Richard. In the Small Press section, there was the team behind Turtle vs. Bunny, published by Digital Pimp.

To summarize, NYCC 2021 was definitely low-key, very subdued but still a magickal time for it’s attendees. Here’s to next year.

Photos by Michele Witchipoo, Oct. 10th, 2021.

Returning Webcomic – Psycho Bunny: Summer of Covid19

Before my one-off story about Wesley Willis, (available on both Comic Fury and WEBTOON) I was working on another webcomic. It was based on my long time character Psycho Bunny. Psycho Bunny is a self-published comic I’ve been working on and off since 2004. With the pandemic shutting everything down, I turned to webcomics.

Around August 2020, life became very busy for me. Which was a good thing, but it meant leaving the Psycho Bunny series hanging. Now that things are winding down, I can go back to focusing on comics and illustrations.

You can read the previous episodes on WEBTOON. In the meantime I’ll start working on new stories.

Etsy Updates

It’s pretty late in the holiday season, but here’s an Etsy update.

Since trying Etsy again second time around, I’ve gotten encouragement and support. Sold out of Psycho Bunny issue 3.5. Thanks to Covid19, it’s going to be a while before I can reprint that comic again. Instead I focused on making Christmas tree ornaments. All the illustrations were drawn by me, Michele Witchipoo. Below are a few examples.