MILESTONE

Milestone Comics Logo

Christmas just passed, and AWA is well underway to having a spectacular new year. But we could not go into the New Year without highlighting the 20 year anniversary of Milestone Comics. 

Founded in 1993 by Dwayne McDuffie, Denys Cowan, and Derek Dingle, Milestone Comics was the one of the first comic book companies owned and operated by African Americans. It created black characters who were empowered, three-dimensional, and just really cool. 

The company started as a dream held by Cowan and McDuffie, who felt stifled by Marvel and the limited number of black characters. McDuffie explains: 

"If you do a black character or a female character or an Asian character, then they aren't just that character. They represent that race or that sex, and they can't be interesting because everything they do has to represent an entire block of people. [...] We knew we had to present a range of characters within each ethnic group, which means that we couldn't do just one book. We had to do a series of books and we had to present a view of the world that's wider than the world we've seen before."

With McDuffie as editor in chief, Dingle as president, Cowan as creative director and president  and DC Comics as distributor, Milestone created a company that highlighted not only African Americans, but other minorities as well. After a jump. we have a list of key reads to get you acquainted with their work. (1)

Artist Highlight - Keir Lyles

Keir Lyles is a freelance artist based out of Southern Maryland specializing in traditional and digital comics. He formed Apocrypha Comics Studio in 2005 to publish his first webcomic, Fallen Angels. Since then, Keir and Apocrypha Comics Studio have debuted the dark, superhero comic, The Repellers, and released Fallen Angels as a print comic. He has developed classes on drawing and writing comics for Art Smart! Studio in Charles County and the Art Way Alliance.

Be Prepared - December 7th

December 7th will be a busy day for Art Way Alliance, and we would love for you to join us. We've got 3 cons that are super tailored to whatever interest you may have.

Patriot-TTC's 6th Annual Video Jam 2013 - The Video Jam Conference, held at Prince George's Community College, teaches children how to make their own video games with the software Microsoft Kodu. Kids then compete in groups to see who invented the best game. Expect lots of playable games like Madden), and a slew of other non-profits helping out. AWA's Keir Lyles will be there teaching children how to character design their video game characters as they prepare for their competition. There is a registration fee of $25 (members) and $35 (non-members) for those who would like to participate.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority's Prince William County Alumnae Chapter's 4th Annual Red Carpet Showcase - Held from 2 PM - 5 PM at Cougar Elementary School, this event features emerging artists, musicians, and authors in the DMV area deserving of your support. These artists are selling their product, and are some of the nicest, most creative people that you could meet. AWA founder Eric Suggs, Jr. will be there to showcase the art of our instructors. Special guests include NAACP Image Award winning author Victoria Christopher Murray.

Blakescape  - This premier conference is sure to be a blast. Merging conference and expo, this event features technology, video gaming, and art. Expect anything from  live demos and presentations of new technology (both professional and student-designed) to professional comic book artists with insight in the business. AWA will be there with information about our future programs and with a featured artist who would be willing to consult anyone on their art techniques.

What do you think? Any cons that peak your interest? Sound off below. And don't forget to tell others about this epic day! 

All Ages MUST READ Comic Books

Curious about comics? 

AWA was inspired by this Comixology's Post on all ages comics, and we got to thinking: Comixology presents you with a myriad of choices, but where do you start? To push you in the right direction, we presented seven comic books for an all-ages comic that parents and kids can enjoy together.

1. Bone - probably one of, if not the, best black and white comic, Jeff Smith's epic follows the Bone family (Fone, Phoney, and Smiley) as they get kicked out of Boneville and into a sprawling adventure that features rat creatures, cow-racing, dragons and the Hooded One. It's recently been recolored and redistributed for kids, but no matter the presentation, it's worth a read.

Artist Highlight - Chris Pyrate

This month, we wanted to highlight one of our first artists.  Chris Pyrate is a multi-media artist specializing in both digital and traditional art and is based in NYC. He currently has work published and available through Image Comics, the third largest comic book publisher; Kindle Book App; and Comixology. Chris is also a Design/Print Specialist. He has worked with clothing companies such as Up Against The Wall, where he did T-shirt clothing designs in the late 1990”s before the company ended. He still creates T-shirt designs between the Washington D.C. and New York City areas.

Chris's newest venture is Ahumanfly, an artistic manifesto from the mind of a comic book artist/cartoonist. With the help and partnership of Wes P, this very manifesto has gained legs (or wings) by being hand printed on T-shirts and all types of apparel.

Now as the saying goes:
BE SUBTLE
BE OBSERVANT
BE WINGED
#BEAHUMANFLY

AWA Loves Cola-con

AWA Loves Cola-con

Last weekend, Art Way Alliance was at Cola-con in Charleston, South Carolina. Cola-con is the only convention that focuses on hip-hop, comic books, and the *usually* unspoken relationship between the two. For the past two years, Cola-con has found validation among the hip-hop community. Talib Kwali, 9^th Wonder, and Ghostface Killer of the WuTang Clan have all appeared at the convention. This year, the positive energy continued with performances from Foreign Exchange and Dead Prez. Comic book artists, writers, and painters ranging from Sanford Greene and John Hairston, Jr. to Chuck Brown to T.M. Showers were present in Artists’ Alley.  Needless to say, the music and art was phenomenal.

1st Posting

One of AWA's numerous set-ups; this particular one at Cola-con in South Carolina. 

With Art Way Alliance's steady growth, it is only fitting that we should start a blog to continually update you on the progress that we are making. In only a few short months, we have partnered with other non-profits; presented at workshops, exhibitions, and conventions; and (best of all) hosted three highly successful comic book classes.

With our first posting, AWA is pleased to announce bigger and better things in the making, including a new class hosted by our great friends, The Patriots. It stated for January 2014.

Check back often as more information develops. And do not hesitate to contact us at artwayalliance@gmail.com with your questions, comments, or interest in our many programs.