by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
There are so many little local scenes and niches in and around Jacksonville that you might not know about. One of these scenes happens to be the comic book junkie scene. These guys gather at the different comic book stores around town to show off their classic comics and add new ones to their collections. Some of them have even started to do their own comic book art. That’s how AlphaCat Comics was born. It’s just a bunch of local guys who started their own comic book. Each issue has several different storylines and artists.
The artwork is also on different levels. Some of these guys have worked professionally, “ghosting” ink work, as well as penciling, writing and lettering. At least one of the comics in AlphaCat’s current anthology issue of The Vault came from a guy who had never done anything professionally before (LaTwan Holland- Writer, creator, and colorist of Behemoth). They plan to feature these neophytes on their website in the future.
The editor of this local venture is Rob Jones, who has been working as a pro in comics for about seven years. For the past five years he’s been an assistant to industry veteran Dick Giordano. With Giordano he’s helped produce work for DC, Marvel, Top Cow, and Egmont Publishing. Among other things, Rob serves as the Editor-in-Chief of AlphaCat Comics. As you leaf through the different styles of artwork in the different comics, such as Omega Wolf (a werewolf comic, written and created by Casey Gibson) and Perfect Storm (about a female spy for hire), you’ll find Jones’ name ascribed to different aspects of each comic. He fills in on various jobs and just seems to be having fun putting this locally produced collection out.
Although Jones is immersed in most of the comics, it’s the Perfect Storm title that seems to be his baby. He’s actually working with a friend of his from Pittsburg on that title. They had always wanted to work together, and with a project like this, it’s a perfect opportunity. EU had a chance to speak to Jones about this new venture, how it started and where it will be heading.
The majority of the other artists are from the core group of Jacksonville comic book fans. Of the group’s beginnings, Jones says, “We originally started as just a group of guys that would hang out on Wednesday nights. New comics come out Wednesdays, so we would go pick up the new comics, go to Dick’s Wings…and just go off…Everybody had ideas for their own comics, so we just kind of evolved into—well if we don’t like what’s out there why don’t we do something of our own?”
They attended the second annual ComiCon in Orlando this October, which has given them a taste of what they might expect at MegaCon.
“We’re doing our real launch this coming March at a convention in Orlando called MegaCon. That’s going to be our big push; when we’re going to have a bunch of number ones then…for a bunch of new series.”
For their launch, AlphaCat Comics plans to expand on many of their titles, giving them each a separate 24-page comic.
“Right now we’re concentrating on doing a bunch of number 1’s…They’re going to be origin stories, with a beginning, middle and end.”
In the meantime, they plan to expand the website, so that aspiring comic book artists can post their work and get feedback from those already working in the industry.
If you want to take a look at what AlphaCat is doing now, head to Comics and Classics out at the beaches and Sun Coast comics in Orange Park and ask for AlphaCat’s The Vault for a look at their current issue. For sneak previews of what they’ll be coming out with and bios on the AlphaCat crew, check out their website at alphacatcomics.com.
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