Adventures of the Manning Brothers (OH 2007)

[Brian Manning]

OK, so since Allen hates technology (or at least web forums), I'll put my version of how the Open House went, and you can probably extrapolate Allen's experience from that, since it will be pretty close to mine.

I'm going to post this in several installments...

Wednesday night, we hit the redeye and land Thursday morning at 5am. Levi was there as well, and he saw us, but didn't approach, because I guess he didn't think we would recognize him, but at least we got to hang at the Open House, so it's all good. We get to the rental car counter and they ran out of compact cars, so we get a Mustang convertible (pics will be here as soon as I can scan them...Thanks to Gideon for the awesome photography). So we're rollin' to the hotel (and Open House) in style (the redneck ferrari).

Thursday night
Back at the HQ (ramada), I sleep until the freelancer get together. We arrive promptly at 4pm (on time! Yes I'm that excited...otherwise I show up late). We're there with a few freelancers/staff/fans (DLDC, Warwolf, RabidSouthernCrossFan...I think/hope, etc), when the rest of the crew shows up with part of Kevin's comic collection. After staring in awe of how many boxes there are, we help to bring them into the back and then just hang out while eating. My bro and I hang out with Scott Johnson (always great talking to him), Comfort Love and Adam Withers (two of the coolest/nicest most talented people) while eating pizza and a grinder and making Chappelle Show jokes (The "Wrap it up box" in particular).

Afterwards we all head upstairs and listen while Kevin answers questions and talks about future projects we've got going on, as well as prepping us for what to expect this year. I'm really excited about DarklordDC's upcoming book, and a few other projects are still on my wish list (Delta Blues, Triax 2, and of course Robotech...if Harmony Gold can take care of business). Then we just spend the rest of the night talking to other freelancers. Later that night Allen scores a success on his M.A. roll and we hit the White Castle drive-thru and eat chicken ring sandwiches for our late night dinner.

Friday morning - Spider-man
we hit the theater on Friday to watch Spider-man. we ran into Jeffery Hansen and then I feel like a jerk because Allen and I head to the back row (for more footroom), and Jeff turns a few rows early (so we unintentially diss him). The movie is OK (the first one is still "magical" for me and holds a special place in my heart, but this one is basically a "money printer" for Sony).

...more to come.

[Brian Manning]

Friday Night - VIP night
the electricity is in the air. The fans (myself included) are excited, smiling, and eager to dive right into the experience. I talk with as many people as I can, walk around to soak it all in, and then I get all squirelly when Ramon Perez and Kent Burles show up. John Zeleznik was there on Thursday, but I didn't see him until Friday night. Kathy busts out the most awesome spread...meatballs, sausage, sandwiches, salad, etc...I ate good that night, since I really wanted to make sure I wasn't hungry later on (which happens anyway).

Then its upstairs to listen to the man himself talk it up and hype us all up again. I'm not sure if the session was taped or not, but I'm sure someone can give a much better summary of it all than me. I'm sort of mixing Thursday and Friday night together, and I don't want to say "too much". Afterwards we head back downstairs and hang out watching others game and hang out.

Rae (Irvin's girl) keeps Allen and I company while we eat more food (sausages and meatballs...awesome). We spend a lot of time cracking jokes, talking about different things with Irvin and Rae, and Apollo. I'm really excited about his new project now. They're both great, I always have fun hanging out with them (like last year). By the way, I guess my new name is "Daddy" Manning, since Allen doesn't have kids.

After we leave the Palladium warehouse, we hit Wendy's (McDonalds was closed) and get some food (Allen failed his White Castle M.A. roll, but that ends up causing trouble later on) and hang out with Apollo. He's probably the nicest most humble artist I've ever met. around 1am, we decide to hit Brandon's presidential suite, but we end up "disturbing" Issac (one of the AFR Crew that's rooming with Brandon, Taylor and Josh Sinsapaugh) he's cool about it and lets us in, right when Brandon shows up with Carmen Bellaire. They decide to hit Denny's for some food before running a game, but said they would come and get us afterwards. On the way back to the room to wait, we run across Kythis' room where there was a sign advertising a "Ghost Ship" game. I'm really excited hoping it's a Robotech game (I never got to play that one...but GMing that for my group was my very first RPG experience ever). Anyway the game is cancelled so I'm bummed out. I hit the room again where Allen and I BS about pro wrestling for over an hour before I realize I shouldn't have eaten Wendy's so late (I felt like a truck ran into my face and chest).

I pass out, and wake up three hours later so I can quickly get ready for Saturday...which I'll post next...

[Brian Manning]

Saturday - official Open House Day 1
We show up at 9 (everyone says they're showing up "early" to set up), get into the warehouse and Allen and I are the only freelancers there. Figuring everyone was going to show up in the next few minutes, we just set up and talk to the people trickling in. The day has a nice gradual start and most of the freelancers start showing up "Rock star late" with sunglasses shuffling their feet. Even Brandon Aten seems sluggish (Impossible you say? I saw it with my own bloodshot eyes). Rae stops by and entertains us for a little while again, then things pick up once I get to talking with everyone. I meet far too many people to remember, as well as many that I met from last year as well. I was really making it a point to try and remember names with faces, so I don't keep reintroducing myself if I run into them later in the weekend. Seeing every other artist doing sketches, I start bugging Allen to get into gear because we're going to start doing sketches this year (we've never done anything like that in person before). So I start handing him cheesy sketches to ink to warm him up.

While drawing the awesomely cheesy back brain kick pic (which Allen was using as his "inking shield" the rest of the weekend if you saw him working), I feel like a cheeseball for making a goofy Nicole Ritchie/Simple Life joke to Liadin. She's a good sport, so we just laugh it off. Most of the day is spent talking, joking and finally drawing. Allen and I bug Ramon Perez (we take turns watching over his shoulder as he draws) more than we probably should have done, but he's a very cool guy and jokes with us about it as well. I talk to John Zeleznik about learning new skills and possibly picking up painting and he just tells me to roll up my sleeves, dive in and get dirty. I'm so glad I finally got to meet him and just bounce questions off of him. Also, I finally get to meet Charles Walton. What an all around classy (and insanely talented) guy. He's a down to earth, quiet/soft-spoken nice guy. Watching him work was a very enlightening (yet still intimidating) experience.

Later on Kent Burles comes by and we just talk shop for quite a while. I love talking to that guy. He's so modest, and always has a lot of helpful things to share with us. We start discussing how to loosen up and just attack an image sometimes instead of planning things out so much. It's way out of my comfort zone, but I'm definitely going to try that approach more often (I started doing that around the end of the weekend). it's around this time that Allen and I start taking turns wandering around and taking pictures (I'll try to post some soon).

In the evening the artist panel starts, then I realize that I actually missed the writers panel that I wanted to listen to. We head upstairs and answer questions from the few people that show up, and share some information that will later be used to razz us (the whole Liefeld thing that Mike Mumah brought up). Then things get weird/uncomfortable... (I'm sure others can explain it better).

Other things that happened that night include doing a sketch for one of the aspiring freelance writers (Issac from the AFR crew) and getting Allen to admit that he's actually having fun drawing/inking. The costume contest, which was very cool to see. That Deadboy costume was just sick!! Joe did some killer work putting that bad/dead boy together. Of course the Blind Warrior Woman got some attention (it was a great costume on top of being a "ratings grabber", the helmet and amulet really helped to bring the costume together). I FINALLY corner Eric Wujcik and talk to him as he gives his group a chance to get some plans together before he goes back and runs his BTS game. I ask him about GMing and he invites me to hang out and listen in to his game, and it's just AWESOME watching him run the game. I got a call and had to step away, but the part I was able to sit in on was great.

Allen's on fire and makes his M.A. roll again...White Castle for dinner. I planned on hitting the bar with the other artists, but I pass out at around midnight or 12:30 before I'm able to make it out. Oh well, the sleep is much needed.

...Sunday (and some final notes) to follow.

[Brian Manning]

Sunday...last day
I'm bummed that this is the last day. I wake up late (15 til 9...OH starts at 9:30). we check out of the hotel and run into Jason Richards and Nick Bradshaw, and Nick joins us in our sweet ride to get some starbucks (plus Aspirin and another disposable camera). Then we make the worst/most awesome (you decide) entrance ever...top down, music blasting, sunglasses on. The park and roll in late like everyone else did on Saturday. Only this time everyone's already there. We set up and within minutes I'm already doing another sketch for someone (a Ninjas and Superspies character so I'm already in a good mood).

Sunday was much more relaxed as I chat with a few people, keeping an eye out for reddenedone. I owe her a drawing (for a couple of awesome dicebags she made for me and Allen) and I know she's only at the Open House on Sunday and I didn't want her to leave without it. I spot her with her husband and try (sort of) to get her attention, but then Allen wants to contribute to the drawing and decides to ink it (shocked...he's actually looking for something to ink while I'm drawing the N&SS character).

Most of the day is spent drawing, but one of the drawings I did was one of Dennis as a crazy (I did a nice lil Popeye homage) really felt great to do. The pencil was just flowing and I think I did a pretty close rendering of him (in my comic-like style of course).

I've got to run for now, but I really want to get this post finished up as well as posting my summary and give some shout-outs to all the great people I met this weekend.

...Sunday and final notes...to be continued...

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

What's wrong with White Castle?

It's really cheap...

...okay, so what's good about the place is what is wrong about it too.

~ Josh

[Brian Manning]

Exactly...You get what you pay for (and boy did I pay for that)

Anyway, Sunday went on smoothly and after the final sketch (or at least the sketch I was trying to finish for Shinitenshi (I finished it on Monday, and gave it to Allen to finish up) we shuffled off to the back where Kevin had mountains of books that he wanted us to sign. John Philpot was hanging out with us, and later Comfort Love and Adam Withers joined into the fray as well. We had fun goofing around and complaining about (or at least I was complaining) signing so many books. Some I had to sign upside down, because I'm left handed, and I didn't want to bend the covers open so far. I could have done sideways, but upside down stands out.

After BSing with some more people, and getting some more of my books signed by the Palladium staff, Allen and I convince Jason Marker (Gideon) to take some pictures of our sweet rental. I'll post those pictures when I get the chance, but man those pictures came out great! He really does know what he's doing with a (disposable) camera. Thanks again Jason.

final notes: Things I missed on the other posts
A lot of stuff happened this weekend, and I don't want to leave anything out, so these "notes" are things that I wanted to mention, but didn't remember when exactly they happened, or stuff I just forgot to mention above...

- Apollo Okamura and Chuck Walton were a blast to sit next to and just chat with. Watching them bust out character sketches was the main reason Allen and I were also doing sketches that weekend.

- the heated argument we had with Mike Mumah about why Rob Liefeld is the most awesome comic artist in the history of comics was also fun. It came to blows, but since there was two of us, Allen and I emerged victorious, and Rob Liefeld still holds the status of art God in my book (it might have happened a little differently, but that's close).

- Many thanks again to Shinitenshi for the treats. They were delicious. And I really hope Ninjabunny's head heals up nicely. He had quite a mark on him. It was fun talking to you two on Friday night at the Aten/White presidential suite and again on Saturday/Sunday.

- Nick Bradshaw is a maniac. Philpot showed me the character sketch he did on the Delta Blues pre-gen during the game...AWESOME!! I wish I could have seen how he actually draws that stuff, but he away from the table most of the time (understandably so). Plus he helped us make an awesomely bad rock star entrance on Sunday.

- I didn't get a chance to talk much with Mark Dudley, Scott Johnson, Jeff Hansen, Jason Richards, Jason Marker, Carl Gleba, or even Kevin himself, but I did get the opportunity to hang out with and meet a lot of new fans/freelancers this year. Comfort and Adam, Ramon, Chuck Walton, John Zeleznik, etc...

- Next time we're bringing more loot to sell off. we just had artwork, but everyone else seemed to have prints, books, t-shirts, blood-soaked jeans, and other goodies to sell.

- Josh Sinsapaugh is a much more soft-spoken, calm individual in person. I'm glad he was able to make it out this year. If you ever run into him, ask him to show you his doodle/sketch book. He's got some great stuff in there. Very Tim Burton-esque.

If I missed anyone (forgot one of the MANY encounters I had this past weekend), please feel free to bring it up and I'll deny the fact that it happened. Or I'll own up to it, if it's an entertaining story.

[mumah]

- the heated argument we had with Mike Mumah about why Rob Liefeld is the most awesome comic artist in the history of comics was also fun. It came to blows, but since there was two of us, Allen and I emerged victorious, and Rob Liefeld still holds the status of art God in my book (it might have happened a little differently, but that's close).

Now, the way I remember it was you saying "uncle" a lot and correcting your stance on the Leifeld issue, and Allen muttering something about telling my mom....

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

- Josh Sinsapaugh is a much more soft-spoken, calm individual in person. I'm glad he was able to make it out this year. If you ever run into him, ask him to show you his doodle/sketch book. He's got some great stuff in there. Very Tim Burton-esque.

Is that a back-handed compliment?



Oh well, thanks for the kind words.



EDIT: And "Tim Burton-esque" is definitely a compliment.

~ Josh

[Reddenedone]

So... who's starting the Bros. Manning fan club? Cuz, I need a badge.

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

Taylor White and Brandon Aten Fangirl Club.

Oh god, my side hurts from laughing.



~ Amused

[Josh Sinsapaugh]

Well, all that I can say is that Warwolf is putting the carbs from those Snickerdoodles to good use.

I just need to keep telling myself that.

~ Josh

[Warwolf]

Well, all that I can say is that Warwolf is putting the carbs from those Snickerdoodles to good use.

I just need to keep telling myself that.

Oh, you can be sure of that.

I'll probably have a few as I try and get more done on my writing project.

[Reddenedone]

Aw, look at the Manning boys being sweet. What he meant to say is that Rae talked at them the entire freaking weekend and wouldn't shut up. Ever. The entire time. I sat next to them, and Apollo, and chatted and chatted and babbled. I was temporarily the honorary third manning brother, "Cheech Manning."
I look just like them, it was easy to get us confused.

[Reddenedone]

Its okay guys, I had the most horrendous gas going on half way thru the movie, I actually heard a lady behind me gag, and say "People shouldn't be allowed to bring babies to the movies." After the third volley of the rankest gas you'd ever smell, I got up and went to the bathroom. Needless to say, I felt alot better and knew better than to go back to the same place I was sitting at because the people behind me wouldve known it was me and not some baby that was causing them to become ill.

Had a great time guys, hope theres an Open House III in '08.

Jeff

[Brian Manning]

Now, the way I remember it was you saying "uncle" a lot and correcting your stance on the Leifeld issue, and Allen muttering something about telling my mom....

I was chanting "uncle" to call on my super brazilian jiu jitsu powers. They're pretty potent, so I had to choose a power by association in order to keep the universal alignment in check.

josh,
backhanded, front handed, either way it's meant as a compliment

el magico,
I'm itchin' to tackle that, but I've still got to get my swimsuit piece inked.

Manning bros. fan club? Is there an official uniform for that? I know we don't have much art out in books right now, but this year we're going to make an effort to change all that, so hopefully there will be a real reason to start a manning brothers fan club. If I'm already a part of the Ramon Perez fan club, can I still join?

Aw, look at the Manning boys being sweet. What he meant to say is that Rae talked at them the entire freaking weekend and wouldn't shut up. Ever. The entire time. I sat next to them, and Apollo, and chatted and chatted and babbled. I was temporarily the honorary third manning brother, "Cheech Manning."
I look just like them, it was easy to get us confused.

I thought it was "Princess Muffin Manning". Besides, if you didn't hang with us, you'd have to be hangin' with el magico. Seriously, though, we always have fun hanging out with you. I know Allen doesn't really show it sometimes. He is the shy one after all.

Ninjabunny,
Yes you were the only one that actually mentioned it the switched name badges. At that point the name cards on the table were also switched, so that was a good catch. Although I wasn't fooled for a second. I knew I was me, but I didn't want to say anything.

Jeff,
Was Spider-man 3 really that bad? Now I don't feel so bad for heading to the back row. At least we got to hang out a little (not long enough) at the actual Open House.

[mumah]

I was chanting "uncle" to call on my super brazilian jiu jitsu powers. They're pretty potent, so I had to choose a power by association in order to keep the universal alignment in check.

I didn't know there was also crying in brazilian ju jitsu!

[NMI]

Thats ok Jeff. I was passing some gas to in there.
Ironically someone was sitting with their baby about 3 or 4 seats to my left. The brat kept crying, then the idiotic parents cellphone starts ringing. What's worse? They answered the phone and maintained a conversation. So at some point during the movie, I too got up to use the mens room. As I passed the annoying parents, I farted. Right in their face!!!!

[Brian Manning]

I was chanting "uncle" to call on my super brazilian jiu jitsu powers. They're pretty potent, so I had to choose a power by association in order to keep the universal alignment in check.

I didn't know there was also crying in brazilian ju jitsu!

Well no, I was just scared. But I never claimed to be an expert.

[mumah]

Well no, I was just scared. But I never claimed to be an expert.

Scared of my hamster style?

[Greyaxe]

Thats ok Jeff. I was passing some gas to in there.
Ironically someone was sitting with their baby about 3 or 4 seats to my left. The brat kept crying, then the idiotic parents cellphone starts ringing. What's worse? They answered the phone and maintained a conversation. So at some point during the movie, I too got up to use the mens room. As I passed the annoying parents, I farted. Right in their face!!!!

Send them to the special hell Nimi..

[Warwolf]

Thats ok Jeff. I was passing some gas to in there.
Ironically someone was sitting with their baby about 3 or 4 seats to my left. The brat kept crying, then the idiotic parents cellphone starts ringing. What's worse? They answered the phone and maintained a conversation. So at some point during the movie, I too got up to use the mens room. As I passed the annoying parents, I farted. Right in their face!!!!

I'm just glad you guys got that stuff out of your system before the OH.