Brian Phillipson interview with ConSweetCon.com

Find A New Hero Series: Brian Phillipson

This week we bring to you Brian Phillipson and God the Dyslexic Dog. With credits to his name such as Celebrity DeathMatch, Daria, King of the Hill, Futurama, and Codename: Kids Next Door, you can assume that God the Dyslexic Dog is an impressive piece of work. But why assume, when you can check it at SDCC in person. (You do know you what they say about assuming?) We spoke to Brian about SDCC and his work.

What is your favorite work you have done?

My favorite work is on "God the Dyslexic Dog."  It was my first comic book series and helped break me into the industry - I owe it a lot.

What current work are you most excited about?

The two new comics I'm currently working on: "Future Proof" and "The Legion of Molly Doves."  Both are unique takes on time-travel stories and have potential to be long running comic book series.

What is one thing you would like to pursue if you had additional free time?

Writing an old fashioned novel.  It would be a great challenge to write a story without the aid of images or art.

What do you typically offer at your booth at SDCC? Is there typically any exclusive items?

We sell all the books in our library at unbeatable prices.  We also sell t-shirts, stickers, buttons and original art you can't find anywhere else.

What other uses have people found for your designs?

Stickers, T-Shirts, iPhone cases, sketches & fan art.  Still waiting on that first fan tattoo!

What is your favorite autograph or collectible you’ve picked up at a convention?

It's not so much the collectibles or autographs (though there are plenty of those), but the chance to meet the artist & creators face-to-face.

What is the best SDCC or convention moment you have had?

Nothing like signing your first autograph in your first comic book and seeing that smile on the fan's face that's almost as big as yours.

Check out Brian, God the Dyslexic Dog, and Bliss On Tap Publishing at:

Facebook/BlissOnTapPublishing

blissontap.blogspot.com

GodTheDyslexicDog.com

BlissOnTapPublishing.com

"Monster Candy" graphic novel now available at the Bliss on Tap online store for $10

Click here to go to the Bliss on Tap online store.

New review for "God the Dyslexic Dog" Volumes 1-3

'God the Dyslexic Dog: Volumes 1-3' - Graphic Novel Reviews

 

Written by Steven W. Alloway, Fanboy Comics Guest Contributor Wednesday, 01 May 2013 23:02

Blogs - Guest Contributors

God the Dyslexic Dog is an epic story in three volumes, published over the course of several years. It’s sometimes strange, occasionally surreal, often existential, and more than a bit confusing. It spans time, from the dawn of the universe to the present, and into the future. It deals with history and myth, religion and science, God, man, animals, and everything in between. Often, it’s difficult to understand or keep track of. But, even when you have no idea where you’re going, it’s still a crazy ride and very entertaining.

The story opens with God, the omniscient but passive Eye in the Sky, giving man the power to create gods of his own—but not the wisdom to control them. And so, to protect man from his own creations, God inverts himself and becomes doG, not a ruler but a loyal pet.

Then, we meet Bacchus, from the pantheon of man’s gods. He’s bipolar and half mad, a dichotomy—the god of wine and revelry, yes, but also of the hangover. The most social god, but also the loneliest; the most fun, but also the most depressed. The quintessential alcoholic, he drinks his divine wine, which he calls his Bliss, looking for lasting fulfillment, but instead finding only a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Still, he continues to drink it. It’s everything he has, but it’s never enough, and finally it’s nothing at all. He wants to die. Unfortunately, he’s immortal.

But, there’s a solution. The power of the gods is contained in a box. The box is kept safe by a woman named Pandora. You know where this is going.

With the box opened, the Earth, humans, and gods alike are doomed to destruction at the hands of the Mayan Calendar—portrayed as an actual ticking doomsday clock. Now, all Bacchus has to do is wait a millennium or so for the calendar to run out: hardly any time at all for an immortal.

In the meantime, God the Dyslexic Dog finds himself owned by Pavlov, whose sadistic bell-ringing experiments are designed to subjugate dogs—and thus God—once and for all. Once God is finally under man’s control, a new god is created: Dar-win, god of science. And, he has an agenda of his own.

Fast forward to the present day, and we meet Cassandra, the pet psychic, and her dyslexic son Nez, who just might be the world’s last hope.

In Volume 2, Bacchus decides to take a more active role in the world’s destruction and raises up an army, beginning at Burning Man and working his way across the country. Dar-win has his own army, made up of disgruntled gods and super-evolved animals, which is terrorizing the people of Earth. Nez, meanwhile, finds doG and goes to the Bermuda Triangle to meet evolution’s missing links—monkeys with the intelligence and technology of humans, who also want to stop the Mayan Calendar and its destruction.

In Volume 3, Bacchus’ army meets Darwin’s army (now sans dash in his name, with no explicit explanation why), and they have an epic battle for the end of the world.

Those are the basic highlights of the plot, but, of course, there’s much more to it than that. The whole story is very complicated and, at times, convoluted. It’s not entirely consistent either, from the first volume to the last, and characters’ motivations, goals, and general roles in the story seem to fluctuate quite a bit without warning. Understandable, considering that the first issue of Volume 1 was published in 2004, and Volume 3 came out in 2010. It’s hard to maintain absolute consistency over that long a period of time. That, combined with the general existential nature of the events described makes this not the easiest story to follow or understand.

But, it’s best not to try to understand it too closely. By its own admission, it’s a story inverted, so a lot of things are turned around, or held up to a funhouse mirror. Just go with the flow. Philip and Brian Phillipson have created a very entertaining journey that’s fun to experience even when you don’t quite understand it.

And, the story is accented perfectly by the wild artwork of Alex Niño. With brilliant colors, abstract images, and a breathtaking scale, he creates the worlds of Heaven, Earth, and places in between. He gives us gods, monkeys, dinosaurs, and more. Bizarre, surreal worlds for a bizarre, surreal story. Compelling even when you don’t understand it, and beautiful to look at even when it isn’t compelling. In short, God the Dyslexic Dog is a whole lot of fun.

A new review of "Andie and the Alien" by fanboycomics.net

'Andie and the Alien:' Graphic Novel Review

 

Written by Ellen Tremiti, Fanboy Comics Contributor Wednesday, 01 May 2013 07:14

Blogs - Ellen Tremiti

In 1445, an alien crash lands on American soil. Hurt, the alien plants a protective force field around all of the Americas that will stay in place until help arrives. Five hundred years later, the world as we know it has changed: Hitler wins WWII and takes over the entire world, except for the Americas, a land no one has been able to penetrate, let alone colonize.

Now, the fate of Earth is up to an alien who has responded to the distress signal and spent the last 500 years traveling to Earth, as well as a young scientist, Andie, and Albert Einstein (naturally!) to stop the Third Reich and uncover the mysteries of the Americas.

The artwork in Andie and the Alien flows well, and the story reads flushed out and complex. If you are a history enthusiast or a fan of alternate pasts, this graphic novel is for you! The alternate history is really well done. In fact, my only complaint is that the story wasn’t a bit longer. I wouldn’t have minded spending more time in this world.

This graphic novel is based on the fable Androcles and the Lion, which has an overall moral of gratitude towards all living things. Andie and the Alien gives a lot to think about and imagine. It is worth a read!

Andy and the Alien is a graphic novel by Philip Phillipson and Brian Phillipson with artwork by Alex Nino. This is the novel’s first printing through Bliss on Tap Publishing. It is a softcover with 108 pages in full color.

A new review of "Monster Candy" by fanboycomics.net

'Monster Candy:' Graphic Novel Review

 

Written by Ellen Tremiti, Fanboy Comics Contributor Wednesday, 01 May 2013 07:04

Blogs - Ellen Tremiti

Ten-year-old Timmy loves Halloween more than any other kid on his block. In fact, he loves Halloween so much, he wishes it was year round. But, when new neighbors move into the scariest house on the block, Timmy better be careful what he wishes for. He realizes he must use all of his resources to stop his new, otherworldly neighbors from handing out candy that turns children into monsters.

The artwork in Monster Candy is wonderfully atmospheric and instantly reminded me how much I love Fall and Halloween. The story is well-developed and, overall, it’s an enjoyable read. This would be a great graphic novel to read with kids or to simply amp up anyone’s Halloween spirit. It has some slightly scary imagery but should be appropriate for most children.

The only caveat is that Monster Candy ends with a “To Be Continued” storyline. The book is wonderful on its own up until the final twist, and then kids may be clamoring for the story to continue. It’s unclear if the next installment, Goldie Locks and the Three Monsters, will have anything to do with Halloween, but, on its own, Monster Candy is a wonderful Halloween read!

Monster Candy is a graphic novel by Brian Phillipson and Alex Murillo with artwork by Alex Nino. This is the novel’s first printing through Bliss on Tap Publishing. It is a softcover with 48 pages in full color.

New comic book: "The Legion of Molly Doves" - Anaheim Wondercon 2013

Bliss on Tap has been hard at work of a bunch of new comics that will be coming out soon, including "The Legion of Molly Doves" (for the story, think of a young, female Sherlock Holmes, but with a time-traveling twist!) created by Phil Phillipson, Amanda Raymond & Brian Phillipson with art by Alex Nino & Phil Phillipson.

Here's a copy of the flyer Amanda was giving away at Anaheim WonderCon 2013.  Bring the flyer to our booth at San Diego Comic Con 2013 (or mention seeing the flyer here on-line) and receive a free, limited edition "The Legion of Molly Doves" collector's button.

And here's Amanda handing out the flyers at WonderCon, courtesy of Egotastic.com:

See you at San Diego Comic Con 2013!

God the Dyslexic Dog comic book issue #2 pages 20 & 21

The amazing Alex Nino's original art from God the Dyslexic Dog comic book issue #2 pages 20 & 21.

 

front/back cover of God the Dyslexic Dog comic book issue #1

This great piece by Alex Nino ended up being the front/back cover of God the Dyslexic Dog comic book issue #1. It was primarily colored pencils on top of black construction paper with white acrylic accents.

Seattle - Emerald City Comic Con 2013

Bliss on Tap Publishing will be at the expanded Emerald City Comic Con 2013 for the first time, March 1-3, 2013.

We'll be at booth 2614.  Hope to meet all our Pacific Northwest fans!

More info can be found here: emeraldcitycomicon.com