The gangLion Lion Stalks Toronto!

Each stroke of the pen brush quivers his soft whiskers. The crumble of pages tickles his side, and the clicking of the mouse twitches his relaxed ears. With a slow and lumbering movement he finally arches his back and spreads out his paws into a satisfying stretch. His gentle face wrinkles and tightens up as his jaw pulls open into a long YAAAaaawwwwn.

You have done it again. With your collective synergies, your hard work, your devotion to your comics and ultimately your drive to transition those lofty and vague ideas in your imagination into a tangible reality, the gangLion Lion can finally walk the streets again.

Sure he can be a lazy beast, awakening generally semi annually, yet when he makes those strides out of our gangLion lair and sniffs at the air -- we know that we did it. Its this mighty beast that will release that rallying cry so its little cubs can start working hard to put together the new issue.

So thank you for devoting your hard work by putting brush to paper, mouse click to screen, and intertwining imagination with pencil stroke. That is what keeps our gangLion awake and our passions in another full cycle of blooming and fruition.

I am sure that some drawing hands are still numb from any last second pushes before the deadline, however I would like invite you to tell us about the process story of this particular piece, or any other piece that was done for any gangLion issue. How did your creative thoughts turn into its tangible comic form in gangLion? What inspirations conjured your ideas, or changed their direction. And also please let us know how we can help out with improving your future processes?

So while our gangLion Lion is hunting out a certain overweight elf next week, sit back and enjoy the wintry holiday. Place that hand in an icepack and maybe fulfill that dare to lick that lamp post. But not for too long! Because in a short while we will need your creative synergies again to help summon the gangLion Lion out again and to help turn that idea into another comic!

Please send us your stories or any laments about your comic submission to this deadline or any other gangLion issue.


Bonnie
gangliongang@gmail.com

The Dreaded Deadline. (Yikes!)

Isn't it bizarre how the simple mention of a deadline can transform your most beloved activity into an entirely deplorable enterprise?
And how cleaning the dishes becomes an essential timely activity?
Or how the ceiling suddenly has a hugely appealing visual aspect?

Yes, it is strange that the labour part of the love becomes over-pronounced in the face of deadlines.
So I will suggest some things that help me and maybe they will help you too.

1. NO excuses.
Seriously, you already cleaned the dishes. It is time to get to work.

2. Mildly distract yourself for a brief moment by dressing up.
Yes, that is right. You should wear something unusual. This will give a physical element of fun to the tasking at hand. And maybe if you are working from home, and say, wearing pink underwear and a demon mask- then all of those possible excuses/distractions outside of the home will be written off because you aren't dressed for the outdoors. Right? Unless you like attention and pointed fingers (at you).

3. Rewards.
We all love rewards.
Soo..
Set goals. Tell yourself that if you finish this much by such and such time on such and such day, that you can go out for some dinner, watch some great movie, take a nap, buy some more Pokemon. Whatever you want.


Okay. Good luck.

And remember the deadline for gangLion issue 3 is December 15th!

gangLion Tour!

What do lions do in the winter?

Hibernate? Sleep? Hide in some indoor zoo?

Well NOT gangLION!

gangLion TOUR!

gangLion is spreading our wintery roar to three cities early February. As you may or may not have heard we will be touring from our home-base at Toronto to Kingston and Montreal! We will be launching our 3rd Issue as well as spreading our might to Queen's University and Concordia University from February 3rd-6th, 2010! Do you have some nice contacts in Kingston or Montreal? Do you think you can lend us a hand or join us on these touring dates? If so drop us a line at our email at gangliongang@gmail.com.

While we are talking about dates, do we all remember that extra special date coming within the month? Anyone?

Its the Official Issue 3 Deadline!

That's right! It’s time for you to start scratching that pen against the paper or clicking that mouse, if you haven't already because the deadline is less than a month away on Tuesday December 15, 2009! Please send us an update on your progress and if you need any help or feedback. We are always here to help!

Fun? Fun!

gangLion comics ventured to Montreal this past weekend for EXPOZINE.
Let me tell you...

zines
prints
zines
buttons
zines
t-shirts
zines

as well as coffee, samosas, and lovely people.
It was loads of fun.

Between the heat of the crowd and buying temptations, we spread the word that gangLion's gang is pretty awesome and always looking for enthusiastic contributors.

We also ensured that a couple hundred more people are now sporting lions on their lapels.
Are you?!

Got questions? We got answers!

Wondering when the next gangLion meeting is happening? Itching to show us your works in progress? Wanting that extra prodding to motivate you to meet our Issue 3 submission deadline? Have you ever wondered 'when exactly is that deadline'?

Well wonder no longer, as intern Bonnie has got all the answers!

Our next gangLion meeting is this Monday, November 16th at 7pm at the gangLion lair (Georgia's place at 48 Oakwood Ave). Please bring any works in progress which you have for the Issue 3 submission - we're talking written drafts, scribbled layouts, polished pieces and anything else you might have. Also please make a special note or drawing on your calendars to remind you that Tuesday December 15, 2009 is our Issue 3 submission deadline!

Remember that our ganglion meetings are a great place to get feedback, advice and ask questions regarding the submissions. The team, other contributors and our library are among the many resources that are available at your disposal.

Please email us to let us know whether you can make it to the meeting or not. Knowing the numbers helps us prepare possible activities during these meetings!

With cheers and roars,

Bonnie Ann Lee

news, schmews

Now you can also find gangLion comics at the new Artists Consignment shop RePsycho -located at 676 College St. right here in Toronto!

In addition to the gangLion line of comics, they house a variety of art through a variety of mediums.. get over there.


AND don't forget about gangLion at Expozine in Montreal this up and coming weekend.
We'll be there.
Where will you be?!

New Books in the New Library!

As many of you may have read in THE SHORT ISSUE, recently distributed at Canzine in Toronto, gangLion has opened up a humble comics library for those involved with the publication. In it you will find classic comics, how-to books, experimental comics, and certainly plenty of local artists! It is housed at gangLion Headquarters and is available most readily at meetings (but you can also book appointments).

That said, we have just added a whack of new books! To check out what we've got, click here.

Toodles!

gangLion @ EXPOZINE!

Its just a few days after Canzine and we are already gearing up for EXPOZINE2009! That means we are going to ramp up those gangLion button assembly lines, pack up our heavy-duty gangLion gear and clear our throats before we will take our ROAR to Montreal!

Expozine, Montreal's annual small press, comics and zine fair, will take place at 5035 St-Dominique (in Montreal, of course) on Saturday November 14 and Sunday November 15. Admission is also free! If you would like more information on this massive event that is considered North America's largest small press fairs just check out their website.

If you are also planning to head over to Expozine or will be in Montreal at that time, please feel free to contact us (So we gangLions can stick together!).

Cheers!

What a day!

A gangLion gang of 7 owned the southwest corner of the second floor at the Gladstone Hotel for Canzine 2009 yesterday afternoon. Crowds upon crowds of people flooded in and out of the room from 1pm- 7pm. It was uncomfortably warm and incredibly successful.


Hopefully you are reading this post, as you are one of the many who took interest in a lion on a button - for free(!) - and now you have come to our designated website. Well, welcome. And if you've been here before, welcome back. And if you don't even know what I am talking about, it doesn't really matter anyway.

The importance is that gangLion comics is your resource for a supportive and flavourful collective of comics artists.
So.. reach out (gangliongang@gmail.com), our arms are open.

Call For Volunteers at Canzine 2009

Still thinking about Canzine? Why don't you join the chaos and fun with the gangLion folk?

We will be at Canzine 2009 and in fact we need a couple of volunteers who can help us spread our awesomeness with us. Duties would involve giving away our free gangLion buttons and blurbs, as well as manning our booth. So if you were thinking of checking out Canada's Largest Zine Fair and Festival of Alternative Culture, or are free to give us a hand, please let us know!

Canzine 2009 is on Sunday November 1st (Thats this Sunday!), 1-7pm @ the Gladstone Hotel. (Thats close to Dufferin and Queen St. West) There is a 5 dollar admission fee. If you are coming to help spread the gangLion love with us please come in at 10:30am for prep.

So if you plan to join us at Canzine give us an e-mail ROAR!

rawr,

P.S Additional information on Canzine2009 can be accessed at the Broken Pencil.

Canzine 2009

What are you doing this up and coming Sunday?
...
.....
.......

That's what I thought.

Come to see gangLion comics at Canzine - Toronto's great annual festival of zines.
You can feast your eyes, ears, and hands on some pretty cool stuff made by some pretty cool people... and it's only 5 bucks!

Where? The Gladstone Hotel. 1214 Queen St. West (just east of Dufferin)
When? 1pm - 7pm on November 1, 2009
Why? It will be fun and you like fun.

See you there!

Links!

One of our contributors, James Spencer (a mighty prolific dude) has an excellent blog you should all check out!

jamesmakescomics.blogspot.com

You can also access this blog at any time by clicking his name in the "Contributors to Issue #2.5" sidebar.

Cheerio!

WONDERFUL DAY AT WORD ON THE STREET!

Thanks to everyone who came out today to the Comics and Graphic Novels Tent at Word on the Street!

I also want to thank Christopher Butcher, who offered us a spot there to tell our story and get the word out about what gangLion is to do. Due to the death of a friend, I was not able to perform the presentation, but two of our contributors gave them a show, anyway!



Seen here are James Spencer, a beloved and devoted contributor, and Bonnie Ann Lee, one of my new interns!

For those of you who have never seen my cart before, I'll help you understand what's going on here. I know a guy who makes metal bike carts, to attach to your seat post that trail behind your bike. Mine is made out of an abandoned shopping cart, and that's what Bonnie is sitting in.

We decorated it all flashy-like and these two young bucks walked it down to Word on the Street where they passed around buttons and info cards, and sold a bunch of zines. What troopers!

They also did us a huge service in getting the emails of many more interested contributor-types, so issue 3 is officially on the move - watch out! It's gonna be a doozy.


First MANDATORY meeting for gangLion issue 3 is Monday, October 5th at 7pm. Email for location (though it's the same every time).

something to entertain you

DEADLINE!

BOTH of our spectacular deadlines are finally here. Today. Right NOW.

The zine, from this point forward, is set in motion, and the hectic space race begins.

The Button Design Contest, which I admittedly let fall by the wayside, is done, and I will now make whatever buttons I feel like, including the few submissions I actually received.

HOORAH! All the crazy things in the world of gangLion are beginning...You'll see. The next post on this blog will be much more crazy sauce.

Did you know you can make yourself bald by pulling your hair?

Ahhh, sleepy summer

It's the truth! Activities are slow, especially in August. Strangely enough, it's also been the dryest of the three summertime months so far. We've had, what, like four days without rain? That's record breaking in summer '09.

I'm just hoping that being ridiculously hot is good for the inspiration juices to be flowing from everyone's mind grapes. If not, try squeezing them reeeeeeal hard.

DEADLINE IN ONE WEEK!

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY HEARD

gangLion comics will be at Word on the Street this year!
___________________________________________________________________________________________________

1pm-2pm: No Rules, No Budget, All Fun! How and why you should make comics! – 60 Minutes

There are as many ways to make comics as there are comics out there! Whether you write or draw, make your own photocopied books or publish professionally, or you’re totally new to the medium but with a story to tell, you can make comics! Our speakers will each outline the process that they take to create comics and how you can do it too. Plus, following the panel each of our speakers will be available for one-on-one consultation and to answer your questions about creating comics. Speakers include:

- Georgia Webber, discussing the comics collective and peer-support group gangLion.

- Ruth Tait, an illustrator/cartoonist who will discuss her digital comics creating process

- stef lenk, a visual artist who has just completed a do-it-yourself comics creation guide and primer and will share her tips and advice on self-publishing.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________


So we want to have buttons for this momentous occasion! And we want YOU to design them!

CONTEST OFFICIALLY CLOSES Sunday August 23rd at 11pm.

You may email your submissions, but if you don't have a scanner, feel free to drop off a paper submission (maximum dimensions: 5"x5") at gangLion headquarters: 125 Albany Avenue.

The buttons created from the contest will be 1" in diameter.

>>>There will be THREE WINNERS, all of whom will receive a bottle of wine and a collection of zine comics!

WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON Tuesday, September 1st at the LULLABY ARKESTRA CD Release Party! More details to come!

I'll have JAM with my toast, please

Issue Two is on the Move!

As of today, July 4th, 2009, I have given up my laziness for the good of the zine. Now you can buy it in stores!

Nothing fancy, I'll have you know - JUST THE BEST TWO COMIC BOOK STORES IN THE CITY, THAT'S ALL!

DRAGON LADY COMICS (609 College St.) and The Beguiling (centre of the universe) now carry our wares - and proudly. They sold out of the copies I gave them of the first issue, so now they're restocked and ready to receive your business! Also, The Beguiling, who recently took charge of the National Gallery's bookstore (the MOCCA), has chosen our zine from among their prolific collection to display! YAY!

So get out there and mess shit up! I mean, buy some good stuff! If you like it. And if you can afford it. YAY!

I'm a HUMAN TURD, don'tcha know!

Okay. I have an apology to make. For being stupid.

And who was I stupid to?! The incredible Colin White! I have upset him! I have dishonoured the honourable name of honour!

Well, mostly I just disappointed him. But that's almost worse.

In my scramble to make our tiny zine fit into the affordable page numbers, I displaced his comic, while curiously forgetting to remove his name from the table of contents. (Thus my conclusion of becoming a human turd.)

So, even though I've already apologized to him personally, I needed to make this public.

I'M SORRY!

**Reminder: Georgia is a human (turd, sometimes) who makes mistakes. A LOT. If she ever fucks up with you in the future, it is NOT a personal thing. She's just...busy, is all. And forgetful. And sometimes blind. And forgetful.

Looking ahead.

So it's looking like we've got ourselves a spot at the Comics and Graphic Novels tent for Word on the Street!

To celebrate, we'll be publishing another issue in September in addition to the scheduled release in December. The only catch is that we have to pull it together very fast, and that means we're instating some guidelines:

Submissions to this issue MUST BE SHORT. We're saying less than five pages. Actually, less than three would be best. As for a theme, that's out the window. We want you to do whatever you want. Multiple submissions are also cool, but conside that we might not have space for all of them.

Also, the release in December is set to go as usual, also sans-theme. If your ideas can't be confined to two pages, consider working on a piece for this longer issue. If you're super ambitious, do both!

Meetings in Toronto will take place with the two schedules coming together, working simultaneously to acheive these two publishing goals. This will be a hell of a production period, and by the end of it, we're gonna have SO MUCH to show for it!

If you want to join in, now's the time. The short issue is not very demanding at all, so get in there and test the waters. If you like it, keep going! If not, we'll be glad to have had you at all.

So long! Calendar for meetings to be posted after Sunday's Meet'n'Greet.

HOLY CRAP THAT WAS AMAZING

To anyone and everyone who came out to the launch on Tuesday - that was the BEST NIGHT EVER.

The wedding went off without a hitch - literally - and the bands were incredible! And best of all, now our next issue is almost completely taken care of! Which is a good thing, because September is only a short while away, and slipping a fundraiser in there would be haaarrrdd.

Yes, that's right! Next issue in September!

This issue is going to be mostly composed of the leftovers from this issue - the people who just didn't have enough time to get it done, but who still want to get it out there. Also, some newbies, but it'll be a tight squeeze to get it done in time!

If you happen to be thinking about getting on board, time's a-wasting! Email me quick! We're gonna do this thing!

Deadline for next issue's submissions: Sunday, August 23rd!

We're gonna make it

Holy crap, for once in my life I'm not scrambling to meet the deadline.

This Tuesday, we're launching our second issue, and you know what? I'm ready. Everything is in place, and I'm relaxed enough that even if something does go wrong, I'm not going to freak.

Well, I might freak a little bit, but it's not going to be because I'm sleep deprived, malnourished, and doing every last thing on my own. No, it'll be because everyone gets a little nervous when there's a glitch. And that's normal.

So this is the final week! Launching on Tuesday I AM SO EXCITED! I've never been more proud.

I hope you can join me in my gloating about the people who made this: I know them, and they know me back! Let's celebrate everyone's hard work and creativity! Let's drink until we can't feel our faces!

I'm sure this won't end in embarassment...

Love until then, (and afterwards, too)
gangLion

PRINTING!

Aha! We are to print!

After all that hard work, here it comes: the actual zine! And the most exciting part? Coach House will be printing it on the antiquated Heidlberg presses - this is a sight to be seen. Seen and heard. And documented.

So! For anyone who is interested, the zine will be on the presses on Friday, June 5th and you have the opportunity to come see it. Missed Doors Open? Here's your second chance. Meet in front of Coach House at 11am, and I'll give you the tour extravaganza so you can check out the zine before it's ready!

Here's a map for you, and I hope to see you there!

BRAND NEW WORK FROM MADDY WILDE!

As ever, these make me piss my pants. Enjoy!

The Final Countdown

As of today, we have received all of our submissions for Issue Two: City/Country. Now begins the FINAL COUNTDOWN to the launch party!!

Since the official date of the launch party is Tuesday, June 16th at The Boat in Kensington Market, that makes this day 37. THIRTY SEVEN DAYS TO GO!!!

Details about the entertainment for the evening are coming soon, so keep watching this blog for more!

Dwight Schenk, the wonderful

HTML is my Rubik's Cube...and Rubik's Cubes are so hhhhharrrd.

I'd like to promise to all of you...millions of readers...that this blog is going to be fully functioning for webcomic publishing in a matter of months. I'd also like to say that coming soon, you won't have to read my rants and daily quandaries, that you'll actually be able to read something you want to read once in a while. I'd like to, but I can't.

I can promise that I'm working on it, though. It just...might take a while.

See above.

We're back, and blogging it

After undergoing a few dramatic changes - including the loss of a co-founder, David Missio, - gangLion comics is up and running, preparing for the launch of our new issue: City/Country.

The launch is being planned for the second week of June, but since details are still being confirmed, we'll just say one thing: Wedding Reception. That's all you get! But keep watching the blog for more information as it comes in.

So the deadline approaches for contributors to get their work in, and it seems our list has diminished. If you've been keeping up with our facebook group (here), you'll notice that the current list on this site is much, much smaller - but never fear! We don't believe that size matters, and the second issue of gangLion comics will be just as incredible as the first! In one way at least, it's actually a blessing; the money that we raised in our fundraisers is much better suited to the smaller page count, and we may even have some left over to make some special treats for you. And when we say treats, we don't mean the vegan goodies that we sold for fundraising night number one (BINGO + a BAKE SALE) - we mean we'll be making something extra special to give back to you as a big THANK YOU for all your support.

If you're wondering what happened to Mr.Missio, it was just too much for him to enjoy. He simply decided that he loves making comics, but doesn't love organizing events, people and business. So no hard feelings - when it's not right, it's not right and there isn't anything to be done about it. So for now, I'm forging on.

I won't be by myself, though! For the planning of the launch party, my friend and popular comedian David Dineen-Porter has stepped up to the plate! He's no stranger to comics, music, or running events; I can already tell this is going to be good.

So, for now, keep your hat on. More gangLion fun is coming your way.