After-Hours Sacramento Stand-up Comedy AND More

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Get all your favorite comic books -- and fun -- right here at Empire's Comics Vault. Here's what's going on in the shop this week.  


All January

The Art of Jared Konopitski


Let the art of Jared Konopitski carry your imagination to unexplored ideas and worlds.







Tuesday, January 23

6PM: Terry Moore Live Online Interview


Join us for our next comic book creator interview. Terry Moore has created such titles as Strangers In Paradise, Echo, Motor Girl, and Rachel Rising.

Join the live interview on our YouTube channel.









Thursday, January 25

5 pm: Writing at Empire's
It's time that time again. 

Come write with us. Sometimes there's a few of us; sometimes lots. Click image to view the Facebook calendar event.


Friday, January 26

8 pm: Comedy Night
Enjoy local stand-up comedy.

Laughter is the best medicine. And we got plenty of meds heading your way, LOL, get it? Huh? Huh? See you there. Click image to view the Facebook calendar event.



COMING SOON

Attention Sacramento writers, movie buffs, and Lego maniacs

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Thursday, 
January 18
5 pm: Writing at Empire's
It's time to write that script. 

2018 is the time to get serious. Write that novel. Write that script. Come join us to write our hearts out. Maybe you'll even be finished before November's NaNoWriMo challenge.
Click image to view the Facebook calendar event.


Friday, January 19
7 pm: Movie Night
There's going to be popcorn!

Don't miss this timeless animated classic with some of its biggest fans. Feel free to bring something to eat and drink. Or help yourself to some complimentary popcorn.



Saturday, January 20
11 am: Legostravaganza
Build something amazing.

Lego building is for everyone -- from young to old. Bring your bricks and your creativity and chill with some of Sacramento's coolest Lego maniacs. 





COMING SOON

Upcoming Brian Wood interview

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Our INTER -VIEWS series has featured comic book creatives like Kelly Sue DeConnick, Jason Aaron, and Brian Michael Bendis.

 We're excited to next interview Brian Wood!

 On Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at 6:00 PM, we're sitting down with comic book writer Brian Wood for an interview. It will be LIVE, ONLINE, and you are invited to join us.
Brian has written titles such as The Massive, Star Wars, Rebels, Aliens: Defiance, Robotech, Briggs Land, Mara, Black Road, DMZ, Northlanders, and so many more.

 Have something you'd like us to ask Brian? Let us know online, on Twitter or Facebook.

Also, to make sure you don't miss the interview, add the event to your Facebook calendar or visit the interview's broadcast page on YouTube and click "Set Reminder."

To connect with Brian on Twitter, follow him at @BrianWood. We'll see you there!
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Black Friday Weekend SALE!

Let's keep this simple. Three days of sales!
Read on for details.



Savings Club Members: Make sure you check your email for additional Black Friday Benefits. Not a member? More info below.



Friday, November 24
(BEST SALE DAY!)
Hours: 9am-8pm
  • 35% OFF Graphic novels
  • 40% OFF Toys, posters, and statues
  • Back Issues $5 and under ONLY .50c
  • Back Issues $5.01-$10 ONLY $1
  • Back Issues $10.01-$15 ONLY $2
  • Back Issues $15.01+ 75% OFF
  • 50% OFF Variants & Hard to Find Comics

Saturday, November 25
Hours: 11am-8pm
  • 25% OFF Graphic novels
  • 30% OFF Toys, posters, statues, and games
  • Back Issues $5 and under ONLY $1
  • Back Issues $5.01-$10 ONLY $2
  • Back Issues $10.01-$15 ONLY $3
  • Back Issues $15.01+ 50% OFF
  • 25% OFF Variants & Hard to Find Comics


Sunday, November 28
Hours: 12pm-5pm
  • 50% OFF Back Issues
  • 20% OFF Toys, posters, statues, and games
  • 15% OFF Graphic novels

Sacramento's Ultimate Creative Women Showcase

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Creative Women Mini-Con returns for its 5th year -- and this could be our best year yet. We've assembled thirteen of the region's most talented creative women. And we're throwing a sale in celebration (details below).

 Date: Saturday, October 21, 2017
Time: 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Empire's Comics Vault

Click here to add the event to your FB calendar.


Everything You Need to Know About Creative Women Mini-Con 2017

In this post, we'll share:

  • A complete list of this year's creative women -- an interview link and social media links
  • Sale details
  • What to expect at the mini-con
Sale Details
  • 50% off Back Issues
  • 25% off Toys
  • 15% off Trades
  • Members: check your email for October's benefit so that you can level up your sale discounts!

What to expect at Creative Women Mini-Con

  • Admission is free.
  • When you support an artist by making a purchase at their table, they keep all their earning. Pay the artist directly, not the store at the counter.
  • Art purchased from the Art Gallery wall should be purchased from the store counter, not the artist's table.
  • The event starts at 11 am and goes until 4 pm.
  • Need food? Visit one of the restaurants in the shopping center and bring it back to the shop if you'd like. Feel free to sit at the couches to take abreak.

2017 Creative Women Mini-Con Exhibitors

Take a moment to enjoy the interviews we did with each exhibitor. Also, below you'll find a little about each creative woman, a link to their most recent interview, and links to some of their online profiles.



Angela Davis: Angela sold her first commissioned painting at fifteen. She's done commissioned pieces for the Deftones' Chi Cheng. She's also collaborated on a coloring book for the city of Sacramento.
Interview | Facebook | Instagram: @LostZelda | Etsy

Bianca Kim: Bianca creates embroidered fabric pinback buttons with short sayings that can be worn on backpacks, purses and jacket collars. She shows at the Stockmarket craft fair in Stockton, CA. She started 2017 by showing her work in Empire's Comic Vault's art gallery in January and then offered a beginner course for embroidery in her booth at the Stockmarket craft fair in Stockton.
Interview | Etsy | Twitter: @FreshBiscuitsBK | Facebook | Instagram: @FreshBiscuits

Felicia Ann: Felicia is an illustrator and digital painter from Oakland, CA. Of Chinese-Malaysian descent, she blends her rich Southeast-Asian heritage with her enthusiasm for modern science and astronomy. Her art is expressed in the female form, with ethereal portraits that connote her personal exploration of femininity.
Interview | FeliciaAnn.com | Facebook |Instagram: @Felishita

Hannah Moore: Hannah has always been crafty and enjoyed small objects. She keeps things cute for Ghost Thunder. The animal kingdom, cartoons, comics, and video games are constant inspirations.
Interview | GhostThunder.com | Twitter: @Clonie | Facebook | Instagram: @CuriousZoology | Twitter: @_GhostThunder

Heather Merrifield: Heather's focus is to capture moments that might otherwise not be captured, be it in action shots, everyday moments, or the strange and unusual. She will show at an upcoming exhibit at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento.
Interview | Facebook | Instagram: @HeatherLeeArtPhotography

 Jen Monson: Jen is constantly delighted by new ideas. She uses trial and error to explore new approaches to her art. Her ultimate goal is to help others feel a sense of peace and joy. A smile on someone's face is the ultimate final touch.
Interview | Twitter: @JenMonson | Facebook | Instagram: @jenuoneart | Etsy

Kassandra Gamez: Kassandra is a comics creating artist. She's worked at some cool companies, but maybe not in the art department, for example, dA and Disney Interactive. Kassandra is a huge fan of comics, zines, and Corgis. This will be her first time exhibiting at CWMC. 
Tumblr | Twitter: @Kozispoon | Instagram: @kozispoon | DeviantArt

 Kelly Van Gaasbeck: Kelly's focus is storytelling and whimsical thoughts. She works mostly with ink, metallic and monoprints. She spent 2 years in Japan, teaching and learning and wandering across the country, where she came to love telling stories in small spaces.
Interview | Facebook | Instagram: @Fireflirt

Kristine Balog: Kristine is an Art Historian, oil painter, and author who has dedicated her life to the Italian Baroque painter Caravaggio. She is both an academic and creative, teaching Art History as a profession and channeling her passion into creating comic books and authoring novels. She has authored numerous academic articles and has been teaching at the collegiate level for five years.
Interview | KristineBalog.com | Twitter: @KristineArt | Facebook | Instagram: @KristineArt |

Maia & Kaimani: Maia and Kaimani are 9 and 8 years old, respectively. Both Maia and Kaimani are enthusiastic artists who enjoy making comics, drawing, painting, jewelry making and pretty much flexing their imaginations in any creative capacity. Growing up with empowering and inspiring storytelling such as the films of Hayao Miyazaki and shows like Steven Universe, they are also equally influenced by their comics-making dad, their jewelry-making mom, and Sacramento's thriving comics and art scenes.
Interview

Megan Risk: Megan works primarily in the traditional mediums: graphite, colored pencils, pressed pastel, etc. Recently she's expanded into the digital art world, mixing it with the traditional mediums. While she started working in portraits and landscapes, she has also explored the realms of horror, supernatural, fantasy, and superhero. Megan sold her first commission when she was 23.
Interview | MeganERisk.com | Twitter.com: @MegERisk | Facebook | Instagram: @MeganERisk

Rachel Strum: Local wand-maker Rachel Strum handcrafts fantasy wands. With a background ranging from illustration to stained glass, Rachel’s experience in mixed media has inspired wands unlike any others. Beginning by hand selecting quality supplies, pairing gems individually with wood bases, and then intensively layering mixed media, her wands capture the imagination and inspire a sense of beauty. The delicate balance between beauty and practicality within all her whimsical creations has sprouted from the needs in her life, be it simple toys or giant strawberry pillows. Transforming common materials into playful creations is a labor of love inspired by Rachel’s belief that everyday should come with a touch of magic.
Interview | Etsy | Facebook | Twitter: @CitrusAtelier

Sarah René Kraft: Sarah is a Sacramento-based illustrator, colorist, storyteller, and all around sketchy lady. Experience her work in the illustrated comic world of the Greek mythology-inspired “Blind Follies,” and her upcoming artbook in progress "Lemiscus," among other various arts and projects.
Interview | Instagram: @SketchyKraft | Twitter: @SketchyKraft | Facebook

Sarah Troedson: Sarah is a composer working in silk, gemstones, pearls, crystals, precious metals, glass, and yarn. Handmade lamp-worked glass beads, silk cord, silver charms, bamboo fiber and baby alpaca yarn are the notes in her music. Colors and textures are the melody and harmony. The "music" she composes is fine jewelry, crochet and woven accessories created with a sense of joy.
Interview | RocksMapsandCrafts.com | Twitter: @RocksMapsCrafts | Facebook | Etsy




Cosplay Sketch Featuring Model Jennifer Ravensong

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Whether you’re a cosplayer or an artist — or both — be sure to participate in our twice-a-month Cosplay Sketch.

Meet the model and talk cosplay, then have a seat and sketch, paint, sculpt, or draw the model. Entry is $10 at the door — and all proceeds go directly to the model.

On Tuesday, August 29, 2017, from 6 - 9 PM, cosplay model Jennifer Ravensong will pose as Poison Ivy for your sketching pleasure (click to add this event to your FB calendar).

Check our Facebook calendar for additional upcoming sessions.

Who Is Cosplayer Jennifer Ravensong?

Jennifer Ravensong (on FB at J Ravensong Productions | Instagram | Twitter) is a fictional character, with a solid mythology.

Known in some parts as the Villainous Vixen Ravensong, no one knows who the Lady Ravensong truly is; her name and face have changed so many times.

What is known is that she will never remain the same for very long, always changing and morphing to blend into her environment. 

She is known to win the affections of men and women alike, only to bring them to their undoing. A black widow by nature and a siren at heart, she will woo unsuspecting victims with the beauty of her words and song and is sure to drive you to madness. 

While it is said she has a heart of gold, very few have seen past her walls, but to those she holds dear, she is an angel in disguise.

But never trust a villain or a woman….especially a villainous woman.

She was trained in the Companion arts from birth and was then discovered to have a very high count of metachlorian.

She trained in the Jedi arts under Mace Windu before she was betrayed utterly and turned to the darkside. Now a Sith, she carries her light saber with her always but only resorts to its use in the trickiest of situations.

6 Stand-Up Reasons To Laugh Your Freckle-Muffin Off Friday Night

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6. It’s 100% Free laughs. Every last Friday of the month, starting at 8 PM. Check out FB Calendar for upcoming events and the lineup.

 5. Our host’s own laughter will crack you up. It’s so contagious. He’s Mr. Joe-Joe Louis. He holds a PhD in English and is the creator and producer of both Comedy Night at Empires and the Secret Moving Van Show, both in Sacramento. He is also the creator of Joe-Joe Has Fun, a twice-daily Let's Play show starring both him and comedian Kim Martel.

Joe-Joe Louis, Sacramento comedian
Joe-Joe Louis, Sacramento comedian

4. There may — or not — be singing. Especially if Christian Amaral has anything to sing about it. He is the co-host of the monthly High Anxiety Variety Show, as well as the creator of 3 failed podcasts.


3. People wear cool stuff with, like, skulls. Yeah, skulls. Take Robert Barry, for instance. As the creator and writer behind the long standing pop culture site retroCRUSH, he's written hundreds of essays, interviews, and film reviews. Can’t wait to see what he wears Friday night.

Robert Berry, comedian
Robert Berry, comedian




















2. One comedian may be punnier than the others. We’re talking about Damian Harmony. He, along with his partner Daniel Humbarger, has run the Capitol PUNishment pun tournament in Sacramento for the last year. He is a father of two, and could really use the money from comedy so that his kids can eat meat sometimes. So, please, make good use of the tip car. See also, bullet point #3, again.

Damian Harmony, Comedian
Damian Harmony, Comedian

And the #1 reason to laugh your freckle-muffin off with us every last Friday of the month is...

1. Random stuff happens, for example, A.J. DeMello landing in the #1 spot of this post. Oh, yeah, lots more random headed your way. With a delivery ranging from caveman to out right joker, A.J.'s sharp, no-nonsense material and nonchalant pacing leave audiences laughing and hurting.

"I want all of you to go to your local comic shop this Saturday"

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"Free Comic Book Day." Artist: Sergio Aragonés
Today we're sharing a guest post with you. This guest post originally appeared on Eben E.B. Burgoon's Facebook profile. 

 Eben is one of Sacramento's creatives. He creates comic books, including Eben07 and B-Squad, and he creates comic book creators, teaching children how to create their own comic books.

 We asked him if we could repost it to our blog, and he said yes. We've used the opening words of his post as the title for ours.

 Before we get to that, we have something to add.

 Sacramento is a unique town in many ways, but especially when it comes to comic shops. Very few towns support as many comic shops as Sacramento does. We count at least fifteen, but wouldn't be surprised if there are more and we just haven't heard about them yet.

 Our town has embraced comic book and geek culture -- from Sac-Con to Wizard World Sacramento, from Art Mix: Crocker-Con to SacAnime and Free Comic Book Day Festival, and so on.

 And Sacramento comic shops return the support. As a comic shop we do our best to champion our local creatives -- and not just comic book creators. We champion literacy and small business and the arts and local interest groups and so on.

 So, Thank You, Sacramento! 

 "I want all of you to go to your local comic book shop this Saturday. Seriously. Stop with that "pFFttt" noise - yeah, I heard it. You, yes, you. Stop for a second. Say it aloud with me. "SIRI. Remind me to go to a comic book shop this Saturday."


Here is the deal... most every comic shop around the country will be doing something special this Saturday for Free Comic Book Day. Shops across the country will give away hundreds of thousands of comics FOR 100% FREE - no expectations & no questions - seriously 100% free on select models.

These shops will pour their energy into orchestrating this massive giveaway and also create raffles to benefit charities, swag bags for the kids, offer absurd how-are-they-making-any-money fire sales, and they even bring luminaries out of their dimly lit studios... almost too far away from their two weiner dogs... to sign and doodle on books and prints they created.

While their walls may echo with debates over if Batman can take out Wolverine (Batman wins... one word... magnets) ... they are owned and operated by your neighbors. People just doing their best to follow their bliss over get rich or die trying schemes. They work to make a great shop for the throngs who want to escape their day and delight in the strange and beautiful marriage of words and pictures that make comics so influential on today's culture.

So even if you're not a regular comic book reader, maybe you think superheroes are trite garbage, maybe you find zombies boring, maybe you have some other quick excuse for me like comics are just kid stuff and you only read "real" books...

Well, then, yo, dog, I am your huckleberry and I am definitely daring you. A triple dog dare. All the cherries-on-top, double stamp a triple stamp D-A-R-E - dare.

Let's say I got your thoughts on comics pegged earlier. I bet you at least can get behind a little love to support your local small businesses... right? So just go into a shop on that notion and explore even just a little bit. Maybe you drive by a shop every day and never have gone in. Go. Go over there this weekend.

Heck, ask me for recommendations! Ask me what shop to go to in your area! Treat me like a Google! I'm down to help you take this journey. We're all really lucky. We're living in an age where comics have never been better and truly something out there for every taste.

You will find something in that shop that will grab your curiosity - I dare you to embrace that curiosity and enjoy it. I would be floored if you couldn't find something!
Here are a few shops outside the Sacramento area I can completely recommend and where most of you live...

If you're in the LA-area, my favorite shop is Meltdown Comics and Collectibles
If you're in San Francisco, my favorite shop is Isotope - The Comic Book Lounge
If you're in San Luis Obispo area, my favorite shop is Dr. Cain's Comics and Games

And if you by chance live in Redding or Roseville, you can even meet a few artists that have worked with me on B-Squad or come say hi to my goofy face at Empire's Comics Vault among a sea of other local creators... there are shops all over Sacramento area (Big Brother Comics, World's Best Comics & Toys, Comic Command Center and Comics & Collectibles leap to mind) doing wonderful stuff.

You just need to go.
Saturday.
DO IT!
I DARE YOU! :)
And when you do, let me know how it went!

To those that need no daring to go, thank you so much. Thank you to everybody that continues to support these shops, people that support the misfits who draw write and create in this difficult and sublime medium --- the people like me, who are damning torpedoes and trying hard to make good comics happen --- thank you for your support over the years. You're the best of kind!
#fcbdfest2017

Cap tip to Sergio Aragonés' artwork here. His mustache is amazing.
_______

p.s. from Empire's: Don't miss out on FCBD Festival. Add it to your Facebook calendar right here. Lastly, at the end of his post, Eben names several shops in the area. We'd like to add some additional shops to that list -- Sacramento's Broadway Comics, Metropolis Comix in Elk Grove, A-1 Comics in Sacramento, Roseville, and Folsom, Elk Grove Cards and Comics, Bizarro World in Davis, Ken's Comics & Collectibles in Rocklin, Adventures in Comics & Games in Carmichael, HR Sports Cards & Collectibles in Sacramento, and Sacramento's newest comic shop, Oblivion Comics & Coffee (serving Chocolate Fish's coffee!). What a great town to live in! Each shop has it's own personality -- it's own "vibe," if you will. We invite you to tour them all. See you on Free Comic Book Day.

 p.p.s. Many apologies if we overlooked your shop! Please let us know and we'll add it.

Complete Guide to Free Comic Book Day Festival 2017

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We're giving away 20,000 free comic books on Saturday, May 6, 2017 and features:
  • Charity raffle! 
  • Live wrestling! 
  • Roller derby athletes! 
  • West Coast Avengers cosplayers! 
  • Stormtroopers! 
  • Face painting! 
  • Balloon art! 
  • Food trucks and more! 

2017 Free Comic Book Day Festival
DATE: May 6, 2016
(Add this event to your FB calendar)

Doors open at:
  • 8 a.m. for Savings Club Members
  • 9 a.m. for new guests
STOREWIDE SALE
  • 25% OFF Graphic novels, collected editions, toys, statues, variant wall (variants and back issues on the wall), and variants in the box. 
  • NOTE: art wall not on sale, regular price only. 
Back issues
(not including back issues on the Variant Wall)
  • IF COVER PRICE is $15.01+ = SALE is 75% OFF cover price 
  • COVER PRICE $1-5 = ON SALE FOR .50c 
  • COVER PRICE $5.01-10 = ON SALE FOR $1 
  • COVER PRICE $10.01-15 = ON SALE FOR $2 
PARKING + FESTIVAL LAYOUT
Parking is available on Larkspur. It's the street next to the shop.


Click to Expand

MEMBERS ONLY FESTIVAL BENEFITS

If you're not a Member, you can skip this section. Or maybe read it. Sign up by 12/31/2017 to receive the special treatment in 2018.

Members, whenever you get here, use the Members's Only VIP Line, a.k.a., the short line. But if you get here early...

We're opening the store one hour early for our Members to access free comics, to meet Sacramento creatives exhibiting in the store (full list below), and to take advantage of our storewide sale (details below).

Every Saturday in May we are celebrating Free Comic Book MONTH. It features FCBMonth-exclusive comic books, collected editions, and posters -- for FREE. Members can come any Saturday they want or every Saturday. NOTE: Only Savings Club Members who enrolled by December 31, 2016 are eligible for this benefit.

FCBD FESTIVAL FEATURES AND GUESTS

Here's a complete list of guests for this year's festival.

Food
  • Wandering Boba 
  • FreshMed Mediterranean Cuisine 
Artists and Writers
Community Groups
  • Supreme Pro Wrestling: enjoy live wrestling. 
  • The 501st Legion: Mingle with the Empire's baddest troopers. 
  • West Coast Avengers: Cozy up to Northern California's coolest cosplayers. 
  • Sac City Rollers: Have wheels, will fly! But they're always happy to stop for a photo. 
  • Cracking The Vault Podcast: It's the shop's official, all-ages podcast. Chat with these folks and you may get featured in an episode. The FCBD Preview episode is up now. | website | 
  • Reality Comics LLC: These folks produce some fine video about geek culture, comics, and more. Be sure to spend some time with them. 
  • The Capeless Crusaders: These vid- and podcasters are a rip roaring good time. Join them as they talk about comics, geekery, and more.

Ben Interviews Bendis April 21 at 3 PM Online

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This Friday, April 21, 2017 Ben interviews Bendis -- and we can't wait. 3 PM can't get here fast enough, tick tock, tick tock.

Not only is Brian Michael Bendis one of the hottest modern comic book creators -- he's also the ultimate fan of comic books.

We hope you'll join us. If there's anything you'd like to ask him, let us know in the comments as soon as possible.

You can watch online here starting at 3 PM tomorrow (or shortly thereafter).

Just to whet your appetite, we're including his TEDxCLE talk for your viewing pleasure.


Brian Michael Bendis at TEDxCLE: "The little boxes"