My webcomic Kickman is part of an online group called the Collective of Heroes a loose organization of superhero comics that have all banded together to promote each other in the pursuit of fame and glory. I missed out on our Halloween art exchange, but this year some of us signed up for a “Secret Santa” art exchange. My Secret Santa this year was the webcomic Wonder Weenies, which I’ve actually done a couple of guest strips for in the past and two characters from the strip have made guest appearances in Kickman (including the current chapter).
For those of you too lazy to click on that Wonder Weenies link I provided, here’s the comic and creator’s info:
The Comic
Wonder Weenies follows the adventures of former fast food employees Dee, Frank, and Murrey. After being exposed to mysterious energies emanating from irradiated hot dogs cooked in a malfunctioning Frank-N-Fryer, the three gained strange powers: Dee gained the ability to create fire (which pairs well with her quick temper), Frank became seemingly indestructible with regenerative abilities (with the unfortunate side effect of becoming a hot dog/human hybrid), and Murrey gained shape-shifting abilities (but only in his hairdo, a mullet — and a stylish one at that, by mullety standards). Now they simultaneously act as superheroes and corporate mascots for all of Wonder Weenies (much to the chagrin of their former mascot, the insane actor Bernard Werner — or, as he was once known, Beenie O’Weenie).
The Creator
Corey Kramer is a 1996 graduate of The Joe Kubert School of Art. Corey also draws the webcomic Remedy. When not drawing comics or creating art, Corey works as a youth counselor for depressed and suicidal adolescents. Corey also is an avid Atari 2600 collector, vintage board game collector, Batman collector, and in need of much much more storage for all of (what his fiance would call) his junk.
But it wouldn’t be much of a Secret Santa art exchange if I just made someone an image and didn’t get one return. Here’s my Secret Santa page received from Bill Walko of The Hero Business:
The Comic
Imagine your office, bitten by a radioactive spider. That’s The Hero Business, a comic chronicling the day-to-day adventures of an agency that caters exclusively to super-heroes (and their super-egos). Because with great power comes great marketability.
Log in for a while and sink in our storylines, each one packed with fun office antics as well as shocking secrets. Or just drop in for a few done-in-one “Coffee Break” gags. But do become a regular… because The Hero Business is always looking for new recruits!
The Creator
Bill Walko: As a young lad, I hunkered over a bowl of Cap’n Crunch Berries every week and devoured a fresh batch of Saturday morning cartoons. These young fever dreams led to the creation of my first comic strip, Joe College, which ran in The Fairfield University Mirror and New Haven County’s Hip Magazine. Following that, I crafted my first indie comic, Stiletto, which I sold as ashcans in local comic shops.
After a sojourn into graphic design and advertising, I returned to illustration. You might recognize my art from comic-related sites such as Project: Rooftop, ComicsAlliance.com, or CBR’s Comics Should Be Good. Or commercial illustration resources like Shutterstock and iStockPhoto.
But I’m most proud of my own creative property, The Hero Business, a comic that combines my marketing know-how with my love of superheroes.
And once in a while, I still enjoy watching cartoons on a lazy Saturday morning while scarfing down a bowl of Cap’n Crunch Berries. Yeah, some things never change.
So be a doll and check out Wonder Weenies, The Hero Business, and some of the other titles in the Collective of Heroes. Especially Kickman though. Excelsior!
