Sex Toy Repair: Exclusive Cartoon by Jake Rohdy

Visit Jake Rohdy online at JakeRohdy.com or his Facebook page!

AdamMaleBlog Exclusive: An Interview With Artist/Illustrator Jorden

While dorking around on the internet one day, I happened across a tumblr page full of the most insanely realistic and amazing portraits and illustrations I have ever seen. The artist, who goes solely by the name Jorden, didn't stop there. His site was full of superheroes, hilariously re-imagined cartoon characters, sophisticated, touching animal and landscape art, and so much more. One amazing piece after another.

I had to know more. So, I wrote him, begging for an interview. And, the information he shared with me, was way more profound than I ever imagined.

Jorden lives in Hamburg, Germany. He moved there from his home country of Iran when he was 16, roughly nine years ago. Jorden's day job is with an advertising agency. Though trained in Communication Design, he credits his father for his artistic talent.

I have inherited my talent from my father. My older brother is specialized in technical drawing and my older sister made many Mickey Mouse drawings. My father paints with oil. My mother on the other hand can't make a straight line (hehehe).

When I was a child I always wanted to specialize in one area. The bad thing is that the big comic heroes and figures haven't been popular or have been forbidden in Iran. But I still can remember that my first drawing was the Pink Panther with a mosque in the background. That's the way how I have started to interest in comics. Sailor Moon, Captain America, The Turtles and Batman have been a great inspiration for me.

Jorden is currently working on a graphic novel called In The Sign Orchids. From the art he has shared thus far, it looks fairly stunning. Also, Jorden keeps fairly busy doing special order portraits and illustrations. I am just thankful he took a bit of time of his schedule to answer some questions.

Q: What can you tell us about In the Sign Orchids? The preview art looks amazing! When is it out?

Jorden: There are two things I really don't like. First, why does the superhero always rescue the humans, and why does that always happen in a city? Second, why do gay comic artists only draw gay porn? I am absolutely sure that the gay world can talk about much more things and not only about sex. I love the nature and I was raised to respect and cherish all creatures. And yes, I love superheroes. I want to tell a story which is about the value of life, about friendship, love, environment and boldness. In my comic there will be a gay love and this love should sensitize the people for our environment. Of course, there will be action, love, and drama. I don't know when all this is going to be published because I want to take my time.

Q: What other comics have you done in the past?

Jorden: I have made a comic called Everyday. It's about 5 gay boys who are really different. I wanted to reach as many people as possible.

Q: Your ability to realistically illustrate people is astonishing. When did you discover you were good at portraits?

Jorden: I wanted to volunteer in a animal shelter but I didn't know how to do that. I don't have enough money to donate or enough time. I take care for three dogs. The only thing I am good at is drawing! On Facebook, I have started to draw people in comic style to get money for that. The demand was huge and I was really surprised. I have never imagined that.

Q: A good portion of your work involves amazing superhero art. What comics/graphic novels have stuck with you from your childhood/teen years?

Jorden: When I was young I liked Batman. Sailor Moon shaped me a lot. Many people don't know how revolutionary Sailor Moon was. Sailor Moon was our time far ahead. It was a series for kids and talking about subjects like gay/lesbian love, transsexualism, love and death. Come on, we are talking about the 90's!!! Where can you find this now? Every child who missed Sailor Moon, have lost a part of childhood.

Q: With your abilities, it would seem you could work anywhere you want. What is your dream job?

Jorden: It sounds more like a beautiful dream! There are so many remarkable artists. My dream is to work on a video game, as a character designer.

Q: A lot of your art is of big, strapping, bearded men! Do you have a thing for muscle bears?

Jorden: Heheh ....Yes, I have! I love men who are manly, with beard, big and muscled. I have met such a man because of my art. ;)

Q:  I love the work you did to show support for the LGBTQ community in Russia. Have you experienced any homophobia living in Germany? What is the overall climate towards gays in Europe?

Jorden: Well, I just don't want to draw only sexy guys. I want to say with a picture: Here I am! Gay

and proud! In my original country, it's sadly not accepted. There have been big affairs in Iran, which made me really sad and thoughtful. What's going on in Russia right now is not acceptable at all. Sometimes pictures tell more than 1000 words. Germany is really open for gay people. I have not experienced any problems and I don't need to hide.

Q: The Sailor Moon bear is hilarious! Did that idea just come to you in a flash of genius?

Jorden: Hehehe ... those funny pictures happen while I am on the phone, I just draw something. ;)

Q: Mario…or Link? Who would win in a fight?

Jorden: Hmmm, that's easy, Link! Everyone who played Zelda knows exactly how many hearts Link has, while Mario has only one life with a mushroom ;)

Click any pic to enlarge!

Find Jorden on Tumblr, Facebook, and Instagram!

Don't Forget: Free Comic Book Day is Saturday, May 3rd!

For those that don't know, Free Comic Book Day is a single day - the first Saturday in May each year - when participating comic book shops across North America and around the world give away comic books absolutely FREE* to anyone who comes into their stores. So, this year, Saturday, May 3rd is free comic book day at all participating retailers! And, there is a bevvy of wonderful free-bees worth scooping up. 

Want to know if your favorite store is participating? You can use their handy STORE LOCATOR! 

Want to see what titles are available for FREE? CLICK HERE for the full list!

In the meantime, here are a few we are excited about!

DC THE NEW 52 FUTURES END SPECIAL EDITION!

Jump on board DC Comics' epic weekly series beginning with this all-new FCBD issue that features tomorrow's Dark Knight, Batman Beyond (making his first appearance in The New 52), battling an army of cyborgs to avert an Apocalypse in the future which could destroy the DC Universe of the present!
Not sure how you feel, but they had us at "army of cyborgs."

(W) Brian Azzarello & Various 

(A) Ethan Van 

(CA) Ryan Sook


SHERWOOD, TX /BOONDOCK SAINTS DOUBLE FEATURE

A story older than all of us, told now for the first time... After the same biker gang who murdered his

father leaves ROB HOOD for dead, he returns to seek revenge on an epic, blood-soaked scale. Combining the biker gang epic with Spaghetti Western sensibilities, SHERWOOD, TX retells the legend of Robin Hood as a modern day, noir-action opus. Hood is joined on his quest by Padre Elvin Tuck, Will Scarlet, and Little John, as they take on the crooked Sheriff of Nottingham, TX and his partners in crime, The Nobles biker gang and their leader John Prince. Included in this 12-Gauge FCBD issue is a special BOONDOCK SAINTS co-feature, written by film-franchise creator/writer/director Troy Duffy and comic scribe J.B. Love, with art by Toby Cypress! Fans of the film series won't want to miss this short story/deleted scene from the original cult-classic film, as the MacManus brothers bring their brand of justice to the criminals of Boston, MA. There are preview pages HERE!


GRIMM FAIRY TALES #0 "AGE OF DARKNESS"

Extinct for millennia the most powerful and terrifying creatures to ever exist in the Grimm Universe have now returned. They are the Bloodhunters, and their sole purpose is to hunt down and exterminate Highborns and they have their sights set on their first prey since returning...Professor Sela Mathers. This special Free Comic Book Day edition of Grimm Fairy Tales ties directly into GFT #100 and the upcoming Age of Darkness Grimm Universe event.
This one also has a PREVIEW!

GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY
In an all-new story by award-winning writer Brian Michael Bendis and acclaimed artist Nick Bradshaw, the Guardians of the Galaxy welcome Venom and Captain Marvel to the team for the launch of a not-to-be-missed death-defying epic! PLUS: Writer Dan Slott lays the foundation for 2014's top secret Spider-Man event that will rock the Wall Crawler's world forever!

We are hoping this one is as great as it sounds. Can't help but to raise an eyebrow when Marvel has both a SpiderMan movie out right now and a GOTG movie coming out in the near future.

ZOMBIE TRAMP & EHMM THEORY

Are you bold enough to take a ride with Janey, the Zombie Tramp?!?
If you pick her up, she might just share the story of how she came to be the street walking dead!! Be brave so you can be ready for her all new series following this special issue! You also get a mind shattering sneak preview from the second volume of the coolest comic series you haven't read yet... Ehmm Theory!

We fell in love with the art as soon as we saw the PREVIEW. 

Dan Mendoza, Brockton McKinney, and Larking Ford really work together well to bring you the most entertaining free comic available on FCBD!

AdamMaleBlog Exclusive: Interview w/ Gaming In Color Director Philip Jones

Yesterday we posted the trailer to a wonderful new documentary Gaming In Color. You can revisit that article here. But, here's a quick recap. Gaming In Color is a pay what you want documentary that explores many facets of the queer side of gaming culture and the game industry's LGBTQ presence. And, it is brilliant.

The film was directed by first time documentary maker Philip Jones and produced/edited by Ryan Paul. They enlisted musician/producer/composer 2 Mello for the soundtrack. Together, they have created one of the most comprehensive, charming looks at the world of gay geek culture ever conceived. It's thought provoking and poignant without ever hinting at being emotionally manipulative. I consider that a total triumph in today's world where so many filmmakers go for flash over substance.

Here's Philip's hilarious bio:

As a queer youth and active gamer, Philip is one of many with an emotional stake in this project. Although he didn’t begin playing until the early 2000s, he has much experience with recent generations and the shift to online. Diversity and positive acceptance in games, both in development and community culture, he hopes is something that can be truly achieved. This is his first film. When not working on Gaming in Color, Philip studies and wears too much flannel at his home in Texas.

The film officially came out yesterday (April 22, 2014). Thankfully, despite the whirlwind of media attention, requests for public appearances, and also gearing up for the upcoming GaymerX2 convention, Philip Jones was kind enough to spend some time with us and answer our questions!



Q: I can’t even imagine how difficult making a feature length documentary must be. How did you make up your mind to actually commit to this adventure?
Philip: Well, the main motivation was that nobody was doing it! Queer gamers have always existed, as have groups of people who are really looking to reinvent games in a special way, but my experience is that it's only just recently that those kinds of people are being recognized for really making a mainstream impact. GaymerX was also a big inspiration, something that large really needed to be preserved.

Q: What did you learn that surprised you? Did anyone’s story or experience make you reevaluate the way that you see the gayming community?
Philip: Oh gosh, everything I know now I learned through working on this film. I mean, I grew up gay and playing games since I was 8, but it wasn't until recently that I was so invested in being a part of a gaymer community, or really seeking queer representation in the games I play. So I still had a white-male tailored experience that I think can be common for gaymers. Then I met people who were involved in creating GaymerX or the gaymer groups all over, and it opened my eyes to a new path that you can take. So picking one story or experience is very difficult as something that changed me, since almost everyone I've met through this has been highly influential. That said, I think our cast is made up of some of the best people doing game work with a queer perspective right now.

Q: What are your favorite games?

Philip: My favorite games are the SSX series, the snowboarding games, hands down. I've loved that franchise since I started gaming, and I really made a name for myself in the community there. I also played Left 4 Dead 2 competitively for a while, and still enjoy that. Other favorites are Pikmin, Smash Brothers, Little King's Story, Dangan Ronpa, Saints Row... So many more. Recently? The Last of Us blew my mind. I'm also super excited for Samantha Kalman's game Sentris to arrive later this year!

Q: Have you personally encountered any serious homophobic situations that made you feel uncomfortable while gaming?
Philip: Who hasn't, right? I mean in an online space, you're really kind of asking for trouble just by existing and having the potential to piss the wrong person off. If a person can prey on your sexuality or something about you that stands out to them as easily attacked, that's what they will go for. After being in the queer games space for so long, the existence of homophobia or transphobia or racism or misogyny online has become a 'duh' issue for lots of people, so those kinds of toxic behaviors from other players may not affect them as much externally, not on a deep level, but lots of people still are deeply troubled by that culture. For me, now that I'm learning to examine game design, the sorts of heteronormative and exclusionary mechanics or systems in a game are starting to bother me a lot more.

Q: The film spends a good deal of time discussing the difficulty of being a geek growing up and how that translates into later life. Do you think there is really still a stigma to admitting to being a geek in the workplace?
Philip: I'm sure it depends on the industry, but I have heard lots of stories from people who have felt socially ostracized by peers or co-workers from them bringing up the sorts of geeky things they do. Especially in communities built on mainstream gay culture, but geek culture is sort of integrating into and influencing pop culture overall. The 'nerd' trope has expanded a lot to include new technologies that most people will find interesting. So things are getting better, but maybe not so much specifically for video game creators and players. Also, I think it's a good thing that we examined the 'gamer' stereotype in the film so much, because that idea of who a gamer is, that persona is who the big developers market to. So expanding that vision of who is going to play this game will lead to a lot of care being put into making a game more accessible and interesting to different kinds of people.

Q: In your vast experience and research, do you think more gaymers gravitate towards solo player or MMO style games? 
Philip: One of the most important things we learn from the documentary is that even the word 'gaymer' isn't a narrow or specific description of any kind of person or game player, there are all different types of gaymers who take different approaches with games, with the way they view and play video games and digital interactive media. Determining trends in a large, varied community like that is difficult, and I think video games are special because the kinds of games we enjoy vary on an individual basis. I think MOST gaymers still play and enjoy the most mainstream, AAA titles on a large degree, whether they are singleplayer, multiplayer, MMO based doesn't tend to affect them as much if the game looks fun. For people looking to 'queer' game design and narrative, I still think it's a mixed bag. Overall, everyone wants to enjoy what they're playing in a comfortable space, with a game where they feel a sense of control over what's being presented and what they're experiencing, and I think it's important for developers to start listening to people who aren't getting full enjoyment out of mainstream titles anymore due to the issues we present.

Q: Have you heard from any video gaming companies in response to the documentary? Do you foresee them committing to making a larger effort to encompass the LGBTQ community?
Philip: Most large companies are still hesitant to include queer themes; most companies are hesitant still to even acknowledge the issue. I think the worst example in the history of games of awful queer portrayal that affected me personally was the issue of transphobia and horrid trans caricatures in Grand Theft Auto V. As if the misogynistic overtones weren't bad enough, the things that they did to trans people in that game were just unbelievably disgusting. I'd never witnessed such bold-faced hatred. And that was written off by the game's developers as 'satire'. In the same year, we saw also some of the best queer content that was really taken seriously by the developers, with Bill in The Last of Us, and Gone Home for example. I also know that State of Decay is supposed to have a gay character, maybe even the protagonist, but unfortunately I haven't made it that far in the game yet. So as it's happening, the more we move forward with exploring gay and queer narrative, the worse our bad examples are starting to get. There's gonna have to be an explosion, some kind of revolution is coming to hit the industry. We can't continue on the path we've been traveling.

Q: So, you have been invited to speak at MIT about Gaming In Color. How mind blowing is that?

Philip: Well, I made sure that the focus is more on screening the film than me coming to speak, but yes I am thrilled and very honored they reached out and wanted to feature Gaming In Color beyond the minimum. I didn't expect so many academic institutions to really enjoy the documentary so much, and want their students to see it, least of all for me to speak to their students! I'm still a beginner at this! MIT is a very inspiring place, as is the MIT Game Lab whose game A Closed World is featured in the film and trailer. I'm sure it's going to be a fun time!

Q: One of the many hats you wear is vendor relations for GaymerX! What new events can we look forward to at GaymerX2 this year?
Philip: Yes! GaymerX was fabulous, and we're only expecting bigger and better things for this year. GaymerX2 has a bigger venue, lots of amazing special guests (including Colleen Macklin from the film!), and it's wonderful to see so many gaymers excited about the safe space and gaming funtime that GaymerX is to return. I can't wait for the convention, and I hope that seeing so much of the first convention in the film will raise awareness and get people to buy a ticket to this year's con. All your friends are going, so don't miss out!

Visit Gaming in Color on Facebook!
Follow them on Twitter!

Must Watch: Gaming In Color - Documentary Exploring the Queer Side of Gaming

GAMING IN COLOR exists for anyone who believes that the pixelated world can be a better place for everyone, no matter who they are. It is not too uncommon a tale where a bullied, abused youth seeks solace in a video game, only to find that their one hope of sanctuary, their escape into a virtual universe, is plagued with floods of more vitriol and hatred. This exists doubly so for anyone who is a minority, including people of color, women, and members of the LGBTQ community.

A lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or otherwise queer gamer has a higher chance of being mistreated in a social game. The power dynamic of a geek society tips against them. Diversive queer themes in storylines and characters are still mostly an anomaly in the mainstream video game industry. However, the gaming community is far more colorful than one may expect. Gaming In Color shows that there is a full spectrum of gamers picking up their controller to play.

This feature length documentary explores the queer side of gaming culture and the game industry's LGBTQ presence. The GaymerX convention that took place in 2013 was a huge step forward for the queer geek community being recognized on a worldwide industry scale. In the same year, more popular mainstream and indie games featured a greater amount of gay and lesbian characters than ever before, helping with visibility and acceptance. The video games universe will only continue to improve and diversify both in its community and industry if we elevate the conversation about inclusion and respecting one another - not in spite of our gay geekiness, but because of it!

The documentary was released today, April 22, 2014! It is available as a pay what you want stream or download! The minimum is just $1, but hopefully you will give them a bit more! Watch the trailer!

Exclusive Podcast: Treklenburg Episode #14

Hosts Michael Earle and Molly Jay hilariously talk all things Star Trek.
In this episode, vegetarian/vegan chef Julia Simon from Nourish stops by with her amazing take on Star Trek dishes Hasperat and Gagh! See the pics below!Also, the gang takes on Molly's incursion into more Enterprise episodes! Take a listen!

Original broadcasts of Treklenburg are Monday nights at 8pm EST on www.pmcradio.org.



How to Subscribe!
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trekl…ings/id797015608
RSS Feed: www.podcastrevolution.com/viewpodcast.php?pid=3578

Gagh!

Hasperat!

Exclusive Podcast: Treklenburg Episode #13

Hosts Michael Earle and Molly Jay hilariously talk all things Star Trek.
In this episode, Mike and Molly have discuss their disdain of StarTrek.com's polls in which Patrick Stewart wins every vote by a landslide! Also, Molly takes us on a whirlwind discussion of her six most recent Enterprise episodes! Listen now! Make it so!

Original broadcasts of Treklenburg are Monday nights at 8pm EST on www.pmcradio.org.



How to Subscribe!
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trekl…ings/id797015608
RSS Feed: www.podcastrevolution.com/viewpodcast.php?pid=3578

Exclusive Podcast: Treklenburg Episode #12

Hosts Michael Earle and Molly Jay hilariously talk all things Star Trek.
In this episode, Mike and Molly have special guest Karla Marsh of HeroesCon on to discuss their personal favorite Star Trek toys and collectibles! The one thing we learn from this episode is if you want to be evil, you have to have a beard. Live long and prosper.

Original broadcasts of Treklenburg are Monday nights at 8pm EST on www.pmcradio.org.



How to Subscribe!
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trekl…ings/id797015608
RSS Feed: www.podcastrevolution.com/viewpodcast.php?pid=3578

Exclusive Podcast: Treklenburg Episode #11

Hosts Michael Earle and Molly Jay hilariously talk all things Star Trek.
It's St. Patrick's Day! In this episode, Mike and Molly pay tribute all things space-Irish! O'Brien! Fair Haven! Riker's trashy Irish girlfriend! And more!

Original broadcasts of Treklenburg are Monday nights at 8pm EST on www.pmcradio.org.



How to Subscribe!
iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trekl…ings/id797015608
RSS Feed: www.podcastrevolution.com/viewpodcast.php?pid=3578