Taking Pictures While Black

It was only 12 hours after election day, Mike writes on Facebook with some irony, that he was profiled in his own neighborhood while photographing "things that remind me how blessed I am."

Somebody called the cops on Mike -- and, for good measure, emailed them (very web 2.0 racists in North Carolina) -- to report a "suspicious black man" prowling around with a camera under the cover of the noon-day sun.

Before we knew the full story PeepsNet asked if Mike if had run afoul of a Charlotte, NC law about taking out the garbage while black.

taking photos of fall foliage while black, actually. That album called I GOT A GOOD LIFE, MAN? Somebody called the police on me while I was out in my neighborhood taking them. Then sent an email to the neighborhood crime watch saying be on the lookout for SUSPICIOUS BLACK MAN.

The collection of nature photographs in his lovely neighborhood does include a house or two that I suppose he could have been casing from what I'd estimate to be about Google Earth distances. And, of course cameras have been mistaken for lethal weapons -- in Iraq!

Mike is taking it in stride -- he is not quiet Mike for nothing. But he does note the surreality of it all.

It was just very ironic, mostly. I hadn't forgotten where I was, but at the same time, I thought I'd get a little longer to 'feel the joy.' Eh....s'all good, though. The experience actually made the photos more 'subversive' as my friend John says. They have another level of meaning for me now.

We wonder why a truly subversive photographer of our acquaintance has never been wrestled to the ground by alert law enforcement officers. Oh, the injustice of it all.

More Great Press for Mike

More great notice for Mike, at AsOneNational, a national website that highlights and advocates for black businesses of note.

TYPE ILLY PRESS is turning the page on the next generation of comic books.

TYPE ILLY PRESS lays out a masterful comic strip featuring ethnic characters in the ultimate battle for survival from the everyday problems that plague our society.

Mike is always a great interview, but this is best line from him I think I have seen so far about his hero, Nefertiti Jones:

"If you ever wished PAM GRIER could play WONDER WOMAN, this series is for you."

ghettoManga: i got your Superwoman...

Mike gets a nice review at ghettoManga.

Blogger Samax says he's read all three of Mike's SouthSide Nefertiti books and has seen his growth, especially since relinquishing drawing responsibilities and concentrating on the writing.

"every now and then, a book which started out as a good idea with not-so-great execution starts to catch up to its potential.

Southside Nefertiti (Type Illy Press) is JUST such a book homie!! in its defense, i've been reading the adventures of single mom/college student/superhero Nefertiti Jones for some time now... and series creator Mike Sales is one hell of a great writer... but he also drew the book, which was holding his writing back. like many indie cats, his art was passionate and distinct, but not up to the level it would take to do his skillfull writing justice..."

More Mike

Could be because peepsNet only just signed up for Type Illy email updates that I just got blasted with four (4) missives. Much of it has already been covered here, but here are some as-yet unreported tidbits:

"The CHARLOTTE ARTS FESTIVAL turned out to be the most succesful outing TYPE ILLY PRESS has ever had. Not only in terms sales, but also in solidifying a long term business strategy for independent comic creators (particularly of color)..."

"we did our HIGHEST first day sales numbers at the CHARLOTTE ARTS FESTIVAL, and we owe it all to the lovely parents and children who came out and dropped HEAVY support for SOUTHSIDE NEFERTITI. Parents looking to get their children reading took to the book, and young teens dug the hip hop angle. The incredible cover art by Randolph Williams caught eyes all weekend, and the story kept them reading."

"Everybody's experience is different, but the reaction to SOUTHSIDE NEFERTITI and the continual support reaffirms to me that there is a significant audience for high quality comics by independent creators and people of color. Not only that, but people of color will SUPPORT high quality comics if they are done well and if the story resonates with them. In one day, I moved more units at the CHARLOTTE ARTS FESTIVAL than I did in an entire weekend at WIZARD WORLD LA and mainstream comics shops put together.

And the Charlotte Arts Festival had a LOT FEWER people. Men lie, women lie, but numbers don't lie. (c) Jay Z And the numbers keep saying to me that people of color – ESPECIALLY PARENTS – are much hungrier for this particular TYPE ILLY comic than mainstream comics fans."

" From the SOUTHSIDE TO SAN DIEGO... SOUTHSIDE NEFERTITI has stepped into new territory. TYPE ILLY'S latest release SOLD OUT the entire special edition print run for the 38th Annual COMIC CON INTERNATIONAL at the San Diego Convention Center!(WEE PALS Creator Morrie Turner and KUNTA KINTE at our (ComicCon) booth, yall!!)

Mike @ Comicon II

A profile of The Antidote Trust, the independent collective of which Mike is a member, is at Black Comic Book Blog. Peg is the Trust's showing at ComicCon.

Passage on Mike:

"Mike Sales— He’s a writer, he’s an artist and he’s publisher of quality Comics, so of course he’s Triathlon (Mike actually wears many more hats than those but Multiple Man didn’t quite fit the analogy). To be good at so many facets of the business and still be a team player is a super power all by itself."

Mike @ Comicon

Long Q&A with Mike (and lots of pictures) at Pink Raygun.

This is a very in-depth interview with Mike. He talks at length about his business plan, marketing and team of artists.

Best for me was the explanation of his inspiration for Nefertiti Jones, Mike's single mom superhero.

Wizard World Mike

Mike is attending Wizard World Los Angeles this weekend with other members of The Antidote Trust.

You can catch him at the Artist's Alley at booths 1411 A&B. What better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day!

Independent Propoganda reports that "Sales will be promoting and signing their latest comic titles, along with other The Antidote Trust members Robert Roach, Dale Wilson, Kevin Grevioux, Korby Marks and Blake Chen."

peepsNet needs to crack that Antidote Trust press list ...

The Antidote Trust

Thanks to Google Alerts peepsNeet has just learned that Mike is one of the creators of "The Antidote Trust," which describes itself as "... a consortium of like-minded creatives in the comics industry."

Mike's page is very cool, and begins with this brief bio:

Mike Sales (aka M.TOREZ) was born in Columbus, GA, where he swam in creeks, climbed plumb trees and flew kites, then moved to DC and dodged bullets, crackheads and crooked cops for fifteen years (having a ball the whole time.) Currently, he and his lovely wife have settled down in the suburban greenways of Raleigh, NC., here he runs TYPE ILLY PRESS.

Myth Conceptions - Black History of Comics

Mike is one of four author/illustrators interviewed for this Silver Bullet Comics article by Brant W. Fowler:

"What better way to close out the month on this, the next to last day of February, which is also Black History Month? There are so many important events throughout history that are recognized during this month, but aren’t or haven’t always been noted in accepted curriculum for our schools and so forth. While Black History should be celebrated at all times, it’s good to have this period of time in which we can all be educated about parts of history we may not be aware of, or haven’t searched out ourselves."

"To help me with the topic I was fortunate enough to speak with a few creators both independent and professional and get their outlooks and opinions on the subject."

Southside Nefertiti #2

Mike gets a very strong review for his graphic novel Southside Nefertiti #2 from Brant Fowler at SilverBulletComics.com.

Among the comments by Fowler that will appear on Mike's next book jacket:

"... in usual fashion, Sales has crafted a very real and powerful story full of real life drama and angst and colloquialisms that really give this story depth and character."

"His characters are intelligent without becoming something they’re not ... Sales doesn’t shy away from stereotypes, but he doesn’t give into them either.

"... the story is deep and very telling. It’s a representation of urban life told in a manner to inspire hope, justice and strength."

Be sure to get your copy of Southside Nefertiti #2 soon -- book illustrator Don Tate II was very glad to get his as a gift from his children's book author mom, Eleanora E. Tate!

Oh yeah - and check out the redesign at Type Illy Press. I guarantee that is one intro you will not be skipping.

Mike is Freelancing

Word on the street is that Mike is looking for some freelance gigs.

Mike Lives!

A raging fire

There was a pretty serious fire in Mike's neck of the woods, which a folksy way of describing where something is when you don't really know where it is, especially when writing about something that takes place in the South. In this case it also gives peepsNet sufficient journalistic cover to write about something even though there is no story here whatsoever.

The news is Mike is fine. But the backstory is that Mike was never in any danger, even though upwards of 17,000 (again: folksy) people were urged to evacuate their homes in the Raleigh suburb of Apex when a hazardous materials plant caught fire and spewed funky smoke into the air.

Mike, contacted late on Saturday via IM , said he was fine and was far enough away from the mess so that it didn't affect him at all. He said he was as far away from the blaze as Silver Spring, MD is to Alexandria, VA.

peepsNet wouldn't want it said it was coaching you to stretch the truth for a few easy bucks, but you might want to reconsider your story, or reconsider your story, or reconsider your story, my friend.

The Running Man

We used to have a couple of nicknames for Mike, and he patiently indulged us. "Quiet Mike" was the favorite not only because it was an obvious reference to his low-key nature but also his ability to maintain his composure at the center of the daily mayhem that surrounded him, sitting as he did amid John, Jon and Samer.

Samer also used to call him "Bus Stop," because Mike was once hit by a bus as he rode his bike. That one didn't sit too well with Mike or anyone else. Samer thought it was hysterical. Probably still does (sigh).

But now we can call Mike by his new Indian name: "Running Man."

To save us all a lot of embarrassement we're not doing to delve too deeply into what drove Mike into oncoming traffic ... oh why bother with the pretense: Meka said she was going to start running and "when she told me about it MALE EGO kicked in and I was like 'I CAN'T HAVE MY WIFE OUT THERE RUNNING AND ME SITTING ON THE COUCH WITH A TUB OF ICE CREAM.'"

Personally, I'd examine that flawed imperative.

Nicole will always be able to leave us in a swirl of her dust but peepsNet knows that when you run for the first time -- no matter what else you do, no matter how fit you are -- you feel like you are going to die. Period.

So congratulations, "RM," for getting past that hurdle.

Second City Mike

No. This isn't Mike, even on a bad day. This is Mike.

Well, it looks like Mike has been doing some traveling, and the paparazzi of peepsNet were there to chronicle what we are sure he would have preferred to be an under-the-radar trip to the Windy City -- so difficult for today's celebrity authors.

OK, ok. He posted some pictures on Flickr and I am ignoring the copyright. So sue me. Actually, please sue me. peepsNeet could use the publicity.

Anyway, as soon as our sources determine the exact nature of Mike's trip and how many clubs he hopped with Paris, peepsNet will publish these facts without fear or favor.

And since Chicago is also known as "Beirut on Lake" peepsNet can't help but wonder when Samer will be going.

Outsource Me, Will You!

Mike, a victim -- or is that beneficiary? -- of outsourcing, is a very quick study.

peepsNet hears that the author/illustrator and force behind TYPE ILLY PRESS has found such success in publishing that he has to hire other artists to finish his work, the better to concentrate on marketing and creating and not sweat the details.

Of course regular peepsNet readers already know about his fantastic write up in the Raleigh News & Observer.