Will "The Mangler" Rodriguez was all about STAPLE 2007!

The spread was pretty much what you've grown accustomed to seeing with the addition of Mangled Stare 4, which debuted at STAPLE! 3. I was pleasantly surprised when it completely sold out! I thought I'd brought enough to get me through the day... boy was I wrong!

I got to share a table with Aaron Wilson, this year.

Aaron and I met on Krypton Krew forums and have been homies ever since. He was even kind enough to allow his wife's scrap book creations to adorn his layout.

In fact, he even sold a few scrapbooks, as I recall.

Oh, he moved some comics, too!

Heh, I got to be Aaron's marketing manager at one point. You're welcome, brutha.

This was the Live Oak Room where all of the "spill over" artists ended up. There were quite a few of us sporting our best.

Paul Adam occupied the table to my right and BOY did he have some AWESOME art on display!

Come to think of it, his sketchbook was the ONLY swag I walked away with, this year.
Dave and Thomas were straight CHILLIN over in the Red Oak room (where the main events took place) sportin a new comic. I neglected to acquire a copy but I'm hoping I see him at CAPE3.0 to rectify that oversight.

My oldest son showed up to give me pointers. Thanks to him, I am the artist I am today. ^_-

My wife and son showed up for the last few hours of STAPLE to keep me company.
Now that I've got my partner in crime, the drooring is ON!
The fella that asked for this con sketch actually bought every issue of Mangled Stare (except issue #1 which sold out very early in the show).

I really love my poster. I'm thinking of just framing it for my wall and making another to haul around to the cons. I don't want this one suffering too much damage before I can frame it.

My son worked pretty hard on that Captain America. Could any cartoonist dad be prouder?!

We've got to work on his "enthiusiastic" face.
I take pointers from my boy. That's Blackcat, in case you're wondering.
Danielle Corsetto hadn't eaten during the show. Imagine her shagrin when we told her that our son was NOT a cinnamon treat, despite her attempts to devour him.

Dave Hopkins also attempted to devour my child... am I sensing a trend?

Actually, I shot poor Dave in the eye at point blank range with my nerf blaster. It was a complete accident ( I intended to surprise him with a shot to the ear or just the back of the head, but he spun too quickly and ended up with a suctioncup dart to the right eyeball ) and I couldn't feel worse. I'm still sorry, Dave.

I then reloaded and shot him again in the gut.

I'm a prick, I know.

It almost seems like we just copy and pasted my boy into every one of these shots, doesn't it? Where was this smile four photos ago?

That little red beastie on Thomas' table looks hungry... LOOK OUT, SON!

Ok, this is no coincidence. Obviously, artists and writers find my son to be some morsel or delectable treat.

Melita Curphy is actually one of the most creative people I've ever met and I'm glad to know her.

Britta was manning the Heroes for Heroes booth and handling the raffle tickets out in front of the Red Oak room.

Her husband, on the other hand...

... thought it more fun to play unicorn-man with my son.

As always, Scott Hinze is anywhere there's something comic-related and we love touching base with him... even if he IS a Unicorn-man.

Of course, my boy has to get in on the act and show how you're SUPPOSED to wear nerf darts.

 

Double wet-willie, free of charge.

Lori was SO excited when Aaron handed this Wonder Woman over to her. She'd been eyeballing it since she'd gotten to STAPLE. She even confessed, " I hoped it was for me."

Lori's an avid Wonder Woman fan and usually hunts for sketches to add to her growing collection.

Thanks again, Aaron.

He really is TOO tall. I've got him beat in girth, though!

We really had fun and I can't wait to see Aaron again at CAPE 3.

Hey, his wife even bought me brunch. Anyone who brings the Mangler food is automatically on my "cool" list.
After the show, I took my family out to Amy's Ice Creams, where I moonlight occassionally. It'd been a while since we'd been out for ice cream and I wanted to pamper my family.

I even tossed the ice cream around a little, just to entertain my munchkins. If you're ever in Austin, you can't leave without experiencing Amy's.

The hats are only PART of the fun.

That's my homie, Nate. He's a kewl programmer that decided he was too kewl for Texas and left for Missouri O_O'

Yeah.

He was in town and we hung out briefly at Amy's. It was great to see him again.

 

Thanks to all the people that stopped at my table and chatted with me. I appreciate everyone taking time to flip through my books and especially for enjoying my art so much, they even bought a few. I sold out of nearly ALL of my books and that's no small matter.

I look forward to seeing all my homies at Cape in May! If you're not at CAPE, I'll see you groovy folks again at STAPLE 4! In the meantime, get back to the funny on the main page! www.mangledstare.com

  

 

all photos and content are © Will Rodriguez. Don't copy any of this stuff without sending me a note and a burrito, first!